Many years ago when I was a senior in college, I had to prepare for my senior recital. As a music education major, my senior recital was a requirement for graduation. There were many requirements that had to be met in my recital. It had to be a certain length of time with a certain number of songs. Some of the songs had to be memorized. Needless to say, it was a big deal and there was a lot riding on the successful completion of the recital - mainly, my graduation.
I remember my piano teacher giving me this advice one time when she saw how anxious and stressed I was about my recital. She told me that the human body produces the same chemical - adrenaline - when we are nervous and when we are excited. How we choose to look at it is a matter of perspective. "You can choose to be nervous or you can choose to be excited. Which are you going to choose?"
I think that advice applies to a lot of situations in life. How we choose to look at something determines whether or not it's going to be a pleasurable experience or a miserable one. Unfortunately, I think most people navigate toward the miserable experience. I wonder why we willingly choose to be negative rather than positive.
It seems like I've been surrounded by a lot of change in my life lately. Mention the word change around some people and they immediately stick their fingers in the ears and start repeating, "I'm not listening! I'm not listening! I'm not listening!" Some people don't like change and they will do everything in their power to keep a situation the same - automatically choosing to view the change as negative rather than be excited for the possibilities it can bring.
It's funny how, even when a change is for the best, people still rebel against it. Why are we so sure that a change is going to be a bad thing? Why is it hard for us to look at new possibilities? What if by doing something differently, we do it better? What if by embracing change we find something wonderful?
Changes in life are going to occur no matter what we do to try and stop them. Why make them worse by fighting them so much? Try to find the exciting and new possibilities a change brings with it! You might discover hidden blessings!
Amy
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Let Them Eat Pizza
My husband and I try to have lunch together once a week - a time to get away from the office, (not that I ever want to get away!) be with each other without the kids and reconnect. A couple of weeks ago we went to the Pizza Hut lunch buffet.
We went shortly after the restaurant opened but it was already almost full. There were tow waitresses there who were frantically trying to seat people takedrink orders and keep the pizza and pasta bar filled with food. We sat down near a table which was occupied with two couples. After watching the behavior of these four people I immediately thought to myself that there were so many theological teaching moments that I wouldn't know where to begin! Let me explain.
We had just sat down with a plate of salad when one of the two servers came out with our drinks. I didn't even have a chance to say, "Thank you" before one of the men of this group leaned way out of his seat to ensure the waitress would see him. He raised his almost empty glass and yelled, "I need more Diet Pepsi!" This happened several more times, the most obnoxious occurring when the waitress was all the way across the restaurant and the man had to scream, "DIET PEPSI!"
It was very interesting - and a little sad - to watch this group when the waitresses did manage to bring out more food. This group was sitting very close to the buffet and every time more pizza arrived, they all jumped, up, grabbed a clean plate and proceeded to pile on the pizza - not just a slice or two but four and five slices each. All of the food was taken by these folks before anyone else in the restaurant got a chance to pick up a piece of pepperoni that had fallen off a slice! This scenario happened several times as well. Wouldn't it be nice if people rushed up to the church like that to feast on the word of God? But that's another blog for another time
Often times we fall into the trap of self-absorption. All that matters is what I want - not what I need but what I WANT. It doesn't matter that there is a restaurant full of others who are hungry and desire pizza. I want all the pizza I want and I want it now! You can wait to get yours!
As Christians, we are called to put the needs - and desires - of others above our own. When the disciples asked Christ what was the greatest commandment was he told them, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And the second is like this: Love your neighbor as yourself." This means that you wait to have pizza until everyone else has had some. This means that you are willing to give up something that is important to you so that others can experience God's love.
This means you are following Christ's example.
When your hands are open to giving to others, they are also open to receive the blessings God has to offer you. Are your hands open?
In His Love,
Amy
We went shortly after the restaurant opened but it was already almost full. There were tow waitresses there who were frantically trying to seat people takedrink orders and keep the pizza and pasta bar filled with food. We sat down near a table which was occupied with two couples. After watching the behavior of these four people I immediately thought to myself that there were so many theological teaching moments that I wouldn't know where to begin! Let me explain.
We had just sat down with a plate of salad when one of the two servers came out with our drinks. I didn't even have a chance to say, "Thank you" before one of the men of this group leaned way out of his seat to ensure the waitress would see him. He raised his almost empty glass and yelled, "I need more Diet Pepsi!" This happened several more times, the most obnoxious occurring when the waitress was all the way across the restaurant and the man had to scream, "DIET PEPSI!"
