Tag: Religion

You are the Song That I Sing

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My seven-year-old will NOT stop humming. 🙄

In the playroom, in the car, on the toilet, it doesn’t matter where he’s at, the kid comes with a built-in soundtrack…😂.

Couple that with a 10-year-old who has recently learned the art of whistling, and we’re practically one washtub away from having our own jug band.

— that is, a jug band that exclusively covers John Williams’ hits.

😂😂😂

But who exactly is John Williams 🤔, you ask?

(Sounds about as famous as the guy next door, right?)

Well, he’s actually the musical mastermind who composed the scores for such iconic films as Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, E.T., and Raiders of the Lost Ark — which happen to be some of my kids’ favorite movies!

In fact, he’s composed so many well-known movie scores over the years that Apple Music even has a “John Williams’ Essentials” playlist now!

And……..of course we had to listen to it.

So, there we were on a Tuesday afternoon heading home from the grocery store — just a former music major and a couple of music “minors” — humming along down the road to one orchestral arrangement after another…

When all of the sudden, a song came on that I was not expecting to hear AT ALL…in fact, it was a song I hadn’t heard in over 20 years.

And yet, as soon as I heard the music start, it was like Carpool Karaoke meets the Day of Pentecost (minus James Corden and the Holy Spirit, of course)…and I couldn’t help but sing along:

“Bee ya ma yee ah, 🎶

bee len geisia bee gammah. 🎶

Bee ya ma yee ah, 🎶

bee len geisia tee yamanga…🎶

…Mu ya mah mu yeh, 🎶

Mu ya mah mu yeh, 🎶

Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.” 🎶

The song is called, “Dry Your Tears, Afrika” from the movie Amistad — And in case you hadn’t noticed…the lyrics aren’t in English — they’re in the west-African language of Mende.

But it was no miracle that I was singing along…I knew the words because we sang it in our school choir one year.

And while not miraculous, it was nothing short of impressive.

How is it that over 20 years later, I can’t remember anything my teachers said (in English)…but I can still remember an entire song in MENDE???!!

Let’s just say, hearing it struck a chord in me for the rest of the week.

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The whole experience made me think about how Ephesians 5:19, tells us to “[speak] to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord…” and how God in His infinite wisdom knew the benefits of singing long before we could figure out the science behind it all.

According to Opera North, singing not only enhances our memory, it releases endorphins, enhances lung function, helps you relax, builds a sense of community, lets you express yourself, can help relieve pain, boosts your confidence, and enhances your overall wellbeing!

These benefits are even more apparent when it comes to the developing brains of children.

Kids learn better with music.

In fact, according to an article published in The Washington Post earlier this year, “Music speaks to children in the areas of the brain that process sound and emotion, which are both fully developed at birth,” and “…taps into the emotional and memory centers of the brain, so information and instructions delivered through song are more likely to stick…Consider this: How did you learn your ABCs, and do you still remember them?”

It turns out that the art of making imperfect music with another person…releases feel-good hormones that bond people together. It’s also a surprisingly mindful pursuit. “When you’re making music with other people, your thoughts don’t stray, because you’re drawn into the orbit of synchronization, and that requires focus and attention.”

Which explains why when my kids were toddlers, their pediatrician would end every visit, instructing me to “keep singing to them.”

From a medical standpoint, he knew that it was crucial to their development.

And from a spiritual standpoint, it’s vital to our development as well.

Even if we can’t carry a tune in a bucket, we have to keep singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” with and to each other…especially our children.

Your kids will remember what they sing, so bring your babies to Bible class, bring your kids to Sunday school. Bring them to worship and let them hear the voices of the saints blending together in praise to God.

It’s never too early — or too late to start.

So, this is yet another reminder to myself as a parent to turn off the KidzBop 2022 for a minute and sing along in the car with some Bible songs, too.

My friend Holly suggested a series of kid’s Bible CDs called “Slugs and Bugs,” that sets Bible verses to music. She said her kids have memorized a ton of scripture this way without even really trying! And now I think I understand why.

We followed her suggestion and started listening to Slugs and Bugs, too…and now my kids have added these to their humming/singing/whistling repertoire as well 😂…and so have I.

