Have You Checked Your Armpits Today?

White shirts.... ahhhh, one of my wardrobe nemeses.... A white shirt has a very short shelf life in my particular closet. Why, you ask? Well............ see................ um....................

I sweat like a horse.  There, I said it.

It's a very unfortunate truth in my world of clothes and shoes. White shirts leave a particularly tell-tale sign of the sweat in the, um, underarm region? I don't know quite what color to call it other than dingy and that's not really even a color, is it now? It's disgusting. No matter what kind of stain repellent, pre-treatment, laundry detergent and even special deodorant I purchase, within a few weeks of purchasing a white shirt, I begin to see the signs of the sweat. Blech.

I have tried to pretend as though it doesn't bother me. I have preached to myself on many a morning with thoughts like...  "It's only sweat, right? Everyone sweats, even Princess Kate!" Hmph. "The shirt is clean, I know, I'm the one who washed it!" Hmph. "I wear deodorant and who's going to walk around checking other people's armpits to see if they sweat alot?" Hmph.

Yeah, now ask me if that ever did any good... Uh, nope.

You see, the bottom line, for me, is that the markings of a previously sweaty day look filthy. It's not necessarily that I'm dirty or that my clothes are dirty, but they look dirty. The simple truth is that I do care what others think when they meet me or have a first impression of me and I don't want that impression to be that I'm unclean or unkempt.

Looks can be deceiving. The way things look might not be the way that they are and I am often guilty of judging based upon the way things look. Now, before you assume I'm going to give the standard pep talk about not caring what others think and just being yourself, blah blah, let me stop you. :o) I'm going to go another direction with this particular subject today............ Gotta keep you guessing!

Appearances play a very important role in a believer's life. As a believer, I have a responsibility to avoid anything that might appear  I am living anything less than a life led by the Holy Spirit. I know the popular Scriptural quote reads... "Man sees the outward appearance, but God sees the heart." - a very true statement - However, the cold hard reality is that while my perfect heavenly Father sees the heart, my frail human  eyes don't give me that viewpoint and the outward appearances are often what I look at to size up a situation or an individual. It's only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit that I am able to catch a true glimpse into what the Father sees when He looks upon the heart of man.

Okay, time for an honesty check. Am I always led by the Holy Spirit? Nope. I am human. I make mistakes and size up situations incorrectly all the time. Does that ever happen to you? Have you ever had a first impression of a person that was so far off base you wanted to cry when you realized what the truth really was? I have. Too often. :o(

Once again, I am challenged by God's Word, not only to remember that only God truly sees the heart of man, but also that how things look truly does play a role in a believer's life.

"Abstain from all appearance of evil." -  1 Thessalonians 5:22

 I don't say this because I'm afraid of what a judgmental person might think of me, but rather because I don't want to be a stumbling block to my fellow believer or to someone who is on the verge of becoming a believer. If I concern myself with the fact that God knows my heart and my heart is truly pure, I won't want to do anything that might dishonor my heavenly Father's name, will I? I must use this as a check and balance in my daily walk with Christ. I shouldn't allow it to become the primary means for evaluating my heart condition, but rather as a little reminder as I look in the mirror.

It's Been A While, Hmmm?

Good Morning!

It has been exactly four weeks since I've posted anything on my little corner of the Internet. Four weeks... I was truly surprised when I looked on my stats and found that I still had some folks checking out my page even after no activity all that time. It gave me a little happy feeling in my heart. :)

I must confess that my blogging break was a bit of a time out for me. See, I tend to have an "all or nothing" view on tasks and things and the Lord was, um, a bit unhappy with me because I hadn't been keeping up with things the way I was supposed to, yipe! I had to do a little bit of re-prioritizing and re-organizing and re-decluttering of my life. My family has to come before any other type of activity (save my time with the Lord) and I had begun to put writing a little ahead of them, ouch. So, the Lord put me in the "think about it" chair and that's what I did... thought about it... alot. 

Here's what I came up with... wait for it.... the brilliance is coming folks... :)  Okay, well, maybe not any brilliance, but I did come to a decision. I don't want to give up my blog. I do enjoy writing, it's an outlet for me and the Lord seems to be able to take my ramblings and bless other folks, so I'm gonna keep it up. I am gonna cut back again to only once a week this time. I think that will have to be my allowance to myself during the school year as life seems to be a little more than crazy and I just don't seem to be able to juggle it all with the best of 'em! :D In the summer, I might ask the Lord very nicely if He'll let me go back to writing a little more often and if I've been a very good girl, maybe He'll let me!  Yeah, I know, no one's holding their breath on Nell being a good girl, huh? What can I say, I like drama WAY too much! :D

So, if you are so inclined, please hop on here, bright and early on Monday mornings to see what odd topic the Lord has discussed with me that week. I'm also gonna post a little bit about my music classes and how the Lord has been using that this year. Just wait till you see my Kindergarten hand bell choir!!!! :o)

I love all of you and I want you to also know, the Lord has dropped it in my heart to pray for all of you and so I'm gonna keep to that task as well. You're all a blessing to me and I hope to return the favor! Have a blessed Monday!

