Lessons from the Snow Part II

 I am driving home on unplowed roads.  Not my comfort zone whatsoever.  Have you ever been driving in snow and you remain in a slow lane crammed with vehicles because you dare not breach the lane next to you lest you get stuck crossing over into it?  Okay, I think you're with me now.

So I'm in the "slow" lane and quite content to be there.  There is a car in front of me and I'm just following along behind barely even having to pay attention to the roads. All I have to do is follow behind in the lead car's tire tracks.  Then it happens.  He takes the next exit...leaving me in the lead.

This wouldn't be such a big deal under normal weather conditions.  I would speed up, set my cruise control, and sail through traffic.  But I certainly wasn't going to do that in the snow.  Suddenly I recognized that I was the pacesetter...and the track-leaver.  Cars were going to follow me and I had to pay attention in order to lead them well.

As is the life of a Christ-follower.  I am charged with setting the standard and staying the course that has been set by God's word.  Don't be fooled.  Just because a person isn't a Christian doesn't mean that they don't know what a Christian should and should not be doing.  My job is to pay attention to what God tells me to do and do it so that I can leave tracks of truth for His namesake.

Lessons from the Snow Part 1

 It is that delightful time of year when regular snowfalls pay a visit to the Central Pennsylvania area.  Today was a day when the timing of the snow was just late enough to allow our kids to go to school.

When I left around 7 a.m. with my 9th grader, there was absolutely no precipitation.  But as we neared his school, I was able to see faint white specks descending from the sky.  By the time I was headed home, lights swirls of white were dancing across the road as commuters raced to and fro.

I entered our driveway to a cascade of steady snow coming down and beginning to stick on the ground.  Right then and there I decided to leave earlier than usual--as in a half hour early.  My youngest and I hopped into the car and started the trip.  

Did I mention I am not a fan of driving in the snow?  I've had at least one snow accident in the past and have gotten stuck more times than I can recall.  Recognizing that this was just the start of the snow, I knew that the roads would not be in the best condition. Needless to say I was not looking forward to this drive.

We turned out of our neighborhood and headed down a nearby road to reach the highway.  Immediately after turning onto the main road that connects to the highway, I hear a glorious sound...a clicking and snapping underneath my tires...SALT!  Woohoo!  Identifying the presence of this miracle mineral helped to calm my nerves and put my mind at ease.

Do you ever respond like this in your circumstance when you think of Jesus?  Have you ever been worried, scared, or frustrated only to be reminded of Who is inside of you and the certainty of His promise to always be with you?  I want to hear about it and so do others.  Please share and thanks!

Covid Conundrum

Like me you've probably experienced circumstances that are unique to the pandemic.  Like, today I was finishing up my run/walk and came across someone's newspaper at the end of their driveway.  Because there was a little over an inch of snow on the ground, I figured I'd save them a walk to the driveway and put it on their front step.

Then I thought, 'What about the virus?'

I really had to think, would it be more beneficial to put the paper on the front step or to not touch it at all.  These are the types of thoughts that pop in my mind because the world has changed from the way it was a year ago.

I walked about 10 feet before making the decision to turn around, pick up the paper, and place it on the steps.

Help is On the Way

CVS is my favorite pharmacy hands down.  You'll likely see posts mentioning them in the future.  Between coupons and their store club benefits, I often walk out of the store paying next to nothing for most everything.

At one point last year they were providing daily giveaways for anyone who was a member of their store club.  Once the reveal was posted on the CVS app as to what the day's freebie was, I would take a peak and see if it was worth a quick drive to the store.

One day I had gone to pick up an item that was worth the drive.  While walking up to the register, I had made the decision to use the self checkout figuring I didn't need to bother a human with my menial purchase.  With everything loaded on my app, the plan was just to scan, bag, and get out of there.

My total computed to zero and I received my receipt.  Everything seemed to be fine and I was just about to leave.  Then all of a sudden an automated voice called out while an orange light flashed above my head, "Please wait.  Help is on the way."

'Aw, man!' I complained in my head.  'Now I will have to interact with a human.'

I waited until the cashier on duty was available to assist me.  "Do you need some help?"

I explained the situation to her letting her know that my item was indeed free but the machine began chirping at me after I finished checking out.

"Oh, I see she said.  The problem is that the machine doesn't understand why it is free."  She used a card to stop the machine's protest and reset it.  I thanked her for her help and I was free to go.

This whole exchange made me think about the difficulty us humans have accepting the free gift of God's salvation through Jesus Christ.  Just like that self checkout register, we just don't understand.  Because we doubt, we turn to help outside of God.  People, pills, power, pride.  But none of these can provide real help.  Only a relationship with God our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ can adequately answer our cry for help.  

Do you have a need?  Call on Him and rest assured that help is on the way.

