I was thinking about our butterflies a little bit ago and what it was like when I put my hand in the back of their box to carry them outside to freedom. I remembered that I couldn't just put my hand in there and have them climb onto my finger. No, I really kind of freaked them out and they would begin to go into cardiac fluttering and escape mode with their wings going like crazy and jumping all around. Then I had to kind of "knock 'em off their feet" so they weren't on top of things so their little legs would be reaching for anything to help them get upright again. It seems cruel, but it was what had to be done to get them to cling on to me without hurting their wings so they could fly free.
As I thought about that it dawned on me that I'm a lot like that with God. When He's trying to do something in my life and He's reaching down to help me through it I tend to freak out and start fluttering my wings and jumping around. I act like I'm the one who needs to escape and be in control when in truth my life verse is being lived out..."He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17 NIV. I'm not in control of my life ~ I'm in control of my choices and actions ~ but He's in control of my life and too often He's gotta knock me on my back (or backside) for a moment before I am flailing my hands and arms wildly looking for Him to help me get right side up again.
Y'know what, though? It's not in the big stuff that I'm like this. I look back on the big hard times in my life and my trust and peace was immediately in Him with no doubts or questions. It's in the day-to-day stuff that I struggle the most. The days when Micah says "NO!" waaaaaaaay too many times for my sanity. ...the days he decides poo from a dirty diaper makes a beautiful contemporary art pattern on his bedroom carpet. The days when Caleb thinks it's much easier to pinch his brother's cheek than it is to walk away from him when Micah wants what he has. Please tell me every parent has those days when their kids become the children of some other parent because they're certainly not YOUR children! :) Those are the days I struggle the most. The days I wonder if maybe I didn't read the signs wrong and I should have been a nun or something instead of a wife and mother. (no, I don't really think that....too often.)
I guess butterflies are good lesson-teachers for more than just amazing transformations. Too often God's wanting to make a change to bring me into another level of freedom in Him and I fight it afraid of what's coming. Letting go of children, clutter, my own time alone, the past, weight, favorite foods I'm now allergic to...whatever...God seems to be saying, "It's okay, it's me Little One. I'm not here to hurt you, but to help you. Trust me." Lord, I trust you ~ help my distrust!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
My Sister
I talked to Tami this morning - what a gift to have a sister who is more of a friend than just someone I once shared a house with (and a bed...ooh, she hated that! evidently I was like my little Micah and kicked and moved a lot ~ sorry 'bout all the mid-night kicks in the ribs, Tam!) Anyway, I just wanted to share here about Tami's trip out to Vancouver last Fall for my birthday (which is, by the way, September 24th...please mark it on all your calendars).
This particular Thursday I was teaching my beginning voice class for Vancouver Christian Youth Theater (cyt.org ~ check to see if there's a chapter near you if you have dramatic children...ahem, Shelley...) and Scott had asked if we'd like to go out to eat that night. Now, before I go on I have to tell you my heart kinda had to be started up again after he asked that because even if we only go out to eat on Saturdays after church Scott will say we're going out to eat too often...he's so much like my Mom it's truly scary! So, when he asked if we'd like to go out to eat I purposely told myself NOT to try to figure out what was going on. So the boys and I head to our favorite restaurant, Sweet Tomatoes, and on the way there I'm thinking it would be so like Scott to have a bunch of our friends there to surprise me even though my birthday wasn't until Friday. But again, I did NOT let myself go there...I was telling myself I would be content if it was just Scott who was at the restaurant when we got there...and throughout the entire meal.
Yeah, I know...it was only him and I was disappointed briefly. However, I have a great husband and I wasn't going to let him see that I had wished to see a whole gaggle of people there waiting to wish me a happy birthday and eat salad and soup with us. So I smiled and laughed over my own dramatics ( I swear being around all those high school dramatists that day did it to me...I'm just not the dramatic type, honest!) and we headed inside to eat.
We had filled our plates with salad and Joan's Broccoli Salad (the best!) and gotten our soup and macaroni and cheese for the boys and headed toward a booth to sit down and enjoy our meal together. We were talking about my class when I noticed this strange little woman lurking toward us. Now I say lurking because she kinda had that "I'm a spy and don't want to be noticed" look about her as she began to slink our way. As she got closer it became very obvious that she was heading for our booth! I began to get my wings out to protect my little goslings from this weirdo when she began to smile and move toward my husband! WHO DOES THIS WOMAN THINK SHE IS??? WHAT IS SHE DOING MOVING IN ON MY HUSBAND!? Yes, he's a very good looking man, but he's MINE!!! BACK YOU FIEND! BACK!
