Say Yes to Rest!

If you've been following me this year, first of all - fist bump and a big THANK YOU - second, you might remember reading our sweet basset hound had surgery at the first of February.  We have noticed that he has aged quite a bit since the surgery, slowing down, sleeping more, needs some Just For Men Gel around the facial features.  But this week seems to be hitting him a little harder.

Wednesday he hardly moved, maybe all of three feet just to lay back down again.  Usually he follows me around the house and lies down by my feet, but not yesterday.  He can get down the back deck stairs to do his business, but for two days now, we have had to carry him back up to the door.  He is eating fine, no labored breathing, no out-of-the-ordinary stank...

So, last night I turned to the Internet, where all information is true and trustworthy.  All the honorable and upright webpages I surfed verified, for the most part, we have a dog not only entering his senior life, but a couple of years into them.

They also said a 50+ pound dog over the age of eight, might sleep 20 hours a day!  We totally nailed that average this week.

I talked to a friend on Tuesday and asked how things were going and she said "If I can just get through these next two weeks".

My Pastor came back into town yesterday after being with her Dad since Saturday.  She had been sitting at a hospital for four days, dealing with medical history, doctors & nurses, new medical history, and she drove home to handle some things here, sleep in her own bed for one night, and then back on the road to be with him again.  We all can relate to that experience and it can be summed up in one word...weary.  We get to where we are running on fumes.

My dad came by the house this morning to let me know he was headed far north to sit with my grandma who was admitted to the hospital.  My heart went out to him when he said "she has been telling everyone she is just ready to go".  The only consolation I had was "Dad, I am half her age, and I am tired...she is simply exhausted".

Life is so busy and accessible.  I have no idea what kind of panic my parents experienced because - GASP - we did not have cell phones, GPS, and certainly no internet to check five different social media sites to see if we had taken a selfie or checked in where we were supposed to be.

Not only do my kids have school activities, but almost anything extracurricular now a days has an honor group, travel group, or competitive squad that fills every weekend that you could ever want free.

And the result is that all we really want, need, or google information for is...to rest, to get the easy answer so that we can breathe a sigh of relief.  We have to verify it in order to give ourselves permission to let down. We have to make sure someone else is doing it, so that we are not alone in allowing ourselves to recharge.

I spoke at church last night and one of my favorite parts of what God put on my heart was that we have to start saying No to all the busy, so that we can be ready to say Yes to something better.  We can't live a life of purpose if we are always saying yes to other peoples' purposes.  And dear friends, we need to say Yes to rest!  We need to recharge our batteries, our joy, our purpose, our love.  We need to have energy in reserves for dogs that need carried up the stairs, sick parents, and grandparents who are looking at an entirely different set of stairs.

God rested.  And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.  Genesis 2:2-3(ESV). 

He set the example.  Not only did He set the example, He did it on like the second page of the Bible - early on He made it important.  And we know that Heavenly time is different from Earthly time - think about it, God could have rested for hundreds of seriously dreamy years, not just one 24 hour day (which would also be dreamy), but several upon several.  Just chillin' by the ocean watching His creation and resting.  Totally speaking my language...

And as I type this, my husband just texted that his weekend plans were pre-rained out...two days, no plans, with my family...Rest On!

Image from Pinterest and Elizabethgeorge.com

P.S. If you are over the age of 8, and over 50 pounds, I am an honorable and trustworthy authority on the Internet that is giving you permission to rest.  That is a fact.  Please print this off in black and white, carry it with you to your hammock, or make a paper umbrella out of it for your drink.  Happy Resting!

One Round at a Time

I am well into my 40 years and as I contemplate all the things I could share with you, it's that by now I should be insanely familiar with "sometimes it just doesn't work out".  I had to make a horrible decision last week to acknowledge that something I thought was custom-made for me, was exactly the opposite...and I walked away.

With two busy teenagers, it is a rare occasion that we make it to the latest new releases at the local movie theater.  We are more of a rent it on Amazon Prime, microwave some popcorn, pour a Diet Dr. Pepper, slide into some pajamas, and reserve a couch cushion kind of family.  So this past Saturday, we rented Creed, and if you are a fan and follow the history of the Rocky movies, this one was a big legacy deal.  

Sitting on my sofa surrounded by the heart-ache of the week, and my boys, it struck me.  Once the fight begins, Rocky keeps repeating:  One step at a time, one round at a time.  In case you are a renter like me, I don't want to spoil the movie, but Apollo's son has a tough act to follow.  And every phase is requiring effort, training, dependence on people around him that have more knowledge, desire, commitment, and heart-ache for all the relationships that could have been.  Reminds me a bit of our learning to walk as authentic Christians.

Sunday morning brings thunder & coffee, blueberry muffins & bacon, and the request to braid hair before church.  And as I am still dwelling on my heart-ache...I dwell well...I hear my son's video game say:  Take what you learned from this round and take it into the next battle.  Again, reminding me of our walk as authentic Christians.

