Life Lessons – Page 3 – JENuine Interests

Woman of the Year

Posted on January 24, 2011 by jenschuyler

Well, it’s confession time…I did it…the unthinkable…well…that thing we, as women, mothers and wives don’t ever want to admit…are you ready for it? I took a nap last Friday. Oh glorious 30 minutes that were worth every frantic huff my kids could muster. As one wondered what on earth she should do because her video teacher told her to take a quiz that I didn’t have torn out for her yet. I’ll admit, I heard her wondering…but I didn’t budge. Mean you say? Well, no, I don’t think so. She survived and took the quiz later. I considered it a lesson in flexibility, a characteristic she will need to acquire to survive. My little guy, kept wanting to stroke my face, thinking I was sick or something. I just pretended to unknowingly roll over. It’s not that I was tricking the kids. I simply had no energy to muster up to respond to them at 3:00 that afternoon. The good news is, everyone survived, and I was a much better mommy for it.

Why do we have to hide things like this? I wish we were one of those cultures that shut down at 3:00 everyday and starts back up around 5:00. Wouldn’t we all be better off for it? Just think how rested and congenial all moms would be if that happened? Not to mention kids and husbands and…well…everyone.

Instead, ours is a culture where we women must vie for the woman of the year award by putting on airs that we sleep 4 hours a night, sew our children’s clothing, run the PTA, work for our local elections, show up to every town hall meeting and volunteer for every committee the church has. While in reality we sleep in too late most days making us have to rush around. We spend too much clothing our children and usually say things we may regret at PTA meetings (yes, I home school, but when I taught school I noticed a lot of this “saying things they should regret” stuff). We do show up to vote, but don’t even understand what they’re talking about at the town hall meetings ( I mean who cares about the traffic light at main and 3^rd? the real question is “What on earth am I going to make/buy for dinner?) Well I say patooy to that!

I have a sneaking suspician that if one would ask my family what woman of the year meant they’d say something like, “Oh, that means a mom who is happy and rested and enjoys her family…all of them.” Also, “a momma that can cook well and feed us stuff that tastes good and is good for us.” You know the basic stuff like one who doesn’t yell, doesn’t get tired a lot and makes home a haven blah blah blah.

Well, they’re the only ones I need to impress, and in order to do that I need a nap. So, go ahead, ladies vie for the titles, bowl the world over with your impressiveness. I’ve got a nap to take so I can keep this home happy and sane. I haven’t won the any awards yet, even by my family’s standards so I guess I’d better get busy. See ya’ll in an hour yawwwwwwn!

Associate/Youth Pastor's Wife, Life Lessons, Teens

Will I be in the Ghetto in Heaven Someday?

Posted on January 19, 2011 by jenschuyler

If Heaven has a ghetto, I think I’ll be living there. There seems to be plenty of evidence of reward and responsibility when we get to Heaven, based upon our service and devotion to Christ here in this life. Yet, whenever I ponder my Christianity I seem to come up so short, that it’s shameful and pitiful view. I see how I try to love and serve Gene (our semi-homeless friend). Yet, he seems to push my buttons sometimes. Then there’s Larry (our “special teen” –changed name) who does the same to me.

Gene left socks for me to launder for him. This isn’t the problem exactly. I offered to him long ago that I’d be willing to wash his clothes for him. Hoping it would be all of his clothes. However, he only brings me socks. And it’s only like once every three months or so. Well, he left some last week for me to clean. I hung them right inside my front door as I was in a hurry that morning. When I got home that afternoon, the girls were going to have a friend come over. We were doing a quick clean up before she arrived when I passed through my front hallway. “What died!” I exclaimed. Then I realized it was Genes socks. I quickly threw the bag out on the front porch and tried to detox my entryway. Still don’t know if the mom of the girl smelled it or not. So, I finally got them laundered and had to run some extra cycles with vinegar to clean out my machine. I decided then, that I was just going to stock up on socks, so whenever he brings them, I’ll just give him new ones. Anyway, I told him they were ready and I’d just stick them in his front door so he wouldn’t have to carry them around town all day. He made sure I would put them inside the storm door so nobody would steal them….blink…blink. Everything in me wanted to say, “Gene, there isn’t a rat in town that would want these babies.” But I refrained.

