As some of you may know, I have a cat living in my house right now.  Skipper belongs to my daughter Kristen and her husband Ric.  He is here with them until they find a home of their own.  The other day I had a friend stop by with her two year old daughter Kelsey.  Now Skipper is an “only child” and does not have experience sharing his home with other little bodies.  I was nervous that Skipper was going to put on his devil personality when his ears go back and his behavior turns demonic.  Anxiously, I watched as Kelsey chased after Skipper, ready to intervene when Skipper’s claws came out.  Surprisingly, Skipper seemed to enjoy the strange small person who was playing with him.  At one point in the chase, Skipper did the cat move where he suddenly flung himself in front of Kelsey.  He sprawled onto his back, exposing his long furry white belly and with all paws in the air, he took on the pose of “Aren’t-I-just-adorable” and I shall now say “Uncle!” in total cute submission.

Dogs usually make that move – on their backs with belly exposed – that scream ‘submission’ and beg for a belly rub.  The ‘say Uncle’ part, if you aren’t familiar, is an expression that means “to admit that you have been defeated.”  For example, in an informal wrestling match, one’s opponent may be asked to demand submission by exclaiming “Uncle” in the same way one might say “I give up.”  At our yacht club, there is a sail boat named “Say Uncle” – I take it they want the other boats to admit defeat in a race and to say ‘Uncle.’  Losers.

The word ‘submit’ is found many times in the bible.  Most husbands like to remind their wives about the biblical command of submitting to their husbands.  They forget to add the next part that says for husbands to love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up to her.   Submit.  It’s not such a bad thing.  People just don’t like it when someone else is in control.  But to submit does not mean that someone else has control.  When you submit, it means you made the choice to yield or surrender to the will or authority of another.   Also, when you submit, there is a responsibility on the part of the person you have submitted to, for them to have your well-being in mind as well as their own.  If the one being submitted to wants to be successful in their desired outcomes, they will have great concern to the needs and achievements of the one submitting.

I was reading about the meaning of Skipper’s belly-up pose.   In dogs, it definitely is a posture of submission.  In cats, it may look or seem like the same message that the canines deliver, but in fact for cats, “belly up” is the attack position.  It is the only position where they can use all their weapons at once (four clawed paws). Exposing its belly is not a submissive posture in a cat, it’s an aggressive one.  I think (and hope) that Skipper was being submissive to Kelsey.

Most of us are like Skipper when it comes to submitting to Christ.  We know we should and we take our stance – but are we ready to have our bellies rubbed or put out our claws?

Proverb 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

God wants good things for his children.  We want good things, too.  Sometimes what we think is good and necessary for ourselves, is not what He knows is really good for us.  When we choose to follow Christ, we must keep in mind that His plan is always good and that He has our best interests in mind.  Oh we may feel like putting out our claws sometimes, but it’s a much better choice to opt for the belly rub!

just Laurel

(My apologies, dear readers, as my life has been too busy lately to blog.  I shall get back on track this week 🙂  Thank you for staying with me!)

We’ve all heard about how important first impressions are.  If you are trying to catch the attention of the recruiter, or the interest of the guy or gal you are dating, then a memorable first impressions is essential.

What about the impression you make after you leave?

This morning as I wobbled into the kitchen, still half asleep, I hesitated when I noticed a wrapped butterscotch candy on the floor.  Hmmm.  Cat!  The scary part to me was the fact that the glass candy bowl sat on top of an old drop front desk between two glass oil lamps.  The cat had leaped to the desk top and toyed with a wrapped candy that dropped to the floor – and the lamps and candy dish stayed put.  Good kitty.  Just the night before, I had noticed a small dark object on the family room carpet in the corner.  It looked like … well … dark brown … sort of like a large Milk Dud.  I called Ted over to investigate and made him see if it was a cat turd.  Bad kitty.  It ended up being a chestnut that the cat had taken from a bowl on a shelf in the kitchen.  Apparently, both the butterscotch and chestnut were late night entertainment for Skipper the cat.  I was impressed that Skipper could find entertainment and at the same time was careful enough not to break anything.  Good kitty.

Almost everyone will make a good first impression, but only a few will make a good lasting impression.  Sonya Parker

Many mornings, after Ted has left for work, I can tell a lot about his previous night’s frolicking by what he’s left behind.  All those little crispy tan flecks on the couch?  Oh!  He peeled and ate pistachios while watching TV last night.  I can also tell in what manner Ted left the house by the state of the kitchen when I come home from work in the afternoon.  If the dishes have been placed in the dish washer and the counter is clear, he left the house in a leisurely manner.  If the sink is full of dishes and coffee has been splashed on the counter, then he quickly grabbed a cup of coffee to go and dashed out the door.

