Tales from the Vineyard: Food

The church I attended for over a decade recently closed. I feel like God is inviting me to remember and share some of the good fruit that was produced during my time there.

If you're reading this and you ever attended Vineyard and God showed up for you there, will you share your story?

4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” Joshua 4:4-7

Truly, I mean this: The time I spent with God and God's people at Springfield Vineyard Church for the past 13+ years was not wasted.

(Originally published 5/27/12 but added to the Tales from the Vineyard series).

Everything in this post is based solely on my experience and is not intended to be preachy or judgmental. However, I do hope it is educational and you are welcome to take advice from it if you want! I think my diet rocks and I am excited to share about it.

Anyone who spends any time with me knows I'm different. Here's my explanation, in varying levels of specificity.

1. I don't eat dairy. Three years ago, I stopped eating dairy. The decision came during church (one of our first Sundays at the Vineyard). I will forever believe God is concerned about my health. It is evidenced by the fact that when I pray, "God, I don't feel well. Please help me." He tells me to cut something out of my diet. This is a pretty basic example of one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian life. God often tells us to cut things out of our life for our own good, it just isn't always so straightforward and practical as a type of food. ANYWAY. Here's why I cut dairy:

-contsant fatigue
-malnourishment
-indigestion (that's putting it mildly)
-constant bloating and discomfort
-moodiness

After cutting dairy, I felt better for a couple of months. But over time, about two years, I continued to experience the symptoms listed above. Finally, two years after my first prayer, I asked God again (while at the Vineyard, of course), "Why don't I feel well??!!??!?" God told me to cut gluten.

2. I don't eat gluten. Cutting gluten was way more challenging than cutting dairy, for obvious reasons. But the reward was worth it. I feel a little silly because Matthew told me years before about other people we know who cut gluten but I shrugged it off. This just goes to show that we need a little Godly intervention to make real change in our lives. Cutting gluten resulted in relief of the same symptoms I listed above with an emphasis on moodiness. Let me expand on that a bit.

I've mentioned before that I'm an introvert. I am. But I used to be way more shy and overwhelmed in social situations than I am now. I owe a big part of this to a couple of things:

A. Spiritual Healing from God
B. Counseling
C. Gluten

I put them in that order because just cutting gluten would not have given me insight into my personality. And, just having insight into my personality wouldn't have healed me from past hurts. However, by the grace of God, I was able to confront some personal flaws and hurts and move past them. This opened the door to embrace life in a more open and relaxed way.

The best I can describe it is gluten fogs my brain. Under-the-influence of gluten, I have less patience, I feel more angry, I get over-stimulated (lights, sounds, people) and am just not as functional a human being as I would like to be. Without gluten, I feel I can process better and feel more relaxed in general. I have struggled with anxiety my whole life (social, situational, general fear of life, etc . . .) and now I feel I can CHOOSE whether or not I will worry about something. This, to me, is true freedom.

(Side note, after cutting gluten, I found some dairy to be tolerable again. Welcome back, cheese and yogurt! (Goats' preferred.))

3. I don't eat cane sugar. The week before my brother's wedding, I cut cane sugar because of something I read on the internet. This wasn't actually inspired by prayer as far as I can recall. However, by this time in my life, I had experienced positive change enough to know that it was possible and to be more willing to try new things. God changed that in me and where, a year ago, I might have hesitated or fought the sense to cut something else out of my diet, now I embrace the opportunity to live better.

Cane sugar, as was described to me, is similar in form to birch trees, which are one of my biggest seasonal allergens. Sugar is also an irritant to people with sensitive digestive tracts, which I most definitely have. So, since I have little to no self control, I found cutting it out completely to be the best option. And, as it turns out, I don't really miss it. (Because: fruit, chocolate, honey, maple syrup, banana pancakes, fudge babies, frozen stuff, walnuts dipped in things, om nom nom . . . .)

4. I try to eat paleo as much as I can afford and is practical. What's paleo/ primal? Check this out: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz1w6em01nu. This decision was not because of an intolerance, per se, but because I have become very aware of how my body responds to food and I want to make my body feel as gosh darn good as it can. Thus, the more protein/ fat I eat and the less sugar, the better I feel. Sugars, also, are found in way more foods than we think. Also, lots of grains/ carbs are processed as sugars and make us feel the same as eating sugar (rice, potatoes, corn, beans, etc . . . I know, right?)

