Right now I am watching World Trade Center starring Nick Cage. It is the movie that came out 3 yrs ago based on the true story of 2 police officers stuck in the rubble of the WTC on Sept. 11, 2001. Between the movie, my friends and family, and my work/schooling focusing on the military I tend to wonder: What does patriotism REALLY mean?
I LOVE America, more than any other country. There are other countries that I yearn to visit: Ireland, India, Greece, Australia, Holland, England, etc. And a few of these I wouldn't mind living in for a few years. Given that, there is no other country that I want to call MINE other than America.
Even though I voted for the other guy, and I am not happy with the plans the liberals have for my country, I still love her and I pray daily for my fellow Americans, especially our lawmakers, military and first responders. I have a flag that remains by my front door, I write to soldiers, I obey the laws and pay taxes. Those are all good things, but what does it mean to REALLY be patriotic? Is is just a feeling or is a feeling that is evidenced by actions, and what are those actions?
Just because a person flies a flag it does not mean they are patriotic. Which brings me to another point. James (in the Bible) tells us that faith without works is dead, and vice versa. Doing good things, going to church, singing about Christ, all good things, do not make me a Christian, or if I am, a very good one, necessarily. There has to be attitude and choice along with action.
God wants all of us--our actions, our emotions, our hearts, souls, and minds. Christianity isn't just a religion, a set of beliefs to offer comfort. It is a way of life based upon truth.
I guess patriotism is the same--a way of life based upon love for my country. While it is important to love your country it is far more important to love God. Loyalty to the God that created you is of the utmost importance.
I serve my Lord first and foremost and then I serve my family, friends and country. It is all about priorities.
My final thought for the night has to do with counseling. As a newbie in the field I am hit with the overwhelming fact that I am taking on the pain/confusion/fears/doubts/shame/etc. of others and they expect me to help lessen or shrink the problems and help them come out on the other end. That is an amazing calling, scary and humbling. The more I see, and the more counselor friends I talk to the more I wonder: How do non-Christians do it?
There is NO way I could do this job without the Lord right there in the room guiding me. There is no way I could handle to emotional aspect of the job, without the Lord showing me how to care about clients and serve them and then leave their problems in the room. You can't take them with you.
The lyrics from "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" make so much sense to me now. Just like my clients take their problems to me and the load is lifted, we ALL take our problems to the Lord and He is more than able to handle them, and even better- HE WANTS to. We give ourselves---the good and bad to Him and He shrinks them and we can go on. He is the true Counselor, the one that I yearn to mimic. His advice and words are what I hope to share with my clients as well as with friends, family and countrymen.
All these thoughts as I watch WTC. What a night!
-ME-
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Autumnal Thoughts
September is half over today and Autumn is right around the corner. I can feel it in the air, and see it as the trees are just beginning to hint at the glorious color that is on its way. Virginia in Autumn is a beautiful place to be- I can't imagine being anywhere else. I just love it.
The change in seasons always reminds me that I need to take time to make sure that with the frenetic pace of life in these United States I'm keeping up spiritually, physically, emotionally and all that.
Life is never easy---for the Christian or the non-Christian. I used to think that as Christians we should have it easier, but as the song "Through the Fire" (which we are singing in choir on Sunday) states "God did not promise that cross would not get heavy, that the hill will not be hard to climb. He never offers our victories without fighting..." but He goes through it WITH us. So yes, looking at it that way, we do have it easier, because we have God right beside us. We all go through crap, some of it is measly little, daily stuff, like watching the clock at work and wishing the hour hand would just move, or struggling with an out of order appliance.
There are also the harder things--death, rape, thievery, friends letting you down, worries about how to pay the bills, a broken car, a kid that is wayward, a spouse that is deployed and you are left at home to man the homefront and pray for a safe return, etc. No matter what the battles are, we have an amazing capability to overcome and be stronger for it.
We also have a built in sense of the amazing--be it the Autumn colors, the glory of crisp air, a major sports feat, watching an ocean sunset, or whatever it is, we are built to enjoy the marvelous, to be enraptured by so much. Autumn (such a prettier word than Fall) is a time to marvel and enjoy life, before the hibernation of Winter. It is a great time to get outside and just breathe--to slow down. It is hard, but it is important. Even if it is just 2 minutes a day, we need to stop and marvel.
-ME-
The change in seasons always reminds me that I need to take time to make sure that with the frenetic pace of life in these United States I'm keeping up spiritually, physically, emotionally and all that.
