Saint Sadie

I’m in front of her writing

Hands I lick while they’re typing

Personal space, what’s that?

I’m just a curious cat!

Meowing until she looks

Pushing my head on her books

I want to be the center

But only in the Winter

As well as in the Summer

And it really would be a bummer

If in the Spring and Fall

I couldn’t be princess of the ball

So all year round

I’ll wear my crown

And she’ll just pet me 

Every time I asky

She pushed me to the side?

I won’t give up and hide!

No way I’m right back

Until she gives me a snack

Then I’ll forget she exists

Touch me and I’ll hiss

And I’ll even get demanding

Telling her about my fanny

Won’t poop in the box, it’s full

Won’t take her no-scoop bull

If she gets a little POed

I’ll talk in cat code

Purring real loud

No way she can frown

Turning on my charm

Turns off her alarm

Since I got the royal bow

I think I’ll nap now

November 22,2011

Dedicated to our aging cat Sadie

Jesus is the Bread of Life

By far the best meal I eat all year is at Thanksgiving.  Gratitude fills the atmosphere.  Food prepared and presented beautifully at my in-law’s warm and welcoming home.  Family comes together, cousins laugh and the hi-light is taking in the meal together.

Whether it’s this meal or others meals like it I am reminded of that feeling of being filled-up.  It last as long as the body can digest it.  And then I’m hungry again.  

I love to eat up good things.  Good food, good news, good conversations, good ideas, good friends!  I love good things.  After digestion I’m hungry for it again.

I then think of Jesus’ words in John 6: Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty...”

This is quoted often and to those who believe Jesus’ words it fills their hearts with hope.  For those who have come to Him, this quote reminds them of the spiritual fulfillment that has been found.  It brings a profound purpose that penetrates the deepest parts of their hearts.  A claim like this can only be an eternal promise.  Eating this bread satisfies in a way that nothing else can.  For the Christians of this day and age, these words are prophetic and profound.

But at the time Jesus said it the conversation sounded more like this...

“Luke, I am your father.”  A blow that was so big and so hard to believe it crushed Luke to the core.

“Noooooooooooooooo!”

(Example from STARWARS)

Belief.  A simple word for a really big concept.  Even Jesus’ followers could not wrap their brains around it.  On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60)

Translation:  Noooooooooooooo!

And yet they had witnessed miracles taking place at his hands, the power at the simple sound of his name.  

It’s hard to trust something so big and so inconceivable as this claim to being the promised savior that holds the gift of eternal life in his hands.

Just take a peek at how big this claim was:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A25-40%2CJohn+8%3A12%2CJohn+10%3A10-15&version=NIV

(John 6:25-40)

I can’t blame Jesus’ followers for questioning the validity of His claim.  For the ones who trusted Him the most, it puzzled them.

Jesus continually spoke hope into their lives.  He called for their patience as the fulfillment of this amazing claim drew near.  It was only after His death and resurrection that the scriptures were opened up and this claim all of a sudden became the most profound and truthful statement ever made in history.  It all goes back again to one thing... belief.

After Jesus’ claim was fulfilled truths from scriptures were overwhelmingly revealed: 

http://www.ovrlnd.com/Teaching/messianicprophecy.html

In Starwars Luke had to come to terms with the truth that Vador was his father... which ultimately led to balance in the force.  This is a pretend story, but what happens in hearts when Jesus’ true identity as God’s own son is revealed is not pretend at all.  He is not a lying deceiver or the blasphemer he was accused to be which led to his crucifixion.  He is The One promised who sacrificially gave himself to bring eternal life to all who believe.  Belief in this big thing brings balance in our hearts.  

Saying I’m a Christian is not a blind following or a moral statement of lifestyle.  It is saying that I believe something so big that it seems inconceivable.  It is saying that I believe the prophecies, the miracles and the fulfillment of God’s plan for reconciliation to man kind on this earth.  It’s very gutsy to make that statement.  But like Jesus’ disciples who heard this claim and then saw, touched and talked with the risen Jesus... I have come to believe Jesus is the bread of life!

I’ve eaten many good things but after eating the bread of life my spirit never hungered in the same way.  We all crave, some consciously and some subconsciously, for food that satisfies our spirit’s hunger.  Jesus holds the gift.  And all it took for me to receive it was belief. 

