A cheerful heart is like good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

The car was packed, traffic was easy, and I hadn’t forgotten sunscreen.  We sang along to a worship cd after praying, and I read my Bible during lulls in the conversation.  We were on our way to the beach and we were off to a great start.

When we arrived, we pulled out our new wagon and loaded it up, delighting in the ease of it all.  Free parking!  Love this wagon!  Perfect sunny weather!

 We walked about half a mile to The Perfect Spot, complete with a lifeguard and an area nearby for surfing.  Eric walked back to the car to get his surfboard and found a parking spot right by where we set up camp.  A shorter walk back to the car when we’re ready to go home! 

Eric and I took turns staying close to the shore with our little one while the other played in the deeper waves with Coco or went surfing.  I spent the majority of the day in my favorite place, the water, coming out only to reapply sunscreen on everyone.  No getting burned this time!

We enjoyed some healthy snacks I had packed sitting on our chairs under the umbrellas we’d also wisely packed and then went back into the ocean for more fun.  See?  A family outing is no excuse to eat junk food!  What a good, healthy mom!

Soon, the sun began its long downward slope, and we began packing up our things to go home.  Suddenly, Soleil was whiny –I don’t want to put on my shoes!—Coco was moping and complaining about sand, and Eric…well Eric was just plain grumpy.  Me?  I responded by muttering under my breath and rolling my eyes.  I know, OK? 

That treasured parking spot?  Well it came with three flights of stairs that were not wagon-accessible.  Our over-loaded wagon (thanks to the two umbrellas, four chairs, ice chest now nearly empty of healthy snacks, towels, and more) now had to be unloaded and walked up the stairs in three trips.

This wagon is ridiculous!  It shouldn’t hold so much!  Free parking stinks!

We started the trips up and down the stairs on slippery, sandy flip flops, our bodies still invaded by sand, with the sun beating down on our sunburned shoulders (How?? I reapplied, for goodness’ sake!).  Now, the wind was whipping our hair—and yes, more sand—into our faces. 

We finally got the whole load upstairs and took turns rinsing off with a jug of water.  Free beaches equal no showers.  The healthy snacks I’d chosen turned out to be not-so-filling and the kids were starving.  I thrust a couple bags of quickly-browning (but organic) apple slices in the backseat and shut the door.  Argh!  It had been no less than an hour and a half since we’d began packing up.  We should have been home by now!  I was tired, hungry, sore, and  frustrated with everyone else’s complaining!

Seconds after the kids were finally settled in their seats and Eric was strapping the surfboard to our van’s roof, I realized I’d forgotten my own change of clothes.  Which meant I got to make the long trip home in a wet, sandy suit.   I told Eric the news, and after rolling my eyes at his irritated response, I went and looked out over the ocean. 

Well, God, I tried.  I prayed this morning, started the day in your Word.  We sang, talked about you and read some more of your word on the way here.  It doesn’t matter how hard I try, everyone ends up grumpy and rude.  And I’m sick of it!  Why bother!?!

At that moment, a verse I had read before but didn’t remember quite where popped into my head.  A cheerful heart is good medicine. 

Ugh.  I tried being cheerful, Lord, but as you can see it just doesn’t work.

 Oh, fine.

I got in the car, plopped into my seat and plastered a silly grin on my face.  While we were waiting for Eric to finish up, I took silly pictures of the girls in the back seat.  When he got in, I smiled as big as I could at him.  He looked at me like I was crazy and set off.  Soon, I was laughing at my own goofy grin and Eric and the kids started murmuring…Something’s wrong with mom!

I had cheered myself up just by being goofy and in doing so, got the whole family laughing at what a dork I was.  Soon, all our bad moods had vanished and we were laughing and talking again.  Our ride home wasn’t perfect.  We ran into traffic and ended up stuck in the car for three hours.  We missed our night church service and stopped and ate forbidden fast food for dinner.  Soleil and I began to turn redder and redder as the night went on, our sunburn coming into full effect. 

