Coffee my daily baptism

Morning is my favorite time of day. It wasn't always. I must confess that the smell of fresh brewed coffee has an hypnotic effect on me. I can be roused from a deep sleep by the aroma! It is almost a spiritual experience for me to slowly descend the stairs to the kitchen, pour my mug full, position myself comfortably at the table and feel the mind and body begin to pull together.

A new day stretches out before me. Some of it I have planned, most of it God has Planned in spite of my plans! Since I have chosen to give my life to Christ , I feel like I am living in a constant state of anticipation. I just never know how He will surprise me, or what He will bring me each morning. So I wait on Him expectantly, coffee in hand. This is a comfort to me as I don't really like noise in my house upon awakening. I can easily meditate on scripture in these early moments. I let His Spirit do much of the talking, I have learned to listen.

When my children were young I would not have this luxury of peace and quiet, they required me to make lunches, sign permission slips or hunt library books as well as watch the clock for the school bus. It seemed that my mornings weren't mine. But after so many years of getting up and going, I still get up early and look forward to the precious company that awaits me in pre dawn light. Each day a gift, a chance to love, serve and share. Each day with it's own challenges, a chance to learn, forgive,and pray. Each day a fresh beginning, a chance to have do overs kind of like the Movie"Ground hogs Day".

I do greet the morning with a certain faith and prayer, I still have the habit of lifting up my loved ones to Christs purposes and protection, I prayer for those in authoritative positions, I remember the sick in my prayers and I thank God for all His wisdom.

I suppose that I am revived each morning, baptized from death to life (symbolicolly with coffee) and prepared to recieve the new mercies each day that have been specifically placed into my life. Experiencing Gods presence from the onset of each day is the most amazing and freeing thing you can do. Start early, when you open your eyes , open the eyes of your Heart!

Hats

This Sunday the women in my church will all wear hats. Not to make any fashion statement, but as a way of visably supporting our sister in Christ who has lost her hair from Chemo-therapy. I have searched my arsenal of accesories and found I don't have one appropriate for worship service.

I do have hats for the beach,gardening,assorted caps with logos of teams but not one that shows reverence and respectfully calls out a worshipful covering for my head. I will have to buy one. As I meditated on what this purchase really needs to be I found some personal insight to this show of support.

I live in Lancaster Pennsylvania, the home of many Amish and Mennonite communities. These women cover their heads daily with lace scarf snoods or bonnets. This is part of their culture and symbolizes that Almighty God is there above them protecting , guiding and caring for them. This covering is an outward sign to the world that they trust Him and recognize His authority. As a former New Yorker I have also seen the Orthodox Jews make such witness of their faith,as well as reformed Jews who also wear Yamakas. Other practices of faith include head coverings such as the Catholic Church did when I was a young girl.

The scriptures tell us that Christ is the Head of the Church. We are his body of believers. He is over us in all that needs to be accomplished according to HIS PLAN. It also regards women in such a special inclusion to recognize their covering, as a Husband over their wives or as a father over their unmarried daughters.

I began to ponder the depth of my own Husbands position as my covering. In a culture that offers so many freedoms to women today, I had one major thought. How do I reverence my husband as the direct head of my household? My second thought was what are the benefits of seeing him in this regard?

I quickly made a mental list of the different ways in which men and women respond in the process of healthy relationship. The scriptures say "husbands love your wives as Christ loves the Church and laid His life down for it". "And wives respect your husbands". I take from those verses a basic command that shows me to have Christs model of harmony and purpose as we are called to respect our mates.

Some days I don't even like my husband! Come on now, I'm just keeping it real! Days when he throws a wrench in the works of my plans, like walking across a just washed floor in dirty boots, or times when I have had a hundred things to do and he can't fathom the importance of it all! Or how about when I'm trying to be serious about a concern and he laughs and makes jokes! Sound familiar? Yea, it's because we are challenged to make known to our hubbys how to love us!

Men are not mind readers!! And the truth is that we keep forgetting that. But that does not absolve us women from our part in showing respect to them. It is respectful of us to open up to them in a loving and gentle ways about our heart issues. To give them time to truelly know us and see inside us. To esteem them as responsible before God for their adjustments. As we are responsible to maintain a regard for the lessons of life and love our Lord wants to apply in their lives. If we can simply wait for God over them to bring that love into them for our benefit, we can reap the rewards of a harmonious union.

