I was a Public School Kid and I'm Proud of That...

Growing up in Christian circles there always seemed to be a certain stigma about kids going to public school (It's still there). When I was in high school (*public*high school), I remember hearing from the pulpit about how evil public schools were. How they were just a breeding ground for sex, drugs and ungodly music. How if your kids went there, they would be barraged with offers of drugs and/or cigarettes. Every kid was in a gang and Evolution was taught in every class.

This view does not seem to have changed in the fourteen years since I graduated from high school. (You didn't know I was that old did you... ;) ) Just last year I sat in the nursery at my church while two ladies (who had no idea that I went to public school) discussed at length how they would never send their kids to public school because they wanted them to have a "real" education, where they wouldn't be confronted by worldly temptations. (On a side note, one of these same ladies had previously told me about her sister doing marijuana with kids from their Christian school, so take that for what you will). I just sat there quietly, not partaking in the conversation because I knew these ladies would be embarrassed if I spoke up that *I* was a product of this institution of the devil... Awkward.

I just want to state something here and that is this: I was never offered drugs. I was never even offered a cigarette. No one ever made inappropriate advances at me or tried to get me to join a gang. And no, no one was having sex in the hallways... (Sorry, couldn't resist a little inside joke haha) The truth is I could have been involved in some of these things if I had wanted to. But my parents raised me better than that. Those things and people are there if you look for them but I *chose* to surround myself with people who weren't involved in those things.

I *loved* high school. I was in the choir, and guess what... We sang secular music, but we also sang Christian music and music by classical composers like Vivaldi. And guess what else... Our school had a Bible study. Yep, that's right and you know what, even now at some school functions, they pray.

My parents were (and are, yes my brother is still in high school) very involved in everything we did. They looked over our schoolwork and there were times that my parents were uncomfortable with something and they would arrange with the teacher for me to do something else. I wasn't forced to do something that my family wasn't comfortable with.

Maybe there are some schools out there that are all the things the fundamentalist preachers like to harp on, but my school wasn't one of them. Was it perfect? No, of course not. There were (and are) issues that arise from time to time. But that can be said of anyplace.

So you can say that I'm a horrible person or that my parents didn't care about me because they didn't send me to a Christian school, but the truth is my parents did the best that they could for me and I love them for that and when it's all said and done, I'm very grateful for the quality of education that I received.

I ♥ This!

Lord, Give Me Patience, but Give it to me Now!!

I can't tell you how many times I've heard the phrase "Good things come to those who wait." or "Everything good is worth waiting for." Those type of phrases.  I am not necessarily arguing against those words of wisdom, but I just need to say . . . It's hard to wait!!

There are several things lately, that I've been waiting on and for.  On the outside, I may appear calm and patient and in many ways I am (patient anyway, not gonna try and claim calm lol).  You see, throughout my life, I have always had to wait for things.  I have never had things handed to me.  I've had to work hard.  It has not always been pleasant or easy, but it has taught me that I can make do without things.  So, even though I do not enjoy waiting, I guess you could say I am used to it.

Today, I was thinking, "Okay, Lord, if you're trying to teach me about patience, I get it!!  Let's move on to something else please!!"  And then I chuckled at myself.  Just the fact that I am having this conversation with God shows that I have actually not yet learned the lesson of patience that He wants me to learn.  You see, I'm already eager for God to commence with the instant gratification and leave off from the waiting game.  The Bible says:

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ~ Isaiah 40:31

God has a reason that He wants me to keep waiting, so I will keep waiting.  I will use the time given to me to "renew my strength"; to prepare myself--mentally, spiritually, emotionally--for whatever it is that is coming my way--good or bad.  God already knows what it is and He is asking me to wait so that I will be best prepared.  He is ready to prepare me for it.  God knows exactly what I need and why I need it.

"One day at a time"  The older I become, the more this makes sense to me.  It does us no good to worry about tomorrow.  We need to worry about today.  Do what is necessary for today and tomorrow will take care of itself.  God gives us grace sufficient for that day.  He knows just what we need.

I can't help but be reminded of The Lord of the Rings.  (By the way, if you're unaware of my geekiness, then you've obviously never read my blog before) ;)  But it's something that Gandalf says early in The Fellowship of the Ring.

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins.  Nor is he early.  He arrives precisely when he means to."

The same can be said of God.  Maybe His timeline doesn't match ours.  But that doesn't mean he is late or early.  Whatever God does is good and right and His timing is perfect.  So much better than ours.  Our finite minds cannot see all ends and sometimes we cannot see how something in our lives can possibly be for our own good, but God sees what is coming and He knows better than we do.