As my family gathers this Thanksgiving I know that I will enjoy the goodness found there.  But it can only satisfy for a time.  And it is only a sliver of satisfaction compared to the satisfaction of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  A place where we will never hunger again for the things that are temporary.  To have that filled-up feeling that will never fade and never go away.

Many Parts of Me

Yesterday morning I spoke at a MOPS group.  Just like every morning I woke up as one person, but slowly other parts of me started to emerge...  

Alarm sounds at 6:30 am.  It sounds like my son, Frederick, crying. It IS Frederick crying.  Walking down the hall I start to get into character as Molly.

MOLLY the MOM (Silly hat):

(To myself) I-I read bo-oks and bake lots of homemade cookies,  I hu-ug the ki-ids and drive away the spooky spookies. (Opening the door and into the room I sing out) Ri-ise and shi-ine and give God the glory, glory.  Bru-ush your te-eth and I’ll read you a story, story.

Frederick looks up stunned.  He was sitting up in bed reading a book and not crying at all.  A quick glance at his damp pajamas and I know that Courtney is on deck and has to pull of a quick play.

COURTNEY the QUARTERBACK (Nerf football in hand) 

The bathroom run, the bathroom run!  One, two, three, HUT!  Get out of bed, down the hall, open the toilet, good aim, flush, wash hands and FIRST DOWN!

My daughter, Shirin, calls out that she does not have any clean socks.  Wendy shows up.

WENDY the WORKER (Hard hat):

(Under breath) All I do is work, work, work all day. (Turning to my daughter) There’s some clean socks in the dryer.  I need you to get them so I can get dressed, gather up my props for my MOPS talk, make your breakfast and your lunch before it’s time to get in the car.

I walk back into my room to get dressed. Half way through I see my husband from the bed starting to wake up.  Linda’s first cue of the day.  It takes a prep talk to get into character.

LINDA the LOVE SLAVE (scarf)

(Whispering to myself) I lounge around in my lingerie and lavish love words on my husband and say things like, ‘Lover, did you Lock the door?’ (Sexy growl.  Clearing my throat, I get my “sexy” in gear) Good morning sweetheart, did you sleep well? (growl)

The growl did not come off as sexy as I had hoped, but it will do.  Onto the kitchen to make breakfast and pack lunches.  As I start to wash my hands I take a moment to hold the retractable faucet up as if it were a microphone.  

PRICILLA the PRINCESS (Crown)

Today, I wish for house hold peace, to feel pretty, lock myself in the bathroom, take bubble baths and do my nails.

My hands are clean and I get into character for packing lunches.

SARAH the SERVER (Apron)

“Serving the family, serving the family.  I give my time to serving others.  You can’t name a church committee that I haven’t been on.  I’ve helped 10 people move, built 15 houses in Mexico, fed over 1000 homeless and delivered 4 meals, all last week.

As I think about serving I also think about all the driving around I’ve done.

CHARLOTTE the CHAUFFEUR (Driver hat)

“I drove 4000 miles last week and permanently smell like French fries.”

HELGA the HOUSEKEEPER (Chef hat)

“French fries, no wonder they won’t eat my cooking, they’re always eating French fries.”

ARLENE the ACCOUNTANT (Tie)

“I’m in charge of the cash flow and French Fries are not worth the investment! I always order the healthy alternative at McDonalds.  He’s the one that orders the fries.

SUZANNE the PSYCHOLOGIST: (Glasses on the tip of my nose)

“Now why do you think he orders the fires?  What was his relationship like with his mother?”

In the middle of my momentary schizophrenia and right on cue “he” comes in the kitchen. Unaware of the therapy session I’m in and oblivious to the fact that Suzanne is staring him down, he opens the freezer.  He looks inside for some meat to defrost for dinner and asks me what I feel like having tonight.  Linda’s cue, no time to get into character, I’ll have to swing it.

LINDA:  

Oh I could peel some grapes and rub your feet.

Seeing his smile I move in with a little bit of flirting and maybe some touching.  Suddenly my iPhone sounds it’s alarm telling me it’s time to get in the car.  I give an apologetic nod as I change up characters.  From here on out my character props just pile up, one on top of the other...