Until next time…keep on singing.

-PWAP

Write on My Heart Every Word

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My youngest son (who just turned 7) was sitting on the end of our pew during worship this morning.

He was a little farther away from me than usual, so I couldn’t see exactly what he was doing during church, but it looked like he had his pen and paper out, so I assumed he was listening while quietly drawing one of his world-famous pictures of Jesus. ❤️

Boy, was I wrong…😂.

When the final “amen” was said, he made his way straight over to show me his “artwork.”

Oh, it was artistic alright…but instead of using paper as his canvas, he had used the entire backside of his arm instead…😱🙄🤦‍♀️.

“Look, mom! I got a tattoo!”

As unsightly as it was, part of me was just glad it was only pen and not Sharpie. 🙏🙏🙏

I fussed at him for a minute…and then sent him off to Bible class.

But shortly after I finished preaching to him about his arm…his little arm preached a sermon right back to me…

You see, he was (in his own weird way 🙄) actually on the right track as far as what God desires for us all…

As the church hears the Word of God taught each Sunday, God is making an indelible mark on our innermost being…so, in a way we are each getting tattoos of our own.

Week after week, the Word of God is being tattooed on our hearts…the most intimate place you could EVER get a tattoo!! (Despite what you’ve heard to the contrary…🤭.)

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says:

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

When we teach, we tattoo. When we learn, we become tattooed.

And whether we realize it or not, our tattoos themselves have the ability teach others, as well.

With one glance, a tattoo can tell the world a little bit about us. It’s a powerful representation of who we are and what we love.

And this is even more true when it comes to tattoos of the heart — because our hearts determine everything else we do:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

For this reason, it’s vitally important to be careful about what we choose to tattoo on our hearts, because unlike my son’s “temporary tattoo,” permanent ones are not as easily removed.

Which is exactly the reason why my husband always says, “If I ever get a tattoo, I’m getting the words ‘Know Regrets’…because I’d probably end up regretting it…” 🙄😂🤣.

But he’s right in a way…getting a tattoo is a long, tedious, costly, and even painful process…so it is a choice you want to be sure of.

In a lot of ways, the process of tattooing the Word of God on your heart is really no different.

But don’t let that scare you away from becoming His disciple…because I can tell you one thing for sure…it’s something you’ll never regret. ❤️😊

Until next time…

-PWAP

Here’s Your Sign

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I was driving through town the other day when the car in front of me suddenly turned its hazard lights on and began driving suuuuper slow…until finally coming to a complete stop.

I was trying to pass, but the oncoming traffic was relentless — so, for the moment I was stuck.

As I sat there waiting, I started to wonder…why is this car come stopped?

Is it car trouble? A medical emergency?

Dozens of pessimistic possibilities began swirling around in the compartment of my mind that does all of my overthinking for me…🤔.

My initial annoyance was quickly turning to concern.

So, when I finally got the chance to pass, I peeked over just to make sure everything was ok.

The good news?

Everyone in the car appeared to be fine — whew, what a relief!

The weird news?

Apparently, the driver stopped because of a sign. 🙄🙄🙄🙄

And I’m not talking about one of those little red and white octagonal ones either. 🛑🤣🤦‍♀️

Nope — this woman was holding up traffic all to take a picture of our town’s welcome sign.

Wait — what????

Ummm, like it’s not even that great of a sign, people — it’s plain, it’s old, and for all intents and purposes, it might as well be labeled “Podunk, USA.” 🤣

I’m just kidding, I like the town I live in. But the sign? It’s definitely nothing to write home about.

So, as I passed this stationary vehicle, part of me wanted to roll my eyes…🙄🙄🙄

But the other part of me wanted to roll down my window and shout…“Don’t stop!! Keep going!!!!”

Now, at this point, I you’re probably thinking, “Road rage? 😳 This is sooooo not where I pictured this story going.”

🤣…but I promise it wasn’t anger-management issues that triggered my hypothetical outburst…no, quite the opposite — I promise my intentions were good.

You see, I wanted to tell the driver that just up the road, our town has a pretty hip Instagram-worthy “Greetings from…” sign painted on the side of one of the quaint little buildings downtown.

