Monthly Archives: September 2009

I love to watch my little girl eat dessert. If there really is such a thing as a sweet tooth and if it can be passed on like eye color, then she inherited hers from me. I inherited mine from my dad. I’m not sure who gave him his.

My girl doesn’t just eat her dessert. She relishes every single bite slowly and with great enthusiasm, especially if chocolate is involved. Many times I’ve looked across the table to see her little face turned toward the sky with her eyes closed and the spoon in her mouth. She’ll sigh with complete satisfaction and then dip her spoon in for another bite. A particularly good treat can take at least half an hour to consume. And you can be certain that she will leave nary a crumb or the slightest trace of any sweet stuff in her dish. If her mom would let her get away with licking her plate clean at a restaurant, she most assuredly would. Invariably when we’re watching her relish an after-dinner sweet, either my husband or I will remind the other of this scene from “What About Bob?”:

I would only be exaggerating slightly if I told you that watching that scene is a lot like watching my girl eat her dessert.

The last time we had dessert, this verse popped into my head:

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

The Message says it this way:

“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.”

When I was looking for that verse, I ran across these verses several chapters over in Psalm 63:

^“1 God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you!
I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
traveling across dry and weary deserts.

^2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

^5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
If I’m sleepless at midnight,
I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you’ve always stood up for me,
I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.”

Have you ever noticed how many Bible verses compare our relationship to God with eating, especially in the Psalms?  Psalm 19:9-10 tells us that the rules of the Lord are sweeter than honey. Psalm 81:10 says that to open our mouths wide so the Lord can fill them. Look at Psalm 119:103:

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

I’ve been thinking this morning: What if I relished God’s Word like my daughter savors dessert? What if I craved time with Him as much as I crave an ice cold Coke or candy corn mixed with peanuts? Wouldn’t it be great if I consumed so much of Him that I became spiritually fat? The food from His lips are the only treats I can enjoy without worrying about overindulging. You just can’t get enough of the dessert that he offers. So bring it on. I’d like seconds, please. And instead of gobbling it down so that I can check off my “Spent Time with God” box before I rush on to the next activity, I want to take my time and enjoy every single morsel. What about you? Want some dessert?

I finished reading What Difference Do It Make? last night and was reminded why Same Kind of Different As Me is on my list of “Books You Should Read If We’re Going to Be Friends.”  One of the reasons I loved Same Kind of Different is that it is a multilayered book. One chapter convicted me about my blindness to the need around me while a few pages over I was praying for a deeper commitment to my marriage. What Difference Do It Make? has just as many layers. I was excited to catch up with the authors Ron Hall, a successful art dealer, and Denver Moore, a former homeless man. This book tells what they’ve been doing since the first book and adds more details to some of the stories we first heard in Same Kind of Different.

What Difference Do it Make? also includes accounts of people who read Same Kind of Different and were moved to make a difference. I was excited and convicted to read about people who did more than just read the book and pass it on to a few friends. Instead, they let the message of the book transform them and allowed God to use them as agents of change in their worlds. One of my favorite parts of the book details practical, step-by-step ways each church could make a significant difference in the problem of homelessness and provides counter arguments to many of the excuses we use to not get involved.

What Difference Do It Make? is available today. If you’ve read Same Kind of Different As Me, I’m certain you’ll want to read the sequel. If you haven’t read Same Kind of Different As Me, why not? While you’re buying it, pick up a copy of  What Difference Do It Make? because when you finish the first book, you’ll be left wanting more. What Difference Do It Make? is a great follow-up.

Go forth and read!

My friend Kellie (the one who wrote one of the posts I sent you to read) left this comment on the “Who Were You Born to Be?” post and I knew a lot of you probably wouldn’t see it. I told her that I wanted to copy and paste it here because I loved what she had to say and wanted you to see it in case you missed it.

(This is the passage she’s talking about: ²⁶Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”)

Love you, too, Kellie!  Thanks for sharing your heart.