So maybe you're sitting there and you're thinking "I am soooo tired of waiting.  I'm ready for my life to begin."  Well, you know what? I think someone once said "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  So go on out there and start doing what you know to do.  Maybe you're waiting for a significant other.  Maybe you're waiting for a better job.  Maybe you're waiting for God's healing hand on you.  Maybe you're waiting for better times all around.  Just keep taking it one day at a time and praying and asking God to guide you and make the path clear for you.  He will lead you, if you let Him.  

One thought I wanna leave you with is this.  "God wants the best for your life."  Just remember that.  God loves you and wants what's best. Carry that thought in your heart and you will have a smile on your face. :)

Shows I Loved as a Child

♫ Picture pages, picture pages, open up your picture pages.  Time to let Bill Cosby do a picture page with you ♫

Does anyone else remember that little song? I used to watch Nickelodeon every day as a kid and Picture Pages with Bill Cosby was one of the things I loved.  I think it's time I make a list of these things and see if there are others out there who remember these long ago first favs of mine.  (These are not in any particular order)

1. Rainbow Brite:

 I LOVED Rainbow Brite.  I used to beg my mama to give me a "side ponytail" so I could be just like her!! I remember getting Rainbow Brite sheets for my birthday when I was 6 years old.  Wish I still had them.

2.  Belle & Sebastian:

  

This show was . . . EPIC!! I remember loving it so much.  It was about this boy (Sebastian), who lived in the Alps, and his huge dog (Belle).  I think this dog is the reason I want to own a St. Bernard.  I mean, seriously, with a dog this large, if your car breaks down (as mine often does) you've still got a ride to work!

3. Rose Petal Place:

 

Okay, so I confess. I can't remember if this was a tv show or just a doll that was out during the early/mid-80s.  But I remember I thought she was so cool and I wanted one.  She smelled like roses, if you can imagine. lol

4. Pinwheel:

Did anyone else watch Pinwheel? It was just one of those little Nickelodeon shorts.  I can still remember the words to the theme song!

5. The Little Prince:

This was a show I watched every day.  I just thought it was a great show.  It wasn't until I got older that I was introduced to the actual work by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which I now also love.  The show was about this Little Prince who lived on a tiny planet where he spent his time cleaning tiny volcanos and taking care of a very persnickety rose plant.  He would use his net to catch shooting stars as they passed by his planet and they would bring him to earth where he would have adventures.  Much loved by me is this old, lesser-known cartoon.

6. David the Gnome:

I remember watching this and Maya the Bee during the summers when I would go to visit my Mamaw.  I enjoyed this one a lot.  I'm trying to remember did Tom Bosley do the voice of David for the American version? Anyone remember?

7. (The afore-mentioned) Maya the Bee:

Another great Nickelodeon show!

8. Gummi Bears:

There's no other way to say this except that this show was the BOMB DIGGITY!! I loved this show.  I can still sing all the words to the theme song.  I also remember my brother, Eric, had a Tummy Gummi stuffed animal.  Just a teeny bit jealous of that. :)

9. The Bozo Show:

I remember being so excited when we first got cable.  I was 5 years old and my mom said "We're going to get cable and when we do, you'll be able to watch The Bozo Show." It only came on WGN and at the time we were living in TN and it was not a local station for us.  I remember thinking how I wished I would be an "at-home" winner for the Grand Prize Game.  Sure would've loved one of the Schwinn bicycles.  I still, to this day, cannot hear Schwinn bicycles without thinking of The Bozo Show. :)

Is it just me or are cartoons/kids shows not this awesome anymore!?  I feel sorry for the kids now who are growing up in the age of reality tv and shows like Hannah Montana.  They are missing out on some of the coolest shows ever!  Did you watch any of these shows? What do you remember about them? If you watched different shows, what shows did you watch? Inquiring minds want to know. :)

~ Taste the Rainbow ~

This is a rainbow cake.  I want to make (and eat) one.  I don't think I even need to say anything more. :)

Kutless - What Faith Can Do

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes
And make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger
Stronger than you know

Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

Count it Joy!

Remember when you were a little kid?  Life was easy as a little kid.  All you had to worry about was playing outside and making sure you picked up your toys. Also, making sure you didn't dump water on your little brother's head in the bathtub . . . could've used a heads up on that one. haha But seriously, it didn't take much to make us happy when we were kids.

We played outside!

We played in the water (any chance we got!!)

Fun was seriously exhausting!!

