Stressed?

I found it ironic when I had to decide if I would attend a continuing education class entitled, "Stress, Anxiety, and Depression," only twelve days before Christmas.  If I attended the class, I would have more stress when I couldn't work on my long Christmas "to do" list.  If I didn't go, I would have to complete all 40 continuing education hours in one year...more stress (I've done that before).

The morning I prepared to host a Christmas party for my international friends, (the day before the "Stress, etc." class, I thought about stress).   I didn't want to be stressed.  I thought I had worked enough the days leading up to the party, but I still had a few last minute details to finish (after my girls got off to school) in two hours.  I had to unload the dishwasher, load it again, wash the pile of nondishwashable dishes, set two tables, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, vacuum the dining room, spruce up some bathrooms, make soup (open cans and dump them in the crock pot), clean the kitchen counters, hide the pile of papers, stuff clean laundry back in the dryer (no one ever looks there), take a shower, and get ready (hair fixed and makeup would be a bonus).  OK.  Maybe it was a little more than a "few details".  I was determined to finish without stress. 

The first step, (not even on the list), call a friend.  As we talked, I worked.  I love to work and talk.  It doesn't seem as much like work.  In our conversation I told her I had company coming.  She heard me starting laundry and surprisingly asked, "And you are doing laundry?"  I explained that the milk spill I cleaned up the night before had to be top priority.  Soured milk in the laundry was not very welcoming.

As I hung up the phone, I decided to talk to God it.  He reminded me of a few tips about stress.  As I scurried around to get my house ready, He said, "I'd rather you prepare your heart."  How many times do I spin my wheels to make myself, or my house presentable and miss my heart?  As I continued to clean, I asked God to prepare my heart.  I wanted my guests to be impressed with my changed heart more than my house, hair, or hunger eliminating food  

I dealt with the list farely stress-free for the first hour and 15 minutes (with my preparing heart challenge).  Then "crunch time" hit.  My last 30 minutes called for some choices.  My long list had dwindled, but not near finished.    

I had to unload the dishwasher, load it again, wash the pile of nondishwashable dishes, set two tables, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, vacuum the dining room, spruce up some bathrooms, make soup, clean the kitchen counters, hide the pile of papers, stuff clean laundry back in the dryer, take a shower, and get ready (hair fixed and makeup would be a bonus). 

Choices I made:  sweep the kithchen floor (only under the table), NOT mop.  Forget the vacuuming (more crumbs to come).  Now, no time for a shower.  But I must wear make up and take out the ponytail (always have pics).  Perfume covers a multitude of smells.  (Extra deoderant never hurts).  Febreze also works well on clothes, but I only use the best for my friends.  I decided my smile was  more important than a perfect house. 

P.S.  I've decided to attend the "Stress" class tomorrow.  More to come on "stress" (When I have time and not stressed).  I decided not to go back and change the verb tenses to show this happened today.  Sorry, too stressful. 

What stresses you the most this time of year?

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

Is Prosperity in America a Blessing?

My troubling dilemma:  Black Friday's coming.  Should we buy a new TV?

Why does this decision bother me so much?

We have a big screen TV.  It takes up the majority of our living room, but works fine.

When is it ok to spend money because we can afford it, want it, will enjoy it?  Does God really care about this decision?

I know, I've heard it over and over.  As long as your attitude is right (you use money, without the money using you) God is pleased.

The other answer I've heard: as long as you give your 10% tithe, you can spend the rest however you wish. 

Is it really that simple?

Another quote I heard recently, "The reason God blesses this country financially is to spread His gospel to the the nations."

What I agree with:  God wants us (follower of Jesus) to use our money to share the good news of Jesus with others.

What I'm not sure of:   Is God blessing the U.S. financially, as a whole, for this reason?  Are we really using God's resources to spread His truth?

Other questions:  Why does God bless some believers financially and not others?  What about the evil people in the world that have many riches from their disobedient, God forsaking lives?  Is God blessing them with riches? 

Is prosperity in America a blessing?

Let's look at how the U.S. spends their money.  (I realize I am now throwing believers and nonbelievers in the same pot).

What we spend our money on gives us a good idea of our priorities.

Sex trafficking:  Young girls (hard to know the exact number, maybe 100,000 in U.S.)  as young as 12-14 years old making $200- $1000; 7-15 times a day.  Making money for someone who owns them and doesn't care for them.  (source: Polarisproject.org)

Does God bless America with money for this?

Professional Sports:
"NBA's 'average' salary -- $5.15M -- a trendy, touchy subject" from nba.com (Posted Aug 19 2011) Here is the "average player salary" for each of the major U.S. professional team sports, based on a variety of sources using the most recent data available:
NBA: $5.15 million (2010-11)

MLB: $3.34 million (2010)

NHL: $2.4 million (2010-11)

NFL: $1.9 million (2010)

Does God bless America with money for this?

Stuff:
According to Forbes.com (2006), the Average annual expenditures:

Poorest 20%: $17,837

Middle 20%: $36,980
Richest 20%: $83,710
The average American household spends $43,395 a year.

 

I realize these numbers are not specific, and outdated.  However, they show that no matter what income you have, you spend the same percentage.  The more money you have, the more you spend. 

 

Does God bless America so people can spend more and more money?  (If it were going directly to His work around the world, maybe.) 

 

But the church is different, right?  What do you think?  Do we have different priorities? 

 

All this started from, "Do we need to buy a t.v.?"

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Left Behind

 

photo credit

It finally happened.  I got the phone call I thought would never come.  Friday afternoon my daughter called me from school.  She didn't have to say a word.  I knew what she needed.  Before she could say anything I said, "You need me to pick you up from school.  Don't you?"  (I only pick her up on Fridays.  She rides the bus the other days).

Her response broke my heart.  With tears she said, "Yes.  I've been waiting."

I know I've disappointed my girls before, I'm not perfect.  But I've never forgotten them.  I felt terrible! 

I jumped into my van and obeying the speed limits, couldn't get to her school fast enough.  My rejected daughter waited alone on the bench in front of her school, watching for her irresponsible mother to rescue her from middle school.

I picked her up, apologized perfusely, and drove her to Sonic for a drink and cheesecake bites.  Nothing could make up for my mistake. 

We began talking about being forgotten, or rejected.  I had many stories of rejection to draw from (however, my mom never left me), but I chose stories from the Bible.

We talked about Jesus being forsaken by His Father on the cross.

 I can't imagine what God the Father felt when He had to reject His Son because of my sin.  I felt bad enough picking up my daughter thirty minutes late.

We talked about Jesus feeling what we feel.  Jesus understands what it feels like to be rejected.  He empathizes with us.

Even though Jesus forgave those responsible for his gruesome crucifixion (Luke 23:34), I didn't feel it would be appropriate to point that out.  I didn't want to belittle my actions and say, "Just forgive and forget."

I did, however, ask her to forgive me.

She said she forgave me. (But, I doubt she votes for me as "Mother of the Year").

We also talked about Hagar and Ishmael (I'll have to save that for another blog)



I'm linked to my friend Kathy Gossen's blog cornerstoneconfessions