Weekly Thought From T - Pray for Them

Week of 12-5-10

Hey Everyone!

Hope you've had a great weekend!

What I'm talking about this week has been on my mind for a couple of weeks now.  It all started with a prayer card written by one of you that said something like this, "God, please bless all the people who make fun of me at school.  I can't imagine how sad they have to be - or what must be going on in their lives for them to be so mean to someone."

WHAT?  Bless those who make fun of you?

I mean, I know this kid - a GREAT kid - and I wanted to knock some heads together!  Who would make fun of him?  He's the sweetest/greatest guy!

But he was right........someone who needed God's forgiveness, blessings, love. 

I don't know when I was in high school if I could have written a prayer card like that.......

Last week at LOOP I sat with the junior high.  We talked a lot about what they were going through - things they struggle with.  Through tears several boys and girls shared how difficult it was to be made fun of at school.  Some for the color of their skin - others for the way they looked........

It absolutely broke my heart.  My kids were with me and on the way home Anna-Prin asked, "Mom, why do people at school call that girl ugly?  She is beauuuuuuuuutiful!" 

I don't know Anna-Prin.......

Last week I was at the Advent Festival with my kids.  We were eating dinner in Great Hall when a little girl - with obvious special needs walked passed our table.  My son Carter looked at her and said, "MOM LOOK!!!!"  My heart sank for what was next - I was so nervous he was going to ask, "What happened to her?  Why does she look like that?" But instead he said, "Look how beautiful she looks!!"  She passed; the mom smiled and said, "Thank you so much....."  I couldn't help but get choked up - and said to Carter, "I have never been so proud of you."  He said, "Mom, why? And why are you crying?  She was beautiful." 

Of course she's beautiful.........but how many of us take the time to see that?

Why do we spend time making fun of people?  Why is that a popular thing to do?  When did that become cool?  And why doesn't it go away?

Fast.

I can only imagine how difficult it is for these kids after a class, or a lunch, or a day of being made fun of.  How do they recover from that?  The cost on someone else's soul - for a moment to feel cool.  When really - there's absolutely nothing cool about it. 

This afternoon I went to the cemetery where two of my children are buried.  There was a couple there who had recently buried their child.  The dad was reading a story to the grave - while the mother sobbed along side him.  As I walked away tears just poured down my cheeks and I thought, "We have absolutely no idea what people are going through."  I could have stood next to that person in the line at the grocery store today and never knew her pain.

I have no idea what people are going through.

You have no idea what people are going through.

And the boy who wrote the prayer card is right - Jesus has told us time and time again, the only choice we have when it comes to one another is pray.  Pray for each other, pray for our enemies and pray for ourselves.

In 1 Peter 3:9 it says, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

I believe it.  I believe that we will blessed for being kind to those who don't deserve it - those who have sinned against us - hurt us.  I believe that we could never understand what they might be going through - how much hurt or sorrow or fear or insecurity or whatever it is that motivates such disappointing behavior.

Our love, compassion and prayers are really their only hope.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Weekly Thought from T - In Process

Week of 11-29-10

Hey Everyone! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I know I am an old woman to many of you - so - for those of you who aren't familiar with Andre Agassi - let me just start by saying he is one of the greatest tennis players of all time.  I recently finished his book "OPEN" and really loved it.  He has been through a lot in his life - and in this book seemed to be really honest with people - not only about tennis, but his life.  Andre spent most of his teenage years pretty angry - and conflicted.........he said something about that I really liked.  Here goes:

"Several sportswriters muse about my transformation from youth to adult - and that word rankles.  I think it misses the mark.  Transformation is change from on thing to another, but I started as nothing.  I didn't transform, I formed.  When I broke into tennis, I was like most kids: I didn't know who I was, and I rebelled at being told by older people.  I think older people make this mistake all the time with younger people, treating them as finished products when in fact they're in process.  It's like judging a tennis match before it's over, and I've come from behind too often, and had too many opponents come roaring back against me, to think that's a good idea."