And then she did it...she sat down right next to him and smiled at me. I'm looking at this strange woman with my mouth hanging open when it dawned on me...under that blonde hair (BLONDE HAIR!?) and those funky little glasses (cute glasses!) was MY SISTER!!! I could not believe it and immediately jumped up and hugged her and broke into THE CRUNCH. Yes, THE crunch...the Tami & Trayc and Daddy-O Gene Tooley Crunch. You know, when you're trying not to cry but you just can't inform your face to relax so it scrunches up and you look like that little old man from the bitter beer commercials only you're also starting to hyperventilate because you're holding your breath so you don't sob...it's beautiful, really. If you haven't experienced it you'll have to spend some time with us around a holiday when we're watching a dramatic movie and you'll be overwhelmed by the beauty of it all.
ANYWAY...I was thrilled to have my sister and my husband co-conspire to surprise me for my birthday and give me the best present I have ever gotten in my life. She's the best! Love you, Tam!
This particular Thursday I was teaching my beginning voice class for Vancouver Christian Youth Theater (cyt.org ~ check to see if there's a chapter near you if you have dramatic children...ahem, Shelley...) and Scott had asked if we'd like to go out to eat that night. Now, before I go on I have to tell you my heart kinda had to be started up again after he asked that because even if we only go out to eat on Saturdays after church Scott will say we're going out to eat too often...he's so much like my Mom it's truly scary! So, when he asked if we'd like to go out to eat I purposely told myself NOT to try to figure out what was going on. So the boys and I head to our favorite restaurant, Sweet Tomatoes, and on the way there I'm thinking it would be so like Scott to have a bunch of our friends there to surprise me even though my birthday wasn't until Friday. But again, I did NOT let myself go there...I was telling myself I would be content if it was just Scott who was at the restaurant when we got there...and throughout the entire meal.
Yeah, I know...it was only him and I was disappointed briefly. However, I have a great husband and I wasn't going to let him see that I had wished to see a whole gaggle of people there waiting to wish me a happy birthday and eat salad and soup with us. So I smiled and laughed over my own dramatics ( I swear being around all those high school dramatists that day did it to me...I'm just not the dramatic type, honest!) and we headed inside to eat.
We had filled our plates with salad and Joan's Broccoli Salad (the best!) and gotten our soup and macaroni and cheese for the boys and headed toward a booth to sit down and enjoy our meal together. We were talking about my class when I noticed this strange little woman lurking toward us. Now I say lurking because she kinda had that "I'm a spy and don't want to be noticed" look about her as she began to slink our way. As she got closer it became very obvious that she was heading for our booth! I began to get my wings out to protect my little goslings from this weirdo when she began to smile and move toward my husband! WHO DOES THIS WOMAN THINK SHE IS??? WHAT IS SHE DOING MOVING IN ON MY HUSBAND!? Yes, he's a very good looking man, but he's MINE!!! BACK YOU FIEND! BACK!
And then she did it...she sat down right next to him and smiled at me. I'm looking at this strange woman with my mouth hanging open when it dawned on me...under that blonde hair (BLONDE HAIR!?) and those funky little glasses (cute glasses!) was MY SISTER!!! I could not believe it and immediately jumped up and hugged her and broke into THE CRUNCH. Yes, THE crunch...the Tami & Trayc and Daddy-O Gene Tooley Crunch. You know, when you're trying not to cry but you just can't inform your face to relax so it scrunches up and you look like that little old man from the bitter beer commercials only you're also starting to hyperventilate because you're holding your breath so you don't sob...it's beautiful, really. If you haven't experienced it you'll have to spend some time with us around a holiday when we're watching a dramatic movie and you'll be overwhelmed by the beauty of it all.
ANYWAY...I was thrilled to have my sister and my husband co-conspire to surprise me for my birthday and give me the best present I have ever gotten in my life. She's the best! Love you, Tam!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Letting Go...
Have you ever watched tiny little larvae grow into amazing, fat and furry caterpillars?
Have you ever watched those fat little caterpillars attach themselves to the "roof" of their little cup home and wind themselves in a protective shell where they would undergo an incredible transformation in 10 to 14 days?