Sharing is Caring

Today I made pancakes for breakfast.  Although this may not seem to be of any significance whatsoever, let me assure you that it was.  But it wasn't so much about the pancakes--it was about the syrup.

You see I had purchased some syrup a few weeks back.  Not just any old syrup--maple syrup.  The real deal.  The kind that costs 3 times the amount of what kids typically think of as syrup, but comes in a bottle that is 1/3 the size.

I had managed to keep the syrup under wraps (or so I thought) for some time.  It was shoved all the way to the back of a kitchen cabinet that was already stuffed to the gills with what I hoped were deterrents to prevent foraging around and finding my stash.  Earlier this week I had sacrificed some of its contents to use as a sweetener for me and my 6-year old.  Then back to the bowels of the cabinet it went.

As you can probably tell, authentic maple syrup is a rarity in our household.  This is for the following reasons:

1. It's super expensive

2. The limited number of uses our family gets from a product like this does not justify me purchasing it

However, after recently changing the way I eat, I wanted to substitute maple syrup as a sweeter in some of my foods.  Giant had it on sale and I jumped at the opportunity.  But I wanted to ensure that my treasure would be safe.

Fast forward to today.  I make pancakes.  I don't want anyone but me to have the precious syrup.  My plan: put the regular syrup on the table for everyone to see.  Take my pancakes into the kitchen to put "the precious" onto them.  Then sit at the breakfast table enjoying my pancakes in sweet bliss.

Enter my husband.  "Thanks for making the pancakes, Hon.  Ooh! I just remembered, we have maple syrup!"

I bristled.  He remembered!  And he remembered because I told him about how I had just caught the tail end of the sale at Giant. WHY!!!  My secret was out.  The dream was dead.

Seeing my dejection my husband challenged me.  "So are you keeping this to yourself?"

I explained my plans for the syrup and my now disappointment knowing what would become of it--an empty bottle by sundown.

He looked at me amused.  "You know you're wrong."

These weren't his exact words but it was the gist of them.  And I was...wrong.  This is how I later thought about it: I had purchased the maple syrup to improve my health and ultimately live better.  But what about the people I love?  Don't I want them to live better?  If they want something that I have and I know it is good for them, why wouldn't I share it with them?

This scenario makes me think about my life as a Christ follower.  As a believer in Jesus Christ I have the One who makes my life better, richer, purposeful.  When I am unwilling to share with others what is precious to me, I am being selfish.  Holding back that sweet, quality relationship so that I can have it all for myself.  I know I'm wrong.

So, I relented.  I let my hubby pour all the maple syrup he wanted on his pancakes without (openly) giving him the hairy eyeball.  I even kept my composure when he offered some to our 6-year old (who didn't like the taste and opted for good 'ole high fructose corn syrup). 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3 & 4

In a nutshell, share to show you care.

Momma Said...

 ...It is one of those days.  I am struggling to believe that I am headed in the direction God wants me to be headed.  In fact, all signs seem to be pointing towards the opposite direction.  

Run, Forrest, run!  

Today the words to those songs that I belt out when I'm alone in the car are not just an accompaniment to a good beat.  They are my medicine.  And the scriptures that I "Amen!" to during Sunday services are no longer just feel-good rhetoric.  They are my very life line.

I don't like these times, these times that squeeze out the tears, press in the pain, and weigh heavy with worry.  But as the song goes, 'Momma said there'd be days like this'.  Well Jesus said the same thing. too.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

While writing this post I am working out my struggle through the word of God.  "These things" that Jesus said earlier in John 16 include the following:

Your sorrow will turn to joy

I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice

No one will take your joy from you

Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full

The Father Himself loves you

Reading all these things gives me new perspective.  I am led to look beyond what is before me and look to Who is above me.  Praise God for the peace found in Jesus Christ!

Keep the foot

“Mom, Teddy said he would give his left foot for me,” my 6-year-old began one of his insightful backseat conversations during the last 5 minutes of our 30-minute commute from school. 

“Really?” I asked. “Teddy said that?” 

“Yes.” He responded with certainty. 

“Would you do that for him?” I inquired. 

“What give my left foot for him?” 

“Yes.” 

“No but I would give my heart for him”. Sometimes I don’t believe this kid is 6. 

I love how he responded. He took into consideration the cost of a foot and knew that there was another way—a better way. Too often we choose to give of ourselves to others in a way that impairs our own function. They leave walking and we are left limping. I do this a lot with my family. Someone needs mom and I am there—listening, watching, counseling, instructing. But in the meantime, my directives are put to the side. 

I can plan where my time goes or I can let time plan where I go. I’ve made the decision to put writing into my day by starting “Mark My Words”. In this manner, I can give my heart and keep my foot.