Well, that's about it. Like I said, I feel really happy about my choices and it no longer feels like a burden or something to feel sorry about. Keep in mind, though, that this has been a three year journey. I don't take any of this lightly and when people react with shocked tones or disbelief, I don't blame them, because I would have done the same three years ago.

Feel free to ask questions. If you want to read some of my references, I can try to dig those up for you. Really, though, just Google the paleo/ primal diet and you'll know my food philosophy. Also, I might write a blog containing advice for living this way in a modern society and while traveling. Man, that's tough to do.

7/16/22: I praise God for how he healed me at Springfield Vineyard Church.

Practicing Hope

**Written in 2016 and forgotten**

 

November 30: Tim preaches on Hope at Vineyard Church and how it is rooted in the past, practiced in the present, and realized in the future. He quotes Romans 8:22-25: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Tim challenges us to "seek the courage to experience our circumstances to find God working in them" and to "intentionally practice hope."

And I realize that hope is not a fuzzy-warm feeling of "everything's going to be okay" but an uncomfortable, sometimes painful, process of waiting and striving and expecting diligently.

December 19: I was still thinking about this sermon and wrote the following on the Facebook page we use to pray for our church:

Continuing the theme of hope especially after Tim preached about it. It's been stuck in my head. So there I was, reading this great book (Daring Greatly by Brene Brown) and I read:

"According to Snyder, who dedicated his career to studying this topic, hope isn't an emotion; it's a way of thinking or a cognitive process . . . Hope happens when:
1. We have the ability to set realistic goals (I know where I want to go)

2. We are able to figure out how to achieve those goals, including the ability to stay flexible and develop alternative routes (I know how to get there, I'm persistent, and I can tolerate disappointment and try again)
3. We believe in ourselves (I can do this!)"

These words are written by a hope researcher from a scientific point of view but I felt God poke at me when I read them. I feel convicted that God is asking me, and perhaps all of us, to practice hope.

God, my prayer is for You to supernaturally move through our church family and give us real hope. Not just an emotional feeling but a profound belief that You can do this! Give us the courage and strength to set realistic goals. Give us the humility and wisdom to be flexible in those goals if Your way looks a little different. Remind us of Your almighty power to accomplish anything through the people You put here.

I'm reminded that God's way often appears counter-intuitive, conundrumical, or paradoxical. Lord, I pray You work through the limits of our minds and imaginations.

Let our words, thoughts, and actions bring glory to Your name.


December 26: My neighbors are in a car accident that appears horrible and leaves them bruised but everyone walks away (Thank the Lord). Their beloved family dog runs away from the accident but efforts to find him are immediately organized.


December 27: I learn about the accident and I'm sad about the dog. God hears my cries.

December 28: While walking around looking for this dog, I'm singing Oh Lord, My Shepherd Be and thinking about Matthew 18:12: “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?"

December 29: I go looking for the dog again. It's hard to feel sad and still try to find a solution. I cry out to God.

December 30: I share with a coworker how much harder it is to care about something. I cry a lot more when I care. Hoping hurts.

December 31: It's the last day of the year and I'm reading this phenomenal book by Daniel Siegal called The Whole-Brain Child. On page 99, he writes "There's a lot of scientific evidence demonstrating that focused attention leads to the reshaping of the brain . . . the physical architecture of the brain changes according to where we direct our attention and what we practice doing."

I'm reminded of Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

I'm practicing.

May 12: God made miraculous things happen to my neighbors who lost their dog. They found a dog similar to the one they lost that just happened to be his brother. This brother had been lost for over a year. My neighbors made friends with this dog's owner and they got to keep the dog. It's one more part of the story. I'm hopeful for more.

Seven Years

When I first learned about unconditional positive regard in counseling school it felt too good to be true. How could I be accepted for exactly who I was? What about all of my mistakes, innate selfish tendencies and disregard for others? I understood the basic concept and even learned how to use it in sessions, but I struggled personally with the idea that I was worthy of such treatment myself. It felt unrealistic in light of my (admittedly limited) understanding of theology and I did not understand how God could approve of such an experience for myself. I went so far as to worry that my faith and career were incompatible and I would have to choose one or the other.

