A pivotal weekend (and a blog posting preview)

Okay, this weekend I think was a pretty pivotal weekend for me.

I finished Dick Staub's book The Culturally Savvy Christian and I'm renewed and energized about what it means to be a Christian in our culture. More about this later.

I read a book review on Trish Berg's website about a book called Organizing for Life by Sandra Felton. I followed a link to her website and among other good things, I found this rule:

Change habits one at a time. Let’s start with The 30-Second Rule. “If it takes thirty seconds or less to do a job, do it immediately.” This applies to putting up packages when you come in, putting the scissors (or whatever) back where you got them, hanging up the clothes you take off and other things like that.

I loved it and implemented it immediately. It's amazing the number of little things that get completed, quickly, and don't end up piling up (usually somewhere in my house!).

Lastly, I'm reading a book called Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. Now to be honest, I have a love hate relationship with this book. Sometimes the cheesy formatting of the book drives me crazy, sometimes I'm not exactly sure I agree with her approach, and then she offers me some amazing nugget and I keep reading (that and it's for my book club, so I have to finish). This weekend I read her description about the three kinds of men in the world, and what she wrote described my husband to a tee. It also helped me understand why I get so frustrated with him sometime. I'm going to share more about it in a separate post, but I'm way excited to try to change my approach and my thinking about my marriage and my husband! (Not that anything was abnormally bad, but definitely there's always room for improvement)

Anyway, be checking back this week. I've got lots of thoughts going on in my head and I'm determined to get them down.

Supermomitis

The past couple weeks I’ve really struggled with a case of supermomitis. You know what I mean, right? The feeling like I have to be an amazing mom who does arts and crafts with my daughter, doesn’t let her watch too much tv, teaches her the alphabet and her numbers, cooks all our meals, does laundry, doesn’t leave clean laundry on the couch for more than a day waiting to be folded, ensures everything in the house is in its rightful place, ensures everything in the house even has a rightful place, does the dishes, plays with the dog, arranges play dates, keeps up with the grocery shopping, takes a shower, spends quality time with her husband, gets birthday cards and mother’s day cards in the mail on time, speaks to her friends and maybe, just maybe has a spare minute or two to read a book or write a blog. And I just can’t do it all. If I stay on top of keeping up with the house, then I do that at the expense of my daughter (either giving her my undivided attention or letting her watch TV). The advice or comments I have recently received have come from people who do not have kids or do not have toddlers. I mean, really, when their kids were little could they keep an immaculate house?

The truth is, I want my house to be a little more orderly. I’m already on a rampage to clean stuff out (whenever I can find some spare time…) and make better use of our space. But I’m trying to figure out how much of my stress is due to this mythological supermom and how much of it I can actually do something about.

So I’m looking for comments here. What are your thoughts or advice? How do you maintain an orderly house? How do you combat the idea of the supermom (or do you even ever struggle with it?)?

"IT"

Okay, so I've been tagged by both One More Writer and Craver so I guess I will play the 8 Random Facts Game too. Who makes these games up, anyway? And, even though I was technically tagged twice, I'm just going to put up 8 facts...you don't really want to read 16 facts about me anyway!

Here are the rules (per Rule #1):
1. Post the rules of the game. (Check)
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

My 8 Random facts:
1) I was born in Honolulu. You'd be surprised to know how many people respond to that statement with, "Oh, so how long have you lived in the United States?" I mean, come on. Hawaii joined the Union back in 1959. No wonder TV shows like "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" have a contestant base.

2) I spent my junior year of college in Madrid, Spain. I think that experience is what instilled in me a love for other cultures and places. Since then, I have been to seventeen countries on four continents.

