I'd like to order a little perspective, please.

I stopped into my local health food store the other day and asked one of the clerks if they carried hot cocoa with mushrooms.  I was just about to launch into my "it sounds gross, but it's really not bad" speech, when she responded, "Oh, that sounds really good."

Although I didn't attempt this, I imagine that if I had made this same request at my local supermarket, the response would have been decidedly different. 

I chalk this up to perspective.  If you are into health and nutrition, you know that medicinal mushrooms are good for your immune system.  If not, Hot Mushroom Cocoa sounds like it should be served on the playground along with Mud Pies.

Everything we've seen, done, read or experienced in life up to this point has formed our perspective.  This leads us to have certain expectations about the future.  As the New Year is about to ring in, and will most certainly bring about change, how can our perspective (the past) and our expectations (in the present) help us navigate the new adventures that await us?

Because, for me, change is frequently equated with fear.  I don't like change.  Things are comfortable just the way they are, thank you, and I don't see a need to make them different.  Even things that aren't that great are at least known.  So, how do I change my perspective on the changes to come?

When I was a young girl, I loved to embroider.  As I got better at it, the finished product was quite beautiful.  But, when you looked at the back side of the stitchery, it was a confused mess of knots.  You couldn't even identify the picture. 

Life is like that.  We can only see the tangled threads, but God's perspective is different.  He sees it from above.  Instead of a confused mess of randomness, He can see the beautiful finished work. 

What I really need, then, is a Heavenly perspective.  Seeing things through the eyes of the One who knows me best, loves me the most and knows the plans He has for me. By keeping my focus on Him as I journey the road ahead, fear will give way to hope and trust.  

I don't know what 2012 will bring.  But, I know Someone who does.   And when I can't find perspective on the menu, I know He'll surprise me with the perfect meal. 

What's in a Name?

Ebenezer.

A word association test would probably reveal a limited variety of answers...

Scrooge
Miser
Humbug
Rock

Wait, what?  Rock??  

Although Dicken's classic tale of redemption has cast long shadows on the name Ebenezer, a much more ancient story tells a different tale.

After an amazing victory against the enemy, a prophet named Samuel set up a large stone as a memorial, a reminder of the power of God.  And he called it (you guessed it) 'Ebenezer', saying, "Thus far, the Lord has sustained us."

During this Christmas season- a season of busyness, shopping, baking, partying, decorating, more shopping, cooking, stress and more stress- we can have a tendency to collapse at the end of a very long day with a loud "HUMBUG!"  We're tired and grumpy with the Christmas Spirit becoming just a dim memory.

It's at those times that we need to have a reminder of all that He has done for us "thus far"; a large rock, if you will, that we chuck down in front of us to help us remember.

In days of old, shepherds abiding in their fields, keeping watch over their flocks, would carve a word or picture into their staff as a reminder of how the Lord had provided...or rescued...or redeemed.  As the years passed, and they, at times, became discouraged, the staff would remind them of all that He had done.

This Christmas, let's find a way to remember, whether it be a journal, a carved stick or even just a big rock.  For surely, thus far, and forever more, He will sustain us.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas has to be one of my all-time favorites.  The iconic tree that only Charlie Brown could find.  Snoopy's fabulously decorated dog house.  And his sister, Sally's, memorable line.....

"I just want what I have coming to me.  I just want my fair share."

Which makes me think: what do I have coming to me?  I mean, really, what do I deserve?

The Word of God makes it pretty clear that it's not "tens and twenties".  In fact, it says that the wages of sin is death.  That's what I really deserve.   Instead, however, I receive grace, a word here which means undeserved favor.  In other words, receiving something good that I definitely don't deserve. 

But He also grants me mercy, which is different from grace.  Knowing that I'll never be good enough on my own, He releases me from the punishment that I do deserve.

Grace and mercy.  Two sides of the same coin.  A gift.  The gift of Himself.  And all that's required of me, is to reach out and accept the gift.

And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

The Marshmellow Test

Nearly forty years ago, an experiment was conducted on a group of four-year-olds.  The test was simple.  Each was given a single marshmellow and told they could eat it right away.  However, if they waited twenty minutes, they could have two marshmellows instead. 

The results were fascinating.  Some gobbled the single confection immediately without a second thought.  Others struggled for several minutes before finally succumbing to temptation.  Still others pushed the plate away or even turned their backs on the treat in order to last the full twenty minutes. 

