July 2009

Yahoo!

Megan Breedlove July 27, 2009 0Comment

It was a beautiful day, the kind where you just have to go to the park. In fact, it was so beautiful that my (then) three children and I walked. Ellie, at just over three years, was pushing a doll in her own stroller. I pushed twenty-one-month-old Kenny and three-month-old Lindsey in our gigantic, all-terrain, mountaineering-isn’t-a-problem double stroller.

Twenty minutes after setting out, we got to the park. (It was only three blocks, but you know how it is walking with small children.) The first thing the kids wanted to do was swing. I helped Ellie and Kenny get into the child swings, and I placed Lindsey nearby in her car seat, which was secured in the stroller.

Both Ellie and Kenny loved to swing. I’d push them as high as I could without scaring myself too much. They thought they were flying. They would grin and soar through the air, again and again, reveling in the delight of it.

This particular day was as exciting as all the others. As Ellie swung back and forth, a huge smile on her face, she suddenly exclaimed, “Yahoo! I’m a caterpillar!”

My first reaction to her announcement was that it was delightfully funny. As I thought more about it, I realized that it was also beautiful and profound.

You see, in Ellie’s mind, it was really true. She was a caterpillar! In that moment, she believed that anything was possible. And she was excited! Under those circumstances, wouldn’t you be excited, too?

Why do we as adults stop believing in wonderful possibilities? Granted, we know some things can’t happen. We can’t actually become caterpillars just because we want to. But why do we let our realism that certain wonderful things can’t happen spill over into cynicism, into the mindset that nothing wonderful will happen? It makes our earthly life a lot less joyful. A lot less vibrant color, and a lot more drab gray.

It makes our spiritual life less joyful, too. We often develop the same mindset spiritually. When we become Christians, we start out believing that God can do anything. So we pray for anything and everything, believing that surely, God will take care of it all. But as God answers “no” to some of our prayers, as Satan tries to do his work in us, and as we come to realize that tragedies do happen, marriages fail, and children die far too early, we become disillusioned. We stop asking for quite so much, because not receiving what we hope for hurts less if we didn’t actually ask for it, or because we figure we’re not going to get it anyway. The joyous expectation with which we began our Christian lives gradually erodes, and we’re left in a place where we don’t expect much, because we think we’ve learned not to.

But precious mommy friend, let me tell you something. The God you began to worship as a baby Christian is still the same God you worship now. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. He is still capable of doing the marvelous, mind-blowing things you asked of Him before you started to forget Who He was and began to settle for much less.

In fact, Paul tells us in Ephesians that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. He wasn’t suggesting, and nor do I suggest, that God will necessarily shower us with material blessings just because we ask. But God will grant us every spiritual blessing we need. In fact, His Word tells us that He already has.

And Malachi the prophet records God’s promise that if the Israelites were to bring their tithes into the storehouse, God would pour out so much blessings upon them that they would not have room enough to receive it. And He will do the same thing today. But note well two things: first, God was not promising material blessings; and second, there is a prerequisite to receiving the flood of blessings: dedicating oneself wholeheartedly to the Lord.

Have you done that? Have you dedicated yourself wholeheartedly to Him? You may be a Christian, but that’s not necessarily the same thing as letting God have your whole heart.

Get on your knees before Him, or in whatever posture best suits your body when you make the cries of your soul known to your King. Offer your whole heart to Him, not just for a moment, but forever. And then prepare yourself to receive more than you can ask or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20-21—Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Hebrews 13:8—Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Malachi 3:10—“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Ephesians 1:3—Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ

Loving Stephanie

Megan Breedlove July 20, 2009 0Comment

Two years ago, my children and I attended a birthday party for one of Kenny’s friends. At the time, Ellie was four, Kenny was two, and Lindsey was one. Ellie was excited about going to the party, but not just because it was a birthday party. Ellie knew the birthday boy’s older sister Stephanie would be there, and Ellie considered Stephanie her best friend.

Stephanie was several years older than Ellie, an older girl but not yet a tween. Usually, when our families were together, Stephanie was interested in playing with Ellie. Other times, she not only seemed disinterested but ignored Ellie. Because of her age, I would have expected her not always to be interested in playing with a four-year-old. But at her age, I also felt she should have known how to politely respond when Ellie spoke to her, rather than simply ignoring her.

Due to special circumstances, and because Ellie idolized Stephanie, I sometimes allowed the two girls to play together and then dealt with issues as they arose. And Ellie never seemed to mind that they often did. Though she would sometimes feel hurt or bewildered by Stephanie’s words or actions, she never stopped loving Stephanie, and she never stopped being overwhelmed with excitement when she saw her or had the opportunity to play with her.