I have to say, as a new mom - this hit me pretty hard.  I think I do this all the time to my kids.  I expect them to ALWAYS behave, use their manners, not act TOO silly.  I dream for them about what they are going to be when they grow up.  I tell them what foods they will eat - and determine when they are hungry and when they are full.  I think some times I live through them - like I didn't get this as a kid - or get to do that as a kid - and so I push what I feel like I missed and/or wanted on to them - when really, it might not be what they are missing or wanting at all.

I don't think this is just a parent to kid thing though.  I have heard so many of you say - I wish my mom was like ________________'s mom (you fill in the blank).  I wish my dad made more money.  I wish we went camping as a family like the so and so's or vacationed at _________________.  I wish my mom was funnier.  Smarter.  I wish my dad played more sports, went to more games.  I wish both of them were way more cool.

What the heck is wrong with who we all are?  JUST THE WAY WE ARE!

My daughter loves that song that says, "Cuz girl you're amazing......just the way you are!"  She sings it REALLY loud from the back seat every time it comes on.

I think I know why she likes it.  And why I like it.

Because we are amazing.  Just the way we are.

And aren't we all - no matter how old - "in process".......far from a "finished product"?? 

So - why are we all wishing our lives away??  Wishing those closest/most important to us, would change to be who WE want or think they should be instead of what they were created to be? 

Where is our grace for them? 

Our patience for their process? 

Our unconditional love?

LOVE WITHOUT JUDGEMENT.  LOVE WITHOUT CONDITION. 

What would our families look like if we really just appreciated where we all are in our "process"? 

Stop wishing. 

Start enjoying. 

I think that's the way God intended it to be.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Weekly Thought from T - THIS PLACE

Week of 11-22-10

Hey Everyone!

So.....some of you know that my husband Topher spent the better half of last week in the hospital.  He had a blood clot that settled into one of his kidneys.  It was painful, scary, and unexpected.  He's home now and okay- but things have changed a little bit.  He has to have shots, take medicine, and think more about what he eats, drinks and how much he exercises.

A week ago this was the furthest thing from our minds.  A week ago we were thinking about how much life costs, how busy we were, what was on our list to check off before the end of the week and the kids big birthday party yesterday, which friends we were going to spend time with over the weekend, how we were going to get it all in.

And then BAM!  Just like that.........our worries became very different.  Very real.  Not that the other ones didn't exist - but when you are thinking about your life - and/or quality of that life - all the other worries fade........to black.

Instead of thinking about bills I can't help but wonder what would this look like if the blood clot went to his brain?  Or heart?

And now - instead of worrying about when am I going to have time for yoga this week - I was worried about getting out of the hospital before the twins first birthday party, Thanksgiving - and about my husbands quality of life.  Will Topher get to exercise anymore - play golf the way he used to - be there for his kids and family the way he wants to......

In the middle of it all I couldn't help but jot down something in my phone.

THIS PLACE. 
Why are we living for the next and fail to enjoy the one we are in??

I mean we are a MESS - okay I am a MESS.  I can't help but live my life for every moment that is coming.  Not the one I am living.  And I couldn't help but realize how you might do the same.

We are working so dang hard to BECOME the best.  Smarter, faster, richer, stronger.  Life will be complete when____________ (you fill in that blank).

When we have more friends
When so and so likes me
When my parents change
When my kids change
When we have more money
When our house is bigger
A better car
When I don't have to work any more
When I make the basketball team
When I'm taller, faster, blonder, stronger, skinnier
 
And we fail to appreciate

The amazing friends we have
The peace in loving yourself first
Appreciating the gift of parents and who they are - not who you want them to be
Appreciating the gift of your kids and who they are - not who you want them to be
If money is your problem, you don't have a problem
You have a house
92% of the world doesn't have a car
A lot of people in this world would die for your job AND income
Teams don't define You.  YOU define YOU.
Our health. The beautiful, unique, healthy body that God gave you.
My gosh we take so much for granted.  It's like every day we need to put something on our mirror - tape a piece of paper that says - THIS PLACE.  APPRECIATE THIS PLACE.

People always say, "It could be worse" - and it's usually the last thing I want to hear when I am in the middle of something tough - but it's so true.  It could.

We have been blessed with so much - and yet we seem to be always looking at - STARING at actually - all of our flaws, weaknesses, the things we want - but don't even really need. 

My friends - try to enjoy THIS place.  Wherever you are. 

