Be a Yes Woman or Man

The Hopper family Christmas night tradition we adopted years ago (once we started staying in Charlotte instead of going to GA where both of our families live) is to go to a movie as a family. Last night, we went to see "Yes Man". You may not like Jim Carey, and I will certainly admit that some of the language and scenes were not to my liking. However, the overall message of the movie was a good one: embrace life by saying yes more often than not. I won't share anymore details in case you want to go see it.

I headed to bed not too long after arriving back home once I finished up the dishes from Christmas dinner....since there wasn't enough time to fully clean up after the meal AND get to the movie on time. It had been a good but exhausting Christmas day for me filled with alot of cooking. We were blessed to have 12 around our dining table this year, 6 of which were outside of our family.....more on that in a separate blog.

As is often the case when I sleep hard, I dreamed...this dream is, I believe, somehow "significant". For those who know me, I know you are probably laughing right now because "significant" is a word that is.....well "significant"! The significance is found in how the Spirit seemed to take the message of the movie and apply it to my life spiritually. The summary of the dream is that I along with some other believers were seeking to say "yes" to living in the presence & power of the Spirit constantly. What a concept! It was amazing, so real and believeable...in other words, it seemed like it could really happen.

In the "Yes Man" movie, Jim Carey is stuck in what I'd call "No-Land"....he says no to everything and is therefore in a big-time rut, and it affects everything in his life, from his dead-end job, to his failed marriage, to friendships, and the list goes on.

Hmmm....how many times (aka: weeks, months, years, even seasons!) have I been stuck in "No-Land" regarding living life in the Spirit and much because of my preconceived notion that it's just not do-able?! I think to myself, "it's just too hard" or "there's too much opposition."....both of which are so true, but that doesn't mean it's not do-able!...which is what my dream depicted: the reality that there is going to be difficulty (saying yes seems to inevitably bring what is at first hard but eventually turns out good....that sounds alot like Romans 8:28 to me) & opposition (from others who don't know Jesus as well as some who do but are choosing to live what I call an "in the box" believer's life). It was astounding to me to "see" myself in the dream living in a way that was saying "yes" to everything the Spirit was saying to me and prompting me about. And, it was so cool to see the COMMUNITY of believers that were around me seeking to support one another in living this way. At times, we would "lose" someone to one of the other groups, but then after observing our "yes lives", some would return. Each victory, great or small, was genuinely celebrated together.

Generally-speaking, the dream depicted this life as a battle....not surprising since that's how Scripture also describes it...see Ephesians 6:10-18. Often times in the dream, the in-the-box believers and/or not saved group would try to "mimic" the Spirit-filled life...in other words, it was a counterfeit version. And for those who were "lukewarm" (see Rev. 3:15), this imitation was very enticing. Those of us who had been convinced to live life saying yes to the Spirit would have to work hard at not working hard to do the work that ONLY the Spirit can do in the lives of those who were lukewarm.

The final detail of the dream is really important.....because at the start of the dream was a conversation I was having with my husband who was sharing with me that the Spirit had basically impressed him with a message that said, "Sherri's about to have to go through something hard, and although you are her husband, she will have to go through this on her own." Don't misinterpret me here....not alone in that Neal couldn't support me in prayer and other ways, but my understanding at this point is that it was going to be MY battle, not his and that it was going to get harder before it got easier.....something the Spirit made evident again and again throughout the dream. I think this is important for me AND you to remember....we don't live our believing lives joined at the hip with someone....we EACH have our OWN personal life with Jesus.

I awoke with a sense of renewed hope as well as a realistic understanding about living my life saying YES to Him. How incredible that my BIG God can take something as INsignificant as a secular movie and use it in a profound way?!

The Christmas Pageant

I don't know who "authored" this, but it's just too great not to share! All you "mama's " will sooo identify.
Enjoy & Merry Christmas!

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if He would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide. God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, He blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter. My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me,"If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him. I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs. When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children. While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother -I didn't even come close...I did keep my promiseto raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to"wash up" Jesus, too. Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line,"We found the babe wrappedin swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said,"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes." A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced...

