In My Business

Today I read in Luke 5:

 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and werewashing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying,“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

I love that the crowd was pressing in to hear the Word of God.  Am I? Do you?  I want to press in closely and really hear what Jesus is saying.

Simon is listening from his boat, finishing the work of the night.  

At some point, Jesus climbs aboard and tells Simon to go fishing again. 

 A carpenter telling a fisherman how to fish.  

I doubt that hit Simon well at first,

 but, as little as he knows Jesus at this point,

 he understands enough by now to take Jesus's word for things. 

The nets explode.

The catch is mind-blowing.

Simon Peter falls at the feet of Jesus at the sight of it.

I wonder want it was about this miracle, this moment that opened Peter's eyes to Christ's Lordship?

Luke says Jesus had been healing folks all over town by now.

Peter had, no doubt, seen that, 

or he wouldn't have paid any attention to Jesus and His fishing advice.

I wonder is it's not a questions of how many miracles but whose.

When the miracle was Peter's, it took his breath away.

Jesus took his breath away.

He saw his sin; he saw Jesus as Lord.

When Jesus messes with my life, I will see my sin and His perfection.  

I'll get that He's Lord.

Following,

Ginger

Day 5: Following and Followed

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I am having a lousy day.  It didn't start well, and I have been a grumpy brat for several hours now.  

I'm trying to get over it, 

and I don't want to be disingenuous, even in print. 

Though you'd never know that I was a rotten witness for a Jesus follower this morning

 (and more or less every hour since noon, too), 

I would know it, and that would bother me.

Life is hard, so some days following is hard.  

Today it was hard because I let fear rule my thinking, 

and when I am afraid, I get angry.  

Then the anger turned into pure frustration

 and why-can't-people-just-cooperate-with-me, 

and that just morphed into plain old selfishness.  

Some days I don't follow well because I'd rather lead.

That never goes well, just for the record.

Following is a concept we're familiar with in the blogging world, such as it is.

Back in the early days of this little blog,

 I'll admit watching that "follower" number rise was great fun to me,

 and perhaps a bit more important than it should have been.  

Then it stopped going up,

 and the 4 or 5 comments become 1-2 comments, maybe, 

and I've gotten less and less sure of the purpose and direction of this blog.

Writing without an identified audience is weird.

As a writing teacher, I find this to be the worst part of instruction.  

Our required writing prompts have no authentic audience, 

and the kids respond by writing rambling, meaningless papers with no other purpose than a passing (or not) grade.  

Sometimes this blog feels like it has no audience, 

and my posts seem rambling and meaningless to me.

I've been praying about blogging,

 and I know that this 31 day experiment is a trust exercise, 

a place where I'm waiting on the Lord to give me words,

 and in turn, I write to Him, 

my Audience of One.  

That way, if anyone follows me,

 they're headed in the right direction, towards Jesus.  

I want to follow well and lead well, 

regardless of whether there's anyone behind me or not.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Day 4: The Habit of Focus

Experts say it takes 21 days to form a habit.  A few years ago, I finally got into the habit of daily exercise.  Every weekday morning, I was up at 5:00 and walking with Leslie Sansome or silently grumbling at Jillian Michael, or struggling to keep up with super-fit Pilates instructors.  

I developed some muscle.

I was fairly strong for a woman my age, thankyouverymuch.

It worked because I stopped thinking that I'd exercise three days a week.  I made up my mind to exercise every weekday.

Then this spring and summer, things started piling up around here. 

Insomnia raised its ugly head,  and other situations began to keep me up well past my carefully-protected bedtime.  

The bus schedule changed, and I had to be out the door 15 minutes earlier than before.

In exercise land, 15 minutes is tantamount to eternity.

Slowly, my habit has dissolved into hit-or-miss, maybe this morning, maybe tomorrow afternoon, maybe next week.

It's frustrating-

and--truth be told, paralyzing.

Inertia breeds inertia.

Focusing on Jesus follows much the same pattern, doesn't it?

A busy day here, a missed opportunity there.

15 minutes more of sleep, Internet, kitchen cleaning.

