The Chronicles of Biscuit - "I Think I've Got the Weasels"

It sounds pretty serious.  Maybe I should call the doctor in the morning.  Biscuit is very concerned because he thinks he's got the "weasels".   He informed me of his problem right before bedtime tonight.  He first said his tummy hurt, then said, "I think I've got the weasels".  I asked him why he thought that and he said it was because he wasn't breathing very good.

Never mind the fact that Biscuit's got asthma and is on three different medications for that breathing problem.  The weasels are serious business!  Biscuit informed me that his teacher talked to the students today about the weasels and how it can make you not breath good.  So, naturally, that's what he assumes he has now.  (I'm assuming she talked to them about the measels.  I think there has been an outbreak in New York maybe??)

As human beings we get ourselves all worked up and worried over many different things.  Some of those things may really be important, but many are not.  Statitistics show that 40% of the things we worry about never happen (like Biscuit with his "weasels" - not going to happen, I'm certain.)  90% of the things we worry about we have no control over anyway. So, we're not doing any good by worrying, are we?  No.  Not at all.  In fact, in the Bible we are commanded to NOT worry.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Matthew 6:34a

So, what are you worried about?  Are you worried about something that may never happen?  Are you worried about the future?  The past?  Or about what is going on in your life right now?  (Or are you, like Biscuit, are you worried you have the "weasels"?????)

Give your worries to God.  Let them go.  God can handle everything.  He'll take care of you.

Read Matthew 6:28-37.

ON YOUR MARK! GET SET! GO!!

On Thanksgiving morning, my husband's family has a race.  It's called the "Waugh Turkey Trot".  There is a 1 mile Fun Run for the kids and then a 5K (3.1 mile) race for the adults (and some of the kids and teens run it, too).  Some of the women walk the 5K instead of running it.

Each year a trophy is given for the winner of the big race and prizes are given to the younger ones.  Because many in the family are seasoned runners, the event is competitive, but in a fun way.  It's always fun to see who wins the race.

Paul used running and races quite a bit in his writings.  He referred to the fact that everyone competes in a race, but there is only one winner.  He tells the Corinthians (and it written in God's Word for us, too) to run in such a way as to get the prize - and that prize is a crown of life that will last forever in eternity.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Running in a race takes training.  It takes a plan.  It will not just happen.  In the same way, our Christian life is a process.  Becoming a Christian is just one step of that process.  It doesn't stop there, but continues until our race is complete.  Our training comes from reading and studying the Bible, by praying, and by living a Christian life using Jesus as our examle.  And, our training is only complete when we die. 

When the time does come and our training is complete, as Christians we should be able to say as Paul did in 2 Timothy:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6-7

Thanksgiving Baskets

I'm not exactly sure  when it began, but it's been a tradition of either 16 or 17 years.  Our young adult Bible class began all those years ago collecting food and money and distributing Thanksgiving food baskets to those in need in our community.  Yesterday twelve food baskets were delivered to individuals and families.

Over those 16 or 17 years our class has changed.  The people have changed and our name has changed.....well, we still call ourselves "young" adult, but many of us aren't so young any more (no names mentioned here, of course!).  One thing that hasn't changed over the years is the need for this work.  There are still those who need help and there are still those who are blessed because of this work.

Some of those who received baskets this year have had a hard time lately...maybe an illness or disease has caused a hardship in their life, some have recently lost their homes due to fires, and some have other financial struggles.  In deciding who to give food baskets to, our class doesn't worry about why people might be having difficult times.  We don't analyze their situation.  We only seek out a way to help people with their present situation.

During this month, I am participating in "The 30-Day Giving Challenge", are you?  (Note:  The right side of my home page has the link.) If you've not yet committed, it's not too late to begin.  In fact, giving doesn't have to be limited to November or even during the holiday time of the year (from Nov. 1st through Christmas).  It's typically when we feel more giving, but our hearts should be willing to give all year long.

This year I had the priviledge to go shopping for the Thanksgiving food baskets.  Different women volunteer each year to do the shopping and we all enjoy having the oppotunity to help with this good work.  Our fellow Christians donate money for our class project and this year I was able to purchase turkeys, potatoes, dressing, rolls, gravy, eggs, milk, pumpkin pies, and other items for each basket.  Three baskets full!!  All year long our congregation collects non-perishable food for the pantry and that food is also distributed with the baskets.  Then, our class and many of the teens come together on a Sunday afternoon and divide up the food and distribute the baskets to each individual or family.  Yesterday 35 people gathered to help with this work.

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for Christians who have the heart to give - not just at this time of year, but all year long.  I am grateful for my Christian brothers and sisters who, year after year, contribute to make Thanksgiving Baskets for those in our community who are in need.  I know those who receive the baskets are blessed, but we all are blessed through the giving, as well.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35

For more Gratituesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

When the Wind Blows

I can tell that the wind is blowing tonight.  The windows are shaking a little bit (they're old...need to be replaced!).  A cold front is moving into southwest Oklahoma tonight, so the wind has picked up.

