Walk Away from the Bull

This girl knows when to skeedaddle.  Maybe I should have made my exit just a little quicker.  That big boy's hind legs were in place and I'm sure the fence wouldn't hold the irate.  So the folks saw this girl do a little jig.  I will probably be sore tomorrow.

Funny how this staring down a bull - a very big bull -  a very, very big bull, feels a little like my life sometimes.  I am one blessed daughter of the Creator and never want to seem ungrateful, because I am overwhelmed with His grace and blessing.

There are just times, though, when I feel like maybe I don't want to face the bull.  I need to get to a place of safety.  I was looking at the photos, and saw all the people watching the bull, or me, or both me and the bull, and again saw a parallel with life. 

 Not just me, but all of us are being watched by others to see how 

we are going to handle uncomfortable situations.  

Sometimes we pass and sometimes we fail.  

We show grace or we don't.

Sometimes we do a jig.

The girls and I were talking today about how blessed we are that people are watching because it makes us careful in the way we handle things.  Because we are careful, there may be less we would be accountable for One Day.

There will be times when you are not sure how you will handle things because you are tired of conflict, tired of ungratefulness.  There will be times when you are tired of doing, working, or being patient. 

That is the time to skeedaddle.  Go to your safe place.  You may only need an hour or two to rest in the Almighty.  Or you may need a day or two.  

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

 Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; 

My God, in Him I will trust.” 

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

 And from the perilous pestilence.  

He shall cover you with His feathers, 

And under His wings you shall take refuge; 

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Taking care of your heart is not selfish, it is necessary.
It is okay to walk away from the bull.

You will know when you can stand your ground or when you need get the heck out of there.

Boys Don't Have Boobies

   *This is a repost from a couple of years ago for a friend of mine.

Michael was taking the girls to the lake to swim with some of the kids from the youth group. On the way there, he said "Girls, we need to have a talk." Hannah immediately tried to figure a way to open the door, fall to the inerstate while escaping death and walk the rest of the way to the lake. She doesn't really like "talks" so being critically injured seemed like the best option. She chose to stay in the truck and bear it.

I'm going to try to remember the conversation as it was told me in three different versions.

Michael - "Boys don't have boobies. Only girls have boobies."

Girls - "Daaaaad!!!"

Michael - without missing a beat - "and because boys don't have boobies, they have a very strange reaction when they are hugged by someone who has them."

Girls - "Daaaad!!!"

Michael - "You see, when you hug a boy front to front and it crushes your boobies, it does something weird to the boy's brain. Something in the back of his head is triggered and because his brain is affected that way - well . . . his hair falls out. Clean out. Leaves a patch on the top of his head that is completely bald."

Girls - "Daaaad!!!!"

Michael - "I know you don't want all your friends to go bald at a really young age, so you only need to 'side hug' from now on. If a hug crushes the boobies, it isn't acceptable. See this? (Takes off his hat to show the top of his balding head.) This is your mom's fault!"

Girls - "DAD!!"

The girls and I have talked about this kind of thing many times. This is the one they will remember for the rest of their lives!

FACES

Four boys sat in the floor waiting to see Jesus from the men in the room.  It wasn't a church service or a revival meeting, just a family gathering along with a few friends.  They didn't know the men well, but knew some of their background, and were ready to see something different than the man-influences in their own homes and lives.

They didn't get to see Him.  The boys didn't see Jesus because the men didn't show Him.

It was sad for me that the four in the floor missed out, but it was heart-breaking for me that selfish, prideful hearts kept these men from one day seeing the faces.

Then he showed me the faces of the ones who'd come because of me

So many faces that my life had led to calvary

All those years I thought nobody saw as I labored in lowly places

That's when Jesus smiled and showed me all the faces.

Our friends, Ricky and Sheena spent some time with us a while back and he shared this song with us by Greater Vision.  It stirred something deep inside me to want this, not just for me, but for all those I love so much.

