Lessons I Learned from My Grandparents~ Part 1

I love my family so much.  They have left me a rich heritage of faith and they have surrounded me with love and acceptance.  And believe me, I don't deserve it.  Family is a blessing from God, really.  And part of the blessing is all the wisdom these relationships pour into our live.

Last week, along with my friends and family, I said goodbye to two people.  I think their memory has made me nostalgic for my own grandparents that I rarely get to see.  But whatever the reason, I found myself remembering lessons my grandparents taught me.

I'm very blessed to have two sets of grandparents who have walked through life with me.  I've learned a lot from all of them.  I might not have mastered all of the lessons yet, and perhaps never will.  I strongly doubt that the lessons of "never say a bad word about someone" will keep (mostly because I inherited the art of bluntness from one of my grandfathers.) But I will work on it.  And I'll mess up.  And then I'll work on it again because right now, looking at my life, I can't imagine anything more worth while than passing their legacy on to the children God will give me.

There's no way that I could put these little lessons in any kind of order.  There's really no need to try.  So without further ado...

When I was first instructed with this life lesson my grandpa had just read one of my college essays.  "This is excellent writing.  You could speak this, you know?  But, I tell you.  If you really want to be an excellent speaker learn a new word everyday.  Get out a dictionary and just start learning words.  Write it in a sentence.  Say it through the day."

I definitely haven't practiced this as religiously as I should.  For a while I had an app on my phone that gave me a new word to learn everyday, but I decided I needed the memory for things like music and videos.  No, I haven't practiced this lesson.  But I think there's a lesson in this lesson that I have applied.

Never quite learning.

Studying, reading, memorizing...all these activities keep our minds sharp and they really do make us better people.  Taking classes that feed our imagination.  Learning a new skill.  Finding a new hobby.  These are all activities that increase our brain function.  That's what is really important.

This is not a goal that can just be attained.  It's a goal that has to be practiced.  It's actually more like a discipline.  No, disciplines are not easy.  They are, in fact, very difficult, but that's what makes them so worth while in the first place.


What is a life lesson you've learned from your grandparents?

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When I Was a Child

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I always find it interesting when God begins to speak truth to my heart--interesting and sometimes annoying.

Usually it strikes at the most inopportune times.  You know, like when you're about to unload a massive amount of wisdom unto a poor unsuspecting and uncaring soul.  Right there.  Right as the words are being formed on your tongue...You've already thought them.  You believe them in your heart and mind.  And you know that if you could just be heard by this person their life would be better.  You just know it.

And then the Holy Spirit compels you to stop.

You weren't going to say anything bad.  Actually, it was probably quite good.  And in your heart you would never want to hurt anybody's feelings, but sometimes (and this is extremely difficult for me to admit) it's better to not say anything than to say everything you know.

So, with the words on your tongue, hand in the air, you (or I) find yourself frozen in time left with a choice as the words of 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, come scrolling through your mind.

"Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others more than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trust God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back.
Love keeps going to the end."
Love never dies...
When we were children we used to think like children, talk like children, act like children, but now we are adults and we must put our childish thinking, talking, acting aside."

And then that's when you realize.  The more perfect form of love doesn't have to say anything or be right or even be heard.  The most perfect form of love just needs to be there and observe...be quiet and pray.




That's one of the most difficult tasks God has ever asked me to do--to be quiet.  I finally found a voice and now He wants me to be quiet.  But more and more that's exactly what He's asking me to do.  It's humbling to admit that sometimes the greatest demonstration of love is just growing up and shutting up.  It's realizing that you might be right, but that's not going to change the situation.  Words mean nothing unless they are backed by action.

I'm so not there, but I'm learning to be.  I'm learning that there is a powerful elegance found in quietness.  And that quietness is a part of growing old.  And that sometime quietness is heard more clearly than the loudest voice.

I desperately desire that powerful elegance to increase the effectiveness of my testimony because in truth, my testimony (my life, my actions, my example) fall short of it's capabilities.  I'm capable of more, but only when Christ's love in me has the ability to shine through me.  And usually that's through a quiet, consistent love.

An adult kind of love.

When I was a child, I spake as a child.  But now that I'm a woman, and I'm learning to be quiet.

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It's ok to take the long road

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It's ok to take the long road.
     to ride the bike
     to take the long walk

In a world that always pushing us to do things fast--to get the job done--it's ok to take the long road.
     to slow down and inhale the beauty
     to rest from the caos
     to relax in the awkward moments
     to breathe in life

To really live life & absorb it all.
     to take it all in

To just...
                  be.