By the way, I have a friend who is the mother of a tweenaged girl. She asked me how to find a blog written by a mother with a tweenaged girl to maybe gain some insight and ideas. I asked the Tweeps and they suggested Vicki Courtney’s blog and http://www.RaisingFive.com. I also know that at least three of my Tweeps, Gretchen (www.jewelsinmycrownsomeday.blogspot.com) Lisa (www.lisaslittlesliceoflife.blogspot.com), and HisGirlAmber (www.hisgirlamber.com) have tweenagers. Do any of you know of any other good blogs my friend should read? Do any of you have tweenagers that I didn’t mention?

One more thing before I go….Marla Taviano is giving away a book about marriage that sounds like a good read. All you have to do is swing by and tell her your husband’s favorite food/restaurant and movie. She’s not stalking your husband. I think she’s just making conversation and trying not to get a hundred comments that say, “I would like to win this book.”

After weeks of repeats and lame summer shows, the new fall TV season has finally arrived. Now I could attempt to make you believe that I don’t watch TV. I could say that I’m usually reading Tozer and studying systematic theology but that would be a lie. I have a DVR and I’m not afraid to use it. Plus if I tried to make you think I’m too good to watch TV my Tweeps would probably call me out, especially since yesterday afternoon I engaged in a lengthy discussion with them about all things new-TV-season-related. I normally start the season attempting to watch way more shows than is actually possible. I don’t sweat it because one of two things usually happens. Either the show will turn out to be incredibly lame and I’ll quit watching or I’ll fall madly in love with the show and the network will cancel the show to punish me (Ed, Eli Stone, Life? I’ll always remember the times we had together.)

I think it would be fun to be one of the people who thinks up new ideas for TV shows. I’m sure those peoples have official titles but I don’t know what they’re called. Developers, maybe? I’m pretty sure they don’t write “Person Who Thinks Up New Ideas for TV Shows” on the Occupation line of all the forms they have to fill for their kids at the beginning of the school year. Then again, maybe they do.

If I were a Person Who Thinks Up New Ideas for TV Shows, I might create shows like this:

“Why Not? to Wear”:  Mom tries to explain why every red shirt doesn’t match every pair of red shorts, why wearing the same shirt three days in a row is….gross, and why putting clean clothes in the laundry hamper and dirty clothes back in your drawers makes Mom do that funny cry-talk thing.

“What’s That Smell?”: This is a competition show. Each week a team of players tries to figure out where and what that funky smell is. Did someone forget to turn the disposal on when they scraped the dinner plates? Did someone throw a banana peel in the recyclables can? Did someone forget to put the load from the washer into the dryer? Or does someone need to be a contestant on another great new show….

“You CAN Flush”: This is a motivational show led by a team of psychologists who work with young boys on their quest to become good flushers.  Episodes include “You Are Strong Enough to Push Down That Lever” and “No One Really Wants to See That.”

“Bedtime Survivor”: A battle of wills between parents and children to see who can Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast bedtime. Kids employ techniques such as One More Drink of Water, I Have to Go to the Bathroom, I Forgot That I Need an Egyptian Army Made From Popsicle Sticks and Felt for School Tomorrow, I Think I Have a Hangnail/a Tummyache/Coalmikinosis, and I Think a Dwarf is Trying to Break in Our House and Kidnap Me. Parents resort to Manipulation, Threats, Bribes, and sometimes Tears.

The Dinnerist: This show is a lot like the Mentalist, except instead of trying to help the police solve crimes, the Dinnerist helps Desperate Housewives (the real ones, not the ones who play them on TV on Hysteria Lane) know what they should cook for dinner. In the pilot episode the Dinnerist saves the day by creating a casserole from the only things the housewife had in her kitchen: old sandwich meat, half-and-half, marshmallows, and a can of cream of something.

Twenty Items or Less: We have enough lawyer, crime, and hospital shows. Why not set a show in the place where most moms can relate? The Grocery Store. The show could follow the lives of a group of shoppers who meet weekly in the store to discuss kids, laundry, and which laundry detergent smells the best.

If you were a Person Who Thinks Up New Ideas for TV Shows, what shows would you create?

My sweet little girl loves to dance. She never walks anywhere. She gets from Point A to Point B by way of a twirl, a skip, or a pirouette. She’s always creating new dance routines that she can’t wait to perform for us. Last week our school had Back to School Night. To begin the evening, we attended chapel together. All of the students stood on stage and led us in several songs. After chapel, we visited each little Snoodle’s classroom and then gathered together for an ice cream social. The next morning, we were eating breakfast together and the Princess said, “Last night was the best ever. I got to sing on stage and eat ice cream.”  Her needs are simple. She loves to perform and she loves chocolate.

