Tag: Stories

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.

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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…🤣).

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

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

The Road Ahead: A Blog About Fog

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This morning, I drove the boys to their first day of school (5th and 1st grade). It was so foggy here that we could barely see down the road in front of us as we pulled out of our driveway.

My oldest son took notice right away, “Wow, this fog is really creepy. It looks like the road just all of the sudden ends!”

He was right.

And if I didn’t know any better, I’d think the same thing myself: surely this is the end of the road — we can’t go any further.

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

Sometimes it’s that way in life, too.

Actually — that’s pretty much the way it is in life every day.

Every minute of every day, even.

From day we’re born, we live our lives not knowing what the next second holds for us.

Sometimes that can be a blessing…and sometimes that can be downright scary.

But even though we don’t know what lies ahead…God does.

And even if we can’t see past the fog…God can.

If we believe what Deuteronomy 31:7-8, we can be comforted by the fact that God is not only with His people…but He goes before them to prepare the way as well:

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Have faith that though you may not always be able to see the road ahead, it’s still there and that He is the one paving it.

Keep ‘em at 10 and 2 and keep driving forward — just like we did today.

My boys would’ve loved nothing more than for me to turn that car around, give up, and let them go back to bed for the rest of morning, but after spending the last 78 days straight with them, I didn’t care if that road dropped off the face of the earth beyond that fog, we were NOT turning around! 😂

And ya know what happened? The road was there after all. Sure, it had some potholes along the way, but (much to the boys’ dismay 😂) we eventually made it the school!

But in all seriousness…I know a lot of us moms are a little scared today as we drop our kids off at school…not knowing what lies ahead. Praying they will be safe. Praying they will make friends. Praying they will learn and grow and overcome challenges. But not knowing exactly how it will all go.

But God’s commands and promises ring true in this scenario and in every other: Do not worry. Do not fear.

Don’t let fear keep you from moving forward. Take that next step in faith.

Have determination like I did to just keep driving forward come what may…trusting that what’s ahead is better than all that’s behind.

Be hopeful.

Be faithful.

And drive carefully along the path that God has laid out for you in His Word.

And one day you’ll reach a beautiful destination.

Until next time…

-PWAP

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

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

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