Dependence Day

Another 4th of July has come and gone.  For some reason it didn't seem like the 4th of July last week.  I'm not sure why.  Even though we continued some family traditions (Freedom of Faith festival at church Sunday, crashing my sister's community parade and games with the kids,  grilling out, and fireworks), it didn't seem possible to be July.  Where has this year gone!?

Last week, we celebrated Independence Day, a great event that changed the course of history forever.  The United States, a new country, with new hopes and dreams.

And July 5th, I celebrated Dependence Day.   As my girls enjoyed a day without huge plans (wake up late, read in bed, 10:00 a.m. breakfast,  ping pong on the dining room table, Wii, tea party, and choreographing a gymnastics routine for the youngest), I remembered again how much I need Jesus.  (Oh, I didn't include the arguments over the Wii game, the fight over the fancy hat, the spilled tea, duct tape tearing off paint in the hallway,...life as usual). 

Dependence Day, every day for me...

I need Jesus, my Savior.

I celebrated my first Dependence Day the day I gave up my independence (didn't call it that as a 7-yr-old).  The day I asked Jesus to be my Savior, I also asked Him to be my boss.

To accept Him as my Savior,  I realized through God's word that I couldn't depend on my self to have forgiveness.  I could never be good enough (What is good enough to a perfect God?  Oh, yeah, perfection.  Never!)  I learned that Jesus provided a way for me to have forgiveness, through His blood sacrifice on the cross.  I asked Jesus to forgive me of all my sin and by faith I accepted His death in my place.  (Thank you, Jesus!)  That Dependence Day I gave up my selfish demands, dreams, and desires in exchange for His best for me.  What a trade!  Since the day I asked Jesus to be my savior (once and for eternity), I must declare my daily dependence on Him.

Titus 3:4-5 (New Living Translation) But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. 5 He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.

"Thank you, Jesus, for being my Savior".   

I need Jesus, my Sanity.

I love spending time my girls.  Don't get me wrong.  But some days I get tired of playing referee, breaking up arguments and giving out penalties.  Other days, I feel like putting myself in the penalty box just for a break.  If I'm not careful, I would go insane.

2 Tim. 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (emphasis mine)

"Thank you, Jesus, for being my Sanity".

I need Jesus, my Strength.

Life gets difficult.  It's not for wimps.  God doesn't want us (followers of Jesus) to live life independent of Him.  He provided everything we need to live a victorious life (defined by Him, not our worldly standards).  When we depend on our own strength, we say, (maybe not with our lips) "God I don't need you. (I don't trust you)  Or, God I don't think you can handle this one. (You are not powerful enough)  Or, This trial is small enough for me to handle (I can live life without You)."  So many moments I live these lies: weak, defeated, and dangerous.  Dangerously relying on self instead of the source of Strength.  But when I turn and rely on Jesus, He will be MY STRENGTH. 

Psalm 18: 1-2
1 "I love You, O LORD, my strength." 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge ; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
(emphasis mine.  Love those "s" words)

"Thank you, Jesus, for being my Strength (when I let you)".
What about you?  Do you need to declare Dependence Day for the first time?  Or, do you need to return to depending on Jesus for everything? 

Another Milestone

 

FAITH MOMENTS

 



Yesterday our family reached another milestone.  I guess I should speak only for myself.  It didn't mean much to my husband or my twelve-year-old daughter that she went to White Water Bay (our local water park) with a friend and WITHOUT ME.  I'm sure she was tired of my reminders (reapply sunscreen hourly, drink lots of water, don't talk to strangers especially boys, don't give anyone your phone number, stay with your friend, call me if you need me).  After her eye rolling, I would remind her I love her and tell her "Have fun!"

You may be facing some milestones of your own.  Your baby crawling for the first time and you realize your life has totally changed.  No more walking to the other room knowing she will be in the same spot when you return.  With my first daughter, I couldn't wait for her to crawl, walk, and run.  By the third daughter, I was asking her to slow down.

Other major milestones...

