When The Inspector Comes

The holiday pulled them off

schedule and when we got home

we realized

the inspector

had come...

and left...

instructions

a note and

a reprimand

"Do not call me again...

until you are ready"

and I realized...

(that when the inspector comes)

he is not interested in your

experiences

excuses

explanations

(any of it)

no, all he cares to see is if...

your house is in order

Mud Love 2016

It makes no sense...

for me to wake 3 hours early

feeling

this excited

this anxious

this nervous

simply because it is

International Mud Day!

Hair wrapped and ready to go...

And we've planned for weeks in anticipation of the fun

we hope our kids will experience today...

Mud Painting, Mud Pools, Mud Pies

and last week as we

planned

purchased

prepared

for this day

I realized the reason we get excited about this

is because it gives us adults a chance

(if only for one day)

to return

back to our childhood

back to our origin

back to the dirt

from which we were formed...

How do you celebrate International Mud Day?

Five Minute Friday- How to Win... and Never Lose

I have a picture with

my son...

playing in a basketball game

my daughter...

cheering in the game

my hubby...

recording the game

and perhaps what I love most

is that I was able to capture

this moment with the three of them

showing how we each

operate

function

work together

(and separately)

showing how

that although we are

a unit

a team

a unified force

we function independently

each with varying roles

because...

sometimes we're in the game

sometimes we coach the game

and sometimes we stand along side and cheer

But life has a way of...

distracting us

pulling us aside

drawing us out of character

(and forcing Game 7)

so we must each remember

who we are

whose we are

and our purpose

in the game

because it is then and only then when we will win...

and never lose

Code Blue

We spent seven days in the hospital...

worrying
watching
wondering

(while waiting for test results)

to tell us what was wrong

and by Day Three

my resolve was to begin to just thank Him for what was right

heart... good
kidneys... good
liver... good

and then her smile returned
and it was all... good

and on Day Six

we heard them call a "code blue" on the roommate

so we prayed
until she returned

and I marvel at how He died
and rose

giving us hope that since

"...He abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel"

we will also live forever in Him!

So when...

the final "code blue" is called
and it is my turn to go

please don't cry

worry
watch
wonder

but just know that because of Him...

I live!

(2 Timothy 1:9-10)

Upside Down Faith

The nurse came to draw blood as she lay in the hospital ER and

I couldn't help but notice
a tattoo on his right forearm that read...

DEATH
(upside down)

Why sir, would a nurse have a tattoo that says death?

and then...

an hour later when he came back

I looked again
trying to make sense of it all

and it appeared that the tattoo actually read...

FAITH
(upside down)

and I blinked...
hard...
again...

because we had been there all night
so I wasn't exactly sure what I was really seeing

and by the next morning...

we were transferred so I didn't see him again to ask

why...
or how...

he managed to have a tattoo that read

death or faith
(or whatever it said)

but I thank God...

that even when our experience

is confusing
and scary
and uncertain

we are certain

that Jesus has conquered death
(literally turning it upside down)

so that no matter what we have had to face

yesterday
today
tomorrow

it all still just reads...

FAITH

Snippets... Tell Me Again

"Tell Me Again"

by Tondra Denise

Tell me again that You love me

Tell me again that You care

Tell me about how You died and You rose

and please tell me You'll come back again

Tell me on days that seem heavy

and even when nights become cold

My heart fills with love overflowing

and a hope that can never grow old

When you tell me again...

(read the back story)

Click to hear a snippet

A Lesson from Paul... Tell Me Again

They were...

beaten
shackled
falsely imprisoned

but rather than focus on their

situation
suffering
shame

they chose worship 


(an underground holding cell)

Paul prayed
Silas sang

and their praise reached heaven
and God sent an earthquake
and shook them loose

Years later Paul speaks before

kings
magistrates
men

and tells them again...

and I'm just not that sure how much understanding Paul had about

human development
brain development
the creation of neurological pathways

but his approach makes me think that perhaps he

had been to a few seminars
attended some sessions
sat in on a workshop or two

because it seemed he consistently used the "Tell Me Again" approach to reach others

And in my child development studies

I have learned the importance of

reading to children
speaking to children
telling them stories

again and again

to assist in the development of pathways forming in their brains

and one type of experience

Neurological mirroring is what happens
when people listen to a story

because current brain research shows that

when you hear a story

the memory part of the brain is activated
which causes your brain to react as if you were literally there

and

the brain of the hearer
can actually sync up with
the brain of the teller

(it's called the neural coupling model)

So Paul...

records
rehearses
reminds

us again and again about

how praise delivers
how God delivers

and as we hear it again and again

we believe
and know

because in that moment we are literally there

And I'm grateful for...

the gospel
the message
the Word of God

recorded

and also those whom God uses to tell us
because I now know that these are not just stories but

carefully rehearsed truths

to remind us of God's

glory
majesty
power

and I was there when praise

delivered
shook loose and
set free

so even after 23 years of daily walking with Him
my request is still... 

Lord
please

"Tell Me Again"

originally posted 6/27/15

(Click to read... Lessons from "The Lion King")

_________________________________________________



"Tell Me Again"

by Tondra Denise

Tell me again that You love me

Tell me again that You care

Tell me about how You died and You rose

and please tell me You'll come back again

Tell me on days that seem heavy

and even when nights become cold

My heart fills with love overflowing

and a hope that will never grow old

When you tell me again...

Listen to the song...