"We are the three wise men,and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."

The congregation dissolved into laughter,and the pageant got a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one,"laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur." My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

BUT GOD is so good.

Earlier this week, I was sooo sick with the flu ( or something?)....it came on suddenly IN the car (yuck) on the way home from being in GA for the Thanksgiving holiday. Barely made it in the door before the worst hit....no further details required! About mid-week I started to feel human again. Being sick is sooo....no fun.

BUT GOD is so good. He brought me through the sickness. It wasn't cancer or some other terminal health problem. I am keenly aware of that fact because my sweet 83 year old Mama has advanced bone cancer. When I'm around her (she lives in Atlanta & I am in Charlotte), I am blessed because I see her persevering in the midst of a GREAT trial. Last Saturday was particularly hard on her. She was in excruciating pain...so much so that she was screaming and asking Jesus to take her home. At one point, she even accusatively asked me, "Don't you care?!" I didn't take her comment personally because I know my Mama knows that I love her and that I do care immensely about her. But the pain was talking at that moment. Later when the pain meds finally kicked in, she was resting easier and I was on my knees beside her chair laying my head on her chest, she said in that Mama-like way, "I pray you NEVER have to experience pain like this." My reply...."If I have to Mama, I hope that I will be able to remember how strong you were and that if you could endure, then so can I."

In the midst of so many health challenges, sweet Stella chooses to focus on the good things in her life. She has her down moments for sure, but she's an amazing woman of God who's lived her life before me with all its many ups and downs, all the while trusting her God and displaying His glory as over and over again she chooses joy.

Today, to my surprise, a little bit of my Mama came out OF me.........the plumber had to be called earlier this week because of an outside water leak. An opportunity to worry & complain or choose joy & trust. Which will I choose this time? (another "to my surprise").... I let my husband make the "call" about how he should handle the details of this situation (I reeeeally have to work hard on the submitting thing due to a very strong sin nature in this area!!!). Because Neal just couldn't make up mind about what to do and which plumber to use and what work he wanted him to do or not do (what an opportunity for decisive Sherri to force things!), the plumber didn't come yesterday. BUT, he did come today. When he arrived and walked downstairs to our basement, a gigantic mess awaited him. The toilet had overflowed and lots of "poo" and other wonderful things had found their way all over the bathroom floor and into the family room.

When Neal came upstairs to inform me of what they had just discovered, I raised my hands to my head and said, "Oh no!" But just a few minutes later, my mind began recounting all the blessings of the situation.......wait! who is this Sherri & what has someone done with the "old one"?!!!

1-we are having a large Christmas party at our house next Saturday, not today; it didn't happen next weekend!
2-we have a stained concrete floor in the basement so no carpet is ruined!
3-the plumber was already on his way today when the other problem ocurred! if he had come yesterday, another call to come out would have most likely cost extra money & there was no waiting to address the problem!
4-God has graciously provided some extra income through Neal's sales, so there is CASH to pay for it! THIS IS HUGE because we NEVER have extra money!
5-it didn't take me days or weeks to have this perspective! wow, God reeeally is still working IN me!

There are just sooo many issues in this life to juggle, aren't there?! I know. I understand.
BUT GOD is so good!

The Origin of "Xmas".....be informed before reacting

As believers, before we jump to conclusions about the use of "Xmas" instead of "Christmas", we all need to be informed! I know I am certainly guilty of sometimes reading something that was forwarded, passed on, and putting "stock" in it when I've not taken the time to check it out. Or in some cases it might be something I just always assumed was true or wrong or whatever it is I've thought for as long as I can remember.

"Xmas" is a perfect example of how we need to be a thinking people who check things out for ourselves.

I encourage going to the attached link and reading the article:

http://www.cresourcei.org/symbols/xmasorigin.html

To be a turtle or not....

What a journey filled with changes I've been on this past year! If God had revealed to me what was ahead, I certainly would have pulled my head inside my shell, given my turtle-like ways! Am I THANKFUL that He's the One who's omniscient and not me!

I've been implementing a new approach to studying the Scriptures in my "Him time", idea courtesy of my husband via John MacArthur....his Bible teacher/hero. MacArthur challenges his listeners & students of the Word to consider reading a partiular book of the Bible all the way through every day for 30 days (this works for the smaller epistles easily; for longer books, they would need to be divided up into sections).

So, because I've seen my Neal grow to have such a great command of Scripture, I decided I needed to reconsider another of my turtle-like ways (taking a very slow approach and making lists, digging out the Greek or Hebrew meanings of words, cross-referencing, etc.), and give it a try. I have to admit that the first 2 weeks were the hardest. But there seems to be a "hump" to get over, and once past that, I really began to see the value of this "method" of study.

I've actually been in the book of Galatians since about the 20 something of October, but because I hadn't completed a full month, I decided to continue through November. And, I'm amazed at how the Word is getting IN me. Equally astounding is how the Lord is using it right where I am in my walk with Him and showing me how to apply the specific truths He's teaching me.

I don't necessarily believe this method is the way I will study for the rest of my life. But for now, the Spirit is prompting, so I'm yielding and God is rewarding me with a fresh richness in His Word.

This CHANGE should NOT come as a suprise to me since 2008 has been totally about uprooting just about everything in my life from changes with our immediate & extended family life, our church life, and my work life. Because all of those are wrapped up in my spiritual life and vice versa, it's no wonder that He would challenge me with a new way of coming to Him each day to hear from Him as I open His love letter to me.

If your Word life (aka: Quiet Time, study time, Bible time, whatever you call it!) is stale, then perhaps it's time to consider................whatever it is HE shows you! And how might He do that????

Look around you...who do you know that seems to have a good command of the Scriptures? who walks the walk as well as talking the talk? who has consistent joy? who, as some put it, "get it"? who do you see loving others espeically those unlike them? who do you see that's not on a constant roller coaster ride spiritually & despite circumstances, displays a stability & peace that you long for? Answer those questions and you might be surprised what you find out when you ask, "when you open up the Word, are you are turtle or not?"

A Proverbs 17:22a moment

Neal & I often wonder what it will be like when we are living with Jesus in eternity as far as our sense of humor & laughing goes. My husband absolutely LOVES to laugh and he has been sooo good for me since I tend to lean toward the serious side of things.......seriously! Among many other things, the Lord knew I needed to have a counterpart that would lighten me up!

I just love seeing Neal laugh. I love it even more when he laughs so hard that he loses his breath! He'll start walking around with his hands on his hips to straighten himself up to get more oxygen into his lungs. I'll never forget one night at Pizza Hut in particular when Trent went into one of his movie quote routines from The Nutty Professor. Neal was sitting on the inside of the booth, and he almost shoved me on the floor trying to get out so he could get up and walk so that he could breathe! It was hilarious! We all got so tickled at him laughing that we ended up crying from the intense laughter. Thankfully, the restaurant wasn't too crowded, but those who were there must have thought we were crazy! Neal's best friend, Jeff, told him a joke not too long ago that had the same affect on him, and he had to walk downstairs to get away from Jeff to try to regain his composure.

What is it about laughter that is soooooo good for us? I'm not exactly sure from a technical medical standpoint, but I do know that God says that "a joyful heart is good medicine" or literally "causes good healing". Hmmmm.

With that said, I just have to share a joke.....and credit where credit is due....thanks Tori for forwarding this one!


Three Ladies in a Sauna

THREE WOMEN, TWO YOUNGER, AND ONE SENIOR CITIZEN, WERE SITTING NAKED IN A SAUNA. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEPING SOUND. THE YOUNG WOMAN PRESSED HER FOREARM AND THE BEEP STOPPED... THE OTHERS LOOKED AT HER QUESTIONINGLY. 'THAT WAS MY PAGER,' SHE SAID. I HAVE A MICROCHIP UNDER THE SKIN OF MY ARM.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, A PHONE RANG. THE SECOND YOUNG WOMAN LIFTED HER PALM TO HER EAR. WHEN SHE FINISHED, SHE EXPLAINED, 'THAT WAS MY MOBILE PHONE. I HAVE A MICROCHIP IN MY HAND.'