Where did the time go?

Bottom line--relationships take time and discipline 

and the word we hate in our clock-and-convenience-driven culture--

commitment.

Sometimes I've been more committed to my exercise schedule than my time with my Father, 

and I lose focus.

My relationship with Christ grows and my focus stays true when

 I stop thinking I'll talk with Him later or read His Word tomorrow.  

It works when I listen to His call to be with Him every day.

Then I can develop some muscle.

In Him, I can be strong.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Day 3: Calling

After reading JD Greear's book Gospel, I've been rereading Matthew.  It's a simple book.  It's a profound book. While I'm no where close to the depths and heights and limits of this gospel, somefew truths leap out at me:

   When Jesus called people, they dropped everything and followed.

    He knew His identity, and He made it clear to others.  He expected them to see what was revealed before them.

   He had no patience with religious people who didn't recognize Him and didn't love God.

   Questioning His authority was a big thing for His enemies.  It still is.

   He leveled with His disciples. He told them the cost of following.
 He told them what to expect as missionaries.  

He told them to expect His death.

   He answered questions with the real question.

   When the weak and brokenhearted called out to Him, 

He answered with compassion.

   He always responded to belief.

    When all is said and done, He'll be revealed in His glory, 

and I will be on my face, 

and I'll hear His voice tell me not to be afraid.  '

   When my head is lifted,

 He'll still be there.

Day 2: A Long Obedience

Her face and hands are crinkled tissue,

 soft, 

paper-thin,

 webbed with lines. 

 Her shoulders are thin and small,

 bird-like,

 and when my arms encircle them,

 I am reminded of my girls when they were younger.   

She has been on my heart for months, 

yet in typical 21st century fashion, 

"busyness" snatched my best intentions. 

 Over Saturday coffee, I make up my mind to visit her.  

I bring her zinnias, 

stand on a precarious kitchen chair to change her lightbulb, 

read to her from Psalms.  

We talk of old photographs and love stories.

She laughs, 

cries, 

prays for a Holy Ghost revival.

She testifies of a long obedience, a persistent following.

Can one be shamed by her neglect and refreshed in her spirit all at once?

It was my favorite Saturday in a long time.

Be blessed,

Ginger

31 Days

October's almost here, and all around the web, bloggers are posting for 31 days on every topic under the sun.

This year, I'm trying to be one of them.

There's a slight concern.

What, after all,do I have to talk about for 31 days straight?

Lesson plans?  Most of you, as far as I can tell, aren't teachers and might be bored into a coma.

Pinterest projects?  I'd like to say I'd get that done, but we both know that would be an epic fail.

Devotionals? Maybe.

Photos?  Could be doable.

Chocolate recipes? Hmmm....

My mind flitted from one idea to another until inspiration struck this morning right in the middle of my second cup of coffee.

Why would the World's Most Overwhelmed Blogger attempt 31 days of posting?

For a while now, I've been running on grace and a Saturday sleep-in, and I had my eyes focused on the King.

But school started

, and we had eleventy-million parent conferences in one week,

 and I got behind grading papers, 

and 116 blank stares looked back at me when I explained topic sentences.

Then in a meeting

 I sat all by myself out on a limb 

(where I'm pretty sure God put me), 

and it wasn't fun in the least bit (though necessary),

 and I cried

 and discovered that once I started, 

it was difficult to stop.

Like most perfectionists, when I get overwhelmed, I shut down. 

 Doing anything productive takes longer than  a bill through Congress.

Anybody??

Planning my errand list this morning, I realized it was time to do some things I'd been putting off,

 and that made me think of other things I'd avoided,

 and I knew I wanted to get focused.

In the Gospels, Jesus talks a lot about following and focusing-

 following Him and focusing on the right priority (Him).  

This month, will you walk with me 

as I follow hard after Christ and refocus on Him?  

Click here to see all posts as they come up!  Thanks for joining me!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Be blessed,
Ginger

Heart on Your Heart

A musician friend and I used to joke that we could be the world's best worship team if we worked together; she understands melody and I love words.  Though I'm drawn to particular tunes, the words will ultimately capture my imagination.  