My dad told me when I went into high school, ‘It’s not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It’s what you do when you walk out.’ That’s when you’ve made a lasting impression.   Jim Thome

With the celebration of Independence Day behind us, I am now reflecting on the idea of what has been “left behind.”  Our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons, husbands, and friends have given their lives in combat over the years so that we can live in freedom in this country.  What a legacy!  Not only those in the military, but the policemen and women as well as firefighters put their lives on the line for their community every day.  Because of their service, we have been left with a nation that is safe and free.

Oh I think a good first impression is nice.  It does set the stage for what happens next.  But the true test and measure of what value something holds is the lasting impression.  Did you quit your last job on good terms without burning any bridges?  Were you a thoughtful houseguest and did you make the bed after your stay?  Did you party in the park with your friends and leave trash behind?  Did you contribute with passion to the last committee/service project/task force/group you were part of?  Did you say goodbye to your loved one the last time you saw them with a smile and a kiss or did some hostility get in the way?   Hebrew 12:1-2 tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  Life is a journey, folks.  Try to make each day count.  Keep your eyes on Him.  Run the race!  It’s not about any fancy or temporary good work done today.  You can celebrate that victory – but even if you’ve messed up today – keep running!  Let’s all finish with a smile on our faces and with a whole bunch of goodness kicked up in the dust of our tracks!

St. Paul Lutheran Church once again had a Freedom Celebration concert this year.  The music that is sung each year is a wonderful mix of Christian and patriotic tunes.  This year the music included the title, “May All Who Come Behind us Find us Faithful.”  The song pretty much covers my sentiments.  If you have time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa6rqZbp9c&feature=player_embedded

Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death

just Laurel

in·vad’ er n  Definitions:  1. Someone who enters by force in order to conquer or pillage.  2. Someone who encroaches or intrudes on; violates.  3.  Someone who overruns as if by invading; infests.  4. Someone who tries to enter and permeate, especially harmfully.

It’s been a week of invasions for my family.  Poor Amanda had earwigs visit her apartment.  If you’ve ever had earwigs – well you know how ugly and creepy they are!  They were falling out of the bath towels, creeping along the baseboards, running through the sink and bathtub and surprising us everywhere.  They fit number three above as someone (or something) that infests.  Ewww.

My daughter Jillian who lives in the Caribbean has her own invader.  Check out the picture of the giant centipede.  Apparently the dog found it in the yard, grappled with that sucker and killed it!  He presented the mangled body on the front door welcome mat.  Another one of those got in the house and Jill found it as she reached for her towel after showering and it scurried across her hand.  NOT welcome!  And although insects ‘infest’ – these things fit definition number two above because they tend to encroach (notice the word ‘roach’ in there), intrude, and violate.  Double Ewww.

The other day my daughter Kristen and her husband Ric moved back to Michigan and are staying at my house for a while until they can get their own place.  No, no, no – they are not the invaders!  But they brought their cat.  Allright, he is not an invader either, but that cat can certainly permeate (number four above) a house.  Just look at him in the bathroom sink!  Little stinker.

Invaders try to enter by force, or they simply intrude when they are not welcome.  They are trespassers.  They violate and usually cause harm.

People often get overrun by invaders of a different kind.  If you hold onto a grudge or some bit of anger for too long, it can make you bitter – it can reduce and conquer any bit of understanding or compassion you may have.  Or if you expose yourself to any kind of sexual immorality, unlawful, or wicked lifestyle, then those things can implant themselves in you.  If you let the bad things invade, you will set yourself up for a life permeated with negativity, sadness, and evil.

Don’t let the bad stuff invade and take over.  Let go of the anger and exterminate any bad intruders.  Let good things grow in you and get rid of the weeds.  Don’t let bad things enter your house or your life.  Use that welcome mat and leave the dirt at the door!