It was very interesting - and a little sad - to watch this group when the waitresses did manage to bring out more food. This group was sitting very close to the buffet and every time more pizza arrived, they all jumped, up, grabbed a clean plate and proceeded to pile on the pizza - not just a slice or two but four and five slices each. All of the food was taken by these folks before anyone else in the restaurant got a chance to pick up a piece of pepperoni that had fallen off a slice! This scenario happened several times as well. Wouldn't it be nice if people rushed up to the church like that to feast on the word of God? But that's another blog for another time
Often times we fall into the trap of self-absorption. All that matters is what I want - not what I need but what I WANT. It doesn't matter that there is a restaurant full of others who are hungry and desire pizza. I want all the pizza I want and I want it now! You can wait to get yours!
As Christians, we are called to put the needs - and desires - of others above our own. When the disciples asked Christ what was the greatest commandment was he told them, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And the second is like this: Love your neighbor as yourself." This means that you wait to have pizza until everyone else has had some. This means that you are willing to give up something that is important to you so that others can experience God's love.
This means you are following Christ's example.
When your hands are open to giving to others, they are also open to receive the blessings God has to offer you. Are your hands open?
In His Love,
Amy
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Random? Not a chance!!
Last week I spent a few days in Salt Lake City on church business. I found myself with a day all to myself to do whatever I wanted! In a town like Salt Lake there are so many choices but we tend to navigate to what we like so I ended up at The Gateway - a huge outdoor shopping complex!
The Gateway is home to the Clark Planetarium. I had see an advertisement on tv for the new IMAX movie showing there called Hubble 3D. The movie is about the space shuttle's launch last year to save the Hubble telescope. If this launch was not successful, there would be no more pictures received from Hubble.
The movie was incredible - if you live close to Salt Lake, take the time to go see it. Immediately I was transported via Hubble to places in the galaxy I would never imagined! I found myself heading for Orion's belt. Just below these three stars is Orion's nebula. This nebula is 1500 light years away from Earth. It is in this nebula that stars are born. And each star has the potential to become a universe. I witnessed the death of a star that lived 10 billion light years away from earth. I was informed that there could possibly be 100 billion galaxies across the universe.
As I was watching all of these incredible sights, the thought occured to me. How can anyone look at this, see how everything happens according to an unwritten plan and think that this just randomly happened? Think of the last time that you left something to chance and hoped that it worked out fine. I am the walking definition for Murphy's Law. Things in my life usually go off without a hitch when I follow a plan. If I leave things to chance, they usually don't go well.
If we have to plan our lives to ensure things will work out the way they are supposed to, how can we think that the universe is a bunch of random occurances? There is a plan created by the ultimate Master Planner. And if He can create stars that exist 10 billion lights years away from me, He most certainly can help me take care of my life!
Blessings!
Amy
The Gateway is home to the Clark Planetarium. I had see an advertisement on tv for the new IMAX movie showing there called Hubble 3D. The movie is about the space shuttle's launch last year to save the Hubble telescope. If this launch was not successful, there would be no more pictures received from Hubble.
The movie was incredible - if you live close to Salt Lake, take the time to go see it. Immediately I was transported via Hubble to places in the galaxy I would never imagined! I found myself heading for Orion's belt. Just below these three stars is Orion's nebula. This nebula is 1500 light years away from Earth. It is in this nebula that stars are born. And each star has the potential to become a universe. I witnessed the death of a star that lived 10 billion light years away from earth. I was informed that there could possibly be 100 billion galaxies across the universe.
As I was watching all of these incredible sights, the thought occured to me. How can anyone look at this, see how everything happens according to an unwritten plan and think that this just randomly happened? Think of the last time that you left something to chance and hoped that it worked out fine. I am the walking definition for Murphy's Law. Things in my life usually go off without a hitch when I follow a plan. If I leave things to chance, they usually don't go well.
If we have to plan our lives to ensure things will work out the way they are supposed to, how can we think that the universe is a bunch of random occurances? There is a plan created by the ultimate Master Planner. And if He can create stars that exist 10 billion lights years away from me, He most certainly can help me take care of my life!
Blessings!
Amy
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Kill the Boy!!!
My poor kids! They are very close to becoming full-fledged "PK's" (preacher's kids.) Actually, they've already become PK's for the most part because quite often I use them or things that have happened to them as examples when I teach and preach. Emily can breathe a sigh of relief because this time, I'm using Josh.
