Real Friends

I am thankful for my real friends.  I know you all probably have at least one of your own.  He or she is that friend who loves you day in and day out no matter what.  You can share all of your secrets with them, laugh until you cry, dance with them like no one is watching, cry the ugly cry, tell the truth, never wear a game face, count on them to be there before you ask …  You get the picture. 

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

from The Velveteen Rabbit

I am so very thankful for my real friends.  If this made you think of someone, drop them a note or give them a call.  Real friends are a treasure.

I believe …

… that God gives me the freedom of choice.  I also believe that if I make the wrong choice, but don’t lose my faith, I take away invaluable lessons and knowledge.  I believe if I make a good choice, I can still screw it up by not appreciating it.

I believe I can learn something from every good and bad situation. I might not know it while I am in the midst of it; but if I make the most of it, I can use help myself or someone else later. 

I believe blaming other people is a waste of time.  I believe I should not let other people’s thoughts or actions control me.  I make a decision to do better, be better, live better.  I might have to start by doing better out of spite.  The bottom line is, I will still be doing better.

I believe everyone should rise up, raise the bar and raise it again when you get there.  Some people will come with you, some people will cheer you on and others will stay behind and try to drag you down.  Recognize the difference and continue to give your best.

Right now as you read this, stretch your arm up as far as you can.  Now, stretch a little higher.  See?  You still had room to grow.

I believe I can apply this to all of the different areas of my life as a wife, Mother, Christian,  employee, daughter and friend. 

I believe I am not the only one who can reach a little higher.

Living It vs. Saying It

I saw a bumper sticker that said “I love my wife”.  I honestly laughed and wondered if the guy’s wife put it on his truck.  I have also seen Real Men Love Jesus and Honk if You Love Jesus bumper stickers.  I have seen countless John 3:16 posters while watching NFL football on TV. 

I am not opposed to any of these things.   I have a couple of catchy Christian t-shirts myself and I just bought Chelsea a great one at last weekend’s soccer tournament.   Each time I see something like that, I wonder if that bumper sticker, t-shirt, poster or license plate is that person’s only statement of faith.  I think if we are wearing our hearts on our sleeves (or cars, or book bags or t-shirts) then we better be walking the walk.  We also need to be prepared to back up our “statements of faith” with the life we lead.  For me, it’s not about saying I love Jesus to everyone I meet; it’s about doing my best to act like I love Jesus.  I think actions speak louder than words.  I also think if I’m living it, there won’t be much left to say.  The bottom line is, it’s not about “me” anyway.

OK – here is where I am really going with this.  I’m a little frustrated because someone told me to “do it because I love Jesus”.  Well duh, that is why I do the things I do.  The good things, anyway.  For me (and I’m writing this), sharing my faith is more that wearing a t-shirt or a WWJD wristband.  Once you get to know me, you find a sinner saved by grace who was baptized 25 years ago and remains a sinner saved by grace.  I do not go around shaking hands, telling people Jesus loves them, hauling them to the nearest body of water for dunking and then moving on.  People do not come to know Jesus this way any more than the do when you tell them to F.R.O.G.  Go out into the world and live it.  Spend the time building the relationships.  The people you build relationships with will know you love Jesus and you won’t even have to mention it … or wear it or honk …

What is it really about ?

I’m still here.  I’m still reading other people’s blogs everyday, I just have not taken the time to write my own.  Jr High is finally feeling like a routine.  Soccer is finally feeling like a routine.  I have dishes in my sink and that seems to be routine these days too! 

I had an interesting weekend.  I saw this guy and found out he is a proud soccer Dad now.  I’m so happy for him.  He also mentioned that I did not blog a lot anymore.  Thought I would pester him with a few links today.  Now, on to what I want to say …

This has been rattling around in my brain for a couple of days.  Chelsea, Scotty and I “prepared” communion on Saturday night.  Chelsea loves to do this!  I could take it or leave it, but since I said I would do it I fulfilled my commitment to do it.  How is serving by preparing communion any different than serving it?  Are the people passing the trays serving me?  Am I serving them by filling the trays?  Are the people standing in the front (or the back) leading me in something?  Or are they just facilitating the passing of the tray the same way Chelsea does when I hand it to her to hand it to the next person? 

 I am quite sure I would never  make an issue of this because I respect people that it does make a difference to, but in all honesty, it just doesn’t make a difference to me.  After all, it’s not about who passes the tray; it’s about the reason why we participate in communion in the first place.

I Was Going To Say

I was going to use this space to say something about the differences in families today.  I’ll save that for my next post.   I am putting my thoughts on hold so that I can direct you to John’s post on Rules.  Let him know what you think.  I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the rules that we forget to love people where they are.  We are so busy enforcing the rules (read: being judgemental) that we lose sight of the fact that we are all the same.  Sinners saved by grace. 