Have you ever watched that fat little caterpillar emerge from it's chrysalide with wings that unfurl like a proud flag on a breezy summer day?
We have. It's been absolutely amazing to watch the little larvae we ordered from the website "Earth's Birthday." We got them when they were just over a week old and it took two more weeks for the first fat and furry crawly thing to attach itself to the roof of it's little speciman cup and wrap itself into it's protective shell for the shortest and most amazing natural physical transformation known to man. (or at least known to me!) The chrysalide of the painted lady butterfly looks rather plain if you just glance at it. In fact, it looks downright ugly. However, if you study it - really look at it and hold it up to the light so you can see it from many different angles you will see the most beautiful flecks of gold! Really! It's as if God's giving us a hint of what's to come. What's the phrase from the song we always sang at church while I was growing up on Communion Sunday? "give us a foretaste of the feast to come...."
And then...it happened!!! We woke up one morning and we had our first actual, living and fluttering butterfly!! He (or she...I'm sorry it's rather difficult to tell which sex it was...kind of like my cat, I suppose (had to put that in there for you, Dad!)) was stunning. He took my breath away. His long wings standing up like soldiers guarding the tomb of the unknown were strong and brave, and....plain. Plain? yup. Plain. He looked like a moth. I was tremendously disappointed. Caleb wondered where his color was. Caleb's favorite color is orange and he was so excited because he had seen many pictures of butterflies and none of them looked like this. But then...wait! He's starting to flutter his wings! Caleb and I collectively heald our breath and watched as he first fluttered a bit back and forth about 100th of a millimeter and then a little bit wider...a little bit wider...and then we gasped as he opened his wings to full mast and we saw the most incredible painting of orange and black with shades of pink and hints of yellow on the inside of his wings. The emergence from his chrysalide was simply the appetizer...the feast was all on the inside. I must have stood there and watched him for 15 minutes or so just taking in his graceful movements and beautiful transformation. We still had seven other chrysalides attached to the paper taped to the top of the box now so it was easy to compare where he had come from to where he was now. And in the words of one of my favorite praise songs, "I stand, I stand in awe of You..." I am struck silent (so you know that was a BIG thing for me ~ I was silent!) thinking back to how taken I was with these tiny little creatures flittering about in a cardboard box on our audio cabinet. I can't help but compare the tranformation of the butterfly to the transformation in my own life when I cuddled up into God's Chrysalide and let Him transform me. (some days I wish it would only take 10 to 14 days to transform us...wouldn't that be nice!?)
Within the last 11 days we have had six more butterflie emerge and each time it is nothing short of amazing to me how it happens. I literally have stood there and watched their wings unfurl. It's kind of like watching a baby stretch for the first time outside the womb...but imagine seeing that from a baby you have watched in a semi-transparent womb for nine months emerge from the birth canal for the first time. This was much shorter (could you imagine a 12 -14 day pregnancy that produces a fully functional child?!), and much easier since I personally did not have to go through childbirth. Hmmm...all the work is on the butterfly to emerge - the chrysalide just sits there...and then, of course, is discarded. Okay, maybe it's not better, but it was fun to go down that path a moment.) Okay, back on track...
And then there is today. Today wasn't an easy day. Today for the first time in a couple of days we 've had warm enough weather to consider letting them go. According to the information they should be released within 12 to 14 days of emergence to insure a healthy long life. Today was day 11 for butterfly number one.
After a little pep-talk to Caleb about whether we wanted the butterflies to live or not I reached into the box and let one of them cling on to my finger so I could transfer them to Caleb's hand and then we could walk out the patio door and release them. Caleb was really excited about watching each of the seven butterflies flit and flutter away from our fingers (and some of them flutter right to the grass due to an amazement of so much room, I'm sure!) as they caught the breeze and flew over the fence or over the house and disappeared from view. Actually, I suppose I should say he enjoyed it and was excited about it until we got to number seven. Then it hit him that he was letting go of something amazing that he had watched come into this world and he may never see them again.
Yes, tears come easily on this end, too...I gathered him in my arms and sat him on my knee for a little bit as we both watched the butterflies dance around our backyard as if to say, "see? I'm okay - this is so amazing! Thank you for letting me spread my wings and fly!" Then I whispered in his ear..."It's hard, Buddy. Next year you're going to be spreading your wings and going to Kindergarten, but there's a part of me who wants to hold you like this forever and protect you and keep you for my very own self all of your life. But then, what good would that do? What would happen to you if I never let you go and find out who God has made you to be? Watching them leave is the hardest part, but watching them fly is beauty in action."
