Tag: Encouragement

I am Speed.

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When my oldest son was very little, his favorite movie was Disney’s Lightning McQueen.

At one-and-a-half, he would quote his favorite line over and over, “I am speed.”

Which would always crack us up because it came out more like, “I peeeeeed.” 😂😂😂😂

I’d seen the movie so many times by the time he turned three that I could have probably quoted every line by heart…😂.

(Parents, you know how that goes. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I guess I should just be thankful that he never got on the “Baby Shark” bandwagon. 🦈🦈🦈🎶🎶🎶😂😂😂)

Anyways, I was thinking about this today as I was driving home from dropping my kids off at school.

Because I drive a minivan…when I’m going to and fro down the road, others may see me as just another blue minivan…but deep down, I don’t identify as a minivan — figuratively speaking, of course.

Deep down, I’m actually a Ferrari.

With potential for top speed…but with no open road to unleash it.

I’m no Bugatti…but I know I’m capable of going faster than my little Kia minivan can take me…and looking a lot cooler while doing it.

But why at 40 years old, haven’t I just put the pedal to the metal already?!

Well…simply put, Ferrari’s are not practical in raising a family: they don’t carry enough people or stuff and they cost too much to purchase and maintain.

A few years back, as a young mom, I read a quote that really resonated with me: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

They say it’s an African proverb…but sounds like something that could have been taken straight from the Bible itself.

Because just like Lightning McQueen was in a race, the Bible teaches that we’re in a race too.

A race called life.

The finish line is our death and it’s only then that we’ll know if we’ve won a crown of life.

And just like this proverb says, it’s not about speed — it’s endurance that counts in this race (Matthew 24:13).

In his arrogant ignorance, Lightning McQueen blew out his tires in the race — and if we’re not careful, we too can “blow it” so-to-speak by trying to be the fastest, not the wisest.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 says the race is not given to the swift (…sorry, Taylor 😂), but rather that it is better to run the race with endurance in mind (Hebrews 12:1) — slow and steady wins the race.

If we don’t slow down, we run the risk of not only blowing our own tires…but we will also end up leaving our neighbors “in the dust.”

Jesus uses the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate that. When we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we can’t just speed past them for our own selfish gain.

I think what Jesus is trying to say is that you might be a Ferrari, but if you see someone broke down on the side of the road, you better stop and see if you can help!

Going fast doesn’t always mean going far.

Thanks to characters like Sally, ‘Mater, and Doc Hudson and their little town of Radiator Springs, Lightning learns this much needed lesson.

It was a lesson I needed to be reminded of today, also (praise God!) — and I hope that it helps you, too.

Until next time,

PWAP

Williams-Sonoma

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When my husband and I got married, one of the wedding gifts we received was a gift card to an upscale home goods store called Williams-Sonoma.

Maybe you’ve heard of it.

I had heard of it, too…but at the time, the closest brick-and-mortar store was an hour away from us…so I’d never actually been there before.

That all changed one fateful Saturday, shortly after we said “I do,” when my husband and I decided to take a trip to check it out and use our gift card.

It was a day I will never forget.

After a 60 minute trek to the big city, we arrived in the parking lot of the most grandiose mall I had seen in my entire life. 😱

As we unbuckled our seatbelts and climbed out of our little Hyundai, I felt like Dorothy Gale arriving at the Emerald City. 🤩🤩🤩

Arm in arm, we proceeded through the front doors and down the main corridor.

Everything was suddenly in technicolor and it felt like we were walking the yellow brick road.

Our jaws dropped as we passed each consecutive storefront…Gucci, Armani, and Tiffany (oh my!).

I gave my husband a look that said, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Target anymore.” 😂😂😳

Yes, it seemed as if were actually in Oz…or at least somewhere very close to it — and by the time we finally reached Williams-Sonoma, I was half-expecting to see the Wizard himself.

However, we were immediately greeted by the Wicked Witch of the West (disguised as a pretentious saleswoman) instead.

After looking us up and down, she said, “Welcome to Williams-Sonoma, have either of you been here before?”

“N-n-nooo, this is our first time,” I managed to stutter.

She then insisted on showing us around, which I later realized was sales floor lingo for “I’ll get you my pretty…and your little gift card, too.” 😂

Nevertheless, we obediently followed her as she patronizingly pointed out all of the “must-have” kitchen gadgets and gizmos — things I never even knew existed 😳.