Simply put, I wanted to tell them that there’s something even better up ahead.

If only they knew…

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Sometimes, I wish I could go back and express a similar sentiment to my younger self…

If only you knew what was ahead…that better things are waiting for you down the road.

I don’t know if I could count all the times I’ve stopped short, not putting enough faith in the One who holds the future.

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I get it…there are times in this life when it’s tempting to turn on our flashers and pull off to enjoy all this world has to offer.

But what we have to remember is that this earthly life can’t even come close to comparing with what’s waiting for us up ahead — in Heaven.

When we stop short, we sell ourselves short in so many ways…

It’s like settling for crumbs, when God the Father has prepared an entire table for us. (Luke 14:12-14)

Or selling your birthright for a bowl of porridge. (Genesis 25:29-34)

It’s asking for an early inheritance — and squandering it all. (Luke 15:11-32)

It’s hoarding the treasures of earth in lieu of the blessings of Heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)

When I think of these verses, I know what God is trying to teach us.

And I know that when it comes to seeking God and trying to love Him every day with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind — I won’t stop. I can’t stop.

And don’t you stop either. Keep going— because nothing this life has to offer can compare to what’s ahead.

Take Paul’s advice and “…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14

Until next time…

-PWAP

Famished Flowers

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Speaking of parched plants and famished flowers…the post I shared yesterday, A Drought in the Storm, reminded me of another post I wrote around this time last year — before I even started this blog.

By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll definitely be convinced that I don’t have a green thumb…and you might even be tempted to report me to PETP — People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants…🤣…but here goes nothin’:

In Matthew 6:28, Jesus asks us to “consider the lillies of the field.”🌷🌻🌹🌼

This verse came to mind as I took the time to consider mine today, LITERALLY…and…I found some of them in pretty bad shape 😣…after just a few days with no rain during the “dog days” of summer🌞, they were already looking pretty rough!

I don’t have a green thumb AT ALL, but I’m also no dummy. It was pretty simple, these flowers needed water ASAP.

I should have been watering them daily, BUT…life is busy and there always seems to be more pressing matters. But I couldn’t put it off any longer…or else all of the time, effort, and money we had put in just a few weeks ago to plant them would have been for all for naught! 😩

As I was watering, I started thinking about how God compares our own lives to the life of a flower – beautiful, yet fragile and short. And just as flowers need water to live physically, we also need the Living Water that Jesus provides to live spiritually.

We may think we are able to go without it for extended periods of time when the conditions in our lives are favorable — but when those “dog days” of life come, even a short time without His sustenance can be irreversibly damaging.

Thankfully, although the flowers in my yard did lose some of their blooms, the plant itself remained green. There’s still hope to save it from complete destruction.

And the same goes for us — as long as we’re still on this earth, there’s still hope for us too. As long as we are breathing, we are never too far gone for Jesus to bring us back to life spiritually!

The Bible says God is faithful to send rain on both the “just and the unjust,” but experience teaches us that there will also be times when it is necessary to SEEK out water in order to live.

When I saw my plants in need of water, I didn’t just pray like Elijah for a miraculous rain, I went and sought water…from my garden hose.

An ordinary and practical solution — but I have faith that the results it will produce will be nothing short of miraculous, restoring abundant life to a half-dead plant!

Maybe lately you’re finding yourself a bit parched as well, and you’ve been looking for God to send a “miraculous rain” to bring you back to life too.

But maybe what He’s really asking you to do is to simply seek Him at the water source, His Holy Word, a well that never runs dry.

Pick up your Bible, attend a worship service, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, learn about His teachings, believe, be baptized and live your life at the well.

If you do that, He promises that YOU will be like a tree planted by the waters.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Until next time…keep planting and watering. 😉

-PWAP

“7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”…10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”…13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:7-14)

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye. shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh. findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. – (Matthew 7:7-8)

“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.”
(Psalm 103:15- 16)

A Drought in the Storm

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According to the calendar, summer “officially” began last week…

However, according to my electric bill, summer actually started last month…and its been breathing down our proverbial necks ever since. 🥵😣😒🙄😎🤣

(Move to Florida, they said…it’ll be fun, they said.) 🤣🤣🤣🙄🙄🙄🤣🤣🤣

Besides the heat and humidity, summer in subtropical climates also comes with plenty of rain.