  I love Hillsong because they meld power and poetry in their worship songs.  The simple heart-cry of this song has kept it on my playlist (and prayer list) this week.  Though  fraught with insecurities and imperfections, I want to be a faithful follower.  I want Christ to change my heart and shape my vision so that He fills my thoughts and guides my words and actions. I want to live my life in response to my holy and righteous Creator.

Heart on Your heart and my eyes on Yours.

New-Old Favorite

Kathryn Scott has been around a while as a worship leader, but she is my new-old favorite of late.  I came across this song today and was captivated by its simple beauty and profound message.  

Be blessed,

Ginger

Thursday=Friday

Ice on the way, so Thursday afternoon feels like Friday.

After yesterday, even possible power outages feel like a risk worth taking for a day without lots of people, particularly teen-aged people.  

Just sayin'.

On a (much) more serious note, I do, after all, have something profound to share about rotten days.  

It's profound because the Lord said it to me--a simple truth that changes everything.

This morning, in the quiet just-Him-and-me time, He spoke this to my heart:

"Yesterday left you feeling beaten.  

You have bruises.

 I have scars."

Christ has scars--nail scars--for that.  His wounds healed me, paid the blood-price for my sin.

You got issues?

Girlfriend, I've got issues.

He has scars for that.

Best of 2012

Hello, all!

 I hope your Christmas was lovely!

Ours was wonderful, in spite of a girl under the weather.  

Now I'm itching to undecorate (girls generally veto this if I go all out) and clean. Today started The Great Master Bedroom Clean-Out.  Still more to come tomorrow!

In honor of the passing year, I'm swiping an idea from over at incourage and making a list of my favs from 2012.  Will you join me?

Best Song: It's nearly impossible for me to pick one, but Hillsong's Cornerstone CD stayed on repeat for a loonnnggg time.

Best Book: Bibliophiles need sub-categories!

Best Christian non-fiction--How To Worship a King by Zach Neese and Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore

Best general non-fiction--Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (It wasn't written in 2012, but I read it this year, so it counts! :))

Best fiction--The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley  

Best Jeans--a totally fun pair of green skinnies from NY and Co. The fact they were 75% off made me brave enough to try them on. Score!

Best Recipe:Another nearly impossible category, but these Gingerbread Scones were definitely a hit.  The winner, though, might be my Easy-Peasy Orange Marmalade, which warrants its very own post.

Best New Habit: Menu Planning.  I've actually done it most weeks, and I'm always glad I did.  That, in turn, makes my picture-frame-turned-menu-board my favorite project of the year.

Best Blog Post: The most viewed post of the year was the one where I kiss and make up with Walmart (at least temporarily), but the posts I love most are this one and this one, both about God's faithfulness in 2012.
Which brings me to the Bible verse that Defined the Year: Galatians 2:20 sang over my heart many-a-day in 2012.
 

      What's on your favorites list for 2012?
Be blessed,
Ginger

We Have a Savior

**Don't forget about the Christmas CD giveaway.  Lurkers, de-lurk! :)**

This Christmas season, I've been doing the Good Morning Girls Advent devotional every morning.  Yesterday we went to the story of the shepherds.

These are familiar verses, a story I've read a thousand times, but, as happens, something new jumped out at me.

"And this will be sign unto you: you'll find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

This will be a sign to you.

Um, hello, there are angels talking.

Out of sky.

While these poor shepherds are out there in the field minding their own business, doing what shepherds do--*bam!* a heavenly host of angels appeared.

And they need another sign?

Yet, here's the thing:

they didn't just need a sign.

They needed a Savior.

I needed a Savior.

I know my heart.

I know the anger, the unbelief, the selfishness, the shame, that resides there.

I know I can't fix it.

I can't Oprah-feel-good-high-self-esteem it away.

I needed a Savior.

The shepherds needed a sign because an angel sighting wasn't going to cut it.

Cool, but useless by itself.

Angels can't save; The Savior can save.

