On the Rocks, Please!

"On the rocks! Stay on the rocks!" I bellowed at the top of my lungs as I watched my oldest son 'accidentally slip' from the huge boulders into the river as we enjoyed a spring break adventure in the Smokey Mountains National Park at Chimney Rock Picnic Area. No broken bones, no banged heads, and coincidentally, no 'accident' that he ended up in the river instead of on the rocks! You see, the 'baby', had already executed a perfect two foot jump into a shallow pool which had formed at the quiet edge of the rushing mountain cascade and his best four year old exuberance shared the thrill of the cold plunge with all who would listen -- since he has the lung capacity and booming vocal characteristics from my husband's family, he was heard clearly throughout most of the Smokey Mountains! And, speaking of characteristics from my husband, both of our boys garnered the 'slip in the Smokey Mountain river' gene from their daddy. Only 15 years ago, we had to make an unplanned shopping excursion to the outlet mall because my husband 'accidentally' slipped into the river soaking the only shoes he had with him for the entire weekend. No matter how aggravating soggy, smelly, river drenched shoes are, the boyhood joy and youthful zeal witnessed in climbing over, around, beside and on the gigantic boulders which shape the course of the river and tune the river's roar unequivocally intoxicated me with pure happiness. The adventure had at the edge of civilization yet truly in the middle of a sometimes powerful, presently playful river provided glimpses of fading childhood and pending manhood. The moments of conquering the massive boulders with the agility of a mountain lion were paired with straddling dead, fallen trees making pre-adolescent comments and gestures. The boy who hasn't willingly let me 'shoot' him for months suddenly posing on one boulder after the other until he is certain that my trusty Kodak and I have captured his essence. Astonished by the power of the river to move the huge boulders, amused by the screams he could elicit from his sister by throwing rocks into the river near her vicinity, my oldest son bewildered me for hours as I realized once again how quickly he is growing into a young man. Not to be outdone by her brothers, our daughter purposefully and boldly marched herself right into the rushing waters in her bright pink croc-knock-offs to strike her best picture perfect pose. And there is another pose; and possibly one more. A few on the rocks, some by the rocks, a couple more behind the rocks, and even one or two between the rocks. These are the days that digital cameras were made for! Only a couple hours later it seems that months of struggles and daily frustrations were whisked away by the breeze and rushed downstream by the river rolling over the rocks. We stretched out on a couple of deck -ottoman sized boulders to enjoy and contemplate all that was good and right in our world right then and there. I never knew a boulder could be so comfortable, so inviting, so relaxing. KERSPLASH! I was still there with my 12 year old boy who loves to heave small boulders into the water near his sister and mom! As we manuevered over, beside, between and around the boulders and rocks of varying shapes and sizes to our point of entry, I breathed in the adventure and accomplishment of the afternoon and was pleased to abandon the 'rule' of staying on the rocks!

