Margaret McSweeney's Blog, page 40

My Six Month Old’s Sermon

When I look into that sweet face I melt on the inside. I can’t help but forget about what made me angry or why I was frustrated. His eyes seem to say, “It doesn’t matter…”

When I hear his little squeaks, grunts, and coos, excitement fills my heart. Every day he learns a new sound. Watching him discover the life inside of him reminds me that God has placed so much in me too! God is waiting for me to release my song and find my voice.

The world is one grand adventure for him; everything holds his interest. Yes, he’s a baby, but even more than that, he’s a discoverer. What amazes me most is that, after all the intrigue and novelty that fills his day, he is still satisfied with milk, mushy bananas, teething toys, and his parents’ faces. He is teaching me to relish in simplicity and find wonder in the mundane.

These past 6 months, my son and I have both grown up.

I may be showing him the world as he rests on my hip, but he is introducing me to a new way of life.

I may be nursing him day and night, but he nourishes all things eternal in my soul.

I may be encouraging him to sit up, roll over, and eat solids, but he is empowering me to live more courageously than I ever dreamed possible.

It’s a humbling journey to raise a child. From the day he was born, I began to learn about life and love right alongside of him.

God uses the weak ones to shame those who think they are wise. {1 Corinthians 1:27}

He speaks through the mouths of donkeys and babes. {Numbers 22:28, Joel 2:28}

He gives revelation to the children and to the humble. {Psalm 8:2, Matthew 5:5}

It’s not the somebodies of the world He chooses, but the nobodies.

So I think it’s safe to say God is speaking to me through my son David. The sermon I hear through his life keeps me on my knees, not scrubbing the floor, but in awe of the Lord’s presence as I embark into motherhood.

What have you learned through your children? What has God whispered to you through the dirty diapers, late nights, and early morning giggles?

 

Living Color

“God could have made everything in black and white but look he chose to use all these colors. Just for us,” my friend explained as she wheeled her son around their neighborhood. He was too weak to walk. The chemo zapped his small eight-year-old body of strength.

Color. Living color. Vibrant and rich. That is what my friend chose to see. That is what she wanted her son to see.  Beauty. Life. God.

Son, see the blessings in the struggle.

When I suffer or go through some sort of trial I am most often blind to the blessings. Darcy and her little guy have taught me to look, look up.  When I am in a season of hardship the Lord reminds of this walk and talk. He nudges me to pray that I notice the blessings He is showing me.

Daughter, see the blessings in the struggle.

I can’t . I’m weak. My vision is near-sighted.

So I pray, “Open my eyes to see your goodness. Point out your power.” Then God swiftly answers my plea.  Maybe it has been there all along….Maybe now I’m ready to receive.

Hope illuminates God in the difficult circumstance.

Hope gives me a new perspective. Hope is the blessing of God’s encouragement and strength to move forward.

Seeing the blessings helps me remember who God is…

A good and a great God.  

I lift my eyes to the hills-

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

The Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

And…since you most likely want to know, the eight-year-old is now sixteen.

What struggle are you facing? What blessings is God revealing to you?

The Long Walk Home

It was supposed to be a simple Saturday excursion. Relatively short, as well, given that fact that everything seems to take longer than I expect these days, in the adjustment stages to life in this country. I was already feeling the crunch of a weekend that had run away too quickly. Friday evening went to a shopping trip for next week’s field trip. Saturday morning went to a track coaches’ planning meeting. Saturday afternoon went to a 3-hour school talent show [with some of my own students making me feel rather teacherly-proud, and some of the high-schoolers making for a jaw-dropped “Wow!” response]. R and I were both feeling the pressure of needing to plan our next week’s lessons, but we also knew the importance of fitting in necessary weekend stuff when we could. So we still set out after the show, on our mission to the flower market. I had not yet bought an orchid, and the luxury of a scooter to ride on, and to transport such things as plants, was not to be passed up. Once there, however, I spied a miniature gardenia plant that diverted me from my orchid intentions. I still would like that orchid at some point, but at the time the happy childhood associations with gardenias made me quite thrilled with the find. And, as I told R, I do love it when a day surprises me with something that is better than what I had in mind. Little did I know the sorts of unexpected surprises the day had yet in store . . .

