Set A Spell

Luke 2:46 (NIV)⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

The phrase "set a spell" has been running through my mind lately.  Probably because of family visits lately to the hospital and rehab, etc.  I also thought it was at the end of the Beverly Hillbillies TV show too.  It was (I had to check the lyrics...and now THAT'S running through my head....it's a busy place up there!).

I think with technology and social sites spreading as fast as they are, we as a society and families are losing the fine art of setting a spell...taking time to slow down and listen to people....face to face....not Facebook or MySpace.  

When my mom was in the hospital in Utah years ago, a local church sent a lady through one of their ministries to come visit with us.  I was kind of worried about what we would find to talk about to a complete stranger.  We ended up having a very nice conversation.  

When we would visit our grandma at the nursing home, she and the others at the home were full of stories.  They appreciated having someone listen....and most of the time, we got a living history story.  

Sometimes we don't even need to fill the space with conversation, just having someone near us is enough. 

Talking, writing, a status update or a tweet can all equate to setting a spell.  However, I urge you to take the time this week to sit down (without the TV and computer or other distractions) and truly have a conversation with the people in your house, someone you work with who needs a friend, or even just taking a quiet time to listen to the small voice you only hear when you get quiet.

And just in case you would like the theme song running through your head also:  Sung at the end of the show:

Well now its time to say good-bye to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in.
You're all invited back again to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality

Hillbilly that is. Set a spell. Take your shoes off. Y'all come back now, y'hear?

We Are Family.....

Our family has had a lot of stuff going on lately. Our extended family (aunts, cousins, etc) have been going through stuff as well. Probably not any more than most people, but it just seems to be sinking in more as I think about it.

When bad health or trouble comes our way, we have two choices. It makes us closer....or pulls us further apart. Even in the same family, we all handle stress differently. Sometimes it's birth order or personality that dictates our handling. Sometimes it's our faith in God. Sometimes we just each do our part to muddle through.

Our families can be small....or large....birth....or adopted....or friends that feel like family.

When our daughter was baptized, I did the message for children at church that day. There was a little boy baptized as well. I started with, "Congratulations! You have a new brother and sister. To the relief of your parents, they will not be going home with you." I went on to explain that when we are believers, we gain brothers and sisters in Christ. We become a bigger family.

Bigger families can mean bigger problems. However, it can also mean a stronger base of assistance when stuff gets tough.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

So start looking around, your family doesn’t stop at your front door.

Letting Go......

I've been thinking lately about letting go and how hard that is. Especially when we are not ready, willing or able to let go of whatever it is we are holding on to so tightly. Sometimes we want to let go....but on our time line and expanding our comfort zone ever so slowly (or so it seems!). Sometimes it becomes obvious that it is time (or past time) to let go.

What makes it so difficult to let go? Many times it is fear. We become familiar with a situation and the people in it and sometimes it seems easier to stay...even if it is not working out for anyone.

When it became very obvious that I was supposed to leave my job and be at home, I dealt with fear of the unknown. The job was a good-paying one with good benefits. Without knowing the situation, it would be easy to say just stay and make it work. It got to the point of realizing no matter how hard I tried, it was time to let go and move on. For the most part, that decision has been the right one.

Part of the fear issue is not always seeing the whole picture and how it will turn out. Almost like putting a really hard puzzle together....without the benefit of the picture on the box.

Letting go can be as easy as having someone else be in charge of the remote control when they really want it. Letting go might not be your decision as layoffs happen at your job. Letting go can be as difficult as helping someone make a decision to no longer receive treatment that will ultimately end a life.

When we finally do let go though? God is there waiting to help move us on to where He wants us to go next. He has the full picture on the box of the puzzle of our lives. Letting go requires trust that we are always in God's view and His plan is to help us find the purpose we're here for.

Is there something or someone you've been holding on a little too tightly? Are you willing to let go and not take it back to worry about? If it's partly your decision, start with the small stuff and work your way up to truly letting go once and for all. Because when we let go? God promises, He won't.

Hebrews6 ^18-20 (The Message) We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us.

Ecclesiastes 3 (NLT) A Time for Everything
¹ For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
² A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. .....²² So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.

This song really explains a lot of what I've been feeling about letting go. (Britt Nicole: Walk On the Water) This girl did a great job on her video of it.

Free Donut Day – Freedom, a free gift?

Recently it was “Free Donut Day”. You could go to your local donut shop and get a free donut…sometimes with a drink purchase, but still a good deal. Facebook and the internet were abuzz with the declaration of said donut day. We do like our freebie deals, don’t we? Sometimes companies have to shut down their offers when the word gets spread around almost instantly in cyberspace and they are inundated with freebie seekers.

Fast forward to Sunday. I’m sitting in church and we’re singing and praising God. The free gift of salvation is mentioned. I get rather sad quickly, because I realize that there are people missing out. I am very quick to share freebies or good deals I find online and in the store. I am rather disappointed with myself as I realize I am much more willing to pass on info regarding temporary good deals instead of the most freeing gift I’ve found.

I was raised going to church – sometimes twice on Sunday. (THANKS mom and dad!) I’ve known God loves me from little on. I know where I’ll go when I die. It is not based on how good I am…..or not. There is great freedom in that. I have great respect for people who become Christians as an adult. By then, we are jaded. We’ve been hurt. We’ve hurt others. I have a lot of respect for those who are good at helping people find their way to God and helping God find them by praying for family and friends.

Why am I not more willing/able to pass on the good news that knowing Jesus can bring?

Maybe a donut is a good example of salvation. There’s a hole in most donuts. There’s a hole in us God wants to fill. If you are not a Christian, are you willing to take that first step in asking God to reveal Himself to you? Are you willing to talk to a trusted friend about your questions? Are you willing to get a Bible and not be afraid to open it and read some? Are you willing to seek freedom?

Isaiah 61 The Year of the LORD's Favor

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Pentecost Sunday - Holy Spirit

Act 2 (NIV) ¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...........¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" ¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Reminded that today was Pentecost Sunday (7th Sunday after Easter - had to look it up). I read through the above verses...and the rest of chapter. LOVE www.biblegateway.com I find it interesting that some were amazed...and perplexed.....some questioned....and some made fun.

Personally? I think I'm in the amazed and perplexed and the questioning groups. Even as I gain a better understanding of God's plan by reading the Bible, I still frequently question how it is all going to work out. However, I frequently find that when I honestly question and wait for an answer. I do get one. I have to be willing to have my logical (smile?!?!?) thinking shook up. Does this mean all my questions are answered? Hardly!

I love mysteries anyway. It seems like I get clues revealed as I need them to continue on my journey. I get just enough info to move to the next place God wants me.

The people's reactions sound similar to today. It is really easy to feel safe, secure and blessed....in our homes, churches and with fellow believers. However, are you prepared for the people who question and/or make fun of you for being a Christian....or maybe even "un-friend" you from Facebook because of what you believe?

Praying for a revival of the Holy Spirit. Even if it makes people around us think we're a little weird.