Last night, my wife and I took our two oldest daughters and a friend of theirs to the Toby Mac concert in Seattle. The tickets were a very welcome Christmas present to our second daughter who obviously likes Toby Mac, but she also loves the star-studded cast of contemporary Christian artists/singers that were performing with him: Brandon Heath, Matthew West, Mandisa, and Matt Maher.
For those of you who have never been to a Toby Mac concert, it isn't what many picture as Christian music. Other than the absence of pot and sexually explicit dance moves, it isn't that different in sound and performance quality from a typical concert. It's loud. It's energetic. It leans toward what I would call hip-hop (though I'm not exactly and expert in that area). It's everything that a preteen girl would want wrapped up in a parent friendly package.
Unless of course, you're me. You see I really don't like crowds, and I pretty much hate noise.
I avoid the mall like the plague. Places where other people actually pay money to go have fun make me want to pull what little hair I have left out of my head, one tiny strand at a time. Fairs, amusement parks, sporting events, they all antagonize me at a primal level.
It's chaos of these places that gets to me. I like order, and orderly and courteous behavior is almost impossible to find in a crowd. I'm actually ok when I'm finally on the ride or in the game or maybe even in the store (probably stretching it with the store). Once you're there, some semblance of order seeps in, but the walking around or getting to and from these types of places brings me as close to violent insanity as I get. Just writing about this sets me on edge. Heck, I don't even like making my way through the foyer at church. (Notice how I didn't say "Hell" when talking about church there? Chalk me up a point for self control!)
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
It's Not All About Me
I know, I know, I can hear the audible gasp as you read this blog post title. "What?" you are thinking. "Where is she getting this crazy notion?" Or maybe you're chuckling to yourself thinking, "Well, duh. Of course it is not all about you." Whatever your reaction, I am always amazed when I have to be reminded that it is not all about me. Why is this a lesson so hard to learn and so easy to forget?
A few weeks back, I took the girls to piano lessons. They take lessons from a dear friend. She is a wonderful piano teacher but even more than that she is a mentor to the girls. They always get through their lessons and somehow manage to find time to make cookies, create homemade cards, read American Girl magazines and chit chat. I feel so blessed that my girls have someone like her in their life. My friend has a passion for leading and small groups. Not only young girls, but also teens and women. She leads a group for women once a month that is open to anyone. It is a mid-week, mid-month refresher that is meant to encourage women regardless of the season they are in. A vision given to my friend almost 18 years ago and finally fulfilled 2 years ago. Such an inspiration to me!
But a few weeks ago, as I picked up the girls, my friend asked if I'd be willing to do a short "anchor" moment at their next meeting. My first reaction was "No!" I had a lot more words (totally inappropriate ones) run through my head but was respectful with my "no thanks, not now." Just the thought of it sent terror through my body. The next day, as I was having my quiet time with the Lord, I was struck with the realization that someone had asked me to share a brief snippet of something the Lord was doing in my life and I said no. In an essence I was saying, "No thanks, I'll keep this one just for me." A strong feeling of conviction surged through me. I felt like the Lord was saying, "Yes, I do want to bless you but I also want to bless others through you. Sometimes the gifts I give you, are meant to be shared." How do you say no when God asks you to share something?
As I continued in my quiet time, I was reminded of a post by Ann Voskamp about a "No Fear New Year." This has been my mantra each time I am faced with a situation where my initial reaction is anxiety or fear. I want this year to be different. NO FEAR. Well fear was definitely what was controlling my decision about not wanting to share at my friend's gathering. I have a hard enough time talking myself off the ledge before a Norwex party, I can only imagine the anxiety I will feel before I share with this group. But, there are definitely things that I have been learning over the last few months that I could share with these women and potentially bless them and because of fear, I wanted to keep it all to myself. So, I texted my friend and told her I'd do it. Believe me, it will only be with Jesus at my side. Can't fathom doing it without it. But I know He will be there because it's not all about me. It is about all of those other women who are aching to be touched by God and He doesn't miss an opportunity!