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

James 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

just Laurel

I love flash mobs!  For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about, the online Urban Dictionary defines it like this:   A flash mob is when a large group of people suddenly come together and perform some sort of action, which draws an audience very quickly. After they perform the stunt, the group of people quickly disperses.  You can view all kinds of flash mob events if you go to youtube.com and search under … well … flash mob!  For example, in the middle of a large busy European town square, a man is shown playing “Ode to Joy” on his cello.  One by one, other people appear from doorways and alleys and join him with other instruments until a whole orchestra is playing this Beethoven Symphony.  Passersby gather and delight in the sudden beautiful symphonic presentation.  Other flash mob performances I’ve seen include dancers taking over a train station floor to dance to “Do Re Mi”, a hundred or more voices joining in the middle of a shopping mall at Christmas to sing “The Hallelujah Chorus”, and just today, a school of middle-school students surprising their retiring principal with the whole school dancing and sharing a thank you message.

Almost every flash mob video I watch makes me cry.  Yeah I’m a sucker!  But I love the enthusiasm and energy of the performers as they passionately sing, dance, or play their instruments.  Then I will re-watch the video and observe the faces of the crowd that are drawn into the joy of the message being presented.  The crowd starts smiling and clicking photos on their phones and cameras.   People actually pause in the middle of their busy lives to turn and watch what is happening.  Children watch with bright eyes and jaws drop.  Many watchers try to join in, drawn in by the excitement and energy.

My church is getting close to the end of a building project.  Last night I got a glimpse of the large multi-purpose room or ‘fellowship center’ that is part of the new building.  The room is huge!  There is a stage on one end and the room is big enough to hold a worship service.  I got so excited standing in the middle of this beautiful huge room, imagining it full of fellow Christians.

We read in Matthew 18 verse 20 where Jesus says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  Oh the flash mob possibilities!  Jesus came across many crowds during his walk on this earth.  Crowds followed him.  There were crowds in the temple, in the market place, along the path on Palm Sunday waving palms, and at his crucifixion.  Remember the story of Jesus feeding the crowds with five loaves and two fish?  Hundreds were fed with food left over.  I bet there was some joyful dancing happening there!

I pray our new church will house the crowds as people gather in God’s name.  I am giddy thinking of people gathering to worship or fellowship with enthusiasm, energy, and passion.  I hope people see the excitement and stop to watch.  I hope they feel drawn to join in.

Most flash mobs start with just one or two persons.  All it takes is one or two people to gather in Jesus’ name and you can have all the help you need to turn it into a flash mob for Him!  People need to stop and pause in the middle of their busy lives to turn towards their faith to see what’s happening … to join in that dance or song … to be part of something big.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going ….

just Laurel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLCZOG202k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfcKvevod3k

My youngest daughter has never liked change.  When Jill was a baby, she would set her sights on a goal and head towards it – usually something not child-friendly (like a hot cup of coffee) but she would not hear us say the word “no” and would proceed in her determined direction.  Jill did not like having her mind changed, or her direction altered.  Even today as an adult, she struggles with change (as do a lot of us!) but I must say she faces it when it is inevitable.  For instance, she pursued getting into veterinary school and when she couldn’t get in the first year she tried, she kept her goal in sight, but she changed the path she was taking.  Instead of a U.S. school, she took the road that went to Ross University in St. Kitts.

My middle daughter just embraced a new change.  Kristen and husband Ric moved to Oregon two years ago.  It is a beautiful part of the country.  After living in two places in the Portland area and trying two churches in attempts to make friends and fit in, they finally said “enough is enough.”  They packed up everything and are driving back to Michigan.  I also know someone who has a sister living in New Mexico who did the same thing.  After several years living far away from friends and family in Michigan, they too said it was time to move back.  My friend explained how the sister and her husband realized that they could keep on complaining about being far away and missing people here or they could just get on with it and move back.  They could have tried staying for a while but in a year or two, they might still be wishing they were back in Michigan and then realize they’d wasted two years wishing they were back instead of just making the choice to do it.

Things do not change; we change.  Henry David Thoreau

I don’t know about you, but sometime when I feel stuck in a rut, I realize it’s time to step back and look at what I can change.  It’s nonsense to wallow in discontent.

If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.  Gail Sheehy

Do you know people who moan and complain all the time?  Let’s not be like that!  Sometimes just a change of attitude will make a whole situation brighter.  Perhaps you need to change the perspective you are taking and look at things in a different way.  Maybe you just need to pray for the courage to make the change you know needs to be made.  And you are not alone in this.  God is always there to help you change directions; pray for Him to guide you and strengthen you.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 30:9 For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.

There is an often told joke in Michigan that goes: “If you don’t like the weather in Michigan—wait five minutes!”