Josh recently earned his Arrow of Light and became a full-fledged Boy Scout. He's quite proud of this achievement. He likes hanging out with the older boys in his troop. So when the troop planned their first camp out with the "new guys" he was very excited! He spent the week making plans for what he needed to take and thinking about what they would do over the course of the weekend. Of course, my heart broke a little bit having to send my baby away for two nights without me but this didn't seem to be of concern to Josh.
I spent the first few hours of his absence missing him. That ended when I walked into his room. The floor was covered with clothes - dirty and clean alike. They were mixed in with toys, books and various other things that were unrecognizable to me. After fully taking in the scene, the first words out of my mouth were ,"I'm going to kill him!"
Thus, the great room cleaning began. Laundry baskets were filled with clothes to be washed. Trash sacks were filled with all kinds of things to be discarded. Drawers were organized. Toys were put into piles for him to decide what would stay, what would be thrown away and what would come to the church rummage sale - all of this being accomplished with my thinking of ways to dispose of a body! (OK, not really but I think you get my point.)
In one of his drawers I found a CD that wasn't labeled with anything. I turned on his boom box so I could put the CD in to find out what was on it. AS it came one, the radio started playing. I braced myself for some really loud, obnoxious music. But I didn't' hear what I was expecting.
Instead, KLOVE started playing. KLOVE is a Christian radio station that is broadcast nationally and plays contemporary Christian music - good music that shares the message about God's love. That is what I'm usually listening to in my car and because my kids have heard the songs so many times there, they know them and sing along. But Josh had it on his own radio in his own room!
Immediately, my heart softened. I forgot about how I wanted to kill him and became proud of him. He had chosen to listen to this station on his own. It was at that moment that I realized that he has been paying attention to everytyhing he's been learning at church all his life.
We never know how what we say or do will affect someone's life and the choices they make. We can affect them positively and help them come to love God or we can affect them negatively and never show them who God truly is. We're not always going to do the right thing. But we can strive to be good sowers of God's love and grace. And just maybe, years from now, you may be surprised at what you reap!
In His Love,
Amy
Josh recently earned his Arrow of Light and became a full-fledged Boy Scout. He's quite proud of this achievement. He likes hanging out with the older boys in his troop. So when the troop planned their first camp out with the "new guys" he was very excited! He spent the week making plans for what he needed to take and thinking about what they would do over the course of the weekend. Of course, my heart broke a little bit having to send my baby away for two nights without me but this didn't seem to be of concern to Josh.
I spent the first few hours of his absence missing him. That ended when I walked into his room. The floor was covered with clothes - dirty and clean alike. They were mixed in with toys, books and various other things that were unrecognizable to me. After fully taking in the scene, the first words out of my mouth were ,"I'm going to kill him!"
Thus, the great room cleaning began. Laundry baskets were filled with clothes to be washed. Trash sacks were filled with all kinds of things to be discarded. Drawers were organized. Toys were put into piles for him to decide what would stay, what would be thrown away and what would come to the church rummage sale - all of this being accomplished with my thinking of ways to dispose of a body! (OK, not really but I think you get my point.)
In one of his drawers I found a CD that wasn't labeled with anything. I turned on his boom box so I could put the CD in to find out what was on it. AS it came one, the radio started playing. I braced myself for some really loud, obnoxious music. But I didn't' hear what I was expecting.
Instead, KLOVE started playing. KLOVE is a Christian radio station that is broadcast nationally and plays contemporary Christian music - good music that shares the message about God's love. That is what I'm usually listening to in my car and because my kids have heard the songs so many times there, they know them and sing along. But Josh had it on his own radio in his own room!
Immediately, my heart softened. I forgot about how I wanted to kill him and became proud of him. He had chosen to listen to this station on his own. It was at that moment that I realized that he has been paying attention to everytyhing he's been learning at church all his life.
We never know how what we say or do will affect someone's life and the choices they make. We can affect them positively and help them come to love God or we can affect them negatively and never show them who God truly is. We're not always going to do the right thing. But we can strive to be good sowers of God's love and grace. And just maybe, years from now, you may be surprised at what you reap!
In His Love,
Amy
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Awww, poop!
During my devotional time recently, I found myself in Luke 13 where Jesus told the story about the barren fig tree. The tree had remained fruitless for three years and the owner was ready to chop it down. The gardener who cared for the tree talked him into waiting for a year before getting rid of it. The gardener promised to put manure around the tree. We all know what the purpose of that was - to fertilize the tree and make it grow.