The rainy season in Florida is that magical time of year when every afternoon like clockwork, the clouds roll in and it rains cats and dogs for at least an hour or so, allowing enough time for our plants and flowers to get a drink — and local theme parks to cash in on selling oversized-trash bags to tourists for 15 bucks a pop. 😳😳😳

While I’m not a Florida-native, I’ve grown somewhat accustomed to this monsoon-like weather pattern over the years.

And for the most part, I’ve learned to plan my day around these storms.

Which is exactly why it threw me for a loop when summer kicked off with a bit of a dry spell this year….

Don’t get me wrong— the forecasters still predicted showers every morning…and the storm clouds still rolled in every afternoon…

…but day after day, the dark clouds made an appearance, only to pass over us without releasing a single drop of rain.

I found myself parched…and perplexed.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

And as the days went by, I watched my flowers and plants begin to wither without these daily showers.

But I was still convinced that the rain was coming, just like it had all those years before.

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And that’s when I got to thinking…

How often do we spend our time bracing for “storms of life” that never come? And how parched are we becoming in the process?

From thunderstorms to hurricanes, we all know forecasters get it wrong A LOT.

And so do newscasters for that matter. 🙄

Just like the predicted chance of storms sometimes never come to pass, we have to remember that some of the doom and gloom that we hear predicted on CNN or Fox News will never come to pass either.

Right now, our country is a buzz over things like inflation, gas prices, wars, gun control, and abortion laws, just to name a few.

It seems a dark cloud has settled.

But no matter how ominous the Doppler radar of our lives may look, it would be helpful to remember that all storms eventually blow over — and the dreadful things we think will happen, sometimes never even come to pass.

God doesn’t want us to spend our lives anxiously awaiting the next storm or wondering where the next bolt of lightning may strike (Philippians 4:6-7).

If we spend our days simply “preparing for the storm,” instead of “preventing the drought,” we may end up like my flowers — parched.

Instead of constantly keeping our eyes on the skies, God says we would do better to meditate on Him instead.

And when we do, the Bible says we will be “like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Stay in God’s Word, hydrate yourself with its Living Water…and don’t be anxious for the drought or the storm, because God is the God of it all.

Until next time…

-PWAP

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. -Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. -Jeremiah 17:7-8

Feeling Zesty

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I went through the drive thru at Burger King this afternoon to get a burger and some onion rings.

When the young man handed me my bag of food, I said, “Oh, could I have some zesty sauce please?”

He nodded politely and the next thing I knew, he was handing me what seemed to be an ENORMOUS pile of zesty sauces. 😳😳😳😳

As he transferred the packets into my hand, I said, “Thank you so much,” simultaneously thinking to myself, how many zesty sauces does one woman need???? 🤣🤣🤣

My cup-holder runneth over. 😉

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As I drove away, a verse came to mind…

And no — it’s not “Man shall not live by zesty sauce alone.”

😂😂😂

It was Matthew 5:41-42.

“…And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

In a world where condiments are growing scarcer by the day (I mean, even Chick-fil-A has its limits), this young man went above and beyond the call of duty.

I only asked him to go one mile, and he went two.

I was floored.

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It may seem like “just zesty sauce,” but the principle of the matter is really so much more.

He didn’t just grudgingly “do his job” or try to skate by with the bare minimum to keep from being fired.

And as Christians, neither should we!

God is our “boss” — and He doesn’t want us just “getting by” doing the bare minimum just to keep from being fired.

No, in this world believers are even more scarce than condiments, but that’s all the more reason to willingly go the extra mile to give of ourselves to others just as this young man gave of those zesty sauces.

It shows we care about people not because we “have to,” but because we want to, because we genuinely love God, genuinely love them, and because most importantly God genuinely loves them!!