It was like watching one of those models showcase items on The Price is Right…only, the price was so, so wrong…😳.

I did my best to hide my sticker shock with a smile…but the more we browsed, the more it became apparent that a $40 gift card was barely going to be enough for a new set of dish towels.

And that’s when she showed us…the pasta maker.

The $300 homemade pasta maker.

About halfway through her discourse on homemade noodles, my husband and I exchanged glances and I could tell he had had his fill of this saleswoman’s highfalutin mumbo-jumbo.

That’s when he threw his arms up and said, “Thanks, but I’ve got a perfectly good box of Hamburger Helper in the pantry at home.”

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

My face turned as red as a pair of ruby slippers.

We were finally outed for the country bumpkins we are.

I wanted to laugh, cry, and crawl under the table all at the same time…silently wishing I could just click my heels together three times and go back home.

But the saleswoman didn’t flinch — she simply peered over the rim of her Christian Dior glasses and condescendingly rebutted that only uncultured swine eat noodles from a box.

😳😳😳😤😤😤😤

Okay, okay…maybe those weren’t her exact words…but they were close 😂😂😂.

To be honest, I don’t remember what her exact words to us were, but I do remember that what she said made me feel small, insignificant, unsophisticated, and poor.

What happened next, you ask?

Well, we threw a bucket of water on her and walked away while the other customers broke into a rousing rendition of “Ding, dong, the witch is dead.” 🎶🎶🎶

I kid, I kid. 😂

We came really close to doing that, but then we remembered the whole “Vengeance is mine,” saith the Lord thing. 🤷‍♀️ (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19-21)

So, we just paid for our dish towels and left.

And we’ve never been back since.

Not because of the steep prices. Not because of the long drive. But because of the way we were made to feel.

It’s just like Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

And I couldn’t agree more.

I couldn’t tell you exactly what that saleswoman said…but I can remember exactly how it made me feel.

It’s not just that we didn’t feel welcome — it’s that we were made to feel unwelcome.

********************************************

And sadly there’s a lot of visitors who don’t come back to worship with the Lord’s church for that very same reason.

They’ve been made to feel “unwelcome” in one way or another by the church.

But it shouldn’t be that way.

Because the Gospel is for ALL (II Peter 3:9; Mark 16:15), not just for those who are already Christians, but for anyone who might believe (Romans 1:16).

I need to remember, as a Christian who is working for God, that my behavior (both inside and outside of the church building) should not chase away His “customers,” but bring them back!

We should never use our knowledge of the truth or our position as a saved citizen of God’s kingdom to be condescending or dismissive, but in love and humility we should always remember to esteem others higher than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

That’s the kind of love Jesus wants us to have. And that’s the kind of love that will bring people back.

So, let this serve as a reminder to us all — there’s a whole world of people out there who need Jesus. And if we don’t treat them right the first time, we may never get another shot.

After all, you know what they say, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Until next time…

– PWAP

So Long, Farewell, auf Weidersehen, Goodbye…

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Goodbye.

It’s arguably one of the most difficult words in the English language.

Not necessarily because it’s difficult to spell or pronounce — but rather because it’s just a really difficult word to hear…and to say, as well. 😕

Nevertheless, we use the word so often that our society has been compelled to create a myriad of ways to express it:

  • So long
  • Farewell
  • auf Wiedersehen
  • Ciao
  • Sayonara
  • Adios
  • Toodle-oo
  • Ta-ta
  • Check you later, dude
  • Or as they simply say in Roll Tide country…“Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?!?” 😂😉

But I digress…

Maybe you’re wondering, how did all of this business about “goodbyes” start rattling around in my head in the first place?

Well, I’ve been thinking about it ever since stumbling across this quote on Facebook a few weeks back. It said:

“Everything you need to know about the way a person loves you is in the way they left you. If they left you like it was nothing, then you meant nothing to them.”

😳😳😳😳….Wow.

That’s a tough pill to swallow.

Have you ever experienced anything like that in your life?

I know I have…😣😔.

These types of encounters can make you feel so small. Insignificant. Worthless.

Or as the quote implies, like you’re nothing at all.

But just because someone leaves you like you meant nothing to them, doesn’t mean you are nothing!

Do you know why I believe that?

