A Seder with friends......

This morning my small group took the time to have an abbreviated Seder in thinking about Passover (and Maundy Thursday).  As usual, it was a wonderful time with friends.  We were able to talk through some of the things that we know about the Passover/Jesus connection.  It was a great prayer time as we all discussed our upcoming Easter plans.  Needless to say, we all need prayer! It was a great focus on the added "big event" of Passover (which is on Friday of this week).  

I actually brought this little booklet with me this morning and it is the first of my memory triggers for these posts this week.  Notice the date on this.......2001.  Yes, 14 years ago.  This booklet was prepared for a children's program at my church.  We had a large group of children in a midweek program and decided to do this "family" Seder event.  If my notes attached to this booklet are correct, we had 16 tables of 6-8 people.  That is over 125!  There was a leader at each table and we worked through the Seder together.  It was followed by the very best "pot blessing" meal that included a real leg of lamb!  It was an amazing time and I remember the looks of wonder on the faces of many of the children as they connected all that we had been learning about Communion and Easter with this special meal.   I was actively involved with ministry to children and youth for more than 20 years.  This event always comes to my mind as one of those God ordained things that I am honored to have carried out.

I will never forget Maundy Thursday in 1991.  Yes, I know the year for sure!  I had just started attending a new church, which was far from "traditional".  This was a change for me, and I was quite curious how they would handle these Holy Week services, which just seem to cry out for tradition.  That year we were blessed to have a presentation by a Messianic Jewish man called "Christ in the Passover".  I admit that I had never really thought much about Passover and really didn't understand what the importance might be.  That night changed my life.  I understood the Bible in a new way.  And it opened the door for me to understand how Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament Festivals and Feasts.  There are many resources available to learn about this and I strongly encourage you to read up on not only Passover but each of the Feasts.

Tomorrow I will post a bit more on the Maundy Thursday/Communion connection for me. Yes, more memories.  And another "big event".  This has really been quite a week.  Today was a wonderful burst of spring for us.  It was 70 degrees and sunny and the windows are open.  A friend gifted me these amazing flowers.

I am so thankful for all of the little things and the not so little things this week.  I am thankful for friends and flowers and family.  I am grateful for Passover and the people who helped me understand what God was doing to reveal Jesus.  And I love the spring coming just when I most needed sunshine and warmth.

Jesus, help us all to stop and consider this week, who you are and your amazing sacrifice.  Holy Spirit encourage us all to learn and grow and understand more about the Fathers plan to redeem his people.  Continue to put people and resources in our path that would reveal your great love for us.  Bless your people in Israel and bring revelation to them of Jesus' work on the cross.  Amen

One of those important "Big" events.....

Today Ellie was one happy little girl.  She lost her first tooth. At school.  So she got a cute little tooth holder necklace and she was dancing when she came off of the bus.  It was pretty obvious this morning that this event would happen soon.  Her tooth was facing the wrong direction, yet it was holding on by a small thread.  When you are 6 this is a really big deal!  And there will be many more lost teeth in the years ahead.  Of course Zeke wanted to know when he would get to lose a tooth! Sigh.  That comparison stuff once again.

As a special treat today, Gwen was actually on one of her "spring breaks" and did not have to work (unfortunately for Gwen, each of the schools where she works, took different spring breaks. Last week she was off on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and this week she is off on Tuesday and Thursday.  Certainly not ideal....).  So we took Zeke and Anna to an indoor tot swim at a local park district.

Zeke had a wonderful time.  The water was a bit cold for Anna but she really did seem to like it.  She splashed and played and we took both of the kids on the very small lazy river.  Zeke is turning into quite the swimmer.  He really does well and even went under water today!  So for sure it was a really nice change of pace and made this day feel a bit more like a "vacation".  Here is Zeke going under water!

And coming up!  

And a bonus picture of Anna having fun in the water!  Yes, it was a super fun day!  