The Bread Dough

I don't like to check my work. I was terrible about checking my work in Math class and the fact that I didn't do this step often reared it's ugly head especially in multi-step problems. However, I have learned the hard way that checking your work is a vital step. An example you ask? Of course I have an example! :o) 

When my husband and I married nearly 11 years ago, we received a bread machine for a wedding present with a cute little box of bread mix to go with it. What a wonderful gift for a newlywed! Easy peasy in the kitchen and still be able to look like a pro. Well.... the people who thought up this idea had never seen newlywed Nell in the kitchen before. ;o/

We'd been married two weeks when I decided to get the bread machine out of the box with it's little box of bread mix and give it a go. The only thing I had to do with the mix was dump it in, add the water and turn it on. Piece of cake right? Or should that be piece of bread? ;o)

The recipe on the box called for one cup of water on top of the dry mixture. Somehow in the steps to and from the sink with the measuring cup, I got it into my head that I only needed one third of a cup of water. Of course, I didn't see it was a problem when I poured the water in and turned it on. I walked away for a few minutes and came back to peer in the little window on top of the machine. I looked in and thought, "Uh-oh, that doesn't look right." So, I did what any newlywed would do. I said, "Babe, I need your help!  This doesn't look right to me." So, the dutiful husband entered the room and looked in and pronounced things just fine. He said, "Hon, it's okay, I'm sure it looks weird until it's risen."

So, I walked away for a few more minutes. Came back and looked in again and this time, the would-be bread mixture looked really bad. And again, I called for my husband. "Babe, I'm serious! Something isn't right here." Big sigh from the husband and he came to look again. Only this time he said, "Hmmm, no I guess that doesn't look too good, does it?" So, we got the box and checked and I saw my mistake. Sigh again. My hubby suggested I just throw in the extra water and see if it would just go ahead and finish working the dough and bake up okay. "It'll be fine," he said. "Just pour it on top and let it finish the cycle." So, I did.

I'm sad to say that what we ended up with was not a loaf of bread, but rather all of the mixture condensed into what looked like two slices of bread smashed together. What do you think my hubby did? Yep, you guessed it! He ate it. He's such a sweetie. :o) I have to say it was a most humiliating experience and the first of many, many kitchen blunders for me. ;o) However, as I thought about it, it made me wonder.... as I often do..... :o)

I often have a plan the Lord has so carefully laid out for me with clear instructions and somehow in a very short period of time, I have it all very messed up, but I'm not able to see the problem until it's too late, sigh. I take a look and something doesn't seem right, but there's nothing for me to "put my finger on", so I do nothing. I come back again and I know something isn't right, and by the time it occurs to me to check my Instructions, it's royally messed up.... I gotta check my Instructions a little more often because even when I can't figure out exactly what's wrong, I know my Instructions will provide the guidance needed to remedy whatever blunder I've gotten myself into, kitchen appliances included or not. ;o)

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Unwelcome Visitor

One day, I looked up as I was fixing my hair and a very small spider dropped down right in front of me on his web. My first instinct was a sharp inhale of surprise. That was the wrong thing to do.

Upon my intake of breath, the spider was pulled in close to me and somehow, in the course of that one breath, the spider found himself inside my nose! I'm sure this was as terrifying to him as it was to me because he immediately began to scurry as fast as he could which, as you might imagine, sent me into a tizzy!

I just happened to have tissue nearby and I crammed it up my nose as fast as possible in the hopes of squishing my unwelcome nostril visitor. It worked. I pulled the tissue out and surveyed the mangled spider and breathed a sigh of thankfulness that the invader had been neutralized! Blech! I felt a fleeting momentary sadness over the poor little spider's fate and then, it was over and I moved on with my day, only shuddering every once in a while. ;o) I mean, I'm sorry, but it was my nose and I wasn't gonna share it with someone who would cause a ridiculous amount of sneezing throughout the day! Hmph.

Do you know what God spoke to me through that one little story? I'm just gonna warn you, it's weird! But then again, you already are prepared for weirdness through my little stories aren't you? Wait! Don't answer that! ;o)

God's anger is like that fleeting sadness I felt over the poor little spider. It only lasts for a moment and then He moves on. Why don't I? See, I just happened to be beating myself up about something dumb I did a while back. I had confessed it and been forgiven, but I was just absolutely positive that God was still a bit miffed with me about it and He used this memory of a spider and my momentary sad thought to illustrate the time His anger lasts. See! I told you it was weird! ;o)

Am I the only one who finds herself recounting past blunders and beating myself about the head and shoulders? Am I the only one who thinks God surely is not gonna forgive this thing, again! Am I the only one who thinks God is constantly annoyed and irritated with me because of something ridiculous I did.... years ago? Am I the only one? Seriously?

"For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning. " - Psalm 30:5 

Labor Day!