He’s been converted … now what?

Why do people leave the church?  And abandon the very thing they embraced with such enthusiasm?  Are we so busy trying to add conversions to our numbers that we forget about keeping the people we converted?  Do we put so much time and energy into evangelism that we neglect giving new Christians a foundation?  Is there a happy medium?

 I talked with two people this weekend who used to attend our church.  Is it more important to convert new Christians than it is to extend a “welcome back” to those who have left?  Why did they leave?  I don’t know.  Why do I stay?  I do know that.  It has to do with relationships.  A relationship with Christ and relationships with the people I love as my church family.  Why didn’t these two people feel the same love?  When my relationship with Christ wasn’t what it should be (and isn’t what it should be), I have the support of my church family.  And when my love for them isn’t what it should be, I have strength in a relationship with Christ. 

 While it seems everyone else is scrambling to increase numbers, is it OK that I feel I need to scramble to keep the people we have ?

I Wish You Would Blog

I read plenty of blogs everyday.  I read all of the ones that I link to.  In addition, I click on the links at Dusty’s site, John Dobbs site and Sandy’s site.  I never miss Jeff Jenkins’ site because I love to read “It’s a great day at Shannon Oaks Church!”  His enthusiasm for what he does really shines through.  All of these are great and are fun for me to read.  However, there are some people who do not blog (!) and I would love to read what they have to say.  They are (in no particular order) :

George Myer – he’s a level headed guy.  I appreciate his willingness to rely on scripture even though, in some cases, he has to eat crow because of what the scriptures say.

Christi Grady Marin – She is an awesome wife and Mother.  She has the heart of a servant and she should share some of her insights.

Sara Fergus and Van Chesney – oh the wisdom!  and lessons that could be learned from such beautiful women of God.

Ray Morris – because when I was a teenager I did not appreciate fully what he was trying to teach me.  I would like to opportunity now to learn some things from what he has to say.

Lance Hendrix – because he is so stinkin’ funny!

Eddie Parish – wouldn’t that be a fun one !  If you know Eddie P., you know what I mean! 

Wishing

“…and if you lean too far over the wishing well, you might fall in and drown.”  Bob Seger

If you are wishing for something, does that mean you are not working hard enough? I wish I had a college degree.  Well, what is to prevent me from getting one?  I wish I had time to run.  Well, why am I not making the time to do that?  I wish the room in my house that we call the “extra room” was clean and organized.  Guess what?  I could get that done too. 

So, is wishing being lazy?  Or is it dreaming about something?  Chelsea wishes a limo would pick her up and take her and a group of friends to dinner.  Is that something that is fun to dream about?   

In addition to dreaming vs. wishing, what about wishing vs. praying?  If I wish for better health, am I praying for better health?  If I wish the best for you, am I praying for the best for you? 

I know, random thoughts today. I wish you well ~  Lisa

Weekend Notes

I learned some things before, during and after my friend weekend.  Here is a random list:

… it is against my better judgement to ask a man on the street in N.O. how he is doing.  It is not against my friend’s husband’s  better judgement.

…  in a parents vs. kids soccer game, it is good to let the children win.  So we did.  Final score Kids 5 Parents 1.

… having your vacuum cleaner break while you are doing “one last run”  through the house will send you into complete panic.  Your sister will save your butt by letting you borrow hers.

… so much of what we do centers around where we are going to eat and when we are going to eat next.

… a true friend enjoys “dining” at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville with you and for the same reason you like it : it’s a Jimmy Buffett thing !

… my brother in law makes a mean gumbo and was nice enough to share it with all of us.

… I always learn new things about LA when my husband is a host.  He really enjoys that part of having company. 

… Seven people, two bathrooms and we’re all still friends

… the people living in my friend’s old house ruined it by adding siding.  It made me wonder what bad movie they were watching on a Sunday afternoon.  (Do siding companies sponsor bad movies where you live?  Or is that only in BR ?)

… there is nothing better than having a friend like my friend and spending the weekend with her every once in a while is an added bonus

My Christian Uniform

Today I was driving through the Wal-Mart parking lot and getting a little irritated with someone who thought she owned the right of way.  I refrained from showing my anger because I had my State Farm shirt on.  On my way out of the parking lot, I felt very convicted because of what my reaction would have been had I not been in uniform (more on the uniform thing later).  If I would not have been “representing” State Farm, I would have given the person “the look” (as my husband calls it).  I started  thinking about being a Christian and acting the way I do sometimes.  I made a decision 22 years ago to put on Christ and call myself a Christian and even though I do not wear a uniform with the word “Christian” stitched on the front, I should be ever mindful of representing Christ.  Wow, convicted at Wal-Mart.