After making our purchases, we headed from the market to dinner, thinking we would get back early enough to still have some solid work time before the night was done. But shortly after beginning the ride home, R realized she wasn’t sure where we were. We rode around the city a while, periodically referring to the map, but we still ended up somehow just riding in circles, more or less. We were, quite simply, cheery but very lost. Soon, R also realized that we were about to lose power. With limited charge capacity on the scooter, we had to plug in quickly. Sure enough, at one busy intersection, we sputtered to a stop. R knew that some roadside shops will sell electricity in situations like this, but neither of us knew enough Mandarin to be able to ask. We fumbled through some attempts until a man came up and asked if he could help us. He did not speak English himself but was willing to call his English-teacher friend on our behalf. Somehow in the mix of translation efforts, we managed to find a nearby fix-it station that sold us 30 minutes of charge time. At this point R began asking me to just take a taxi home. She could get back on her own and, as she sheepishly admitted, this had actually happened to her before. “I’ll do no such thing,” I replied, mildly annoyed that she would even suggest such a thing.

We practiced our language skills as we waited out those 30 minutes, and I noted the brilliance of this portable repair station. May come in handy, I mused, to know there are such options for flat tires, broken chains, and the like, while out on my bicycle. Somewhat charged up at the end of our time slot, we started out again. And, once again, puttered to a stop after only a few minutes’ time.

“Just take a taxi!” R suggested once more.

“Nothing doing,” I retorted, and we consulted the map once more to re-tweak our plan. Thinking she might know which way to go from here, we began to simply push the scooter home. It was a relatively painless process, and I was reminded of a similar situation that I had found myself in, in Zambia, quite a few years ago. I told R the story. Then I told many more stories, for we had some time yet. Too much time, in any normal situation. It took us several hours, in fact. Late that night, we rolled in, weary and ready for bed. What I told R when she tried to apologize again, was that I really didn’t mind—that I was grateful to have spent the evening with her. And it was true. Somehow that “wasted” time didn’t seem so wasted at all. It was time spent working through a life challenge with someone I enjoy, and respect. Growing closer as coworkers, and as friends. Experiencing life as it is here . . . just another life adventure ☺

Seeing the Blessings that Surround

“Life is a gift. Never forget to enjoy and bask in every moment you are in. The mystery of life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced” – Art Van Der Leeuw

When you have had a sufficient helping of bitter, the good times taste especially sweet. That is, if you learn how to see them around you and express gratitude for what they are. So often we are caught up in the race of life and the “what’s next?” questions that we forget to look around us and enjoy the moment of life that we are currently in. We overlook our daily blessings because we are blind to them, and in doing so we miss out not only on experiencing daily gratitude, but also on the total sum of living a life of joy.

Living through pain and heartbreak has blessed me with being better able to enjoy the precious sweet moments of life. It wasn’t always so as the dark cloud that overwhelmed my soul had to lift, but it did eventually in time and with the redirecting of my focus on God instead of on myself. Every day experiencing and giving blessing is a choice that is better made when beginning the day in prayer. When I wake and spend time with God, I am better able to see the blessings all around me. From a miraculous healing to the simple smile of a stranger, they are there. They are all around.

My husband and I moved to London from the US last week. It has been exciting but also lonely and stressful at times. I don’t have friends here yet and I don’t even know where to buy my groceries. The list of “to dos” and the worries about living life here can be overwhelming. However, today I chose to look around and enjoy the blessing of the experience of living in London. I walked out the door of our flat and smiled at those I passed on the street. In purposefully setting out with the blessing mindset, I found myself living in gratitude. I found myself much more at peace than when I focused only on what I had to do and what I desired.

I challenge you to start today spending time with the Lord. Instead of going to Him with your specific list of desired blessings, ask Him how you can bless others and how to better see the blessings that He provides you. It will likely strengthen your faith and increase the joy in your day.

You Have to Tell Him

I don’t know where the idea came from –maybe watching too many shows that have “Cinderella” or “princess” in the title –but when I got married I thought my husband would just get me.  He would know when I was upset or needed something, and he would rise up gallantly to meet that need.

I was wrong.

So I spent a lot of time pouting –tapping my foot and waiting for him to catch a clue.  But it wasn’t until I learned to throw a clue that he finally caught one.

Here’s how it is, girls…

He doesn’t know you need a hug.  You have to tell him.

He doesn’t know you need to dump out all your words on him.  You have to tell him.

He doesn’t know what makes you feel special.  You have to tell him.

He doesn’t know you would give anything if he would vacuum the living room.  You have to tell him.

He doesn’t know what makes you ready for his touch.  You have to tell him.

He doesn’t know why you’re upset.  You have to tell him.

It might feel like the romance and meaningfulness of the gesture leaves if you have to tell him you need it, but I would say this to you:  Get.  Over.  It.

I’ve been married for 22 years, and we have an exciting, still-makes-my-heart-flip relationship.  So would you just trust me that the marriage you want is on the other side of your clear communication to your man about what you need.

(Of course, I should say here that telling him what you need should come from a humble attitude, not a demanding, give-it attitude and definitely not a nagging attitude.)

