Thursday, June 23, 2016

7 Things I'm Loving Right Now

I love summer!! After what has felt like endless months of tight, full schedules, I love the laid back feeling of summer days. I still haven't traded in my taxi hat, or given up some school with the kids or kicked the chores to the curb but I am finding more margin in my days. I'm loving it! Almost too much!

Here are 7 things I am loving these early summer days.......
1. Fiction~ I love to read and summer means reading to me! I have been know to have many books going at once. Not because I am actually capable of reading many at once but because I can't fathom reading only ONE book. Also, since I am not a finisher by nature, I start a new book whenever I want, just because I can.

I have set a goal for myself to read through the Harry Potter series this summer. My older girls and Joel have read them all. My little two have read through book 3. I read the first book about 18 years ago and then stalled a little ways through the second one. Well, I breezed through the first book and am officially stalled in the same spot in the second one. I will pick it back up next week and give it a shot again. I would really like to read them and see what all the fuss is about!

My current fiction book, though, that I am loving is The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza. This book brings together a 40 something year old and a 20 something year old in the setting of a magazine turned app. I am loving all the references to social media and watching the 40 something year old evolve in her technological ways. I am surprised by what a fun read this has been! What are you reading? I am making my list!

2. Peaches~ Peaches with cottage cheese and coconut creme yogurt is what is getting me out of the bed in the morning. Even as I write this, my mouth waters! Summer is bursting with fresh fruit and amazing flavors. I can't get enough! Emy made a Peach Cobbler for Father's Day that was divine!

3. Time and Teaching, ~ I am loving the time to schedule coffee and meetings and classes and all kinds of fun things with grown ups these days. This week I've had two oil classes. Teaching and interacting with women, sharing with them how to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families and friends, that fills my cup!

4. Lime, Ginger and Spearmint~ Lime essential oil has always been one of my favorites, either in the diffuser or in my water. I typically combine it with Grapefruit which says all kind of summer. But lately, the Lime, Ginger, Spearmint trifecta has me guzzling my water! It has a zing, a kick and a refreshing aftertaste that I adore!

5. Facebook~ I know, I know. It is 2016. I get it. But Facebook and I have only been friends for a couple of months. I have an addictive personality and have avoided Facebook for all of these years because of it. The reason I decided to take the plunge now, though,was because of my oil business. There is a lot of training available through FB that I wasn't taking advantage of and knew I was missing out. I signed up for that sole purpose and have gotten so much more out of it. I have found that I have been able to connect with others in a new way. I have also been able to reconnect with people that I most likely wouldn't have, otherwise. Yes, I've had to set limits for myself and assign parameters for how I use it and sometimes need to scroll quickly as to avoid finding myself in a dangerous mindset or down a dark hole but otherwise, it is something I am loving.

6. Grilling~ I mentioned on Instagram about a month ago that I am "grillin' like a villain" these days. I love it!! I have always been afraid of the grill. Afraid of the propane and turning it on. But after listening to one of my favorite podcasts (see below), I decided to be brave and tackle the grill. Making lunches and dinners are quick and easy with this extra tool at my disposal. Please feel free to send me your favorite grill recipes. My family will totally appreciate it!

7. Podcasts~ I am sure I have mentioned it before but it is definitely worth repeating, Podcasts have been a life saver for me and summer time allows me even more time to listen in. I struggle with anxiety and sometimes, too much quiet in my head is not a good thing. Finding quality podcasts has allowed me to spend less time in my own head. I also love listening to what people are doing all over the world. Sometimes my neck of the woods closes in and I begin to feel like the world is small. Listening to podcasts helps me feel how big the world is. That is a good perspective for me to have.

Do you know you that if you have an iPhone that Apple has given you a Podcast app? This is what it looks like. Once you click on it, you can follow different podcasts and they will upload automatically to your app. I love listening to them in the car, while I am working in the yard, folding laundry, doing dishes, walking, cleaning. Most of the time I am not sitting still while I listen. Occasionally though, I need paper and pen to jot notes because the podcast is a wealth of information.




Here is a list of my very favorite podcasts:
1. The Simple Show
2. Sorta Awesome
3. Personality Hacker
4. The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey
5. That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

That wraps up things I'm loving this June. What things are you loving?