I usually refer to her here as Princess Diva, but I’m afraid that title lends itself to a negative connotation where none is intended. She isn’t conceited or demanding. She is a little girl who loves her God, her life, and others, and has a healthy love of herself. She’s comfortable being the person God made her to be. I want to be just like her when I grow up. I pray that I will not pass down to her my own insecurities and struggles with liking the me God made.

Last Wednesday the Princess spent the afternoon with her best friend Ruby Jane. Ruby Jane is the one on the right in the picture. The Princess was pirouetting through the living room and Ruby Jane’s mom said, “You are such a graceful dancer.” Without missing a spin, my sweet girl said, “Yes. Did you know I was born to be a ballerina?”

We told that story to friends and family several times over the weekend so her comment has been always close to the front of my thoughts. Then yesterday, while I was trying to make a dent in the 700-plus blog posts that accumulated in my Google Reader last week, I read this post by one of my new favorite writers, Sarah Markley.  She actually wrote the post on the same day my girl had declared the purpose of her birth. The post isn’t long, so go read it now and when you get back we can discuss. I’ll wait here.

What did you think?  I know! Me, too! That last question has been setting up camp in my brain ever since I read it.

“Do you feel like you have to DO to BE?”

Yeah. I do. It’s a huge struggle for me. I’ll take it a step further. Not only do I have to DO in order to BE, I have to do it perfectly or it doesn’t count. That’s why my CoffeeGal Kellie’s post about her own struggle with perfection struck a nerve with me. I mentioned that post last week but if you haven’t read it yet, you really should. (Welcome to my blog. I don’t write new stuff here, but I do send you off to read really great stuff that other people have written!)

I believe this may be why I’m almost forty years old and I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up. I’ve tried being who I thought everyone else wanted me to be. I’ve learned that you can’t live dreams that never belonged to you. I also learned that I’m not a very good judge of exactly what everyone wants me to be and that it’s impossible to be all things to all people.

This is not a new struggle for me. I’ve talked about my disquiet in this area on this blog before. This blog’s very name was born out of my quest and heart-felt to know and to be who God created me to be.

Which brings me back to my big white board. Maybe being who God made me to be is a byproduct of my acceptance of God’s love for me coupled with my learning to love Him in return. Maybe what I have to DO in order to BE is as simple as being loved and loving back.

Look at this:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:4-10. I added the italics for emphasis.)

According to my handy Bible commentary, the word “workmanship”  means “work of art” or “masterpiece.” We are His masterpieces. We are His “Water Lilies”….

or  His “Starry Night” …..

or His Sistine Chapel….

….but even more glorious and more beautiful.

And the works that He has prepared for us that we should be walking? Those aren’t works we do for Him. They are works He performs in and through us when we get out of the way and let Him be God in our lives. I don’t want to oversimplify this, but again, I think if we could really let the knowledge of His love permeate every molecule of our being, we could not help but love Him more and our lives would be open vessels that He could use to pour out His love on this world. When we aren’t completely open to His love, it not only can’t fill us, but we stop the overflow that is meant to run from us to the places He has put us to live. Living out my faith means living out the love I have been extravagantly given from my Creator and the way I learn to love Him more is by getting to know Him more.

Am I missing something? Have I oversimplified this? Do you think this is the way to stop DOING in order to start BEING? Do any of you struggle with the DOING or do you really know who you? I’d really like to hear from you today.

It’s my birthday today. Not the anniversary of the day that I was born, but the anniversary of the day that I asked Jesus into my heart.  My dad has been a minister for longer than I have been alive so for a long time I didn’t know that people could actually decide not to go to church. I don’t remember not knowing Bible stories. I don’t know when I first heard that Jesus died on the cross,  but on September 18th, 1975, when I was five years old, my first grade teacher told that familiar story in a way that my heart heard for the first time.

For the first time, I realized that I was actually part of that story even though I wasn’t there when it happened.. Jesus died on the cross, not because He had done anything wrong, but because I had. He died for me. He wants to have a personal relationship with me. He wants me to live with Him forever. That day, I knelt with my teacher at her desk and asked Jesus to forgive me for my mistakes and I entered into a forever relationship with Him.

