39 AND HOLDING...

Hello boys and girls!  Ladies and gentlemen!  Dogs and cats!  And anyone else who happens across this blog.  I have this cousin.  Let's say his name is George.  It's not really.  However, I feel the need to change his name to protect the not so innocent!  HAHA!  He and his lovely wife have been reading my blogs - so I thought they'd appreciate me using them to introduce my line of thinking this evening.  He enjoys teasing me because I'm about ten years older than him.  In fact, he had invited me to do something with he and Martha (not his wife's name - but I changed hers to truly protect someone who is innocent!  HA!)  At any rate, he had invited me to do something with him and Martha this evening.  I sent him a text a little while ago and let him know I was finally headed home after getting my car back from Firestone, so I was just going to call it a night.  Of course he had to say something in response about me needing to go to bed early because I am getting older...  Almost 40.  Well, I just want everyone to know I am NOT 40.  Not yet!  I am literally and figuratively 39 and holding!  If you are wondering what I'm holding on to - you may want to fasten your seat belt because I'm about to tell you.  I might also preface this entry with the fact that I will be sharing some personal information that everyone and their dog (especially young dogs) might not want to know...

Yes, I am 39 and holding.  Holding on to what, you ask?  Well, first and foremost, I am holding on to the fact that there are still wonderful people out there.  In my 39 years I have met some amazing people.  Through the years I've had truly God-sent friends and family who have been there in the best of times and in the worst of times.  Just recently, I was telling one of those fabulous friends about some people I knew that attended a local church where I was pretty much raised.  I was telling my friend how sweet and all around great people these folks were.  Today of all days, I ran into some of them at the mall while I was waiting on my car.  Sure enough - SWEET AS EVER!  We talked about family and such.  She asked me about church.  When I told her where I was attending she said the most beautiful thing!  "Well, that's wonderful!  You know, it's not about the name on the door.  We got over that a long time ago..."  I told her I agreed and we both agreed it's really all about having a relationship with Jesus and helping others develop that relationship.  This was such a warm and encouraging exchange!  I must admit, I've not always gotten that kind of response from people with whom I used to attend church...  However, that is not where I'm going tonight!  Tonight, I want to thank God for people like this lady who was so Christ-like in her response.  I want to thank God for people in my own church who God has blessed me to just know and be able to trust and grow in the Lord with.  I want to thank God for friends and family who are just honestly terrific people.  You know who you are!  I know, some of us have lost touch over the years.  Some of us see each other more regularly.  Regardless, to those many wonderful people who God has blessed my life through - I LOVE YA!  I APPRECIATE YOU!!!!  YOU ALL ROCK!!!!!  :) :)   I'M HOLDING ON TO YOU PEEPS!!!  :) :)

The second thing I'm holding on to is the fact that just because a lady is single and almost 39 does not make her weird, gay, or unhappy.  I'm usually quite happy - but I am not gay.  Weird - ok, I admit, I am a little on the weird side - but in a good way!  :)  Years ago, after returning from work overseas, I had a lady ask me what was wrong with me.  She wanted to know why I couldn't find a man!  She pointed out that all of my friends were getting married and starting families, and that I'd been all over the world and "still hadn't found anyone."  Oddly enough, there have been moments that I have wondered what was wrong with me.  Then there was the guy who saw me playing basketball with some of the men at church I attended for a while and he told one of the church secretaries that he thought my "door swung both ways."  Actually, I thought a basketball court full of men would be a great place to look for a man.  Ok, so really, I used to really just enjoy playing basketball with whomever!  Still, I found such comments hurtful.  I know, you are probably thinking unforgiveness is what I'm holding on to!  HA!  In all seriousness, I love both of these people and have forgiven them!  I'm simply trying to make a point here...  If you know someone who is single don't judge them for it!  Furthermore, I think we all (myself included for sure here) need to think about what we say to or about people before we dive into conversations.  Again, I know that's an area I have to work on!  At any rate, back to being single...  It's NOT ALL BAD!  It's NOT A DISEASE!!  It's NOT A DISORDER!!!  While I used to long to meet Mr. Right, I now actually see and have begun to appreciate the pros of being single.  Yes, I am still holding on to the possibility of meeting someone with whom to share life's journey.  However, if it doesn't happen, that's ok!  As I always say, "I would rather be single than stuck with a stinker!"  Besides, my God has a plan!  As our pastor shared this morning - He has a destiny for us!  I want to fulfill God's destiny for my life!  I figure, if a mate is a part of that plan - than awesome!  If not - it's not like I'm alone!  Go back to the beginning!  I'm surrounded by people who I love and adore!  More importantly, I have a God who never leaves or forsakes me!   Amen?  Amen!  Wait, did someone say "A man?"  Where?  Is he single?  Does He love Jesus?  HEHEHEHEHE....  Oh look at all the "HEs!"  :) :) :) :)  ANYWAY...