This has always been one of my favorite weeks of the year.  It is a week of "big events" on the church calendar.  It is Holy Week.  I love Palm Sunday.....palm branches and singing Hosanna to the King!  And I love that this also signals a change in my spirit as I focus on the events of the coming week. Maundy Thursday has always been a special day for me.  I love thinking about that first "last supper" and remembering that we are blessed to participate in this amazing meal every time we celebrate Communion.  Good Friday is one of those days that it seems almost impossible to do anything but wonder at the sacrifice, at the unbelievable gift that we are given through the Crucifixion.  The week ends with the joyous and wondrous cry of "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!".

One of the best things about this week of big events are all the memories that are made. I have many specific memories of each of these "big event" days and I will share those memories on each of those days this week.   Today Ellie is celebrating a lost tooth that also means that she has made one more step up that "growing up" ladder.  For her it is a big event.  I am feeling happy that I got to actually be a part of Ellie's special day today and I got to swim with Anna, Zeke and Gwen. It was a day of making memories.

Jesus, thank you for memories and special times of fun with family.  Holy Spirit, help us all to stop and remember during this special "Holy Week".  Thank you for traditions and rituals that reinforce those "big events".  Jesus keep our focus on you!  Amen

When you get confirmation........

This weekend we got to "dog sit" for Sammy and Kylie when Doug and Susie took a quick overnight getaway.  It is really interesting to see how relaxed and at home these two doggies are when they come to visit.  Within five minutes of Doug and Susie leaving, both dogs were asleep in their beds.  They both spent all night soundly sleeping in their beds and Sammy woke me up this morning with a lick to my face!  It is certainly fun to have these little doggie times.  It is confirmation to me that although I love dogs, at this stage of our lives it is better to just get our "dog fix" through our "grand dogs"!

Another bit of confirmation for me was reading this post from Lana Vawser.  It is basically the same message that I shared in my last post about all the ways we compare ourselves to others.  I believe that I am not the only person hearing this message so there must be others out there that are dealing with this jealousy, comparison issue.  It is worth reading her post for more insight on this subject.

To finish out my weekend, I totally rearranged my scrapbooking room.  I still have more to do, but I actually moved the furniture and set things up.  I really can't believe how much more room I have just by moving a couple of tables.  This is a really small room but suddenly I have room to breathe.  I had been considering doing something different in that room for some time, but it just seemed like it would not change anything.  There is nothing NEW in the room, it is all the same old stuff. Yet it feels new.  After shutting out the light in my "new" room, as soon as I sat down at the computer I realized the message that this brought to me!  Sometimes there are places in our life where we just need to "rearrange" things a bit.  Before I moved those tables, I threw out several large bags of trash.  And there may be some things that need to be removed before things can be put into new places.  I moved my work station to the opposite wall, so now I am facing an entirely new direction and I have a very different "view" of things as I work.  This was confirmation to me that the shifting that I have been feeling in my spirit is actually just some "rearranging"!  I have certainly felt that there has been some shaking out of some things that were clearly junk that I did not need to hang on to.  And I have been sort of resisting the shifting I have felt that seemed scary.  After tonight, I am kind of anxious to see where the rearranging of things in my life might take me.  I can't wait to find out what direction I might end up facing.  I am looking forward to finding out exactly what my view might be when everything is finally moved around!  Quite an interesting result of some cleaning!  

Isn't it just amazing how these bits of confirmation come to us?  I have felt so encouraged in each of these seemingly small details.  But I know that often, the most important things are contained in the little things. Yes, it has been a refreshing time this weekend.  I got to take several long walks (not that the weather was wonderful.....it was COLD and RAINY) but it was good to be out with Sammy and Kylie.  I love thinking that someone way around the world in Australia is hearing the same message from Jesus.  And then it is so fun to know that Jesus can get my attention even when I am moving furniture.  Isn't that something?  Be encouraged to stop, look and listen in your own circumstances.  You just never know when you might get some confirmation when you least expect it!

Jesus, thank you for caring for each of us so individually.  Thank you for giving us exactly what we need, even when we don't know that we need it.  Holy Spirit that you for bringing me clarity about the shaking I am feeling and excitement about what is to come.  Help us all to remember to look for the confirmations that you bring to us.  Thank you for doggy kisses and cleaner rooms!  Amen 

The green grass in someone else's yard really doesn't matter.....