When we heed Jesus’ call in Matthew 5 to go above and beyond the call of duty for friends and enemies alike, they may not always appreciate it. They may even look at us like we’re crazy…or metaphorically speaking just spit in our face.

But if nothing else, it’s a sure-fire way to get people’s attention…and to give God the glory.

So, go the extra mile for someone today.

If zesty sauces can make that kind of impression, there’s no telling what kind of impact you might make!

Until next time…

-PWAP

If You Can’t Take The Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen

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It’s no secret…I’m not the world’s best cook.

In fact, if someone took a poll asking who in our family has started the most kitchen fires — hands down, the answer would be…ME!! 🙋‍♀️ 🔥🔥🔥

— Guilty as charged.

I don’t know what it is, but I have always been a little clumsy…a little accident-prone, especially when I’m trying to do more than one thing at a time.

I’m just not that great at multitasking, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

If you read my last post, Living the Meme, I’m sure you’re well aware of how I feel about multitasking in this crazy busy life…and sometimes we have so much going on, we have to put certain things on the “back burner” so-to-speak.

As I was cooking the breakfast for the kids this morning, I was feeling the pressure of multitasking once again — dipping and flipping the pancakes over on the griddle while simultaneously trying not to burn the eggs or start (yet another) fire with bacon grease on the stove. Add hollering at two rowdy kids on a Saturday morning to the mix and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster.

Most of the time, my husband and kids are gracious in regard to my culinary catastrophes.

If their eggs are a little burnt or their bacon extra crispy, they don’t give me too hard a time…mostly they’re just glad I was making them something to eat at all. 😂

It’s just like my mom always said — the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. 😂🤣

And metaphorically speaking, it’s sort of that way with God’s heart too.

You see, He’s given us the “recipe for life” in His “cookbook” — the Bible. 😉

But it’s up to us to gather the ingredients and actually whip it up — even if we’re the not the best chefs in town. It’s important we read and follow the recipe carefully, especially when we’re just starting out.

But as we’re cooking, sometimes we get distracted — whether it be by a phone call, text, knock on the door, or a couple of crazy kids wrestling each other on the couch.

And before you know it, something’s gone awry with the meal you were trying to prepare.

With all the different pots we have on the stove of life, it’s almost inevitable that one will boil over, stick to the pan, or start one of those fun-little grease fires…😳🫢🔥🙄

And that’s where grace comes in.

Like a fire-extinguisher for our souls, God’s grace is there to put out those fires that arise as we’re trying to follow His special recipe.

Even if the blaze is so big that it takes a fire engine to come put it out, God’s got the insurance policy to cover it!

But though grace may be offered free for all…it isn’t a “free-for-all.” Contrary to the beliefs of some, God’s grace is not an insurance policy that covers intentional sin when there is little or no effort on our part to prevent and/or contain the fire.

You have to reach out to that fire extinguisher in order for it to work and you have to be willing to call 911 for help!

Think about it.

Should we TRY to burn the food on purpose?? Should we TRY to intentionally start that kitchen fire???

Insurance won’t reimburse for a 5 alarm fire that was the result of a self-sabotaging act of arson.

And neither will God.

So, then does it make any sense that we should “sin that grace may abound?” God forbid! (Romans 6:2)

In fact, the Bible teaches, “If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

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The opposite is true as well…turning all the burners off and just “ordering take-out” is not part of God’s plan either.

Just like a family recipe handed down for generations, we should cherish God’s Word and its recipe for our lives. Why settle for a cheeseburger when you could have a home cooked meal??

Are we all going to become the next Rachael Ray or Emeril Legasse in the process?

No, but we have to be trying.

God expects us to follow His recipe to the best of our abilities.

I wonder if that’s why despite his flaws, the Bible refers to David as a man after God’s own heart. (I Samuel 13:14)

He was a cheater and a murderer — talk about some big fires to put out. 😳😳😳🔥

But he repented — and he never stopped seeking God.

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I say all this to say….

Culinarily-speaking, if you’re like me and you’re accident prone in the kitchen — then you’re gonna want a fire extinguisher close by when you’re cooking. 🤣

But spiritually-speaking, if you’re a person who like me who is “sin-prone”…then you’re gonna want to keep Jesus close by. ❤️

Only His precious sacrifice can provide us with the grace we need to keep on cooking…

…and one-day land that 5 star review from the most important critic of all time, God Himself.