Life can change in an instant.  It really can.  It's almost scary how quickly.  SO.....enjoy this place.  Relish in this place.  Love this place.  Appreciate this place. 

Thank God - for this place..........

because if you really think about it - it's pretty beautiful - and we have so very much to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Weekly Thought From T - It's Magic! - Week of 11-14-10

Hey Everyone!!

Hope you had a great weekend and are ready for yet - another week!  Only one more til Thanksgving!  : ))

So Saturday night I was out to dinner with my family - and we were having a great discussion about Jesus and heaven - you know every day table talk ; ).  Anyway, in the middle of the conversation Georgie bursts out with, "Mommy!  In heaven if you need to go (enter 5 years old's version of "bathroom" here) then Jesus just uses his magic and you don't have to go anymore!!!"  After I fell over laughing for a solid 2 minutes - I said, "You know Georgie, I think you might be right!"

Georgie may be on to something........because if you think about it - Jesus has all kinds of magic.  He healed people, raised them from the dead, he even died himself and then came back to life!

The greatest of Jesus magic - is what he did for us.  He has so much "magic" that He makes all our sin disappear.  It's amazing....and that is truly magic.....!  Day after day he gives us hope!  Not only in others - but especially ourselves.

Sometimes I worry that this "magic" that Jesus so freely gave gives us an excuse to sin - rather than a reason to change. 

If we look closely in the Bible and learn about the people that Jesus spent time with/forgave- the amazing thing was - they not only wanted to be forgiven - but they wanted to be different from that moment on.  So instead of Zacchaeus or the woman at the well saying, "hey thanks for spending time with me Jesus and forgiving me - now if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to my old ways..." they thanked Christ - and then completely turned their lives around.

Now THAT'S magic!

Christ died so that we can be forgiven - and then CHANGE.  In John 8 He uses a woman who commits adultry as an example.  Everyone wants to stone her to death - Jesus picks her up - dusts her off - and tell everyone else to knock it off!  Then looks at her and says, "Go and sin no more".

Go - and sin no more.

Christ did not die on the cross so that we could do and live and be whatever we want and in the end say, "Well, thanks Jesus for dying for me so I could do whatever I wanted".  Christ died so that we could understand that THAT kind of love REALLY does exist - and that kind of love changes people for the better.  FOREVER.

Christ wants us to use his magic - that's why He did what He did - but don't use it as an excuse for what you do - use it to change who you are......


I love you. Always will.

T

Weekly Thought from T - Bake Them A Cake - Week of 11-8-10

Happy Day Everyone!

Hope you are all doing really great!  I can't tell you how awesome it was to see you yesterday!  My gosh I have missed you! 

The other day I was out jogging and I ran in to a guy who was walking a German shepherd puppy.  I had to stop and pet it - it was so cute!  I told the guy how precious the dog was - he replied, "Oh gosh he is being NAUGHTY this morning!  Isn't minding me at all!"  I started back on my jog and yelled back - "Well, aren't we all a bit naughty sometimes??"

I kept on my jog and recalled a great story a friend told me.  She told me she recently bought a car - and was really really upset because she felt like the guy she bought it from really took advantage of her.  She felt like she was paying too much - and she was really ticked!  She went to one of the maintenance guys at our church for advice.  His name is Royce. She told him the story......and here was Royce's advice, "I know what you need to do.......bake him a cake!"  She said, "Uhhhhh,excuse me?"  He said, "Yep!  Bake him a cake!  Bake him a cake and then take it to him.  Look him in the eye and tell him you forgive him."

WHAT??  A CAKE??

Let me tell you something.........that's some darn good advice.

And how sad how surprising that response is.  Shocking, frankly.

I mean - it's so much easier to puff our chest, fold our arms, stick our nose in the air and talk about how right we are and how wrong someone else is.

Back to the German shepherd......

Aren't we all a bit naughty sometimes?  Don't we all at some point need forgiveness?  And don't we all at some point need to forgive?

So if we are ALL naughty and at some point ALL need forgiveness - what keeps us from forgiving others?  From baking that cake and telling someone you forgive them?

Right after Christ taught us how to pray in Matthew 6 - he had this to say about forgiveness:

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. "

Ouch.