Life is never easy---for the Christian or the non-Christian. I used to think that as Christians we should have it easier, but as the song "Through the Fire" (which we are singing in choir on Sunday) states "God did not promise that cross would not get heavy, that the hill will not be hard to climb. He never offers our victories without fighting..." but He goes through it WITH us. So yes, looking at it that way, we do have it easier, because we have God right beside us. We all go through crap, some of it is measly little, daily stuff, like watching the clock at work and wishing the hour hand would just move, or struggling with an out of order appliance.
There are also the harder things--death, rape, thievery, friends letting you down, worries about how to pay the bills, a broken car, a kid that is wayward, a spouse that is deployed and you are left at home to man the homefront and pray for a safe return, etc. No matter what the battles are, we have an amazing capability to overcome and be stronger for it.
We also have a built in sense of the amazing--be it the Autumn colors, the glory of crisp air, a major sports feat, watching an ocean sunset, or whatever it is, we are built to enjoy the marvelous, to be enraptured by so much. Autumn (such a prettier word than Fall) is a time to marvel and enjoy life, before the hibernation of Winter. It is a great time to get outside and just breathe--to slow down. It is hard, but it is important. Even if it is just 2 minutes a day, we need to stop and marvel.
-ME-
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Forced Quit
Yesterday I went to see the doctor. I went because I've been tired, weak and achy for the past 10 days and I thought I just needed to adjust a few of my meds. and that would solve the problem. Well the doctor ran a few tests, stole some of my blood and then told me I have mono. Yep, I have mono. That dreaded bug that means I'm tired, weak and achy and even on meds I can expect the symptoms to last for a few weeks. Not the news I was expecting or praying for.
What it means is that my body is FORCING me to slow WAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY down for awhile. I don't do well with slowing down. I have a lot of things I like to do and need to do each day.
It has only been about 30 hours and already I am going stir crazy, yet I am learning to appreciate sitting in my hammock and listening to the sounds of my new neighborhood. Every once in awhile I will relax for 10-15 minutes, but this bug requires that I spend the majority of my day relaxing; if not actually asleep.
Another downside of mono would be the drugs I'm on. They make me hungry, and I am getting a LOT less exercise, NOT A GOOD combo! Once I fight this thing I'll be back to my normal exercise routine, so I am trying not to fret.
As annoying as mono can be, and it is quite frustrating, I did spend more time in prayer and Bible study today than I usually have time for. I don't even know how long I spent praying for everyone I know in the military and their families. That is the positive aspect of this "forced quit" my body gave me.
I am forced to take the time that I should allocate anyway to commune with my dear, holy Lord. So I guess in the long run this is going to turn out to not be a crisis but a good thing. It slows me down and it means I'll miss some things, but anytime that I spend with my Lord is time well spent.
What it means is that my body is FORCING me to slow WAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY down for awhile. I don't do well with slowing down. I have a lot of things I like to do and need to do each day.
It has only been about 30 hours and already I am going stir crazy, yet I am learning to appreciate sitting in my hammock and listening to the sounds of my new neighborhood. Every once in awhile I will relax for 10-15 minutes, but this bug requires that I spend the majority of my day relaxing; if not actually asleep.
Another downside of mono would be the drugs I'm on. They make me hungry, and I am getting a LOT less exercise, NOT A GOOD combo! Once I fight this thing I'll be back to my normal exercise routine, so I am trying not to fret.
As annoying as mono can be, and it is quite frustrating, I did spend more time in prayer and Bible study today than I usually have time for. I don't even know how long I spent praying for everyone I know in the military and their families. That is the positive aspect of this "forced quit" my body gave me.
I am forced to take the time that I should allocate anyway to commune with my dear, holy Lord. So I guess in the long run this is going to turn out to not be a crisis but a good thing. It slows me down and it means I'll miss some things, but anytime that I spend with my Lord is time well spent.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Questions
I can't believe that it is August already, much less 1/3 of the way over! Where does the time go? Some days seem long and the nights when I can't sleep, when I lie in my bed alone, I think the sun will NEVER rise. Yet, the weeks fly by and 2009 is well over half way gone! Time has a way of passing and I wonder if I'm being a good steward.
Am I serving the Lord and the people around me as much as I can? Am I making the most of these crazy weeks? What can I do to be a better blessing to my family, friends and everyone else the Lord puts in my path?
As I've been working on this book I'm writing and putting together my journal entries from college I see that I've been through a LOT. College for me was not the carefree time of learning and growing that it is for lots of students. I can't help but wonder, am I responding to my situation in the best light? Is there something else I should be doing?
I don't claim to have all the answers, and to know how to best respond to evil. That is not the point of my book. My book is about honesty. Here is what happened to me, here is how I handled it, now learn and hopefully do better. I do think I made some decent decisions in college. I never did drugs, that is one thing I can tell my kids someday.
