HH'S GREEN THUMB...

WHEN CHOOSING...

stinks and is stinking hard.

I know it sounds flippant some days, just choose Jesus, just choose this or that, but I am all to aware of how hard that can be. The sinful me has its own choices it wants to make. The hurt me wants to protect me and mine. The wounded me wants to bite back when you mess with her. The insecure me wants the praises of peeps because they are tangible and drown out the what I am not ramblings in my head. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to work this out and let me tell you, it was difficult. I was mad, old wounds (that I thought had healed) ripped open, and I had a full scale debate raging in my head and my heart. I will tell you there was a point when I felt the burden lift. However, it only came after I confessed to the Lord the deepest, ugliest truth I had hid in my heart about the whole thing, and even then, I had to keep choosing.

I guess I want you to know two things:

First, if you find choosing difficult today, you are not alone. Choosing is hard for many of us, if not all. Whether it is choosing not to have that next drink or next cookie or next hit or next snarky comment, you are not the only one.

Second, it is only when we come clean with God about the truth in our own hearts are we able to move forward. Freely. You can tell Him. He can handle it. It does not change the sacrifice Christ made for you. It is the very reason for it.

If you and I choose nothing else today, let us choose to lay it all before Jesus.

He has chosen to carry it.

All the way to the cross.

EVERYONE...EACH and EVERY ONE

I have been having a little mini Jeremy Camp concert in my head over the last few days.

And we shall overcome

by the Blood of the Lamb

and the word of our testimony

everyone

overcome.

It has been both humbling and encouraging. The kind of lyric that brings you to tears of gratefulness and makes your heart burst with determination.
It has been a week of seeing this verse lived out. Last week, I was blessed to read a beautiful testimony of God's deliverance for one of His precious children. Friday, I received impromptu notes from some of my students thanking me for being there this year and sharing what I meant to them. Trust me, when a 16 year-old uses the word "godly" in reference to you, it brings you to tears. It is part of my testimony to them. Sunday was a day full of testimonies at church as we watched people being baptized. Women who had been serving right alongside the church, but realized they didn't have a testimony. A woman who was moved by the testimony of a boy less than 12 years old. A testimony he was willing to share. One he asked to share with her. I think the one that moved me the most was the man who came forward for the open invitation for baptism. The humble obedience to do what God called him to do  RIGHT THEN was so tender. His testimony has power.

I know I have said it before, but I will say it again. 
If you don't have a testimony, you can. Christ Jesus is waiting.
If you have one, when you have one - share it.  
It has power. It has hope. It has Jesus.
Jesus has overcome.
We will overcome.
Share your testimony.
Each and every one.
Choose to overcome.

WE MAY NEED DR. DREW....

Donkey's intervention did not go well.

 He was herded toward the way out.

He made it to the narrow gate. Then we heard,

" No DONKEY! NO!!!!!".

Then we saw Donkey in our front yard.

Where he has been ever since.

Seems he likes the grass on the other side.

DON'T BE DONKEY...

We have had company for the last few days. Donkey apparently came in through the front gate of our property. What he doesn't seem to realize is that his home is adjacent to us at the back of our property. All he has to do is walk to the back fence and he could return. His owners came over to get him, but he was hiding. We thought maybe he had moved on, but he emerged from the shadows about nine o'clock that same night. The kids love seeing him. The dogs love chasing him. He loves to eat dog food. Donkey gets a little desperate at times. He brays, and then he toots, and then he brays and then he .... well, you get the idea. He really wants to get out of here, and the only way he can remember to is out the front gate again. However, that is not a viable option for him. So, stuck he stays until the rain stops and they can come get him again.
Reminds me of me....and you. The way donkey got free was a gate was left wide open. He saw it, with his partner in crime Nester, and he ran through it. Nester, however, knows the way back. Donkey didn't. Ever done that? Saw some freedom...your buddies were going...so you ran right along. Problem was they knew how to get back. You and I just got trapped somewhere we didn't want to be. Somewhere we can't for the life of us figure how to get out of. Then, we someone comes to get us out we go and hide. Perhaps I should change Donkey's name to Adam. Or Eve. I haven't gotten close enough to tell.
We spend our days crying and fighting off things nipping at our heels. We keep trying to get out on our own, but the gate is closed. We are captive.
Maybe that has been you in your thought life. Found a little freedom to watch this or that and now you are held captive by it. Maybe you with food or drink. Little freedom to eat this or just have one drink, now you are imprisoned by it. Perhaps money. You had a little breathing room in the budget and you went and got yourself back in debt. Now you are enslaved by it. The list could go on. Well, today I want to remind us (and I mean US) of the good news.
We don't have to stay here. There is One who has came to set us free. Christ Jesus. The trip back is through a narrow gate, but it is the gate that leads to freedom. We can choose to follow Him through it. We must choose. God help us choose.