As counterintuitive as it sounds, it’s because we’ve all been loved and left before.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 Confused yet?

Don’t be.

You heard me right — this ain’t your first rodeo…and it ain’t mine either.

All of us, from the oldest to the youngest, from the least to the greatest, have been loved and left before!

By the SAME PERSON, no less!!!!!

Now, I know what you’re thinking — “That dirty scoundrel!” 😏😏😏

🤣

But I promise you, it’s not like that.

You see, the person who loved us and left us is not a scoundrel at all…in fact, He’s the farthest thing you could ever get from being a scoundrel!!

And His name is Jesus Christ. ❤️

About 2000 years ago, Christ loved us so much that He died for us. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-10; John 15:13).

He loved us and left us all on the same day!

Thankfully, that’s NOT where the story ends:

On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, and according to Acts 1:3 He spent the next 40 DAYS with His disciples before ascending into Heaven.

Now…….I’m from Indiana, so I’m no stranger to long goodbyes…but even by Midwest standards, 40 days does seem a little over the top. 🤷‍♀️

I mean, where I’m from, at the end of a long visit, people will slap their knees and say, “Welp, it’s getting late,” and then proceed to chit chat with their hand on the doorknob for the next 40 MINUTES 😂…but 40 DAYS?!?! 😱😱😱

The more I think about it, Jesus’ goodbye looked more like a farewell tour!

And then I can’t help but think about that quote again…remember, it said:

“Everything you need to know about the way a person loves you is in the way they left you. If they left you like it was nothing, then you meant nothing to them.”

Jesus didn’t leave us like we were nothing. He left us like we were the most somethingest somethings there ever were!!!!!

Even though we didn’t deserve it, He did all of this for us…and He’s still not finished.

There’s a song by the band Cain called “The Commission” that really paints this picture poignantly. If you’ve never heard it, click here to listen. I literally can’t hear it without balling my eyes out every. single. time. 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

It’s written from the perspective of Jesus as He is about to ascend into Heaven. He’s giving “The Great Commission” to his apostles to go into all the world, teaching and baptizing others for the salvation of their souls (Mark 16:15-16).

The chorus reads:

Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the end

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭😭😭

Goodbye is not the end…yes, even a 40-day-long goodbye is not enough for Jesus — one day He’s coming back and taking us with Him for good!!! And at that point, we’ll never have to say goodbye again…we’ll be with Him in Heaven eternally! (John 14:3)

Just as His death was not a final goodbye…if we believe, then our death is not a final goodbye either. (I Corinthians 15)

It’s more like a “see ya real soon”…or as my two-year-old nephew says, a “See ya later, ag-ill-ator” 😂😂😂🐊🐊🐊).

To which, with simple, trusting faith, Jesus simply wants us to reply, “After a while, crocodile!” 🥰🥰

Until next time…

-PWAP

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know

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Last Sunday was my last Sunday teaching the children’s Bible class for a while — yep…new year, new quarter, new teacher…all I can say is, bless her heart! 😂❤️😇😇😇❤️😂

Don’t get me wrong — I love those little Bible students to death, but I’ve always said teaching kids has to be more difficult than teaching adults.

You see, adults know a lot of things already…and the things they don’t know, they’re usually too embarrassed to ask, so they’ll just Google it…but kids?? They just use YOU as their own personal Google! 😂

Yep, there’s no shame in their game!! 😂 And for the past 16 weeks, these little elementary schoolers have been coming outta left field every Sunday with their questions about God and life and death and the universe…and I’m just over here like, Jesus help me through another Sunday…🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😂😂😂

I kid, I kid…mostly. 😉

The truth is they ask great questions…I just don’t always have great answers for them…🫠😩🤔.

But I guess that’s the beauty of it all — as the students learn, I learn, too. It’s truly a humbling experience.

But it always leads me to wonder…when it comes to the scriptures, at this stage in life, DOES God expect me to “know it all?”

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

And for some reason, when I was thinking about this, the name Ken Jennings popped into my mind. Remember him? The guy who holds the record for the longest consecutive winning streak on Jeopardy!? 🤓🤓🤓

He’s obviously someone with a lot of knowledge, albeit useless🙄…but that’s beside the point.

My point is, even after 74 consecutive wins (😱), even he was finally stumped!

Ken: Alex, I’ll take Psalm 23 for $100, please.

Alex: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in these grassy plains where sheep love to graze.