Somehow, this entire week I seem to have been parked in this idea.  There has been one reminder after another that satan just loves to get us to look at other people and decide that they have it so much better than we do.  Nothing starts a "pity party" faster than feeling like your life, your situation, your family, your job....whatever it is... just doesn't measure up to someone else.  And it is oh so easy to look at a friend, a neighbor, or even someone you don't know and ASSUME that they have the perfect life.  I guess I have lived long enough to know that things are not always as great as what it might look like on the surface.  As a matter of fact, that green grass that you are looking at might actually just be some really dead, dry stubble that has been spray painted green to look good!

Let me assure you that I am not just pointing a finger at others, I certainly have caught myself coming under this same attack.  I am very thankful that I am growing and learning.  Because of that, I don't park in these feelings or have a giant pity party.  I can identify what is happening and stop it before it takes over.

It is interesting how this same jealousy issue comes up between siblings.  I think it is the root of "sibling rivalry".  And it doesn't end with childhood.  Even adult brothers and sisters seem to fall into this "grass is always greener" stuff.  Gwen was telling me that the big excitement in their house was that Ellie got a new bed!  So of course Zeke was wondering where HIS new bed was.  You can be sure that when the time comes, Zeke will get a new bed.  But for right now, it is hard to wait.  It is so easy to compare yourself to those you were raised with.  To expect to have the same level of achievement, to reach the same milestones, and have all of the same "toys".  Isn't satan tricky to even bring this discontent into families?  Let's pray against this attack on our families.

I loved this picture.  It is a reminder that it is good to look at what you have and to come to a place of being content in your heart.  Isn't it true that sometimes it is good to be a bit different than everyone else?  Our culture makes it so hard to be content.  There are reminders around every corner, on every web site, at every store, that somehow we should have more or better EVERYTHING.  And at the bottom of it all, is the thought that YOU are not enough.  Not good enough, not smart enough, and not able to achieve some imaginary level.  Clearly this problem is not new to us.... the Bible has some pretty clear words......

"But godliness with contentment is great gain"   1 Timothy 6:6 

"Lord, my heart is meek before you.  I don't consider myself better than others.  

I'm content to not pursue matters that are over my head.  I am your resting child 

and I am content in You." Psalm 131:1,2a 

"The fear of the Lord leads to life, then one rests content, untouched by trouble" Proverbs 19:23

These are just a few verses and there are more.  Paul talked about being content in whatever situation he found himself.  In good times or bad, he was content.  

So I have been reminded and will set about putting this into action. Lets all spend more time looking at all that we HAVE in our life rather than wishing we had what someone else has.  Make a list of all that is good and special and YOU and then celebrate it!  Appreciate the color of your own yard!

Jesus, thank you for this very important reminder to be content.  Holy Spirit, give us all eyes to see what is special about our own life so that we can celebrate who you have made us to be.  Jesus, thank you for making us all different in your image.  You are an amazing God that makes that statement POSSIBLE! Amen

Weekend recap and a time of contrasts and rest

So I last posted looking forward to my scrapbooking weekend.  Here is the result of the weekend.  I finished this entire book.... it was 61 pages and covered from June 1, 2013 through July 31, 2013. It included a long vacation with lots of pictures. This was a personal record for me!  Included in the weekend was a fun time swimming with the grandchildren.

Even Anna spent some time in the pool.  I don't think she totally "enjoyed" the pool since it was a bit cold for her.  But she stayed in the entire time.  The older kids had a great time.  I actually swam a number of laps before the kids got to the pool.  It was a nice time of relaxing along with lots of talking and of course, the scrapping.  I was telling a friend this morning that the time felt kind of quiet.  For some reason it was just a really calm, peaceful time yet I accomplished so much.  It seems kind of counter intuitive, but it happened.  

And then this morning...... this was out of my window...

We had about 6" of snow this morning.  Sigh,  Gone is our near springtime weather.  The grass is gone, again, and it seems bleak and dark.  The good news of this weather is that it is supposed to be 60 on Wednesday!  So this snow will not last long!  Wow, what an unusual few days!  On one hand my scrap time was calm and peaceful.... yet it was overly productive!  And then even though the calendar says that spring is here... there are inches of snow on the ground!   