A few weeks back, I took the girls to piano lessons. They take lessons from a dear friend. She is a wonderful piano teacher but even more than that she is a mentor to the girls. They always get through their lessons and somehow manage to find time to make cookies, create homemade cards, read American Girl magazines and chit chat. I feel so blessed that my girls have someone like her in their life. My friend has a passion for leading and small groups. Not only young girls, but also teens and women. She leads a group for women once a month that is open to anyone. It is a mid-week, mid-month refresher that is meant to encourage women regardless of the season they are in. A vision given to my friend almost 18 years ago and finally fulfilled 2 years ago. Such an inspiration to me!
But a few weeks ago, as I picked up the girls, my friend asked if I'd be willing to do a short "anchor" moment at their next meeting. My first reaction was "No!" I had a lot more words (totally inappropriate ones) run through my head but was respectful with my "no thanks, not now." Just the thought of it sent terror through my body. The next day, as I was having my quiet time with the Lord, I was struck with the realization that someone had asked me to share a brief snippet of something the Lord was doing in my life and I said no. In an essence I was saying, "No thanks, I'll keep this one just for me." A strong feeling of conviction surged through me. I felt like the Lord was saying, "Yes, I do want to bless you but I also want to bless others through you. Sometimes the gifts I give you, are meant to be shared." How do you say no when God asks you to share something?
As I continued in my quiet time, I was reminded of a post by Ann Voskamp about a "No Fear New Year." This has been my mantra each time I am faced with a situation where my initial reaction is anxiety or fear. I want this year to be different. NO FEAR. Well fear was definitely what was controlling my decision about not wanting to share at my friend's gathering. I have a hard enough time talking myself off the ledge before a Norwex party, I can only imagine the anxiety I will feel before I share with this group. But, there are definitely things that I have been learning over the last few months that I could share with these women and potentially bless them and because of fear, I wanted to keep it all to myself. So, I texted my friend and told her I'd do it. Believe me, it will only be with Jesus at my side. Can't fathom doing it without it. But I know He will be there because it's not all about me. It is about all of those other women who are aching to be touched by God and He doesn't miss an opportunity!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Super Bowl / Russell Wilson Thoughts
The big game is about to start in a few hours.
There are nerves and excitement all around the country right about now. Players, broadcasters, performers, and coaches preparing their minds and bodies for the biggest stage in the world. Companies crossing their fingers that the millions they spent on advertising will pay dividends in profit margins. Fans digging up any talismans that can hopefully help (or at least not hinder) the chances of their team winning the game. Hosts and hostesses preparing food and facilities to manage the next several hours as friends and family members descend upon their homes for food, drink, and cheering.
The Super Bowl is a huge event, a big moment, and moments can be very important. Wonderful and horrible things can happen for and to people in the blink of an eye, and the joy and pain we experience during these times can be permanent.
Right now Russell Wilson is preparing for the biggest moment of his relatively short professional career, and at the end of today, he will be judged based on how he does during it. Many will say that he will be defined by what he does on the worlds biggest stage today.
But honestly, he won't. Regardless of how many times we hear it, we simply are not defined by moments. Neither our greatness nor our mediocrity, nor our success, nor our failures are the result of small periods of time. They are not the results of singular events.
There are nerves and excitement all around the country right about now. Players, broadcasters, performers, and coaches preparing their minds and bodies for the biggest stage in the world. Companies crossing their fingers that the millions they spent on advertising will pay dividends in profit margins. Fans digging up any talismans that can hopefully help (or at least not hinder) the chances of their team winning the game. Hosts and hostesses preparing food and facilities to manage the next several hours as friends and family members descend upon their homes for food, drink, and cheering.
The Super Bowl is a huge event, a big moment, and moments can be very important. Wonderful and horrible things can happen for and to people in the blink of an eye, and the joy and pain we experience during these times can be permanent.
Right now Russell Wilson is preparing for the biggest moment of his relatively short professional career, and at the end of today, he will be judged based on how he does during it. Many will say that he will be defined by what he does on the worlds biggest stage today.
But honestly, he won't. Regardless of how many times we hear it, we simply are not defined by moments. Neither our greatness nor our mediocrity, nor our success, nor our failures are the result of small periods of time. They are not the results of singular events.
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