Then there’s Larry. We were to pick him up for the teen activity Monday. Instead, he did his usual of just showing up at the house right during crunch time. He and Gene, both, were on my front porch wanting coffee and to talk. I, meanwhile still had wet hair, girls who were having wardrobe crisis, and a 4 year old boy who still wasn’t dressed, all with 15 minutes until departure. I looked at Larry and said, “we’ll pick you up soon.” And to Gene, “here’s your coffee, but I can’t chat this morning.” To which he said ok, but continued to tell me what was on his mind.

Poor Larry, we did pick him up, but the teens were ruthless to him that day. It’s a hard thing with people like him. I totally understand how the teens can get frustrated, because he talks incessantly. Big, bold talk that cannot possibly be true sometimes. As much as he can be annoying, 2^nd man and I still love him and appreciate the spice he adds to life, but the kids can’t seem to balance that. They unscrewed the cap on the crushed peppers at the pizza place. When he went to get some the whole jar ended up on his pizza. Oh, he was not happy at all…who could blame him? Even I got a little impatient in the car while we were waiting back at the church to go home. He was telling me that he remembered a time when he was 3 years old when their car slipped on an icy bridge into the guardrail. I could work with this story, but he lost me when he spoke of how they all jumped out of the car just in time for the car to fall off the bridge into the icy waters below. Uh huh. It was then I excused myself to get 2^nd man hurried along and into the car.

I get so disappointed with the teens and how impatient they are, but I wonder how bad I behave as well. I want to love these guys like the Lord would. Then, I get put in these situations where I wonder how the Lord could? Then I wonder how he could love me too? I read on a friend’s facebook today a quote that I love: “Everyone has wisdom enough to manage the affairs of his neighbors.” -Benjamin Franklin. Isn’t it true that we can see other’s faults so much easier than our own? Ahhh, will I ever please the Lord? Or will I just be put in the corner ghetto of Heaven someday?

Life Lessons, My Interests

Goodbye Mrs. Trout

Posted on January 15, 2011 by jenschuyler

Today is the funeral of my sweet neighbor lady. Wednesday night her children were about to leave the hospital for the night and talked to her saying, “ Mom if you need to go, then go. Don’t hold on for us.” They barely made it back to the house and the phone was ringing with the call from the hospital.

I took a cake over to them and was able to talk with her kids a little while. Her son looks just like the Christian author, Max Lucado. Well, I guess that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, I know her son is a saved man and asked him if he could tell me if she had a relationship with the Lord. He believed that she had gotten saved at some time, but she just seemed to get more and more negative with age. The hurts in her life made her question the goodness of God. He even mentioned having very pointed conversations with her about it.

So, today we say goodbye to Mrs. Trout. I’m so going to miss visiting with her. It’s a filling experience to get to know older people beyond their frailness. To see where they came from and who they were in their prime. It’s so easy to just look at a little frail older lady and see this generic sweet demure, person. Then, when you dive in and hear their story you see this strong, spunky, full-of-life woman; a woman who was a journalist in her youth and had traveled the world with her husband. A woman who had been hurt deeply when her brother, and only sibling, was shot down in WWII. A woman who had agreed to live in her father-in-law’s funeral home when she was first married, but didn’t enjoy cleaning all of the bathrooms or having to keep her babies quiet. And one last mystery I never found out, a woman whose name was Joel. Now -a -days we hear unusual names all of the time, but for her generation, I found this an interesting name.

I’m Thankful to her son, Bill and her daughter, Elodie for allowing me the privilage of checking in with her since they live out of town. They are such a nice family and came every weekend to care for their mother. I pray I can have the opportunity to show as much care to my own parents when they get older. I also pray for their comfort at this time.

Her family is keeping the house for a little while, and asked us to keep an eye on things. The first thing I’m going to do come February is go over to her yard and get some branch cuttings from her forsythia bushes and force them in my livingroom. Every spring her beautiful yellow forsyhtia’s are the first news bearers of the new season and new life. (My mom’s always been sentimental about flowers and who gave them to her. I guess she passed it on to me). Anyway, this will be my loving tribute to my dear Mrs. Trout.

