How Do YOU Do Camo? (Or…The Art of the Misdirect?)

So thrilled on my first day of work (orientation), that I could sport one of my new “business casual” outfits and that this year’s fashions accommodate my body so nicely. Yes, I have gained just a little…”surplus”… to camouflage since last time I worked, and after 2 years of acting like a retiree (before my time, possibly). But this year’s fashions oblige me so nicely! They include stretchy pants, long tunics and prints that distract. So convenient, that I can cover, distract, and otherwise make my appearance better than it might be without these illusionist tricks. And it’s for a good cause, besides just my vanity! I am saving other people’s eyes from burning. Yes I am doing them a favor by concealing things I don’t want them to see! But the word that really bothers me, & which I would prefer not to use, is what best describes what’s really going on here. I am hiding (or at least sincerely trying to) things I don’t want the world to see. And that is a good thing. Beauty is far preferable to raw truth here :-). But with God – He sees it all. No matter how much (“surplus” or other flaws) we try to hide, draw attention away from, play down, diminish, etc…. He sees, He knows, and He loves us completely in spite of! All the surplus, all the physical issues, but, more importantly, all the sin we try to cover up – God sees it all. And we are still loved and accepted by the One Who made the whole universe…the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! What a wonderful fact to comfort us. No, He will not leave us as we are… you might call us humans “fixer uppers” ;-). But, what a wonderful knowledge to rest in – that we are loved and totally accepted just as we are, even in our current state of disrepair. So, we can rest in Him, and take a break from all our efforts to cover up (at least from God).
So, all my WordPress friends…Have a RESTful weekend!

Second to none… Well, okay… maybe I’m 3rd or 4th or even further down the line!

I am amazed at my spirit of competition sometimes. As a young singer, I learned that the best way to get over my feelings of jealousy when other singers got a part I wanted, was to become their friend, and then I loved them & didn’t care so much if they got something I wanted. I learned to see that for certain parts & roles, they were just better suited than I was! And now I find that old Rascal Jealousy coming back, in a simple online game called Design Home. If one of my designs falls short of the mark, it still upsets me – sometimes more than others. Why? Is it an assault on my ability, or my value as a human? Sometimes, I have to accept still, other people’s work is just better than mine! Maybe they spent more money on it (or any money, as I play for free), or more time, or just simply had better taste than I did in that situation :-). Learning to accept a secondary role or place in life can be hard for some of us. And learning that just because we took second place (or 3rd or 4th) doesn’t mean that we aren’t valuable, or our opinions and viewpoints aren’t valuable… This is another lesson I am still needing to learn. So silly, how these things keep popping up throughout our lives. “Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free, tis a gift to come down where we ought to be.” A wonderful old song, a wonderful old truth!

Worry-Killer ;-)

Our pastor is doing a series on “Silent Killers.” Very first one, top hit # 1, was worry…Then came loneliness & guilt (centered on Mom Guilt for Mothers’ Day 😉 ). Since this was fairly recent & since I have run out of room for filing & have been tucking my notes in my lounge chair arm compartments, I pulled out the one on worry. According to Pastor, all of us have it. I agree. But what might start as annoying can be the very thing that takes us out if we don’t pay attention & let it grow. He, like me, likes to nickname his worry, “concern” or “anticipation” – that allows him to see it as something that makes him a better leader, parent, husband, fin’l. manager, etc. But Worry never gets full even if you feed it. It won’t be ignored & it never goes on a diet. It comes from a word that means “to strangle, suffocate or choke out”! Paul, when he was on death row in prison, wrote Philippians with a theme of joy. Paul knew something about worrying & trials. Yet in Phil 4:4 -9, some of his very last words were to rejoice in the Lord always, in everything to bring your petitions to Him by prayer with thanksgiving & the Peace of the Lord will guard your hearts & minds. This is not an automatic reflex, as in “worry happens” or “joy happens.” We can prepare for/command a response! And here, I fear I might have lost the perforated portion of my notes that was attached to the first part! For I have a number 1) w/o any followups :-(. (Fear not – number 1’s good!) I wrote to “size it up – if you put your pinky finger in front of your face you can block something big that is at a distance.” Worry’s in our face, up close & personal – it can block the bigness of…say, the Lord…but He is near! And He promises that. (Sermon notes end). You may have a lot on your plate, friend, much more than I do. But know that the Lord is near, He has your life in His hand & He is guiding you in all you do. Leave the results up to Him, your worth is established in Him. God has covered all your sin & He knows what you have on your plate. Your path is laid by the Lord & He is equipping you to run it. You need not worry for yourself or for others – He has them in His hands, too!

