Locked In

Two blogs in one week.  But this is definitely worth sharing.

This is what happens when you lead a book study called "UNGLUED"

Wednesday, I left work, and had about an hour before I needed to be at church. I was facilitating a book study, on Lysa TerKeurst new book "Unglued".  I dropped off the mail, and decided to head to the park to look over some notes.  On the way to Herrin Park, I passed the new sports park and decided to pull in there.  I had never been to the complex before and decided to drive through it.

It was much bigger than I expected with a great walking path.  At the back of the park was an empty parking lot, so I pulled over, parked, rolled down my windows, put my seat back and spent some time rereading the first couple of chapters, about how God could change my reactions to raw emotions.

Then it was time to leave for church.  Brett called as I was leaving the park.  We had a conversation, he said something that made me mad, and set me off, so I hung up on him.  Not something I have done in awhile, and not something I am proud of.  Especially not two weeks into a study on how not to come unglued.  But I did.  Sorry Brett, that was uncalled for.

As I pulled up to the side exit of the park, I noticed the gate was locked, not unusually I had noticed that gate locked many mornings on the way to work.  So, I backed up, turned around and headed to the main entrance.  But, when I reached that gate, it was also locked..  Twenty minutes before I am suppose to be at church I am locked in a park.  I started to panic.  I got out, and double checked that there really was a lock, not just a chain around the gate. I drove back through the park to see if there was anyone still in the park.  I was stuck, locked in with no way out.

I tried calling Brett, but remember I had hung up on him.  I tried Brittany she didn't answer.  I called Chris he was already at church.  I called my friend Kim, since she lives close by, but she was at a visitation in another town.  She suggested calling the Herrin police.  Then Brittany called back, she was just leaving work so I asked her to pick me up on her way.  She text me two minutes later and said, "I just have to tell you I am laughing out loud in my car."

While I was waiting on Brittany, I called the Herrin police.  The officer, trying really hard not to laugh, said I will call someone to come unlock the gate.  I said that would be great, but I have to be somewhere in 15 minutes, can someone meet me at 8:00 and unlock it.  He said I will have someone call you at 8:00.

Brittany got there still laughing, and we laughed all the way to church.

I got to church with two minutes to spare.  Then I had to come clean with my group of ladies about my "unglued" last hour.  The first chapter of this book talks about imperfect progress.  Slow steps of progress wrapped in grace.......imperfect progress.  The progress here, "I didn't slip with a chain of words I shouldn't have said" and "I didn't come unglued on the police officer about why someone didn't drive through the park to check and see if anyone was still there."   Slow steps.

2 Corinthians 10:5  "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Oh and someone did meet me at 8:30 to unlock the gate so I could get my car.  After I had to call the police station twice.  By the second time the officer was cracking up laughing when he heard my voice.  Moral of the story don't come "unglued" and hang up on your husband.......    
Thanks for reading!!!

Hilary Clinton was right

Brittany informed me today I hadn't blogged in awhile.  So decided it was time.  I have them floating in my head or scribbled down on paper I just haven't put one on the blog for awhile.


Hilary Clinton was right or at least partly right.  She said it takes a village to raise a child.  I think it takes a church to raise a child.  Or at least I see in my kids it took a church.

After spending a couple of days in Gatlinburg with our four kids (well our two kids, son-in-law, and future [11 days] daughter-in-law), I  realized how much I really enjoy spending time with all of them.  How fortunate I am.  I am thankful for the way they turned out - did you catch that?  I am THANKFUL for the way they turned out, not proud.  Don't get me wrong I am very proud of them.  But I am not proud in the way of, "look how great my kids turned out" or "Brett and I did a great job" proud.   I am just proud of the people they are.

Brett and I were so young and so inexperienced when we had Brittany and Chris.  There are times when I wonder how they even survived.  I mean literally how they survived.  We had no idea what we were doing, and add to that, we were living away from all of our family during that period of time.  So the church really did play a major part in their lives.

God really did bless us with so many people who helped "raise" them.

From very young ages they had wonderful  women in the nursery who loved on them.  Miss Louise who taught them very early on "Jesus loves you."  Women like Miss Jane who fed them cookies for two weeks solid during VBS.  All those great VBS helpers, Lou and Irlene, Helen and Hobert, people who just loved on them.

As they moved up to the children's area they had people like Miss Wrozier, and Ron and Pat Berger, who taught them about Daniel, David, Noah, and Joshua, Jesus and his ministry.  People who had their own busy lives, but were willing to build a strong, solid foundation, into the lives of our kids.  They had people like Lou Richardson who taught Chris and Adam respect for what church is.  Not just the building but the people.

