Heather Holleman's Blog, page 191

“I can tell you like me.”

As I spent time coloring with my new little friend, he says, “I can tell you like me.”

“How?” I ask. I’ve learned to listen attentively to the wisdom of children.

“Because you get so excited about me and what I’m doing as I color.”

I think about his comments because I want to live a life that shows excitement about what other people are doing.

“For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15

I find this Bible verse again this afternoon when I’m coloring with a young friend. His parents are visiting from Tennessee. This clever nine-year-old talks to me about all the places he’s visited as we turn the pages of a fancy coloring book of sights of the world. In another coloring book from my stash I keep in my crafting cabinet in the kitchen, we see intricate designs surrounding beautiful Bible verses. I pick that book, and I turn to a random page to read this verse from 2 Chronicles 20:15:

For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

I think of any places in my life that feel like a struggle or fight. I smile with joy that we’re not the ones to fight–the battle belongs to God who cares for us.

And I spend the afternoon with coloring books and colored pencils. A fall candle burns as the leaves begin falling already in the chilly weather. My cat, Louie, curls up beside us. After this, I’ll attend the Homecoming Parade downtown to watch my daughter march with the Marching Band.

What a restful life when God fights for you.

Good Days and Bad Days

I remember a sermon I once read by Charles Spurgeon entitled “God’s Providence.” In this sermon, Spurgeon compares our life–the good days and the bad days–to a wheel turning. The image captivates me. I read on as he writes this to help us understand our life:

So it is with our life.  Sometimes we are in humble poverty, and hardly know what we shall do for bread; anon the wheel revolves, and we are brought into the comfort of wealth; our feet stand in a spacious room; we are fed with corn and wine; we drink of a cup overflowing its brim.  Again we are brought low through affliction and famine.  A little while and another page is turned, and we are exalted to the heavens, and can sing and rejoice in the Lord our God.  I have no doubt many of you here have experienced a far more checkered life than I have, and therefore you can feel that your life has been as a “wheel.” Ah! man, thou art strong, and great, and rich; thou mayest stand now as the uppermost part of it; but it is a wheel, and you may yet be brought low.  And you, poor, who are depressed and downcast, who are weeping because you know not where you shall lay your heads–that wheel may revolve and you may be lifted up.  Our own experience is never a stable thing; it is always changing, always turning round.  The fly that sits now on the edge of the wheel may be crushed by its next revolution, and be brought to the dust of death the next day.

Spurgeon explains what it means to see our lives this way and how, when we feel low, the next moment we might ride high as the wheel turns. Further, Spurgeon writes this beautiful truth:

You know in a wheel there is one portion that never turns round, that stands steadfast; and that is the axle.  So in God’s Providence, there is an axle which never moves.  Christian, here is a sweet thought for thee!  Thy state is ever changing; sometimes thou art exalted, and sometimes depressed; yet there is an unmoving point in thy state.  What is that axle?  What is the pivot upon which all the machinery revolves?  It is the axle of God’s everlasting love toward his covenant people.  The exterior of the wheel is changing, but the center stands forever fixed.  Other things may move; but God’s love never moves: it is the axle of the wheel. . .

We can look at that fixed axle. We can consider how our lives turn like wheels.

 

Preparing for Guests

Over the years, I’ve learned some things (both as a guest of others and host) that I’d thought I’d pass on to younger readers about hosting other people in your home.

I’m not an expert, but here’s what I’ve learned:

Prepare a bedroom with fresh linens, a tissue box, a bottle of water, and a fan (in case they like a cooler room). Also include an extra blanket for chilly nights. Don’t over scent the room since some guests find fragrance irritating. You can clean with vinegar and a drop of an essential oil instead of strong cleaners. If you like, you can add a special touch of a magazine, chocolate, or little gift your guests might enjoy to help them relax.
In the bathroom, remember to clear large amounts of counter space for guests to place their personal belongings. Deep clean the bathroom before guests arrive (this included scrubbing the shower, toilet, sink, and floors). Place some toiletries they might have forgotten within reach (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo). Place a little vase of flowers in the bathroom. Remember to have bathroom spray and extra toilet paper available.
If children are coming, prepare a location with toys and books.
Always have special snacks ready for guests (nuts, popcorn, chocolate, fruit) that you set out upon their arrival in case they need refreshment from their journey.
Write down the wifi password to give guests once they settle in.
If serving dinner, attempt to clean kitchen before serving dinner so the only clean up afterwards is serving dishes and plates.
Let guests know in advanced their breakfast options, and rise early to brew coffee or steep tea.
Allow for quiet time / solitude for guests so nobody feel over-scheduled.

Enjoy blessing your guests!!