Unlikely Candidates

Have you ever felt like you could do something for God, but retreated because you were too aware of your past, or lack of qualifications, or uncertainty of exactly how you would do it? Does a dream flicker in your heart, but you don’t know what to do with it, yet you can’t get it to go away? Do you sometimes chastise yourself for thinking that you could really do something different, better, more than what you are right now? Are you afraid or ashamed that people might find out what you’ve done in the past if you step up and do something for God? Before you shake your head at yourself one more time or shrug your shoulders wishing you were different, take a look at the people that God chose to use and record in the Bible- prostitutes, tax collectors, adulterers, fishermen, carpenters, handmaids, drunks and more. God did not choose only pedigreed socialites with good behavior and perfect life plans, He chose unlikely candidates to serve in positions of honor, let alone serve an honorable God. Yes, He did use people who were faithful and sought Him, but He also used people who were not perfect and He didn’t persecute them for their pasts. God chose to bring people out of their chosen state of ‘misfit’ into His service. He chose people who didn’t pay attention, who shirked the responsibility He had given them, who defied Him and who denied Him. He chose people far from perfect to share His Perfect Love. In the Bible, God included details of imperfect lives He redeemed and utilized to witness of His love. For years I felt a call on my life to work for the Lord, but I cowered in fear of people finding out about the ‘real me’. I was not secure in my total Redemption through Jesus. I thought my worth was judged by the world, not paid by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Sometimes today, when I share how God has used every self-destructive, self-deprecating, self-centered decision and behavior in my life to create a beautiful vessel of His love, I have a twinge of fear that someone may ‘find out’ who I really am and what I have done. Then I remember to thank and praise God because He does know everything about me! He accepts me – He LOVES me! From studying scripture, I know that God is the same today as He was yesterday and will be forever. Therefore, if He chose imperfect people to serve Him before the birth of Jesus, and Jesus chose imperfect people to be His disciples while He was on earth, why do we think that today He will only choose ‘perfect’ people today? God is worthy of praise and awe under all circumstances -- embrace how much more praise is given to Him when He takes the used, shredded, disgraceful pieces of our lives and makes a beautiful vessel of His Love. Allow God to use you and be amazed by the works He accomplishes through you!

My Computer, My Friend

Technology is my friend. Technology is my friend. Technology is my friend. If I repeat that enough, I will believe it. If you witness me trying to work with technology, you will quickly determe that I don't need any enemies if technology is my friend! My phone skills excel -- in addition to hundreds of minutes a month, I can use the calendar, alarm and tip calculator! I can type basic documents on Word and simple spreadsheets on Excel. This week, I even learned how to create 'business card-like' cards and postcards in Publisher - with graphics and clip art! And, don't forget, I had not even read a blog until my fellow missionary and friend Brooke returned to Belize at the beginning of January. I think I'm making great progress for an almost middle age person! New goals: learn how to enchance my blog with cool music; learn how to use Powerpoint! CHALLENGE: 1. What new and useful information or skill have you learned in 2008? 2. Tell me what this means to you: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer"? Again, the more people you share this with, the more information I will have to work with in reaching other people! Have a love-filled February! Suzanne Have a great day!

A Different Kind of Good Book

Do you ever long for time just to spend with a good book? You know, turn off the TV, radio, phone, cell phone, computer, neighbors' dogs, etc., and just hunker down for 8 hours with a good book? Sometimes a book just pulls me right inside the covers and I don't want to come out. "Partners in Prayer" by John Maxwell yanked me inside yesterday and won't let me escape! Ok, over 10 years old and possibly out of print, but packed with powerful content! Having served as a placeholder on my bookcase for several years, recent stirrings urged me to pick up the book and read it. A typical book read for me starts at the front cover and goes straight through from the tiny print telling me where to find it in the Congressional library to the bold print in the back guiding me to other great works by the author. The last few times I have been drawn in like this, I was riding shotgun for a crazy Jersey-girl bond agent...and if you know who I mean, you know these are opposite ends of the reading chart! "Partners in Prayer" ("PIP") was different. Seems lately there has been an inner directive to learn about fasting and the spiritual significance of fasting. Now if you personally know me, you know that recently I look more like a woman who appreciates a good meal and a good desert, than one who would consider fasting - talk about modern miracles...this could be another one in my life! Wouldn't you know, right on the front cover it talks about a 'Special section on fasting'! So this time, I started in the middle of the book and worked my way to the end and then started at the beginning. Ironically, seems I have done that in many other areas of my life before, but never a book! (Different topic, different day!) For about eight years, I have had a very intentional, active prayer life --sometimes wondering if I was 'doing it right', but none the less continuing to pray -- and I am finding very direct, simplistic, understandable and applicable instructions from Mr. Maxwell. The section on fasting was informative and now has me on a quest to find a book solely devoted to fasting and spirituality. In the meantime (you know, that time frame we spend so much of our lives in), I will continue to study "PIP" and work on writing projects. Fact in point, if I would spend more time looking at the computer screen or the notebook, I would probably notice fewer toys to be picked up, papers to be put away and cobwebs gently inhabiting our home....I feel a different topic coming on... Seems that once God places a thought in my heart and head, it doesn't go away until I act on it, so for now, it is back to the book! Experience an awesome day! Suzanne

1st Post - One resolution accomplished!

