Preferences

From before they could speak, the kids had their own preferences about clothes.

Ethan always had to wear socks, stretched as high as they would go, and shirts had to 'feel' a certain way.

Sophie didn't like 'extra' fabric. (No ruffles, long sleeves, cargo pants with extra pockets, etc.) In fact, she was born for skinny jeans. -Oh and things could NOT match. I think her worst tantrum was over wearing a two piece outfit that I selected.

Now ten and eight their preferences haven't changed.

Then there is Jackson- Who is four and a half and still, nearly every day, reminds me that his shoes belong on the opposite feet and that his underwear, and sometimes even his shorts, fit better backwards...

It has been frustrating at times but so funny. I find it fascinating to think about the 'preferences' that we're born with. -Like that innate fight for independence. Doesn't it also make you curious about the things that we cling to when we try to ‘dress’ or pick for ourselves… 

Pushing Through

Some days you feel like you just can’t do enough—Cleaning the house, trying to gain order and discipline in your home or your habits, trying to spend enough time with God and each of those you love, serving others, etc.

Something is always left undone despite your best efforts. Sometimes you even lose your cool under the frustration of it all or grow disappointed in, even condemning, yourself for your slip-ups. Could God ever really use a hot mess like you? Will you have made a positive impact when it’s said and done?

Remember this during those times– Jonah only had ONE mission- to “deliver a message”. Yet in all four books, he is whining and frustrated and doesn’t display the attitude you’d expect to find in a mighty believer. He is depressed. He runs, avoids God, and is shown practically kicking and screaming the whole way.

Throughout that time, God is also seen beside him, chasing him down, nudging him, encouraging him, providing for him every step of the way. –Sometimes in mind-blowing ways. In the end, Jonah delivers the message. He is successful! Even with all of the extra work, 'flares', and discouragement that Jonah felt, the Lord was able to use him. He just had to push through and depend on God.

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Whatever you’re facing today, know you’re not alone. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and HE will make your paths straight. <3 Peace be with you!

Photo Credit: http://foundationsofmyfaith.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html 

No Man Left Behind

My father in law spoke to me the other night about some of the events that he experienced in Vietnam; positions he held, people he met; things that he witnessed. He told me about the number of men that lost their lives and about soldiers that went back to rescue the dead and wounded. Many more lives were lost-- not just saving the wounded but also saving the dead.

I could feel the regard seep out of him as he proudly and tearfully uttered  his Marine mantra “No man left behind.” 

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Of course, I want to thank our service men and women for enduring things that I can't even fathom. As I try to comprehend the sentiment, it challenges me on other areas as well.

I could make this about faith and spirituality and ask us to consider what our spiritual journey might be like if we stopped trying to improve our own status so that we could go and rescue the dead we’re beside. 

But stop and imagine with me if you will-- what the world would be like if no matter what platform we’re on, what battle we’re in or what our background was; if we all cared enough about humanity to do the same. No matter how dead, or how heavy or how un-self-serving another was; we loved each other THAT much.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.' And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' - Matthew 22:37-38

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Photo Credit: http://www.g2mil.com/ 

What Do We Glorify

Throughout the Bible we see that our purpose, and also the purpose of our circumstance, is to reveal God and give Him Glory. 

As I think about those verses, it's got me wondering-

How many times do we have a bad day and we only speak of the things that made it bad; instead of the mini-miracles or the high-lights that are folded in- that made it good?

When we allow fear and dread of a coming event steal our focus, does it blind us also to the glimpses of God's Glory along the way?

What about the physical activities that we take part in that keep us from getting to be a part of His goodness to others?

If we let those things get the best of us each day, are we glorifying them instead of our heavenly Father?

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Many of us at times have said or thought, "I don't see God" or "What is glorifying about this circumstance". There are many examples that we could list here in order to back up those statements. I admit that I too struggle to see what can be good about some of our trials.

But Romans 1:21 says:

"For although they knew God they neither glorified God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." 

In fact, if you read the rest of that passage; I count eight times where there is some variation of they "exchanged" and "abandoned" their faith and God's glory or "were given over" to what they had they're heart set on.

Three times alone it says "God gave them over" to their own depravity and then he lists for us what that looks like in verses 29-31.

It's not just sexual sin or hate crimes like we're inundated with on T.V. that we're given to- it says every kind of corruption- which means we can also be given over to strife, the gossip of our own lips, and lacks of love or mercy.

I know that you'll agree that life is hard enough. We don't need anything "darker".

