I'm Watching You

I am guilty of paying my daughter to cut coupons. I offered her two cents for every coupon she cut so I could save myself some time, because time is money, right? She was earning big bucks on Sunday's paper. I soon realized I was losing some money because it was going to my coupon secretary. She worked hard to stack and file them for me so I couldn't complain. It was well worth every two cents because my plate is very full.

Tonight she asked to cut coupons again, but for free.

I immediately had to stop sweeping and ask, "Are you serious, why?"

Here was her response, "Mommy, I want it to be my ministry, like you."

I had to question her, "How do you know what ministry is?"

"I learned from cook and play, it's a ministry where you don't get paid," she replied. "I don't have to be paid, I want to cut your coupons to help you," she said.

I keep pondering over her response tonight. I've concluded it's God working in the heart of an eight year old girl. Or is God working in the heart of me? I want to share what the God says about teaching our children. I'm being watched. Are You?

Deuteronomy 4:9Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.Deuteronomy 4:8-10 (in Context) Deuteronomy 4 (Whole Chapter)

My Fall List

This afternoon I took a short walk to my mailbox, holding my baby. I felt the brisk air on my face and I noticed him shivering, but smiling. The pine needles on the trees were swaying gently with the breeze. If you listened hard enough, you could hear the leaves softly humming. I watched as some of them danced to a rhythm. I took a deep breath and smelled fall and it was glorious. I smiled as I approached the mailbox because the flag was still up. I knew I was going to enjoy this pleasure again shortly. As I took another walk, thirty minutes later, I felt the warmth of the sun rays shining down on my face. I looked up and thought about the creator of this beautiful fall season. God’s words fell fresh on me and I thought of several tasks having to do with the word “fall”.
· Fall in love with the Bible
· Fall in love with Jesus
· Fall in love with your husband again
· Fall in love with spending time with your children
· Fall in love with servant hood
· Fall in love with giving
Then I thought of things to fall out of:
· Fall out of love with yourself
· Fall out love with this world
· Fall out of love with judgment
· Fall out of love with money
· Fall out of love with receiving
Do any of these apply to you? They certainly impress on me. My ultimate desire is to fall in love with the creator of this breathtaking fall day. God’s Word says to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, Deuteronomy 6:5. Take a moment to ask God to “fall” fresh on you and compose your own “fall” list.

Shop and Pray was a Success

We'd shopped until we nearly dropped. I was pulling the cart with one hand and carrying the baby in the other hand. The baby was tired, still I trudged on to buy 18 boxes of penne pasta. I stood in front of the freezer case looking for 24 pie crusts. Oh no, there wasn't a single generic pie crust on the shelf. The name brand cost a dollar more. I thought to myself, "That would be twelve more dollars we could use for ministry". God gave me wisdom to wait on this purchase and try a different Wal-Mart. Disappointed, I walked on to the nearest cash register. Suddenly, I spotted an employee in the freezer section. "Pie crusts," I thought. I asked her for the generic brand and she was happy to find them in the back freezer. She let me know it might be a few minutes and I happily obliged. This was the first time I'd stopped walking since we started shopping. I waited, I waited and still no employee. Somewhat frustrated, I waited some more looking at my watch.

Suddenly something caught my eye. It was two wheelchairs near the dairy case. I glanced at two special needs women in the wheel chairs. A lady with a tilted head motioned for me to come closer. She reached out for my baby in my arms and tried to say something with slurred words. Drool begin to drop from her mouth and I noticed a sparkle in her eye. She was enjoying my baby. As her shaky hands reached for his dangling feet, I suddenly removed a sock. Her fingers caressed the bottom of his foot and he started cackling with joy. She was unconsciously tickling him and she didn't even know it. His laughter brought an immense joy to these two women. God spoke to me at that moment. He said, "Be still know and know that I am God." I was finally still enough to know God was speaking through these women. He had a divine "time-out" from shopping for me. Thankfully I received the blessing.


Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Are You Still In Your Pajamas?

One day my son is going to kill me for sharing this funny story. Here it goes. Today is pajama day at my kid's school and neeedless to say they were so excited to wear their pajamas. My son, who is in kindergarten has watched his big sister wear her pajamas to school for three years and it is finally his turn. So they wake up and don't even have to change which makes their day great.

We're at the bus stop waiting this morning and I watch him frantically coming back to the van. I roll down my window and he yells, "I'm not ready. In a half whine, half crying voice, he says, "I still have my diaper on, help me momma, I'm going to miss the bus" (moms with boys can relate to the diaper thing at night). In a panic stricken mode he jumps in the van and yanks off his diaper as quick as possible with fear in his eyes. I proceed to tell him to calm down and everything will be fine. I look up and the bus is about a 1/2 mile away and the lights begin to flash. My son is out of the van and made it just in the nick of time.

This amusing event made me think of us and the end times. People are buzzing around talking about prophecy right now. My son's situation made me think of those who are still in their pajamas, not ready for the coming of the Lord. I started asking myself, "Are we asleep? Are we in our pajamas? Are we ready? How can we get better prepared?" I came up just a couple of thoughts. I don't want to be like him, frantically afraid, excited in a negative way, whining, anxious and fearful.

I want to be ready standing before God with my clothes on. Are you ready or are you still in your pajamas? Just a correlation I thought of this morning after I threw Colby's diaper away in the trash and chuckled to myself.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13