I want to give you a personal example of how this model works. We as a couple were approached by one of our children for gas money during this past cost increase period. We had felt that our expenses needed to be limited in this area. My husband didn't want to place new restrictions on our kids over this issue, so he gave the teen the cash for gas. Instead of argueing with him I stopped driving around town. I began to walk to mail items, I made careful loops on days when I needed to use the car, and I frequently would call on him to pick up milk , or bread on his way home from work. He had held me to support the household budget-yet didn't see that his pride in giving to his kids would have effect. The next time our children came to us for gas money my husband suggested they get air in their bike tires, get some excersise, and save the car for practical uses.

My husband knew deep down that we needed to partner in this issue, at the time I also knew that I needed to respect him in the budget. I held up my end of the deal and God held up His ,God brought about the ownership and knowledge of the decision to have the kids come under their fathers leadership. My husband saw in me a gentle spirit of support and his heart was touched to trust that I was with him as he worked out his position on behalf of our family.

Because my husband can trust me to share my ideas without manipulation, he is free to love the real me! I am free to respect and honor this man as one who is doing his best to provide, protect and offer me the oppertunities to grow in Christ as his wife. I have more freedom in being the woman of God I am because of the way I allow him to lay his life down for me. If a major decision needs to be made I know I am covered by God as well to see the best result because I walk in obedience to the Word.

Well, I think that when I don my hat on Sunday, I will do it as an expression of Faith , the kind that reminds me I am a humble servant of the Lord, looking to Him to work out my friends healing. Knowing that no matter what that may look like I can trust His plan. Standing before a powerful God and seeing His tenderness toward those of us who recognize our position in unity. Allstate has nothing on God, I know with Him we are in good hands!

Spiritual Economics 101

We all have areas of expense that require our priority! A roof over our heads, food on the table, and clothes on our back. How we are able to address these needs in todays economy depends on the wisdom ( or should I say common sense) of our decision making.

Finance is a subject that can reveal a great deal about our insecurities and mindsets. (1)It can expose our need to seek acceptence- the style of dress, the car we drive, the vacations we take , the restaurants we frequent, the status we seek! (2) It can create boundries - Things we would not take time to do that we pay others for, preferential entitlements, participation in social events. (3) It creates obligation- to debt, to stewardship, to pretense and self image. (4) It determines choice- how many children to have, future skill levels and education, responses to outside needs,as well as the (5) False judgements - we all make assumptions based on outward appearances, and we all appear as we want others to identify us!

Imagine if you will, a stripped down version of our basic concerns . We need protection for our bodies, a covering that guards us from over exposure. We need nourishment to grow and sustain health and vitality. We need Shelter in which to trust our tired souls to rest. We need relationships that connect us to each other. Finally we need significance in our ability to contribute to community.

Now in light of facing the weight of paper dollars, metal coins, and plastic cards where do we find ourselves? I found myself in the image of a creative God! The HOly Scriptures tell me I was created in His image. That what he created He saw as good. I'm reminded that God so loved me that he gave His only son that if I believe in Jesus, (my paid in full cost to gain full access to all God has when I enter His presence) I too am His child! And as a child I am a dependent!

If your Father in heaven is concerned about how you use the resources that He gives you generously, then you must take an inventory of where they are going and why. A spiritual audit over the care of His property in your keeping. You may be required to ask for more from Him then you now have. He is generous! You may need to give away the excess you have to make right the image you reflect to the world of Him, instead of storing up treasure to self protect. You may need to go deeper in your trust relationship of where He is keeping you to gain wisdom which is more precious than gold. Perhaps you may need a Holy Spirit Make over to discover how you were intended to represent God to this world. We are in this world but not of it!

Because we are a people made up of flesh( will, emotion,body and mind) we need to grasp that if Father ,Son , and Holy Spirit are the royal family and they operate primarily on a supernatural level, we too must enter the realm of Spiritual living. It is the reality we can't touch or see until we by faith believe it exists to accomplish all that is of heavenly priority here on earth. That place in us already has access to all we need to enable the work we are called to in this sojourn.

In these times of fear and anxiety we need to confess that if God is for us who can be against us. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, If man being evil knows how to give good gifts, how much more will your Father in heaven give to those whom he loves! All our needs are met in Christ Jesus.

Dear Father- Give us this day our daily bread! For Body, Soul, Spirit and Mind. Amen!

Happy Holidaze!

The weather has cooled, the days become shorter, the thermastat has been set to warm. Catalogs have started to arrive in the mail along with department store coupons. Christmas music plays in every building from the drug store to the Dr.s office, and the telephone inquiries have been about the who,what, where, and when of gatherings for the next two months I like to call the "Holidaze".