Of course, Caleb is five and although his heart is tender he is still a five-year old boy and did not want to let them go no matter how exciting it was. So, after deciding that next year we'd have to plant a butterfly garden (he immediately asked if butterflies like sunflowers, Mima!) and get some more butterflies to raise next year he jumped inside to see if that last butterfly was anywhere near coming out of his chrysalide. And now all is right side up...because next year we'll do it all over again.
Have you ever watched those fat little caterpillars attach themselves to the "roof" of their little cup home and wind themselves in a protective shell where they would undergo an incredible transformation in 10 to 14 days?
Have you ever watched that fat little caterpillar emerge from it's chrysalide with wings that unfurl like a proud flag on a breezy summer day?
We have. It's been absolutely amazing to watch the little larvae we ordered from the website "Earth's Birthday." We got them when they were just over a week old and it took two more weeks for the first fat and furry crawly thing to attach itself to the roof of it's little speciman cup and wrap itself into it's protective shell for the shortest and most amazing natural physical transformation known to man. (or at least known to me!) The chrysalide of the painted lady butterfly looks rather plain if you just glance at it. In fact, it looks downright ugly. However, if you study it - really look at it and hold it up to the light so you can see it from many different angles you will see the most beautiful flecks of gold! Really! It's as if God's giving us a hint of what's to come. What's the phrase from the song we always sang at church while I was growing up on Communion Sunday? "give us a foretaste of the feast to come...."
And then...it happened!!! We woke up one morning and we had our first actual, living and fluttering butterfly!! He (or she...I'm sorry it's rather difficult to tell which sex it was...kind of like my cat, I suppose (had to put that in there for you, Dad!)) was stunning. He took my breath away. His long wings standing up like soldiers guarding the tomb of the unknown were strong and brave, and....plain. Plain? yup. Plain. He looked like a moth. I was tremendously disappointed. Caleb wondered where his color was. Caleb's favorite color is orange and he was so excited because he had seen many pictures of butterflies and none of them looked like this. But then...wait! He's starting to flutter his wings! Caleb and I collectively heald our breath and watched as he first fluttered a bit back and forth about 100th of a millimeter and then a little bit wider...a little bit wider...and then we gasped as he opened his wings to full mast and we saw the most incredible painting of orange and black with shades of pink and hints of yellow on the inside of his wings. The emergence from his chrysalide was simply the appetizer...the feast was all on the inside. I must have stood there and watched him for 15 minutes or so just taking in his graceful movements and beautiful transformation. We still had seven other chrysalides attached to the paper taped to the top of the box now so it was easy to compare where he had come from to where he was now. And in the words of one of my favorite praise songs, "I stand, I stand in awe of You..." I am struck silent (so you know that was a BIG thing for me ~ I was silent!) thinking back to how taken I was with these tiny little creatures flittering about in a cardboard box on our audio cabinet. I can't help but compare the tranformation of the butterfly to the transformation in my own life when I cuddled up into God's Chrysalide and let Him transform me. (some days I wish it would only take 10 to 14 days to transform us...wouldn't that be nice!?)
Within the last 11 days we have had six more butterflie emerge and each time it is nothing short of amazing to me how it happens. I literally have stood there and watched their wings unfurl. It's kind of like watching a baby stretch for the first time outside the womb...but imagine seeing that from a baby you have watched in a semi-transparent womb for nine months emerge from the birth canal for the first time. This was much shorter (could you imagine a 12 -14 day pregnancy that produces a fully functional child?!), and much easier since I personally did not have to go through childbirth. Hmmm...all the work is on the butterfly to emerge - the chrysalide just sits there...and then, of course, is discarded. Okay, maybe it's not better, but it was fun to go down that path a moment.) Okay, back on track...
And then there is today. Today wasn't an easy day. Today for the first time in a couple of days we 've had warm enough weather to consider letting them go. According to the information they should be released within 12 to 14 days of emergence to insure a healthy long life. Today was day 11 for butterfly number one.
