A House Divided?

     If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:25.)  We need a leader who is going to work diligently to UNITE this country.  I don't believe our sitting President has done a good job of this yet (I say yet because I'm an optimist.)  If he had, I think he would've won by a LOT more than what he did.  But to be fair, even if Romney would have won this election, how sure are we that he would have done any better at uniting America?  If you're a Christian, the best thing you/I can do for America to help make it better is fervently pray for our current leader and our other government officials who were elected to work for ALL the American people.  Start praying NOW for the right person to be elected in 2016.  

I think the next best thing everyone can do to help make America better is be aware of and look for opportunities in your own little world.  When you see someone in need of help, HELP THEM whether it's making them a meal or raking their leaves. We don't need to rely on the government for all our needs.  If you get a bonus at work, save some but spend some too. It's okay to spend money and get the economy going just watch your budget.

Also, if only THIS would happen....RESPECT one another.  There is a reason one believes this or the other believes that.  Don't be so pigheaded that you can't even try to understand the one who has opposing views.

     Lastly, remember God's timing is perfect.  He is still King.  He is still the only One who sees everything.  If you really want a better life, learn to trust HIM first and all else will seem like it doesn't matter as much.  Your worries won't be worries because you know God's got it. 
  

The Timing of "The Talk"

Matthew at 6 years old

When do you have "the talk" with your child?  I feel as if I'm being forced to introduce something to Matthew earlier than necessary.  Why?  Because even though I can opt out of having Matthew participate in the human sexuality class that will be taught during school, the majority, if not all of his friends and classmates will be participating.  Hence, conversations with some of Matt's more vocal friends where Matt will be present may take place which then forces our hands to go ahead and have that conversation with Matthew.

Granted, this program is a faith based program.  I opted to preview the material ahead of time before deciding whether or not to give Matt permission to participate.  The program presents the information from a Christian view point so I am very pleased with that.  The chapters prior to the sexual intercourse section talk about love, relationships and commitment as in marriage.  All good stuff.  I am just so conflicted with the TIMING of this in MY son's life.  Eleven years old and he will be learning what sexual intercourse is.  Okay, so some may say, "Tre, maybe it's you and Dennis who aren't willing to accept the fact your son is growing up and needs to learn about this."  I say, "I am not naive and I KNOW he needs to learn about this and WILL learn about this but I was hoping it would be decided by us, Den and me, when that time would be to introduce this talk.  I have even thought and prayed about whether or not I am the one being unreasonable, that maybe Den and I are over thinking this."  I keep hearing, "You know your child better than anyone else."   Matthew is a young sixth grader.  He is so very innocent compared to some of the other students.  He watches Sponge Bob and plays Mario Kart and still builds his Legos sets.  He sleeps with a stuffed dog named Patch.  He doesn't desire a cell phone or iPod.  Trust me, I have asked him if he wants these things and he always says, "Naaahhh."  He does have a flip cell phone only because we don't have a house phone anymore but it is otherwise always turned off just because he has no interest in it.  I realize none of this stuff is as important as learning about the human body and how life is created, but as Dennis said to me yesterday, "It's a shame.  We just keep introducing stuff to our kids (that they do need to learn about) but it  keeps coming at earlier and earlier ages whether they're ready for it or not."

Matt and me - 1st grade field trip to the zoo

So, I sit here, reminded of the world we live in.  Our children are growing up faster than we did and they need to be prepared for what lies ahead.  (I even asked my son, Chris (almost 21) if he thought his brother was ready for this.  His response?  "I don't think I would have been ready for that talk in the 6th grade!") But, here we are. I may not like the fact Matthew is going to have this talk presented to him earlier than what Den and I would have planned but I am grateful I have a God I can pray to for guidance in this.  The timing for this may not be what I agree with but I know God can prepare all of our hearts to make the timing just right, for, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28   God knows our hearts.  God knows Matthew's heart.  I pray God will honor our commitment to our children by being present in all the talks Matthew will be involved in and that the information is accepted according to how God would have Matthew accept it.  I am going to stop fretting about it and trust that God's got this just as He has taken care of all our other issues, big or small, in our lives.  He is so good!

God Is NEVER Wrong

My mom with Matthew in 2010.

        My mom forwarded this email to me and I just had to share.  I'm not sure of the author or where it originated from but what a great story to ponder.  It is so relevant to what's going on in our little world and in our lives.  The housing market which doesn't allow owners to refinance because they're upside down.  The unemployed who have been searching and applying for job after job.  The barren woman who desperately cries out, "Why can I not conceive, Lord?"  The parent of a wayward child.  The one who is fighting disease.  The one whose spouse or child is fighting disease.  We all have our cross to carry for a reason.  God knows why.  He sees beyond what we ever could.  Trust Him because He is never wrong.