The only Savior is Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 says He endured the cross for the joy set before Him.  Jude says--remarkably, amazingly--that I was that joy.

You were that joy.

Because He not only endured the cross but scorned its shame, He will one day present me before the Father without blemish and with great joy.

Leaping, dancing joy.

No wonder the angels called that good tidings of great joy.

We have a Savior.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Open House

Here's my disclaimer even as I post this:

 I am lying on my couch nursing the full-blown version of the sore-throat/cold that's threatened for weeks.  This post is an observation made in full awareness of the practical difficulties; this is about baby steps. 

Every night this week seemed to disappear in blur.  Pastor search team, choir practice, the inevitable Walmart run.

Normally, Big Red and I are in a small group Bible study on Wednesdays when our girls are at youth group.  With it unexpectedly cancelled this week, visions of a few peaceful hours danced in my head.  So when some friends invited us to drop by for supper, I can't say I was looking forward to it.

I can say I was amazed by it.

(When's the last time you had an impromptu gathering at your home?

Um, hasn't happened here lately.) 

  

There were no decorations yet, but piano music played softly in the background.

There was potato soup.

Some cornbread that had stuck to the pan and and was somewhat worse for wear.

Pound cake and fruit.

It was simple.

It was perfect.

It reminded me again that we have vastly over-complicated what it means to be hospitable 

and therefore in community.

We have a zillion excuses for our hermit lifestyles. 

Don't blame Pintrest.

Before it, it was Martha and magazines.

My house isn't__, my cooking isn't__, fill-in-the-blank.

More truthfully, my schedule is overfilled and my heart for people is undernourished.

I want to appreciate (and emulate)the potato soup, 

imperfect cornbread,

a mug of coffee,

a cup of cold water

in His Name

for His people.

Be blessed  today,

Ginger

    

          

This is Only a Test

Awhile back, I shared that our family was praying about a decision.

It's made.

In a few weeks, I'll be taking a long term subbing position at a local middle school. Yes, that's right. I'm having such a blast with the hormonal middle schooler in my own home that I've decided to be with 120 of them every weekday for at least six weeks.

For the record, I did this professionally before I had any children of my own. When I left to become a stay-at-home mommy, I thought I had shaken the dust of all 7th and 8th grade classrooms from my feet. Apparently, I now need a do-over.

God has a way of doing that, doesn't He?

Here's the thing: In Round 1 of my teaching career, I wasn't very good at it. I had been a believer since I was nine, but I was only beginning to grasp that there was more to this walking with Jesus than just being a good church girl. I was deeply in bondage to perfectionism, and perfectionism and teaching do not mix. The Lord was setting me up for when He was really going to rattle my cage as a new mama, but that's another post (or two, or three).

A few years ago, I went back to full-time teaching in a private school. I loved my 3rd graders.
They still wanted me to like them. I loved being silly with them, and I loved teaching them from
God's word. Soon, however, it became clear that there was much my husband and I did not love about other things at that school, and it was obvious that God was moving me in a different direction.

I was bitter about that for a long time.

Then one day, I heard Him speak so distinctly to me that His voice may as well have been audible. My sweet Father tapped me on the shoulder and said, " I did that, Ginger. No one had the power to move you from that place but Me. I did it. Now let's move on, shall we?"

Yep, He sure did. That's what He said. Maybe He doesn't talk that way to you, but with this girl, He has to be blunt. Otherwise I miss it.

And now, this season. It's been a long journey back to a middle school classroom. A bittersweet journey. There's been much to love in being back at home . I wasn't sure I wanted to give that up, as nice and necessary as added income is right now. After much praying and much heavenly silence, my husband and I got to a point where the thought of me being full-time temporarily didn't make us sick to our stomachs. (Does that sound odd? Please don't get the impression that we are independently wealthy. This economy has hit educators hard; it's just that we've now had many years of seeing God provide, and we have lived relatively simply for a long time.) We felt we could go forward.

We're moving on, my Father and I. For those of you who have done Beth Moore's Stepping Up, this will no doubt be a large part of my face-down listening.