Logically, I can see how my thinking was flawed. Academically, I understood unconditional positive regard was simply a tool to help people feel validated in their experiences and begin to make positive change as a natural consequence of that feeling. I knew that it was not the same thing as God's love, which is even more capable of seeing us for who we really are than any human and more powerful to change us than our own attempts. No, it was not my mind that got in the way, it was my heart. I was held back from both receiving and giving true unconditional love because I felt hurt and wounded myself. It was impossible to give away something I hadn't yet experienced (or allowed myself to experience) for myself.

God healed me of my hurts, several times. He showed up and loved me, over and over and over. He used other people to do it. And I remembered His promises. And then I went on living and got hurt again and needed healed again and the cycle felt too familiar. What was wrong with me? Why did things have to hurt? I must not have done something right the first time or this wouldn't keep happening . . . 

I recently received my License as a Professional Counselor and while this is a huge milestone in my career and general accomplishments, I know that I have much learning and growing still to do. Perhaps this latest pondering about what it means to Be Loved and to Love Others is my most recent test in life's ongoing trials.

I don't like admitting when I'm wrong. I don't like the hard work required to take other perspectives, be challenged in my beliefs, or face my prejudices. These things don't come easy. They are the Messy Middle, the unknowns, the unforeseen but necessary struggles. Each time I struggle I remember that I am flawed. I am human. It sucks.

Pride is a regular downfall for me (for everyone?) but it isn't my only or biggest one. Hidden below pride is hurt. For me, it's usually fear of rejection. If I am not the Best, the First, or the Most Talented, then how will I know I am loved?

These thoughts are both old and new. It's an ongoing conversation I've been having with myself for at least seven years. Most of my personal epiphanies have something to do with identity, love, acceptance, etc. This is simply one more installment in my quest for insight.

Logically, I know that God loves me and that is enough. He loves who I was seven years ago, who I am now, and who I will become. The missing piece is not my knowledge of God's love but my experience of it, and that takes practice and discipline. We all need to know . . . every moment . . . deeply . . . how much God loves us. Only by experiencing that One True unconditional positive regard can we begin to live freely. The battle is not between Counseling and Christianity, but between hurts and healing.

I have worked for seven years to get to this place, to call myself "Counselor." It is just a name. But it is hard won and I want to keep fighting. This week, I collected two ideas to practice:

1. I will drink water first thing in the morning and meditate on God's Love as healing water

2. I will memorize a scripture that reminds me of this truth

1 John 4: 16-19
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

Uncertainty

Sometimes, God talks to me while I'm driving home from the grocery store listening to the radio. I don't really feel like I said what I was trying to say, but go ahead and enjoy my stream of consciousness:

I asked God to help me understand why it's so hard to watch other people struggle. If someone I know is hurting, I want to comfort them and cry with them. I want to feed them a nice dinner. Mostly, I want to fix the problem for them. Sometimes I think this is out of my own need to control things rather than a desire to make someone else's pain go away.

I have pretty low tolerance for discomfort and have mastered the art of complaining. I usually get what I want. I find boredom equally as painful as busyness. I'm constantly striving for balance between hunger and fullness, thirst and having to pee all the time, loneliness and social anxiety. In addition to this, I really don't like not knowing if I will be able to take care of these needs in the future. I plan. I pack snacks.

But God doesn't give me perfect balance in every situation. I have to suffer through the reality of life. Meditation has helped with this. I'm learning to be present in the moment, breathe through it and be okay. This has calmed my general state of mind as well as my existential state of mind. Life after death doesn't sound so terrifying anymore.

Because of my intolerance to uncertainty I don't always know how to respond to friends who are in painful situations. I know I can't fix it. I know there's nothing practical that will make it better. I know nobody is expecting me to make it better. But still, there's this internal pressure to somehow be just the right kind of friend to make things better. I don't know what it is but if I don't do it then I've failed as a friend. What kind of friend just lets people suffer?

I know this is not really about other people. It's really about me.

I don't expect God to take away all of my uncertainty, but I'm still learning how to deal with it. It feels like driving on a small highway late at night. It's like waiting for my dad to get home from work and it's stormy outside. It's staying with relatives while my mom is having surgery. It's being five years old and dealing with all these other kids at school who do and say unexpected things.