Maybe you were hoping your husband would just know what was inside you?  Well, only Jesus has that ability.  John tells us Jesus, “…knew what was in a man.”  (John 2:25  NIV)  Your husband does not have the supernatural ability to see deep into your heart the way only Jesus can.

But if your man is well-meaning toward you, then you can trust that he wants to meet your needs.  He wants to make you happy and satisfied in your relationship with him.  When he meets your needs and you brag to your girlfriends about it, it makes him look good.

So do him a favor –just tell him already, and not in subtleties either.  No hinting allowed.  Just come right out and say, Do you know what I really need from you this week? or Do you know a simple thing you could do for me right now that would make me happy?  He’ll be thrilled to not have to guess.  Thrilled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God? Bless? You?

“God bless you!” We mouth these three simple words to people in passing, on greeting cards, and even when someone sneezes! We’ve said it~heard it so often that often we really don’t even mean it. It’s become just another hollow expression we toss back and forth, limiting it’s power to “Have a nice day!” But let me tell you, this is no trite cliche’!

Chew on these “blessings” from God. But be careful! Don’t expect to swallow them in one big gulp! They are quite a mouthful! After all, they are the words of Jesus!

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full’, you will find yourselves cared for.
You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. Not only that–count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens–give a cheer, even!–for though they don’t like it, I do!” (Matthew 5, The Message).

This is really too much food for one meal! But before you push away this platter of blessings, I hope you will digest each one, a day at a time, and ponder your blessed position.

 Has God? Blessed? You? He’s certainly blessed me! Life has been a topsy-turvy journey, but every hardship has served to birth the babe of Christ in me. He whittled away at my self-coping mechanisms, left me with a glorious God-dependence, and signed my emancipation proclamation to be the real me: the ‘me’ He created me to ‘be’!

I have to confess that this ‘God-me’ is a bit more than I can handle at times. She’s constantly stepping outside her comfort zone. She’s a woman of God: shameless, fearless, and intimidating (yes, even to me)! She’s called to do “greater things than these.” She’s more than I can tame (LOL)!  She’s seriously “blessed” and dangerous! But, what did we expect, anyway? When we put God’s label on something~ anything~ it’s bound to shake up our cozy little world!

GOD BLESS YOU! I am speaking this greeting over you today with all the power that these three humongous words dictate, and with a prayer that you will become all that God intended you to be!

A Blessed Book

Some years ago I received a scrapbook that changed my life. It continues to do so today. It looks so innocent and maybe kind of unremarkable doesn’t it? But don’t be fooled. This book has tremendous power. And the beautiful thing is, you can share in it.

This life-changing book was given to me by my small group leader several years ago. In a previous meeting she had asked each of us to write something positive about each member of the group. It was easy to do because we had grown so close. We loved each other like family, better than family. After we were done we figured we’d read them later. We were right…kind of.

Those words of encouragement, words of blessings were beautifully put together in individual books. On each page were the thoughts and feelings of a fellow group member towards us. Some pages also included a scripture. The day we each received these power-packed surprises had been a rough one for me. I was so glad to be able to sit down with my sisters in the faith before we took a break for the Christmas holiday. When I received my book, I cried.

Most of the words listed on those pages, I would never claim for myself. But no matter. Another sweet friend had claimed them as a blessing for me. Each page was a new and different blessing. Read the words from one of the pages and imagine for a moment they were written about you.

Go ahead, I’ll wait. Now, doesn’t that feel wonderful?

Blessings can change how you look at yourself, how you approach life. They give life. If you want to be a friend to someone, give them a blessing. It doesn’t have to be in a fancy book like mine, though if you want to do that, I assure you, it will be tremendously appreciated. You can speak scripture over them. Nothing blesses better than God’s own words. Or tell them about the wonderful things you see in them. It doesn’t take much but it gives much more. Go be a blessing giver.

Taking Care of His Children | Emily Harwood

I like to think of myself as a serious adventurist. The kind of person who’s willing to take risks, get out of the comfort zone, and explore, but never do anything quite irrational or stupid. And if it involves doing something on my own in a car, count me out! I’m scared to death of getting lost or running out of gas. Forget being adventurous, I get downright scared! It doesn’t matter if I have half a tank of gas–I’ll panic. I hate taking new roads. I WON’T take new roads (unless absolutely forced like the detours construction workers put up. But that’s a whole new story). So what in the world does this have to do with anything important? A LOT.

I have no idea what possessed me. Maybe I am an adventurist deep down though I highly doubt it. Actually, I do know what came over me. But I’ll save that for later.

