Woman vs. Fire

February: 
Give Thanks- "I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him." Verse 3.

Step One: Tell Him Thanks.

I slipped on my Uggs and an old, oversized, bleach stained sweater, grabbed my keys, and went to Randalls to pick up some firewood. 3 bundles, and many wood "crumbs" later, I huffed into my house, ready to sit by the fire and watch a movie. I unloaded some wood into the fireplace, and gathered my junk mail to be used as kindling.  Good bye, credit card companies. I don't need anymore of you!

Soon, I moved on to paper towels. It just wasn't catching like I needed it to, and it didn't help that the logs were a bit damp.  At one point, for some reason, the smoke blew into my house and not up my chimney.  Hurley started sneezing and whimpering like he thought I was crazy.  At that point, I think it became a challenge. Me. And Fire. 

I sat in my old, oversized, bleach stained sweater, covered in ashes and smoke, glaring at the logs that wouldn't light. They were giving me some serious attitude.

After much perseverance, I saw a tiny flame that was working all on its own. It was short lived, though.  A few hours and frustration later, my fire was started, small, but started.  I crawled up into my big, favorite quilt, and watched TV.

All of the fire stress probably defeated the purpose for it in the first place, but oh well.

Today,  I am thankful for fire. When you think about it, it's pretty cool.  It can start so small, and grow into something powerful.  In the same way, God's love smolders in us.  For that, I am thankful also. 


I can't write a blog about fire and NOT include the lyrics to my favorite campfire song, Pass it On. We used to sing it on the side of a mountain at Blue Haven, and we would literally shout.  I bet God liked our raw worship on nights like that. When we poured our hearts up to the stars, I just knew he heard us.

"It only takes a spark, to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, 

can warm up it it's glowing.
That's how it is with God's love, 

once you've experienced it,

it's fresh like spring, 

you want to sing, you want to pass it on.
What a wondrous time is Spring
When all the trees are budding.
The birds begin to sing,
the flowers start their blooming. 

I wish for you my friend
this happiness that I've found
You can depend on him
It matters not where your bound. 

I'll shout it from the mountain tops
I want the world to know
The Lord of Life has come to me
I want to pass it on."

Rolling Blackouts and Other Nonsense

February: 
Give Thanks- "I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him." Verse 3.

Step One: Tell Him Thanks.

I'm not going to pretend today was my favorite day.  Multiple power outages, a headache, and a few other frustrations got in the way of it being a favorite day.  Things that seemed significant to be upset about earlier seem a bit silly now looking back. 

This leads me to the conclusion that maybe we are spoiled. (Yeah, just a little bit) You're telling me we had one day with off and on power, and we are complaining like someone is telling us to cut off a limb. 

This morning as I was getting ready, listening to the news, blackness suddenly engulfed me ---without any warning!  I stood frozen for a minute, considered that a serial killer might be about to break in, and then felt around for a lighter and candle.  I continued to get dressed holding the candle, and managed to keep all of my hair from being singed away. 

After arriving at school, I learned that Texas was experiencing what they called, "Rolling Blackouts".  Excuse me, what? So, like anyone else, I googled it as soon as I was able.  Surprisingly this is a real term, and many third world countries experience it. It's where the power company turns off the power every so often to save on electricity in order to prevent a massive blackout.

I had to laugh, because how ridiculous do we look? All in a huff because it was in the 30s today, and we lost power a few times.  And, to think there are many in the world without power ever, and with much worse weather conditions. Some even deal with this every day and just plan around it!  I feel silly.

Today, I am thankful to be taken care of.  I have more than what I need to survive, and I am thankful.  Had I thought of this earlier, being stuck in the dark with 22 third graders might not have been as bad.  In fact, maybe today would have been a favorite. And tonight, my prayers are for those who do not have, and instead, need. 

Dancing Trees

February: 
Give Thanks- "I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him." Verse 3. 

Step One: Tell Him Thanks.   

Tonight the wind blows, and it rattles the roof. Trees are dancing, but everyone is inside.  Sitting here, warm, with my sock monkey slippers, memories of my childhood flood into view.  Walls vibrating, wind howling, cold air creeping into every nook and cranny of the house.  I would lay in bed, perfectly still under layers of quilts, tucked in for the night. I took great care in not moving even a toe, because the sheets were a frigid startle to peaceful slumber. The wind sang me to sleep, as it did most nights, and I would wake with a cold nose in the morning.   I loved winter nights. 