And through all those years there were the Lunn's, Pastor and his wife, building in my kids right along with their own.  Jeff at church through sermons, and Jan, through all those musicals.  Teaching them about serving God through worship and song.  And not just at church, but also in their home, my kids spent so much time at their house with Amy and Adam.

Then as they got into youth they had awesome leaders.  People like Nancy, John and Elaine, Charlie and Judy, and Dennis.  People who made youth events, overnights, and retreats a place my kids wanted to be.  Yet, in the middle of the fun they were teaching and building life principles.  Principles about how to have a walk and a personal relationship with God.  They were learning on mission trips about how to love and give to others.

So, as I sat with my kids this weekend and I listened to Brittany tell great stories; an art learned at the feet of a master story teller.  And I listened to Chris question and analyze different situations; built from a confidence of debate, I was reminded and thankful for "the village" of people who helped Brett and I raise our kids.  THANK YOU to all of those mentioned above, and those many others who are not mentioned.

Proverbs 22:6 says "Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Thanks for reading.  

True Courage

Webster's definition of courage is "Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty."  We normally associate the word with policeman, firefighters, and soldiers.  Which we definitely should, they put their lives on the line every day, when they put on their uniform and go to work.  These men and women wear the badge of courage and I am thankful they do.  I am thankful to my nephew Travis who is a policeman, I am thankful to my nephew Jake who is a fireman, and I am thankful to my nephews Austin and Dalton who serve in the military.  But these men choose each day to put on that uniform, they choose each day to possibly face death.  

What about the men, women, and children who show that same courage everyday, those who didn't choose it, yet who still face death each day.  I am talking about those courageous people who face cancer daily.

Over the past 18 months I have watched 2 women I love show such courage, along with grace, kindness, hope and faith.

I watched my Aunt Joyce face cancer with such dignity, grace, kindness and courage.  I watched her go to countless Dr's appointments, and be admitted to the hospital numerous times, and each time I watched her treat everyone she came in contact with, with  kindness.  Smile when I am sure she didn't feel like it.  She was always appreciative of everyone.  Every Dr, nurse, technician, receptionist, every hospital transporter, and the person who cleaned her room.  Every person who came to visit.  If I had been in her shoes I am sure there were times I would have just screamed "Everyone get out and leave me alone!  I want to feel sorry for myself!  But she never did, not even when she had 2 major surgeries back to back. She showed courage when she had to choose on short notice to have brain surgery or probably lose her life in just a couple of weeks.  She said no I am not ready to give up yet, true perseverance.  She was always gracious and kind to everyone just like the life she lived when she was well.

During this same time I also watched my Sister-in-law, Brenda fight a courageous battle against breast cancer.    She was always upbeat, even when she was taking chemo, radiation, and having to go through blood transfusions.  When she was exhausted from all the treatments she still pushed on.  She was always full of hope, and she brought hope to others who were fighting cancer also.  She used the cancer as a platform to share how great her God is.  She wasn't sure why God had given her this challenge, but she was willing to bear it if she could use it to uplift and encourage others.  She was a source of hope and faith to her family, friends and all those around here.  She made sure to give God the praise and glory when she reached that 6 month cancer free mark.  

In the past week I have watched that same courage resurface, anew in both these women's lives. I watched it in my aunt's life, in her husband and daughter.  As they were given the news that she probably only had days left.  I watched that legacy of courage she had instilled in them.  The courage it takes to sit by the bed of someone you love, and watch their life slip away.  But they are doing it, with that same kindness and grace that she showed.

I saw it again in my sister-in-law this week, as she found a lump in her neck.  As she went for x-rays, and biopsies, and  test results. As she had to once again break the news to her kids.  She displayed that same courage, faith and hope.  That courage and hope she held onto the first time.  I think her words were, I will fight to the end I have to for my family that I love.

In Joshua 1:9 God says to Joshua "This is my command.  Be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you where ever you go."  Thank you Aunt Joyce and Brenda, for living out that verse for me and all those around you.  I love you both!

The Sweetest Word in the Universe

A name, everyone has one.  Unless you are the artist formally known as Prince you have a name you go by.  In some cases you have a name that goes by different variations.  Such as the name Thomas you could also go by, Tom or Tommy.  In my case I have been called, Janet, Janice, and Jan.

Maybe your name has a special family connection or history.  Chris has Brett's middle name.  Brittany has my middle name, which is also my Mom's middle name.  Though she has informed me that when she does have kids the "Lea" tradition ends here.  Which is fine, that is one of the cool things about being a parent getting to choose the name.  Maybe as young parents  we don't realize the magnitude of choosing a name.  Think about it, their name is the one thing you give your child that they will have from birth to death.