THE OLDER WOMAN FELT VERY LOW -TECH. NOT TO BE OUT DONE, SHE DECIDED SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE SAUNA AND WENT TO THE BATHROOM. SHE RETURNED WITH A PIECE OF TOILET PAPER HANGING FROM HER REAR END.

THE OTHERS RAISED THEIR EYEBROWS AND STARED AT HER. THE OLDER WOMAN FINALLY SAID.........WELL, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT....I'M GETTING A FAX!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I definitely got a cup FULL of medicine today!

Mental Wedding Snapshots

Hard to believe my baby girl has been married close to a month now....as she used to sing when she was a country music lover, "Time marches on....Time marches on...."

I keep meaning to get it down in writing some of the mental images of that special October 4th day in Wilmington, but have been too busy the last week or more, but I finally have a minute to re-engage as a blogger....

Cherished & unforgettable moments:
-seeing her "vintage" dress hanging on the armoire in the B&B we stayed in....it looked as if it should have come with the rental of the room

-running into The Limited with Blair to find her something to wear for the bridal luncheon & literally buying it with her wearing it as we ran out the door....late as usual and I'm the Mom of the bride! That Blair was present overshadowed any possible stress & negative emotions....so what if we were late....we were being late TOGETHER (along with T.J., of course)

-seeing the bridesmaids surrounding Haley on the B&B front porch as they covered her & Lee in prayer....what gifts Haley has in these many precious friendships! She is soooo blessed!

-seeing Haley & Lee dance at the reception....this is the same boy who swore he would NOT dance...ever....period! And yet, the love of his life wanted him to, so he initiated taking dancing lessons (of course me, the Mama lama, paid for them!). Still, he laid his preferences aside because he knew how much it meant to Haley. Good form, Leeroy!

-watching Lee demonstrate his love for Haley by doing something extraordinary...his second act as her husband (2nd only to taking communion with her)....washing her feet. He had called weeks before to ask me what I thought of his idea. My answer? who am I to discourage anything that the Lord has laid on your heart?! Haley was definitely caught off guard, but held her emotions together..surprisingly. It was so precious to watch them have this incredibly intimate conversation as the rest of us looked on in awe & with tears streaming down our cheeks. It was if God gave them the ability to forget everyone else, and just focus on the moment. What a gift!

-stooping down to bustle Haley's wedding dress was such a pleasure & joy for me ( all 22 ties!!!!)....most would think that odd, but for those who remember, I was too sick to do this for my Blair when she got married in June 2006. I had just had major surgery and barely made it to her wedding. I missed much of what a Mom of the Bride does in the last 2 weeks and the day of. Oh, I was and still am grateful for all that God did during that time and yet part of me yearns to be able to go back in time and "do" for Blair as I was able to do for Haley.

-watching Trent escort his precious Ali down the aisle and see him take her hand and kiss it as they parted to take their places on stage.....those two seemed to ease into marriage like a hand into a glove!

-hearing my son-in-law, James share great family memories as he performed the ceremony; he did such an unbelievable job and even managed to work our beloved but deceased pet, Lizzie (aka as a "warrior" to James!) into the script! James has an uncanny knack for evoking laughter & tears all in the same moment....he is a born writer and speaker and he made Haley & Lee's ceremony forever special....not just plain special when you talk about something for a few days or weeks and then forget, but "forever" special so that we will all remember it permanently.

-Brian Few opened the ceremony & has played an important role in both Haley & Lee's lives. Though he didn't get to share as much or for as long as James, he made an idelible imprint on my mind as he challenged Haley & Lee to have their home be known as a house of FORGIVENESS. What an amazing concept to charge this very passionate couple with. Such wisdom. He obviously knows them well. Like Haley has said repeated to me, "Mama, when it's good, it's great and when it's bad, it's reeeeeeally bad.!" Ah, the Haley apple doesn't fall too far from the Mama tree!