Wow! I'm so excited to be posting my first BLOG entry and it is only January 5, 2008 (Ok, technically January 6, because the clock struck twelve a couple of hours ago, but with this type of excitement, who cares!). Now, for those of you who have grown up with computers or embraced them while I was praying they wouldn't last any longer than pet rocks or mood rings, this might not seem like a major accomplishment. But let me be the first to explain to you why this is such a big deal. First, I made a commitment to myself that I would learn how to blog in 2008 and, tah-dah, 2008 doesn't even have a week accounted for and I have begun. So theoretically, I am above average right off the starting line for 2008 since the average person does not achieve any New Year's Resolutions or changes! I'll be 10 years old for a minute here - "Yeah, me!" (Head tilt, cheesy smile, flippant attitude all included for same price.) Let me tell you, it is not without internal conflict that I have made this step, but I can now officially add to my well-rounded (perhaps slightly elliptical) resume that I am a blogger. (Of course when I was praying that computers would go away and pet rocks would come back, a 'blogger' would have surely been a shame-filled title and no one would have admitted to it anyway!) Next, I don't want to claim living in fear, but what happens when everyone decides that these computers are too intrusive and quits using them and no one knows where to buy an inkpen anymore? I mean, do you remember the insanity of 2000 when people stocked the cellar pantries with survival paraphernalia just because the century was changing and computers might have collective breakdowns? What would happen if the desires of so many were fulfilled and people just turned them all off permanently? Would people know where to buy inkpens or would they have to attend auctions, .com closures, and garage sales to buy the bulk promotional pens bearing obsolete URL's, www's, @'s and so on? What about paper? And let's consider the "peace on earth"....with great credit to the electronic, digital, 'interactive' age, many people have forgotten, lost or never learned the art of communicating person to person, live, in living color. I was talking to my best friend today and we both are amazed and frustrated at how even the cashier at the local grocery store is seemingly incapable of holding brief, pleasant conversations. Now, I understand that talking to me, the paying customer who helps make it possible for the nice lad to have a job, is probably not near as interesting as talking in garbled code to his co-worker who likewise doesn't realize that I am actually living and breathing right there before their very eyes, but wasn't talking to the nice 'old ladies' what the teenage sack boys of my youth excelled at even if it was motivated by the desire to score a monetary acknowledgement. And face to face conversation wouldn't be the only silence experienced. Can you imagine if there were only 3 or 4 television stations, maybe a half dozen radio stations, and vinyl records? Ok, let's get real carried away with this make-believe silence.....no cell phones!!!!! (Granted, one of our employees would swear that my truck wouldn't go in reverse if I don't have the cell phone to my ear, but I'm willing to try if only we could get back to more personal communications.) Well, it is that time of night when people all around are dreaming, but they are sound asleep and I am wide awake, so I just have to snap out of the fantasy of the electronics age coming to a silent halt. I will rejoice in my new accomplishment and revel in the joy! You see, my first blog is almost as exciting as my first child because I know I have once again passed a threshold of no return. Granted, my first child can probably design the page with half the effort and twice the flare, but sometimes a gal just has to go with gut instincts without reading all of the instructions. Trust me, there is plenty of time to get shown up by the firstborn because my whimsy desires a electronic demise of the grandest proportions, but my brains have finally grasped the reality that the computer age is going to be around much longer than the stone or pet rock age! PLEASE consider this my official "personal" invitation for YOU join me as we live abundantly, learning to embrace all good that comes our way! 2008 will be a memorable year - especially if we blog our way through it! In Him~~ Suzanne P. S. Some day we'll tackle getting our computers set on the right time zone so that posting times will actually correspond with reality! Oh, yes, the topics just keep pouring in!