Until next time…

-PWAP

Living the Meme

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When I saw this meme on Facebook the other day, I had to laugh…and slightly cringe.

Why? Because I could relate. 🫢

When I was little, I always dreamed of being a Disney Princess…and now look at me — here I am a grown-woman relating to the likes of Cruella DeVille. 🙄🙄🙄🙄😂🤣

You know what they say, “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Okay, maybe I’m being a little melodramatic…but there certainly is some truth there.

My inner Cruella tends to come out when I overcommit.

One such example happened over winter break last year — my boys were playing around in the backyard with the neighbor kids while I was doing some housework inside. I watched them through the window as they played.

Later on, when the kids finally came in for the night, my youngest son informed me that the little neighbor girl had inquired as to my whereabouts — sweetly asking, “Is your mom inside baking holiday treats?”🎄😊🎄

To which my 6-year-old son bluntly replied:

“No. She’s stressed out.”

😳😳😳😳😂😂😂😂😩😩😩😩

Kids say the craziest things, don’t they?? 🤣🤣😬

But, if I’m being completely honest…the sad truth is, he was right — I was “stressed out.” 🤯

It was Christmas after all…and in typical mom- fashion, I was trying to do ALL THE THINGS (decorating, shopping, baking, Elf on the Shelf…need I say more?? 🥴😵‍💫🫠).

I was trying to live up to waaaaaay too many expectations (mostly self-imposed)…and had bitten off more than I could chew.

Let’s just say it wasn’t bringing out the best in me.

In fact, in my quest for Pinterest-worthy Mary Poppins perfection, I had become more like the villain instead of the hero. 😔

And while I’d like to say it’s just the holidays that stress me out…everyday life oftentimes gets to me, too.

Bills, school assignments, work deadlines, never-ending piles of laundry, grocery shopping, budget-balancing, doctors’ appointments, sick kids…after a while on that hamster wheel, it’s easy for your mental space to become a far cry from the “peace that passes all understanding.” 😬😫😔

Despite the often misapplied verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13), I’m writing this blog post to remind myself (and others) that we were never meant to literally do it all!!!!

In fact, when it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders, we would do well to remember that even the Messiah himself (who lived a perfect, sinless life) didn’t “do it all” while he was here on this earth.

Now, I’m not saying He couldn’t have done it all…He could have healed everyone in the world, brought world peace, etc. (Matthew 26:53)…yet, somehow He chose not to.

Which leaves us with one burning question…

Why not????

Why didn’t Jesus do it all while He was here?

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Well, simply stated, He had a mission and He stuck to it: “…the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10) — the spiritually lost.

And while he did help people along the way, He never let that detract from His ultimate goal.

Maybe that’s why when a paralyzed man was brought to Him, Jesus initially chose to forgive the man’s sins rather than healing him (Matthew 9:2-8). 🤷‍♀️

You see, He knew that restoring a person’s physical life was good — but that restoring a person’s spiritual life was better.

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Just as Jesus explained to Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we too have a choice to make between what is good and “what is better.”

With the limited time and resources given to us, we have to choose wisely where to channel our energies as well. We literally can’t “do it all” and still be pleasing to God (Matthew 6:24; Joshua 24:14-15).

If we are burning the candle at both ends so-to-speak, eventually there’ll be no light in us left to shine!

How then will we as followers of Christ be the light of the world as he has called us to be??? (Matthew 5:14)

Just like Jesus, we have a purpose and a calling: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

There will always be laundry to do. Dishes to wash. Crumbs to sweep. There will always be another dollar to make, another bill to pay. Another holiday to decorate for.

All good things in and of themselves.

But when does too much of a good thing…stop being a good thing?

All I’m saying is this — the hamster wheel will always be there…but there may never be another chance to:

– sit and learn at Jesus’ feet

– talk to your neighbor about Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

– help a sick friend.

– teach your children the ways of Jesus while they are still young.