Ken: (*Buzzzzzz*) What is…a meadow?

Alex: No. I’m sorry, the correct answer was actually green pastures.

😂😂😂😂

Okay, okay…that’s NOT the actual question that put Ken “out to pasture” so-to-speak (no pun intended 😂)…but I would feel a lot better about my own Bible knowledge if it were…😂

But is that what God wants from us? A Ken Jennings-level of Bible knowledge? 74 consecutive wins at Bible trivia?

Or does God desire that we give Him more than just a Jeopardy-style regurgitation of Bible facts?? 🤓🤔

That kind of knowledge lives in the mind, but God wants to live in our hearts and souls as well (Matthew 22:37).

In other words, God wants you and I to do more than just quote a scripture about a Shepherd — He wants us to know the Shepherd Himself, Jesus Christ…and he wants to make us one of his sheep, so that we too can lie down in green…meadows.

  • God doesn’t want us to just memorize…he wants us to meditate.
  • He doesn’t want our orations…He wants our obedience.
  • He doesn’t just want us to learn…he wants us to love (knowledge puffs up, love builds up! I Corinthians 8:1).

David, a man after God’s own heart knew a little something about this…Psalm 119:97-105 says:

“Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.

I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.

I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.

How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth! I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

***************************************

No, I’ll probably never know it all…but I’m going to keep learning, loving, meditating, and obeying God’s Word, because it’s the only way to know Him.

After all, sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know that counts…especially when it comes to Jesus.

Until next time…

-PWAP

New Year, New Me!

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Well, it’s New Year’s Eve!

Almost time to watch that ball drop and party like it’s…2023? 🎉🎉🎉

Oh, who am I kidding…it’s almost time to drink sparkling grape juice with my kids while my husband snores like a freight train on the living room couch. 😒😒😒😂😴😴😴😴

Got any resolutions yet???

I can already think of a couple myself.

As you already know, this is the traditional time people dedicate or rededicate themselves to positive change…in fact, “new year, new me” is a phrase often used around this time of year…

And whether your goal is saving money, losing weight, or just watching less TikToks 😂…let me just say, I hope you reach your goals this year. I hope your hard work pays off! ❤️💪

But……..do me a favor?

While you’re working hard to accomplish those goals, remember this:

Setting and reaching goals is great, but (spoiler alert⚠️)…it won’t make you a “new you.”

Shocking, I know. 🤯🤯🤯😱😱😱😱

It’s actually the same old you, just with a few new habits…

Buuuuut….there is one teeny weeny exception to the rule.

One choice, one change, one resolution that trumps the rest.

And it’s simple really:

The only way to become a “new you” is to be born…all over again.

😳😳😳😳😳😳

Sounds crazy, right?

In John 3:3-7, a man named Nicodemus certainly thought the same when Jesus first explained the divine concept to him:

But “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “

When we are born of water and the Spirit through belief and baptism, our old self dies and a new self is born…or as the scriptures so eloquently describe, it is the moment in which we begin to “…walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

It’s the ultimate definition of a “new you.”

And it’s the most important New Year’s resolution you could ever make.

If you are seeking a new life that only God can provide, there is NO better time to start than today!!! ⏰⏱️🕰️⏳⌚️⌛️🕛⏲️

And there is no better Sunday to start worshipping Him than tomorrow, January 1st.

If you need a Savior — only Jesus can save your soul…

And if you need a church, I can save you a seat. ❤️

Happiest of New Years to you all!! 🎉

Until next time…

– PWAP

Oh, Christmas Tree

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As you may recall, for the last 3 weeks there have been boxes upon boxes of Christmas decor piled high on my living room floor…

Although I came very close to just arranging them in a pyramid formation, sticking a star on top and calling it a day, I am happy to report that I actually mustered up enough time and Christmas cheer this week to finally finish decking the halls. 🎄🎄🎄

Whew. Better late than never. 🤷‍♀️

Last night, as I sat on the couch admiring our freshly trimmed tree, I caught my reflection in one of the shiny red ornaments — and it reminded of something I heard recently on Facebook.

Scrolling through my feed, I ran across a holiday video touting an interesting theory: it boldly claimed that the way you decorate your Christmas tree is a direct reflection of who you are.