Daily Musings, Life Lessons

The Great Imploding Weekend

Posted on January 12, 2011February 2, 2013 by jenschuyler

All I can say is that this turned into the great imploding weekend. I felt like how these little dirt babies at left, look. However, I’m hopeful for a quick recovery. It started Friday when my neighbor lady pulled her medical alert string and they called me to check on her. She’s 88 years old and her family is all out of town, so they put me on the list. They had asked me to check on her periodically anyway, but I hadn’t been over in a while. All through the Christmas and New Year she had family visiting so I figured she was alright. However, for several days I had been telling myself that I needed to get over there (part of my resolution to being a better friend and all). Arghhh, what failure! Anyway, I was able to help her get her things together to go to the hospital and call her family. I went up and sat with her for a while apologizing for not checking on her better. She’s so sweet and of course didn’t have any problems with me, but I still feel horrible. She’s since had a stroke and they’re not sure what’s going to happen, but it looks like she won’t be coming home to her house again. I think the biggest regret I have is that I could never get out of her a real admission of salvation. I tried broaching the subject several times and had given her books and tracts too, but she was never much for heartfelt talking. I hope I didn’t wimp out on this one. It leaves me questioning if I really cared enough, or tried hard enough. I hate that I can write well or teach a prepared lesson well, but face to face I’m so awkward with people. Lord, help me not to be awkward about the most important issue!

After a basketball game and lunch on Saturday, the girls had a friend over for the afternoon and I spent it joyfully having to be nowhere. I cooked for the upcoming week and did some much needed cleaning around the house. I was feeling so great about this. It was one of those afternoons that feel so productive…then 2^nd man came home. It wasn’t his arrival that was bad, but the news he brought with him. “Wonder what’s going on at the church tonight? I heard a lot of people in the Family Life Center.” Screeeeech! Halt! Quick camera close up! We were supposed to be at that party ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! A young woman in our church was having a going away party for her new husband before he leaves for Afghanastan. You know, no big deal or anything, just a young married couple having to part from each other as he leaves to go fight for our country and put his life on the line….that’s all. Can you say Boooo to me? I had completely forgotten to remember this party…ugh.

After praying about my failure to be a good friend in this area, I left it with the Lord. Upon waking Sunday morning, I was eager to start preparing a very “clean” and nutritious lunch. This involved a lot of dicing of onion and garlic. I did get this accomplished, but not without destroying every speck of clean kitchen I had fixed up the day before. I just can’t stand walking into a dirty house after Sunday morning services. I’d much rather walk in and be able to relax, but yeah, wouldn’t we all? Ha ha. I had to ask 2^nd man on the way to church if I smelled like a big onion. The smell had permeated my nasal cavity and my eyes wouldn’t stop watering. I think everyone at church thought I was very “moved in the Spirit” that morning.

Church was a funny story in and of itself. 2^nd man had a wonderful Sunday School class on prayer. God even showed himself true in answering prayer by bringing the kids to church that day. However, we perhaps failed to pray for the children’s church hour. That, or it was just a set up day for a perfect storm. 2^nd man didn’t know until after Sunday School that the woman who reads the missionary story was home with a sick child, so he had to scramble to get prepared for some extra game time. The rest of the hour went…well…just as chaotic. There were no birthday kids to sing to, nobody brought a visitor, so he couldn’t even go through his schpiel of welcoming visiting kids and rewarding them and the person who invited them with a giant candy bar. The lesson time seemed to go by extra fast so we were left with like an hour of game time! This just got wild. Bus kids were, literally, climbing posts in the gym and hiding behind every trashcan. Little girls were getting pushed and hurt every time we turned around. I was constantly going back and forth to the kitchen for ice packs. All of us workers had the twitching eye of trauma when it was all over.

I figured the mayhem was over when we got home. We ate lunch, cleaned house, and then, with a sigh of relief and satisfaction I decided to lie down and relax before doing my homeschool work for the week. I had been lying down for just a little while when my daughter brought it to my attention that I had completely forgotten to take her to her basketball practice.

Well, line up behind all of the other people I’ve let down this weekend.

Come Monday, I was glad the weekend was over. I had high hopes of a fresh start and staying on schedule. In the midst of getting 2^nd man ready for work, my son threw up all over the kitchen, himself and me! Oh, boy looks like another boring week in this homeschooling, ministry household….

Life Lessons

Resolved to Become a Better Friend

Posted on January 5, 2011 by jenschuyler

I’m not really into New Years Resolutions very much. I mean, I’ve done the umpteen years of “going to lose weight” stuff like everyone else, but I’ve never really explored the idea of making serious resolutions to change something…and stuck with it. However, I’m considering the idea very seriously right now. It’s kind of come up over the past few weeks in regards to something we’ve noted in one of our daughters. The resolution I’m considering is that of becoming a better friend.

2^nd man and I have been noticing a level of self-consciousness that seems to be brewing in our growing girls. I’ve defended it, considering it an age issue since they are coming up on their pre-teen years. However, I do see his point too. I do wish for my girls, well, all my kids to be confident. Not necessarily cocky, or proud in themselves, but confident in who they are in Christ and as our children. Confident that no matter what happens out in the world, they come home to a place where they are loved and appreciated for who God made them to be. But how does one create this in their child? You may wonder what this has to do with my resolution of being a better friend, but hang in here with me for a minute.

Just this morning it came up again in a conversation I had with my girls as we were preparing to start school. One of them mentioned that they are shy sometimes (trust me not all the time you should see this girl jabber on around her friends). That’s when I tried to share with them that shyness (as I understand it) is really a form of selfishness. It’s saying that, “I’m thinking only of myself and how I feel in this place or situation.” I went on to explain that their daddy and I are both kind of naturally shy. “But you don’t come across shy at church, Momma.” One of them responded. To which I explained that 2^nd man and I both work at being outgoing to others at church. If I had the luxury of only thinking of myself, I’d go sit in the pew and just soak in the quiet moments before the service. Instead, I try hard to go around the room and greet people. It’s not being a fake. It’s thinking of others before myself as Philippians 2:3 tells us to. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” I’m not perfect at this. I know I still shy away from some uninviting faces, or those whose names I probably can’t remember, but I do try to be friendly to everyone.

However, this has me thinking of how my influence may be a help or a detriment to my kids. Not only that, how is it a detriment to my own friendships? As a child I was a people pleaser. I relished the times when my parents, friend, teachers etc. were pleased with something I had done. I even came to a time in my life where I questioned my salvation, wondering if I had just been trying to please my Sunday School teacher who I adored. This people pleasing quality is a hard characteristic to keep up with, however. When I didn’t please, I felt like a failure. And if I disagreed with someone else, I’d rather be hanged than to voice it. (a wimpy trait I know). Anyway, I worked hard through high school trying to please everyone. Leaving me with a shallow level of popularity, but a very poorly defined perspective of who I was or what I really stood for. My spiritual life was vague and nearly non-existent past the belief that I was a saved child of God.

When I finally surrendered my life to Christ in my early twenties, and determined to serve him, I was years behind where I should have been for my age. I’ve spent the better part of my adulthood honing the skills of standing for Christ and the Word even when it displeases people. I’ve learned so much from my husband and am in awe of his boldness with love.

However, all of this has left me gun shy in the area of friendship. With whom do I share my intimate thoughts? I’ve been pretty content with it being God and the 2^nd man. But, I can’t ignore the fact that God has sent some pretty special people across my path to who I should be a better friend. Honestly, it burdens me and scares me a little. I think it’s because of my scatterbrain. I can’t even keep up with my facebook birthday reminders. My cell phone is dead more times than not. And I am sometimes at a loss for conversation. How do I keep up? Will they forgive me when I don’t?

I think of Dalene, clear over in Germany who faithfully reads these posts of mine. I’m so bad about talking with you my dear sweet friend and missionary. I do love you and pray for you, but you wouldn’t really know that would you? Please forgive me. I’m gonna try to do better.

There’s Missy and Melanie, my wonderful friends from the past who knew me when I was so ugly, but still stuck with me. I don’t contact you nearly as often as I should.

Why, my own family suffers from my neglect. Mom, Dad and my brother, Jeff and his family, I maybe call once a week. Well, Jeffy gets it fewer times than that.

Ok, I’m stopping with the confessions. Sorry if I left you out of my list. The point is, Proverbs 18:24 says A man that hath friends must show himself friendly… I am resolved to show myself friendly to more people this year. To step outside myself and, with God confidence, put others at ease and make them feel welcome and know they are important. My prayer is that it will not only grow me as a person and Christian, but translate to my kids as well. I read a quote by someone (can’t remember who) that said something to the effect of…unspoken gratitude is of use to nobody. So, I’m gonna step out and speak up.

Starting with you, if you’re reading this post. Thank you for logging on and reading. It means more to me than you’ll ever know. I hope it will bless you in some way, even if it’s a good laugh.

