Month: November 2010

Moment with Myles: That car is jacked!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I pulled into the car lane like I do every day to pick Bailey up from school. Myles sat in the back rambling about sleepovers and why he couldn’t EVER go anywhere. He’s six…seriously?!

He browsed through an Oriental Trading magazine and tossed it up in the passenger seat–he was bored. Nothing new there. I was busy…really busy…I was texting! He wanted to play I SPY.

We played a few rounds. It’s easy to guess when I follow his eyes to the object. I make things harder for him. I look at the object, look around, and then say, “I spy with my little eye…” Real Life is hard…why should I indulge him now–make him think things are going to always be a piece a cake. We don’t always get the right answer. We don’t always get what we ask for. Okay, so mostly I just enjoy irritating him, but I like to think I’m giving him good life lessons. When he’s grown–that’s what I’m going to tell him. “I was just preparing you for life, son…and…you’re welcome!”

I looked over after several more rounds. I was sick of playing and Bailey was about to make her way into the van and I needed to mentally prepare for tween drama…oh for the love! Someone was devastated, hacked off, disappointed, revved up, or tortured emotionally…as everyday but I’m glad to hear it, because telling me EVERYTHING is better than telling me ZILCH!

Anyway, I glance over at a white car and say my thing, “I spy with my little eye something white.”

Myles throws out a few guesses and just as I take a big swig of my diet A&W he says in a very somber tone, “Is it that jacked up car right there?”

Root beer flies out my nose and mouth and I go into a convulsing coughing spell, laughing hysterically. “Yes,” cough, sputter, cough. “It is actually.”

The car next to us had what I like to call “rubbing” marks all down it. Like a scuffed shoe mark on white tile. Lots of scuff marks to be exact. I hadn’t noticed it really when I was picking a white object. I just saw white.

Myles saw all the marks and scuffs.

I got home and after the burning in my nose stopped, I sat down and it hit me…I’m so glad and amazed that God doesn’t see me the way Myles saw that car. I have more scuffs and scratches than I can count. I’m betting you do too. Sometimes, that’s all I see in myself.

God doesn’t.

“You are all fair my love and there is no spot in you.” Song of Solomon 4:7

Not convinced?

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…” Colossians 1:21-22

I’m thankful that He doesn’t see me as I do. He sees me as He’s called me to be. Holy. Spotless. Blameless. That’s comforting. That’s mind-boggling. But it’s who I am.

It’s who you are too!

So with that in mind, what are you doing here?

Get Your Grubby Paws Off!!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I’ve had a headache for the last week. I have some big decisions to make and I want to be sure that I’m making the right ones. I suppose you’ve been in the same boat. The question lately is, “Do I?” or “Do I not?”

I’ve walked around like a zombie–looking folks in the eye and not hearing a word they’re saying, doing day to day activities on autopilot but inside I’ve felt like a caged animal. Desperate to kick the door open and make my way out. That trapped urgent feeling to DO SOMETHING!!!!!!

“God, should I?”  Feet tap. Hands strum on the table. Bottom lip becomes gnawed. “Well? Help me! What do I do? I’m so confused and I’m freaking out.” Deep breaths. More deep breaths.

No answer.

The more I read what others are doing the worse off I become. The more I doubt. The further away I feel.  “They say this….they say that….”

I’ve worked myself into a frenzy and the dull thump behind my eyes has exploded into a full blown migraine!

My friends’ opinions are split right down the middle–thanks for no help at all! 🙂

I came home this afternoon and decided to browse some old articles I’d placed in my church’s newsletters ages ago. What I came across was old “Patch Packets” I had written for the young adult Sunday school class I taught before we quit having Sunday School. I would write a week worth of bible study for them and then on Sunday hand out a new one. They became labeled as “Patch Packets.” I really loved doing them!

I clicked on one of them randomly, not searching for anything in particular and this is what I opened it up to. My writing. From at least two years ago.