So tonight while driving home, I recognized to myself and to God that my discomfort with uncertainty may be hampering my interactions with the world. His response:

-There will always be uncertainty in life (ugh)
-Uncertainty will probably always be uncomfortable (ugh)
-I can trust in His ability to take care of me
-I can trust in His ability to take care of other people
-I can remember what He has done for me in the past
-I can make appropriate decisions based on the skills and knowledge He has given me
-I can let go of any personal responsibility I have put on myself for the suffering of other people

Hebrews 13:7-8
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The leaders I think about in that verse are not people who have life easy or comfortable. They are people who rely on God. I can change my goal from "being comfortable" to "being reliant on God." It may be uncomfortable but losing the burden of responsibility evens things out. :-)

Reflections on My Soul

how is your soul? Week 1

The Tuesday night small group at Vineyard Church in Springfield, MO is spending weekly time in worship and prayer. We are digging into the "how is your soul?" pamphlet during the week.

My soul has been tired. It usually is, now that I think about it. I work really hard to do the right thing and give what I can to people. It's never enough.

I spent all summer trying to take care of myself. It was great and easy because I had a lot of time. Now that I'm back to a busy schedule, I fell back into old habits.

I often see the signs of soul-emptiness but don't often recognize them for what they are. I'm impatient. I struggle to empathize (it's a skill, not a trait). I pity myself. I get jealous. I feel lonely. I'm selfish. I feel bad for feeling selfish.

By nature, humans are selfish. We have to be to survive. But God calls us to love others, too. The only way is by experiencing His love for us, first. I know this. I know it so much. But what I realized this week is that I need more of His love every day.

I guess I thought soaking in God's love was good for three days? Or maybe I should be a better person and need filled up less often . . . if only I was good enough.

That's a lie, folks!

Some of you are shaking your heads because you knew this already. I should have. God tells me. Other people tell me. I tell myself. It's pretty straight forward having a relationship with God kinda stuff. But I'm human and I forget things.

Feeling "good enough" is an old theme in my life. I'm a recovering perfectionist. I have super high standards for myself (and thus, for others). Over and over, God calls me out of my expectations and into His unconditional love. The good news is it gets easier every time to turn around.

So, God, I pray You fill me up again! And I pray for Your love over anyone reading this blog who needs it. (In other words: everybody.)

Greening

"Suddenly, it became very green." - David Perdew

Just like we watch for the coming of spring, God asks us to watch for His growth in us. I've been reminded of this truth several times, lately. In the bible, in song, in trainings, and in relationships.

I don't agree with everyone. Theology. Politics. Religion. Spirituality. Life is confusing, sometimes, and I do not have all of the answers. Thankfully, God does not expect me to have all of the answers. What I can do, however, is look for the fruit.

John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

"Full Attention" - Jeremy Riddle
Keep me abiding
That I, that I may bear fruit

"Gospel of Wholeness" - Danny Meyer
We must address the root issue of sin in our lives because our sin will always produce bad fruit.

2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue^, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, Lord, I pray that I will continue to abide in You. Keep me close. Point out the sin in my life so I won't "trip over the rug" anymore. Help me see the fruit in my life and in the lives of those around me. Where there is fruit, there is You.

Friendly Feelings

Hi guys. I have a big emotional thing I want to talk about. God's doing something in me and I think he might want to do it in others. Here's the story:

For a long time, I felt emotionally disconnected from other people. Maybe we all do at times? As a child, I was shy. As an adolescent, I was lonely. I didn't know why, but it seemed like everyone around me had better relationships than I did.

I internalized this feeling. I thought there was something wrong with me.

Then I thought maybe there was something wrong with everyone else.

Either way, I didn't feel like I had very many close friends who accepted me.

In college, I got involved with a female bible study group and we took turns telling our stories. There is something very magical about sharing personal information in a group setting and then experiencing complete acceptance and love in return. My experience in that group healed a lot of previous hurt and I ended up making some of the best friendships I still have.

I went through counseling school and learned a lot of good stuff about personal growth. I got even better. My marriage got better. I made more friends.

I joined Vineyard Church and God did some more healing (the kind only He can do.) In addition to the mental health I had been working on, God fixed some spiritual things. My relationships felt healthier than ever.

But all along this amazing journey, there was still a shred of that old hurt hanging on. I could feel it especially when I was tired or stressed. When I was too busy to spend a lot of time with people (my love language) I started to doubt my relationships. I could tell it was happening because I'd share my feelings with my husband and he'd give me that "You're really strange" look. God had done enough in my life that I knew these feelings came from a place of insecurity and were full of lies (LIES!), but it still hurt to feel that way.

