The Gift of Giving

It started with looking around her room wondering how we would fit another birthday's worth of gifts in with all the rest of her "stuff". A sigh escaped my lips as I shook my head, just shutting the door, wishing that birthdays didn't have to equate with gifts. But she was turning seven and I couldn't exactly stop the cycle cold, now could I?

But then my friend Lisa sent me some posts to publish on her blog and as I was reading the posts, I realized I had an answer to my problem. You see, Lisa is the executive director for Caroline's Promise; a non-profit focused on reclaiming hope for orphans through education, financial assistance for families adopting and orphan care. And right now, they are collecting gallon-size bags filled with school supplies for children at Casita Adonai in Guatemala City, Guatemala. And an idea began to form...

I talked it over with Rachel, who, at first was very hesitant, and then within a few minutes was ecstatic about the idea. We decided that in lieu of birthday gifts at her birthday party, we would ask her friends to donate to Caroline's Promise on her behalf. (I had to reassure her, she would still be receiving gifts from us and her grandparents.) Her excitement at "making a difference in the world!" was so sweet and touching. She actually thought she was going to change the whole world by this one act.

So we sent out invitations, giving details as to how they could donate, where and why we were doing it. The day of her party arrived and some kids still came with gifts, but all had donated. There were questions and comments and many opportunities to share with the families why we were doing this seemingly strange thing.

A couple weeks after the party, Lisa called and told me all the money had come in and we planned on a date to shop for the school supplies. It was very important to me that Rachel be able to see what her sacrifice of birthday gifts had truly done. So one night last month, we met Lisa and her daughter Caroline at the store. (Caroline and Rachel have been friends since infancy. It was so fun to have her join us in the special shopping spree!)

(Can you tell who is more interested at her face on the surveillance monitor than shopping?)

When we got to the school supplies section we told the girls how much had come in for Rachel's birthday. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS. $150.00!!!!! When we added up the price per bag, with tears, we realized that 21 children at Casita Adonai would receive much-needed school supplies...because of the generosity of 8 families. We were blown away....

(Rachel and Caroline thought they were hot-stuff getting to shop like "grown-ups".)

Rachel and I took the supplies home, divided everything up and packed up all the bags. Three grocery bags later, Rachel stood there shaking her head at all the "stuff".

Rachel: "How many kids again mom?"

Me: "How many kids again, what?"

Rachel: "How many kids did I save?"

Me: "Well, you didn't save any of them, honey. But you did give 21 children school supplies that they wouldn't have otherwise."

Rachel: "I'm glad I did this. It makes my heart happy to give up birthday prizes to make a difference in the world."

I have to say, my heart was swelling with pride. My girl, learning at this young age, that there is more to her world than her little world. Others, who desperately need basic things that we take for granted and treat with disregard, are being helped by her willingness to make a difference.

You know, its been over a month since her birthday and she hasn't missed a single gift. She never speaks of not receiving, but only how giving made her feel. This certainly will be a yearly tradition for us...I cannot stomach the idea that next year we would receive $150 worth of gifts that she doesn't need, when we could do something much more important. Because you see, in the end, it was never really about Rachel receiving less birthday gifts, less clutter in her room, or teaching her about doing her part...I realized it wasn't even about us.

It was always about those who would receive......

If you are interested in donating school supplies for the children at Casita Adonai, or to learn more about how you can make a difference, check out Caroline's Promise website at http://www.carolinespromise.net/ for more information.

The Gift Of Unemployment

Dear hubby found out today that come December 1st, he will be out of work again. Through circumstances that had nothing to do with him, we will be experiencing our third round of unemployment in the nine-ish years we've been married.

In light of that fact, and the crazy economic situation most of us are enduring, what I'm about to say is going to sound crazy. Ludicrous. Insane.

I believe that unemployment has been a gift to us. And not for the reasons you might think. Getting out of a horrible job situation, having a chance to reevaluate your career path, taking time to get some extra education are all positive ways to look at unemployment. And we've done all of those things. But that's not why I call it a gift. I call it a gift because...