Luke 4:17-19 (NKJV)

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.

And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

SUMMER PLANS

I asked the boys last night what is the one thing they want to do this summer.

Go to ........................... (the local water park)     MC 2

Go to VEGAS! So I can hang out with the ladies!  MC 1 (His father....I blame his father:)

No sir. Not gonna happen, Not even going to hang out with the ladies at the water park.
The only lady he will be hanging out with is middle- aged, overweight, and under tanned.
He will LOVE every minute of it!

MY NEXT 300....

I have been wondering all weekend how I was going to follow Friday's post. Was I going to leave it alone and move on? Was I going to defend my stance? Was I going to defuse any hostility?
In the end, I hope to do a bit of all three.
If you have pictured me with a white poster board sign and chunking rocks at people, then stop. I have learned better in my walk with the Lord. While I make no apologies for what I said, I am not going around acting as the sin police. If I did, I would never get out of my own bathroom and away from my own mirror.
Also, know that I can disagree with you and still love you. I really can. Before I grew up some in the Lord, maybe not so much. So I understand those of you who struggle with that concept. Now, I can. Maybe from a distance, but I can, because you are not my enemy.
Listen, relationship is key here. The Holy Spirit is vital here. Only by His guidance would I want to speak into someone's life that I didn't have a relationship with. It is only by His guidance that I would want to speak into someone's life that I do have a relationship with. The flesh wins out and the mouth sometimes shoots before it thinks, but I am growing in that as well.
I read a blog post about winning a culture war and losing a generation. I would say the generation is already lost. Each and every one. It is only through Christ Jesus, and His uncompromising truth and love, can we be saved.
With that, I am moving on.

MY THOUSAND WORDS...AND THEN SOME

I feel the tears welling up in my eyes this morning as I write this. I sense the fire in my stomach. My heart is broken. My frustration level is high. Not with any one person, but with the enemy himself because he is doing a work on so many.

- We arrest people for stealing. Why? It’s wrong. 

Really?  I mean, what if it is just how that person feels. You know, that taking things is okay. At least for them. Who said it was wrong?

Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal

- People go to jail for lying. Perjury is what I believe we call it. Slander is another form. Personally, we can’t stand being lied to. From our kids, our friends, or our leaders. But what if that is just how the other person is? It’s just their nature. Who said it was wrong to lie?

Exodus 20:16 - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

- Gossip. We are upset when someone gossips behind our back. Nobody likes it. We try to train our kids not to. We try to stamp it out of our churches. Why? Who said gossip was wrong? Who said that our natural inclination to be in the know and get a good scoop was not how things were to be?

2 Timothy 5: 13 – And besides, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle, but gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

- Infidelity. Wrong. I mean, I guess. People sure seem to be upset when they are cheated on. Not many people seem to think the cheater was in the right. It is bad enough when you are just dating, but then to have it happen in a marriage.  But why? Where along the way did we learn that adultery was wrong?

Exodus 20:14 – You shall not commit adultery

And just so you don’t think it’s all Old Testament,

Matthew 15: 18-20a – But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…

There are definitive rules in the Bible.

Oh here comes the religious Pharisee…oh no…she said rules….she’s a legalist…oh watch out……

You don’t like rules? Fine. There are definitive expectations for us as Christians in the Bible from God.  Things we are to avoid. Things called sin. Do we fail? Absolutely. Which is when grace and love from Christ and others steps in. Here we can find common ground because the very people I so strongly disagree with are right, the greatest command we have is to love.

Matthew 22:35-39 – Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, and saying, Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The love we are to have for neighbors, however, does not negate the truth of God’s word, which we as Christians profess to believe.  Think of your own relationship with Christ. Any changes been made since you came to know Him? Anything you were doing that the Holy Spirit has notified you is no longer acceptable? Or did you come to Him in great shape? He had little work to do on you.

Pretty sure the answer to those questions would tell a tale of someone redeemed by the truth, in love. A testimony of the old life now passed away and the new life beginning. The love Christ has for you and I does not overlook the violations of God's truth and holiness in our lives. Christ does not simply let us do as we see fit. His love compels Him otherwise.

Well, who are we to say what is right and what is wrong for others?

We are Christians, that’s who we are. We have aligned ourselves with Christ Jesus.  We have committed to sharing His gospel, we have committed to live a different life, and we have committed laying down our lives if so required for the truth of God's word.

Oh here she goes to judging….yep she’s judging others... that is wrong….Pharisee….