I was coming home from school, just getting off the bridge and about to get on Main Street. I suddenly decided to be irrational (well, what I would consider irrational) and try a new road. What?! Where’d that come from?! I’m the girl who’s afraid of everything new when driving. I turned on to Jefferson Street. Already I was feeling nervous and a little excited. I was actually being adventurous! (lame, I know). I reached the stop sign and suddenly started hearing gun shots. I cranked my window down (it’s an old car). Another car came up behind me and since he started to get frustrated, I moved on, keeping the window down. I could still hear the gun shots as I was driving away. I made my way back to Main Street. There were a few police cars coming, and one was almost blocking the way. Hmmm. I wondered what was going on, but I didn’t think anything of it as I kept driving. Besides, I wasn’t even sure if I had heard gun shots.

When I got home, it was all over the news. A guy was upset over some court orders and decided to get even with the judge. He came in the courthouse armed with three semi-automatic handguns and a semi-automatic rifle and was wearing a tactical vest that enabled him to carry extra ammunition. The judge he wanted wasn’t in. He shot at some people inside and then ran outside and started shooting at everything else. He shot off 70 rounds. (No one was killed thankfully and only 2 people were hurt).

Suddenly after hearing this, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness and was just simply amazed! I know it wasn’t my idea to take Jefferson Street. I probably wouldn’t have even considered the idea! If I had taken my normal route, I would have driven directly in front of the court house. I would have been driving past just as he was starting to shoot at everything outside. Whoa! I could’ve have been shot at! I would have to say without a doubt that the Lord interceded, giving me the thought to take Jefferson Street.

Don’t ever doubt the LORD’s interaction in your life. HE does take care of HIS children. We are unaware of so much He does for us! I got to see a little bit of HIS work that day, and for me it’s a reminder of HIS ultimate goodness and love.

Emily Harwood lives in a small, rural Arkansas town with her family. She is full-time college student, coffee drinker, book lover, and a wanna be hiker, traveler, and crafter. She love’s quiet mornings and rainy days. 

Friendship Tea

I looked around my beautiful new house, then sat down and cried!  We had moved just a week before but I still didn’t feel settled. What happened, I wondered.  I had been so excited about this change of address. We had planned it for months.  We knew it was God’s gift to us. This home offered more room, a lovely yard overlooking a wild canyon, a huge kitchen with all the modern conveniences, and the perfect place to plant my favorite flowers

But that day as I sat at the kitchen table, nothing could console me.  I was in grief. I missed our old neighborhood and all the people I had come to know and love over the past eight years.  I wondered if I’d ever feel ‘at home’ in this house, on this block where I didn’t know another soul.

I sipped my tea and looked out the window.  “Lord, help me get a grip,” I prayed.  Then within moments I noticed a woman about my age walk up the driveway to the front door.  “Oh great,” I mumbled.  “Someone wants to sell me something. Well I’m not buying!”  I dabbed my eyes with a tissue, tucked my shirt into my jeans and answered her knock on the door.

“Hello,” she said, smiling. “I’m Jean Sanchez. I live in the yellow house at the end of the cul-de-sac.  Welcome to our neighborhood.  I would have come sooner but I wanted to give you a few days to get settled.”  Then she handed me a lovely glass jar with a big red bow on top.

“I call this concoction friendship tea,” she said, chuckling.  “It’s a mixture of iced tea crystals and orange Tang.  Mix with water, add ice and enjoy!  And here’s a few homemade cookies to go with it.”

Tears welled in my eyes again–but this time, not from grief but from gratitude.  Here was a blessing so lovely, so unexpected, so like the Lord–that I was speechless, pretty unusual for me!

I reached out and hugged Jean, thanked her, and then invited her in to share a cup of friendship tea together.

 

Defeat Envy By Counting Your Blessings

Envy is the killer to counting ones blessings. I am comforted to know David struggled with weaknesses similar to what we face today.

David writes in Psalm 73:3-5

For I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs until death;

their bodies are fat and sleek.

They are not in trouble as others are;

they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

Can you relate to those words? I sure can.

We often find ourselves feeling frustrated when we are rebuked at every misstep while others appear only to prosper in their wrong doing. They suffer no pain here on earth; they are not stricken like the rest of us. It seems unfair.

Am I the only one who struggles with these thoughts? Well I know David did.

After David struggles with envy, we read a little further down where he places everything into perspective.

“But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” Psalm 73:16-17

When I recite those verses my heart grieves because I have some loved ones who do not struggle here on earth, but they do not know God’s salvation.

“Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.” Psalm 49:16-17

Suddenly envy turns into great sadness for the people around me who don’t know Jesus. How are we to share a Savior to those who are worried free, financially blessed, and live a comfortable lifestyle?

By sharing the blessing of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

He is a friend who will never leave you, who knows you inside and out and still desires a relationship with you. So when envy creeps in, remember you are not alone in your struggle, even David became frustrated.  Also remember nothing that is accumulated here on earth will go with you after you die, except a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

That is the best blessing to have!