Category: 2012 Posts

Posted on in 2012 Posts

Are You Listening to What You Are Hearing?

We had house guests this weekend from out of state.  At breakfast, I was asking them how they slept and they said, “Great!”  Then the husband said, “I really enjoyed the birds this morning outside our window and of course I heard the train in the distance too.”   I thought to myself, “I used to hear those things too, but it’s funny, I don’t hear them much anymore.” 

As I sat down to write my blog this morning, I was overtaken by the beauty of the trees.  I’ve been accused of it not taking much to distract me or get me excited.  However, they truly were stunning today.  I tried to take a picture of the prettiest one but I just couldn’t possibly capture its full beauty in a mere photo.  No one paints a picture like God—not even Nikon!  As I continued to think about what I was going to write about, birds flitted by the window, were hanging on the side of the house and a squirrel was shaking the trees from one end to another as it chased a friend.  What an awesome picture.

Then I was reminded of our conversation the day before.  I decided to open the window and listen to this beautiful photo being played out in front of my eyes. 

Oh my!  As I listened, I heard the birds chirping loudly and some geese honking as they flew over.  I could hear the traffic rushing to and fro wherever their lives were taking them today.  Golf carts drove by and the clank of the club hitting the ball filled the air.  In the distance, I could hear the hammers of builders constructing another home across the fairway behind our house.  Then the sirens started ringing and the train horn blew.

Wow!  What world have I been living in?  I had grown so accustomed to my surroundings that I simply wasn’t hearing anything anymore.  I find myself going through life that way too sometimes.  I am very selective in my hearing one might say.  If it’s not positive and happy, I tend to not always hear or comprehend.  Some might think that is a gift…not always.  My A.D.D. also tends to draw my attention quickly away from things I maybe should focus on a while so that I might be effective in helping those in need around me.  It’s much easier to stay in my happy bubble versus getting involved in the uglies of someone’s world though.  It’s a two edged sword, really.  I am perfect to have around when everything looks dismal and impossible to overcome…I will always find the silver lining and encouraging words. However, don’t dwell on your trials and struggles too long around me.  It just isn’t my thing to sit around and whine all day over things we can’t control.  I’d rather be thankful for what is going right instead of crying about everything going wrong.

Once again, I hear God’s voice.  I feel He is telling me it is noble to dwell on the good and positive things, but I can’t get to the point where I am so positive that I can no longer hear the cries for help around me.  He has put us all on this planet in our certain neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and churches to reflect His beauty to others.  Sometimes even when it’s not comfortable, we need to open our windows and listen.  Listen to our world around us.  Who is crying out for help that we didn’t even notice was there?  There will be those who flit past our radar as the birds did in this video.  How will we view them?  Are they silently saying, “Help!  Can you see me?  I need your attention!”  How will we react?  Will we look at them as an interruption in our otherwise beautiful world or will we take the time to listen to hear about how we can help?

I know this is an area that I need to focus on in my own life.  Maybe you have that problem too.  Sometimes I need to step out of my happy bubble long enough to invite someone to at least come and join me for the party!  Have you, like me, grown so accustomed to the pain, suffering, and noises of this hurting world that you no longer hear?  I challenge you to open your window so to speak and listen.  Listen to your world.  Listen to the Holy Spirit who wants to use you to make your world even more beautiful than you can imagine or do on your own.  For when God is invited to guide your hearing, something majestic evolves.  It’s a one of a kind portrait called your life that God’s touch can make absolutely stunning.  Are you listening?

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Proverbs 1:5  …let the wise listen and add to their learning…

Posted on in 2012 Posts

Diet and Exercise…the Keys to a Full Life…

I think I have a tapeworm.  I have been hungry for the last several days and nothing seems to satisfy.  Maybe I’m going through a growing spurt and am going to come out of this a couple inches taller in the next few days.  Just think, if I added a couple of inches to my height my weight would finally be perfect!

Have you ever felt that way spiritually?  You are starving for something more and no matter how much you read your Bible or pray, you just seem to be left wanting?  There are times in our lives that we seem to be more restless than others.  Do you agree?  What do you do to help feed the hunger pains of maintaining a consistent walk with Christ?  Do you just ignore them or do you push through trying to find the missing nutrients in your diet?  Do you have a spiritual tapeworm that is pulling you away from the full life God wants you to have?  Experts agree, a healthy life isn’t all about diet…it also involves exercise.

I am an independent woman and hate to ask anyone for help.  However, this house has taken me to the point of swallowing my pride and accepting someone’s help to get things done.  I tried to put a positive spin on things and said, “Paint party at the Kempton house this weekend!”  However, I was really saying, “We need help and it needs to free!”  We were blessed to have our son-in-law, Bryan, come help me with much needed lawn work.  Then a friend from church, Jason, and our two sons, Rob and Cristofer came and donated some time for the painting we needed to complete on a deadline.  Because of their help, we now have carpet-layers finishing the basement…right on schedule.

There are times in our lives that we simply can’t do it on our own.  We need to surround ourselves with others who will come alongside and help us get things done.  However, I think the most effective way to get yourself back on track and feel “full” again is to go do something for someone else.  Jim and I were truly blessed by everyone’s help this week.  I suspect that those who came and helped a bit to get us through a pinch, received an even greater blessing.  There is something about serving others that fills us up to overflowing.