You who are thinking this are correct. It is wrong to judge others. But activities and actions?  I do it every day, and so do you.I We must judge those if we are going to walk this life out with any wisdom.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 ... and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The love of the truth. The Bible is clear. Homosexuality is a sin. Just as lying, adultery, lust, envy, gossip and slander. It is heart breaking to see so many Christians forsake truth in the name of love, and love in the name of truth. It is both. We love them, just as we are loved, and in that love we speak truth. Sin is sin. In my life and in yours. Because you and I are called on it, corrected and disciplined does not mean we are not loved. It means the exact opposite.

There is no straddling the fence here.  No everybody interprets it differently. No gray area.

And it is not intolerant or unloving to say so.

My fellow Christians, this is not a negotiable topic. It is not a closed-minded, antiquated opinion of some old, homophobic, religious teachers who just aren’t current with today’s culture.

It is a matter of truth. When we compromise that, we play right into the deceiver’s schemes.  His scheme to weave a shard of truth into his web of lies. His fancy, shimmering, well -designed web of lies which is a snare to the soul. To turn a blind eye while someone gets caught up in that snare, well, now that is unloving.

The good news of the Gospel is not just that Jesus loves us. The good news is that in that great love, He sacrificed so we could be free from the sin and the snares laid out for us. Through Him, we could have victory over the evil one and have eternal life with God the Father and the Son.

Love. Truth. They don’t negate each other. They are beautifully intertwined into a web that doesn’t snare but saves.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, your detractors will call you unloving and intolerant. They will say you are not showing Jesus because you have decided to firmly take a stand.  You take it anyway. They will call you judgmental. Don’t be. Not even to them. Contrary to what they will say, you can take your stand and still love them like Jesus. Give them no cause to speak an evil word about you.

You stand firm.

You love well.

You choose.

2 Timothy 2:24-26

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

TECHNICALLY....

it is still Thursday so I have not missed a day of blogging. In like 2 weeks I think.
MCs are watching Don Knotts in The Shakiest Gun in the West.
I just tried to swat a non-existent bug flying in my ear only to realize I had earphones in and it was the music from CNN. Yep....I am that tired.
I harvested some peppers from HH's garden tonight, finished mowing the yard, and played a rousing game of kickball. Of course it was only rousing when MC 2 was on the offensive. He wasn't much for the outfield. A little display of attitude brought him promptly inside and in the shower.
I am becoming fully aware that I am going to have to learn to cook this summer to feed these Y chromosome carriers in my house. Then I will have to become certified as a personal trainer to keep us mobile.
Going to see Avengers this weekend. SO EXCITED!! I am a huge Marvel Fan and can't wait to see it. The boys will love it I am sure.
Trying to get my head around VBS for this year at church. Still doesn't feel like "my" church, but I reckon it is. It is missions focused this year because we are going out into the community to have it. Parks, backyards, open lots, oil field lots...should be really interesting.
This last push of school is a kicker. Juniors tend to go from 16-17 to 45 in about a week and somehow think they magically gain some level of seniority over the adults in the school.
But we shall push on......
Have a great night!

FPU WEEK 13

Finished up my final class of FPU last night.
For this round.
There will be other rounds I am sure.
I did cry a bit in this one.
Our round table discussion was great.
I told them one of the things I valued was realizing that we did not get here quickly and getting out won't be quick either.
I also valued the fact that the spouses openly shared how they weren't always at the same point in their FPU mindset.
These comments prompted Tim to lay out his heart about FPU and it was beautiful.
He talked about how, while yes we are getting out of debt, it is much more about who he is becoming.
He sees value in their struggle because it will allow both he and his wife to empathize with others. He asks the Lord for opportunities to share with others what he has learned so they don't make the same stupid mistakes we have. He hates it, it is painful, it is difficult, but he wouldn't change that for anything.  He doesn't want to miss any of this because what is at the end of the journey is worth it. Beans and rice, casseroles or not, it is worth it.

Can that not be said for my life as a Christian?
It can if I choose to view it that way.
If I choose to submit to Christ.
In all areas.
If only...
I choose.

KNOWING MY PLACE

Several weeks ago I attended a social function where I would be the outsider. I would not know 97% of the people there. A situation like that makes me very nervous and very insecure which leads to me throw up the best defense mechanisms I have - sarcasm and wit. I wield them well and have been known to cause a good bit of collateral damage in the process. The guest of honor at said function is very dear to me, and I desperately wanted to do nothing to upset her. More than that, I did not want to, as we say in the South "show my butt", and embarrass myself and the Lord. On the way over, I was praying,

Lord help me to remember my place.

Now, what happened at the function is a sweet moment between my friend and I, however, that little phrase has not left my thought life.