After a little pep-talk to Caleb about whether we wanted the butterflies to live or not I reached into the box and let one of them cling on to my finger so I could transfer them to Caleb's hand and then we could walk out the patio door and release them. Caleb was really excited about watching each of the seven butterflies flit and flutter away from our fingers (and some of them flutter right to the grass due to an amazement of so much room, I'm sure!) as they caught the breeze and flew over the fence or over the house and disappeared from view. Actually, I suppose I should say he enjoyed it and was excited about it until we got to number seven. Then it hit him that he was letting go of something amazing that he had watched come into this world and he may never see them again.
Yes, tears come easily on this end, too...I gathered him in my arms and sat him on my knee for a little bit as we both watched the butterflies dance around our backyard as if to say, "see? I'm okay - this is so amazing! Thank you for letting me spread my wings and fly!" Then I whispered in his ear..."It's hard, Buddy. Next year you're going to be spreading your wings and going to Kindergarten, but there's a part of me who wants to hold you like this forever and protect you and keep you for my very own self all of your life. But then, what good would that do? What would happen to you if I never let you go and find out who God has made you to be? Watching them leave is the hardest part, but watching them fly is beauty in action."
Of course, Caleb is five and although his heart is tender he is still a five-year old boy and did not want to let them go no matter how exciting it was. So, after deciding that next year we'd have to plant a butterfly garden (he immediately asked if butterflies like sunflowers, Mima!) and get some more butterflies to raise next year he jumped inside to see if that last butterfly was anywhere near coming out of his chrysalide. And now all is right side up...because next year we'll do it all over again.
Monday, April 11, 2005
God Speaks
Have you seen those billboards that say something like, "we need to talk. -God"? Well, there are times when I'm struggling with something and I move on from it thinking I'll deal with it later. Then, just as I move on I'm hit with what I call a "God-speak" moment. Those times when I pick up a magazine or check an e-mail or talk to my husband or someone only to have it (or them) speak directly to the issue I was just dealing with and walked away from. Well, this is no different. If you notice...in the previous post I had mentioned struggling with my fear of whether or not I should start up this blog. What I didn't tell you is that I've been contemplating it as a place for me to share the things God has laid on my heart for others for some time now. Today I just decided to do it...but again was hit with fear of the unknown...and with fear of whether or not some of you might just think this is stupid and "so Trayc." Well, I was checking e-mail after checking on my boys (two of whom are ill today) and opened up my daily devotional from HomeWord with Dr. Jim Burns. I've pasted it below....enjoy and be amazed at the very fact that God truly knows where you're at, what you're facing and what your future holds!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life Is Too Short For...
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
One day when I was caught up in the tyranny of the urgent, my friend Bill McNabb sent me some thoughts entitled "Things That Life Is Too Short For." His thoughts forced me to take a look at my own life and reevaluate my priorities. Perhaps you need a dose of reality today. I'll share these special thoughts with you.
Life is too short to nurse grudges or hurt feelings.
It's too short to worry about getting ready for Christmas. Just let Christmas come.
It's too short to keep all your floors shiny.
It's too short to let a day pass without hugging your loved ones.
It's too short not to take a nap when you need one.
It's too short to put off Bible study.
It's too short to give importance to whether the towels match the bathroom.
It's too short to miss the call to worship on a Sunday morning.
It's too short to stay indoors on a crisp fall Saturday.
It's too short to read all the junk mail.
It's too short not to call or write your parents (or children) regularly.
It's too short to work at a job you hate.
It's too short not to stop and talk to children.
It's too short to forget to pray.
It's too short to put off improving our relationships with people that we love.
Life is just too short. Way too short to settle for mediocrity!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What does Matthew 6:34 tell us not to do?
2. Matthew 6:34 also tells us today will have enough trouble of its own. What difficulties will you face today?
Take a moment to pray and ask God to take control of your day and any difficulties you may face.
FURTHER READING:Philippians 4:6
Hope you all have a day full of things that matter. As for me...my oldest child wants to put together a puzzle...see ya!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life Is Too Short For...
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
One day when I was caught up in the tyranny of the urgent, my friend Bill McNabb sent me some thoughts entitled "Things That Life Is Too Short For." His thoughts forced me to take a look at my own life and reevaluate my priorities. Perhaps you need a dose of reality today. I'll share these special thoughts with you.
Life is too short to nurse grudges or hurt feelings.
It's too short to worry about getting ready for Christmas. Just let Christmas come.