Let's set our hearts on Him today. I pray that our eyes, ears, lips and mind follow. I challenge you to take note and look for the ways that God is good and dwelling amongst our very presence.

Imagine what that will do to your own faith and possibly the faith of another! <3






Photo Credit: Taken by Mr. Hotpants

Clouds and Sunlight

on the way to the vet 12/8

On the way to the vet to pick up Carson's ashes, the sky seemed so full of artistic displays and even various emotions. I tried to get a few pictures but you know that's difficult when you're driving, and also using an iPhone.

Taken by a local photographer, Allan Hunt on the same day.

The pictures don't display it correctly but the sun burned with such intensity. It didn't have rays coming down but it was near sunset and the light was this crazy mix of colors across the sky. It looked like the horizon was on fire.

The clouds seemed unusually dense or mysterious as well and it made the contrast between the two more powerful- more striking.

It pierced my thoughts- flickering contrasts like, light and darkness, transparency and density, things that are always present and things that always move...

Life and death.

What was and is to come.

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on the way to the vet 12/8

Anyway, one of my favorite kinds of pictures are the ones of the sun with beams of light striking through. Where it looks like there are holes in heaven's floor and the light is pouring in.

It's funny how the sun and the clouds are always there. -Kind of like God and maybe the circumstances of our lives.

The clouds and circumstances roll and pass. God and the light are always there too, single, one, the same- unchanging.

Although sometimes we take for granted the way their power fills the sky or makes it possible to see everything within our view.

We may not notice their specific or immediate presence, where they shine or how they are working. It takes a 'special cloud' or set of them to break the sky so that you only see specific and exact rays.

I actually have a lot of peace about Carson's death but when I look back at some of the harder times in my life; it was those darker circumstances where I felt the closest to God and the most "direction". Even now, this event causes me to look at the same thing(s) a little differently.

Like the clouds, our circumstances just might filter everything else that obstructs our view so that we can see exactly what God wants to shine his light on.

Take on another day but follows theme.

Take on another day but follows theme.

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The light shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. -John 1:5

Your Word is a lamp for my feet a light onto my path. - Psalm 119:105

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. -Mathew 4:16

When Jesus spoke again to the people he said; I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. - John 8:12

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. -Proverbs 16:9

My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/reggieconnaughton/ 

As for Allan Hunt, he is on Facebook.

Sitting in Vulnerability

Colin and I had five animals before we ever had kids. I got most of them pretty soon after getting married 15 years ago, which has made all of them seniors by now. Sadly, in the last two years, they have all started dying off. First Diesel the Cat. Then D.O.G. our black lab and then Zoe, another Cat. Then last Sunday I had to take Carson, my 12-year-old Dalmatian mix.

From the day that we met, he whined when I wasn't in his presence. This is the dog that I fostered for 3 weeks. I finally talked a friends dad into taking him home. Then after an argument with my husband, I ended up bringing him back home. Half out of spite. Half because after visiting him in his new place, he lost his mind (whining and even crying) and I felt guilty.

Either way, both reasons were selfish. He was a cute furry reminder.  He was also the reason that I wasn't allowed to foster any more animals or keep bread on the counter or have a gate that worked, as he "got a hold" of all of it.

I used to wonder if I would ever have the courage to put an animal to sleep. I also wondered I would recognize their time. [Here are some tips if you think you'll need them.] Have no doubt that they will let you know when they have had enough. D.O.G. did and Carson behaved very similarly. [You can read my comment on that thread of tips.]

Anyway, I will try to keep this brief but when our Uncle died, I walked away with the feeling that I can't believe that I never offered to pray with him or see if he needed help. (Not that he would have let me do one or both of them. Maybe he would have???)

When D.O.G. died, I was saddened by my last attempt to keep him with me and it made things a little harder for him in the end. I also didn't get to see him one more time pain-free with his eyes open. It was all so hurried that I wished I had of sung to him or tried to soothe him instead of sobbing.

When Carson's time came, I wasn't going to try and hang on. I did sing to him and even tried to lay on the floor with him while we were at home. But even after pain medication and getting on his level, Carson refused to sit or lay down. He couldn't anymore and I knew that the time had come.

I must admit that before I make myself sound so noble and sweet, that at first, I was really frustrated with him waking me up again at 2:30 in the morning and this time not leaving me alone. So, I wasn't very nice. Until I recognized the behavior.