I mean - I'm not sure he could be any clearer. 

Afterall, aren't we all a bit naughty sometimes?

Forgive.  It's what we have to do.  And I promise you this- when you wrong someone, disappoint, let someone down or hurt someones feelings - you're going to hope and pray they do the same for you.......

I love you.  Always will.

T

Weekly Thought from T - That's Just the Way it Goes - Week of 11-1-10

HELLOOOOOOOOOOO!

I can't tell you guys how much I missed you!  It's so nice to be back in to the swing of things!  Quick update on the kids - they are doing fantastic!  The twins (Anna-Prin and Carter) are in 1st grade at Preston Hollow Elementary - and little George (Georgie) is here at CDP during the day - they love soccer, dance, singing in the choir, playing baseball, football, cuddles, kisses, bedtime stories and to laugh LOUD!  Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and made them feel so loved here at our church.  They are such gifts........and I absolutely LOVE being their mommy.  : ))

It's really nice to be back.  I missed the staff, our ministry - and all of you.  I can't wait to see you this week!

These last couple of months I have learned a lot.  A lot about myself - and a lot about others.  It's funny - young people always think the old people have it all figured out.  The truth is, we have worries, fears, insecurities, and failures just like you.

As you can imagine.......my family get a lot of stares and a lot of questions.  I can't go anywhere without people standing there - just staring.  To save them from themselves - I just want to say, "Yes, they are my kids.  Yes, I know they have funky accents, afros and are very black.  It doesn't matter.  They're mine and I love them as if I carried them in my belly."  My kids get it too.  Just the other day Anna-Prin said, "Mom, everyone always asks, 'Why are your mom and dad white and you are black?"  I asked her what she said back - she said - "I tell them you adopted us - and that's just the way it goes!"

Now - don't get me wrong - I don't think everyone is looking at us in judgment - or criticizing - but it is interesting to be on this side of the stares, questions, comments.

But I loved Anna-Prin's answer.  "That's just the way it goes!"

Why can't we all look at life like that?

I know as I look around and judge others - this is rarely my conclusion.......my response.  Instead of looking at others and shrugging my shoulders and saying, "That's just they way it goes!" - I stand in judgment.  I criticize.  I make my own conclusions - about things and people that are none of my business. 

Why do I do this?  Why do we do this??

We do it about the way people look.  About the way they talk.  About the sin that plagues their life.  About the way they spend their money.  What they do with their boyfriend/girlfriend.  Decorate their house.  What grades they make.  How they spend their weekends.  Eat.  Walk.  Breathe.  Dress.  Dance.  Sing. 

I mean - the way we judge people sometimes it's a wonder anyone makes it out alive.

It's funny.  It's funny because this is the exact opposite way Christ taught us to live.  To love.

It's so weird to me how we look upon others with such judgment when we know very little about:

what they are RELLY going through

what their home life is REALLY about

how they REALLY feel

what their background is

or what makes them do what they do

and the truth is........it's none of our business - because for whatever reason, "that's just the way it goes" and Christ has told us again and again to be merciful, just as our Father is merciful. 

In Luke 6 He says it perfectly........

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

Don't we all have a plank in our eye?  Don't we all have "stuff"?  And instead of pointing - shouldn't we just love???

Because you know what my friends.........that's the way it SHOULD go.....

Love.  That's it.  That's all we need to do.

As Carter would say, "Finish."

I love you.  Missed you.

And always will.

T

Weekly Thought from Lisa - Week of 10-25-10

The other day I was reading in the Psalms.  As I read Psalm 141, verse 3 really stood out to me.  It says

            Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  

Wow.  That is a short verse with a powerful message.  I don’t know about you but at least once a day something (that something being words) comes out of my lips that shouldn’t.  It might be an unkind word about a friend.  It might be an angry word to my daughter.  It might be something dismissive to a clerk in a store.  It might be a sarcastic comeback to someone’s legitimate comment.  It might just be a word of agreement to a bit of gossip.

Have you ever stopped to think just how powerful words are?  I have always believed that words, that language, have the power to shape the way we think.  Our words may have a huge impact on what others think or what others believe.  When I think about how powerful words are and how easy it is to say the wrong thing it can be scary.  I mean we always talk about how a bomb can be launched with a single push of a button.  Aren’t our words like that-a single word can change a relationship, can tear someone down? 

