It could be one of my posts...

Jen Hatmaker

Yesterday at 3:42pm · 

Three different schools.
Five kids.
Online registrations.
Sports physicals.
Well checks.
Immunizations.
Insurance forms.
Insurance haggling.
PE uniforms.
Schedule pick-up (3 different days).
High school parking permit.
School supplies.
Eye exams.
Haircuts.
Closet clean out.
School IDs.
Online lunch accounts.
Orthodontist appointments.
Backpacks.
Tennis shoes.
Lunchboxes.
Middle School Round-Up Day.
Meet the Teacher.
Back to School Night.
Dermatologist appointments.
Football equipment pick up.
Schedule changes.
Parking fees.
Dual credit registration.

God: "Jen, now that you have died, what have you done to deserve entry into heaven?"
Jen: "Lord, I engineered back-to-school for five children from 2003-2023. Twenty years, Father. The forms alone deserve eternity."
God: "Enter into your rest."

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It's not that I want to belittle what we do...
but some of this stuff is more about us, It's not that we don't have to do this stuff...I mean. Some of it is important - not all of it - but still, should the glory be ours?

There should be a little something in our head that tells us, "Isn't the fact I am doing all of this and posting about it reflect on my own need for approval?"

God is not interested in all of our extra curricular activities unless we are serving those we meet at those places. And I will be the first to tell you that I have sought a pat on the back by the myriads of folk on my friends list...but that doesn't make it ok. That doesn't condemn me to hell either.

Sometimes I just think we should re-think our social media tendencies and why we post what we post. I sometimes think that we should avoid it like the plague...it is just one more thing that can make or break our day. It can cause us to think too highly of ourselves or fail in our confidence.

I wish that we had something that would allow us to review our day and show us where we stand with our Savior, give us confirmation of our standing with our Heavenly Father and give us rest from a job well done for the Glory of His name....

Wait a second...

We do.

The World is the Same

She wanted the baby. 

When murder is a double homicide because the mom was 

pregnant, the baby is considered another life because the 

mom wanted that baby. 

The baby's rights are done away with 

when it comes to the mother's desires. 

Our society is a selfish one. frown emoticon       We are no longer willing to take responsibility for our actions. We are either victims or we rationalize that which would release us from our bonds. The makeup of man is certainly the same as it has always been...but we have lost our moral compass that causes us to hitch up our britches and make our mistakes mean something. 

The World has always contained people that do bad things. It seems the problem with us today is we have decided that our problems are not our fault. And even if we acknowledge that the problems are our fault we do not think we should have to suffer the consequences. The results are we have become a characterless people. Lives have lost value and our own lives suffer because of it. 

For those of us who believe in a Savior, we have an understanding that our sin has consequences and that we will suffer for that sin. But the Gospel gives us freedom, not from the consequences here on Earth, but for the guilt that would continue to plague us here and in the life to come. 

Sin can have hard and serious consequences. It can seemingly ruin a life. But - in my opinion, when we deal with the consequences of our sin well, we become better. We add depth, and mercy, and a solidity to our character that makes us better. Better for ourselves and for others. Acknowledging our downfall and seeking forgiveness from others we have wronged and from God is not weakness. It is strength building...it is spiritual weightlifting. It will grow us and make us better. 

It seems to me that when we accept our situation and our part in it, we can then do something about it.

Of course I am making generalizations. There are many who accept and deal well with the things that happen to them...whether they were at fault or not. But what we are seeing in the media is a tendency to shirk our own responsibility for our circumstances. And we are becoming a selfish, spoiled people because of it. 

We can be so much more than we are aspiring to be. And it will be the end of society as we have known it. 

Be warned. 

The What Ifs.....

I have had them quite a bit lately.


You know.


What if I had gotten my teaching degree instead of English and Music degree?


What if I had gone with that group to sing up north instead of moving to Birmingham?


What if I had said yes to that fellow and moved to Florida?


What if I had pursued the mission field in Albania?


What if?




See - my problem is I always go down the road that I did not travel. I always long for the things I did not do. I was warned once by a precious older friend of mine that I would have regrets for not following the music deal. I knew I had one chance at the mission field...and if I did not pursue it and said yes to my love in Birmingham that the likelihood of my going that path would be over.


The problem is I did not do those things. I prayed about them. I gave my choices to God.


So what do I do now that I have the what ifs?


The same thing I do when I have the discontents and the why ME's?


I stop the thoughts. I take a deep breath and I run to the Word.


Philippians 2:13English Standard Version (ESV)
¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.


I gave the choices I made to God. I prayed about them and then I walked forward. I knew the cost. I thought it all out. Did I know how hard it would be?


Of course not. But nor do I know how hard missions in Albania would have been. The fellow in Florida? Not so sure he would have kept on liking me had I moved down there (smile). The music up north? God had given me every opportunity to sing prior to my decision to join my life with my precious husband. And I have opportunities now. I just have to take them. And what do I have to show? My sweet friend and husband...18 years later, three precious boys, an amazing community of folks I go to church, school, and work with. Gifts that God gave me to work with my special needs friends that have brought me much joy - this I would have never realized. So how can I be sorry?!


The what if's are a waste of my time. It is best to capture those thoughts and turn them toward my blessings. But we all do it. I think I deal best with these things when I have a plan in place. My path should veer back to the things I am thankful for. Always.


Blessings abound.

Ideas at work...

I am full of ideas.


I am brimming with what I need to do, how I should go about doing it and finding the time and the gumption to do what I already do and squeeze this in as well.


For the last two weeks I have been pondering how, when, what and to whom will I appeal to get the ball rolling?


I can drive myself nuts. It is a roller coaster of highs and lows. I feel exhilarated and nauseous, excited and defeated. All before I have even tried.


No wonder I can't get things going. I am an in my head perfectionist. You would never know it to look at me, or my house. But baby - if you could see inside my head....


well...


probably you would think I am a basket case.


But that is beside the point.


I am pondering and questioning about going back to school for my masters.


If you know me - you will know that I was blessed just to get my Bachelors. It was a miracle (and a mystery - if you want to go back and look at my grades).


But I am serious. So I have been e-mailing folks. Asking questions. Talking to my principle.


and PRAYING.


I don't know how I will do it. But I want to. There are several obstacles. I have many times thought about it and pushed it away as impossible.


But....


Philippians 4:
⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


So I am requesting. And if it happens it will be a testimony to God.


Funny thing - if it doesn't happen - it will be the same.


Because there is always a reason.


And....


Philippians 1:6 [Full Chapter]

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.