It's too short to keep all your floors shiny.
It's too short to let a day pass without hugging your loved ones.
It's too short not to take a nap when you need one.
It's too short to put off Bible study.
It's too short to give importance to whether the towels match the bathroom.
It's too short to miss the call to worship on a Sunday morning.
It's too short to stay indoors on a crisp fall Saturday.
It's too short to read all the junk mail.
It's too short not to call or write your parents (or children) regularly.
It's too short to work at a job you hate.
It's too short not to stop and talk to children.
It's too short to forget to pray.
It's too short to put off improving our relationships with people that we love.
Life is just too short. Way too short to settle for mediocrity!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What does Matthew 6:34 tell us not to do?
2. Matthew 6:34 also tells us today will have enough trouble of its own. What difficulties will you face today?
Take a moment to pray and ask God to take control of your day and any difficulties you may face.
FURTHER READING:Philippians 4:6
Hope you all have a day full of things that matter. As for me...my oldest child wants to put together a puzzle...see ya!
Strange things, these blogs
Y'know - I've just been sitting here browsing through some other blogs on this blogspot site and I'm rather amazed at the kinds of blogs there are! I don't suggest doing it for long because some of them are simply not worth looking at, but if you've got 5 or 10 minutes click up on the upper right hand corner where it says "next blog." It will take you to some random person's blog and you'll be amazed.
Now, I warn you - amazed isn't always a good thing! It seemed for a while that I struck upon a series of blogs that were downright heartwrenching in their ignorance of what life could be. There was one that was very clear he hated Christians and all they stand for. There was another one who made it clear that she only found pleasure in life in controlling other people and being controlled (now, mind you - I'm sharing what I saw, but that doesn't mean I stayed and got any deeper than the general understanding that this just isn't worth it...even as I prayed for someone in their lives to help them see the truth of what life was meant to be.) I guess the lowdown is that browsing blogs simply makes you very aware of how diverse our world is.
Okay, sometimes amazed IS a good thing, though! Like the young girl who is a senior in high school and is very clearly longing to live her life sold out for Jesus and wants her blog to reflect that. Or the group of guys from Minnesota(?) who have a similar goal through their group blog sharing what God's doing in their youth group. Diverse means there are plenty of us "Jesus Lovers" out there, too...and the exciting thing about that is that even though it sometimes seem there are more of "those other kind of people" out there, we have more power on our side!!
To be honest, as I was flipping through I was struck with a fear of whether or not I should do this. I mean, what if....? y'know? What if one of "them" browses my blog and decides to send me hate mail? What if....I don't know...what if!? Well, the truth of the matter is...who cares!! So, with my resolve reset to power on I will leave you to browse a couple of those random blogs and contemplate what kind of impact your life is having on this world. Dr. Phil says it all the time, but God said it first...if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!
Go & Change!
Now, I warn you - amazed isn't always a good thing! It seemed for a while that I struck upon a series of blogs that were downright heartwrenching in their ignorance of what life could be. There was one that was very clear he hated Christians and all they stand for. There was another one who made it clear that she only found pleasure in life in controlling other people and being controlled (now, mind you - I'm sharing what I saw, but that doesn't mean I stayed and got any deeper than the general understanding that this just isn't worth it...even as I prayed for someone in their lives to help them see the truth of what life was meant to be.) I guess the lowdown is that browsing blogs simply makes you very aware of how diverse our world is.
Okay, sometimes amazed IS a good thing, though! Like the young girl who is a senior in high school and is very clearly longing to live her life sold out for Jesus and wants her blog to reflect that. Or the group of guys from Minnesota(?) who have a similar goal through their group blog sharing what God's doing in their youth group. Diverse means there are plenty of us "Jesus Lovers" out there, too...and the exciting thing about that is that even though it sometimes seem there are more of "those other kind of people" out there, we have more power on our side!!
To be honest, as I was flipping through I was struck with a fear of whether or not I should do this. I mean, what if....? y'know? What if one of "them" browses my blog and decides to send me hate mail? What if....I don't know...what if!? Well, the truth of the matter is...who cares!! So, with my resolve reset to power on I will leave you to browse a couple of those random blogs and contemplate what kind of impact your life is having on this world. Dr. Phil says it all the time, but God said it first...if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!
Go & Change!
I'm a blogger!