(Considering the fact that mine was quite literally reflecting me at the moment, I couldn’t argue there might be something to this… 🤔)

The man in the video asserted that trees decorated with a hodge-podge of handmade family ornaments are a testament to people who have loving homes, while those with more perfectly coiffed trees, do NOT. 😱😱😱

Ouch! 😣

You mean we can’t have it both ways — a loving home and a beautiful tree???? 😩😩😩🎄🎄🎄

Am I the only mom out there who struggles with wanting it both ways? 😔🙋‍♀️

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I get what he’s saying…and it’s about more than just a Christmas tree — it’s about the age-old struggle between self-sacrifice and self-indulgence.

Maybe having a pretty tree in and of itself isn’t wrong…but the bigger question is, when the two are at odds, which do we choose?…do we love our family or our self more?

When we choose the fancy tree OVER the family tree, our love is misplaced…and if you’re not loving the things that really matter, your tree will reflect that.

And in a way, our Christmas tree is sort of like a microcosm of our lives as well…

How I choose to “decorate” the proverbial tree of my life is a direct reflection on what matters most to me.

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

This year, our family ended up compromising on decorating the tree — a few fancy ornaments mixed in with handmade ornaments from the kids…and it turned out great.

But with God? There is no compromise.

You have to choose one or the other: hot or cold, God or self. There is no in-between. Jesus says if we are lukewarm, he will spew us out of His mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

We only get one tree and we only get one life — what are the “ornaments” hanging on yours? Do they reflect a love of self or a love of God?

🤔🤔🤔

Jesus Christ died atop a tree for you…and is more than deserving to live at the top of your tree as well.

Fresh cut trees don’t last forever…even the fancy ones. And Jesus is the only thing that can save you from being thrown in the fire at the end of the season.

Is Jesus the star atop the tree of your life?

I hope so, because He is the only real hope you and I have of ever being a true Evergreen.

Until next time…

-PWAP

So Much To Do, So Little Time

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It’s December 12th and this is the current state of my house…🎄🎄📦📦

Boxes everywhere.

Some freshly delivered from Amazon, while others have been sitting there for weeks…ever since the day I brought them down from the attic.

Yes, I am embarrassed to admit that for the past 3 weeks, my family has had to carefully step around boxes of my good intentions piled up in our hallway…each one filled with enough decor to transform an ordinary house into a winter wonderland.

Last night my husband finally decided it was time for an intervention 🤣— suggesting that with less than two weeks left until Christmas, I should just throw in the towel on the rest of my decorating plans…so we can actually have some semblance of a normal living room once again.

In the words of Stephanie Judith Tanner:

How rude.

😂😂😂😂

For your information, the reason I haven’t yet finished the decorating is because I’ve been preoccupied with arguably more important things…such as keeping our kids alive and stuff.

🙄🙄🙄🤣

But if I’m being honest, in my heart of hearts, I know he’s right…😔 we can’t keep living this way…at least not without ending up on an episode of hoarders or something.

I just wish I had time to do it all — enough time to feed my kids AND and set up all 87 pieces my miniature Christmas village. 😂

But I don’t.

I’m only one person and I only have a limited amount of time.

***************************************

On a more serious and personal note…my husband’s beloved grandmother unfortunately passed away this week 😔.

It’s times like these that make you stop and pause and think about the very limited time we have here on this earth as well.

We’ve all obviously been thinking a lot about her this weekend…and one thing that struck me is how even though she lived what we would consider “a long, full life,” 90 years still somehow doesn’t seem long enough.

“Don’t blink,” they say.

Because the stark reality is that some of us won’t even live THAT long. None of us is promised tomorrow, let alone 90 years.

With such a limited amount of time…what will we use it for?

Jesus teaches us to use the time we are given to prepare.

Prepare for what?

Our own death and/or His second coming.

Thankfully, Grandma H. did use her time to prepare and she taught her family to do the same. ❤️

But why doesn’t everyone spend their time this way?

Unfortunately, some people don’t prepare because they simply don’t believe.

But as believers, we know we need to prepare! So, we set out with good intentions, but we need to make sure the time doesn’t slip away from us.

Just as I got side tracked with the Christmas decor, Jesus warns us of doing the same with our very own lives.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus warns that sometimes the “cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches” can choke out God’s purpose for our lives (Matthew 13:22).

In other words, when the frivolous things take over our time, we’re in danger of running out of time to devote to the things that really matter — the work of the Lord.

