God's Not Dead

It's 2 am and I can't sleep.  Insomnia has become a regular part of my life.  Tonight is different from many of the nights that I have laid in bed in the past year trying to figure out why I can't sleep.  All of those nights were filled with anxiety about why I wasn't sleeping, the endless to-do list that was waiting for me the next day.  How was I supposed to get anything checked off of that to-do list when I hadn't gotten enough sleep?

I don't know about you, but I don't function well when I don't get enough sleep...this is a regular occurrence for me.  And as I get older, the lack of sleep seems to have a greater effect than it did when I was younger.  I'm wondering right now as I type this message how I can even compose a complete sentence when I'm so tired and need to be up in less than 6 hours.  Forget the awake and alert part, that's very rare these days.

So you may be wondering, why is tonight different?  I've already admitted to being tired and wanting to sleep.  I wouldn't say that I'm extremely alert, it's probably not a good time for me to be operating heavy machinery or making any critical decisions.  I do need to be up in less than 6 hours and I still have that endless to-do list.  The difference is that I don't have the anxiety.  For the first time in many months, maybe years, I don't feel the tightness in my chest that indicates the anxiousness that I feel when I think about my overwhelming life.

My family and I went to see the movie, God's Not Dead, today.  This movie is possibly the best modern depiction of the struggle between Atheism and Christianity.  This happens to be a topic that has become very important to me over the past couple of years as my oldest daughter has settled into her teenage years. Young people today, maybe more than ever in human history, are questioning the Christian faith.  I'm not talking about those who weren't exposed to Christianity in their childhood.  I'm talking about the ones raised in Christian church-going families who enter adulthood, decide that they don't believe in God and don't need Him, essentially believing that God is dead.

It seems to me that young people are leaving the church more and more.  I can't recall any statistics at this time of the morning but I can remember my thoughts when I've heard those statistics.  They are staggering and I always think, Wow!  This issue has bounced around in my head for some time and I have come to the conclusion that this age group has become a very important mission field.  We need to find a way to reach these young people and help them find their way back to Jesus!

The movie, God's Not Dead, is a wonderful tool to do just that.  I highly recommend seeing this film whether atheist, agnostic or Christian.  It is very thought provoking, has well thought out reasoning for many of the answers that we have about the evil in our world and was very well done for a low budget film.

I can't help but think that the reason I'm composing a post in this blog at 2 am, that I haven't written in for over a year is because I feel inspired to share a message that is extremely important.  At this very moment, I'm not thinking about my endless to-do list and therefore, have let go of the anxiety.  My purpose is to share God's message of His love and forgiveness.  Nothing else really matters.

I'm sure that I will still feel pressure about deadlines and unwanted burdens.  I'm too realistic to believe that my anxiety has been cured by one film.  But my hope has been renewed and I've found a new desire to share my struggles and triumphs with others so that they may learn from my experiences and in some way can hopefully find some answers for their struggles....or at the very least start thinking about them.

Jesus is my Lord and Savior!  God's Not Dead!

My hope for you is that you come to know His love for you and find strength in Him to face your struggles!

My Life as a Volunteer - SchoolFamily.com

My Life as a Volunteer - SchoolFamily.com

Breathing

We are now 4 weeks into the school year and it feels like we haven't had time to breathe.  Since school started.....we've been to 3 varsity football games (2 of them were out of town); we've only done 1 volleyball game because we quit volleyball in favor of marching band (coach wanted her to make a choice and she did); we've visited the counselor to have a schedule changed; we've celebrated grandparent's day at school; I've served three meals to the band students and attended several meetings for the band boosters, Kids Hope USA, PTO and Missions Committee; attended an open house; watched and prayed as a member of our church family lost his battle with liver cancer; celebrated as another church family member received a liver transplant; and the list goes on and on.

I sometimes wonder how we find the time to breathe.  But we do and life keeps moving right along.  When I reflect and look back over a period time, I think....Wow!!  Then my very next thought is...Thank You God!!  Our lives are full and happy, even though at times we get frustrated and tired.  It's funny but you don't really remember too much of the frustrating times....mostly you remember the happy times.  I've learned that you don't get one without the other.  It's a package deal because we are human.  And humans aren't perfect.  Yes, even Christian humans aren't perfect.  We do make mistakes.....we often say things the wrong way without thinking about the effect our words might have on another person.  We do things, often with the best intentions, that offend others.

In spite of our imperfections, our association with others is what makes our lives complete.  Whether it's being a member of the marching band or singing in the choir, these groups of people that sometimes frustrate us also fill our lives with joy and celebration.  It's the grueling band practices in 90 degree Houston, Texas heat and humidity that make the awards won at the UIL marching competition that much greater.  The heat, close contact and fatigue often adds to the irritability and frustration that we experience with others.  But if we can get past these hurdles and work through our differences, the rewards are that much sweeter.  So when we find ourselves in the middle of an argument, we have to remember to.....breathe.

Maggie's Crayon

The following article, What Maggie's Crayon Reminded Me About Parenting, is very cute and perfect for our first week back to school in Texas.  I'm thinking of even carrying a broken crayon around to remind me when I forget to breathe.

Don't Quit

When I was a child, this poem was posted in our house.  I think it has become a part of who I am...ingrained in my very being.  I definitely believe that the messages we give to our kids will shape them as they grow into adults.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

--Author unknown

Bring game, not blame, as school year starts | Local Voices | Fort Worth, Arlington, Northeas...

With only one week until the start of another school year, I'm amazed to realize that I have one daughter entering high school and the other one in 2nd grade.  It seems like only yesterday that my mom was a band booster parent.  Now I'm the booster parent!  I'm so grateful that my mom took the time to be involved in my school and our community and now I want to do the same for my daughters.

Studies have proven that children succeed with the support of their parents and/or mentors.  The following article challenges us to get involved and help to make a difference in our schools.

Bring game, not blame, as school year starts | Local Voices | Fort Worth, Arlington, Northeas...

Watch Your Thoughts

Watch your thoughts….

      they become words.

Watch your words….

      they become actions.

Watch your actions….

      they become habits.

Watch your habits….

      they become your character.

Watch your character….

      it becomes your destiny.

~ Author unknown