As tends to happen in my relationship with God, feelings build up over time until I get tired of it and I come to Him, completely vulnerable, begging Him to take away this thorn in my side. "Why do I have to suffer from such bitterness! Why don't you just fix it, God?" Two weeks ago, after dealing with a lot of stress and busy-ness (we're buying a house!), it happened again. I cried. I got angry. God heard me.

So here are the gross details of my big emotional problem. I'm explaining it because if this situation sounds at all familiar to you, I want you to experience freedom like I have.

The Problem

If friends talked about hanging out with other friends, I felt left out.

If I learned about a social event where several friends were together and I wasn't invited, I felt left out.

If friends talked about how much they liked other friends, I felt like they didn't like me (or like me as much).

Basically, any positive attention shown by people I cared about for other people meant (to me) that people didn't care about me.

Obviously, these assumptions are ridiculous and wrong for so many reasons. I knew it was wrong but couldn't stop feeling that way. I strongly believe that in order to get rid of something bad, you have to replace it with something good. Here are some of the truths that God hammered (and is still hammering) into my brain:

The Solution

1. My worth as a person is found in God alone, not in what other people may do or say.

2. I have to understand how much God loves me, first, before I can experience healthy love from anyone else.

3. It is unfair to judge how someone feels about me based on random events or actions I observe and collect as "evidence" - that may or may not have anything at all to do with me.

4. God can heal incorrect beliefs and unhealthy patterns of behavior. God can change hearts and minds.

So, I prayed for God to heal me. First, I asked Him to prompt me mentally when I began to feel bad about a relationship. I asked that He would remind me of the truth so I could replace wrong beliefs with right ones. I also prayed that he would change my feelings, because I know that it is not His will for me to have low self-esteem.

And God came through. It has been two weeks since I prayed that prayer and I have encountered several opportunities to have God change my mind and heart. He has been faithful to me and I will continue to practice the habits he is growing in me.

I hope this helps someone. <3

Joy

I type this in the back of the car while we travel home from visiting family. Nostalgia strikes.

The older I get the more I appreciate the true gift of my family. Though we cannot earn God's love, I know He desires us to feel it directly  and through human companionship, affection and fun. I am lucky to have these things in my biological family and in my acquired friends and church family.

We were gathered with my brother's in-laws to celebrate my niece's dedication at church. In our brief time, we played music, practiced trap shooting (I hit five!), cooked, and threw snow balls.

Some videos and pictures were taken but I will have to remember that perfect baby smell, watching her eyes light up to You Are My Sunshine, the awe of knowing this child has so much to look forward to and how much I have to give.

I watched two sets of grandparents and the great-grandparent respect the new parents and be pillars of support. If only everyone on the planet could experience the depth of nurturing displayed for one tiny human...what a world that would be.

I'm lucky to have this family. What joy is found in communion with God and those who love him. I want to be this kind of family in my community. I'm dedicated to that.

The New Normal

Have you heard of the new normal?

Every now and then, something comes along in life and changes everything. At first, you're shocked, stunned. How could this happen? Of course, you probably know how it happened (your church moved buildings, you got a new job, your best friend moves away, etc.) But what you didn't know, was that in addition to changing your circumstances, this new normal also changes your outlook, your every day feelings, your routine. It feels like starting over . . . which can feel like losing something.

Our pastor preached about this new normal a while ago. It's a phrase I like to use in situations like changing my diet forever, or becoming an aunt (yay!) It applies to pretty much any time you realize: Everything is different now.

In my life, the new normal happens pretty regularly. It feels like stretching. Along that line, the more my life changes and I learn to adjust to new situations and circumstances, the more flexible I feel. I've not had major changes in my life, considering, but to me, some changes still feel really big.

When Matthew broke his collar bone and got a concussion, I felt the new normal of becoming a care taker for the first time and learning to put someone else's needs before my own. When I worked my first full-time job, I learned the new normal of sacrificing my time to help support my family. When God and I had long talks one summer about how to be a good friend, I learned the new normal of leaning on Him for my emotional needs rather than seeking that elsewhere.

I keep using that word "learn." I'm only 27 years old but I've already decided that we never stop learning and growing.

