Little things that make me...me!

Two nights ago I had a PB&J sandwich with chips & salsa for dinner. As I sat on the couch eating and watching television, I thought about the fact that my dinners are usually similar to what I was eating that night. No fancy cookin' for me. For one thing, I do not enjoy cooking at all. Okay that is not true, I do like to cook a few things, but only eggs and French toast and stuff like that. For another thing, I don't like to eat if I'm not hungry. Either I don't want anything at all, or I want it now! By the time I get hungry I am way too hungry to cook something so I just opt for a sandwich or something equally quick and easy. Fortunately, mom cooks, and she always has some yummy leftovers for me. We all have our little quirks, this is one of mine I suppose.

Matthew 6:30-31

Bit if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is cast into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?"

"Whatever you guys think I am, I'm not."

I said that to my students yesterday. They were trying to trick me into giving them an extra sticker or piece of candy, and they just wouldn't stop! I was trying to tell them that I am, in fact, not as dense, gullible, dimwitted, absentminded, or clueless as they think. Unfortunately, none of those words came to mind yesterday and what came out is what you see as the title of this post. My students actually thought it was rather funny and quite clever. They said it sounded like a famous quote and that I should start saying it more often. I guess it could be used against me at some point; if people think I'm a good or godly person and I say that to them they might become a little leery of me! Oh well. It was pretty funny at the moment.

Unexpected Blessing

This morning as I got ready for school I kept thinking of things I needed from the store...tooth brush, hair spray, salsa, bananas, water. As the list kept growing so did my concern for how I'd be able to get the food and things I needed and still have enough money for gas and things for the next two weeks. As I wrote and worried I thought, "Well, God, You'll provide." I determined not to worry or even think about it any more today. No point, really. When I got to school I noticed something in my box in the office, so I went to retrieve it. Angie handed it to me, and I was curious to see a plain white business size envelope with a little sticky note with my name on it. What in the world? As I flipped it over I saw that it was money inside. I assumed it was money for one of my students for pizza on Friday. But, pizza doesn't cost $100, and that is what I found in the envelope. No note or anything, just a sticky note with my name on it and a hundred dollar bill. Angie and Jan assured me it was for me and no, I couldn't know who it was from. Well, I say it is from God, because not even my mom knew I had been anxious about my finances for the next two weeks. Amazing. This afternoon I was not only able to buy the groceries and things I needed today, but also a few other personal and household things that I was going to just do without until I had a little extra money. Besides, I still have more than enough left for gas this week and next. Thank you to whoever gave me the money, and thank You, God.

Seriously?

Yesterday I went to the jail to monitor the ladies pod during the afternoon service. Afterward one young lady came up to me and asked if I was in a rush to leave. Actually, I had to use the restroom quite badly, but I said I could stay and talk for a bit. She told me how she had been watching me (she's been in for a while and seen me lots of times) and noticed that I was young, "hip" (me?!), cool, fun, happy...and a Christian. She said she looked at me and thought, "She seems really happy, why am I not happy like that?" I firmly believe she has accepted Christ as her Savior, and is now desiring a change of life beyond her change of heart. What an encouragement that was to me! I was so humbled, because I know my heart and, like the song says, the only good in me is Jesus. I made sure she knew that. She wanted to know "how I do it". How I live my life in a godly way and still be so cool. (that is so funny to me, I never consider myself cool!) I showed her the put off - renew the mind -put on principle from Ephesians 4, and also Psalm 119:45 (or 43?) That one says "I walk at liberty for I obey your precepts" or something along those lines. Basically, I wanted her to understand that consistent reading of the Word, prayer, and minute by minute decisions to obey God are the ways to have a changed life, a godly life. I was unsure whether or not to tell you all about this, it does seem prideful. I hope you realize that something like this is actually a humbling, and even a scary situation. It is another reminder that people are watching me. Do they all see what my new friend sees? More importantly, what does God see when they're not looking? I was so blessed to talk with this young Christian yesterday; I can only thank God and pray for His continued help in maintaining a Christ- like testimony to the world.

Matthew 6:27-29

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, they neither toil nor spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Random Thoughts...

Have you ever had so much to say that you couldn't even say anything at all? That is where I am tonight. I have a boatload of thoughts on about thirteen different topics at the moment and I cannot get them all to straighten out enough to put on paper. On the computer. Whatever. Lots of questions on my mind tonight, and not a lot of answers. Lots of "what if's?" and "when's?" and "will I ever's?". You know, the whole my-brain-is-about-to-explode feeling. I have no answers and I am supposed to be relaxed, waiting, and trusting. Oi, that is tough. Anyone who knows me well knows that I prefer to read the end of my book first so I know what is going to happen. I almost fast-forwarded to watch the end of a movie last night, just so I knew how it was going to turn out. Everything between here and the end seems so much easier if I know how it is going to finish. Unfortunately for me, life isn't like that. God knows the ending, not me, and my job is to trust Him...completely, without question. Not easy, but I am trying. You could pray for me, that would be helpful I think.