I dreamed my life was done

I stood before God's son

It was time to see what my reward would be

With love he reviewed my life

To count what was done for Christ

For that is what will last eternally

See I'd done my best to share

That Jesus really cares

And He would save if they just believe

Oh, but seldom did harvest come

And so few did I see won

Until the lord said, "turn around and see."

Then He showed me the faces.

Oh my word.

How many times have we failed at showing grace when others were watching to see how we might handle things?  It starts at home.  It could possibly be that some mom and dad standing before the Lord, turn to see that their children are not faces in the group behind them.   They lived something different at home than they did in public.

Shame on them.

The enemy is out to get the souls of our children.  He must go through us to get to them. If we are not standing kneeling on their behalf, fighting for them, then they are open targets.

If we are not living Jesus in front of them, our prayers become token prayers on their behalf.  It is easy to think that we are doing well because we are "doing God's work" in big places, not thinking that our homes are our first responsibility.  It is our greatest responsibility.

And for those years you thought

Nobody saw as you labored in lowly places

One day he'll smile and show you all the faces.

... the faces... you'll see their faces!

Those men may never have another chance to influence the lives of those boys.  They  missed the opportunity to make a difference.  Unless they take advantage of another time, the four faces that could have been in the crowd behind them won't be there.

When God Called Piper Home

I will never, ever forget walking into that hospital room, knowing only to expect immense sorrow.  The sorrow was truly there, but so was something else.

Someone else.

God was there.  In all His glory.  In all of His peace.

This sweet family had to say good bye before they ever got to say hello.  Their sweet Piper never took a carnal breath.

She only breathed heaven.

Julie has given me permission to share photos.  I am only going to share two, because I want you to get her book to see the others and to hear her incredible story of peace and the faithfulness of God, her Father.

She truly has touched many hearts already and I know there are so many more who will be so blessed by her story.

To see a trailer of the book go here.

The Important Thing

Photo Credit

It is when your little girl, all grown up, begins to tell you about her quiet worship time that morning, and you see the sparkle in her eye like she is talking about a boyfriend.

Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you.

This girl who didn't say many words when she was little because she had older siblings who used up all the word space in the house, so she sat and watched and listened, and sometimes smiled.

The sparkle in her eye grew brighter as she told me about reading the Psalm.  The sixty-third Psalm.  How she read it, then she re-read it, and then she read it again.

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land 

where there is no water.

It is just a praise Psalm, Mom, it is just all praise!  The words were not enough to try to tell me how great it was for her.  She could not express what she felt.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.  

By the third read-through, her words had stopped being black on a page; they spontaneously became her own Psalm, her own song to the Lover of her soul.  
Not a quiet song, but one she sang loud and passionately to the One who will never leave or forsake her.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, 

my lips will praise you.

It is when this little girl, all grown up, is beautiful because of this love; this love of a Savior.  It is when this little girl, all grown up, is drawn to Him in such a powerful way that this Momma knows nothing else matters. 

So I will bless you as long as I live;

in Your name I will lift up my hands. 

Not one other thing matters.

Happy Feet

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on.

The men sang the first verse.  It gave me chills to hear all of those manly voices singing about the coming of the Lord.  They sang loud.  They sang with confidence.

His Truth is Marching On

The pretty ladies sang the verse about the lilies, then we all sang the final verse.  I sang the words, then stopped and read the third line over again.

A swift soul and jubilant feet?  Not a jubilant soul and swift feet?  

My soul - the part of me that is in constant battle with the spirit.  The part that wants to satisfy fleshly desires; the part of me that tends to be prideful, selfish.

Oh, to have a swift soul - a swift soul that runs to right, to good . . . to God.  A soul that is quick to make the right choice, to bury selfish wants and desires, to crave spiritual over world.

So when the time comes for Him to sift my heart before His judgement seat, and if I have been faithful to have a swift soul, I'm pretty sure He will see some very happy feet.

It just makes sense.