Identifying as His

A man identifies as a woman. A Caucasian identifies as an African American. Apparently a lot of people identify as a Confederate, 150 years later. I don't identify as anything I'm not, but I identify with Jesus. I identify as his daughter, because that's who His word says I am. And because of Who I identify with, I'm going to love you no matter what you identify as.
The world is an increasingly controversial place, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are many things going on, many things changing, and thanks to social media, we are required to have an opinion on it. If we remain silent, there is an elephant in the room. "Wonder what she REALLY thinks. Maybe she's too chicken to say." Maybe she's too smart to say. I have lots of opinions. Some of them are Godly. Some of them are just me. As far as the flag issue, my ancestors fought for the confederacy. I am not ashamed of that. I love history of all kinds, and enjoy learning about the civil war. All sides of it, not just the side that's easy for me accept. The confederate flag isn't offensive to me, obviously. But to deny its potential to offend is to be naive. There is still racism, bitterness, anger in all races. Many have felt that way for so long, they don't even remember why. It's a generational curse. (Side note: Charleston is an exceptionally beautiful and interesting place. It was also the busiest port of the slave trade, including Native Americans and Africans, in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries.) As Christians, what are we doing to bring restoration and healing to all people? How are we bridging the gap?
Sometimes propagating stereotypes is easier because it absolves us of responsibility. But you know what is more tragic than someone living a life bound by stereotype, either in reality or in our opinions? To live their whole life not ever grasping how long, and wide, and high, and deep is the love of Christ. Never believing He has a purpose for their lives. Never understanding the destiny He created them for. And for them to not grasp, believe or understand because we are so bent on being right. If the world can't hear the love of Jesus over the noise of my self righteous opinions, then my opinions are meaningless. Be blessed. Go love somebody.

A Benchmark Weekend

Last week and weekend were very busy for me. Busy is nothing new for me. However, this particular week, I was trying to clean house (like...REALLY clean), homeschool, go on field trips, teach a class at church, and the list goes on and on and on. Plus all the regular stuff I do every day. The weekend promised to be insanely busy. Samuel's last baseball game of the season, plus his end of the season pizza party. Lauren's dress rehearsal and recital. We had family coming in from out of town, so I decided to celebrate Libby's birthday almost two weeks early. So Thursday evening, I got a call from my mom that her car broke down and she wouldn't be able to come. After that, her phone died and I couldn't call her. Friday morning, I was taking my morning walk, and was praying. I decided I would just go get my mother, because my kids would be heartbroken as they were counting on their granny being there. And maybe I wanted my mama. What of it? I called my sister, who went to my mom's and had her call me on her phone. I realized I wasn't finished cleaning, hadn't bought groceries, had to drive an hour and a half one way to get my mother and be back in time to get Samuel from school, and the anxiety started to mount. I gave all my concerns to God, and what happened next was astounding. He told me that not only was this weekend going to be ok, but that it was going to be a benchmark by which I measured all other weekends. And it was. I got my mom, got back on time, enjoyed his ballgame, got everywhere I needed to go on time the whole weekend, and enjoyed my family. One part that stands out as miraculous, is that Libby sat in either my lap, or Jeremy's lap the whole time during Lauren's recital, and was as quiet as you could possibly expect an almost two year old to be. She did sing along a bit, though. Such a sweet time with my loved ones. So when anxiety is mounting, and circumstances are piling up, but you don't feel like they're important enough to take to God...He cares. About all of it. Let Him love you like the good daddy He is.

It's the Little Things

"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that ruin vineyards" Song of Solomon 2:15

According to this verse, little things can have big consequences.

A little office flirtation can lead to dissatisfaction with your husband.

A little lie can lead to a bigger lie.

A little bit of a t.v. show you know you shouldn't watch can add to your fears.

A little act of rebellion in your children, ignored, will lead to bigger and more severe acts of rebellion. This one hits home with me. There are times it would be easier to ignore, to pretend I didn't see the eye roll or hear the huff. However, their hearts have been entrusted to me, and that demands I address it.

A little chocolate blows your diet. Ok, kidding on that one. One small square of Dove dark chocolate keeps me from eating the entire contents of my kitchen.

I read an article where the author said allowing a little sin in, is like having a little cancer. That's something we shouldn't take lightly.

I have some good news, though. I think the same principal works in the opposite spectrum. Doing the little things, the good we know we ought to do, yields big results. Being consistent in doing right, even in the little things, sometimes the hard things, brings forth righteousness. Brings forth blessing. Brings forth honor. So worth it.