--First day of Kindergarten (had to get permission from A, my oldest daughter, to walk her to class)
--Last year of Elementary School (my middle daughter J is here)
--First day of Middle School (survived that last year)
--First day of High School (glad we aren't here yet)

Some of you are ahead of me.  I will stop at High School.
 
Many milestones are celebratory and mixed with emotions.

Other milestones I've watched close family and friends experience recently (you know who you are) that "don't make the hip parade," as my Father-in-Law would say.

--First day in PICU
--First day living with known cancer
--First wedding anniversary that your spouse forgets because of dementia.
--First day living without a loved one

When I started this post, I didn't intend for it to be so sad or discouraging.   But that is how life is sometimes.  You hit milestones that bring a smile.  And the very next day can bring tears.  Some days even teeter between the extremes.  

But there is HOPE!  God is still here.  He is in control.  He is mighty to save.  His grace is sufficient.  His mercies are new every morning. 

As I let my daughter go to the water park, I realized she is growing up.  And I'm reminded that Jesus wants us to grow up in faith.  We don't get to choose the means for growth (None of us would choose the last list of milestones).

James 1: 2-4  (New Living Translation) 
2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

What They Don't Tell You About Disney

 

10:00 p.m.pic after leaving our condo at 8:30 a.m. and down pouring rain (making memories)

My family just got back from our first trip to Walt Disney World, Orlando.  Our three girls are 12, 10, and 7 now.  We missed the "princess magic" (standing in lines to meet them and paying money to dine with them).  It saved us lots of time and money.  We stayed off-site using my in-laws time share condo (so gracious).  We decided to fly with reasonable airline prices versus a 20 hr. road trip.  (I think the girls were just as excited about flying for the first time than Disney).  Don't let the title of this post make you think we had a bad experience.  In fact, we loved our vacation.  However, I learned some new "tips" though my personal experiences.  I thought I'd pass them along.    

1)  You must go through a gift shop to exit a ride.  Be prepared for, "I want, I want, I want..."  (Wal-Mart has nice, cheap souvenirs)

2)  You must stand in a long line to meet any characters.  (Unless you stand by them as they walk down the street.  With a quick finger and perfect timing, no lines)

3)  You will pay a fortune on food and drinks (Peanut butter and crackers, popcorn, apples, fruit snacks, twizzlers, and refillable Gatorade and water bottles with squirt lids postpone meals and snacks for up to 11 hrs.  Beyond eleven hours, one meal in a park will suffice.  And a midnight meal is required.

4)  If the monorail for Magic Kingdom isn't running for non-Disney resort guest parking, it will delay you an hour. (You may have to stay from 10 a.m. to fireworks at 10 p.m.)

5)  If you lose Minnie Mouse ears on a ride, it's likely you will have to go back to Wal-Mart to buy another pair.  (Always put sunglasses, hats, and Minnie Mouse ears away on rides)

6)  Two days (9 a.m.- 7 p.m.) and (9 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.) of Disney parks may require a day off (Thankful for resort pools, girls that like to play with snails, Disney charades).

7)  Sometimes people are nice to give you Fast Passes (It's nice to return the favor)

8)  When the height requirement says 48 in., they are SERIOUS.  My youngest daughter missed it by the height of a credit card they slid between her head and a measurement device.

9)  A low pressure disturbance in the Gulf means heavy rain.  Wal-Mart had water shoes and ponchos for us to change into.   (We left tornados to experience our first tropical storm).

10)  Children can carry their own backpacks (Yeah!!  Remember mine are 7 yrs. and up).  (Filled with poncho, rain shoes or flip flops to make you 2" taller, snacks, chapstick, and Kleenex)

And what does Disney have to do with Simply Spilling Hope?  Nothing, really.  But I suppose  "Magic Kingdom" makes me think of another kingdom.  An eternal kingdom.  A perfect kingdom.  One that is not the "happiest place on earth," but the most joyous place, heaven.  Are you going?

Matthew 25:31-34 (New Living Translation) 
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.             







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