In the same way, an encouraging word can bring a smile.  It can build up someone who is feeling down.  It can bring hope to someone who is hopeless.  Jesus’ words brought hope and faith and love to those who heard them.

I really wish God could set a guard over my lips and some buzzer or something would go off when I was about to say something I will regret.  But you know, I think God has given me the ability, with God’s help, to guard my lips.  I have been praying that God would help me think before I speak.  Think before I agree with an unkind comment.  Think before I neglect to say something kind to someone is a down.  And certainly think before I say anything that does not glorify God. 

I hope you have a great week.  And that you will think about your words and how powerful they can be.

Weekly Thought From Bill - Week of 10-17-10

Hey Friends!  Bill here. 

I love to work on the house and build stuff with my hands.  Not that I’m overly good at it, but it’s rewarding to look at a job when you are done – for some reason, I really enjoy looking back at something and realizing that I helped create that.  It doesn’t even matter how big or small the job is.  Doesn’t matter if it’s something as small as painting a wall or as big as helping build a whole house with Habitat for Humanity.  I love looking back at a job and knowing that I got to help make a dream into a reality.

I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.  I’ve seen the artwork that some of you have created, and it’s really cool stuff.  Some of you have crazy gifts and you love to draw and paint and edit videos and play music and just make stuff – I think some of you know what I’m talking about. 

Why?  Why do we enjoy spending our free time to make stuff?  Why spend our energy on making things, instead of goofing off or having fun?  Why do we like to put some of ourselves out there for people to critique? 

I think it has something to do with our very natures – the first thing we learn about people is that we are created in the image of God – we are created to look like our creator.  I don’t think that means that we have the same hair color as God or the same height or some other physical characteristics.  I think it’s much deeper than that – to me, it means that at our core, we have a longing to be like God.  

That’s the real core of our identity – we are created by a loving God.  That’s the first thing we ever know about ourselves, and it’s definitely one of the most important. 

This genius theologian named St. Augustine put it this way – “our hearts are restless until they find rest in you”.  We’ve got this imprint from God at the core of our being.

God loves us.   That’s why he made us.  But even better than that, God loved us so much that he created us in his image – He was proud enough of his work that he signed it.  He claimed us as his own. 

Congrats friends – You are made in the image of God.  You are loved by God.  Nothing you did to deserve it.  Nothing you can do about it.  God loves you.

Love you guys. 

Bill

Weekly Thought - Week of 10/10/10

          Sometimes I feel that it is easy to forget that there are people in need in the world and in our communities.  I know that I can fall into a place where I take for granted the things that I have.  I forget that they are gifts and blessings from God.  I fear that it is really easy to remember to be grateful for the things we have and to help others during the holiday season, but harder through the rest of they year.  I have worked with some soup kitchens in the past during Thanksgiving and Christmas - and they always say they are booked with volunteers.  I think we forget that there are people in need all year round!

          This past week in Sunday School we talked about the life family of 5 with both parents that work at minimum wage.  This represents about a 3rd of the work force in the US.  The scary thing - if these parents are working 50 hours a week each, they are still short almost $1000 per month.  These families have to make up the difference so they can make ends meet.  My hope is I can remember that I am blessed by God and I can give, not out of excess, but give when there is a need.

          We also learned about Meals on Wheels - a program that helps people make up the difference in the amount of money coming in as opposed to the amount going out.  They also give some lonely people a friend for a few minutes each day!  We wrapped Christmas “presents” for the meal recipients that were hygiene items.  The sad thing is that for many of the people this may be their only present for the Christmas season.
          Not that we should feel guilty for what we have, but I hope we can remember that we are blessed when we have the basic needs to keep us clean, have clothes, and have a home.
          I was so proud of the youth this past Sunday, after we talked about the program - we went to work wrapping over 300 items for Meals on Wheels to distribute.  Each youth there did the best job they could with wrapping and the end result showed tons of love and care for each present!
          I hope that I can live a life that shares the love and blessings that Christ has given me! I hope I can share His love with others by helping when there is a need, not just the huge things but in the little things. Sometimes its the little things that make the largest difference!


Drew