Letting God Set Our Pace

My pace has drastically changed from the busy housewife, mother, women’s ministry leader, piano teacher, church organist, and office administrator when my children were very young. I often look back at those days and wonder “How did I manage to keep my head on straight? How did I maintain a calm, cool and collected image? How did I not cave in the middle of the busyness?” If my kids are reading this, would you please remind me if I was ever cray-cray or better yet, please don’t remember! I prefer to think that I was just like June Cleaver in the “Leave it to Beaver” TV series in the 60s or Mrs. Cunningham in the 70s “Happy Days” TV series -- adoring, sweet and serene.

A young mom of four texted me: “My mom brain is taxed to the limit these days trying to remember everything I’m supposed to do. I regularly feel like I’m forgetting something or someone!” Oh, how I relate! My responsibilities have changed but I still often feel like I’m forgetting something or someone! LOL! I really do get you precious wives and moms who are juggling a dozen plates at the same time. Been there and done that AND now I am proof that you will survive!

Life requires a truckload of patience and perseverance, and we make it! We conquer! For example, here we are over halfway through February and Christmas is a distant memory. All that stress and busyness is behind us AND we're on to successfully making through another year. The problem is we aren’t satisfied with taking baby steps to get to our destination. We expect that we must do life in giant leaps or we’re falling short. There are so many lessons to learn and so many victories that we can win if we only take one step at a time and one day at a time to accomplish our goals.

In many car races, they typically begin with a pace car that runs the other cars around the track before the race officially starts and then once that flag to start is waved, the pace car veers off and the others pass on by and commence the race. God is the driver of our pace car. Instead of concerning ourselves with the next BIG event and all the challenges we’ll face, the better plan is to get in sync with God’s perfect pace that will keep us in a state of peace and contentment. Listen to God's pace: "He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

This post started out speaking to you young wives and moms, but even those of us without those many responsibilities, can still feel out-of-sync and we get in a tizzy about this or that. I know it well. A couple of nights ago I woke in a sort of panic mode when I thought about a project I’m responsible for and it just wasn’t coming together as I had expected. I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned. Then, I forced my mind to stop thinking about all that “stuff” and to think on my Pace-Setter, He Who leads with perfect timing with a peace and joy pace, realizing that tomorrow is another day, and that day will give the opportunity for walking and running in His pace.

"THOSE" Kids Today??? Let Hope Arise!

Back in "my day", I was one of "those" kids who was fixated on my TV. I just had to tune into American Bandstand when I'd get home from school. I loved Gilligan's Island, I Dream of Jeannie, The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan's Heroes, Leave it to Beaver. The TV and the telephone were technology's latest!! Remember those phones with cords on them? We had the long cords and if we wanted privacy, we'd use that cord's length to talk from another room. We talked a lot on the telephone -- my boy friend and I spent hours there!

Rather than being thankful for the technology breakthroughs of this century -- cell phones with cameras, texting, social media -- you'll hear folks talk about the horrific things that kids are getting themselves into because of technology. Some folks say "If only we had the good old days when the worst temptation was chewing gum in school." But, I want to tell you.....there are kids today who are breaking the mold of "those" troubled kids. These kids have true hearts for God, for serving, for giving and for making a difference in this world. A couple of weeks ago, I told you about a young woman in my church who is passionate about teaching girls the importance of loving the "beautiful" that God made them to be, so she created a pageant for beauty that comes from within.

Over the last couple of days, I hung out with a group of young people who have hearts for worshipping God, serving in their church, going to the mission field, and STILL they are normal, fun-loving kids who love to be silly, play pranks on each other, and enjoy life. I witnessed it at my granddaughter's birthday party where they were in hyper mode, and then yesterday, Larry and Staci rented a theater where 30+ friends of Alexia were there to surprise her and then watch the newly released move "Hillsong: Let Hope Arise". Hillsong is a phenonomen -- a church that has become world renown because of their Christian contemporary music that has become known and sung worldwide. The movie is a theatrical production of worship and praise.

So this post is to give you good news. Many kids of this day, though they still all love their cell phones and connecting to their friends and the world with their messaging, are kids that are loving God and connecting with Him. Just keep your eyes wide open. There's so much good in this world. Romans 5:20 says, "Where sin abounds; grace much more abounds." I witnessed it first hand over the last couple of days. Rather than looking for the bad and evil, maybe it's time to watch for the grace that is abounding. And, we'll witness it more and more as we pray for this generation and for their hearts to turn to God and His love for them. So, let's Let Hope Arise!

Forgive Them Anyway

Remember the good ole' days when chivalry, good manners, courtesy, compassion, sensitivity, concern for each other, patrioticism, kindness, politeness, respectfulness, graciousness, consideration, and thoughtfulness were the norm? At least, it seemed like the norm, but as I just typed that question, Eddie Haskell from "Leave It To Beaver" came to mind. Okay, I know there are just a few of you who remember Eddie, but those of us who will admit it, we remember how considerate and polite Eddie was when Mrs. Cleaver (June) was around, but when out of her sight and hearing, he was as ornery and mean as the day was long.

So, while it seems like things have changed from the past, there were always those who leaned toward the wild side, the mean, disrespectful, angry, and bitter side -- those who could find something negative in every situation, instead of looking for, and finding the good.

Case in point. Today I clicked on my FB Newsfeed when there was a news station announcing that a specific political candidate was LIVE right now. It sidetracked me and I watched it. While I watched, there were comments after comments being made, "likes and love" symbols were flashing across the screen, and "sad faces" were too. I could hardly believe how mean and angry some of the comments were and I could hardly believe how polar opposite the upbeat, celebratory and happy comments of others were on the same feed. It didn't take long for me to "x" out of that feed. Why would I want to lend myself to such rivalry? I get that people are afraid, angered, upset, and confused about this world we live in, but there is such a better way of expressing ourselves. My Mama said it best, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"

My Mama and Mother Teresa had a lot in common when it comes to loving and caring. Here's the way Mother Teresa put it:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa