before I forget

I am home. Standing before the mirror washing off traces of what is left of my makeup, I stop a minute and look into my eyes. Eyes tonight that have seen too much of the "ugly" side of life. Eyes that will soon close in needed prayer and rest.

Chuck and I spent the past five hours in the presence of three transitional homeless families. We read to and played with precious lively children. I got to hold a sweet baby boy while bottle feeding. We shared our supper with them. And while crunching on tacos, we heard their stories.

Three moms who live in a world vastly unlike mine. A world that I can't fix. The best we could do was what we did.

Mostly listen.

Offer a few affirmations of how far they have come this past year, or how hard they are trying in their parenting class, or "good job, you made it 20 months drug free!"

Before we slipped out the door, I hugged them and in a quiet spirit of love, I shared with them about Someone who loves them greater and cares about them. Briefly I shared that though my struggles look different than theirs, I still need hope and I find it in Jesus. 

"Can I sit next to you?" 

This from a little girl with dark eyes and 25 colorful barrettes bouncing around her head. She will never know how her one small question stirs my heart, twirls around in my mind and settles into my soul. 

Yes.

There is room for you. 

Because Jesus gave me a seat at the table, I am compelled to invite others to join me. 

And the point of Easter? Oh wow oh wow oh wow!

His rising grants the power to change me. Saved and delivered from my sin, by His grace! 

Hope for broken people, people like me, and three moms on the other side of the world. 

Can I hear a Hallelujah?

All together now, "Hallelujah! He is risen indeed."

Easter blessings,
margi

PS - Stay posted. There are some changes coming to my blog. I'm trying to contain my excitement :) I can't wait to share it with you but first I have to clean out our screened porch. If I don't show up for a couple weeks, I may be buried either under the piles of junk, or piles of snow!  

monkjo@live.com  Always happy to respond to comments/questions.

funk, flunk and framework

So, here is my question for you. 

What do you do to pull yourself out of a funk? Or when you feel like a flunk?

I've noticed most often it happens when I am operating outside a framework. 

Now that I have the three words of my title in the post, I will tie it all together, eventually:)

First, here is some life on my non-funk days . . .

New raincoat purchase that I got to wear with the warmer temps this past week. No boots! Walmart $27. Love the POP of color! (Scruffy never one to be left out of a post.)

 

Finding Spring in hostessing. Simple menu: Stuffed Shells & Green Salad

Home organization. Jars & Bins

All work and no play. My first French Dining experience. Downtown Cleveland with the Fab5 Bible study pals. 

From French to Home Comfy Food. From my oven.

Walking 3 miles now and actually enjoying it. Who woulda thunk it? 

If I ended the post here it would be only telling some of the story. 

One of my determinations in life is to be authentic. 

Sharing not only good and great days but also struggles and failings and funks and flunkings. 

The days where words don't write. The bed calls you back. Energy seems to have left your address. Vision has blurred. 

Back to the beginning question. What's a girl to do to get her mojo back? 

I find that to keep my 118.2 pounds off that I lost last year, I need to operate within a very clear framework. Bouncing around doing what I feel like doing pretty soon has me nibbling plowing my way through Applebee's chip basket. 

Same with the rest of my life. 

God gave me a verse this week that is so simple. So simple I was able to memorize it in one sitting. 

He found me a framework to adjust my thinking and my heart.

"Trust in God, and do good. Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness."

           Psalm 37:3 

God knew I needed some simple instruction to pull me up. 

Trust - lean into God even when I can't see where the day is going.

Do - not what I feel like doing but what makes God smile on my day.

Dwell - (in the land? Still working my way through what this means.) 

Feed - not on chocolate but on God's faithfulness. Befriend His help.

I wish all our days were sunshiny and energetic and walking perfectly with our Savior. Mine aren't and I've a feeling there might be 1 or 2 or 10 of you whose aren't either.

Practicing a few verbs can bring about a big change. Verbs that are inspired by our Loving All-Powerful Designer. A Designer Creator who loves us too much to leave us living as flunks. 

From Funk to Fabulous. Yes, it's possible. Not because I say, but because God says! Now there is something to DWELL on:) 

margi

monkjo@live.com  Always happy to respond to your comments and questions.