~in our seasons of unemployment, God has been able to show off how faithfully and lavishly He cares for us~

God has promised in His word that He will care for our needs. Neither shelter, food or clothing do we need to have a worry or care about, as He has promised to provide it all. In the book of Philippians, it says, "And my God shall supply ALL your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." That's a huge promise. It is fulfilled with every paycheck you receive from your job. It is fulfilled with every meal that is placed on the table, every month the bills are paid, every season of clothing that is available to be worn. But until those needs have no human way of being met, that promise seems to lose its oomph on us.

Let me say it another way: when we enter a season with no provision but continued need, and somehow everything is provided for anyway, we are experiencing the reality of God's promise in Philippians 4. And may I boldly say, most of our wants too.

This has taken me years to realize and appreciate. Our first round of unemployment lasted seventeen months. It began in our first year of marriage. (Um, can anyone spell "stress"?) And I was a jumble of emotions from the first month to the seventeenth. Begging God. Pleading with Him. Angry at Him. Rarely trusting Him. Our second round of unemployment I started out on the proud foot of "I'm-gonna-make-Him-smile-at-how-I-handle-it-this-time." and then as the months ticked by - all fifteen of them - my stance waivered and waivered and wobbled until I was back to the begging, pleading, angry tears of confusion.

Through the process of dear hubby landing a 6-month contract job at the end of those fifteen months, I went through a really rough patch, asking questions that were the wrong questions. I wanted to know "why" on so many levels I could have built a sky-scraper with them... And "why" isn't necessarily a bad question to ask. But when the goal is to have a relationship with and glorify God, "why" is usually not the question to ask. "What?" is a better question. "What was the purpose?" "What did I learn?" "What did God do?" "What could have been different?" "How?" is a good question too. "How did I grow from this?" "How did God reveal Himself?" "How did I bring Him glory?"

So gentle and patient, God showed me the many, MANY ways He provided for us in every situation. From truly miraculous interventions, to the Body of Christ, looking more like the first century church than a building, to guiding us through some financial decisions...God showed off in huge ways how very capable He was of handling our needs. We truly were on an adventure, watching, sometimes daily, to see how He would show up and provide. He always did. Hear me on this: GOD ALWAYS PROVIDED. And it RARELY looked like how we thought it would/should/could. But it was sufficient. More often than not, it was LAVISH.

God is the epitome of a joyful giver.

Do you know what I came to learn through this experience? I am not afraid of what lies ahead. I know God will provide. I know He is quite capable of caring for me and mine. And as we broach this next season of uncertainty, I nearly embrace it (just being honest here...I'm nowhere near perfect and in my flesh, this slightly sickens me) with a full heart. Though I know God was the ultimate provider with every paycheck we received these last six months, I also know its easier for me to see His creative ways when no paycheck is in sight.

In the United States, Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Can you believe it? Christmas is around the corner. We are about to enter this holiday season with no clue as to what lies ahead. And I am so thankful that God has given us this chance to show our little world what it looks like when we trust Him not just for eternity, but for today. For the needs of this day. This unemployment, I tell you, it is a precious, precious gift. As we look at the recent past of His faithfulness, may we daily walk in trust and give Him much well-deserved glory for how He loves us.

Do you have a story to share of God's faithfulness to you?

Matching...

I already posted this hilarious story on Facebook, but had a spiritual epiphany about it and wanted to repost it here:

While going through my daughter's school-work folder I found this picture:

I was all verklempt, (how DO you spell that word????) as they say, and could barely ask her why she chose me for the tears that were coming...and she said, "Because you match."
"I'm sorry...what?!"
"You match Mommy."
"Oh. Ok."

How could I inquire further when it was so obvious that it made perfect sense to her? I was her hero because I matched. We had a good laugh about this on Facebook...and as I was poking fun at myself, it hit me.

Oh, that what I say and what I do would match.

May I be my daughter's hero because she sees authentic living. She hears what I preach because it echos what I do.

1 Thessalonians 4: 11, 12 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

A gift for you

Have you ever wondered what God's will for you might be? Ever wanted a billboard plastered up in clear, bold letters that says, "This is God's will for you!" Well, dear friend, let me just take the privilege of granting that desire.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

There you go. God's will for you. In big, bold letters.