But I’m thankful for what didn’t happen.  We didn’t grumble and complain or end up arguing the whole way…or worse, retreat into a mutual irritated silence.  We laughed, talked, listened to some music and I even restrained my eye rolling when Eric turned on one of his old bands. 

When we got home that night, we looked at our pictures of the day and smiled over our memories.  The bad moods were long forgotten, and all the blessings of the day remained.  Good medicine, indeed!

 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

Every once in a while I feel as though I just don’t have what it is going to take to live fifty more years on this planet.  Ever feel that way?  Discouraged, defeated….just plain old tired? 

Recently, I caught up with an old friend and she shared that her mom had been saved.  My dad is saved, too!  I shared back.

Saved from what?  The question popped into my head as if from a cynical listener.  From hell, I thought firstly.  From eternal absence of God.  Because I am a list maker, I began to make a list.  Saved from…

Deceit

Sorrow

Anger

Lust

Pride

Envy

Persecution

Violence

Hatred

Hunger

Injustice

Favoritism

To name a few.  No, the Bible doesn’t say that we will not struggle with these troubles while we live here on Earth. The way people treat one another here pains me so that I long for heaven, when all these battling feelings of our sinful flesh will be gone.  I have a hard time explaining that to my head, but I know without a doubt that it is true.  Heaven is without sin, without sorrow.  Best of all, it is with Jesus. 

Let me tell you, these last few days I have been longing for Jesus!   I know He is here, everywhere.  I can pray my heart out and virtually crawl into his lap for a good cry.  I believe He sees the true reason for my sadness, and He loves that my heart is still soft in a hard world.

But what I long for is more, something I cannot even comprehend.  My five year old, Soleil often says, “I know what Jesus is doing right now.”

“What?”

“He’s preparing a place for us.”  

“That’s right!”

Yes, I long for heaven.  No, I do not have a death wish.  I pray daily to be able to live a long life with my family.  I’m a mom! 

But there are some times when as much as I know Jesus is here, I want more.  On days like this, I understand more fully what it is I am saved from.  I stop to praise God that I am saved from ever being separated from Him.   And then, without fail, come the gentle reminders of the glimpses of heaven I’ve already had. 

The absolute peace I feel when my husband holds me.

The joy and spontaneous laughter that comes from watching my daughters dance with total abandon.

The love that overflows in my heart when one of my girls puts aside her desires to bless someone else.

Even the awe of God I experience when I bite into a fresh piece of fruit.  The sweetness, the color, the texture.  All so pleasing.  From the ground.  Amazing!

Yes, there are many glimpses of heaven in this depraved world. What I am longing for, God has plopped right into my life.  And the promise of an eternity with Jesus and without all the yucky stuff…that helps too.

I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.
       What you have done is wonderful.
       I know this very well.  Psalm 139:14

Recently, we were blessed to get wood flooring in our home.  We wanted a distressed-looking floor, not only because it would be easier to care for, but because we find stuff that looks old quite appealing.  We joked on the way to the flooring shop that we were going to say, “Give us the crappiest-looking floor you’ve got!” 

For some reason, I am drawn to imperfect finishes.  As a kid, I collected antique dishes. When I was in my restoring-furniture phase, I was always shabby chic-inspired.  The beautifully messy Impressionism paintings are my favorites of all time.  I even transform the hard, black line my eyeliner leaves into a soft, imperfect smudge.

When I look at our new floor, I don’t see past the nicks, rough spots, and black marks in the dark wood.   In fact, I am drawn to them.  Yes, it is the imperfections themselves that I find beautiful.  Yet, when I step back and survey the room all at once, the blemishes seem to disappear as the floor becomes just a warm background to my living room.

Similarly, when gazing at an original Monet painting recently, I was struck by how messy the brushstrokes are up close.  Just a little step back and the picture the artist intended to create is revealed.  And what a breathtaking picture it is. 

It occurred to me the other day that I am like my flooring, or better yet, the Monet.  Up close, in this earthly realm, my weaknesses are so out there, for all to see.  I am damaged, imperfect, dare I say…distressed? 