Last week, I felt a lot of newness in my life. My husband was transitioning into a new job (pretty much his first new job in 11 years), my brother and sister-in-law had a baby (yay!), and my job was the busiest it's ever been as I continue to get used to this relatively new career (counseling).

Sometimes we can experience good or neutral events but they still effect us like the world is going to end. Positive stress is better than negative stress but I still react to it the same way. Usually, I need to have a good long cry. By Friday of last week, I was ready for that but hadn't figured out how to do it. By Sunday, my body had had enough and I cried straight for thirty minutes (during church), just because.

I'm over the shock of things looking different and the emotional hump (for now). I find myself facing this new normal with my eyes and ears open. How can I support my husband as he works from home? What can I change about my routine at work that will help me stay happy and healthy? How can I support my brother and sister-in-law from six hours away?

This new normal feels like starting over . . . which can feel like opportunity.

Dad Post: To Build a House

This post was supposed to be published on 9/30/14. Whoops.

Does a person ever grow out of that stage of wanting to please her parents? I still have not. Whether I'm cleaning my house or choosing a new car, I find myself wondering what my parents would think. For example: sometime over the course of my marriage, I switched to use a mop rather than cleaning the floor by hand. This was to save time and make it easier to do an onerous task that otherwise would probably not get done. It's been years since the change and I still, to this day, have my mother's voice in my head explaining why the floor gets cleaner when you wash it by hand. Every. Single. Time. The worst part is, I know she's right.

My dad is a great thinker, literally. He thinks for long amounts of time and about very specific things. This makes him an excellent planner and follow-through-er. Luckily, I picked up some of his habits and usually have some sort of logical plan in place for most of my daily activities (though they may not be logical for the lay observer). I also inherited his sense of direction, taste for coffee, and stocky calf muscles. Unfortunately, I did not inherit his endurance for hard work. He is always doing things . . . and usually for other people!

Since his retirement, my dad works odd jobs around town, through his church, and at home and volunteers for clean up after natural disasters all over the country. He's gone a lot these days, traveling to scrape mud out of houses or building an addition for a church. He comes home with plenty of stories, too.

One trend I've noticed during his adventures is that his focus is not entirely, or even mostly, on the physical labor he's doing. Oh, he'll show me pictures of the progress they've made (proud of a job well done!) but what he tells me while showing these pictures are stories about people. He'll talk about how the team he was on worked really well together, the hosts were really kind and hospitable, or the neighbors had lots of questions about his faith or why he was helping.

What I learned from my Dad growing up and what I see even more clearly as an adult, is . . . well, it's a lot of things. But the two main points I'm making now are:

1. Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.

2. Meeting people's practical needs opens the door for meeting their spiritual needs.

So, when I go to my job and I feel tired, I push through. When I see a practical need around me, I consider meeting it. When I'm inspired by nature or challenged by worldly concerns or just happy to be doing a job that needs done, I'm reminded of him. And I praise God for my family.

In Preparation of Lent

This will be year two for me to try to give up TV for six weeks. Last year didn't go so well. So, for inspiration, a list!

Things I might do instead of watching television:

-play with the cats
-play with the dog
-floss
-keep the house clean(er)
-write more blog posts
-pray
-repaint bedrooms
-play piano
-read
-talk on the phone
-exercise
-go on dates
-garden
-eat less/ sit less/ computer less

Oh yeah, and do that Lent thing. Because here's the deal about Lent: it's not about the thing you took away, it's about what you do instead of the thing you took away.

"Lent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Easter and has historically served as a time of preparation for a new move of God in one’s life, symbolized by Jesus’ resurrection, celebrated each Easter.  During this time we move towards more fully entering into Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and, therefore, resurrection. It is a time when we make more room in our lives to focus on Jesus by giving up things that bring us comfort or distract us.  The idea is to then spend that time/energy/money with and for Jesus. It is also a time when, through clearing extra things out of our lives, we may become more aware of our own sin and/or our deep need for Jesus." -http://vcfp.org/sermons-resources/program-handouts/ways-to-observe-lent/

Besides the traditional "giving something up" practice, you could also:

-Make a Crown of Thorns
-Make a Prayer Chain
-Consider a Lenten Gift Offering
-Take Inventory and Lighten the Load
-Give TV the Night Off
-Read a Lent Devotional

(All suggestions taken from: http://vcfp.org/sermons-resources/program-handouts/ways-to-observe-lent/)