Now the third thing I'm holding on to is a bit personal.  Remember M...  I mean, "George?"  A few years ago when that movie came out "The 40 Year Old Virgin" it became a joke between he and I that that was where I was headed...  Now, for those of you thinking, man, George is cruel...  He's not!  He's like the little brother that I never had!  We razz each other all the time about all sorts of things!  In fact, he and his wife are in with all the wonderful people I want to hold on to as described earlier!  While I've not seen the movie (and don't intend to) I leaked the joke to some friends and co-workers on a trip one time and one of them exclaimed, "What?  Oh my!  We need to fix that!"  What????  I'm not broken!!!!  I mean, seriously!!!!  My point...  Why does our society think remaining a virgin until marriage is such a freakish thing?  I mean, why shouldn't I be a virgin?  Don't misunderstand me...  I'm not saying sexual intimacy is wrong or anything like that!  I believe God instituted the family - and that should be a fun, enjoyable, loving, intimate way husband and wives connect!!  God intended that intimacy for marriage and wanted it to be a beautiful thing.  Not only that, but He did want us to fill the earth with people and, well, babies don't come from storks!  The Apostle Paul said the "marriage bed was undefiled."  Simply put, sex in the bounds of marriage should be a good thing!  While Paul said that over 2,000 years ago, Dr. Oz confirms it by telling people "a healthy sex life will prolong life."   Personally, I believe the "healthiest" sex to have is with your spouse!  I don't have a spouse.  So I'm holding on to that until I do...  Personally, I think that's the way it should be.  I know in our society that it is very difficult.  We are so bombarded with messages from music, movies, television, books, magazines, advertisements and the media that everyone is doing it and it's ok to just sleep with whomever.  It's not ok.  While I'm far from perfect (far, far away from perfect), I do plan on and hope to hold on to my virginity until I'm married.  We should be teaching our children to do the same. 

Last but not least, I'm holding on to HOPE.  Hope for a future!  Yes, I'm older and heavier than I used to be.  I can't play basketball with the boys, or girls like I used to.  I do want to go to bed earlier and earlier.  However, I have this wonderful, Heavenly Father.  While He is heavenly, He is also always so present in my life.  He amazes me!  He has blessed me far beyond all I need and certainly waaay beyond what I deserve!!! With Him, I may be 39 and holding today, but I can march into the 40s smiling and laughing - head held high and ready to face the joys and challenges of whatever life holds.  Why?  Because I know Who is holding me!  Yes, I'm 39...  And God has been holding my hand every minute of this marvelous journey.  With His help, I will hold on to Him and He to me throughout this life and into eternity...

What are you holding on to?  

Converting Bears

A friend of mine who pastors one of the local churches told me this story the other day.  It went something like this:

There were three good friends who were all “men of the cloth.”  One was a Catholic priest, one a Baptist minister, and the other a Jewish rabbi.  They often met for lunch or coffee and discussed the ups and downs of life.  During many of these discussions they all had a tendency to brag about their skills in converting people into their religious affiliations.  One day, they decided to see which of them was the best at getting people to join their fellowships.  However, they all felt human subjects would be too easy.  They decided that the first one to truly convert a bear would definitely be the best.  So, each set off in search of a bear with promises to return victorious to their next luncheon. 

Well, a week or so later when they met for lunch it was obvious by all appearances that the task had not been as easy as anticipated.  At first it was just the Catholic priest and Baptist minister.  The Catholic Priest was scratched and bruised from head to toe.  He spoke first of how he had found a bear and began to try to talk to the creature about becoming a Catholic.  He went on to tell of how the bear began to charge and attack him.  After a bit of a struggle, the priest was able to get some of his holy water and sprinkleit on the bear.  He claimed the bear calmed down immediately.  The Baptist minister, also broken and bruised, spoke up and said he had a similar experience.  He found a bear and when he tried to get him to become a Baptist, the bear attacked him.  He wrestled the bear until they landed in a creek where he baptized the bear and the bear calmed down immediately.  

Just as the Baptist minister ended his story, in rolled the Jewish Rabbi in a wheel chair.  He was in pitiful shape!  His friends barley recognized him behind all the bandages, and plaster.  As he wheeled himself, his IV’s and his oxygen tank over to the table his friends began to question him about his sad estate.  He said he too had found a bear.  He went on to say that everything seemed fine…  Until he tried to circumcise him….

GET OVER IT!