Life is not a destination.  Life is a journey.  Long.  Hard.  Painful.  Fun.  But all worth it.  In encourage you, slow down and love life.  All of it.

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Think about it, Do it

I'm sharing this commercial because I avidly believe in it's message.  I hope it leads you to think about life and your family and driving safety.

Some driving safety suggestions:
1.  Slow down in construction zones.  There are workers on the road and their life is precious.
2.  Discourage passengers to help. Encourage passengers to have fun but be safe.  I drive with teenagers in my car quite often.  They love to open the door while the vehicle is moving.  Be honest with them and explain why this is dangerous.  Recently, I told one of them why this made me so agitated and they stopped acting a mess.
3.  Buckle up.Yes, it's the law, but it also saves lives.  I know quite a few people who disagree with me, but I've seen the statistics and I've experienced the loss.  It does save lives.
4. Move over for emergency vehicles.  They are either going to a medical emergency or leaving one and if you or your family member was in that vehicle you'd want everyone to move.  Seconds matter.
5.  Pay attention.Do not text and drive.  If you're tired pull over.  The great thing about technology is we all have apps that can take care of texting.  I know that my commute to work takes at least 30 minutes.  I can get a lot of work done in 30 minutes especially correspondance but resist the urge to text and drive.  I just downloaded a new app.  It's called Voice and I can text, email, update Facebook, and tweet all with my voice.
I know that these are all tips that you've read or heard but it only takes one mistake to end a life.  I do pray that God protect your steps and your ways.  Thank you for taking the time to read this post!

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Women's Retreat Recap

Wow.  So it's been over a week since I've been back from Branson, Missouri, where we had the Cathedral of Praise Grace Women's Retreat.  (Read more about our discussion here.)  We really had so much fun...maybe even too much fun.  There is one thing that is undoubtedly true.  God changed lives during that retreat.  I know that He opened my eyes to several things about my personality that I've got to deal with if I'm going to be all God has destined me to be.

God's like that, you know.  He reveals areas, weaknesses, ideals in our lives that are unlike His character or that don't line up with His Word, but rather than just changing us (which would be so much easier) He leaves the us with the responsibility to fix those issues.  Oh, the power of the Holy Spirit is there to lead and guide us through the changes...but ultimately the choice to change is ours to make and the steps we take are ours to walk.

So here's some changes that I'm going to be working on...
1.  Be quiet more and listen.  Don't be pushy even though you believe to the very core of your existence that you're correct.  People don't respond well to that attitude.  And, yes, you are passionate about everything, but not everyone has to be passionate about everything too.
2.  Don't be so hard on yourself and on other people.  We are all sinners saved by grace.  You sin and mess up.  They sin and mess up.  Pray for God's grace to love with His compassion.  (I've been working on this one for a while, but I still have some more work to do.)
3.  STOP PROCRASTINATING.  You don't have to be afraid.  Just do what you know to do and continue to walk in God's Word.  The steps of righteous people are ordered of God.

Below are some pics of the trip.  If you ever go to Branson, please promise you will go to the College of the Ozarks and watch them milk the cows.  It was so cool...for real. :)

Don't forget to enter the 50 Follower Celebration giveaway for a $25 Target gift card.  It ends tonight!

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Christ's Character

Last week was such an interesting week.  I saw God answer prayers that I had quit praying about, but I also had some major set backs in some relationships that I value greatly.  But through these circumstances God brought me to a place of realization and learning.  NO ONE IS PERFECT.

Reality is, I've sinned and messed up royally.  Other people sin and mess up royally too.  But despite their mess ups I have to respond with grace and mercy.  Maybe it's because of my pride, maybe it's because I have too high standards, but that is a hard task for me to live by even if it's in God's Word.

Proverbs 17.9 says, "Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and good-bye friend" (Message).

An acquaintance of mine, Joshua Watts, tweeted last week, "One of the greatest marks of bearing Christ's character is our response to someone else's sin."

Is it possible that one of the reasons I'm so mad is because my friend's failure reminds me of my own downfalls?  Could it be that their failure to "live by the rules" makes me struggle with my own desire to live completely, 100%, sold-out?  Do I "hate" them because "they" made me question my faith?  No, I don't hate them...but I'm scared.  I'm scared that if they can mess up then I might too.

Truth is even when I mess up, because I will, God's grace and mercy is a covering over my life.

My prayer:  Lord, help me to respond with grace, mercy, and understanding.  We are fallen creatures who live in a fallen world.  You are love and your love helps me to cast out all fear.  Help me to live completely dependent on your love alone and help me to bear your character when my friends fall.  Because more than I want anything I want to point others to You and Your love.

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