The most interesting part of this experiment, though, was what happened in these kids' lives as they grew.  Those that were able to delay gratification were psychologically better adjusted, more dependable and even scored significantly higher on their SATs. 

Which makes me wonder.... if we can't wait for the little things in life, how will we stand to wait for the stuff that really matters?

For example, I have a friend who absolutely can not wait to open her Christmas presents.  It is such a challenge, in fact, that she pre-opens all of her gifts before Christmas morning every year....then re-wraps them! 

Many others can't stand the thought of waiting nine whole months to be surprised at the gender of their newborn. 

If we can't even wait for these simple little things, how in the world will we be able to wait for the amazing things God has for us? 

Will we wait for Mr. Right, or settle for Mr. Right Now?  Will we grow bitter waiting for healing, or trust that He will heal in His time, in His way?  Will we take the job that somewhat matches our skill set, or wait for the dream job or business that's just around the corner?

Will we accept a counterfeit plan for our lives instead of waiting for the perfect plan that God has for us?

Delayed gratification is never fun.  Sometimes we have to push temptation away or maybe even turn our backs on things that we know deep down are not His best for us. 

Waiting for His timing and His plan, however, works those faith muscles..... and, sometimes, may even result in twice the blessings.



Background Noise

I was becoming annoyed as I strolled from aisle to aisle on my biweekly Costco run.  Despite a smaller-than-usual crowd shopping that day, it was so noisy that I felt myself getting more and more tense.  Finally, I turned down another aisle, stopped my cart to grab a few things off the shelf and was suddenly stunned to find that the store had gone completely silent.  It was then that I realized I was the problem.  All of the annoying noise had been coming from me and my squeaky cart!

I've found that background noise can sometimes be a problem in my mind too.  Occasionally, I find myself singing a song with a catchy tune that I heard several days ago.  Which isn't a problem if the lyrics are also good.  Unfortunately, that isn't always the case, and do I really want to be singing negative messages to myself over and over again?  (i.e. "I would catch a grenade for ya...")

Other times, I realize I have a tape of self-talk running in the background, which is seldom positive and encouraging.  For example, statements like, "Ah, go ahead and eat that eggnog pie, it's the holidays!" can unconsciously sabotage things I'm trying to accomplish.

I've discovered that tapping twice on my smart phone's ON button brings up all of the apps running behind the scenes.  I'm frequently surprised by how much is going on without me knowing it!  Having an awareness of what's running through my subconscious is the start of helping me to make positive changes.

Also, controlling what I'm putting into my head, such as books, movies, music, etc., makes a huge impact on what I think about during the day.  Being purposeful in selecting good things and weeding out the not-so-good things is powerful.

Finally, focus is important.  Just as a driver steers his car toward what he is looking at (and hopefully it's the road ahead!), so will I tend to move toward that which I focus on.  By keeping my eyes on the One who created me, everything else falls to the periphery and can be handled with a purposeful awareness and a Heavenly perspective.   

Thankful

I am thankful for the Light of my life, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

an amazingly talented, loving and hilarious husband,

two fabulous, creative, intelligent children,

a warm, comfortable home,

plenty of nutritious food to eat,

cars that run,

loving pets,

faithful friends,

loving family,

creative gifts,

a purpose to pursue,

and

hope for tomorrow

Clutter

Shopping for Christmas gifts tends to remind me how much stuff I already have.  And, that it's been a while since it was sorted and cleaned out.  I've noticed that, in addition to all of the clutter in my home, there tends to be a lot of untended clutter in other parts of my life too.

My days are sometimes filled with unimportant, even useless (can you say iphone games?!) activities that clutter up what could be a productive day.

My thoughts are frequently unfocused and tend to get cluttered up dwelling on things that are outside of my control or even, dare I say it, none of my business.

Even relationships can become cluttered with baggage from the past that was never sorted and cleaned out.

So how do I solve the problem of clutter?  I believe it is possible, piece by piece, to remove distractions so that I can think more clearly, perform more productively and even become a better listener to those around me.

Frequently, a helping hand from He-Hauls may be required to dispense with some of the bigger junk. And, occasionally, there may be times where you just have to throw in a grenade, duck for cover and start over from scratch. 

Radical? Yes.  But, out of the ashes, a new foundation can be laid; a foundation that is stronger because of its past trials.  In addition, inviting the Master Mover to park His truck outside, will allow me to daily remove the things that threaten to clutter up my life.  And, as He removes them, piece by piece, He will leave behind His uncluttered peace.