MOLLY:  All right kids, time to get in the car-y car-y

CHARLOTTE: I’ll get the car.

WENDY: Let’s go, we’re late!

HELGA: I’ll get the lunches, w/o French fries!

LINDA: And without grapes, those are for later. (pathetic growl)

ARLENE: Thank God those grapes were on sale at the market yesterday!

SUZANNE: Did his mother feed him grapes?

COURTNEY: 

1, 2, 3, HUT!  Frederick go long for your lunches... Oh no, he’s covered by his sister Shirin who intercepts it.  Frederick grab the back packs!  Kids, in the car.  I’ll grab MOPS props, purse, keys and I’m driving down the field… 50, 40, drop off kids to school with Molly hugs…. 30, 20, check my iPhone map to make sure I know where I’m going, 10, cop! (throw phone) hands free! I’m at the 5 and into the church parking lot to speak at a MOPS group and TOUCHDOWN!

PRICILLA: Oh, I chipped a nail!

Taking a moment to reflect before I step up on the stage.  I can’t help but Praise God and Thank Him for the many parts of me.

Psalms 139:14

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

November Prayer

This is a note to some MITI Leaders in my area, but it has a prayer in it that is good for all of us...

Hello praying leaders,

As November begins I think of Thanksgiving fast approaching.  And with that in mind my gratitude overflows for you.  I am so thankful for you who lead women to pray in this community.

“I looked for a (wo)man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30

BUT, He did find you!  

Because He found you, He’s doing mighty things in this land.  Some women just need the opportunity, the invite or the outlet.  Your faithfulness and courage is another women’s answer to prayer.

As you lead I pray for you with a grateful heart...

Dear Heavenly Father, You are our sovereign Lord.  You are above all and able to do anything.  There are no exceptions to that statement.  Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.”  Forgive us for failing to see you as sovereign over our MIT prayer groups as well as our lives.  Forgive us for our unbelief, when we forget that you are able to do anything.  We do not need to take things into our own hands but rather step aboard of what you are doing.  I thank you for MITI; a ministry that You are using to make prayer happen all across the world.  I thank you for the leaders in this area who are standing in the gap.  These women are not spectators, but they are on the field!  Thank you Lord for their strong belief in you and their desire to intercede.  These women know that prayer is not a last resort, it is the most important ingredient.  May each and every leader continue to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18.  May every leader, every saint, see your face and know your presence in increasingly new ways.  Dear Jesus, by the power of your name I ask that you will stop the enemy’s attempts to keep moms from approaching your throne.  I pray for unity in each MIT group.  Remove the distractions.  May these leaders’ confidence be in You, let them lean in on You, knowing that You are in control of all things. (From Psalm 71:5-6)  I pray that each MIT leader will claim your sovereignty fresh and new each day as you are providing them with all that they need.  We know that our children are not getting any younger.  We recognize that the battle raging in their lives is a spiritual one, may we not fool ourselves into thinking that we can stand down or stand aside for even one moment.  The enemy seeks to devour and destroy but victory is YOURS!!!!  I ask that you will renew a right spirit in each of these Leaders hearts, restore to them the joy of Your salvation!  May they witness your sovereignty, BIG TIME!  Encourage and instruct them in their roles as MIT leaders; showing them that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light.  We praise you again for all you have done, are doing and will do.  I pray all this in the powerful and precious name of Jesus, a-man.

Leaders, know that you are so precious in His sight, and mine too.  It is extremely exciting to see what God is doing in our community through each of you and your prayed-for children.  For November, leading into Thanksgiving, I am asking each of you leaders to visit our group page and write a little something on there about why you are Thankful for MIT and/or prayer.  It can be a short testimony or just a statement.  It will only take a moment to Glorify our Lord.  Let us share our gratitude with each other and proclaim His goodness for all to see.

Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/MomsInTouch.Kim.Michelle/

Finally, I almost can’t contain my excitement when I think about the leaders rally on the first Sat. morning in 2012.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is 100% God’s doing for you.  (Aside: “I’m not talking to the other leaders right now...  I’m talking to YOU!  You who are reading this, who I just prayed for!”)  This is a gift that you will be happy you opened!  

Again, thank you for being the woman that God found!

My prayers for you continue as we head into the “busy” months.

All for HIM, Michelle