It’s been a wild and crazy ride.

Today I was thinking about all that has happened in that relationship that started thirty-four years ago. I was thinking specifically about the last nine months.  As I was thinking, I imagined a giant white board on which I had written all the information I know about God and my faith….my theology, if you will. Over the past few weeks and months, I feel like  a giant eraser has wiped the whole board clean. I have re-thought and questioned every thing I’ve ever believed….from Creation to the  End of Time.

Having your board wiped clean is scary. And unsettling. And a little frustrating. Several times I’ve started to rewrite what I think I believe and know on my board, but I just can’t. Instead, I’ve handed God my marker and I want Him to write on it whatever He wants to write. Want to know what He’s written so far?

I

LOVE

YOU

So simple, so basic, and yet those three one-syllable words are beyond my comprehension. I could spend the rest of my life trying to scratch the surface of what that one sentence means. I thought that by this point in my spiritual journey I would be pondering deeper, loftier truths, but right now I can’t get beyond the knowledge that God loves me. I thought that after almost four decades as a Christ follower I would be a little more together, but honestly, I’m a mess. But that’s really okay with me because I know that God is working in my life. Like I told a friend yesterday, I’m a peaceful wreck.

Why?

Because although not being in control of my own life was scary at first, the crazier life has become, the more relieved I am that I’m not the one in charge of this mess.

I resisted strongly at first. He has drawn me closer and closer to Him and I have pushed Him away. Why would He continue to pursue me? Why, when after all this time, I’m so far from who He created me to be, wouldn’t He just leave me to my own devices?

Why?

Read my board.

He loves me.

I’m so glad His love is true. I’m so glad that I’ve had thirty-four years in His family. I don’t know what else He’s planning to write on my board, but I’m ready. As my Jewish friends observe Rosh Hashanah today, a day of remembrance and repentance and the beginning of a new year, I am also remembering what God has done in my life, returning to the path He has made for me, and am expectantly awaiting His touch in my life as we begin this new season together.

I was so excited when I  heard Kirk Franklin’s remake of the Earth, Wind, and Fire song “September” because first, I love that song, but second, it fits my birthday perfectly. In celebration of today, I’ll leave you with this song to get my birthday party started. I double dog dare you to be still while you watch this:

Happy Weekend! and Happy Birthday to me!

This is the third time I’ve tried to post this only to have everything I’ve written disappear when I hit the “publish” button.

So to sum up, my dad’s surgery went very well and he may even be discharged this weekend!

Thank you so much for your encouragement and mostly for your prayers!

I love you all!

In a few short hours I’ll be getting ready to leave for the hospital. I will hopefully remember to take my backpack with all the stuff I might need. I’ll have books I probably won’t be able to read, a jacket to keep me warm in that meat locker they call a waiting room, change for Cokes to settle my stomach, and my iPhone so I can try to stay connected with the outside world.  I’ll try to Tweet updates when I can.

My dad’s surgery is the first case of the day. We have to be there at 6 a.m. and his surgery is scheduled for 7 a.m. Mostly we’ll spend the day sitting and waiting. I’ve come to believe that sitting and waiting may be the most physically exhausting thing I’ve ever done. Strange.

This is probably more than anyone needs to know, but for the last two days food has made my stomach angry. I know that I won’t be able to eat today either. I’m anxious and calm at the same time. I’m a peaceful wreck. I’m not sure I could even explain what I mean by that except that I know that God is in control. I trust Him. I also know that sometimes what I want Him to do is not what He needs to do and I don’t know what He needs to do. I don’t know what’s around this curve for my family.

I feel a little raw right now. Like a huge, gaping, exposed wound.

I’ll see my dad  before the surgery team takes him and I’ll try really hard not to cry.

I’ll try.

From 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. the chapel at the church where my dad has been a minister for twenty-four years will be open for whomever wants to come and pray.

My daddy walked me down the center aisle of that chapel thirteen years ago on the day I married K.

The first drama I ever wrote was performed in that chapel.  The only reason it was ever written was because my daddy believed I could do things that I still don’t think I can do.