Wind is a powerful thing.  It can cool us off on a hot day, but it can also tear down buildings in seconds in the form of strong, straight winds or rotating tornadoes.

When the wind blows, how does it affect you?  I used to think it was so interesting when I would go visit my husband's grandmother on a windy day.  She was in a nursing home, but she knew when it was windy.  She could "see" the effects of the wind out of her window, but more importantly, she could "feel" it.  She felt it without ever having to go out in it.  She just knew that it was windy and it kind of un-nerved her!  I kind of understand how she feels as I sit her listening to the wind.  I'm not out in it, but I know what it would feel like to be out there because I've been in the wind quite often and I don't like it too much.

But what about in your spiritual life?  How does the wind affect you?  Look at the following passage about wind:

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:14-16

When we mature as Christians, we won't be blown by the wind.  We will be confident in what we believe - not because of what we've been told, but by what we know ourselves by reading the Bible.  We won't be led astray by those who may teach untruths, but stand firm in what the Bible teaches is true and right.

If we allow the "wind" to blow us in our spiritual walk, we will never do what God needs us to do - what He created us to do.  His Will for us is that we serve Him by living in the example of Jesus, our Savior.  Jesus knew what His mission on earth was - to save the lost.  We must also know what our mission on earth is:  to seek and save the lost.

We are servants of God - when the wind blows and when it is calm.

Parental Right: Changing Your Mind

Sometimes as a parent, you may have to change your mind. Something that seems right at the time, may need to be reviewed again and changed later on. A rule might possibly need to be bent for a certain reason. A punishment might need to be forgiven. A decision might need to be reviewed. Such is the case with our daughter's soon-to-be cell phone...


I know it may seem strange to most people, but none of our children have a cell phone....even our fifteen year old daughter, Lauren. But in a few days, she will have one. She's excited, but her Dad and I are just as excited.


Lauren wanted a phone several years ago, but we weren't ready for her to have one. After a while she was okay without having one and began to see that in the end it was better that she didn't get one when she was younger.  It's amazing how many kids have cell phones...even in elementary school.


Last year after the third nine weeks of the school year, Lauren and her Dad made a deal....well, actually HE made the deal for her! Lauren had gotten a little lax in her grades and had two B's, which isn't terrible, but we knew she was capable of making A's, except maybe in math. My husband, Joe, told her that if she had a B in math, it was okay, but that it wasn't okay in the other subjects. She agreed that she hadn't been giving it her best and determined to do better. The deal was this: All A's (except could have a B in math) for a whole semester and then she could get a cell phone.

The last nine weeks of last school year Lauren had all A's except math. But, the deal was for a semester, not just a nine weeks period. That meant it wouldn't be until Christmas break.


After the first nine weeks of this year, Lauren actually had all A's...even in math. She told me she really wished that she was getting a cell phone. I did too, actually, because she was gone a lot with ballgames and FFA trips, but I told her that wasn't the deal she made with her Dad, so she wouldn't be getting one. He repeated the same deal to her again, determining she would need to wait as he had first told her she would need to do.


A few days after she received her report card after this year's first nine weeks, my husband said, "I sure wish Lauren had a cell phone." I said, "Well, you made the deal with her. I suppose you could renege!". He didn't say anything. (I think he was thinking about it, but couldn't be sure :)!!)


A few more weeks went by and Lauren was going more and more on basketball scrimmage trips, getting ready for the offical season to start. We went to a few of the scrimmages, but not all of them, due to the boys having activities of their own. Lauren would borrow her friend's phone and let us know how they did, when they were leaving, and what time they would be home so that we could pick her up. Joe said a few days ago, "Lauren really needs her own cell phone so she doesn't have to borrow all one all of the time." In my head I said, "YES!" Outloud I said, "She really does."


So, today, I got the priviledge of telling Lauren the good news and taking her to pick out her new phone, which she will officially get on Monday (in two days). She's so excited!


I'm thankful my husband changed his mind. He realized the need our daughter had of having her own cell phone and determined that his original plan/rule wasn't worth keeping. He realized that it was okay to change the rule and change his mind.


What if he had been too proud to change the rule? What if he had been too stubborn to realize the rule needed to be changed? Oh, yes, she/we could have made it without the cell phone for another month. It wouldn't have hurt anything to wait another month. Lauren could have borrowed from friends some more during that time.  However, I think my husband taught Lauren an important lesson by changing his mind. He taught her (and our boys, too) that it's good to re-think things, that it's okay to change your mind if something's not working. He taught them to not be stubborn when it comes to making decisions, even as the head of the house.


It's kind of interesting the deal my husband has made with our 13-year-old son.  He can get a cell phone at the same age (15), BUT he has to have straight A's.  He doesn't get the "B in math" part of the deal our daughter did.  Why?  Because he's really good in math and it comes easy for him.  If he began to get B's in math we would know he wasn't doing his best. 


I'm wondering how his "deal" may change???  He's probably hopeful for a change in the age of getting a cell phone.  I'm pretty sure that part of the deal won't change. :)