“It is crucial to BELIEVE. We must believe the promises given to us by the Lord–the promises of His word and personal promises He places in our hearts. God accounted Abraham’s belief to him as righteousness (right standing with God). He believed. Belief is FAITH.

Abraham didn’t have to DO any works to earn the promise, he didn’t have to be good enough or act in any certain way FIRST. He simply had to believe that God would do exactly what He said He would do. Read Romans 4:20-22.

If God promises, believe He is ABLE to perform it!

Sometimes we believe God, but after a period of time we begin to question or doubt what He said or if He’s ever going to come through for us. Sometimes we may still be hanging on a thread of belief and someone else’s doubt–someone close to us– can pull us off the dangling rope of faith in His promises. That’s what happened to Abraham, when Sarah began to doubt.  Read Genesis 16: 1-2.

Sarah is not waiting on God, she’s taking matters into her own hands and because there has been a long period of time to wait, Abraham allows his wife to talk him into doing something he shouldn’t!

Remember, we can’t speed God’s timing along. He is long suffering. He expects us to develop this characteristic as well. When we take matters into our own hands, we can birth things in our lives that shouldn’t have been birthed. Just like Abraham. He had a son with his servant Hagar. Look what kind of man Ishmael was to become. Genesis 16:12″

The minute I read this, I knew my answer. The desperate feeling of making something happen slowly slipped away and I felt like I could breathe again. I’m mostly writing this blog today because I want to be able to revisit it when the creepy-crawler feeling comes back. I need the reminder that it doesn’t always matter what “they” say. The bottom line is…”What does God say?”

I’m not going to do nothing. I’m praying, preparing, and planning. I’m going to do what He told me to begin with and nothing more. I’m not going to get worked up when I see what everyone else is doing. I’m going to believe and trust God to perform His promises.

What about you? Are you trying to accomplish God’s purposes in your own timing? With your own hands? Ecc. 3:1 A time and purpose for everything….

Take a breath…take a Tylenol…and get your grubby paws off God’s timing! (and I will too!…well, I’m taking Aleve but…)
Oh, and if you see me with a glazed look in my eyes, snap your fingers in my face and say, “Hey, you ain’t no Sarah! Focus!”

If you like to read…get ready for this!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I had an amazing trip to Chicago, though I nearly got blown to Kingdom come! The OneRepublic/Maroon 5 concert was great! We were also quite entertained by the couple below us! I’ll refrain from blogging about that. Besides, you had to see it to believe it!

I got home late and my liBERRY book was in. (Yeah, I said liberry like my son!) I chose to read the first book in the Kanner Lake series by Brandilyn Collins. She’s the “seat belt suspense” writer and I gotta say, it fits her perfectly! The first book in the series was called Violet Dawn and it was excellent! I was on the edge of my seat (no seatbelt, so I nearly fell out) the whole time. She swept me in immediately and I could feel everything that the main character–Paige was going through and feeling. It’s Christian Suspense but if you like Dean Koontz, I think you’ll like her because her description is much like his…off the chart! She had a nice twist to it as well, for those of you who like surprise. Generally, I can guess what’s coming but I never guessed this one! Bravo, Ms. Collins!

I’m now in bed listening to Tim rant about his 200 emails from being on vacation…also amusing…Myles spent the last thirty minutes staring at his candy until I checked every single piece because his assistant teacher decided to tell the entire 1st grade class about a little girl who ate a piece of candy laced with a sewing needle and she swallowed it. (Thanks for turning a night of friendly fun into a horror flick, Miss I won’t say your name!) Sigh…

I don’t know if you do the church alternative, trunk or treat, or trick or treat. We did all 3! I knew the houses we trick or treated at and I’m trusting God that sweet little granny Mae at XXX Church didn’t lace my kid’s candy with her sewing needle. After all, won’t she need it Monday morning to knit her great grandkids a horrid Christmas sweater???? Who knows!
My point…read Violet Dawn and eat your kid’s candy in the name of keeping him/her safe! Have a great Monday, ya’ll!