I know that church and its people. Those who can will be on their faces before God in that chapel asking Him to show up in big and mighty ways in my dad’s life.

Thy will be done….but if we can be so bold to ask, please heal Him, Father.

A request to my heavenly daddy on behalf of my earthly one.

I’ve received sweet emails and texts from precious friends who are praying for my family and for me. I have precious friends who have planned to take care of my children after school. I have precious friends who want to walk as closely on this road with me as they can. They know they can’t walk the road for me, but they’re walking beside me on the sidelines holding my hand. I love them all so much. The ones who are actually physically holding my hand, and the ones who are holding me in their hearts and prayers from miles away.

Here we go again.

God, be near.

I know You are. I just like to feel Your touch here in the dark.

I chase rabbits. Not literally, mind you. That would just be silly because rabbits move too quickly to be caught so what would be the point? I chase metaphorical rabbits. Of course, I’m not sure they can be caught either. Some might call it “stream of consciousness” thinking. I call it Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon Thinking, except instead of linking actors with other actors who have worked with Kevin Bacon, I like to make one subject tie in with an seemingly completely unrelated subject….often in six subject changes or less. It’s a gift, I tell you. Or a curse. Maybe you should ask my husband.

I guess to those who don’t have access to the inner workings of my brain (which would include all of you, I suppose), my thoughts, or rabbit trails, if you will, don’t seem to follow any logical path. If, however, you could see how I think from point A to point B, I’m sure the progression would make perfect sense to you. In other words, my random ramblings may not be so random after all. Let me give you an example so that you can judge for yourself.

Yesterday, one of my Tweeps sent this message: The hubs just ran into Trace Adkins’ bro and he gave him tickets/backstage passes for Trace/Toby Keith!!!!

At which point another friend Tweeted: Cool. If you like country music. I think Trace A grew up in the same town as Justin/Becky.

At which point I Tweeted (after Googling to be certain that I was correct. I mean, if it’s on the internet, it’s the truth, right?): Trace is from the great town of Sarepta, LA aka the home of the lady who makes the best wedding cake in the world.

Which made me think about why I proclaimed the lady from Sarepta the best wedding cake maker in the world.

Which reminded me of a comment I left on a friend’s Myspace page many years ago (back when I still checked my Myspace page). This friend is a great cake connoisseur and I shared with her my carefully formulated theory of what makes the perfect cake.

Which gave me the idea to repost my cake theory here to see if you agree and also to bless you with my knowledge of all things cake. So without further ado or rabbit chasing:

Whimzie’s Theory of Good Wedding Cake

These guidelines are mostly for wedding cake…which I would say is my favorite kind of cake. I have been known to go to the weddings of people I either didn’t know well are were not that particularly close to just because I was craving wedding cake.

First, THE CAKE: The cake should have a fine, not coarse texture. In other words, you shouldn’t be reminded of Jiffy Cornbread while eating it. I like a vanilla taste with a hint of almond. Too much almond can be a bad thing. It must be moist (although I really don’t care for that particular word). To determine if the cake is appropriately moist (there’s that yucky word again), I use the fork test. If you can press the back of the fork into a bite of the cake and successfully pick up all of the bite, that, my friend, is good cake.

Second, THE ICING: Without question, butter cream is preferred over that whippped stuff. Whipped stuff is for Cool Whip which was never mean to ice a cake. The icing should be firm, but not rock hard. It should not taste like Crisco, nor should it be sickeningly sweet. It should have the barest hint of taste beyond just sweet, but nothing that would overpower the cake.

If I am enjoying a piece of cake that meets my cake standards, I wouldn’t want to eat all the icing and leave the cake or vice versa…I would be able to enjoy the entire piece as one unit.

From Trace Adkins to cake in less than ten steps. It was easy as pie! Speaking of pie, have you tried the cherry limeade slush? It tastes like pie to me. But I digress. Did anyone else see that rabbit?

Things I Want to Share with You Today (in list form):

1. I received this book in the mail today and may have performed a little happy dance:

This book is the follow-up to one of my all-time favorite books (and one of the books you really should read if we’re going to be/stay friends), Same Kind of Different as Me. I am so excited about this book that I brought it with me in the car yesterday morning to read for the seven minutes it takes to get to church…until I remembered that we had to take two cars so I would need to drive. At which point I thought really hard about whether I could get away with reading it on the way anyway and quickly decided that would probably be unsafe. You can be sure that I’ll be back with a full report when I finish reading this book.

