Lessons on Grease

On a lazy Saturday I found myself flipping through channels with my daughters.  We stumbled across the movie Grease when I declared. "Oh, this is one of my faves."  We stopped there and started to watch Grease when I quickly found myself having to explain a lot!  Even with editing of the movie I had forgotten how much of the material and content was so sexual. (Thank you Holy Spirit).  We shut it off and I created and shared with my daughters what we can learn from Grease the movie.

Life Lessons on Grease

5. Any kind of loving shouldn't happen fast...especially Summer Loving. 

  Love, and true love take time. 

4.  Make a list of qualities that make a good friend. 

Do you want your friends to drink, swear, smoke or rat their hair?

3.  Be aware of boys who can sing a song about a car and turn it into sex.

Really, that is NOT what sex is about.

2.  Never. Never change your looks or clothing to impress people.

Be true to the person God intended you to be.

1.  In response to Frenchie's comment, "The only man a girl can really trust is her daddy."

You may have a wonderful earthly father but he is still human and is not perfect. 

Always trust your Heavenly Daddy!

A lazy Saturday turned into a teachable Saturday.

On a side note.  It is Spring Break in our part of the world.  Yes! I will be leaving the blogging world for a brief time to be with my family and enjoy the Florida sun!  Happy Spring Break to you and yours!

Good Question

             "For a man who had all the answers, Jesus asked a lot of questions."
                                                                                                             Cathy Davison

I sometimes feel like I don't ask good questions when I am getting to know someone.  My questions usually have a yes or no response and that makes it hard to really generate a conversation with someone new.  In her book, Becoming a Woman of Influence, Carol Kent has an entire chapter devoted to asking good questions.  She cites the ways Jesus used questions to expose lies and reveal truth, exposed people's deepest longings, questions that help faith grow, and using questions in teachable moments.  I am practicing the 'art of asking questions' with the 7th grade girls I work with at youth group.  It takes practice, as it is easy to slip into a yes or no question mode, but when I intentionally slow down I am amazed at the information they share when I ask the right question.  I am learning about their dreams, hopes, fears, family life, and how they see their faith.

Here are some example question from the book. 

What is your best memory of your mother? Your father?
How do you celebrate Christmas?
What is one thing you would like to do before you die?
What keeps you from being as close to the Lord as you'd like to be?
What is one thing you would like to change in your spiritual life?
In what area of your life do you need advice?
What women (historical or contemporary) would you most like to emulate?
How can I pray for you?

These are just a few! No doubt, some great questions!

Here is a thought for you...take a few of these and ask a friend or someone you are trying to get to know better.  (Make sure you have an answer of your own to the questions).  See where the conversation goes. Can you ask the right question that will help someone open up? Will you gain valuable insight in that person's life? I sure hope you do!

After all, on our journey as Christ followers, we are called to share and called to influence those around us. (Think of 2 Corinthians 2:15..."For we are to God the aroma of Christ..")  In taking time to ask and think of the right questions we can learn about others with the hope of sharing how Christ's love has transformed our lives.  We can be intentional about our questions and intentionally influence lives of others.

What do you think? Are you up for the good question challenge?

Linking with Finding Heaven

Icebergs

Remember the scene in Titanic?  The two crew mates are in the 'crows nest' looking for icebergs.  The one says "I can smell ice." The other gives him a stange look as if to say, "whatever." An iceberg is spotted but the Titanic hits it before the crew mates even get a breath of warning out.  The one then says, "Smell ice, can you?"

Our pastor recently gave an iceberg anology. He stated that people are kind of like icebergs.  You really only see the tip and the rest is under the surface.  So, can you smell ice? Do you know people really well to see what is under thier surface?

This anology on icebergs has me thinking about my daughter.  She is 9 and she is dramatic, loud, strong willed, passionate about justice, loves attention, loves Jesus, and asks some great questions about the world and the 'things' of it.  Unfortantely, she gets judged by her tip...the part of the ice people can see.  As a parent it makes me sad, frustrated, and down right angry at times.  I see the tip of her.  I hear about the tip of her.  I know what she is capable of.  I also know she is still growing.  She is still trying to figure out her place in this world.  She has a lot of maturing and growing up to do like many others around her.   

I often pray that others may see what I see underneath her tip.  I see a girl who once a week will ask to go to our elderly neighbors home so she can see how they are doing.  I see a girl who is not afraid to tell a friend that Jesus loves them.  I see a girl who stands up for others.  I see a girl who can pray in front of large groups.  I see a girl with courage in areas that make me shy.  I see a girl who cries at a video of children in Africa with no parents and no food.

You know what? God sees the whole iceberg. I like that.  That thought gives me comfort when I hear that she was yelling at school.   I like that God is reminding me daily that he is in control, not me, when it seems like her behavior isn't.  I like that He made me her mom because through her I can see faith like a child.

God has a plan for her tip, for her iceberg.  A plan to prosper her and not to harm her.  Her tip may not look good to others right now but someday I trust it will; because of His glory to make her the best iceberg she can be.

As a parent can you relate? What do you do when you feel like your child is being misjudged?   How about when it's you? 

Pure Joy

I was hot. I was stinky. I was exhausted. It was a bittersweet ending to a fabulous clinic. I was living on God, adrenaline, and maybe a total of 7 hours of sleep over the last 4 days. 