GOD IS NEVER WRONG!!   A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!    One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty from losing a finger.    Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger."    The slave replied only "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and He knows the "why" of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!"    Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.    Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices. In the altar, ready to sacrifice the noble, a savage had found that the victim had not one of his fingers,and the king was released. According to them: he was not complete so he couldn't be offered to the gods.  Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received very affectionately.    - My dear, God was really good for me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: If God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?   My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I 'would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger.  Therefore, remember: everything God does is perfect. It is never wrong!  Often we complain about life and things that happen to us apparently negative,  forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.    Every morning, offer your day to God.  Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide  your actions, to ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!   You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows, because He never makes mistakes.  The path of God and His Word is perfect, without impurities. IT is the way of all those who trust in Him, as He says in Samuel  22: 31.    Surely the message arrived at the right moment. May God put in your heart the desire to send it to someone. Do not be ashamed to send it to the right person .  God knows, He knows why.   God is never wrong!            

     This is so relevant to the title of my blog, God's Timing is Perfect.  We can't see beyond the moment we are in, but God does.  We imagine and plan out the way we THINK things should go.  Planning is good but circumstances can change in a heartbeat.  Our natural tendency is to complain and get angry when bad things happen to us or when OUR plan gets interrupted, just like the king did in this story.  We get angry with God because life isn't going our way.  We then unfairly take it out on other people, usually the ones closest to us. Never mind all the good things in your life.  For some reason we get amnesia when it comes to the things we should be grateful for. 

     I think we have a couple choices: 1. We can go on doing life OUR way, getting agitated day after day with the fact that the role we've taken on (playing God) just isn't working out.  Or, 2. We can change our thinking and give our lives to God.  We can still have a plan but pray first and line our plan up with God's plan.  If you're truly believing when you pray that you want God's will and not your own, then these little hiccups that interrupt your plan won't be that much of a surprise because you know God's got it (and He's never wrong.)

Fact is, we will still get it wrong from time to time even when we've lined ourselves up with God.  We will react like the king did in this story, get angry, complain and take it out on a loved one not trying to see the positive anywhere.  We are only human.  The question is, after you've cooled off, will you look for the lesson?  Will you look back and say, "OH!  I GET IT NOW!  If not for that happening then this would have happened", (usually something much worse)? And once you've seen the lesson, will you learn from it and make amends like the king did?  He immediately released his slave from prison.  Each experience, hiccup in your life can be used as a stepping stool for your faith to grow stronger and stronger but you must first let go and ALLOW God to map things out for you because as always, His ways and His timing are always perfect. Trust Him even in what you consider to be your darkest hours.

The Time is Now

     What is it that prevents you from doing some sort of exercise on a regular basis?  Is it lack of time?  Sorry, that can never be your excuse because if you're reading this right now, it means you could be using this FB time to do a small workout.  Could your excuse be you don't have the money to join a fitness club or to buy any equipment or dumbbell weights?  Sorry, that can't be an excuse either.  Using your own body weight at home to do push ups, squats, lunges, calf raises, sit ups or crunches is all you need to get yourself started for strength training.  For cardio, you don't need fancy equipment like treadmills, stairmasters or ellipticals.  If you have two working legs and two working feet and a pair of tennis shoes then a short run or walk is all it takes to get things started.  Find a track where bleachers are present and use them as your stairmaster.  Heck, you most likely have stairs at home.  Set a timer and go up and down them a few times.  Prolong the time each time you do this.  You say you would love to take a Zumba class or other type of cardio class but can't because you have small children which prevents you from going out? 

Matt and me playing Just Dance 3 on the Wii

Many gaming systems have Zumba, Dancing, and other exercise type games that can be swapped out for those video games that keep you seated on your butt.  This way you will be killing two birds with one stone: spending quality, fun time with your children and exercising at the same time.  What an example for your kids.  And trust me, you will be sweating and burning calories!

 You say, "But it's hard to do a pushup."  Or, "I really do not like to run!"  Or even,"I have back and neck issues and sit ups wreak havoc in those areas of my body!"  Again, those aren't good excuses to not start some sort of work out regimen. Baby steps and modifying are the key.  Start with wall pushups and you will gradually go down to the floor and do a few pushups while on your knees.  After my breast cancer surgeries, I couldn't do any type of exercises  that would affect my chest muscles so when I finally was able to start incorporating strength training to my upper body again, I had to start all over again by doing wall pushups.  I still hate pushups and I can't do many the proper way but it will come just like it WILL come for you!  As for running?  Not everyone likes to run, so then WALK!  It's great exercise and gentle on your joints.  There are many 5K walks you can participate in for a small fee.  But if you're one who wants to try your hand at running but don't know where to begin, there's this thing called GOOGLE, you may have heard of it, where you can search for a plan to help you train for a specific goal.  Ab work doesn't have to be all sit ups.  Standing ab crunches work pretty darn good as well as bending side to side at the waist for a few reps.

Race for the Cure w/Matt and my mom

You say, "But there's no way I will look like a supermodel", (or in a man's case, a sexy underwear model.)  That shouldn't be your goal.  Your goal should be you want to be HEALTHY.  Your thinking should be you want to start treating this body God gave you with the care it deserves.  Everything else eventually falls, or rather, LIFTS into place.   Obviously eating habits must begin to change as well, but it CAN be done.  Expectations should be high but reasonable.  Doing a few squats or taking one 20 minute walk and expecting to see results right away is not reasonable. It is a lifestyle change

one must decide to make and then stick with. Starting out is always the hardest but determination will get you through.  Make the choice to invest in yourself.  The time is now.