Despite all the distractions of this life…we too should be about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

The time is now, and we have to choose carefully how we use it — maybe we’ll never quite master doing “all the things.” But did we do the most important things? The things of God?

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Perhaps you’re like me and have come to realize that the never-ending pressures of this world are insurmountable, as well.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

When I read verses like this, I’m reminded that in a world that values “keeping up with the Jones’s” (or the Kardashians, for that matter) — keeping up with Jesus makes a whole lot more sense.

Jesus is the difference between “living the meme” and “living the dream” — for eternity.

Until next time…

-PWAP

Rest is Best

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I was watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood with my one-year-old nephew the other day. It was the episode where Daniel has to stay home sick from school.

I didn’t think much about it at the time, but as my 6-year-old has been home sick the past few days, a song from that show randomly popped into my head again — “Rest is Best.”

The message of the song in a nutshell is this: When you’re sick, you need to rest in order to get better.

Pretty simple concept, right?

It’s an instinct really — when our bodies get sick (or even just tired), what do we feel like doing??

Absolutely nothing!!!

Our bodies instinctively tell us to rest.

But there’s more to “resting” than just sleeping 18 hours a day and then lying on the couch watching I Love Lucy reruns for the other 6.

Rest alone will not make us “all-better” – we also need to follow doctor’s orders, eating, drinking, and taking the proper medications to be made whole again.

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Just like our bodies, our souls need rest too.

And while it may sound counterintuitive to get up early for church on a Sunday morning in order to find rest — Jesus says we can only find true rest in Him:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).

You see, Jesus not only knows we’re tired, he knows the reason we’re tired as well — we’re sick.

Sick and tired. Great combination, right?

We’re sick with a terminal disease called sin — and we’re tired because we spend our daily lives battling the side effects of it — fear, hate, depression, loneliness, insecurity, heartaches and pains…the list could go on and on.

Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Mark 2:17

Jesus is often considered The Great Physician.

And the church? A hospital for the sinners he heals.

If you haven’t yet been healed of your sin, come to Jesus and follow His prescription:

Believe that He is the Son of God.

Confess your faith publicly.

Be baptized for the remission of your sins.

If you’ve already been healed by the Great Physician through belief and baptism, well…let me just say: don’t forget to keep your “follow-up appointments.” 😉

As an oncology nurse, I educate patients about this all the time: a patient may be considered to be in remission after completing their initial cancer treatments, but they should still continue regular follow ups with their physician as directed.

Why?

Well, these follow-ups are often referred to as surveillance visits — where the doctor will monitor and assess for any signs of a recurrence at regularly scheduled intervals.

In much the same fashion, God also calls the church together in weekly intervals — knowing that we need these regularly scheduled “check-ups” to keep us accountable and to make sure the dreadful disease of sin is not overtaking our lives once more.

But more than some sort of a weekly support group for sinners, our weekly worship to God alongside fellow Christians is commanded and designed for the glory of God.

After all, He deserves our thanks and praise more than any earthly physician does.

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To those who overlook the importance of meeting together as a whole body of believers on the first day of the week, let me just say…

When we don’t heed the call to worship God and remember Jesus’s death on the first day of every week, we become like patients who don’t keep their follow up appointments.

Often referred to as being “lost to follow up,” these patients are almost invariably prone to poorer outcomes than the ones who strictly followed the directions of their doctor.

Forsaking the assembly of the church is nothing short of signing yourself out of God’s “hospital for sinners” ASA (against spiritual advice) — putting yourself at high risk of a similarly poor outcome, spiritually speaking. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

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And lastly, there’s always those who rely on WebMD to diagnose and treat their medical problems.

The world says to find rest in self-care, vacations, retail therapy, spa days, fishing with your buddies on the lake, Netflix binges, and the list could go on and on…

But those are just like putting cheap bandaids on a gaping wound.

Jesus says we can find true rest in Him. Rest that’s more than just a bandaid. Rest that will heal our souls.

So who are you going to listen to?

The Great Physician…or some quack on the internet?