Most families have traditions they keep up with each year. Decorations, music, visits to friends and family,as well as charitable giving. Even recipes and cooking for this season trigger nostalgic nuances to warm both hearth and home. Merry Mail is sent and recieved with the intent to touch those at a distance. The calander gets jammed with reminders of concerts, parties, luncheons with friends, and family activities. There are so many good people and things to look forward to. We pick out presents that reflect the perfect message of thoughtful consideration for those we love and those we look to appreciate in the true spirit of giving.

But someone somewhere has no one,somebody out there is looking to be invited to the celebration of life! In my family, we were always taught to invite an outsider in to our family during this season. And I can tell you that the days are better spent with an added person baking or decorating or simply chatting away while setting the table. My children used to groan at the notion of having a lonely neighbor, divorced friend or widowed co-worker join us. They felt uncomfortable sharing our home at times. But as they grew, they also included friends that could find laughter and love in our quirky family.

I think the most fun we have is our game time after holiday meals! Even our guests help us to create new stories and jokes. And if you ask anyone around here what are the favorite memories of this season it wouldn't have much to do with gifts or wrappings. It would be the simple pleasures of laughter and love. So if you want to make this season the best ever just plan an easy evening with others God has shown you to include, add some simple snacks or treats, some music and a fun game like Balderdash or Madgab and everyone is a winner!

If we are not comfortable opening our homes and selves up to others with this kind of invitation, how will we ever show this world Christ! He is alive in us. He always welcomes everyone to share in His love. We too can see Him in the face of those we know are in need. Shake off the daze and give God the praise.

Emmanual, Christ with us - the gift that keeps on giving!

Dishes in the sink

There are two places in my house to go to be alone. Only one of them is never violated. Although you might think it's the bathroom you'd have guessed wrong! Even the bathroom is no place to hide when your family tries to talk through a closed door, or a spouse pops in while you're showering to have a few words. The most isolated place in my house is in front of the kitchen sink.

Don't get me wrong, I've taught the kids to handle after dinner chores. My husband even helps with dishes if things appear magically overnight. The whole family has been known to make light work after holiday meals or when company joins us. But as a rule, when I step up to the sink without a request for help, the kitchen is vacated in the blink of an eye.

Not one member of my family has ever enjoyed the quietude I've come to cherish as I slip my hands into warm sudsy water, stare out the window that overlooks the park behind my house and rest my mind after a busy day and family meal. It is my prayer closet. Everyone scatters to leave me with the dirty dishes. The secret I have with God is that in this place I lose my mind! In this place I gain the mind of Christ. I thank Him for my day, I lay my concerns down before his feet, I listen for his still small voice. Here in this place I am totally surrendered.

I like busy work. I like the mindless action committed to autopilot that frees my spirit. I release myself to being one with the water, I float my mind out to the reaches of higher places. It is in this place I can hear! I can see more clearly! I can become refreshed. I can feel the fine tuning of the Holy Spirit.

The window over the sink is an ever changing panoramic view of Gods creation. Each day new things appear. The season brings dazzling color, hope and promise. Even the advancing storms on the horizon speak of the mighty God. The sunsets & rainbows remind me of Glory! The Clouds speak to me of His presence as sharp rays slice down to select spots on earth. The wind pushes wildly against the trees to bend them into submission or snap the rigid ones off. So much of God is learned from this perch while washing dishes.

Next time you are washing dishes look out your window, relax your busy mind by entering the prayer closet, worship the Lord, and say "Holy Spirit take me away!"

Working Mom

I opened the mailbox two weeks ago to find an envelope from The Social Security Administration. The contents of my work history contributions were spelled out as a reminder of the years of participating in the "workforce". I could easily see gaps in my employment. So I set about listing all the endeavors I had taken up since the magical age of sixteen.

Pregnancies and child rearing accounted for so much of the time vacancies. And a gnawing sense of feeling reduced to my income potential as a societal contributor left me a bit testy. All along the way I had made choices to prioritize my families needs as a filter for each position I had filled. Numbers have no sense of the true value I have represented in the lives of my children and extended family over the past 30 years.

I have tag team parented with my husbands schedule, taking on part time positions to supplement our budget at times of transition. Often working around his time frame in obscure jobs. I have done at home child care, cleaned houses, flipped burgers, waited tables, entered data, privately catered, driven a bus, sold candy, telemarketed,made subs, sliced Deli meat, flipped pizzas,worked in sales,and run an office, All while raising my family!

