I was one of those dorky kids who loved school, especially in my elementary years. But I think field trip days were by far the best. I can remember touring Heiner’s Bakery in Huntington when I was somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 years old, and the warm piece of fresh bread with melted butter, along with a Donald Duck pencil as a souvenir.

Another time I remember going to Carter Caves for the day, touring caves and nature-walking. If I think hard enough, I can still smell the whiff of cedar from the jewelry box I purchased as a memento.

And other trips to the Pumpkin Festival, Safety Town, and Camden Park. The best!

But not every day can be a field trip day. There are some things that simply have to be learned through reading or repetitious writing. There are things we must go over a hundred times, paragraphs that have to be memorized, and quizzes that need to be taken.

Those days seem pretty blah at best, and nearly painful at other times.

But sometimes it takes crummy and difficult stuff to learn the hard lessons.

I have been there – both in learning from my textbook and in learning to trust in my God.

Our lives are always going to be a mixed bag of the best and the worst and lots of in-between. We get the great days – the weddings, the births of bouncing babies, the promotions and pay raises. But we also get the bad times – the sicknesses, the layoffs, the misunderstandings.

But our God never changes. God is good, all the time. Period. And he never leaves us – it‘s true. Our circumstances are not indicators of whether or not God is with us. Sometimes He chooses not to keep us out of the scary parts, but to simply hold our hands through them.

In the Bible, Ezra reminds us that God doesn’t leave. The Israelites had been kicked out of their promised land, after turning from God, and many were relocated to Babylon for 70 years – a land of people who didn‘t worship or even know their God. A new guy takes over, and he permits a group of them to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Just a few short months back home, and the Israelite men began marrying women who worshiped other gods.

Ezra heard about it and was devastated. He prayed, repenting for his people. He prayed and confessed and wept – and thanked God for not giving up on them already. In Ezra chapter 9, verse 9, he said this:

“Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage.”

Ezra knew that even though their circumstances were not great (definitely not a field-trip day) – He knew God was with them.

If you are facing a situation that seems less than ideal, please know your God has not deserted you. He will bring good from whatever it is you are going through. There are lessons to be learned. Even if it is something you caused yourself, you can be sure that God can redeem it. He is so good at that.

So don’t give up. We are not promised easy paths, but we are promised that we won’t walk them alone.

Let me know how I can pray with you ❤

Meatball found his way into our home and our hearts after being born on a Labor Day weekend several years ago. He is a pretty quirky cat, and kind of fits right in with us. One of his favorite places to be is in our fenced-in back yard. He talks to the birds and mimics their little chirps and tweets, stretches out scratching his tummy on the concrete patio, and eats grass that he will later barf up on our carpet.

     In an effort to allow him the freedom to go in and out as he chooses during the day, we put up a doggie-door that we had from our brief stint with Buddy the Shih Tzu. We showed Meatball how it worked, doing everything short of trying to squeeze through there ourselves. He would have none of it, unless we held it open for him, giving him ample time to decide if it was worth the effort.

     He has made progress, but still needs us to give him a nudge to make it out the door. As he stands near the rubbery flap, he refuses to go until we have gently pushed him forward and through it.

     While it seems so silly, we play along, and continue hoping that eventually he will see how easily he can do this on his own. But until then, we will keep on nudging.

     Turns out, I’m a lot like Meatball…. Click here to read the rest of the post 🙂

Dear 8th grade girls,

I’m sorry it is so confusing. Messages are being sent from all directions – some screaming, some in whispers – and they are so very different.

People you love and trust are telling you to be yourself, that you can do anything you set your mind to. We tell you how valuable you are.

We tell you these things with our words, but our actions speak a different story.

When someone you admire and respect – your teacher, your principal, your parent – entertains you as a reward with music that screams an entirely different message, there must be part of you that feels the poster-worthy encouragement start to cheapen and lose it’s meaning.

You deserve respect, we say.

When a guy you like has a girlfriend, tell him you will give him your body for the evening if his girlfriend is getting naggy, we let Missy Elliott say to you at your 8th grade dance.

Sex is a beautiful gift you and your husband can one day share, we say.

Your body is simply for the pleasure of men, and you are lucky to have someone like me want you for a few minutes in a bathroom stall, we let “Sage the Gemini” blare to you at a school reward party.