I was serving on a medical mission in Peru and as we were wrapping up in worship with our Peruvian brothers and sisters, I wrote in my journal for January 28, 2010.  I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to shower, relax, and Skype back home.  I really missed my girls and my husband and I wanted so much to talk to them before tomorrow came.  Tomorrow was my baptism and the reality of not having any family with me coupled with a lack of sleep were making me feel emotional and I really wanted to hear my hubby's voice of encouragement.

I had been baptized as an infant and I am grateful to my parents for their desire to have me know the Lord.  However, I wanted to re-commit and dedicate my life publicly to the Lord as an adult.  Since I love, love, love the ocean and Peru I was thrilled that God had given me this opportunity to publicly announce my faith like this; I jumped at the chance to be baptized and give a testimony of God's love and transformation in my life.

After my shower and dinner I was eager to hear from my family so I tried to Skype.  Nothing. I tried and tried again and nothing.  I was discouraged.  I didn't know where they could be.  I knew the schedule and they should be home after dance getting ready for bed! Sensing my discouragment a dear friend said I could use her cell phone to try.  I did and again nothing.  Feeling defeated I decided to call it a night and give it to God.  Up in the room I expressed my frustrations to my roomate and she was wonderful.  This young woman was engaged but her finace was miles away and she hadn't seen him in months.  She knew how important a phone call can be. How hearing a loved one's voice can bring encouragement.  I was grateful for her understanding at the time but also felt ridulious because I would be going home to see my hubby and she still needed to wait for hers to come home. 

The next morning (baptism morning) my roomate and I woke up late.  We had overslept our alarm and had missed breakfast.  We quickly began to get ready so we didn't miss our group devtional.  In the elevator ride to our group we talked briefly about last night and I thanked her again for her words of encoruagement.  I was still sad but also knew that I had lots of love and support in the group.  We arrived at the top floor, where the group meets, and heard them singing a praise and worship song.  Walking in everyone was standing in a circle so I just looked for the closest open chair.  I then noticed several smiling faces, so I smiled and waved back at them and started to join them in song.  I then saw our trip leader (and dear friend) pointing to his left.  I looked at him quizzcally.  I wasn't understanding his pointing finger at all.  He looked at me again and this time I looked at where his finger was pointing.  His finger was pointing at my husband! I immediately gasped and then started crying.  I couldn't even believe my eyes.  He was there! My best friend was there! He was in Peru! The room was now joining in our celebration.

That is why no one was home the night before.  He was in route to Peru.  The girls were at a friends home.  He was coming to be baptized with me. I was overwhelmed with joy. Pure joy. It is a day that I will alway hold dear to my heart...right next to the birth of our daughters. 

In my journal I wrote "Father God, I am amazed and humbled for the way you love and take care of me.  Just last night I was frustrated and angry and today total restoration.  I have been made new with the waters of baptism.  You have refreshed my soul with the suprise of Matt.  Praise, and glory and thanks are yours."

Pure Joy.

Do you have any pure joy stories?

Linking with Jen and the Ladies at Finding Heaven

Funny

My oldest daughter, who is almost 12, is quite a character.  She really has developed a sense of humor and it is fun to joke with her because she understands words have different meanings and she can use them in a funny way.  Here is an example...

Our family is trying a new approach to 'New Year's Resolutions' we have chosen a verse from scripture and are resolving to make it our theme of 2012.  In my quiet time I felt led to the verse from Psalm 29:10-11.  The verse speaks of God's faithfulness and control in our lives.  I changed the verse a bit to fit our family so the verse reads...

The Lord sits over our home. The Lord is enthroned

as King forever.  The Lord gives strength

to our family. The Lord blesses each

one of us with peace.

I have printed, framed and placed this verse in places throughout our home.  One place is in my daughters bathroom.  The day the frame was hung up she came out from the bathroom and said, "You know mom, that is an interesting verse to have in the bathroom." I replied, "Why is that?" My daughter, "Well, you know, cuz, you know, your on the 'throne' and the verse reads the King is enthroned.  Get it?" I smiled and said, "Got it. I don't care how you remember it, I just want you to remember that the King is indeed enthroned over us...and that includes in the bathroom."

I think He may have looked like this at our conversation...





What have your children said to make you laugh recently?

A Smile

Back in 1991 I was voted as having the "Best Smile" in my high school class.  At the time I was just happy to have my classmates recognize me for something.  I never really gave my smile a thought.  I mean who thinks of their smile as anything other than a smile?

Fast forward to the year 2009.  My husband was planning a medical missions trip to Lima, Peru.  There was a woman who could not make the trip and the trip was leaving in 1 week.  I remember telling my husband, "Oh. That's too bad.  Is she OK? Do you have someone else who can take her place?" His reply was, "She is fine and yes we have someone in mind to take her place. You."  I looked at him incredulously. "Me? Seriously?" At this point my head is thinking no way, you are not a nurse, you don't do anything medical, what about the girls...where will they go? He must have read my thoughts because he responded simply with "You don't need to do anything medical.  You need to be Sarah and share your smile." Huh? My smile?

Needless to say I went on that Peru trip and shared more than my smile.  I also shared my heart and fell in love with the people of Peru.  I hope to do that here on my blog with you.  I am not perfect and I don't have it all together but I have been told by some pretty special people in my life that I encourage and care well for others.  So, with that you have Sarah, with a smile.

What makes you smile? Has anyone ever commented on your smile?

Linking for the first time with Jen and the girls at  Finding Heaven