What this government assessment of me will never show is the many hours spent volunteering in the local school district, visiting and driving dependent neighbors, preparing meals for those in need, hours spent with teens in crisis, and in general being at home and flexible to answer the immediate needs of urgency!

I have been the Mom whose home was open after school to the neighborhood when other moms needed to be at work. I have been the friend to call when noone else was around. I have been the household that expanded to accomodate the homeless and the transient.

To effectively assume this kind of work, I have always believed in one core value. "Do all things as unto the Lord". Scrubbing toilets isn't glamorous, but provides for a healthy environment.( I esteem those called to the workforce to provide this service. I esteem those who do what must be done no matter how distasteful the task!) Someone is positioned to assume the work of service, all jobs serve Gods good reputation when carried out in this mindset even things we often take for granted everyday!

I know that the relevance of running a household is a formidible job to moms rearing small children, whether outside the home or within. We never quite feel we can meet all the demands. We desire to do well, but sometimes must settle for O.K. It is a 24/7 position. We are to become experts in education,socialization,health, nutrition,economics, travel agents, protocol experts, activists, advocates,psychologists, coaches, and spiritual advisors. ( After so many years at this stuff I believe I have developed the skill of mindreading as well. )

What I am really saying to all women is simply this, when doesn't a mom work! And how can anyone put a price on the multitude of jobs we perform! I have concluded that even the government is at a loss to fill in a number next to those years spent industriously prioritizing my family and neighbors. But God certainly has seen and approved of the sacrifices needed to get the job done!

It is by His Spirit of Wisdom we enter the sacred call to be wife and mother, it is a Holy Sacrement-Marriage. It is blessed and sealed to fullfill the very promises of our Lord and Savior Jesus, that all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us(Phillipians 4:13) and so The government does not recognize the hidden treasures that are stored up for me in my retirement, because my place of rest is not found in this world or it's economy, but in Christ and His Kingdom , a world without end!

The Pocketbook

I previously mentioned in"Luggage" my connection to pocketbooks. I must expound on the tremendous value of choosing the right one. Although we all look for style, color, and size to fit our lives into, the outside is probably not as important as the inside.

At my last yard sale I sold 12 purses. Leaving me with only 10 assorted handbags to adjust to my wardrobe. I kept a brown suede to match my boots and jacket, a beaded and embroidered denim for any casual occasion, a black crocheted mini bag, a navy clutch, a white shoulder bag, a copper evening purse, a multi colored striped black leather evening, my fanny pack, a dove grey silk dress bag, and my olive green tote. When I was deciding which ones would stay and which would go, it was a very emotional experience. There were those that had served beyond the call of duty( like the pink barrel bag that would hold the contents of my medicine cabinet). And those that were destined to belong to a trendier youth( like the neon green). But the hardest one to cull was one of those that converted from a business style, expandable, multi-compartmental, cell phone sectioned, removable wallet, SUPERBAG!

This pocketbook contained all my sacred personal treasure. It had a side file pocket for documentation(I kept the kids immunization records, school permission slips, caculator & appointment-address book there). It had 2 detachable key rings with mini-lights, it also had a make-up mirror attached to the outside of it's cosmetic case! Now I know most men would not get the facination and awe that this tank of a bag inpired,but if it were a car I would say it was a fully loaded custom creation Hummer, that could really make a man weak in the knees at the thought of posession. But the truth about this bag is that it was heavy & ugly! So it went out for sale. No one bought it.

Now I do know that not all women view their world the same as I. But we all do make a statement about who we are by the way we keep our purses and by what we take with us as important! We recognize the need to be adaptable in a moments notice. We prepare ourselves to step out into each new day with all we need. We carry much of the load for the betterment of our household responsibilities. Coupons,Diapers, lollipops, hand sanitizer, kleenex, and the sort are placed inside the pocketbook with a fierce confidence that we are ready for anything that arises. And the greatest secret about all this is we don't all pack the same! The pocketbook is the universal mother of all womankind in a 911 situation! Any woman, anywhere at any time will graciously open hers to meet the need of a perfect stranger. Our pocketbooks might look different from one anothers but they truelly are the unspoken language of sisterhood.

By recognizing our dependence upon each other in times of need we open up to the mystery of Gods love. His name is "I am". And I have come to know that to mean - I am what you need. Sometimes I can't anticipate what comes my way, no matter how hard I prepare. But what I need is always available somehow in sharing my need with another. The body of Christ is given so much variety of giftings that I can ask and receive in the name of Christ! In the community of Christs' love doors are opened, lives are connected, needs are met. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you, ask and ye shall receive, seek out and ye shall find!!!