Yet, how do I move on. Christ has forgiven me, but have I forgiven myself? Is that guilt and shame still keeping me from being totally committed to God's plan for my life?
These are the things that go through my mind as I can't sleep. Very few of them have been answered. A final question that I think about on the long, sleepless nights is: How I can be a better friend, daughter, sister, Christian tomorrow than I was today and how I can be a better steward of this fast paced life?
Because as much as I may wish that the weeks would slow I don't have that power, I just have to do my best to give 100% at 100% of the things I do each day. For I serve not myself and not my friends or my family but I serve my Lord. Everything I do should be an offering to Him.
Am I serving the Lord and the people around me as much as I can? Am I making the most of these crazy weeks? What can I do to be a better blessing to my family, friends and everyone else the Lord puts in my path?
As I've been working on this book I'm writing and putting together my journal entries from college I see that I've been through a LOT. College for me was not the carefree time of learning and growing that it is for lots of students. I can't help but wonder, am I responding to my situation in the best light? Is there something else I should be doing?
I don't claim to have all the answers, and to know how to best respond to evil. That is not the point of my book. My book is about honesty. Here is what happened to me, here is how I handled it, now learn and hopefully do better. I do think I made some decent decisions in college. I never did drugs, that is one thing I can tell my kids someday.
Yet, how do I move on. Christ has forgiven me, but have I forgiven myself? Is that guilt and shame still keeping me from being totally committed to God's plan for my life?
These are the things that go through my mind as I can't sleep. Very few of them have been answered. A final question that I think about on the long, sleepless nights is: How I can be a better friend, daughter, sister, Christian tomorrow than I was today and how I can be a better steward of this fast paced life?
Because as much as I may wish that the weeks would slow I don't have that power, I just have to do my best to give 100% at 100% of the things I do each day. For I serve not myself and not my friends or my family but I serve my Lord. Everything I do should be an offering to Him.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Congrats!
I just arrived back at my parents' home from an afternoon and night of celebrating the wedding of one of my childhood friends. It was a gorgeous, outdoor ceremony and fun night of food, friends, wine and dancing. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
One of the nice things about weddings is the chance to network. The bride has friends that I hadn't met before, and one of them is a milspouse. She and her marine husband are stationed in Hawaii for the next couple of years (rough assignment!). It was fun to visit with someone that understands the military lingo and 'gets' why a person would be so interested in helping with the military, even as a civilian.
When I talk about the fact that I'm a counselor and my focus is on military crisis counseling I get many different responses. Most people think it is a worthy choice, but don't seem to understand why I would want to spend my career focusing in that area. There are many reasons why it is my focus.
1. We (as a country) owe it to our military families to give them the best support system possible. We have a strong, amazing military, but it can be even stronger with the support of the country.
2. It is a pragmatic choice, as long as we have a military force in this country there will be a need for counseling. Learning to kill, and putting that knowledge into action carries a BIG toll on a person- we (mankind) is created FOR life, not to take it away.
3. I love my country and want to serve, defend and protect the freedoms I have, and ensure that my kids and grandkids will get to experience the amazing country that I call home.
4. I love the whole military family and see it as a mission field. Doing what I do now, and hope to do even more in the coming months, years, decades is how I think the Lord wants to use to increase the harvest. I understand the military and can use that for the Lord.
5. Those who serve us deserve more than the best, and while I'm NOT that, I want to do what the Lord will allow me to do to serve those that are risking their lives, giving up family time and freedoms, so that others can enjoy a smidgen of what America offers, as well as to protect American soil.
My top reasons why I chose to focus on working with the military. But, that is not everything I thought of today. As the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride were giving their toasts this evening I thought of marriage and how valuable it is in this day and age.
More people are getting divorced these days than are staying married to their one and only. Divorce is big business in the 21st century. That is sad. It is no longer "till death do us part" but, "till I no longer FEEL in love." Love is a choice, it takes work, commitment and perseverance.
In Proverbs 31 we are told "a good wife, who can find? She is worth more than rubies." A good wife---this was spoken to a king. One would think that of all people a kind would NOT have a problem finding a wife. And he wouldn't. But a GOOD wife- an honorable, life long companion that is hard to find. And just as a good wife is hard for a man to find, so is it hard for women to find a good, life long husband.
I love my culture, but I will admit to getting sucked in many times. I am not the most moral, innocent Christians walking around America. I wish I could say that I'm sanctified, but the reality is that I'm a low down, Hell deserving sinner. I SCREW up all the time. I make decisions knowing that they are not the best way to reflect Christ, yet I make them anyway.