How God calls us to serve is not always glamorous.  Sometimes, we don’t even get a thank-you for a job well done!  But one thing is for sure…we are called to serve.  It may be by giving of our time, talents, or possessions.  You might say, “Lori, I just don’t have anything to give.”  I would beg to argue with you.  We each have something, we just need to ask God how He can use us to bless others.  I’m thankful that He sent us Bryan, Rob, Cristofer and Jason this week.  They were an answer to our prayers.  I suspect though that it doesn’t stop there.  This hunger I’m feeling might just be telling me that I need to get my head out of the refrigerator and get moving.  He’s whispering…it might not be all about what you’re eating…perhaps you need to get out and exercise your faith a little.  How can I serve to be a blessing to someone else?  For when I am serving others–doing what God has sent me to do–I am full.  Man may not thank me or be thankful, but God is pleased for a job well done.

What is God asking you to do this week?  Actions can be way more powerful than words…even the simplest ones.  I pray that as you step out and do that which you are designed to do, you are blessed abundantly and fully satisfied in the Lord!  Have a great week and go be a blessing!

1Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Posted on in 2012 Posts

We All Have Our Circles of Influence, Who Is In Yours?

We had our entire family together for this weekend as my grandson celebrated his seventh birthday.  It brings back old memories when I see the kids raising their kids and the trials they go through with young ones.  I can remember getting upset over things my kids did or didn’t do!  I hear the parents say, “I’m so tired, I don’t know how we’re going to get through this!”  I remember those days well.  They will get through it…quicker than they know, in fact.

This morning as I was cleaning up the mess from having everyone here, it struck me.  It seems like just yesterday when I was down on the floor cleaning up crumbs from my own little ones.  Today, as I moved the chairs out from the table and started picking up pieces of pop-tarts, I realized I didn’t mind it anymore.  As a matter of fact, that simple act that used to make me tell the kids they should be more careful when they ate, felt like a blessing this time instead.  How blessed we are to have little ones running around, dropping food on the floor and putting their slobbery fingers on the windows!  My how my perspective has changed!

Does that mean I’m getting old?  Have I finally crossed over into grandmother-hood? I don’t always think of me as the stellar grandma.  I was only 43 when the first one arrived and still had teenagers in my own house.  As a matter of fact, after having one or more teenagers in the house for over 13 years in a row, I was even a bit traumatized about kids at that point.  I couldn’t help but look at someone with a new baby and want to ask, “Do you know it’s going to be a teenager someday?!”  As I begin my birthday month, I am reminded I will be 51 in a few weeks.  No longer am I just 50.  It just seems so much different.  Maybe I am graduating to that place in life where I can enjoy quiet nights at home knitting by the fireplace?  This year, I’m going to start baking early so that we have lots of Christmas cookies around too.  Isn’t that what grandmas do? Could it be I’m actually morphing into a real grandma?

As I look into my granddaughter’s eyes who can’t talk yet but can give me a big toothless grin, I am thrilled.  When my other granddaughter wants to climb into my arms, rest her head on my shoulder and put her little arms around my neck, I am in heaven.  When my other granddaughter and grandson come up and give me big hugs after not seeing them for a while, I feel so loved.  My oldest grandson patiently stands up against the wall and lets me get the tape measure out so I can see how much he grew since last month.  He’s 5’10.5” by the way!!!  And then there’s the one that is just preparing to arrive in March.  She has no idea what she’s getting into with this family, but I am sure will fit right into the fun!  I call her “she” but we really won’t know for a couple of more weeks.  Just wishful thinking.

I’ve come to the conclusion with all of this that I don’t have to be a super grandma to have my grandchildren’s love and influence their lives.  They love and accept me just because I am their grandma!  They might tell me I’m silly or think I’m weird at times, but they love me anyway! They’re so much easier than my own kids were.  At least, I think they are.  Or was it just because I so worried about making sure mine grew up as respectable human beings that I couldn’t enjoy the true blessing that they were in my life until they were grown?

Nonetheless, after a weekend with my entire family together, I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of influence Jim and I have on these young people’s lives.  We had our four kids, three spouses, five grandchildren and if you include the one not born yet, there were thirteen people that we directly impact just for being who we are.  So maybe it’s because I’m getting old, but I’m just not sweating the little stuff anymore.  I don’t care if I have crumbs on the floor or a kid pouting because they didn’t get their way.  Life is just too short.  It was just yesterday when it was my kids that were curled up on my lap.  Now they are grown.  These young ones will be grown before we know it too. We have to enjoy every moment before it is too late!  Who has God put in your life to influence?  Whose life can you speak into just because you are you?

Maybe you’re not a mom or grandma or your children don’t live near you.  It doesn’t really matter.  My grandparents died young so my great aunt and uncle actually took their place as I was growing up.  They were an elderly couple that took the time to influence my life.  I didn’t mind they weren’t really my grandparents.  Look around.  There are so many young people needing an adult to look up to and be loved by.  Pray for God to open doors of ministry for you in someone’s life.   We all need a parent or grandparent, no matter how old we get! I still miss my parents at my age.  I love being around those older than me so that I can soak up that wisdom they’ve accumulated over the years and get some tips on how to age gracefully!  So maybe looking for a young one to you might mean mentoring a 51 year old like me!  Relationships established between the generations don’t seem to matter if there is blood involved.  It just means taking the time to be an influencer in someone’s life.  We are never too old to make an impact on those God puts into our lives.

So as I’m sweeping up the crumbs off the floor today, I’m thankful.  Thankful that because Jim and I fell in love, we are a family. Thankful for the health of our kids and grandkids and for having them all finally home.  Thankful for another phase in my life—it never gets boring!  We all get so many days in life…it’s how we choose to use them that counts! Go be a blessing to someone and influence their life today!

Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.