One Year with God

Day 140: As small business owners, we are very concerned about profit and loss.  It is more than just "nice" to make a profit, the livelihood of our employees and their families depend on it as much as we do.  To compete, we have to make enough to keep a healthy cash flow, invest in capital improvements and maintain a competitive edge. It is more than just numbers on a ledger.  Profit or loss translates into real consequences for a lot of people. That being said, not every decision made at our business can be determined solely by how it will add to the bottom line. I admire my husband's willingness to take a financial hit when something he values more is at stake.  It isn't always the most profitable choice to give someone extra time off, but sometimes it is the right thing to do to meet their needs.  It isn't always profitable to meet a customers unreasonable demands, but it might be the most powerful thing to do.  The business would certainly make more ...

DAY 138: Twenty- seven years ago today I woke up on the morning of my wedding day to find my cat batting around a decapitated rabbit head in my bedroom.  If I were a superstitious person, I might have read something into that.  Instead, as a cat person I am all too familiar with dismembered critters that my felines bring me to show love.  In this case, my little hunter came in through an open window with his biggest prize yet to honor me on the day of my nuptials.  It freaked out my bridesmaids in the next room, but I understood the gesture. A lot has changed since that day when my husband promised to love ME, honor ME and cherish ME.  I'm sure I made promises too, but sadly there is no video proof of that.  All I remember is that my wedding day was all about ME.  It took a mere three days for me to realize that a happy marriage couldn't be all about me; it would mean compromise.  In the middle of our honeymoon I wanted to spend the day at t...

Day 137:  Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.  I didn't write those words, but I could have because I've known a few people who fit that description.  You probably have too. You know the type:  they always have something to say, but never enough time to listen.  They pierce you with their intent stare when they are talking, but their eyes dart about in boredom when someone else takes the spotlight. It is obvious that they loved the sound of their own voice and have no interest in yours.  Sadly, those are the very people who could most benefit from a little input. Then there are those others that really do have it all together. Consider the Billy Graham's, Beth Moore's and Abe Lincoln's of the world.  Their wisdom is so obvious it is hard to imagine how someone might add to their understanding.    But no matter how wise a person might seem, if this Proverb (18:2) is true then even the mo...

DAY 135:  Before I was a Christian speaker, I will admit to you that I thought being a Christian speaker was a glamorous occupation.  I'm not talking American Idol glamorous or red carpet glamorous, but maybe Kathi Lee Gifford glamorous.  I had an image of what I thought it would be like as "the speaker" at women's events.  My desire was to share the word of God and to encourage women to thrive in their place in life, but in doing so it seemed to me that the natural byproduct would be a modicum of, shall we say, special-ness. Then I became a Christian speaker. Along with my partner, Pam, we have been diligent to tell each ministry director that we are "low maintenance" speakers and that we are there to meet their needs as much as we can; and  99% of the time they have taken us at our word.  We have set up tables, decorated rooms, passed out programs, served desserts, filled tea glasses, and cleaned up empty sanctuaries. The list goes on of ways we have ...

DAY 134: When our sons were young, surprisingly they had more slumber parties than our daughter as they brought their sports teams home on a regular basis after baseball or soccer games. We were often invaded by hoards of boys with their noise, and appetites, and smells, and rowdiness, and risk-taking.  Our normally manageable home became anything but manageable when the gang arrived for a team sleep-over. As a mom, I was on duty during "waking hours" but my husband had the honor of actually bunking with the boys in the playroom overnight. Of course the only person who actually bunked was my husband. On almost every occasion, I would awake in the wee hours to activities like stair-sledding, kitten-parachuting (humanely dropping them down the laundry shoot), or kitchen raiding. Dad-on-duty managed to sleep through the chaos.  Still, we loved having the guys in our home; but in every way, they turned our house upside down!  Things could not operate as they usually do w...

--> DAY 133: One of our favorite vacations when the kids were small was the road trip we took to Branson, Missouri. We did the outdoor things and the shopping areas but of course Branson is famous for the shows.  We saw some great ones, but our favorite was the Kirby Van Burch Magic Show.  Van Burch is an illusionist who enthralled the audience by making the impossible seem possible.  We were especially thrilled when our youngest son, only 6 at the time, was selected as a volunteer from the audience to assist on stage.   Illusions: do you see a hag or a young woman? I knew immediately that Van Burch might regret that choice.  Bailey has always had a knack for stealing the show.  In true form, he managed to have the audience in stitches as he began to check out the magic disappearing box in ways that the magician hadn't anticipated.  Bailey was one impromptu "check" away from spoiling the stunt - making a woman disappear into thin ai...

