IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!

Any time I get to thinking too much, and realize that my focus might be more about myself than about others or about God and Jesus, I strive to keep this thought in my mind:  "It's not about ME, it's about HIM."  As I was driving down the road having that thought yesterday, it occurred to me that too often "I" am wanting to be in the spotlight of something.  I'm being selfish.  I'm concerned about my wants or my feelings.  Not that it is always bad to do so, but too much of it can lead to depression or negative thinking in a hurry.  I was thinking, "It's hard for my light to shine for HIM, if I'm too concerned about myself being in the spotlight."  I decided to make a little meme to share this thought with others, just in case they, too, had these selfish thoughts from time to time.

I suppose we all do, really.  It's easy to get caught up in ourselves, isn't it?  I blame mine on hormones, just to be honest, because I'm rarely "down" about anything. When I am it almost always equates to a hormonal issue that's out of whack for a short time.  (Oh, the joys of the mid-40's! NOT.) But it makes me think of those who might not ever "get out" of these thoughts....what about them?  And what if it wasn't a hormone thing?  What could I do to help get the negativity from my mind?

For me, what I've found has been found driving down a highway. When you live in a remote area as I do, you spend a lot of time driving on highways.  Often I listen to my favorite Pandora station, but I have a very favorite thing to do, and that is to put it on my iTunes "worship" playlist filled with acapella praise and worship songs from various groups, such as Hallal, The Zoe Group, Narrow Way, and a few others.  I LOVE IT!  It instantly "peps" me up and makes me feel better!

So now I think, WHY DO I NOT JUST START OUT EVERY DAY WITH THIS PLAYLIST?!  Well, I do listen to that playlist often and at random or scheduled times, but I haven't wanted to listen to it all of the time because I wanted it to be different.  I wanted that list to be "reserved" in a sense, but now I see that my thinking is WRONG.  I NEED those songs each and every day. I NEED to be uplifted every day! MAYBE if I listened to them ever day - at the beginning of every day - it would change the whole day...or at least change ME for the whole day.  Who knows? (God.)  

So today, I'm starting out with HIM even more so than usual Bible reading as soon as a I wake up and quick prayer before leaving the bed.  (I need to work on that part, too.)  And as I go through the day, I'll remind myself to keep ME out of the spotlight, to shine brightly for HIM, and strive to always remember that none of this is about me ever.

A Proverbs 31 Woman

Yesterday we attended the funeral of a 94 year old woman. She and her husband would have celebrated their SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY in March! What an inspiration they have been to us and to so many others who knew them!

Every Sunday morning she was feeling well, this woman's husband would get up towards the end of Bible class and go and get her for worship. He was always so attentive to her - holding her purse and holding her arm. He, himself, uses a cane. They were a sweet, sweet couple and a wonderful example of faithfulness to Christ, His church, and to having a marriage that glorified God.

Joe's brother is our preacher, and he read Proverbs 31 at her service, which rightly described this sweet lady. Interestingly, last night in my ladies' Bible class, I was finishing up a series of lessons on marriage and we also read Proverbs 31. I hope you'll take the time to read it, too.

Females today talk about "goals". The life we celebrated yesterday was one of a woman who met her goals- the greatest of which is her eternal home.  As Christian women, we too should strive to have those same goals. Those goals are the very best goals we could ever, ever have.  No other goals compete.

"Seasons of Life"

Tonight I'll begin teaching ladies' Bible class after taking the summer off. This new semester will be called "Seasons of Life".  There are many different age groups in the class, from mid-20's to 80's, so these lessons will be geared to learn from each of these "seasons".

It's fitting that this new class corresponds with the beginning of my very favorite time of year: September, October, November, and December.  I love this season!

The scripture basis for the class will be this:

 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5

There was a time when I was one of the youngest women in the class.  Not so anymore!  Now I'm middle-aged, so am teaching the younger ones, but also still learning from the older ones.  This passage is so good.  Women learn from one another and that's what I want this new class to be about - sharing and learning from each other.

This new season of life I'm in, with two children gone and two still at home is weird.  It's great to be able to have the youngest two and spend time just with them, but the house is quieter, less messy (Even though the youngest two say they are the messiest and it will be messy!  Truthfully, I'm the messiest of them all!), and just different.  Sitting at our huge dining table that seats 10 is just different with four.  It's weird, but we will get used to it soon.

With each season of life, we have different ways that we can serve God.  That will be another aspect of ladies' class this semester.  When all of our children were young, I felt like I wasn't doing anything for others because I didn't have the time.  Now that it's less busy, I can make meals for others, visit others, and do more "work" for the Lord.  But I truly was working for Him when the kids were little.  They were my work!  And the two here at home now are still my work.  Too many stop this work as the last one or two are left at home.  The youngest can be neglected and spoiled in a way, left to do for himself/herself.  I want to make sure that doesn't happen with ours.  He'll need just as much guidance and supervision as the others have had - maybe more.