Lord, help me to remember my place.

Like so many of you, I sometimes forget my proper place.
I go either high.....thinking more of myself than I should. Thinking I know better that God. Thinking I am better than others. Thinking I am entitled to more. Humbly grateful that I am not as bad as some of "them".
Or I go low.....thinking I am unworthy of anything. I'll never be as good as her. I don't deserve to have goods things happen. I have sinned too much. Christ loves her or him more than me.

What I need to do is remember my place.

My place in the all...
Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
None better...none worse...

My place in the world...
John 3:16 - for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life.
I am here.

My place at the cross...
Ephesians 2:13 - But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Right at the foot.

My place in Christ Jesus...
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Who I was is no longer who I am.

Ephesians 2: 5-6 - even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
I have a seat at the table.

My place in eternity....
John 10:28 - And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Safe in His hands.


It does me good to remember my place.
I need to remember my place.
I must choose to remember my place.
Maybe you have forgotten yours?
Maybe you didn't think you had one?
You do.
You can.
Choose Jesus.
He has a place for you.

CLOSING THE GAP....

THEN...

NOW...



Why he looks like a turtle I cannot explain.

Other than I was interrupting his viewing of Iron Man 2

and he was not happy about it.

WHO IS YOUR AUTHOR?

We will all have a testimony. We all have a story. What's yours? Who is writing it?

GETTING HER DUCKS IN A ROW

My sister Casey, well, she may not like me after I talk about her.
Hmmm....oh well.
My sister Casey is #2 in birth order. She is typically quiet and reserved. If we are in a big group of people, she is going to be the one not talking. She talks to us, but the rest of the world is out of luck.
Except...
Except when she is on the sidelines of a basketball game in the capacity of head coach.
Casey is an excellent basketball coach. She is fantastic to watch and listen to. Girl knows her stuff. What is most delightful to watch is how this shy, quiet, modest sister of mine quickly becomes a vocal, demonstrative and passionate coach. And witty. Little sister is quick on these big old feet of hers.
Last weekend, during the 12 hours we spent in the car together, she told us a story that I just feel I need to share. Because it is so not her, but then again so is.
Sister is known in the family for defending her team, meaning she'll give a ref a good talking to. Let's just say she is not a stranger to technical fouls.
Anyway, during one game, Mr. Referee had told her to sit down. Then he forgot and, wink wink, so did she. Sometime during the game he remembered and told her to sit down again. At which time, she promptly pulled her chair right up to the sideline and sat. The conversation went something like this.

Coach, you can't do that.

I'm sitting.

You can't sit there, you'll interfere with the game.

I am not on the court.

Coach, you have to be lined up with your team.

(and this is my favorite part) Without missing a beat, my sister looks down her bench at the precious little high school girls she worked with and said...

Girls......move'em up.

and those little duckies picked up their chairs and aligned themselves with her.

I have no clue how it went from there. Somewhere in the middle of this story we moved to the time she dug through her purse, pulled out her glasses and walked the sidelines offering them to the referee. She got a tech for that one, too.

I just thought those of you who know sister would appreciate this little story.
I did.
Classic....absolutely classic.
Love you sister! 

A CHANCE FOR TESTIMONY

Luke 21:12 - 15
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;  for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

I used to practice a lot of speeches in my head. Did you? Still do sometimes. Speeches about how I am going to set her straight. Speeches about how I am going to let him know he wronged me and I wasn't going to take it any more. Speeches filled with wit and sarcasm, cutting straight to the quick.
Usually, I practice these after I have been "wronged". Sometimes I practice them in preparation for when I am going to see him or her or them again, and boy hidy, I am going to unload with both barrels! No tears, no red face, just me putting them in their place. Soundly.
When I was reading this last night I thought what great advice the bold, italicized part in the verse above is for those exact situations. How those situations are an occasion for testimony. Testimony that could be for God's glory and not a celebration for my sinful flesh. The person leaving those conversations will have a testimony to share. What will I choose to let it be? What will I choose to be my part in it?
I really love the instruction to settle in your hearts not to mediate beforehand on what you will answer. How my time would be better spent praying for those situations instead of rehearsing how I can knock another person down a notch or two. Praying for God to guard my words. For them to be truth in love. Edifying, yet correcting if need be. Asking for my words to be His words. Humble words that willing admit my wrongdoing where I need to, willing to speak God's truth without compromising, and willing to do so with the grace and love of Christ.
I am thinking I am going to post this on my wall (my actual wall, not my FB wall) to be a reminder before me. Maybe you need to choose to do the same. 

I DIDN'T SAY....

I was writing on this blog everyday though. Today it's over here. Be ready. Your enemy is.