As children, we took great joy in everything around us.  We were fascinated by something as simple as a butterfly.  We would play with the packaging that our Christmas presents came in. There is an enviable innocence to childhood that we don't even realize or appreciate until it is gone.  Because then . . . we grow up.  We see the harsh realities of the world in which we live.  We experience hurts at the hands of people who are supposed to care about us, as well as those we don't even know. Sometimes life can become overwhelming and we don't see any hope.  All we feel is despair in our situation.  But let me tell you, friends.  Life does not have to be that way.  If Christ is a part of your life, he can bring back that joy that you once used to have.  He wants to.

You might think that as a child of God, your life will be easy and that the reason why Christians can have joy is because nothing ever goes wrong for them.  To that, I have only one word . . . Hah!!! Think again! 

Any of you who know me at all, know that my life is far from simple and easy.  I have had to work hard to get where I am and even now it's nowhere to brag about.  I'm a thirty-something who lives with her parents, drives a piece-of-crap car and can't pay her bills.  But I choose not to focus on that.  I choose to focus on the blessings that Christ has bestowed upon me.  Ok, so I'm living with my parents right now, but hey, I just graduated with my Accounting degree from Purdue and I'm finally doing the work that I've been trained to do.  I'm working on bettering myself.  

Rebekah: 1; Despair: 0.

Sure, I have a car that is a piece of garbage, but will I have it forever? No way!! I can look forward to the day when I will say adios to (not so) dear old Damian and say hello to something a little nicer and more dependable.

Rebekah: 2; Despair: 0

I can't write this post without mentioning the fact that I am, as of this moment, still a single girl.  There was a time when that seriously bothered me.  What could be so wrong with me that no one wants me? What did I ever do that would make me undesirable to someone as a life mate?  But over the years, I've realized, I can't base my happiness on a person, unless that person is Jesus Christ.  Because no matter how amazing that person is, they are human.  They are fallible.  There will come a time when they will fail you.  However, my God NEVER fails me.  In Joshua 1:5, God promises us "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  Even when we feel like no one is on our side; that no one cares for us.  We still have God's love and His presence.  So, am I alone? Absolutely not.  If at some point God brings the right guy along, then I am definitely ok with that, but until then I am happy to be with the people who love me and the God who has promised to always be there for me.

Rebekah: 3; Despair: 0

You know, the Bible talks about "joy".  James 1:2-4 says:

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

This verse says we should count it a little joy? just some of it? No, it says ALL joy.  God sends difficulties and trials our way, but He does it for our good.  God knows what He is doing.  He knows what we need.  If He sends something our way, it is for a reason.  Maybe you went through a horrible divorce.  Maybe you were in a horrific car accident.  Maybe you lost a loved one to cancer.  Those things were difficult.  There were days when you could barely put one foot in front of the other.  But you made it through, didn't you? And now there are others out there going through the same situations and they need someone who understands, who can just be a friend.  What better way to be a friend than to say, "Hey, you know what? I've been there and yeah, it's tough, but I came through it and you will, too." What an encouragement!

Trying.  It's not exactly a word that gets tossed around that often anymore, at least not in this context.  Dictionary.com defines it as an adjective meaning: difficult or annoying; hard to endure.  God uses trials and temptations to try our faith.  He wants to make us stronger.  And so often we fight against it.  We say "No, God.  This is too hard.  I can't do it.  Take it away."  But look at the next verse (vs. 4) But "let" patience have her perfect work.  Yes, it says let.  When God sends trials our way, we are to let Him do it.  It is necessary to make us into His image.

We are much like this clay pot.  God is using His hands to shape us into the person He wants us to be, but we resist Him.  And when we do so, our pot doesn't reflect Him, so He has to reshape us.  That's when it hurts, but the end result is so worth it.  So, if you are a Christian and maybe you are experiencing some difficulties in your life (or drama, as I have recently dubbed it), why not examine your life and see how you can let the joy of life in Christ shine through you to those around you?  You don't have to be a Debbie Downer.  You can smile in spite of your circumstances because the God who loves you has given you so much to smile about.

Let me also say, if you're reading this and you don't have joy in your life, and you don't have peace.  You can!!  Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you can know peace in your heart and find joy in life once again.  Christ died for your sins, so that you can live victoriously on earth and so that you can live forever in Heaven.  He loves you more than any person ever can.  He wants to be a part of your life and He can be, if you will let Him.  If you'd like to know more about how to begin a personal relationship with Christ, please send me an email or message me on facebook and I'd be happy to explain to you in greater detail about my wonderful Savior and what He's done for me and what he can do for you.

And if you see me with a smile on my face, it doesn't mean my life is perfect (far from it).  It just means that I am choosing to claim God's promises and have joy. :)

p.s. Here are some other verses about joy. Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 29:19, II John 12 :)