Today I decided to clear out some of my massive amount of scrapbook supplies.  Since everything was already a jumbled mess after taking it all for the weekend, it was a perfect time to do this.  So I sorted and organized and I still have quite a ways to go.  I have one large trash bag of things that I wonder why I had been keeping.  And I have several stacks of items to give away.  The best part of this clear out is that I now know what I have and I can actually find it!  So I will have a little bit more time with a mess until everything is organized and rearranged, but it is so worth it!

Yes, this has been a few days of contrasts.  And I have also felt the contrasts in my emotions and in my spirit.  I have had times of feeling very joyful and upbeat, but there has also been times of sadness.  Currently there is a buzz around the internet and among my friends that there will be an amazing time of spiritual revival hitting the Chicago area soon.  There are a couple of upcoming events that have everyone feeling the mounting excitement.  I have been waiting and watching for the expectation and excitement to hit me.  I am attending one of those "big" events coming in April, but I have yet to feel anything at all.  I was talking to Jesus about that this morning and then I heard a very quiet and small simple word.  JUST REST!   That seems to be what was happening all weekend.  And even in the sorting and organizing today, I felt restful.  It is as if I am wrapped in rest and peace.  And it is a great place to be!  After I realized how wonderful this word was, I looked out at that snow and it actually seemed very pretty.  I put on my boots and went out and shoveled the driveway!  It was warm and the sun actually came out.  And melting was already happening.  I realized that I was looking out the other window (see my last blog)!  And I was filled with rest and peace.  Quite a good day!  

Jesus, thank you for this weekend and fellowship and fun.  Thank you for speaking and reminding me to just rest when I feel like there is something more that I should be feeling.  Holy Spirit, keep our focus on the things that you know are necessary and good for each of us.  Help us to except that what we need may not be what someone else needs.  Jesus, so many people are filled with anxiety and stress.  Help us all to JUST REST!  Thank you for all that you are doing in the Chicago area.  Keep our eyes and ears attuned to you rather than to people.  Amen

Making a choice.........

When I saw this picture above on Facebook, I couldn't help but stop and chuckle a bit.  I admit that I have been on quite a few of those roads.  Lately, I have been in that long and sometimes dark tunnel.  But WOW!  What a picture of perspective!  Sometimes all you have to do is look out the other window to get a totally different view of things.

Right now I am at one of my very favorite "happy places".  I am scrapbooking at a hotel with my favorite scrapper friends.  There is nothing that makes me breathe out more than sitting at a table with all of my "junk" spread out around me.  I am one of the fortunate ones that has a dedicated space at home to pursue this passion of paper.  But in some ways it is WORSE to have a room all set up because the packing up and getting ready to take your stuff somewhere else is a lot of work!  Some of my friends never really "unpack" their stuff at home so it is more of a grab and go for them.  Alas, it is one of those perspective things!  As I was lugging all of my stuff down the stairs this morning, one of my containers fell and burst open spreading everything all down the stairs.

I remembered seeing the picture about perspective and making a choice, so standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at this mess, I decided that it was a good time to clean and organize that container!  It was surprising how easy the clean up was with a little perspective change.  

Today I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Chasing Rainbows.  This blog post is "Winter of My Discontent" and boy could I ever relate to her words.  She has been grieving the loss of her special needs son, who died very unexpectedly.  I actually began reading her blog right around the time her son died.  I never imagined that her words would have so much impact in my own life.  That is until our family experienced an unimaginable loss.  I have to agree with Kate, the author of this blog.  It has been a winter of discontent for me.  Things have seemed difficult and at times, I have lost patience with myself. I have been sort of "slogging" through the grief of losing Lucas, as well as also trying to support and stand with my children as they deal with all that surrounds the death of a child.  It is comforting to know and be reminded that my path, our families path is just fine.  Even if it doesn't fit into someone else's ideas of what it should look like.  I am so thankful for the love of Jesus that surrounds me each day.  The very real presence of the Holy Spirit that fills me and comforts me.  I don't think I really understood what Jesus was saying when he said  "Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted" until now.  It is a very real thing, this comfort.  It comes in all different ways.  Sometimes it is voice on the phone when you most need it.  Or it might be a song or a verse that just reaches into a deep place in your heart.  Sometimes it is a blog post by someone you have never met..... or a picture on Facebook.  But one thing is certain.  Jesus is very aware of me.  He is very aware of you and knows exactly what you need.  