I am SO grateful that God loves me, and has more patience and forgiveness than I deserve, because I need it. I totally understand Paul and his wondering why he does the things he knows are wrong, and can't seem to do the right things. I am just like that, and I HATE it. I hate giving into my sin nature and the Devil.
Yet, even though I sometimes SUCK as a Christian, and model of Christ I still am striving for 2 things (right now).
1. To know, serve and love Christ more fully and live a more sanctified life each day.
2. To grow in my relationship with the Lord, and as a woman, so that I can be that GOOD wife that is described in Proverbs 31.
What are doing to serve the Lord and grow as a Christian? The first step is to accept Him as your Savior, to admit that HE is who the Bible claims He is, and that He is Lord of all. He is God whether you believe and accept it or not, so why not give your life to the One in Charge? The second step is to spend time in prayer, fellowship and the Bible.
Finally, I want to thank the bride for inviting me to her wedding, I'm blessed to have been there. Congrats you two, and my prayer is that you have a long, blessed and joy filled marriage, built on the strength of the Lord so that your relationship can blossom and grow, even in the midst of the storms of life.
-ME-
One of the nice things about weddings is the chance to network. The bride has friends that I hadn't met before, and one of them is a milspouse. She and her marine husband are stationed in Hawaii for the next couple of years (rough assignment!). It was fun to visit with someone that understands the military lingo and 'gets' why a person would be so interested in helping with the military, even as a civilian.
When I talk about the fact that I'm a counselor and my focus is on military crisis counseling I get many different responses. Most people think it is a worthy choice, but don't seem to understand why I would want to spend my career focusing in that area. There are many reasons why it is my focus.
1. We (as a country) owe it to our military families to give them the best support system possible. We have a strong, amazing military, but it can be even stronger with the support of the country.
2. It is a pragmatic choice, as long as we have a military force in this country there will be a need for counseling. Learning to kill, and putting that knowledge into action carries a BIG toll on a person- we (mankind) is created FOR life, not to take it away.
3. I love my country and want to serve, defend and protect the freedoms I have, and ensure that my kids and grandkids will get to experience the amazing country that I call home.
4. I love the whole military family and see it as a mission field. Doing what I do now, and hope to do even more in the coming months, years, decades is how I think the Lord wants to use to increase the harvest. I understand the military and can use that for the Lord.
5. Those who serve us deserve more than the best, and while I'm NOT that, I want to do what the Lord will allow me to do to serve those that are risking their lives, giving up family time and freedoms, so that others can enjoy a smidgen of what America offers, as well as to protect American soil.
My top reasons why I chose to focus on working with the military. But, that is not everything I thought of today. As the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride were giving their toasts this evening I thought of marriage and how valuable it is in this day and age.
More people are getting divorced these days than are staying married to their one and only. Divorce is big business in the 21st century. That is sad. It is no longer "till death do us part" but, "till I no longer FEEL in love." Love is a choice, it takes work, commitment and perseverance.
In Proverbs 31 we are told "a good wife, who can find? She is worth more than rubies." A good wife---this was spoken to a king. One would think that of all people a kind would NOT have a problem finding a wife. And he wouldn't. But a GOOD wife- an honorable, life long companion that is hard to find. And just as a good wife is hard for a man to find, so is it hard for women to find a good, life long husband.
I love my culture, but I will admit to getting sucked in many times. I am not the most moral, innocent Christians walking around America. I wish I could say that I'm sanctified, but the reality is that I'm a low down, Hell deserving sinner. I SCREW up all the time. I make decisions knowing that they are not the best way to reflect Christ, yet I make them anyway.
I am SO grateful that God loves me, and has more patience and forgiveness than I deserve, because I need it. I totally understand Paul and his wondering why he does the things he knows are wrong, and can't seem to do the right things. I am just like that, and I HATE it. I hate giving into my sin nature and the Devil.
Yet, even though I sometimes SUCK as a Christian, and model of Christ I still am striving for 2 things (right now).
1. To know, serve and love Christ more fully and live a more sanctified life each day.
2. To grow in my relationship with the Lord, and as a woman, so that I can be that GOOD wife that is described in Proverbs 31.
What are doing to serve the Lord and grow as a Christian? The first step is to accept Him as your Savior, to admit that HE is who the Bible claims He is, and that He is Lord of all. He is God whether you believe and accept it or not, so why not give your life to the One in Charge? The second step is to spend time in prayer, fellowship and the Bible.
Finally, I want to thank the bride for inviting me to her wedding, I'm blessed to have been there. Congrats you two, and my prayer is that you have a long, blessed and joy filled marriage, built on the strength of the Lord so that your relationship can blossom and grow, even in the midst of the storms of life.
-ME-
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