3) I once found a body on the side of the road. A friend and I were driving home from a neighboring city, and we saw a body lying on the side of a side road, just off the freeway we had exited. We called 911 to report it and waited for help to arrive. No other cars were in sight and the stretch of road we were on was slightly dark. Gangs in the area had been known to act hurt on the side of the road and then jump unsuspecting people who stopped to help, so we didn't get out of the car. Turns out, it was a diabetic woman who had gone into insulin shock. Fortunately, the next car who stopped was an RN and some additional people helped as well.

4) I'm a list maker. I've been known to write on my list "Find other list"

5) I'm an only child. That explains a lot, huh?

6) I majored in Economics and Spanish in undergrad, and went to work to do something completely different. At least my Master's is compatible with my previous occupation - but that may be because the company paid for it...

7) I love salty things. I salt pizza, pickles and salsa (but not watermelon!).

8) I've never broken a limb.

Okay, that's #2 and #3 - check

#4 - 8 people to tag...well, how about Gusenga, Trent, and Steph so that maybe they'll actually go update their blogs. Let's see, 5 left...(Craver, you had to be such an overachiever and name more than 8 people!) BJ, Madison, Katie, Sarah and Jeanne

#5 - Okay, off to leave comments and then turn in.

The Puke-Mobile

I've had to deal with people throwing up three times today.

1) My husband started feeling nauseated on the way to work (I dropped him off today because his car was being fixed). Literally, about a mile away, he asked me to pull over. He puked his guts out on the side of the road, and then fortunately felt much better. We now think it was due to taking some medicine on an empty stomach.

2) On the way home from the grocery store, my daughter gagged on a piece of cheese. Up came breakfast, a glass of milk, and, of course, the cheese. I had to pull over (again!), clean it up as best I could, make it home and then remove the carseat cover and straps to wash them. Oh, so pleasant.

3) Just after we walked in the door from spending the evening at my in-laws' home, my daughter threw up again all over my husband. I now suspect the cheese incident this morning might not have just been gagging. Yippee.

Is my car just a nausea-mobile today or what? Fortunately, I haven't gotten sick....yet. Maybe I'll turn in early.

Things Spoken

Here are a few things that my daughter is saying right now that I just love:

+Gotch - of course, I wrote a whole blog about that
+Sure - pronounced, shooo-or. M, do you want some milk? Shoooo-or. M, did you have a good time? Shooo-or. M, do you want a spanking? Shoooo-or.
+Sducks - meaning, stuck. Or better yet, I'm stuck, mom, would you quit laughing and get over here to help me?
+Daddy's purse - *points to mom's purse* Mama's purse... *points to dad's messenger bag* Deedee's purse
+ooooh, nooooo! - she says it about many things, but in this cute little high pitched voice, drawing out the oooo's for dramatic effect
+roh-roh, rosie - usually accompanied by taking my hand and telling me to...
+gup - meaning, get up, mom, and play ring around the rosey with me

Good times.

Photo: Yea, stinkin' cute (2007)

Galatians: Week 5

Galatians 2:3-10
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. As for those who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance - those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Well, the sad fact is that I didn’t even memorize one verse from this week. I did catch up on the previous week and practiced saying everything I knew (Galatians 1:1 - 2:2), but I missed week five. The message today at church encouraged me, though. Although the pastor spoke in a slightly different context, he said that living out the Christian life is hard. We can have the knowledge of what we’re supposed to do in our heads and yet fail to do it - and still be Christians. I know I should memorize Scripture. I know I should be going deeper in God’s Word and with Him. But sometimes I still don’t do it - even though I desire to do so. I am easily distracted. And I’m selfish and lazy. While all of these things are not acceptable excuses, I also can’t deceive myself and others into thinking I’m a perfect Christian. (I know, you’re shocked!) I struggle with making God a priority in my life and many times I struggle with not making it seem like to others that He is. I don’t have it all together, I can’t be a “good” Christian. I guess that’s yet another reason why I need Jesus. I pray this week will be better, that I will set my mind on things above and my heart on my Savior. I hope you’re able to do the same.