How many times have we heard someone say, "Well, they just need to get over it?"  On occasion we may even have someone say to our face, "You just need to get over it!"  Why, just today I heard some Christians talking about how sometimes we need to tell people to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" instead of patting them on the back and encouraging them to wallow in self-pity.  One had even shared how he recently told a co-worker going through a divorce she needed to "Get over it!"  I sat there stupefied.  That's what I do sometimes.  I sit there - caught like a deer in the headlights - bumfuzzled by the things people say.  I'm not sure how to react because maybe I have misunderstood them.  So, I go away and analyze what was said.  I must say, after mulling it over, I have trouble hearing Jesus tell anyone who is honestly hurting to "Get over it."  In fact, as I read Scripture I find Him compelling us to bring our hurts, our pains, our disappointments, our shattered dreams, our grief, our EVERYTHING to Him.  He tells us to "Cast our cares on Him because He cares for us."  (I Peter 5:7)  Jesus is a loving, compassionate God.  According to Isaiah 61, Jesus was sent to "to bring good news to the poor... to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.^"  Psalms 57:17 says He "will not reject a broken and repentant heart."  Throughout the Bible there is one story after another of people who face tests, trials, tragedies, and tribulations.  Did I miss God telling all those people to "Get over it?" 

For example, I see God hearing a worn-out, depressed prophet in I Kings 19, and answering his cry.  Elijah had just witnessed God literally rain down fire from Heaven, consuming not only a sacrifice, but the gallons upon gallons of water that had been heaped upon that sacrifice drenching it and pouring into the trench around the altar.  He expects Jezebel and Ahab will repent now that they have seen God perform this miracle.  They don't!  Jezebel claims she will kill Elijah!  So, even though he just witnessed this amazing miracle of God, Elijah sits down and cries out to the Lord to just end his life.  It's not a picture we like to see - the "man of God" depressed and asking the Lord to just take him out of this life.  If we had been with him on Mt. Carmel and then heard his depressing cry we may have been tempted to tell him, "Get over it!  Dude - Did you not just see what God did to that water logged sacrifice?"  I find it interesting that God did not say anything like that to Elijah.  He didn't condemn him for this low moment.  In fact, God let Elijah rest - and sent an angel to wake him and encourage him to eat.  Then God continued to deal with Elijah - eventually speaking to the prophet in a "still small voice" reminding him he was not the only one who served the Lord.  In fact, God even instructed him to take on Elisha as a help-mate.

Another fascinating story can be found in John chapter 11.  It's the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  Read that story carefully.  I dare you!  :)   These two grief stricken sisters both said to the Lord, "If you had only been here..."  Wow!  That's bold!  To tell Jesus Christ, "Well, you picked a fine time to show up!  Our brother is dead now!  You could have prevented this!"  Do you not hear the pain and anguish in their voice.  They love Jesus.  They believe in Him.  Yet they are hurt and limited in their thinking to even fathom that He actually waited on purpose - so Lazarus would be dead and God could be glorified in the man's resurrection.  What does Jesus do?  Does He say, "You ladies are being way to dramatic!  You really need to get over it..."  No!  In fact, while He does try to explain to them that He is the resurrection, He knows they aren't getting it.  He goes to the tomb and does what - WEEPS!  Why?  He knew He would call Lazarus out of that grave!  Why weep?  Because He is "touched with the feelings of our infirmities..."  Whether mental, emotional, physical...  Whatever the source of pain and suffering, Jesus identifies with us!  He wept with and for those who were hurting at the loss of Lazarus!  I wonder if God was tempted to tell Jesus, "Aw, get over it Son!  And get on with the resurrection of Lazarus!"  I doubt it. 

Again, over and over in Scripture we see God calling to hurting people with His arms open wide!  Yes, He is straight forward with people about turning from sin and following Him.  Furthermore, He often reminds those who have been through the fiery trials of life of just Who He is...  No, He does not want us to wallow in self-pity!  He is the one who "lifts us from the miry clay!"  So please know I'm not saying He wants us to stay stuck in our pain and suffering.  He wants to take us through those things for His glory and our good.  The awesome thing about the Lord is that He will get in the muck and mire with us to pull us from those horrific places of life!  As Christians, we are to follow Jesus.  I think that means reaching out to those who are hurting with love and compassion, encouraging them, listening to them, being there for them.  Sometimes we do have to be honest and address tough issues with people.  However, God is clear about doing all things in love.  In ourselves, this can be a difficult thing.  However, with God, all things are possible.  His Holy Spirit knows the heart of God and He knows our hearts as humans.  If we aren't sure how to help someone who is hurting - maybe we should ask God to let His Holy Spirit give us the wisdom and the words to say.  He will!  He loves us! 

Again, I'm not saying I don't believe in "tough love."  Furthermore, I probably have told someone to "Get over it," before.  I distinctly remember one of my 6th grade students literally throwing a bawling crying fit because he had lost his pencil.  I don't know if I used the exact phrase - "Get over it!"  However, I do remember explaining to him that we are sixth graders and we don't cry over lost pencils.  At the same time, I hope I am sensitive enough to the needs of other people that when someone is truly hurting I can show them God's love and compassion, encouraging them that God can help them through even the most difficult times of life.