Somehow, my family loves me in spite of my imperfections, or even because of them.  Best of all, my God, my Creator…He can step back anytime and see the beautiful picture He intended for me to be.  He sees the amazing and wonderful way He made me, even when I don’t.

If only I could get a glimpse of my heavenly body and brain to keep in mind as I struggle with my old and worn one here and now!  Even so, I can thank God that when He sees me, he doesn’t see past the nicks, stains, and messiness.  He looks straight at them and keeps on loving me.  Flaws and all.

It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.  Romans 7:21 (The Message)

We were looking around a sports store after a long day of errands.  Soleil, our five year old, was playing with an elliptical machine.

“Stop touching that,” Eric told her.  She stopped, but as soon as we turned our heads, she was on it again.  I held her hand and had her stand by me so she could only look longingly at the machine. 

When we went to leave the store, she couldn’t resist playing with it one more time.  In the parking lot, after scolding her, Eric said, “Why don’t you tell yourself when you want to do something I’ve told you not to do that your daddy isn’t going to like it?  Then you’ll stop.”

“Well I try,” She said, completely anguished.  “But my brain doesn’t listen!” 

Well, Soleil is not alone.  I too, try to tell myself to stop doing things but my brain just doesn’t listen. Like Paul says above, it happens so regularly it’s predictable! 

Also like Paul, I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.  (verses 22-23)

Just knowing that this beloved apostle who wrote most of the New Testament felt this way gives me hope.  Even so, I sometimes stumble in prayer, stuck in my confessions.  I tell God I want to stop being so easily irritated or stop thinking unkind thoughts, but I doubt myself even as I say the words.

I can identify with Paul when he cries, I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? (verse 24)

Fortunately for us, he answers his question:  The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.  (verse 25)

How blessed are we that in place of condemnation, Paul reminds us of our hope in Christ. 

So, then.  Next time I tell myself to stop and my brain just doesn’t listen, instead of dwelling on my stupidity, I will return to the cross and thank God Jesus set things right.

Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory—more recklessly even than this.

 2 Samuel 6:22 – The Message

Last week, I stood in my bathroom, waiting for the shower to heat up.  Getting ready for my in-shower concert, I was humming a worship song in my head from church. 

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

As I began to sing, I was reminded of a Bible study I had gone to that week. The leader had told us a beautifully woven story that brought to life the image of David, dancing practically naked in the streets.  She ended her lesson encouraging us to praise God as freely as David had.

Inspired by the picture she had created for us, I began to dance.  Instead of getting in my shower, I began to sing a little louder and move around my very narrow bathroom. 

As steam filled the room, I was David, in the streets, full of joy, praising my God.  My hands were raised high and my eyes were closed, although that had more to do with the wall-to-wall mirrors in my bathroom than anything else.

As I danced, a surprising thing happened.  I forgot about my body and everything I hate about myself.  My thoughts were only on God and how He really is my Strong Deliverer. As I offered up my little song and dance, I wonder if He was smiling, laughing, or shaking His head at me.  Maybe He was saying, “Well it’s about time!”

While I’m not ready to strip down to my underwear and dance in the streets anytime soon, I’ll try to move out of the comfort of my bathroom more often and praise God unashamed…fully dressed of course. 

If anyone questions me, may I have the courage to reply, as David did… “Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory—more recklessly even than this!”

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

 Proverbs 3:5-6 (Message)

A few short weeks after getting renewed focus for this new year, I am in need of a refresher.  Here I am, still struggling to wake up early enough to make time for the things He’s called me to do.  Still behind on my laundry.  And, yeah, I ate all kinds of simple carbs last weekend. 

Day to day, I see the self-discipline I was so intent on holding onto this year slipping away.  I have such vision for what God might have in store for me this year, but not always the drive to make it happen. 

And that’s where God gets me, every time.  I don’t need to make anything happen.  I just need to be me, and continue to live out my life in His strength, day to day.

Yes, we all need disciplines in our daily life, but for me it is easy to blur the line between seeking God and seeking goals.  Being all tied up in knots over what I haven’t yet accomplished, or how I’ve screwed up, is not how it’s supposed to be.  Proverbs tells us, God is the one that will keep us on track.  