When your blessings become burdens to you…

When your blessings become burdens to you…

Women, among other things

I wasn’t going to blog on this, but the struggle women have to do it all, to be “good enough” is real. In response to someone online who was talking about the way to be a good wife (I guess it hit close to home) here it is, in hopes that it might help someone: “Every story is different. I was (okay, am) not a great cook. I do not spend as much time as I probably should cleaning the house. Was I a perfect parent?…I tried hard, but had many sad (read, failing) moments. My intended career as an opera singer turned into doing side work as a singer & singing in the Opera Chorus at night. My secretarial jobs during the day were unrewarding, but of course I worked when I could, because that was what you did. At some point my husband wanted me to stay home as a mother. I gladly obliged ;-). When it came time to go back to work, my age, the length of time unemployed, & my unstellar jobs back when I did work seemed not to appeal to employers! But God gave me things to do in my free time. God blessed me with a husband who loved me for myself even though I did not live up to the standard of his mother, who worked sometimes 2 jobs, raised two kids, always had a decent meal on the table for breakfast & dinner, etc…. My son has forgiven me for my shortcomings & is turning into a beautiful young man. I have felt judged by myself, sometimes by my family, sometimes by the outside world…But you know what? I have something to offer, apart from just what I could do for my husband, or do for the world, or even do for my son. While I totally believe we are here to do for others, we are not what we do. Whether we work as volunteers, in the home, in the workplace, or all of the above, we have inherent value. We should not be judged by how much output we generate. My mom-in-law (yes, the 1 above) had to learn later in life from her doctor of all people, that we are not human doings we are human beings. Created in the image of God, worthy of love and respect, in every life circumstance. I truly did not start out to write an admonition. But I have learned one thing through all of this, and it is imperfectly stated above – the knowledge that we are more than what we do. Nuff said.”

On My Father’s Tree

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” they say. And I am blessed to belong on my Father’s tree… a prized ornament, so to speak, on the Christ Tree :-).

A Pure & Spotless Bride

Message I sent myself, mentally: I have met with God and have been found wanting. Message God sent me: I want you to know that what I have done for you is enough, to take away your sins and make you white as snow. If you believe, you will be received into My arms as a pure and spotless bride. I am not saying you are perfect, nor that your sins won’t hamper you in this life, but I am saying that you are loved and wanted and just as good as anyone else. Daughter, your shame has been taken away from you and you have no need to feel guilty anymore. I know your struggles with sin are real and the fights you are fighting are for life or death. But I have covered all of your sins with My love…I am not ashamed to call you My daughter. Do not move forward in guilt. Accept that I see you as pure and lovely in My sight.

Jesus loves me, this I know…

With all the spiritual help we have available these days – conferences, radio, so many churches, books, counselors, the internet…and don’t forget as Believers we have the indwelling Holy Spirit -we can still be left feeling overwhelmed instead of informed, inferior instead prepared, small and insecure instead of equipped. But the wealth of spiritual information we have at our fingertips doesn’t have to leave us feeling “less than,” insecure or overwhelmed. God wants us to know, first and foremost, His love for us. We are more than what we know, what we see, what we say & even what we do. We are Miracles…We are Mighty Warriors, Masterpieces of God. He is working in us, creating the persons He wants us to be. He wants to help us get to our goals, not see us defeated by “overwhelm.” So, let’s remember, “first things first” – it’s about love…His love. When we are not sure about anything else, we can be sure of this one thing…God.loves.us. Period.

Do be do be do…BE!

I wasn’t going to blog on this, but the struggle women have to do it all, to be “good enough” is real. In response to someone online who was talking about the way to be a good wife (I guess it hit close to home) here it is, in hopes that it might help someone: “Every story is different. I was (okay, am) not a great cook. I do not spend as much time as I probably should cleaning the house. Was I a perfect parent?…I tried hard, but had many sad (read, failing) moments. My intended career as an opera singer turned into doing side work as a singer & singing in the Opera Chorus at night. My secretarial jobs during the day were unrewarding, but of course I worked when I could, because that was what you did. At some point my husband wanted me to stay home as a mother. I gladly obliged ;-). When it came time to go back to work, my age, the length of time unemployed, & my unstellar jobs back when I did work seemed not to appeal to employers! But God gave me things to do in my free time. God blessed me with a husband who loved me for myself even though I did not live up to the standard of his mother, who worked sometimes 2 jobs, raised two kids, always had a decent meal on the table for breakfast & dinner, etc…. My son has forgiven me for my shortcomings & is turning into a beautiful young man. I have felt judged by myself, sometimes by my family, sometimes by the outside world…But you know what? I have something to offer, apart from just what I could do for my husband, or do for the world, or even do for my son. While I totally believe we are here to do for others, we are not what we do. Whether we work as volunteers, in the home, in the workplace, or all of the above, we have inherent value. We should not be judged by how much output we generate. My mom-in-law (yes, the 1 above) had to learn later in life from her doctor of all people, that we are not human doings we are human beings. Created in the image of God, worthy of love and respect, in every life circumstance. I truly did not start out to write an admonition. But I have learned one thing through all of this, and it is imperfectly stated above – the knowledge that we are more than what we do. Nuff said.