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Oh yeah? Then How About This?

Sometimes I feel like God is messing with me.  Like now.

Not in a malicious way, but in the way a dad might test a son or a teacher a student.  There are times when I'm coaching when I'm really pleased with how players are doing or how things are going or maybe I'm not exactly pleased, but I reflect and realize that concepts are being grasped, goals are being reached.  Many times I also notice some overconfidence developing, maybe even some arrogance.  So in those times, sometimes, I give them something way more advanced than I was planning.  I give them a glimpse of the reality that their limited experience and perspective cannot grasp.  I give them something I'm pretty sure they can't handle or aren't ready for.  It's not malicious.  I'm not trying to break their spirit, but they need a check.  They need a glimpse of a bigger picture.

That kind of messing.

For two months now I can't get ideas to come together in neat packages.  I've started several posts and just can't wrap them up.  To be honest, I'm a little (lot?) frustrated with God.  He asked me to do this.  Why would he have me write if I can't put ideas together?  See what I mean?  Messing with me.

In Exodus, God does this with Moses.  Toward the end of the book of Exodus, we see that God has literally transformed Moses from an escaped-convict-nomad to the leader of a nation.  Moses has had multiple meetings with one of the most powerful men in the world at the time (Pharaoh), has led his people out of bondage, has produced miracles of deliverance and sustenance, and has established a standard of cultural mores and a codified law (not to mention regular conversations with the omnipotent and omniscient creator and ruler of the universe).  At the height of his accomplishments with every conceivable wind at his back, Moses comes down from Mt Sinai and finds his brother and his people have completely lost their minds, melted down their valuables, and molded a "god" of their own creation.

At this point, Moses might be justified in feeling a bit further along in the faith journey than pretty much all of his peers.  Some understandable arrogance.

Moses heads back up the mountain to see what the Israelites can do to atone for their sin and he says, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.  But now please forgive their sin -- but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." (Exodus 32:31-32)  It's hard to attribute intent when reading scripture, but to me, this sounds like Moses saying, "You and I both know they are bad, but you and I also both know that I'm awesome, and because of that, I know you wont destroy me, so please forgive them for my sake."

God's response?  "Don't you worry about it.  I'll take care of them.  You take care of you." (Exodus 32:33-34 Joel's Translation)  That should have been a bit of a warning, and maybe Moses heeded it, but I totally get why his pride may have swelled a bit.  Unfortunately, though, the pattern continues.

Right after this, in Exodus 33, God promises victory over the regional powers of the day and a homeland of wealth and comfort. He also tells Moses to "tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people...'" implying, of course, that Moses isn't included in that assessment.  To further reinforce his distinction from the masses, Moses set up a tent "some distance away" from the camp and anyone who wanted to inquire of the Lord, would go up and ask Moses.  There "the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Exodus 33:11)

So, again, it is understandable how Moses, as my dad used to say, gets a little too big for his britches. But we aren't done.

In Exodus 33:12, Moses goes to God and says that he needs to know more.  He needs to be part of the executive team, for how can he lead these people without knowing what God knows.  God gives him a gentle rebuke: "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."  In essence, God says, "I am enough.  My presence is enough.  I've got this.  You don't need to know what I know.  You just need to trust me."

But Moses presses, "How will anyone know that you are pleased with me...?"  (as if that is important)

At this point, I'm getting nervous.  I'm thinking that God is gonna give Moses a smack down.  Who the heck does he think he is?  But I'm not God.  Or more accurately, God isn't me.  God doesn't smack him down.  He gently relents.  He says, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." (Exodus 33:17)

Wow!  What I wouldn't give to hear God saying that to me!  Instead of rebuking him, God directly addresses the insecurity in Moses' question.  He reassures Moses of God's love for him and approval of him and place with him.  I can't imagine the joy and pride and comfort in receiving such a statement.  I don't know how I would respond.

But of course, that isn't really accurate.  In Christ on the cross, I have already received that statement.  And while I was and am eternally grateful for God's love and gentleness and unmerited favor, my response is generally, "but I want more."  Just like Moses.

Moses says, "Now show me your glory." (Exodus 33:18)