Speak, Lord, for your servant really wants to pass the test this time around .

Blessings,
Ginger

Bibliophiles Unite!

After posting a few of my favorite books the other day, I started thinking how it appears that my reading material is about as fluffy as cool whip. On that particular day, I had no thoughts deeper than a teacup. At any other time, however, it is impossible for me to name all the books I've enjoyed. The list just keeps growing. Being in the library is like Templeton the Rat going to the fair; it's a veritable smorgasbord of delights. Contrary to what the content of my first book list would suggest, I do read meaningful books on occasion. ;-) (Though I love a good laugh, meaningful or not.) So without further ado, I bring you my incomplete list of "deep water" books:

1) The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan: This book is an insightful, elegantly written study of the character of God and,specifically, His trustworthiness in each of those traits. I've read so many portions to my Sunday School class that half of them can quote it with me. His treatment of the Good Samaritan will change how you read that parable forever; once Buchanan points out the grammatical problem with the common interpretation, his perspective seems so obvious that it seems amazing that I'd never caught it before. Are you intrigued? You should be.

2)The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges: Ouch. Convicting and challenging.

3) Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper: Piper's a South Carolina native, albeit from the city, so I hope he wouldn't be offended by my country-girl compliment: this book needs to be chewed like a cow nursing a cud. (Anyone else know what I'm talking about? Anyone?) Read this book and think about it. Not to be taken lightly.

4) Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose: The best Christian biography I bet you haven't read.

5) A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place, The Patriarchs, and Jesus the One and Only ...and anything else by Beth Moore. 'Nuff said.

6) Captivating by Stasi and John Elderidge : Every woman should read this book.

I'm not done, but I'll stop.

Just a Few Non-fluffy Fictional Faves
1) Peace Like a River and So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger: I have no idea if Enger is a Christian, but these beautiful books certainly suggest a Biblical worldview. Loved them.

2) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo: Yes, I know these were written for 10 year olds. Who cares? Borrow someone's kids and read them these exquisite stories. Again, I don't know if DiCamillo is a believer, but these are almost allegorical to the Christian reader.

What's on your reading list? Share a favorite or two!

Here's to a cup of tea and good read,
Ginger

Seasons Changing

Last week, I finished Phase I of my least favorite household job: switching out one season's clothing for the next. I despise this job. It's messy, with piles for keeping and piles for giving away littering the bedroom floors. Invariably it leads to moments of indecision: do I want to keep that blouse? Have I gained too much weight to keep those jeans? Is that sweater hopelessly out of style?
My reward for completing this task is that first morning when I put on my favorite sweats and drink my coffee sitting in my rocking chair snuggled under a fluffy throw. Summer is officially over; autumn has arrived.

I thought about this transition between seasons when we studied the Israelites' disobedience at the doorway to the Promised Land. Instead of trusting God's oft-repeated word, they chose doubt, unbelief, and rebellion. They were stuck in perpetual transition and never received the blessing of inheritance that God had offered them. Warren Wiersbe's commentary of these events begins with a powerful statement: " It is a dangerous thing to trifle with the will of God." Not an uncomfortable thing. Not a worrisome thing. A dangerous thing. It made me wonder... no, it made me cry out to Him in prayer. How often am I cavelier with decisions? How often do I believe I can postpone God indefinitely, until I'm a little more comfortable with what He's saying? I want so desperately to be in the exact center of His will.

This week, my husband and I have to make a decision. On the surface, it is small and of temporary consequence. It would generate some much needed income and open doors for future opportunity. It also could mean much upheaval and misery in the short term. I wonder, is this God's provision, or is it a distraction, something to throw us off the course of what God seems to be on the brink of bringing about at our house? Though a small decision, it seems a dangerous one.

This is the place where faith and obedience meet. We are praying for a clear answer and decisive circumstances thoughout this week. We want to step into our Canaan with our feet firmly planted on His path, following our God Who is good but not safe.

( The will of God. How's that for a profound topic? Next week, I'll choose something simple, like election or speaking in tongues. )

Blessing,
Ginger