The right man will love you like Christ loves the church, we preach to them.

Your body should be given to a man who wants to bring you pain for his own pleasure- after all, he is good-looking and powerful, we let you hear as your mom gushes over 50 Shades of Grey and plans a girls-night-out to see the movie.

You are beautiful just the way you are, we say.

Mostly-naked, Photoshopped women holding their bikinis is really what is beautiful, your dad is saying as he keeps the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

I’m sorry. Our messages are conflicting, inconsistent. And most are lies.

The truth is – you do deserve respect. You are beautiful, and my prayer is that one day you will find a man who will try so hard to love you like Christ loves the church, and who can physically respect your body and respect the gift of sex like God intended it. My prayer is that my son will be that kind of man.

I want you to know that so many other things matter more than your physical appearance. Your character, your compassion, your kindness, your humor, your ability to find joy. Those are things that carry so much more weight than “being hot.”

Don’t settle. Please don’t change who you are because you hear that it’s what a guy wants. And please forgive me if you have heard it from me.

Sincerely,

The adults who want to do better

“And the Lord said, ‘Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’”
I Samuel 10:22b

I had an assignment I wasn’t prepared for. Maybe, just maybe, I thought, if I stay as still and quiet as can be behind the tall kid in front of me, and don’t say a peep when my name is called, she won’t notice I’m here.
The bell rang signaling the start of my literature class and roll was being called. I decided to carry out my plan. Jennifer Eastham… Jennifer Eastham… *crickets*…

It worked. She moved on to the next name and I stayed slunk down in my chair, trying my best not to make eye contact with anyone.

How in the world I got away with that, I will never know. I have three thoughts though – maybe I was that overlooked and unnoticed that this teacher seriously didn’t know who I was (complete possibility), or God just had complete mercy on this unprepared senior, or maybe Ms. Riffe had some compassion, realizing that if I was willing to do something so silly as to skip class while actually being there, there must be a good reason.

The answer will remain a mystery.

Sometimes hiding seems like an attractive plan, but it is just a temporary non-solution that delays the very thing we need to face.
In Scripture, Saul, the first king of Israel, had a similar experience, only he didn’t quite get away with it.

Saul sometimes gets a bad rap, because we know how badly things ended for him. But remember that in the beginning of his story, he was chosen. And not just chosen, chosen by God. The Israelites wanted a king like all the other nations, and God gave them what they asked for.

God told the prophet Samuel that Saul from the tribe of Benjamin was the one he had chosen and gave Samuel specific instructions for Saul.

Saul’s father had sent him on a mission to look for some lost donkeys, and all in God’s timing, he went to see Samuel for help in finding them.

While Samuel was visited by Saul, he anointed Saul’s head, and then told him that he will be the leader of God’s people. He gave him some specific instructions, and told him things God was going to do for and through him.

Then it was announced to all of Israel that God was choosing a king for his people. The people gathered together to find out who would lead them. As it was narrowed down to a particular tribe, then to a particular clan, and finally a particular person, that guy was nowhere to be found.

They asked the Lord where he was, and God pointed him out.

“And the Lord said, ‘Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’” I Samuel 10:22b

Saul was hiding.

But unlike Ms. Riffe, God pointed out where Saul was. He had called him to a position and expected him to get the job done. This wasn’t the time to cower behind some luggage.

Was Saul feeling inadequate for the task? Did he feel too much pressure? Was the job too big?

I don’t know what was going through his head, but I know those are the sorts of thoughts I have when faced with a job I don’t feel equipped to get started. And it is tempting to hide behind some metaphorical luggage – avoiding that phone call, dodging that person, ‘forgetting’ to make that appointment.

Know that if God is calling you to do a job, he will give you what you need to get it done.

No matter how big the assignment, or how small you feel, God is big and God is faithful. He can get it done, we just have to get on board.

If there is something you know God is calling you to do – an assignment with your name written all over it – go to Him. Pray for courage and pray for wisdom. Offer a prayer of thanks for Him trusting you with such an awesome responsibility, allowing you to be part of His work.

If you would like to leave a comment letting me know what I can pray about, please do. I would love to lift you up in prayer.