Don’t wait to change 🙂

Just Laurel

Last night I started making cinnamon rolls.  As the recipe suggested, I could make the dough and then refrigerate it for up to three days until I made and baked them.  My recipe is from Ree Drummond, the “Pioneer Woman” who has a TV show and published cookbook.  She cooks for her “Marlboro man” and four children and no dish she prepares is small.  Nine cups of flour later as well as several other ingredients, the dough was done and in my biggest mixing bowl.  I was to let it rise for an hour, then punch it down and refrigerate it until I was ready to bake.  An hour later – that dough had risen up and overflowed the edges of the bowl!  I punched it down and thought it would never stay in that bowl overnight!  I had visions of opening my refrigerator the next morning and like “The Blob” of horror movies, it was going to ooze and spill out enveloping everything in its path.  I found my slightly larger popcorn bowl, and transferred the dough into that.  This morning – I fearfully opened the fridge and the dough had contained itself in my bowl.

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Sitting in front of my computer this morning, I glanced out the window at the corner of the neighbor’s house where the downspout is.  Without my glasses on, I noticed a crinkled lump of white on the ground as if someone had wadded up a length of the downspout.  Strange.  After a sip of coffee and squinting of my eyes, I realized it was a crinkled wad of toilet paper!  Ha!  My neighbor is a coach and once again, his beloved team had T.P.’d his house!  Although not exactly ‘overflowing’ with toilet paper, my neighbor’s tree was definitely dripping with toilet paper!

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So now back to my cinnamon rolls.  Working with half the dough, I had to roll it out into a ginormous rectangle and then spread it full of butter, cinnamon, and sugar.  Then, I had to roll that sucker up, keeping all the gooey goodness inside.  That log roll of dough was overflowing – well more like bursting with butter and sugar trying to escape everywhere.  In the end, I had 6 pans of cinnamon rolls.

2 Corinthians 4:15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

After rising then baking my lovely cinnamon rolls, I decided to take a pan of them over to Amanda.  In exchange, I got to take home her basket of laundry.  Whoopee.  I guess Amanda had, well, overflowed a few times and made lots of laundry (sorry Amanda) and so now I had an overflowing laundry basket.

I think I have a theme happening today!  Overflows!  And, overflows can be good or bad.  Most people would not complain about overflowing with money, or friends, or chocolate.  The scariest overflow?  You know when you flush and instead of the water going down – you see it rising towards the rim?  Ha-ha!  Not a welcome overflow!  But, seriously, sometimes life can overwhelm you with troubles:  when everything breaks at the same time and everyone needs you at the same time, or things fall apart all at once at home and work and school.  Fortunately, God offers an overabundance of hope, power, joy, peace, and grace.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

You can never have too much hope and power and joy and peace and grace.  Thanks be to God!

You can never have too many cinnamon rolls either 🙂

just Laurel

fyi – The cinnamon rolls are a Father’s day gift for my Pop… although Amanda got a pan of them … and a few pans will go in the freezer to be enjoyed later!

After loading up on groceries this past weekend, I paid for them and stuffed the receipt in my purse.  It was more than I was used to paying.  But, I had both Ted and Amanda with me on that shopping trip and I always end up spending more when they are with me.  (groan)  Somehow all these extra items that were not on my list jumped into the basket!  A day or two later I was cleaning out my purse and gave the receipt a second look.  One item was $19-some dollars.  What?  What jumped into my basket?  The item listed was a certain coffee cake that Teddy picked up for the little spoiled daughter – but it was scanned as though we purchased three of them!  No, no, no.

Yesterday Amanda and I went to the grocery store with a short list of things to buy but I first needed to stop at the service desk with the three coffeecake receipt.  Are they going to believe me?  How do I prove to them that I didn’t purchase three of them?  When it was my turn, I made the story brief and explained to the service desk person that I did indeed purchase a coffeecake, but certainly not three of them.  She glanced up at me and before I knew what she was doing, she was reaching into the cash register.  “I really did not purchase three of those coffeecakes,” I explained, “And it’s kind of a good chunk of money.”  “I believe you,” she said.  “You look like someone who is telling me the truth.  Besides it’s only twelve dollars you’re asking for and you certainly spent more than that on your total bill,” she said as she handed me my refunded overcharge for two coffeecakes.