Then we marry into names.  I love the name Sapp because I didn't have it as a child.  So I missed out on the name calling that probably went along with the name.  Hey tree!  Your such a sap.  I remember my kids being called Sapplings. I think they still are sometimes.  But as a child who grew up with the last name Allphin, which no one could pronounce or spell, Sapp is so much easier.  I love the fact that Brittany's married last name was also my Dad's middle name.  I rarely say her whole name Brittany Douglas without thinking about my Dad.

When I worked as a customer service rep in a phone center, I would often rattle off the introduction in a hurry, and sometimes people would think my name was Anna or Hannah.   I know.  Go figure.  They don't sound alike.  But, I would never correct them.  I mean if they were not happy with the call or service let them call back and try to find Anna.

The point being we all have a name and whether we like our name or not it is one of the sweetest words in the universe.  We love it when new people we meet remember our name.  Or at least I do.  And even though I know that, I so stink at remembering peoples names.

I particularly love it when I hear Brett say my name.  I would much rather hear the name Janet roll off his lips than old goat or handsome woman.  Our names are special.  They signify who we are.  They define us and differentiate us from others.  I love in the bible when Jesus or God gave people new names that signified a change in them, Abram became Abraham, Saul became Paul, Simon became Peter.  Each new name represented a change in their character.

 I have been reviewing and studying some of the different names for the Lord.  There are so many, El-Channun, El Olam, Jehovah Jireh.  Each one represents a different facet or element of our Lord.  All the same Lord, but a different aspect to my relationship to him.

Kind of in the same way that different names or titles I hold represent a different aspect of who I am.  I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, an aunt, a grand daughter, a cousin, a friend, maybe even an enemy to some.  All the same person but a different perspective on how you see me.  The title of wife is different to Brett than the title of Mom is to Brittany or Chris.

I am trying to take each of the names of God and spend a day just thinking about what that means to me?   Today, Emmanuel - My God with me.  Matthew 1:23 says,  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means 'God with us.'
Thanks for reading!

Hide and Seek

I read Joshua 7 this week and it holds one of my favorite verses.  Maybe not one of my favorites, but one that convicts every time I read it.  "Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord.  You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you."

This is the key verse for the story of Achan.  There is so much in this story.  To summarize God is leading Joshua and the Israelites, and they are conquering everything in their path.  But all of a sudden they go into a battle that should be easy and they lose.  Joshua doesn't understand what is going on.  God tells him,   someone in your camp disobeyed.  They took something at the last battle, that was to be set aside for the Lord. They not only took it, they lied about it and hid it.

God instructs Joshua, tomorrow morning line everyone up and I will reveal who that is.  So the Israelites all file out the next morning.  God singles out a tribe, then he singles out a clan, then he singles out a family, then he singles out Achan.  I can't imagine what Achan must have been thinking standing there on shaking knees, sweat rolling down.  He had to know it was him.  Did he think he wouldn't be found out?  Or maybe he was hoping someone else had taken something more valuable than he had.  I mean I do that, this is my sin, but surly the person next to me has a more offensive one, then mine won't look so bad.

Joshua confronts him and Achan says.  It is true, I sinned.  I saw a robe, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold. I wanted them, I took them, and I hid them.

Joshua and the Israelites then take Achan, the silver, the gold, the robe, and Achan's sons, daughters, and everything he owed.  They stoned Achan and his whole family, then burned their bodies, and buried them under  a pile of stones.

There are a couple of really big lessons in this chapter.  First we can't hide ANYTHING from God, who are we trying to fool?  You can't play hide and seek with God He is omni everything.  I can pretend to myself, that just because I hide those feelings of jealousy, envy, anger, bitterness, and discontent from others, that I can hide them from God.  But I am only kidding myself.  It is just as insane as Achan standing there thinking the spot light wasn't going to land on him.

Second, our sin never effects just us.  Achan's sin affected the whole tribe of Israel.  Because of Achan's sin, God did not go before them in battle, and they lost. Innocent soldiers lost their lives. Wow, what if God refuses to lead my whole church in something because of my disobedience?   Then, Achan's whole family was destroyed.  Did you get that DESTROYED.  I can say my sins don't effect anyone else, but they do.  Families are destroyed every day because of consequences of sin divorce, alcoholism, abuse, hate, and selfishness.  If  we were able to think beyond I want this, to what are the consequences, would it change some of our actions?

God says in Joshua 7:13B "Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord.  You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you."  He is talking about the robe, silver, and gold hidden under Achan's tent.  But he could just as well have been talking about the things hidden in my heart envy, pride, disobedience, and selfishness.  Until I remove those I will never defeat my enemy.  Would I work harder to remove them, if tomorrow morning, God ask all of Marion to file out.  Then he started singling out my church, my family, me.  What a scary thought.
Thanks for reading!