Gettin' Greedy Over the Goods

Yesterday I was out shopping with a certain 5-year-old who shall remain nameless. We weren't shopping for her but in our search for other things happened upon a pair of shoes she had been wanting for quite some time. On clearance. I was so excited that we might actually get the long-awaited shoes I had her try them on to see what size might fit. And she complained. The whole time. Next to the shoes she had "always wanted" were a pair of clearance sparkly shoes (good for nothing but looks) that she wanted "much more". Finally after whining about the third pair of shoes she had to try on, I stopped. Stopped making her try on shoes she obviously wasn't interested in any more. Stopped forcing her to take something for which I was freely, willingly, excited to give her. I was tired of fighting with her. So we left the store. Her, with no shoes. Me, with a very sad heart over how ungrateful, unappreciative and childish my child was behaving. (Yes, I see the irony there, thank you very much.) But what really tugged at my heart was the thought that was whispered into my soul:

"See how I feel when you refuse My best for you?"

Ouch.

It reminded me of that quote I posted about a while back from George McDonald and how God is giving us "good as fast as He can get us to take it in." Yesterday I learned my lesson: may I never be so distracted by the momentary "bling" that I miss out on the good I prayed for God to give me. He will not force His good on me; He's too much of a gentleman for that. And if I miss it by my complaining, whining, unwillingness, etc., oh the heartache that will follow! Not only for me, but for the Father who SO desired to give me good.

Thoughts?

Going Back

Anyone make a New Year's resolution? Anyone already broken it? I smile as I type that question because it happens to me every year. Some resolutions are just hard to keep! Whether its because of habit or the fear and discomfort of change, starting something new can be hard. Staying at it can be even harder.

In 1 Kings 11, God's Word talks about enemies that God raised up against Solomon. One of them was a man named Hadad. Hadad had everything he could need in Egypt. He had Pharoh's favor and every comfort. Yet, we see in 1 Kings 11:21:

"Then Hadad said to Pharoh, "Let me go, that I may return to my own country."
"What have you lacked here the you want to go back to your own country?" Pharoh asked.
"Nothing," Hadad replied, "but do let me go!""

Now, I know that Hadad was being used by God to punish Solomon so this is a bit of a stretch. But, go with me here for a minute. Sometimes God directs us to a place, a resolution, a breaking of a bad habit or has taught us a new lesson. And we lack nothing in the new place God has brought us. But like Hadad, we ask God to go back to where we were. We liked it there. It was comfortable. It was familiar. And God asks what we lack with Him that would make us desire to go back. In honesty we say "Nothing! I just want to go!"

Oh friends. Let's be so careful. If we keep asking, God may answer us with permission, but to our own folly. More often than not, when God has grown me to a new place, I hear Him very clearly say, "You are not to go back that way again," (Deuteronomy 17:16) Because if I do, like Hadad, my going back will be bent on destruction.

Whatever God has told you clearly to do or not do, to give up or change, do it. And keep on doing it. Let's keep doing it together.

Soul Glories

Mary says in her infamous song (Luke 1:46) "My soul glorifies the Lord..."
To my way of thinking, soul is defined as the seat of one's mind, will and emotions. That is, your thinker, your chooser and your feeler.
How many times does our mind, will and emotions glorify the Lord? I know for me, to have all three in simultanious agreement to glorify the Lord is not as often as I would like.
If my mind glorifies the Lord by my thoughts, my emotions may be focused on something else. And if my emotions glorify the Lord then sometimes my will is not because it is distracted in choosing to relish the good feelings rather than be in agreement with glorifying!
Oh that in 2009, we all will be able to intentionally say, 'My soul, my mind, my will, my emotions all glorify the Lord.'

My Husband's Name Is Not Jesus

My mom's name isn't Jesus. Neither is my pastor's name. Neither are my friends, siblings or other loved ones named Jesus. So I need to stop expecting them to act like my Savior, meet all my needs (especially the unspoken ones) and be the bearer and originator of all good things.

This is a lesson I must CONTINUALLY relearn.

Anyone in your life you (secretly) mistake for Jesus?

As dear Simon Peter says in his second letter (chapter 1, verse 13) "I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live..."

Let's take the time to refresh our memories and leave the expecations and needs in the mighty and capable hands of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. And let our loved ones be just that - Loved Ones.