The store should be happy because after picking out our few items, I was back in the check-out and simply giving the same refunded money back to the store!  This time I chose the self-checkout.  As I was scanning my order, one of the employees walked over and said to Amanda, “Excuse me, but is your name Amanda?”  (Yeah – and I’m chopped liver!) Amanda replied that, “Yes,” she was Amanda.  The woman replied, “Well I am Anna’s mom.”  Anna is one of Amanda’s staff workers.  The woman continued, “You look like the person in the pictures that Anna showed me so I had to ask.”

Who do people say that you “look like?”  Fortunately I had the face of an honest person yesterday!  Amanda looked just like a picture that was taken of her.  But there are times when I really don’t recognize myself in a picture.  It’s not the ‘picture’ of me that I see.  I have a different impression.  I wonder how other people would describe me.  Would they say to look for the person with brown hair brown eyes, and with the smile on her face and happy eyes?  Or do they see a knit brow and a scowl?  Am I the person with a look of confidence or do I scare people away?  If you’ve read, Amanda, Perfectly Made, then you know that most of the times I think people see Amanda’s mom … and not me.

I am sure the image that I reflect changes as my mood and day changes.  And no matter if my image is of a tired, happy, spirited, cautious, honest, distracted, complacent, enthusiastic, or hesitant Laurel, I hope that people may see at least a glimpse of Christ in me.  Isn’t that the ultimate goal?  For all of us to become more Christ-like?  If I look weary, I hope it is from doing His work.  If I look happy, may it be from the Joy of Christ (Give me some of that joy oil!  You missed reading a blog if you don’t get this one!)  If I look honest or enthusiastic, may that energy and perseverance come from Him.  And may He give me the wisdom to appear cautious and hesitant when needed.

What image do you reflect?  How do people finish the sentence when they say “You look like…”?

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

just Laurel

ps  My threatened little cucumber plant now has its first little baby cucumber on the vine!  Go back and read the blogs about my cucumber plant if you want the rest of the story.

If you sew or are a crafty person like I am, then you understand the tingly feeling I get when I enter a fabric store.  Through the years I’ve sewn clothes for myself and my children, made shower curtains and window valances, and have pieced together a quilt or two.  When I walk into the fabric store and gaze at all the lovely fabrics with their various patterns and designs, I just get giddy with sewing excitement.  Sadly, I do not sew much anymore.  The feeling is still there, though, as my inner sewing goddess gets tempted by all the possible sewing projects I envision.

My daughter Kristen caught the sewing gene from me.  I am thrilled when she takes on a project.  She is good.  She may even sew better than me!  She recently took on a quilting project and, as you can see by the picture she sent, her work looks quite impressive.  I can’t wait to see the finished project.

Yesterday at church we had a guest preacher, Pastor Dave Maier, the Michigan district president of the LCMS.  His message came from Mark 5 and was the story of the woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  Under the care of many doctors, her condition only worsened.  She heard about Jesus and decided to find him in the crowds that were passing through her town.  She thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”  How beautiful is that!  The fabric Jesus’ clothes were made of could not have been fancy.  And of course, it wasn’t magic fabric either.  It was Jesus himself who was the miracle maker here.  The story in Mark 5 tells us that she indeed did touch his garment, and was instantly healed.  The really cool part is that, even though there were all these people pushing and crowding around Jesus, Jesus knew that this woman had touched His clothes.  He knew her needs and he felt her clutch of faith as she reached for Him.

I don’t know about you, but there have been times in my life when I’ve held onto my sanity and my faith by my fingertips.  You can read more about that in my book, “Amanda, Perfectly Made.”  But I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  Those tough times in life where you are so challenged, beaten down, worn out, and at the end of your rope and you have barely enough strength to keep your grasp on your faith. I think the lesson here is to know that God is always there to take our hand.  He knows when we are seeking his steady strength.  And even when we feel like we are falling and grasping at air, He senses us reaching out – just like the woman who simply touched his garment.

Continuing on my fabric theme here, I must include this fascinating scripture from Numbers 15:37-39 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eye.”  What a wonderful reminder for the Israelites to daily notice that blue thread that just doesn’t match the rest, but having its presence be a reminder to them of God and His commands.  Fashion design today will probably never have us putting tassels on the corners of our clothes, but it’s a good vision to keep in mind.

Next time you are struggling and reaching for God, remember that God recognizes us as we grasp for the firm clutch of His hand.  Life may have you beaten up and trampled on the ground, but you can always catch the hem of His garment.  He’ll know you are there!

Just Laurel