That’s what happened at the party. Ellie had brought some glo-sticks—those tiny tubes you can make glow in the dark and then form necklaces or bracelets with—that she wanted to share with Stephanie. We arrived at the party, and we didn’t see Stephanie at first. But soon, Stephanie appeared from her room and headed toward the kitchen, where the snacks were set out. “Stephanie!” Ellie squealed excitedly, and started toward her.

Stephanie grabbed a handful of pretzels and started toward the back patio doors.

“Stephanie, I have a glo-stick for you!” Ellie said proudly, holding out the treasure she’d kept safe all the way to the party.

Stephanie didn’t even look at her.

“Stephanie!” Ellie called. “Stephanie!”

Stephanie opened the patio doors, stepped through, and shut them again.

Ellie came to a stop, a bewildered look on her face. She stood for a moment staring after her friend, then turned back to me. Silently, she returned to sit beside me, her head down. My heart ached for her, and I wondered for the thousandth time how Stephanie could so completely fail to realize that she shouldn’t act like that, and why.

Oh, but precious sister in Christ…isn’t that the way we act toward God sometimes? Don’t we ignore his love, freely poured out to us who don’t deserve it? Aren’t we sometimes rude to Him? Don’t we take for granted the fact that He loves us with all the passion in His heart?

Sure we do, and then we only pay attention to Him when we’re interested. When we want some comfort or some amusement, we turn to Him. Otherwise, we head right out the patio doors.

Ellie was hurt and bewildered at Stephanie’s response—or lack thereof. God is never bewildered, but His heart is wounded when we fail to respond to Him in love.

Friend, do you treat God the same way Stephanie treated Ellie? Imagine how He feels when you do that. Or imagine how God the Father feels watching us treat His Child the way Stephanie treated my child. Probably similar to the way I felt, or the way you would have felt in my situation.

The most remarkable thing about the relationship between Stephanie and Ellie is this: Ellie continues to love despite the many offenses Stephanie has committed against her.

The most remarkable thing about our relationship with God is that He continues to love us despite the many offenses we have committed against Him, and despite the fact that He knows there will come a next time where we hurt Him.

There came a point where Stephanie’s verbal offenses became too numerous and too hurtful for me to allow her and Ellie’s relationship to continue, except within the boundaries of strict limitations. Aren’t you glad that God the Father doesn’t limit our relationship with His Son when we have racked up too many sins?

Yes, our sin separates us from God and creates distance between us, similar to the limitations I had to impose on Stephanie and Ellie’s relationship. But aren’t you glad that those limitations can be removed any time we’re ready to repent and return to Him? Don’t you rejoice that there is never a “point of no return”?

Despite the imperfect way we love Him, God never stops loving us. He never stops being willing to have a relationship with us. He keeps on loving us despite the times we hurt Him, or ignore Him, or sin against Him in some other way.

So, as incredible as it is that Ellie still loves Stephanie…isn’t it vastly more incredible that God still loves us?

Praise Him for His perfect, everlasting love. Repent of any sins you have committed against Him. Then, ask Him to help you love Him with all your heart.

Don’t ignore the relationship with Him that He’s offering you. Don’t just head out the patio door. Turn to Him in awe and gratitude that He wants to relate to you, a human being, at all. Go to Him, and spend the rest of your life loving Him. Not just sometimes, but always.

Deuteronomy 6:5—Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Thank You

Megan Breedlove July 13, 2009 0Comment

Housework is definitely not my favorite part of motherhood. I find it frustrating for two reasons: first, there is always something to be done. The job is never-ending; and second, when I do manage to carve a precious hour out of my day to accomplish something, it gets undone by my children in five minutes.

God has shown me, however, that whether or not housework is a burden to me all depends on my attitude. If I choose to focus on how much it inconveniences me, my attitude won’t be very joyful. If, however, I consider the significance of the fact that I have housework to do, I can be grateful instead of grumpy.

I pray that this poem will encourage you and help transform your perspective on housework. You see, having housework to do is a blessing in disguise.

Thank You

Dear Lord, Your Word says ‘don’t complain’; I know that this is true.
But when it comes to housework or chores I don’t want to do,
It’s easy to resent the things to which I must give time.
“Taking up my cross” isn’t always what I have in mind.

But Lord, you have been teaching me to see the way You see,
To realize that household tasks are blessings You gave me.
And so, I choose to give You thanks for all I have to do,
Knowing that the privilege of doing it’s from You.

Thank You for the laundry dropped in piles upon the floor,
And for the dirty pairs of shoes left right inside the door.
Thank You for the shirts and socks and coats flung everywhere,
For OxiClean and Shout and Tide—it means we’ve clothes to wear.

Dirty cups and dishes clutter countertops and sink.
I sure hope no one’s hungry; I hope no one needs a drink.
If it could all just wash itself, it would be such a treat.
But thanks for dirty dishes, too—it means we’ve food to eat.