I will be making a choice today to look out the window and see the sun shine and notice that the snow is melting away (even though more snow is predicted for next week).  I will listen to the birds chirping in the trees and let the breeze blow into my face.  Today, I will smile.  And I will do lots of scrapbooking.  And I will laugh with friends and I most likely will shed a few tears.  But it is well with my soul.  

Jesus, thank you for being with me everyday and in every thought.  Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who brings peace and comfort when it doesn't make any sense.  Thank you for Kate Leong and her blog that reaches so many.  Bless her and her family as they continue on their own path of grief.  Thank you for the many who have stood with our family during this time of sorrow.  Jesus, help us to turn our eyes forward... to look to you and to make a choice to see out of the other window!  Amen

When you need a helping hand...........

It is amazing to watch the development of a special relationship between siblings.  One thing is certain, Anna simply loves Zeke.  We all thought that Anna would be walking by now.  She crawled early and she has this very strange ability to stand up in the middle of the room!  She will walk pushing her stroller or really anything that she can hang on to.  But she will not let go and take steps on her own.  On this day she was crawling following Zeke around and then she would stand up right next to him and lunge for a hug.  She just loves that boy so much.  And he willingly gave her hug after hug.  And then he reached out for her hands and off they went!  Zeke walking backwards and Anna walking as fast as her little feet would carry her.  I kept telling Zeke to slow down.  Anna happily let Zeke lead her all around the house, over and over.  She needed his helping hand to walk!  I imagine that before we know it, Anna will be running all on her own. For now, I am so thankful that she has a big brother who is willing to lend a helping hand.

I don't know why it is so hard to ask for help, but it sure is.  I guess it feels like a sign of weakness to admit that we can't get by on our own.  I blogged recently that Ken and I admitted our need for help and called on Doug to help us move a heavy piece of furniture upstairs for us.  It was a good decision.  When you hit our age it just seems to make more sense to have someone else do the hard stuff rather than suffer the consequences ourselves.  Right now Ken and I are making a list of all of the inside home repairs and improvements that we need done.  I am quite happy to say that we will be having someone else do the majority of the work.  In these things, we know that we need a helping hand!

I have learned, I admit after years and years, that it is good to ask for a helping hand when you need prayer.  I still know some people who NEVER let you know what their prayer needs are.  They will even ask how they can pray for you, but they will never ask for prayer for themselves.  We all know that when two or three are gathered together...when you join with others, Jesus is there.  Today on my way home from another amazing time with my small group, I was reflecting on the "good old days" of the telephone prayer chain.   I remember when I would receive one of those requests and feel so connected to everyone praying as you passed on the request to the next person on the chain.  What an amazing thing it is to glance over my text messages and see all of the prayer requests!  In an instant I can have many people praying.  Asking for prayer (that helping hand) is so much easier now!

If you are reading this and find it hard to reach out and ask for help.... or to ask for prayer... please stop right now and call a friend and share a need.  We all have needs and we all need to support each other.  If you don't have anyone to call, please comment on this blog and I will stand with you in prayer.  If you are reading this via Facebook, drop a comment or send a personal message.  Don't let some false pride thing keep you from being connected to the body of Christ.  You will be blessed and you can be assured that your prayers are being heard in heaven.

Jesus, thank you for your promises to us.  Holy Spirit, continue to prompt us to share our prayer needs and to reach out to others for help.  Thank you for the advancements that allow us to stay connected via the internet and cell phones not only to each other, but also to you through prayer.  Thank you for the relationship that you are building between Anna and Zeke.  Help us all to know when to lean on others for support, when it is just beyond our own strength or ability to go on.  Amen