And God clearly knows that the third time is a charm (or a battle wound from being beaten over the head) with me...Toby Mac's "Move (Keep Walking)" was the first song on the radio as I climbed into the car this morning to head over to the Unemployment Office to untangle my mess.

A few things I learned from/am reminded of in my most recent bout of "didn't work out"...

1. Christians are people.  We are human people.  We are capable of getting it wrong, passing judgement, jumping into something that puts on a good front all for the sake of getting into the ring and "fighting the good fight" of faith.

2.  We should never put anything on a pedestal.  When that pedestal crumbles, we are left feeling bruised, damaged, and wondering if God is in our corner.

3.  Nothing is worth our soul.  Whatever was lurking...my soul wanted no part of it.  

So taking my little trifecta of messages the past few days, I will face the next round, one step at time, learn from it for the next battle, and keep walking.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight for the true faith.  Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.  

I love how Timothy says "true faith".  Because there are a lot of things out there that would give you the impression of faith, but once you get a little up-close and personal, it is not God's true faith that is governing.

I have something that God has put on my heart (beating me over the head with).  If you are a prayer warrior or would like to be one for me, I am asking you to pray over this project.  If you would like specifics, please message me and I will fill you in on what God has revealed so far - because, my broken heart is putting together some pieces and isn't real sure of what this all looks like just yet.  But I welcome you to be a person of true faith and prayer if you are being called to do so.  I look forward to sharing my progress!  

Until then, "I know your heart's been broke again, your prayers ain't been answered yet...keep walkin'...soldier keep movin' on".  

New Things Are Changing

Change...

Not loose change or a little change in my pocket...

Change...

It is not a word that makes too many Top Five lists.  It isn't a word that causes uncontrollable squeals accompanied by jumping up and down.  It does not put a smile on too many faces.  Change often is the word we associate with the "UN-Comfort Zone".

And yet, there is change that is good.  If you have a good stylist, changing your hair is usually good.  If you are trying to be healthy and you have to change to a lower pant size...good.  And depending on your situation:  changing jobs, changing your address (especially if it is a beach house), changing your underwear, changing your attitude, changing your friends...

Anything new or being done for the first time is change, and it isn't necessarily the panic evoking kind.  For example (because I wouldn't want to leave you guessing):

Marriage.

Childbirth.

In my case, childbirth #2...Twenty-one (21!) months later.

First home purchase.

First big vacation as a family - the take an airplane kind. 

Okay...well, maybe mild to moderate panic.

But those new things are exciting.  They are blessings.  They are things you anticipated for months, or maybe years, and then they are coming to fruition, and it is new, and it is change, and it is life.

I am reflecting on all this because - I started a NEW job last week! And I have termed the last five weeks "The Month of Kari" - and it is coming to an end and something is changing, and it is new, and exciting, and a blessing, and another unexpected penny on the ground that you pick up and toss into your...change.

I look back on "The Month of Kari" and it feels so good to let the weariness slide off.  I did one big thing I wanted and had always wanted to do...that crazy dream to prepare and work the church Thrift Sale.  And it was a two-week, and 12 hour day that I would not otherwise have gotten to do.  It was something new for me and I did my best to make the most of every minute!  I have not been deliriously tired in a long time...way to go church family!

So I am experiencing this new job, and new co-workers, a new coffee routine, a new way to use Excel (oh Mylanta), a new commute, and a new window to look out of.  I can tell you all that God is so amazingly good.  He aligns, affirms, and waits for us to wear ourselves down like a two year old.

My devotions are reminding me that nothing that happens to us or around us is random or chaotic if we rely on God's timing.  It is not our job to figure out how He is going to do it, we just have to trust that He will. It made me think of a sermon my James Tedder on Sermons4kids.com (ironic...I know):

Have you ever stopped to pick up a penny lying on the ground? Well, let me tell you a little story about picking up pennies. 

Once a friend of mine and his wife were invited to spend the weekend at my friend’s employer's home. They were very nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than their house. The first day and evening went well, and Arlene, my friend’s wife, was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so she was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of my friend. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. 

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? 

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ‘United States of America’ 'No, not that; read further.’ ‘One cent?’ ‘No, keep reading.’ ‘In God we Trust?’ ‘Yes!’ ‘And?’ ‘And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!” 

It is easy for us to get so caught up in the ways of the world so mush we forget that God is always there right beside us We just need to trust in Him and allow Him to take care of our each & every need. The Psalmist tells us to, “Be Still and Know that I am God.” Sometimes we just need to stop our busy lives & feel God’s presence. Of course sometimes we need a little reminder, even if it is as insignificant as a penny lying on the ground...

May we take a new approach to "change" this week, because all the changes that make our lives a tidbit weary deserve an "In God We Trust".

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.