So, I tried to do the things that I wished I had of done with D.O.G. but I couldn't say the word death in front of him. I felt like it was rude and insulting or something. After all, he's one of your best friends right? Even sitting in the vet floor, I couldn't recap our life together. I'm not even sure if I said everything I wanted to say because it felt some eerie way that I can't describe... Like you're talking about a person, right in front of them... I told myself it was because I didn't want to scare him.

Yet- isn't he the one that let me know it was time to go???  So, in hindsight, was I protecting him or myself?

Anyway, when I returned home, Colin was surprised that Carson wasn't with me. We had talked in the months leading up to this about the likelihood of having to put them to sleep. Both of our remaining dogs were falling down stairs, unable to get up and sometimes in pain. I am almost certain that I told Colin "it was time" when I left the house. In his defense, he [Colin] was asleep. Maybe I said it too early in the conversation.

But that thought coupled with my earlier thought about protecting myself while I was with Carson; I couldn't help but wonder if I don't communicate as well as I think I do... haha. I know I have come a long way but both dialogues [or lack of] have stayed with me and I don't want to just sweep them aside. Is this thought correlation a coincidence?
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Some other events soon followed suit, causing me to ask myself if I am even more vulnerable behind a screen than in my personal life and/or with strangers than those that I am closest to?

-Am I vulnerable enough with God?

If the first two instances were a coincidence; it now feels like I've come to an intersection with a blaring street light. It's exactly at the same junction [the end of a year] where I start to reflect on the previous year and the one ahead.

This earmark feels as though it is getting ready to turn cornerstone. Although I'm not sure how yet. I know I am waiting for a signal but I just want to sit and feel the tremble-

...tremble, tremble.

Taking Possession

Taken by @denise_clare on Instagram

I am working with a group of ladies on a scripture memorization project called ‘Who Am I”. Sharon Thomas leads the ministry, Established Footsteps, and every week she offers a correlating message and devotion about the verse we’re reading. 

This week’s message is based on Ephesians 1:7-8 “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” In it she uses the illustration of children playing with sand to talk about grace and the things that we marvel over.

One day while observing children playing on the beach; she was captivated by how impressed they were with ordinary sand. How they couldn’t wait to show their parents. Over and over again they would grab it, show it, and let it go. Yet we do the same with our own marvels. Before we know it we’re letting something go, then again grabbing another marvel and hoping to impress someone with it. Then losing interest and letting go again. Then she asks us how excited we over the treasures that come with our salvation.

That question alone was thought-provoking enough and I hope you listen to her message.  But there was something else that spoke to me about it.

Like Sharon, and most likely you too, I love the beach. There are too many things to list, as to why; The healing property of salt (the way it dries sinuses & heals wounds), a sun-kissed tan, admiring sea life, being refreshed and cooled by the water, collecting shells and other treasures, sounds, smells and many others.  

When I think about Sharon’s message with the verse and description, I imagine myself looking up and down the beaches and how, in most cases, it goes on as far as the eye can see.

It also reminds me of the following verses: 

Psalms 8:5-8

You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor.

You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the animals of the wild,

the birds in the sky,

and the fish in the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

Genesis 13:15

for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.

Our verses in these projects are grouped by topics. This week’s verse is under ‘Possession’. Here we see, in the verses that came to my heart, that He made us only a little lower than angels & gave us authority over all of the things in his creation for permanent possession.

And yet how many times do we complain because the sand is too hot. The water is too cold. The jellyfish are out or we're mad about all of the junk that we decided to bring to the beach when no one told us to carry it or bring it! 

And just like a day at the beach, how similar is that to our life story? What marvels do we miss because of where we're looking? –What things do we bring into our day because we think that we need them but they end up being a burden instead?

Just as we have authority over everything else that the Lord created, we [you and I] also are a part of what he has made. We have authority over ourselves, to change, to choose, to fix our eyes and/or thoughts…

We stand in the midst of blessing after blessing that He freely gives and lavishes on us. Yet our will and our vision, sometimes, keeps us from seeing them. We let the authority of something else skew our perspective or the power of feelings, even if they’re out of line, dictate our actions. What about Fear? How many things do we hand over to fear while remaining captive instead of pushing forward or through its barriers?

Yet ALL authority has been given to us...

Gosh, I feel like I could rattle on but I won’t. Consider this day that the Lord has made and given to you. What things take authority in your life? Is it people or tasks? Is there are habit or regret that you allow to shape your day, mostly because it has been there days before? What, in your life or in the spiritual realm, is waiting for you to take possession?

Photo credit: This is actually a snippet from a video by @Denise_Clare on Instagram