It's Labor Day! Which means we all do no labor, right? Well, at least that's what it means around my house!  ;o)

My sweet hubby has to work for a time today, so my girls and I are taking a short trip to a neighboring city to visit their mall and their Chick-Fil-A! Sadly, we have no Chick-Fil-A in our little corner of the world and so we take a road trip every now and again to have a little treat. I'm extremely excited to get to go with my girls and just enjoy the day!

For now, though, we are hanging out in our pj's watchin' tv and eatin' junk for breakfast! ;o)

We've only been through two weeks of school and I must say I'm extremely thankful for a break already! The Lord knows just what we need when we need it, doesn't He? An extra day of rest! Yippee! I plan on enjoying it! See you here on Wednesday for some Scripture and some meaningful thoughts... at least I hope so! ;o) Have a great day!!

Got Rhythm?

I am a music teacher. I love it. :o) I have taught music in many different ways over the years - church Christmas pageants, children's choir, piano lessons, etc. This year, I've started teaching music in a classroom again. I love it. Now, there are many aspects of music I love, but I think my very favorite concept is the one I always start the year with - rhythm. :o) Rhythm is a wonderful part of music that is the most versatile in my personal opinion. Let me show you something... :o) 

This is one of my favorite percussion pieces. Of course because it has kiddos in it! :o) But also, I think it's because it's so simple; however, let me tell you, it's not easy! Whew! I tried this particular piece with some students of my own and it was ALOT of work!  There are two things this piece employs.

A steady beat. An ostinato. These two things are not the same. One is an even pulse in which every beat has the same length. The other is a pattern that moves, and not every beat has the same length.The steady beat keeps the slow even tempo of the composition moving along, but can honestly be dead as a doornail all by itself. The ostinato keeps things interesting, gives you something to enjoy along the journey of the steady beat. However, if the ostinato didn't have the steady beat underneath it to give a firm footing, it would speed up or slow down and lose the continuity of the musical phrase. You can't have one without the other, they need each other.  

My faith is my steady beat. It's my even pulse that moves my journey of salvation along. My works in my faith are my ostinatos. They definitely keep my journey interesting. ;o) If I don't have the works to experience my faith in action, I am frustrated because God created us to be experiential, relational beings and something is definitely missing without my ostinatos in my faith walk. If I try to experience the journey of salvation without the firm footing of faith, my works fall apart and mean nothing and all I experience is frustration, again!  Isn't the Lord smart to remind us again and again we need both?

Like the piece above, it's so simple; however, that doesn't mean it's easy... ;o)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

 - James 2:26 

Failure to Communicate

Communication. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is one of the cornerstones to being a civilized person. That was pretty profound, yes? Well, here's another in my confession series for you... :o)

I'm not a civilized person. Yes, that's right, you read correctly. I cannot always communicate clearly and effectively. Clearly means the other person 'gets the message' right? Effectively means something (hopefully positive) results from the communication, right? Growth? Change? Yipe! I'm in deep trouble here, people. You know what I take comfort in? Jesus wasn't a civilized person either! Yippee! :o) For those of you who think I've just lost my mind, let me explain. :0)

A few days ago while on the phone with a good friend, I was bemoaning the fact of failing, communicatively-speaking, in a certain relationship. I was very frustrated with myself of not being able to communicate a message to this other person in a way that they could 'get' it and I was truly ready to throw up my hands in defeat and never try again. It seemed every way, method, technique, approach or scheme I used had one of three responses -

1. Angry tears of injustice
2. Resentful and sullen backlashes
3. Inconsiderate disregard of attempt at communication

Anyone ever had any of those experiences? Sheesh! Makes me want to go live in the woods!  As I was going on and on about how I should be able to communicate!!!, my friend stopped me and said, "Nell, even Jesus didn't always communicate so that message sent was message received." Um, huh? She brought up the account of the rich young ruler and how he actually walked away from THE MESSIAH because he couldn't bear to give up his things. Message sent was not message received for this young man. She mused aloud about what impact my attempts at communication might have in a few years for this person. Would they think back to the many talks, conversations and dialogues and have an 'ah-ha!' moment?

I had to stop and repent a little that day... :'( Who do I think I am? I am a perfectionist and I want to see perfect results immediately and I don't often want to wait for the Lord's perfect timing. I want my attempts at communication to have instantaneous, positive responses and results, shouldn't that be the outcome in a situation where I'm led by the Spirit?  Unfortunately, I look in my Bible and I find passage after passage after passage all through Isaiah, Jeremiah and Lamentations (to only name three) showing God's unsuccessful attempts to get it through Israel's head that the path of worshiping other gods was going to lead to destruction. Even though He knew they weren't going to listen, God clearly stated to Ezekial the following... 

"Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern." 

 - Ezekial 2:7

Here's the deal. The message won't always be communicated so that the receiver 'gets' it. It's just part of our sinful human nature to reject something that isn't easy. Here's what I need to remember... that doesn't mean the message isn't worth communicating...

What would've happened if God had thrown up His hands at the end of the Old Testament and decided to not communicate in yet another way His great love for us through Jesus, His Son? Where on earth would I be? So, I guess if He can be patient for hundreds of years and still try, I guess I can make the effort, too, hmm?

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26