Father, thank You for trusting us with the assignments You have given us. Forgive us for the times we question and doubt. We know that You can work through us to complete your purpose. Give us the courage we need. Amen.
“…for it is God who works in you and to act according to his good purpose.”

Philippians 2:13

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (NIV) Matthew 7:24

Trams and subways make me nervous. The door shuts itself and you are in or out. No changing your mind. I prefer having a human who doesn’t want to squish me controlling the door.
Even escalators give me mental anguish. So much pressure to decide on that first step, strategically making sure your foot placement is flat on the step, not on the crack (Picture Will Farrell in Elf – minus the green tights, that could be me).

Timing is everything.

There are days when I am praying for God to show me someone to help, someone to show his love to during the next 24 hours, and then I get right back to doing the next thing on my schedule and I go to bed surprised that I wanted so badly to help someone, but God didn’t show me.

I was thinking there would be this one, divine opportunity that was going to be blatantly obvious and I would jump right on that kindness tram and get it done. It just never seemed the right time to jump on.

The timing was off.

I think maybe God just wants me to walk.

Rather than trying to hurry to get to the next thing, and waiting for a huge sign from him, I think He might just want me to take a walk and look around. I know there are people hurting in my life. They could use something from me. There are people who are discouraged, and a kind text or even a card in the mail could make a difference for a few minutes. Maybe a kind word to a stranger in a grocery line.

But I have to slow down.

I need to take a few minutes and listen to the woman at my church telling me about her grandson’s struggle, without trying to wrap that conversation up in case I need to be doing something else. She needs to know that I care and that her feelings are valid. I do, and they are.

I need to focus on the middle school girl as she shows me yet another anime drawing she did on the weekend. She matters. She needs to know it.

I do think there are often times God will point us in the direction of someone who could be blessed by us, and tell us specifically what we need to do for them.

But there are also opportunities we have been given instructions for long ago. Our Bible is full of ways to to help.

Have you ever told your child something like, “You haven’t brushed your teeth? I shouldn’t have to keep reminding you to do that. You know you are supposed to be doing that daily.”

God must feel that way with me sometimes. “You haven’t helped the poor? I shouldn’t have to keep reminding you to do that. You know you are supposed to be doing that daily.”

And He’s right. He has already told each of us to help the poor (Matt. 5:42), to help orphans and widows (James 1:27), to encourage those who need it(1 Thes. 5:11), to care for those who are sick, in prison, hungry, thirsty, or who need clothes and shelter (Matthew 25:31-40).

If we slow down the rush, and keep our eyes open, we can see needs everywhere, and we can do our part.

So join me today. Instead of rushing through our days, waiting for that one, “Do this right now!” opportunity, look around. See the people, see the need, and be available. God can bless our small acts way more than we can imagine.

The “bestie” seems to have evolved and thankfully opened “best-friendship” from a two-person relationship to as many people as you wish to give the honor.

My much-younger sister has many “besties” and “seesters.” But when I was growing up, there was clearly one spot, and you either had it or you didn’t. All other friends were subsequently named in place-order — second-best friend, and third-best friend, etc., and occasionally the order would be announced on the playground in conversation, reminding the rest of us.

I spent the majority of my childhood being the “second-best friend.” There were days I longed to be first-best friend, but I soon nestled in to the comfy spot of second. Second-best friend came with fewer responsibilities, and I talked myself into believing it was the way to go…. Read the rest of this post here 🙂

“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done…” 2 Kings 14:3a

Confession: sometimes I go to the gym and don’t sweat. I meander over to a treadmill, turn on HGTV, plug in my earbuds, and I mosey. That’s right, mosey. While others around me are “getting their workout on,” running, sweating, panting, I am not even out of breath.

For the record, it’s not all the time. Sometimes I am super stinky when I am finished, proving to me that I have burned some serious calories. Just days ago, I got sucked into an episode of Buying and Selling where Jonathon and Drew were trying to please one of the most difficult and whiny women in the history of television, and I didn’t know the show was going to last an hour. I was sweaty that day.

I figure that any work I do on the treadmill is better than no work, right? I’m doing better than people who aren’t working out at all. Maybe not as good as the sweaty people beside me, but good enough.

Clearly my heart isn’t in it. When you are passionate about something, you want to give it your all, do your best, rock this thing. But settling for good enough isn’t a…read the rest of this blog post here