Thank You for the sink and floor and toilet I must scrub.
Thank You for the shower; thank You for the tub.
Thank You for the mirror and wet towels I know are coming.
Thank You for this bathroom; it means we’ve indoor plumbing.

The messiness of games and toys and books covers our floors.
And did I mention dolls and blocks and drawings taped on doors?
Sometimes, I think I’ve seen my fill of Hot Wheels, Legos, bibs.
But thank You for this chaos—it means I have four kids.

My front yard isn’t landscaped. It isn’t even mown.
It’s filled with plastic toys and shovels—things that aren’t my own.
It sure won’t win “Yard of the Month”, but I don’t need that anyway.
I thank You for my lived-in yard—my kids have space to play.

There’s so much work I must get done. I do it all, and then
An hour later, it’s a mess, and must be done again.
But Lord, I thank You for the time that I can’t call my own,
The time spent serving others. It means I have a home.

Oh, forgive me, Lord, for asking You for blessings great and small,
Then complaining when I have to clean or take care of them all.
Oh, Lord, the very fact that I always have much to do
Is not a cause for bitterness, but for giving thanks to You.

I see now that every chore I have to do reflects Your grace
In blessing me with earthly things until I see Your face.
May I do my work with gratitude for the opportunity,
Seeing in it a chance for joy, and not mere drudgery.

My heart responds in thankfulness for all that You have given.
I’ll serve You by taking care of it ’til You call me to heaven.
And may I serve in such a way that the world sees Your dear Son
In my heart and hands and words and work, that to Him, they be won.

Complaining

Megan Breedlove July 6, 2009 0Comment

I’m not really into cooking. I don’t hate it; I just don’t much look forward to it. The reason, however, has nothing to do with the cooking itself. I actually kind of enjoy the process of preparing and creating something. It’s just that it’s too frustrating to try to spend an hour or two cooking when the kids are guaranteed to need me repeatedly during that time.

Every now and then, however, I do spend more than ten or fifteen minutes preparing dinner. Sometimes, I get the urge to make something really nice.

Once, I spent time making a new chicken dish and mashed potatoes. Everyone in my family likes chicken, so I thought this would be a sure hit. I even let the kids have straws in their drinks, which is a special treat in our family. I thought the stage was set for success.

I was wrong.

One of my children kept talking about what she would and wouldn’t eat—even after being told by Daddy to stop talking about it. Another child kept trying bites of the meal and then picking them out of her mouth when she found them unsatisfactory. One child in particular was chewing on his straw, as he likes to do. I didn’t mind, but apparently my husband did, because he said, “That’s why I don’t like giving them a straw.”

You can imagine how I felt at that point. I was frustrated and irritated—really irritated—by their ungratefulness. I was also discouraged. After all, I had gone to a lot of trouble to do something nice for them.

I wonder how God feels when we do the same thing to Him.

Every single day and moment of our lives, God puts an awesome amount of effort and creativity into preparing wonderful things for us. Sometimes, we receive His gifts well, but often, we complain.

We are a lot like the ancient Israelites, whom we usually condemn for their on-again, off-again attitudes. First, the Israelites complained (understandably so) about their slavery in Egypt. So God rescued them. Then, the complained about being hungry, saying, “Well at least in Egypt, we had food.” So God gave them manna. After awhile, they complained about that. So God gave them quail. Then they got sick of that.

They were never satisfied.

Friend, are you satisfied with what God provides for you? When He gives you a gift, do you receive it gratefully? Or do you complain, because you don’t like it…or you want to choose what parts of it you will and will not accept…or it isn’t the way you would have done it?

It’s true that sometimes, God allows things into our lives for which we’re not grateful. Sometimes, He allows tragedy and suffering. He doesn’t expect us to respond with jubilant enthusiasm to such things, and those aren’t the kinds of things I’m talking about here.

I’m talking about the things He gives us that are in no way tragedies, but to which we sometimes respond as if they are.

What if God gives you a house with fewer bedrooms than you think you need? Could you be grateful for it, or would you complain?

What if He provides not a new car, but one that’s ten years old and has a hundred thousand miles? Would you thank Him?

What if…He gives you children and a husband who aren’t perfect? What then? Will you spend more time celebrating His gifts, or complaining that they aren’t perfect?

What gifts in your life have you failed to appreciate? What have you complained about when you should have been grateful? Spend some time in prayer today. Ask God to forgive you for your attitude toward His blessings. Seek His help in changing your heart to be a grateful one. And rejoice! You have been blessed.

James 1:17—Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

July 2009

Yahoo!

Loving Stephanie

Thank You

Thank You

Complaining

You Missed

Priorities

I Wouldn’t Do That

Little Things

8 Seconds