What happens when that happens?

Well, we’ll unfortunately be like the 5 foolish virgins whose lamps weren’t ready for the bridegroom — a parable that warns us to prepare for the second coming of Christ (Matthew 25:1-13).

Because we don’t know how much time we have, we not only need to prepare but prepare with a sense of urgency. Those described in Luke 9:57-62 believed, but didn’t treat their calling with the urgency it called for…why?

Simply put, because it just wasn’t a “convenient” time for them. They thought they had more time…just as Felix did in Acts 24:25.

Life is always going to be full of demands on our time…so, there will never be a more convenient time to follow Christ than the present. In Luke 10:38-42, Mary recognized this, while Martha did not:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Christ calls us to be a Mary in a Martha world.

So, while seeing those boxes in the hallway may irritate me every time I walk past them, they should actually serve as a reminder that I’ve been trying to put first things first — God and my family. If I’m overcommitted, I’m overcommitted to Christ.

December 25th is coming in less than 2 weeks whether I am prepared for it or not. As much as I would like to turn back the clock (or the advent calendar, for that matter) and somehow magically have time to check off every item on my “to-do” list, that’s not going to happen.

And that’s fine. Because the truth is, those boxes could sit there all year long and it wouldn’t change my eternal salvation one bit. 📦😊

Until next time…

-PWAP

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

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Yesterday was the 57th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Wow! Hard to believe that a Christmas special could be running that long and still be popular with generations today as it was back when it first aired.

But nevertheless it has stood the test of time — and I can understand why.

The show has lovable characters, colorful scenes, and a meaningful message.

It’s one of our family’s favorites.

In fact, we love it so much that this year we purchased matching “Charlie Brown Christmas” themed pajamas to wear on Christmas morning. (Yes, we’re one of those annoying families that wears matching PJs 🙄😂).

The day they arrived in the mail, I threw them in the washer to make sure they were fresh and clean for Christmas…but when I pulled them back out, I realized something had gone terribly wrong — ALL of the black ink had mysteriously disappeared! 😱😭😭😤😩😔

I was distraught…and a little puzzled. How is that even possible? 🤔

But instead of marching myself down to the store like a total “Karen” and demanding a full refund, I decided to try to salvage the situation myself…with nothing but a little black Sharpie and sheer determination. I wasn’t going to let this ruin my Christmas spirit.

After all, I was a coloring contest champion back in the day…how hard could it be?

So, I sat down and went to work on it.

Tracing over those faded lines, I started out confidently, slowly and gently following the path with my marker. It was starting to take shape again.

But as time went on, my hand began to tire and cramp from all of that meticulous motion, making it difficult to keep the pen from veering outside of the lines.

Maybe it’s because nowadays our hands are more assimilated to keyboards and mouse pads than to good old paper and pen, but whatever the reason, the process turned out to be more difficult than I originally thought.

Thankfully, to the naked eye, the finished product mirrored the original…even though there were a couple of moments where I came dangerously close to giving Lucy a mustache and Charlie Brown a black eye 😳😂…well, that is a bigger black eye than he’s supposed to have, anyway. 🤣

It was in those difficult moments that I gained a newfound appreciation for the talent of the original Peanuts artist, Charles Schulz.

How did he so effortless draw these characters over and over for decades????

If I’m being honest, I couldn’t even TRACE these cartoons as well as he could DRAW THEM FROM SCRATCH! 🤯

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And then I thought about Jesus.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign unto you..Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” – Luke 2:11-14

This is the time of year that the world chooses to remember the birth of Christ — I mean, that’s what the “Charlie Brown Christmas” special is all about, right? A bunch of kids finding the “true meaning” of Christmas.

But as I traced those lines, my thoughts didn’t stop at the manger — they moved through the life of Christ and the path that he carved out for us through His sinless example.

Much as my Sharpie followed the lines on that shirt, we as Christians are to follow those paths that Jesus has outlined for us as well. “…Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” (Matthew 16:24)

He’s carved out the path, we just have to follow it.

But just like my hand did, we will undoubtedly tire and cramp in the process, resulting in mistakes…sins, if you will.

Even in our best efforts to “stay inside the lines,”we will undoubtedly fall short of the original.

But as a Christian (and recovering perfectionist), I have to remind myself that Christ’s sacrifice forgives me of my sins…so it’s less about how well I trace…and more about God’s redeeming grace.