Wow! This is so cool!! I've been contemplating a blog for some time now, and thanks to some relatives of Scott's I've been pushed in the right direction. Thank you Kerry & Mike!!
So why am I a blogger? Hmmm...for one, I like to talk (I know, you're shocked at that one!), for two, I like to write and for three, I like to connect with people regularly. Since I don't have the luxury of calling you up and inviting you over for tea or dessert, I figured this would be the next best thing. I hope you like it! (and if you don't, I hope you'll let me know...kindly, of course.)
And what am I going to be blogging about? Well, that depends on the day and the mood...okay, I need to correct that...that depends on the hour and the mood! (LOL! which means laugh out loud for those of you new to computer-speak) (Scott may even say I need to change it to the minute and the mood, but I'm not going there.) Some entries might include the following...
I love my time that I spend journaling after meeting with God and being moved by His Spirit to make sense of what is on my heart so I'm sure there will be some entries devoted to sharing my journal with you.
I also love my boys (all five of them!!!) So you can bet there will be entries and pictures about each of them. (and you're just going to have to keep checking back to find out who those five boys are of mine.)
I am currently in the process of starting up a small business and the process is DEFINITELY a process. I thought I was stretched beyond stretching eight and a half years ago...I had no clue how much more I could be stretched and challenged as I have discovered in the past four months. I'm absolutely sure I will be blarin' about my struggles and triumphs in that area.
Do any of you get sidetracked when you know what you should be doing, but you're fighting dragons and can't seem to allow yourself success? I do. Often. I'll be barin' about my dragon slaying and the nicks and bruises that will tend to go along with all of that.
Basically, I'm just going to be sitting down with my cup of tea, pulling out my wireless keyboard, and sharing where I'm at. If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to admit or share the hard stuff of life, you'll probably be uncomfortable here, but I hope in some way my sharing what God is doing in my life and what He has done in it so far in a very open and transparent way will help each of you to dig a little deeper into your heart and learn to live with a freedom that can only come from knowing the grace, forgiveness, and acceptance of a Savior who longs to love you. I'm not perfect (as you will soon find out if you've been fooled so far ~ as if THAT's possible!), but I am alive and until I die and become perfect I will be striving toward being all that God has made me to be. I hope you can come along and enjoy the journey with me.
Sincerely,
Trayc
So why am I a blogger? Hmmm...for one, I like to talk (I know, you're shocked at that one!), for two, I like to write and for three, I like to connect with people regularly. Since I don't have the luxury of calling you up and inviting you over for tea or dessert, I figured this would be the next best thing. I hope you like it! (and if you don't, I hope you'll let me know...kindly, of course.)
And what am I going to be blogging about? Well, that depends on the day and the mood...okay, I need to correct that...that depends on the hour and the mood! (LOL! which means laugh out loud for those of you new to computer-speak) (Scott may even say I need to change it to the minute and the mood, but I'm not going there.) Some entries might include the following...
I love my time that I spend journaling after meeting with God and being moved by His Spirit to make sense of what is on my heart so I'm sure there will be some entries devoted to sharing my journal with you.
I also love my boys (all five of them!!!) So you can bet there will be entries and pictures about each of them. (and you're just going to have to keep checking back to find out who those five boys are of mine.)
I am currently in the process of starting up a small business and the process is DEFINITELY a process. I thought I was stretched beyond stretching eight and a half years ago...I had no clue how much more I could be stretched and challenged as I have discovered in the past four months. I'm absolutely sure I will be blarin' about my struggles and triumphs in that area.
Do any of you get sidetracked when you know what you should be doing, but you're fighting dragons and can't seem to allow yourself success? I do. Often. I'll be barin' about my dragon slaying and the nicks and bruises that will tend to go along with all of that.
Basically, I'm just going to be sitting down with my cup of tea, pulling out my wireless keyboard, and sharing where I'm at. If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to admit or share the hard stuff of life, you'll probably be uncomfortable here, but I hope in some way my sharing what God is doing in my life and what He has done in it so far in a very open and transparent way will help each of you to dig a little deeper into your heart and learn to live with a freedom that can only come from knowing the grace, forgiveness, and acceptance of a Savior who longs to love you. I'm not perfect (as you will soon find out if you've been fooled so far ~ as if THAT's possible!), but I am alive and until I die and become perfect I will be striving toward being all that God has made me to be. I hope you can come along and enjoy the journey with me.
Sincerely,
Trayc