Gotch

Recently, my daughter has really begun repeating words that I say, even after the first time hearing them. To my disappointment, though, she has yet to say “I love you” back to me. But I have become very fond of a little ritual we have, and I recently realized it was her way of saying she loves me.

One day a thunderstorm blew through, and in the midst of the flashes of light and loud rumbling, my daughter sought shelter in my arms. As I held her tightly, I reassured her with the phrase, “I got you.” She whispered back, “Gotch” and gave me a squeeze. Now, when she feels scared or when she’s being particularly sweet and cuddly, I often hug her tightly and say “Gotcha” - to which she always responds with a little squeeze and “Gotch.” It melts my heart every time.

When I am afraid - of the future, of the unknown, of how we’re going to live on our budget, of...of...of - I now think about that mental image and picture God holding me in His arms, whispering, “Gotch. You don’t have to be afraid. I am with you, even to the end of the age.”

When I’m discouraged - about life, about relationships, about my ability to be a good wife and mother - I hear God saying, “Gotch. I’ve got a plan for you. I have abundant life for you. I’ve equipped you with everything you need.”

When I’m weary and need a reassurance of His love, He’s there in my ear, “Gotch. Come to me and I will give you rest. Sit with me. Drink deeply. I love you.”

Do you hear Him saying it to you?

Gotch.

Thinking it over...

I've got my next Africa "Grass Hut Reflection" blog brewing, but it's not quite ready yet. I'll try to get it up tomorrow. Sorry for the delay...if anyone is even awaiting it.

Also, I've been thinking about the concept of salvation a lot, and I'm about ready to put up a post about that too. I'm really going to want your comments and suggestions on it though, so be on the lookout!

I'll leave you this quote from today's Streams in the Desert:

"...it (faith) is recognizing God's promise as an actual fact, believing it is true, rejoicing in the knowledge of that truth and then simply resting because God said it."

Saturday Quote

"Every human is created in God's image, with spiritual, intellectual, creative, relational and moral capacities, and therefore cannot be satisfied with today's superficiality, whether in faith or in culture. This explains our universal longing. Today, religions and irreligious alike face the lose-lose proposition of both a superficial culture and a superficial faith." - Dick Staub, The Culturally Savvy Christian

Thoughts?

Envy

I gave a little talk last night on envy, and I thought it might be interesting to post some of my notes here. It’s amazing to see how much envy invades our lives; more than I ever realized before I started studying it this past month. As one lady pointed out after our meeting, many of our tragedies in society - like Virginia Tech - stem from envy taken to its extreme. The root of envy is comparison. We determine our value, our self worth, the quality of our life, the amount and goodness of our blessings by comparison. Envy robs us of the abundant life God desires us to have. We miss out on how God has blessed us - with gifts, with relationships, with provision...and how He wants to use that to bring glory to Himself.

Simply put, the answer to envy is contentment. I've added a few thoughts below on how to practically address envy.

1) Repent. Acknowledge the emotion when it arises. Call it as it is. Confess it as sin, and pray to God.
James 3:14-16: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (NIV)

2) Remind yourself that God has given you every thing needed for your life.
2 Peter 1:3-4: ...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that you May become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Hebrews 13:20: And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. (MSG)

3) Refocus your eyes on God, not yourself and those around you. Stop comparing yourself to others. Don’t miss out on what God has blessed you with because you’re busy concentrating on the blessings of others.
Galatians 6:4-5: Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (NIV)

4) Rejoice. Befriend your rival. Try to see him or her as a person, not the competition. Celebrate success with them; it’s not about winning and losing - it’s about advancing the Kingdom...and any advance is worth celebrating.
Luke 15:7: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (NIV)

5) React. It might be to pray or memorize a verse. It might be to plan ahead in instances when you can. Maybe it’s to establish an accountability partner or confess your envy to the person you envy.
Proverbs 14:30: A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. (NKJV)

Any tips to add on how to deal with envy? I'd love to hear them.