One day, when I meet God and show him my own proverbial “artwork” — what I’ve drawn on the canvas of my life…will it look like a masterpiece?

Probably not…after all, I’m obviously no Charles Schulz. 😂

And I’m definitely not Jesus — His life was and is the only true masterpiece.

But I am a child of God, and I can call Him my Heavenly Father.

And as my Father, when He sees my incomprehensible scribbles, I imagine His reaction to be the same as that of any loving parent whose little child comes to show him a picture they’ve colored: He, with an immeasurable amount of grace, will look at it and say, “Well done.” (Matthew 25:21)

Until next time…

-PWAP

That’s What He Said…

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Like millions of Americans, you might be familiar with a TV show called The Office.

Even if you’ve never watched it, you’ve probably at least heard of it.

Based on the inner workings of a small fictional paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the show follows the mundane routines of a colorful collection of office workers — Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam, Angela, Phyllis, Ryan, Kelly, Stanley, Meredith, and Toby — as they go about their daily task of selling paper.

It’s quite the cast, to say the least. But a roster of quirky characters isn’t the only thing that sets The Office apart from other prime time comedies.

The show also uses a unique documentary-style of filming and an unprecedented amount of “cringe humor” (comedy that plays on social awkwardness 🫠)…a combination that ended up creating a sort of middle-class magic that endeared the show to an entire nation for nearly a decade.

With that being said….

It is important to note that despite all of the show’s positive attributes, viewer discretion should be advised due to moments where the humor borders on being more crude than cringe…

…including Michael Scott’s favorite punchline, “That’s what she said.”

If you don’t know what that phrase means, I hate to be the one responsible for marring your innocence — but….for lack of a better definition, let’s just say, it’s a unique phrase able to take even the most innocent conversations out of context and give them a double meaning that’s…well, straight out of the gutter. 😳

With that being said…I wonder if anyone has ever figured out just who “she” is…and what she thinks about all of these people putting words in her mouth!?! 🫢

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And then I thought about Jesus — I know, weird time for Him to pop into my head, but…

Sometimes people do the same thing to Him — putting words in His mouth that don’t belong there.

If there was ever an episode of The Office where Michael Scott conducted a Bible Study the same way he conducts one of his infamous staff meetings, I can only imagine how it would go — unstudied, shooting from the hip as usual, I can imagine him trying to quote scripture, but confusing it with common motivational phrases like:

  • “Be true to yourself.”
  • “Trust your gut.”
  • “Feel good about who you are.”
  • “Happiness is what matters.”
  • “Just be a good person.”

Then, of course, the camera would pan to Jim, who might facetiously interject something like, “Michael, I think you forgot to mention, ‘Listen to your heart — the heart won’t lie.’”

A shot of Jim and Pam exchanging a humorous glance would be cut short by an sudden outburst from across the room.

And in typical knee-jerk fashion, Dwight Schrute, Assistant to the Regional Manager, would point at Jim and exclaim, “FALSE! The heart is deceitful above all things. Therefore it will lie and you cannot therefore reliably listen to it.”

😂😂😂😂😂😂

To which I would have to say…the man ain’t wrong. 🤷‍♀️ (Jeremiah 17:9)

Yet, all of those things that Michael said are things we hear in our culture almost everyday…even from Christians!

But NONE of them are what Jesus said.

What Jesus actually said is:

  • “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

To put it plainly, oftentimes “being true to ourselves, trusting our gut, putting our own happiness above all else, and simply listening to our heart” are going to be in direct opposition to the things Jesus has commanded.

Therefore, it will be necessary in those moments to deny ourselves, deny our personal happiness, stop listening to our heart/trusting our gut and start listening to and trusting Jesus instead!

We need to be careful not to take His words out of context or to replace His standards with our own.

Otherwise, in our ignorance (willful or not), we might be guilty of confusing culture with Christ.

The only way to prevent that confusion is to actually read the words that Jesus said…in the Bible itself.

And when you do, you’ll have the confidence of knowing, “That’s what HE said.”

Until next time…

-PWAP

I Came in Like a Wrecking Ball

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A “memory” popped up on my Facebook newsfeed the other day. It was a picture of my youngest son playing in the backyard. 🥰

I love it when those kind of memories pop up — but something about this one in particular brought a smile to my face.