DAY 174: When I reached the age of 38 I was convinced I had a brain tumor.  I developed headaches. My vision was blurry.  I found myself squinting often.  In my mind, I began wondering who would dress my children when I was gone because my husband has no sense of style.  When your mortality if staring you in the face these crucial issues demand attention.   As I was beginning to plan my family's life without me I had an epiphany.  What if it wasn't a tumor?  What if I just needed to see the eye doctor? While I had been busy trying to keep the wrinkles away, my eyes aged on me.  Sadly, once I got glasses I could see more clearly that the rest of me had started aging, too.  The good news was I could finally read a phone book again.  Most of my issues were resolved with reading glasses which I could buy at the dollar store, and since I had a hard time keeping up with them, I bought 5 or 6 pair at a time. But still, they s...

 DAY 130  When there is a problem, there is usually a right way solve it and there is a wrong way.  It is human nature to assume the right way is our way and the wrong way is anything else.  The problem with that theory is that it generally leads to discord and broken relationships. What we really need is a God solution. Today I witnessed two great examples of problem solving; one written in the pages of scripture and one living out the precepts of scripture. As a matter of principal I am usually averse to activities that induce sweat.  This week,  however, I made an exception to be part of our church's mission outreach to our own town.  Deployed in work groups, members of our church took on ten projects in town to meet the needs of individuals from our community.  My assignment was at the home of an elderly women whose house was literally beginning to fall down around her.  Our team descended on her 1930s house en mass to paint, repair...

DAY 129:  Oh my goodness -  we are THAT couple - the ones whose kids have fled the nest and only have pets to greet them after a long trip.   The animals were overjoyed to see us to be sure! While we were away their entire routines were out of whack.  I wasn't here to let them in and out at will, shower them with treats or rub bellies and scratch ears.  They became THOSE pets that lived outside like strays.  They were thrilled at our return. Still, it was a bitter sweet homecoming.  It was the first time I can remember coming home and not being greeted by at least one of our kids.  Just like I make my pets' lives possible, our kids were keenly aware that mom made their lives possible.  No one starved while I was away, but they would be the first to tell you that when I was out of town their lives did not run as smoothly.  Whether I was gone for a day or for a week, I always looked forward to their genuine glee at my return. My...

DAY 128  I’m not good with geography. So when I was invited to take a ministry trip to Moldova I naturally asked, “Where is that?” It turns out I’m not the only one who has no idea where this little country is located.  With less than four million people and a landmass only slightly larger than Maryland (that one I know), Moldova is a country easily overlooked.  It not only has a diminutive size, it has made no noteworthy contributions in history.  In fact, for most of it’s known existence it has been a pawn for other countries, continually conquered and occupied.  Everyone from the Romans to the Huns to the Bulgarians have invaded and pillaged this little territory.  Once also part of Romania, it was eventually absorbed by the Soviet Union until providentially it became an independent country just 21 years ago. Now, along with their declaration of independence, they can proudly boast of officially being the poorest country in Europe, with the highes...

DAY 126: There are two things that make me feel better when I am traveling away from home.  One is the familiar smell of coffee beans when I go into a Starbucks.  It just helps my stress melt away when the aroma hits me as I walk in the door.  I feel better before I even order my Skinny Latte, no foam, extra whip.  The other is the sound of a familiar voice from home.  When I am weary and road worn, a little lonely with miles to go, hearing my husband on the other end of the phone reminds me I'll be home soon. And when I talk to one of my kids - forgetaboutit. .. It's like home comes to me just hearing their voices.  Those voices are the voices of love and belonging in my life; when I hear them, no matter where I am, I know where I belong. Over the past three days readings, as I have been preparing for a trip away from the home where I belong, Jesus has been reminding me that His voice is the one to listen for; IF I AM HIS, I WILL HEAR HIS VOICE. I've see...