I’d go with Jesus, He’s never lost a patient yet. 😉

Oh…and for what it’s worth…His bedside manner is impeccable. 🥰

Until next time…

-PWAP

From Rags to Riches

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The amazingly intricate patchwork quilt pictured above is a famous Civil War-era relic known as the Reconciliation Quilt. Created by Lucinda Ward Honstain in 1867, it depicts scenes of everyday American life in the aftermath of the Civil-war.

According to the clarafordfoundation.org, the Reconciliation Quilt was sold at Sotheby’s in 1991 for $264,000!!!! — making it the most expensive quilt ever sold at auction.

Who would’ve thought that what started out as just some scraps of fabric and spools of thread, could one day be worth so much!

Mind = Blown 🤯

I don’t know if I’d ever pay that much for a quilt (let’s face it, $264,000 is more than I paid for my first house!!!😳😳😳), but I still think they are soft, cozy, and beautiful.

I especially loved my great-grandmother’s quilts. I remember going to her house when I was little, grabbing a peppermint stick from the mason jar on her counter and staring in awe at all of the beautiful patchwork she had lying around her house.

She made things like pillows and baby dolls, but “Grandma Abernathy” had a special talent for taking tattered pieces of fabric and lovingly sewing them together into magnificent quilts.

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My dear friend Miss Ruth wrote to me the other day with an idea she had for one of my blog posts. She said, “I was looking at a quilt a friend had made, and the thought came to me that she makes quilts beautiful from scraps (of material); but what does God do? He makes scraps (wayward man) into things beautiful (when they obey).” 😊

And you know what? She’s exactly right.

Just like my great-grandmother, with a pattern and a purpose, these quilters take seemingly insignificant scraps and make them into something beautiful (and useful) — and often selflessly give their finished projects away as gifts to family and friends alike. ❤️

When we choose to give the tattered scraps of our lives to God in humble obedience, reconciling our will to His, God can turn the fabric of our lives into a magnificent “Reconciliation” Quilt of His own.

In fact, the Bible teaches us that “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

The Bible is full of stories where God is threading people’s life events together for His purpose…and for our good.

Right now, we’re studying the life of Joseph in our Wednesday night Bible class. He’s kind of the perfect example of how God can take scraps and turn them into something beautiful — if only we’ll be faithful to Him.

Do you remember the story of Joseph? You probably do — you know, he was the one with the “Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat…”

(Or wait…maybe that was Donny Osmond??? 🤔)

😂😂😂😉 Anyhoo…Joseph was given that special coat because he was loved by his father — which unfortunately only made his brothers hate him even more.

The target of a murder plot, sold into slavery in a foreign land, falsely accused, and thrown into prison — Joseph’s life ended up as tattered and torn as his beautiful coat did.

And for a while, Joseph was seemingly forgotten by God…despite his faithfulness.

But behind the scenes, God was always there.

Sitting at his proverbial heavenly “sewing machine,” He was threading together the tattered pieces of Joseph’s life with a purpose and a pattern in mind.

As much as Joseph’s earthly father had loved him, he was about to find out that his Heavenly Father loved him even more.

God took Joseph’s dire circumstances as a slave and prisoner, and ultimately promoted him to second-in-command, right under Pharaoh himself — leading him to the conclusion that his brothers had meant “evil against [him], but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20)

Joseph knew who was behind his rags to riches story. He knew who was sewing his scraps together. And he trusted that in time, God was making them into a beautiful…life.

Are you trusting God to do the same for you? He can turn your rags to a priceless quits too, if you will only let Him — if you will only be faithful to him, like Joseph.

Remember that really expensive quilt that we talked about before? The one that cost more than my first home?

Why was it sold for such a high price?

The materials themselves were certainly not worth that much. Neither was the labor.

But it’s a one-of-kind. It’s rare and beautiful and represents something profound in American history. So, therefore it has great value.

The value we put on something directly corresponds to the price we are willing to pay for it.

We too are each one-of-a-kind — rare and valuable in the eyes of God.

And God was willing to pay the highest price there is for our reconciliation — the precious blood of His son Jesus Christ.

And for those of us who choose to bring the scraps of our lives to the cross, He is faithful to weave them together for our good and His glory.

And the finished product will always be beautiful…and priceless.

Until next time…

– PWAP