Matthew 6:25-26

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

My God is Amazing

Lately I have been thinking about the circumstances surrounding my recent move to my own place. I would like to take a minute to share some things with you about that. I moved back to Michigan to live with my parents after my senior year of college. That would be May of 2005. I did student teaching that fall, then started at Lakeshore, 3rd and 4th grade, in January of 2006. During those months I was not happy about having to live at home. After living in Wisconsin for four years, basically on my own, it was hard to move back in with mom and dad! After a while I got over it pretty much. I have a fabulous relationship with my parents and they had no problem with me living my life the way I chose. Really, it was fine. But time passed and I got restless and discontent again. Fall of 2006 I started my second year of teaching at LBA and still had no hope for moving out any time soon. I always bugged TAD to move out with me, but he would say, "Lindsey, why would you want to move out together and have to pay when we can live here together for free!" Well, duh, I didn't want to go or stay to live with him! The point was to just get on my own. Men! Anyway, I searched high and low for a roommate or a place I could afford by myself. Nothing, nothing, and more nothing! I think I almost went crazy. What a hard time I had being content and waiting on God. Boy, it was tough. Fall 2007 brought my third year at LBA and my 24th birthday, and I was still at mom and dad's. I love them, so much, but I just wanted a place of my own!!! TAD moved out in October and I was jealous. He didn't actually have his own place, but he was still a little more on his own. Then, all of a sudden, two days after Christmas 2007, TAD emailed me and asked if I still wanted to move out, and what about with him? Again I say, "Duh!" We started calling around and looking at apartments, duplexes, etc. the next day. Of course, we were not planning on finding anything the first day or deciding on something if we did. God had other plans! After a day of looking, TAD got a call back about a duplex that night and went to look at it. He said, "Lindsey, it took my breath away. I think you need to come see it." I was at Gram and Gramps' so we all packed in the car and met TAD at the house. He was right...it was perfect. The first thing I noticed was the high ceiling in the main front room. At our height, that high ceiling was a tremendous blessing. The rest of the house...2 rooms, huge basement, garage, bathroom...all of it was perfect. On top of all that, the rent was insanely low. It was probably a hundred dollars cheaper than everything else and twice as nice. It was obvious that this place was it. We slept on it, knowing full well that we would sign the lease the next day. So here we are, three months later, and so incredibly happy. After two and a half years of waiting, God put perfection in my path in a matter of three days. Amazing. Only God could have done something like that. I wish I could even begin to make you understand how incredible it all is. I am so grateful that God closed all the doors over the two and a half years before now because I would have been in a yucky apartment with an annoying roommate just so I could get out on my own. Though impatient, I am glad I waited for God. His way is perfect, and so is His timing. Praise Him! To see pictures of our place that God so graciously provided, click here and here.

The Platypuses

Platypuses are the thing for me,

Even when they're in my tea.

And when they're in my pool with me,

They're still the thing, the thing for me.

And when these platypuses grow,

I tie them up, right in a bow.

And when these platypuses sew,

I sew them them up, 'till they say NO!

These platypuses are so good,

At playing movies, like Robin Hood.

And if they could, they really would,

They'd go outside, and they'd chop wood.

They have a bill, and big webbed feet,

And in the water, they go beat beat.

If platypuses are in the heat,

A sad thing happens, they turn to wheat.

This poem was written by Michael Woodby, one of my current students. However, he wrote it, I think, in fourth grade with Mrs. Johnson. He came across a copy of it the other day and let me read it. I loved it! I asked for his permission to post it on my blog for all of you to enjoy. He said that would be fine. Hope you like it as much as I did!

Hebrews 4:13

And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

What He Did For You and Me

"He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood." I love this line from the song Come Thou Fount. Every time I hear it I am convicted. How can I choose to sin, to put myself in spiritual danger, when Christ gave His own blood to keep from that very sin?! So I challenge you as well...Jesus died to keep you from danger. Are you putting yourself in harm's way and thus scoffing the blood that flowed on your behalf?

Another Friday Night I Didn't Spend At My Own House

Last night I went with Amanda, Jack, and Grace to Aunt Sue and Uncle Rick's house to have grilled hamburgers with them, Cate, and Will. Our first summery meal of the year! The recent sunshine inspired us I suppose. I don't know if Aunt Sue and Amanda would like me to say this, but the three of us had two hamburgers and Uncle Rick only had one. Boy, we Hackney women can sure eat! According to Uncle Rick, we can really "pack it away." Unfortunately, it's way too true. After dinner Manda and I went and got a bunch of movies. Came home to put the kids in bed (Gracie rocked with me for a few minutes...so sweet!) then we watched a couple movies. Finally got to bed about 2am. Sheesh. I am going to need a nap today...