I grew up in Kansas and would sometimes go with my dad to his brother's farm. One time while I was there, I wasn't looking where I stepped and - you guessed it - planted my foot in a recently placed deposit left by one of my uncle's cows. It was a mess! And the smell was horrible!
Manure is nasty. It stinks. And when you consider where it comes from, it's no wonder that we don't want to have anything to do with it. And yet, it can help trees and plants to grow.
I have been leading a book study with a group of ladies on Monday evenings. We recently discussed how God does not want or intend for us to remain stagnant. He wants us to grow - to develop into the people He desires us to be. In order to grow, we have to be fertilized.
Sometimes it seems that we have bag after bag of manure dumped upon us. We have to deal with complicated relationships, financial struggles, health issues - the list can go on and on. We are being fertilized when this happens. It's not very pleasant to have it dumped on us but the end result will be a bigger, stronger plant - or person, rather.
You might have seen the bumper sticker that has been around for years. I won't quote it exactly but is says something to the effect that poop happens. And we all know it does. And it happens to all of us. Choose to view it as fertilizer rather than a disgusting substance. And know that God, the master gardener, is helping you to grow stronger!
I grew up in Kansas and would sometimes go with my dad to his brother's farm. One time while I was there, I wasn't looking where I stepped and - you guessed it - planted my foot in a recently placed deposit left by one of my uncle's cows. It was a mess! And the smell was horrible!
Manure is nasty. It stinks. And when you consider where it comes from, it's no wonder that we don't want to have anything to do with it. And yet, it can help trees and plants to grow.
I have been leading a book study with a group of ladies on Monday evenings. We recently discussed how God does not want or intend for us to remain stagnant. He wants us to grow - to develop into the people He desires us to be. In order to grow, we have to be fertilized.
Sometimes it seems that we have bag after bag of manure dumped upon us. We have to deal with complicated relationships, financial struggles, health issues - the list can go on and on. We are being fertilized when this happens. It's not very pleasant to have it dumped on us but the end result will be a bigger, stronger plant - or person, rather.
You might have seen the bumper sticker that has been around for years. I won't quote it exactly but is says something to the effect that poop happens. And we all know it does. And it happens to all of us. Choose to view it as fertilizer rather than a disgusting substance. And know that God, the master gardener, is helping you to grow stronger!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The only thing that is constant is change
We humans are such creatures of habit! I know I am. I have my routines and I keep them. There's my morning routine. Wake up, read my Bible, do my devotion, and have my prayer time. Then I shower, do my hair, brush my teeth, do my make-up, get the kids off to school, have my orange juice and go to the office. Even my weekend routine doesn't vary much. School is replaced with sporting events or church but other than that, it's pretty much the same.
Then, there's my early morning office routine. I come in and turn on the computer. Check my email, return emails, update the church's Facebook page and start in on the list of daily tasks to accomplish.
Routines are good. They ensure that we accomplish what we need to and that we do so correctly. And they provide comfort - a sense of knowing what we need to do and how we're going to do it.
But with comfort sometimes comes complacency. We get so used to doing what we've always done that we don't stop to think that there may be another - a better - way of doing it. We're afraid to leave our comfortable place - and so we don't. Ever! And that's not a good thing.
I had a conversation with a lady who is taking a class I teach at church. She was confused by a Bible verse she had read. It was Proverbs 25:2 which says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." She wasn't sure what that meant.
It means that we are not created to remain the same. We are to search, to explore, to grow. God does not intend for us to remain stagnant. He wants us to change because through that change, we come closer to being the creation He intends for us to be.
I encourage you to be open to the changes God places before you. Don't be afraid to leave the comfort of the familiar. There is a saying that goes: When you come to the edge of all the light you have known and are about to step out into the darkness, FAITH is knowing one of two things will happen . . . There will be something to stand on or you will be taught how to fly. Trust that God will provide either way and you will be changed for the better. And be richly blessed!
In Him,
Amy
Then, there's my early morning office routine. I come in and turn on the computer. Check my email, return emails, update the church's Facebook page and start in on the list of daily tasks to accomplish.
Routines are good. They ensure that we accomplish what we need to and that we do so correctly. And they provide comfort - a sense of knowing what we need to do and how we're going to do it.
But with comfort sometimes comes complacency. We get so used to doing what we've always done that we don't stop to think that there may be another - a better - way of doing it. We're afraid to leave our comfortable place - and so we don't. Ever! And that's not a good thing.