My son, who was about four years old at the time, was pretending to build something, so in true preschooler fashion, he was dressed for the part — wearing one of those bright orange safety vests commonly worn by construction workers (and one of The Village People 🤣).

Right after donning the vest, he had run over to me and proudly announced — “Look, Mom! I’m a destruction worker!” 😬

😂😂😂😂🤣

Now, obviously he meant construction worker…but nonetheless, truer words have never been spoken. 😜🤣

But in all fairness, he’s not the only “destruction worker” in the family…look no further than my oldest son’s bedroom and you will see that my husband and I have managed to spawn not one, but two destruction workers. 🙄🙄🙄

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…and while most of the time I prefer to hold their dad accountable for passing down the destructive genes — I must confess that today I ended up doing a little destructing of my own…😬

You see…after dropping the boys off at school this morning, I stopped at Walmart to pick up a few things.

As I passed the home goods section, there was a large mirror that caught my eye. It was decently priced and I knew just the right place to hang it back at home. 😍

Only problem was finding just the right place to put it in the cart…

Like I said, it was rather large.

So, I tried putting it in the cart this way…and that way… and then the other way… and well, nothing was quite working. 🤔

So I thought, I’ll just set it across the top of the cart like so and just go real slow until I get to the cash register. I’m sure it’ll be just fine.

However…it was, in fact, anything but fine. 😳

With one hand on the mirror and the other commandeering the shopping cart, I bravely pioneered my way toward the end of the aisle.

So far, so good.

But just as I began to turn the corner…things took a “turn” for the worse…literally.

Let’s just say, in the words of Miley Cyrus — “I came in like a wrecking ball!!!!”

🤣🤣🤣🫣🫢😱😭🤦‍♀️

I hadn’t gone more than a few feet before managing to clip the end-cap display with the corner of the mirror, sending two ceramic votives free-falling to the floor. 🫠🫣🫢😵

I cringed as the sound of shattering glass pierced my ears.

Immediately, a man in the next aisle came over to help, followed by a Walmart associate.

Mortified, I knelt down picking up the broken shards and apologized profusely for causing such a scene.

The associate reassured me not to worry, everything would be fine.

As she radioed for backup, she also instructed me not to touch anything (I think she was referring to the broken glass, but at that point I wouldn’t blame her if she had actually meant “please, for the love of all that is good, don’t touch anything else in this store” 😂).

Thankfully, the votives were small and relatively inexpensive…and Walmart was not going to hold me to the old “you break it, you buy it” slogan.

I felt ashamed, yet relieved at the same time.

😔😔😔😔😔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😌😌😌😌😌

Truly remorseful for my lapse in judgment and thankful for the pardon I had received, I apologized again as I slowly wheeled my buggy away from the scene of the crime vowing to never attempt anything like that again.

In fact, I put the mirror back on the shelf — taking the incident as a sign that that purchasing that mirror was not, in fact, a part of God’s plan for my life…🤣).

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Of course…if you know me at all by now, you know that I couldn’t walk away from this experience without having learned at least a couple of invaluable lessons from it.

One of which is…as alone and singled- out as I felt in that moment, I’m sure I’m not the only one to have ever broken something in a store before. And I probably won’t be the last.

And the same is true when it comes to sin.

I Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind…”

Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Spiritually speaking, we’re all “destruction workers.”

It’s been that way since Adam and Eve…talk about the apple not falling far from the tree. 🙄

And yet, destruction was never God’s plan for any of our lives.

That’s why He sent His Son Jesus to save and pardon us.

There’s no “you break it, you buy it” clause with Jesus around.

Why? Because Jesus already paid the price!

Romans 5:18: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”

Praise God!

That’s not to say that we should just go around “breaking things” on purpose like a bunch of rioters or vandals…as Paul writes, “Should we sin that grace may abound? God forbid!” (Romans 6:1-2)

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says that the broad way of living that leads to destruction, but the narrow “aisle” leads to life (even for those of us who are more accident-prone 😉).

But how do you find that narrow aisle?

In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Jesus is that narrow aisle. He is the way to salvation and eternal life. And it was Jesus himself who said, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16)

In all my broken, clumsy ways, He has saved me. And He can save you too, if you will only let Him.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall…Jesus really is the fairest one of all.”

Until next time…

-PWAP