What to Fear

I’m settled as I read Psalm 49 this morning. The priest writes:

Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me–those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them–the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough–so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

I consider how the most important thing that outweighs any other issue confronting the world is this: We are enslaved to sin and need a redeemer, Someone to pay our ransom, Someone to rescue us from sin and death. This stands as the greatest problem we face. We might pose the single most vital question: Who will ransom us? Who could ever do this?

Jesus will. Jesus did.

Psalm 49 helps me lift my eyes from political chaos, hatred, anger, and fear on all sides. I remember the real problem and the Real Solution.

Making Baked Kale Chips

At a party recently, my friend displayed a bowl of her perfectly crispy and salty kale chips. In fact, she had huge bunches of kale on her counter for her next batch because her boys ate the chips as fast as she could make them.

I found myself gobbling them up as well! I didn’t realize you simply spread your kale on your pan, drizzle some olive oil, salt them, and bake for a mere 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Here’s the recipe .

I promptly tried this at home today for our after school snack*.

*Yes, I still serve an after school snack, even for—especially for—teenagers. Warning: Sometimes, if they aren’t in a chatty mood, and homework presses in, you must deliver the snack to wherever they are.

 

Helpful Questions

Following the theme of “help” from these past few bogs, I continue to think about help, especially if I am in the position to give it.

The needs of others come to me swiftly and clearly; you can’t miss them if you live at all in community with people. I can almost guarantee that anyone reading this can name at least five people near them who need help–if not ten. And you might be reading this in need of help yourself.

How do you know what to give, who to bless, or where? How much? How often?

Recently, a woman in pain began to share her story, and I immediately felt like a huge wave came over me. It was suffocating and terrifying. Soon we were both drowning.

But then I remember that, at least from a rescue standpoint, someone needs to approach from a position of safety and security, wading in carefully in order to provide aid. Two drowning people can’t save anyone.

I remember a great coaching question I had forgotten over the years. When someone comes to you in pain, you can ask this:

“How are you taking care of yourself? What steps are you taking to heal?”

It’s an empowering question. Rather than making ourselves the hero as the provider of help, we empower. We aren’t the source of healing; God is. We also know that if we ask what a person has in terms of a plan, we can step in to what God is already doing. We can offer help according to what the person needs, not what we assume we should or can provide.

Next, I remember this question:

“What do we need to pray for? If you could ask Jesus for to meet your deepest need right now, what is that need?”

I have so much to learn when it comes to truly helping others. I have so much to learn as I think about therapeutic conversations. I’m so quickly overwhelmed, so quickly codependent, and so quickly rushing in.

Empower instead. Ask for their plan, and then see where you fit in. And always redirect conversations to the Healer, the One we go to in prayer.

The Help that Came

After considering the help of the Lord yesterday, and the prayer in that beautiful psalm that God might send help and support, I did indeed wonder about the kind of help God sends when we feel overwhelmed.

As I’m thinking about the Lord sending help, I’m amazed that several strange things happen in quick succession. First, my dear friend and one of the Italian Mamas calls to announce she’s delivering dinner to my family—her Chicken Parmigiana. Then, my husband decides to fold the laundry and clean the kitchen–the last few things on my list of things to do. Then, various friends reach out to connect out of the blue. Did the Holy Spirit prompt them? Did God hear my prayer?

As I train my mind to recognize and then rejoice in Divine Activity, I’m amazed at what life looks like when you see God answering your prayer for help.

My Second Day of Not Blogging in 8 Years

Well, there was that one day in Kansas that I couldn’t blog. And now yesterday. It was a day of grading and running around campus, and I forgot. 

For the first time in 8 years, since March 2010, I forgot.

I did have a small, shining moment in the morning when I thought, “This is it! This is the flair moment.” It was when I read in Psalm 20 about the Lord sending help from His sanctuary when you are in distress (Psalm 20:2). I wondered about all the forms of help the Lord sends. Angels? Ideas? People? Peace? Hope? Objects of comfort? Animals? What does the help of the Lord look like? 

It was just a moment—-a question about recognizing the help of the Lord—but then I lost it. I went on into the day, hurried and frazzled. I went on into the day, overwhelmed and tired.

But every lost thing can be found in the Lord. So today, I find the flair moment again, a day late.

Now, when I say that I’ve blogged every day for 8 years straight, I will say, “Except that one day in Kansas and that other day when I forgot to write down my thoughts on help.”

Maybe the help I needed was to forget, to free up some time in a packed day. And maybe the help I needed was to forget so that I’d now always remember the help of the Lord in every form.

All the Butternut Squash

With two butternut squash on my kitchen counter, I search the internet for main dish ideas.

First, I’ve learned the easiest way ever to peel and chop butternut squash. Enjoy this easy microwave trick. 

Then, I find this gem of a recipe and immediately gather my goat cheese and walnuts. I just know my family will love this Butternut Squash Penne Pasta.

Enjoy the autumn season, and all the glorious squash!