I had a conversation with a lady who is taking a class I teach at church. She was confused by a Bible verse she had read. It was Proverbs 25:2 which says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." She wasn't sure what that meant.
It means that we are not created to remain the same. We are to search, to explore, to grow. God does not intend for us to remain stagnant. He wants us to change because through that change, we come closer to being the creation He intends for us to be.
I encourage you to be open to the changes God places before you. Don't be afraid to leave the comfort of the familiar. There is a saying that goes: When you come to the edge of all the light you have known and are about to step out into the darkness, FAITH is knowing one of two things will happen . . . There will be something to stand on or you will be taught how to fly. Trust that God will provide either way and you will be changed for the better. And be richly blessed!
In Him,
Amy
Thursday, February 4, 2010
What goes around - comes around.
I just finished reading the blog of one my husband's employees. She has an adorable 6 month old baby girl. I've seen her twice - at Walmart which tells you something about the extent of my social life. Both times I've been told how good of a baby she is. And how she sleeps through the night. Well, it seems as if those days are gone!
Now that their daughter has figured out how to "break" her swaddle, she wakes herself up. And she's not happy when she does. Her mother's blog post is asking for advice to prevent this.
So what do I do after reading her blog? Come up with different ideas for her to try? Give her suggestions based upon my experience? No. Instead I begin laughing hysterically, thinking mean things and saying, "Ha! Now you get yours!!!"
Don't get me wrong - I don't have it out for this woman. In fact, I really, really like her! But I had to pay my dues and every other mother should have to pay hers, right?
Perhaps I'm bitter because I DIDN'T have a first baby who slept through the night. My daughter didn't have a problem with sleep. She just had a problem with sleeping by herself. She wouldn't sleep unless she was held. If we put her down, she immediately woke up and started wailing. When we first brought her home from the hospital our sleeping schedule went like this. I would stay up until 1 am, letting her sleep on my chest or stomach, until my husband got home from his job at the newspaper. He would take over at that point and stay up with her until around 4:30 am when my mother, who stayed with us for two weeks, got up and started her shift.
I wish I could say that things got better as she got older. I can't. This girl had to be rocked to sleep every night until she was 3 years old. Never mind the fact that I was hugely pregnant with her brother and she could barely fit on my lap. Each night we would rock until she fell asleep and then I would place her gently in her crib while muttering the prayer, "Please stay asleep! Please stay asleep!"
Which brings me back to the question of how to respond to this mother's question? The mean, evil-spirited side of me says, "Suck it up, Lisa! Everyone else had to!" However, I guess my best advice is this: Do whatever you have to do to get her to sleep and patiently wait until she becomes a teenager and you won't be able to wake her up!
Blessings!
Amy
Now that their daughter has figured out how to "break" her swaddle, she wakes herself up. And she's not happy when she does. Her mother's blog post is asking for advice to prevent this.
So what do I do after reading her blog? Come up with different ideas for her to try? Give her suggestions based upon my experience? No. Instead I begin laughing hysterically, thinking mean things and saying, "Ha! Now you get yours!!!"
Don't get me wrong - I don't have it out for this woman. In fact, I really, really like her! But I had to pay my dues and every other mother should have to pay hers, right?
Perhaps I'm bitter because I DIDN'T have a first baby who slept through the night. My daughter didn't have a problem with sleep. She just had a problem with sleeping by herself. She wouldn't sleep unless she was held. If we put her down, she immediately woke up and started wailing. When we first brought her home from the hospital our sleeping schedule went like this. I would stay up until 1 am, letting her sleep on my chest or stomach, until my husband got home from his job at the newspaper. He would take over at that point and stay up with her until around 4:30 am when my mother, who stayed with us for two weeks, got up and started her shift.
I wish I could say that things got better as she got older. I can't. This girl had to be rocked to sleep every night until she was 3 years old. Never mind the fact that I was hugely pregnant with her brother and she could barely fit on my lap. Each night we would rock until she fell asleep and then I would place her gently in her crib while muttering the prayer, "Please stay asleep! Please stay asleep!"
Which brings me back to the question of how to respond to this mother's question? The mean, evil-spirited side of me says, "Suck it up, Lisa! Everyone else had to!" However, I guess my best advice is this: Do whatever you have to do to get her to sleep and patiently wait until she becomes a teenager and you won't be able to wake her up!
Blessings!
Amy
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