Wind can be menacing at times.  Hurricanes and tornadoes bring damage to anything in their path.  Or, as in the case today, wind can make recess pretty stinkin cold.  But to me, wind has always been fascinating.  I love that it's uncontrollable, unpredictable, and unfathomable. 

It can be beautiful, too. Have you ever seen snow drifts sparkle when the sun comes up? Or, rock smoothed into art? 

You generally can't see the wind before it hits you, but it's easy to believe it's there.  I think faith is hard for this same reason.  We have to believe in what we cannot see, and a lot of times, that's tough in today's Google world.  What's dangerous, is I'm afraid we think we need proof for everything --instantly. 

January was a great month for me, I felt a stirring, as if something was changing inside me.  Romans 12:2 has a few things I want to remember:

1.  Don't fit in. 
2.  Focus on God. 
3.  You will be changed. 
4. Respond to what He wants. 
5. God matures you.  


There are a lot of lessons I will continue to learn from this verse, and I am adding verse three today.  Daily, I want to give thanks to the One who is responsible for the goodness in my life -- God.  

Tonight, I am thankful for the wind.  I'm thankful for a Spirit working in us, even when we can't see it.  And, as the West Texas wind sang me to sleep, the Holy Spirit sings in my soul. 

La Bielleza y Unidad de la Cruz

January: 
Focus on God  - "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Verse 2.

 Step one: Listen to better music.
 Step two: Look for Him.
 Step three: Be a Tiger Christian 
 Step four: Talk About Him

 La Bielleza y Unidad de la Cruz.  
 The Beauty and Unity of the Cross.  


Our church has a wing, and hidden away in there are a variety of cultures that come from Mexico and Central America.  They meet in that wing, praise the Father, preach the word, and grow.  Our Hispanic congregation has been meeting for about 18 months, with at least 20 baptisms.  Today, they left the wing they have come to know, and joined us for worship.  We prayed, sang, and heard the word of God in Spanish and English.  As one church. 

It reminded me of the days when I lived in Dimmitt, and we experienced the same thing with the Spanish Church of Christ.  How powerful it is when we let go of barriers, and let ourselves be unified in Christ.  

When I was in Zambia, I taught a man what a smore was.  I had a gritty melting marshmallow mashed between half a graham cracker and a piece of chocolate. My hands were filthy, but then again, so were his. We were being smoked out by the fire, and it was darker than dark. In Zambia, the stars shine radiantly, for no other reason than there isn't any competition for their light.  They own the place. The light from the fire flickered across the man's face, and it was amazing to see his joy after eating a smore for the first time.   I would imagine that was how God intended it.  Zambian and Texan, smore eaters.  Spanish and English, singers of praise.  


La Bielleza y Unidad de la Cruz.  It really is beautiful.  With all of the unrest in the world, especially in the past month, I have to seek this beauty, and let it get my attention-- because the beauty of the cross shines like those stars in Zambia, out into a dark world that doesn't stand a chance.  


Third Day lyrics that I love: 

"Praise to the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Our God and our King, to Him we will sing
In His great mercy, He has given us life
Now we can be called the children of God
Great is the Love that the Father has given us
He has delivered us
He has delivered us
Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God"

Until the Whole World Hears

January: 
Focus on God  - "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Verse 2.

 Step one: Listen to better music.
 Step two: Look for Him.
 Step three: Be a Tiger Christian 
 Step four: Talk About Him 

Is it just me, or is there some sort of stigma with talking about God? Sometimes it seems like under the church house roof, we talk freely about Him, but once we step back into the "world", we somehow become hushed.  Saying that I have done research is perhaps a stretch, but I educated myself using Google, and I learned that we say about 20,000 words a day. You might consider the fact that I'm a teacher and a woman, and well, let's just add a zero to that number for myself.  

Of those 20,000(0) words a day, I don't know that I even say 10 about God. Why is that? I'd venture to say that whatever we are talking about is where our attention is.  We talk about others, the weather, movies, books, ourselves... and somehow, we leave Him out.  I think that in order to fix my attention on God, as Roman 12:2 says, I am going to have to start talking about God more.  

To be fair, this requires a few things: bravery, transparency, and faith.  Satan is out there ready to threaten security and laugh in the face of believers. I think, though, that if I wish to be changed from the inside out, I've got to do whatever it takes. World, get ready. I'm ready to tell you what God's doing in my life.  