So what season of life are you in? Which has been your favorite?  Which has been your least favorite?  Reflect on those questions today.  Take the time to share with someone else about your season of life.  It's quite possible that something you have gone through and share will be something they needed to hear.  

Tuesday's Blessing

Tuesday night I got to do something that I had wanted to do for a few a months after hearing about it at a nearby congregation.  They do a thing called, "Tabitha Tuesday". It's so neat! They meet together (ladies of all ages) and learn something - cupcake decorating, sewing a little bag, pie crust making - lots of things that could be used to serve others and encourage the ladies to be like Tabitha/Dorcas. 

I wanted to do something similar and ended up being able to do it at my home, but invite all ladies in town or nearby.  I was really thinking there might be 20 or 25, so had tables and chairs everywhere, but it ended up being nine of us.  For the "1st go-round" that was just perfect, and I'll know what works best for #2 when more come!

 I told the ladies that the "blessing" part of "Tuesday's Blessing" was that they were getting a 'free' craft project to do, but also being blessed with a night out to be around other women.  As a young stay-at-home-mom for many years, I remember being thankful for times like that when I could be around women.  I am still a stay-at-home-mom, but I lost the "young" part somewhere along the way! :)

 The ladies used burlap, paper, material and paint to create their own fall themed banners.

 One lady made one to look like the one I had purchased at Kirkland's!  It turned out GREAT!  It was also great that our Oklahoma State University Extension Office lady has access to many sewing machines and part of her job requires her to do things in all of the towns in our county!  Thanks, Carol!!  (I never remember her 'official' job title! Sorry!)

 Another cut out leave shapes from another sample I had purchased, then polka dotted them around the letters spelling HARVEST.

 This one was so clever!!  Laura made one huge pennant and will hang it alone on a rope!  So cute! I never would have thought of that!

 This paper one isn't finished, but looks great already! The fall papers at Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's were so pretty!

 And this one is fall-themed material cut into the lady's last name.  She will string it and hang it, as well.

 Kaci's WELCOME banner isn't totally finished, but she's got a great start on it.

 This is after the craft night, and there are LOTS of supplies left!  We'll be having another one in a few weeks!

 My plan is to have these events at least once a month. There aren't many free evenings in my calendar, but hopefully it will continue to be successful.

 We'll have to adjust the schedule once basketball starts. That may be hard to do!

 But the first "Tuesday's Blessing" was a huge success and many more are excited about coming next time.

 It was a blessing for me and a blessing for the ladies who attended.

Some of the ladies already  knew each other, but some met for the first time. A few were also relatives of each other.  But we all enjoyed laughing, learning about one another, and getting time to just enjoy the company of other women.  That is my passion, and I believe that God has given me this "ministry" outlet to bless others.  And maybe it will inspire others to be a blessing to someone else.  That's what "Tuesday's Blessing is all about.

Inside the Proverbs 31 Woman's Kitchen? Maybe so!

Maybe it is....maybe it isn't, but I like to think it is.  I like to think that in order for the famous passage about the Proverbs 31 woman to be written, her kitchen often looked like this:  All messey and looking like a tornado might have hit!

Each year, during the first part of May, the Tipton PTO celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week by providing meals, snacks, and treats for our school's teachers and faculty.  Because we're a small school, we treat not only the elementary school teachers, but the junior high and high school teachers and faculty, as well.

I realize some of this mess could be dealt with more efficiently by taking care of it while I work on things, but for some reason, I don't think in those terms.  I just make the mess....then later clean it up. But it occured to me last week, in the midst of the mess, that this would drive many people crazy!  So crazy that they might not take the opportunity to cook for others or help with PTO or other events, because it might mess up their kitchens.  It seems a little far-fetched to me, but maybe it's not.

So I began thinking about the Proverbs 31 women, and the good she did.  Don't you think that at times she made messes?  Her hands got dirty?  She got of off her own schedule to help others in need?  I believe she did!  You see, a Proverbs 31 women musn't be perfect and always have everything perfect in her life,  but she must use what God has given her and serve others as best as she can.  Don't you agree?  Me, too! 

So, on this GRATITUESDAY,  I'm grateful for the messy kitchen, but I'm also grateful when it is all cleaned up.  But I believe I should be more grateful about making those messes because it means I'm doing something - often for someone else.  Perhaps it means that I'm being a servant to others - just like the woman of Proverbs 31.

To see what others are grateful for on this GRATITUESDAY, visit Heavenly Homemakers!

(Note:  I had some "clean kitchen" photos to share when it was all cleaned up, but I can't download them at the time.  You'll just have to use your imagination! :) Lori)