Too often, instead of allowing God to keep me on track, I make charts and checklists and in general drive myself nuts.  So I ask myself, ‘What now?’  I’ve been corrected by God’s own word.  Will I step back and let go of my desire to control outcomes?  Will I rest in his strength every day and stop trying to do things on my own?

I’m not even going to try to figure this one out.  I’m going to post this verse somewhere I can see it and ask God to remind me every day to trust, and to listen. 

I’m still learning.  Will you join me?

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8

Yesterday, I was speaking to our girls Bible study group about the importance of reigning in your tongue.  One book we were looking at suggested saying the opposite of what you felt like saying until you got in the habit of saying positive things.  Another said to think about how what you were about to say would make you feel if it were said to you.

Good advice for twelve year olds, and good advice for us. I reminded them, however, that our goal is not to simply stop saying the hurtful things, but to stop thinking them. And don’t worry, I fessed up that, at thirty one, I still struggle with this.

Yes, I want these girls to learn to think before they speak.  Wouldn’t that be something?  Yet I don’t want them to focus on biting their tongue so much as training their mind. 

So often, our talks in this little group linger in my heart and God uses my own advice to convict me. Do I lash out at others without thinking or say mean things?  Not so much.  Thinking hurtful things?  Guilty.  Feeling smug for managing to not let these thoughts turn into words?  Oops.  Double whammy. 

Jesus tells us that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12).  So, if like me, you have your tongue under control, but not your heart, beware.  These things have a way of coming out eventually.  Instead of worrying that someday my harsh thoughts about others will rise to the surface, I think I’ll work on my heart.

I’ll choose to fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and yes, what is admirable about my brothers and sisters.  I’ll put my focus on things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Maybe I won’t have to bite my tongue so often.   

Seek first his kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

New Year’s is continuously linked with that nasty word…resolutions.  We all make them, we all break them. 

We are less than a week into January and I suspect that some of us have already broken the promises we made ourselves on January first.  Which is why I no longer make resolutions, per se.  I like to think of them as goals, or areas on which to focus. 

Whatever you call them, at the top of every mom’s list should be a deeper relationship with God.  There is not one among us that has become like Christ in every action, every thought. In every minute of every day. 

We already know the way to be more like Christ is to spend more time in His presence.  We know that simply setting the alarm clock a little earlier and getting up when it calls will ensure that this time happens.  Yes, we know there is nothing more important.  And yet.

Anytime is a good time to take a look at your relationship with God, but the start of a whole new year just seems to beg for an honest assessment. 

Are you spending enough time without distractions in His presence?  Do you spend time listening, not just talking?  Are you prepared to let His guidance shape your day?

Today I just want to encourage you to make the time to connect with Jesus.  There is no goal more worthy.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

Our two week Christmas break is over and it is time to hit the books again.  While I started the year excited about homeschooling and drove my family nearly crazy with enthusiasm, I am now almost dreading starting again.

Perhaps it is because we so enjoyed our time off as a family, or maybe I am just lazy.  As I began to pull out my dusty lesson plans, I chastised myself for not catching up on planning during the break like I had intended to do. 

So here I am, on a Sunday night, pulling it all together at the last minute. How I wish for one more week!  I began to pray and ask God to renew my excitement before my kids caught my bad mood, and this verse that has been stored in my heart sprang to mind.

While I am not yet overflowing with enthusiasm for the coming week back at school, I know God will grant my request. Eventually.  Until then, I am going to cheerfully set about educating my children as He has called and graciously allowed me to do. 

Are you headed back to work or school this week as well?  Let’s ask God to remind us often that it is indeed the Lord Christ we are serving.  In whatever we do.

Whether I am vacuuming and want to skip areas, serving a grumpy child, or trying to lead a group of very chatty girls in Bible study… I sometimes picture God watching me and it warms my heart towards whatever task He has called me to that day.  It’s hard to frown when I think of God watching me, even if I am standing over a sink of dirty dishes.

What task has God called you to today?  I pray that your heart will be warmed by doing it for Him.