Oh Father, take this union of these 2 sinners just like You did with Neal & me and do something glorious for Your name sake! Amen & amen!

PurposeFULL Days

Ever have a span of time when you just feel more purposeful? The last week or so has been like that for me, and I've been wondering about why that is. So, I've recounted what I've done lately that's DIFFERENT than other weeks....

Last Thursday night, I spent time with a young single woman who needs encouragement in her relationship with Jesus. She's just spent the last 2 1/2 years overseas for the sole purpose of sharing the gospel, and now that she's "home" or really more accurately, state-side, she's struggling to transition back to American life. She's like another daughter to me, so it was my joy to just hang out with her and drink coffee at Caribou and catch up with her.

On Monday night, I spent the evening listening to & sharing with other women who are seeking, like me, to intentionally walk with God and do so authentically. We shared a meal together and encouraged one another.

Today, I met the same young woman from last Thursday for an early lunch to share more time together. God seems to be unfolding a new opportunity for us to spend regular time together. She thinks it's me investing in her, and I am doing that, but she's giving me far more than she realizes! (see previous 3 blogs to understand!) It was such an encouraging time to hear her heart as she shared about what's going on...in her relationships, in her church life, in her work life....nothing is out of bounds. I so love spending time with people who don't have it altogether spiritually-speaking, BUT they have a true desire to want to have God in the CENTER of it all.

So, what's different? People, not things, People, not stuff. People, not tasks. People, not me, me, me. I've never really thought of myself as a "people person" because deep down, I have a very quiet and shy side and have had to really work at being something other than that. I love having "me" time, being alone reading, just puttering around my house, shopping by myself, gardening by myself,.....it does not bother me in the least to be by myself.

However, although being alone is my natural preference, I'm realizing it doesn't completely satisfy the inner woman in me because God has made me to invest in others. Like the apostle Paul, I want to be "poured out" into others. So....it's not so much what I've DONE that's made the difference; it's WHO I've been with....

As I write, I'm reminded to glance over at a quote that I keep at my desk here in front of me. It seems to really fit with these thoughts. My youngest daughter, Haley, spent a summer in Bolivia doing mission work several years ago. The president of S.A.M., the ministry that sent her, made a statement to her and the others who had spent their summer doing the same thing all over the world upon their return as they were "de-briefed". It impacted me then when she shared it with me, and it continues to penetrate as I try to figure out how God would have me NOT waste my life in this last phase without children to raise.

Here's the quote:
"REAL ministry is getting close enough to people to show them how Christ can impact every area of their lives." Bill Ogden, S.A.M. president

Oh, did I mention that Haley lived in a Bolivian home with a single Mom and her daughter? She ate with them, she slept in their house, she helped them with their business.....all because she wanted to get close enough to show them how Jesus can impact EVERY area of their life.

Acting as if "then" is "now"...changing sheets for nobody

I finally got around to getting the sheets washed & dried for all the upstairs bedrooms...which we have 3 of.....rooms that used to be full of activity, messiness and all the things that come with having kids in your house! The sheets for Trent's room had been washed & dried for weeks and laying on a chair waiting to be put back on his twin beds. Both girls' rooms have had people sleeping in them in the not-so-distant past; thus, the sheets needed to be laundered. However, I wasn't in any real rush to get it done nor to put them back on.....why? because as far as I know, none of the children will be coming home any time soon and no guests are coming any time soon either.

As I walked upstairs today, I figured I'd just throw the girls sheets on their beds, but make them up another day. Suddenly, I found myself laying across Blair's bed and once again reminiscing about days gone by that just seem to have disappeared like a vapor. Wow, the tidal wave was about to hit again, but this time, I didn't have the meltdown....although a melancholy spirit was lurking very nearby. Instead, I hoisted myself up quickly to make Blair's bed, walked to Haley's room to do the same and then finally to Trent's room.