2. I’m also reading this book:

Several friends list this book among their favorites so I thought I’d give it a try. I usually only get to read in the car line when I’m picking the kids up from school and for as long as I can keep my eyes open when I get in bed at night. If I could do anything in the world I wanted to do, I would read all the live-long day. I’m trying to be a grown-up and do responsible things, like the laundry, but this book has greatly tempted me to throw caution to the wind, let the kids eat crackers for supper and enjoy marathon viewings of Phineas and Ferb, and sit quietly with my book. I love the way Leif Enger writes. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!

3. I don’t want to seem irrelevant so at this time I wish to join the ranks of all the other cool bloggers I’ve read lately and give a shout out to this:

Of course I’ve had one! In fact, I went a step beyond the other day and ordered a pumpkin spice CHAI latte. Oh, yes I did! And apparently I’m the first trendsetter in my neighborhood to order that particular drink because I had to clarify that no, I didn’t actually want any espresso in my chai, I just wanted a chai latte flavored with the pumpkin spice.

4.  I had this for lunch yesterday:

It’s crawfish ravioli. It could change the world. Calling it good would be insulting to this dish. Wish you’d been with us. I probably would have let you have a bite.

5. A new Bible study started at my church today and I’m not there. They’re studying the book of Hosea. I miss being part of a small group Bible study but I’m not sure if this is the best time for me to make that kind of commitment.

If I could choose anything to study right now, I think it would be this study:

It’s called Interrupted and it’s by Jen Hatmaker. The first post that I read about the study included a video of the author talking about what prompted her to write it. She said that Jesus interrupted her life and she compares the after effect to “an adult conversion experience.” Right now, the All Access blog, part of Lifeway’s Women’s division, is giving away a DVD leader kit. You can read more about the details of the giveaway by clicking here. I’m posting this information today to try to win the kit for myself, but I won’t be mad at you if you win instead. I feel like my life has been interrupted in very big ways over the last few months and I want those interruptions to count for something that will last longer than my time on this earth.

Are any of you doing a Bible study right now? Are you doing a study on your own or are you in a group? I’m the person who wants to know what everyone at the table ordered when we go out to eat so I hope you don’t mind me getting in your business.

6. Did you guys see the VMA clips with Kanye, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce? I didn’t actually see the show. (I may drink pumpkin spice CHAI latte, but I’m not that cool.) I saw a few people Tweet about it this morning so I watched the clips on YouTube. Just in case you mostly get your news from KLOVE and Playhouse Disney, too, here are the clips. The first is of Kanye interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video of the Year:

(Again, I may not be in the know of all things, but shouldn’t his fifteen minutes be over by now?)

Then I saw this clip of Beyonce accepting the Best Video of the Year award and I was very moved:

I was moved because we live in a culture where women are each other’s worst enemies. Instead of encouraging and supporting each other, we spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to each other and making others look smaller so that we appear bigger. I don’t know if Taylor and Beyonce are Christians, but I wondered this morning what the Church would be like if we treated our sisters like family instead of like our competition. Then I read this post by my friend Kellie. She was transparent and very real about her struggles with wanting things to be perfect. She mentioned the importance of having “Truth Tellers” in our life who don’t just tell us what they think we want to hear. I want to be more like Beyonce and Kellie today. I want to look for ways to help the women in my life be who God created them to be.

7 (the number of completion). My dad has surgery Wednesday. Originally he was scheduled to have surgery last week, but the surgeon moved it to this week. It was scheduled for today, but Friday night we received a call that postponed the surgery indefinitely. Then the surgery was rescheduled for Wednesday. Then it was tentatively scheduled for today. Then it was moved back to Wednesday. It’s been an interesting week. But you know what? It’s all good. More than ever we are convinced that God is ultimately in charge….of surgery times and surgeons and even of ugly, malignant brain tumors. Some trust in chariots (or surgeons or the latest medicines and procedures)  and some trust in horses (or our own knowledge and understanding), we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7).

May your Monday be filled with random bits of goodness that make you smile! Talk to you later!