Great lyrics to a Casting Crowns song: 

"Ready yourselves
Ready yourselves
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night
Ready yourselves
Ready yourselves
May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears Lord we are calling out
Lifting up Your name for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we're crying out
As the day draws near
We'll sing until the whole world hears
Lord let your sleeping giant arise
Catch the demons by surprise
Holy nation sanctified
Let this be our battle cry"

Sink or Swim, I'm Divin In

January: 
Focus on God  - "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Verse 2.

 Step one: Listen to better music.
 Step two: Look for Him.
 Step three: Be a Tiger Christian  

Tonight on the drive home I heard an old Steven Curtis Chapman song that made quite a bit of sense in relation to my goal of the Roman's 12 Project: to present my life as an offering to God. And, in light of step one for this month, the chorus goes like this: 

"I'm divin' in, I'm goin' deep
In over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush, lost in the flow
In over my head I want to go
The river's deep, the river's wide
The river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm divin' in"

 On Thursdays a group of us gets together to eat and discuss topics intended to help us grow.  Tonight's topic was on Christian Fatigue, and the argument was made that if being a Christian wears you out, maybe it's not really a lifestyle for you, and instead, a chore.  Because a chore is not something you invest in, and a lifestyle is.  

So, you can see why Steven Curtis Chapman got me thinkin.  And if not, don't worry. I'm about to clear it all up.  

The last two lines in the chorus are key.  "The river's water is alive, so sink or swim, I'm divin' in."   I think we all know the river's water is alive.  We've got a little something in being a Christian for ourselves-- eternal salvation.  Can you see the bumper stickers? Avoid Damnation- Get Jesus!  Ticket to Heaven- Get Jesus!  

I'm not necessarily saying that's a bad thing. It is, in fact, quite a nice little perk.  

But, there's more, "So sink or swim, I'm divin in."  Well, we all know God rules. He's the Superman/Dumbledore/Captain Planet/Michael Jordan winner of all time. Why would we ever consider sinking?  

But, I wonder, how many Christians would there be if sinking or swimming was an uncertainty?  Maybe we are victims to Christian Fatigue because we really weren't all that invested in the first place.  Maybe if we loved God, got invested in a sort of "Sink or swim, I'm divin in" kind of way, being a Christian would be more of a lifestyle, and less of a chore. 

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Christian

January: 
Focus on God  - "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Verse 2.

 Step one: Listen to better music.
 Step two: Look for Him.
 Step three: Be a Tiger Christian 

So, I haven't read this. But it's all over the news, and several articles have surfaced since it's release.  As a teacher, I think about our future a lot.  I wonder what will become of us once the kids I teach are running the place.  I watch different parenting methods and consider new education trends.  I find the Tiger Mother's philosophy fascinating, and if I'm honest, I think there's something to it.  Now, let me be clear. I'm not suggesting we all start telling children they are trash.  But, I do kind of agree with instilling a sense of work ethic in kids.  How can that not lead to success? 

January's goal is to focus on God.  How can I do that if I give excuses for everything I do?  Step three for this goal is to be a Tiger Christian.  I am seeking out a relationship with my maker, my master-- how dare I slack off? No one ever said being a Christian would be easy. It takes time, dedication, and sacrifice. It concerns me that I spend more time checking Facebook than I do thinking about God.  It's also possible that I have a better relationship with my iphone than with God. We could blame it on our generation, technology, "being normal" etc.  Why is it so easy to come up with labels and excuses for our behaviors? Sometimes I feel like we try to cancel out our behavior if we can give a reason why it happened. Then maybe we aren't all that responsible for it.

Instead, I am seeking the philosophy of a Tiger Christian: that I will seriously attend to my Lord, I will avoid excuses for my behavior, and I will actively seek him out.  Romans 12:2 calls me to not become so a part of my culture that I become distracted. I should focus on God. Surely I love God more than my iphone...

Amy Chua talks now about how not everything in her memoir is meant to be used as a manual. She made mistakes.  So, when I say step 3 is to be a Tiger Christian, I am talking about focus, no excuses, and love.  She sees this philosophy as one done to provide more for children, showing them love through expectations and boundaries.   She says in an interview with Time Magazine that she was raised by a Tiger Father who limited her choices when she was young, which led to infinite choices as an adult. 

I can't help but think of God here.  Earth is limited, but heaven is a soaring, out of the box, question mark-- which holds no boundaries.