I realized that much of my lack of motivation to get those sheets on the bed is simply because I'm not expecting anyone.......the operative word is "expecting"! Why am I not expecting anyone? Because no one has informed me that they are coming.

Hmmm.....there I go again trying to act as if I'm the one in control of my life when I know better! How do I know that the Lord won't send someone soon, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week to my doorstep in need of a place to sleep or stay? How do I know that He won't open a door for ministry that would require those rooms to be READY? That's just it; I don't.

Making those beds today was my small step of obedient faith, and I've realized in essence that I am saying in my spirit that I will "act as if then is now"! Providentially, I heard that phrase (boy does He have me hearing stuff lately right when I need it!) last Sunday at a new church that Neal & I were visiting. I pondered it at the time, wrote it down and even said to myself, " I think that's significant." I'm so glad that the Spirit is the One who brings to our remembrance truths that we need at just the right time in order to be strengthened & walk in obedience. I will intentionally act as if my "then" (which is me imagining having a full house of.....whatever or whoever God provides in His time in His way for His purposes) is my "now" and keep my eyes & ears open for new opportunities to use those ready rooms!

Thanks Lord for turning today's tidal wave into something worth remembering.

Goodbye is a necessary life skill....that I lack!

I heard the quote that "goodbye is a necessary life skill" while returning from Wilmington to Charlotte the day after our youngest daughter, Haley, got married to Lee. I was listening to Beth Moore on CD which was just after having an emotional meltdown. It's amazing how fast those things can come on you!.....sort of like a tidal wave. One minute I felt ok, and the next I found myself in a puddle of tears wanting it (the wedding, Blair & James being home, etc) all NOT to be over.

It was so providential that I heard this particular truth at this particular time in my life becasuse this year has been absolutely FULL of goodbyes for me, and from my perspective almost more than I could handle....but the Spirit has reminded me that if I believe that, then I think that God has given me more than I can bear which scripture clearly teaches that He doesn't.

Still, 2008 has definitely had more goodbyes and more changes than any other year in my entire life. And it occurred to me that if I stink at goodbyes and want to hold onto my yesterdays, that I'm ultimately saying in my heart that Jeremiah 29:11 doesn't apply to me.....you know the verse about how God wants us to have a hope and a future. So often quoted, but I wonder how often really embraced. I know it's very hard for me to do so when I'm so enjoying the season I'm currently in. I just get soooo comfortable, and I sure love my comfort!

I guess that's been my problem really since Haley went off to college over 4 years ago....that was the beginning of the end of a season of a kind of mothering I've grown very accustomed to and very much enjoyed and drew great satisfaction from. Her getting married was like the click on the lock of the door. It's not that I'm not still a mom; it's just that my role as Mom to married adult children is very different. Nurturing is my "thing", but I think it's time to find a new way to channel that for God's glory, and I know in time that He will reveal what He desires the next season to be all about.

The bottom line seems to be not letting myself be ruled by my emotions and how I feel, but rather walking according to the truth I know from His word about Him and how much He truly desires that growing yada intimacy with me. Like my Neal, who is so excited to have his wife back after 25 years of being both fulltime Mom & wife, I'm wondering if the Lord might be a little excited too over the fact that one of His beloved is a little less distracted so she can be a little more focused on the lover of her soul.

All because Blair told me to....

This is my first "blog attempt".....my daughter, Blair who's close to being 24, said to me recently, "Mom, you need to start blogging." Hmmmm. For some reason, this 2nd child of mine seems to have a power over me that's almost mystical. Must be a "middle child" thing! Blair, if you're reading this, then realize that there's finally some perks to being the middle c! You have power over me, the Mama!

She's serving overseas telling others about Jesus alongside her husband of 2 1/2 years. And ever since she left 5 loooong months ago, it's like whatever she says I need to do I really consider and somehow end up doing it! I don't know if it's the Mama in me wanting to do something for her because she's done something radical with her life or what.....

For example, she told me I needed to let my hair grow out.....no big deal, right? It would be except for the fact that I've kept my hair short-short (no other person on the face of the planet could wear their hair this short because they'd look bald; however, I have been blessed with 5 times the average person! It's sooo thick, every hair dresser who's ever cut my hair says I have the whitest scalp they've ever seen all because the sun can't get to it!). So Blair said grow my hair out; therefore, last December just before Christmas, I got my last short-short haircut and have been going through the painstaking process of letting it grow out. What an ordeal! Oh, I'm liking it now, but not so much through the process.

Another example is that she told me a few days before she & James left that I needed to start the business I've always wanted to do, and by the time she came back for her sister, Haley's wedding (which just happened on Oct. 4th btw), I'd better have done it. And guess what? Yep, I did what she said and have taken a meager stab at starting a new business with my best friend, Tori. It's been "on hold" temporarily, but we plan to get back on board soon.

Starting a blog is the most current example, and it's pretty obvious that I've complied with her suggestion once again! Which has gotten me to pondering something about the Lord... but first, why the name "yada-mama"?

The reason is 2 fold:
I, by no means, have a corner on the word "yada", but I do consider it "mine" for alot of reasons. I've lost count on how many years ago that God did a new work in my heart that centered around the concept of "yada". But as my hubbie likes to say, here's the "reader's digest" version-

One of my favorite scriptures in the old testament of the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6 that says,
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

As I was reading and studying those verses one day, it occured to me to look up the word "acknowledge" in my Strong's concordance because I couldn't seem to wrap my brain around what it really meant to acknowledge Him in all my ways. What I learned then is what has been affecting me ever since. In the Hebrew language, the word for "acknowledge" as well as "know" is "yada", and it means to know INTIMATELY. When I took the definition and plugged it back into the verse, it was as if God had struck a match in my heart! Probably more on that subject later, but suffice it to say that I've been on a "yada" quest ever since. I have a piece of pottery that I painted up in my prayer room that says "Yada Him"; the license tag on my car says, "Yada"; and all you conservative folks out there, hold on, I even have a tattoo on my right ankle that says, "Yada".....probably a mid-life thing, but I tend to lean toward the fact that it's a "God-thing" and makes for great conversation starters with all kinds of people!

The "mama" part of the blog name is simply because "mama" is who I am and what I've been for almost my entire married life. Trent, my oldest, just turned 25. I've been married 27 years. Being "mama" is what I've known and done the longest of anything since being an adult besides being a wife. And now in my 50th year (no I'm not 50 yet, but Neal reminds me frequently that I am living in my 50th year!), all 3 of my babies are grown & married and I'm scratching my head and saying, "Now, what?" It's so raw and fresh because my baby, Haley, who just turned 22 got married 2 weekends ago, and 8 months of intense but glorious wedding planning is now over! What's a mama to do with herself? I guess time will tell.......

Back to what I've been pondering over about the Lord.....what if I started considering the Lord's "suggestions" like I've been considering my Blair's? Hmmmmm and ouch. She says, "Mom, I think....." and I'm on it. But what about when the Spirit prompts? Wish I could say yes, but I don't think I can......next thought......how come? What drives me to "do" for Blair?....that's easy. My love for her! Man, I love that girl soooo much as well as her hubbie, James as well as Trent (and Ali, my "new" daughter!) and Haley (and Lee, my "new" son!). Tori laughs at me all the time because I'm so ridiculous about how much I do for my kids. I'll do just about anything for them because God has placed an "I love you like crazy" kind of love in my heart for them!

Well, that brings me full circle to "yada"all over again. When I KNOW the Lord, really YADA KNOW Him, like He wants & deserves to be known by me, then I can't help but be crazy in love with Him and therein lies the secret to wanting to "do" for him, just like I've done for Blair.

There's another great old testament verse that says, "I delight to do your will O my God; your law (word) is my heart." The Spirit has been bringing that to my mind alot lately, and I think it's because He's wanting to remind me that doing for Him can and should be my delight, and the path to that delight is through His word which is where He taught me all about yada-ing Him in the first place.

Seeking afresh to Yada Him!