Homeschooling, Life Lessons, Parenting

Appreciatin’ My Kids

Posted on January 4, 2011February 2, 2013 by jenschuyler

I really love the ages of my kiddos right now. Currently they are 10, 8 and 4. I just need to pause and reflect on this a little bit. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t do infancy very well. Oh, I bonded and adored each child. However, I never fully embraced the lack of sleep and, yes, I must confess, baby formula was my friend, (I know I know the horror! My children will all be doomed to poor health or something like that).

Truly, it’s a wonder I’ve come this far. I never really enjoyed babysitting while I was growing up. The money was great, but I’d rather wait tables. I just never got into it. I marvel at the girls in our youth department who enjoy babysitting and being around kids. I do wish I had been more like this. God did a work in me after we got married. It’s not that I never wanted kids. I just wasn’t sure when I would actually want them.

Now, here I am thirteen and half years later and adoring my kids, even though I sound like the worst mom ever. Oh, I’m no “Nineteen Kids and Counting” kind of mom, if you’ve ever seen that show. I wish I could smile that much and be that calm. That woman never seems gets her feathers ruffled. However, the Lord does continue working in me to appreciate the blessings he’s given.

This is currently on my mind because I’m stuck in the chair sick this week. Went to the doctor yesterday with a double ear infection and throat infection. 2^nd man came home for lunch after my appointment and told the kids to take care of me and call him if I got out of the chair to do any work. (He knows the mess of the kitchen can sometimes overpower the sickness in me). Anyway, they did a great job. I was hoping to start school yesterday, but have chosen to call in Home Ec. Day. The two older girls played with their brother and took care of his needs most of the afternoon. Then, about 4:30 they cleaned up the kitchen and made dinner…a good one to. Goulash, garlic bread and salad were on the menu. Little brother set the table. I was so thankful for that. 2^nd man was willing to come home and do all of this, but he didn’t have to…what a blessing!

It’s nice to have them this age for more than just the chores and cooking too. We are now at a place where we all enjoy the same humor (for the most part). I enjoy hearing their thoughts on friends, spiritual matters, and everyday happenings. I’m also relieved that we’ve turned a corner with our little guy. Last year I was worried sick that he’d never go to church without getting in trouble in class or something. Yet, the past five or six months have been so much more pleasant. He seems to have gotten the rules down finally. Of course they aren’t perfect and I worry incessantly about weaknesses I see. However, I enjoy watching them grow into people of their own. I don’t look forward to them totally growing up and leaving. Just wish we could freeze things here…well, maybe with a few more recipes in their repertoire.

Life Lessons, My Interests, Parenting

Merry Christmas Eve

Posted on December 25, 2010 by jenschuyler

Merry Christmas everyone! I have been so over blessed this year. Haven’t had much time to post any new blogs this week because my folks came to town, from Ohio, for the week. I was so excited about this since Thanksgiving was such a quiet and uneventful time for us. We’ve truly enjoyed having them visit. The kids have just loved every minute.
      We decided to make Christmas Eve very special this year. We had our big dinner this evening with our “homeless” friend joining us. We then had gift time at Nana’s. However, we really celebrated the evening after that by watching “The Nativity”. I fully realize that this movie isn’t necessarily spot on in the details. Let’s face it we can’t get our facts from Hollywood. However, it does provide a visual illustration that gives us an idea of what it could have been like for Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus. The solemnity of that still night portrayed brought us all to tears. How precious to sit and dwell on the humble birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My heart was swollen with gratitude for what he did and the provisions he made even for his coming. From awing and inspiring the wise men, to reaching out with special attention to the shepherds. Even the sweet time for Mary to have the camaraderie of Elizabeth.
       We’ll spend tomorrow having more family time and opening gifts, and of course reading the actual Biblical account of Christ’s birth. But I pray that we’ll take the opportunity to be a blessing to God on His special day. Better yet, may we be that blessing everyday.
     This may seem like a rambling blog, it’s late and I”m tired, but I couldn’t resist publicly taking the opportunity to thank God for his sacrifice for me.

Daily Musings, Healthy Living, Life Lessons, My Interests

Mayhem and Momma

Posted on December 4, 2010 by jenschuyler

Well, it’s official (well, as official as my opinion gets), I’ve done gone crazy or have some sort of attention deficit something or other going on. What was I saying? Oh, yes, I’m not sure why I do such things to myself, but I have this tendancy to spread myself ultra thin in nearly every area of my life. The thing is…I love it. I’m currently learning, or rather teaching myself, to cook a whole new way. Do you know how much time and effort that takes? Then, I say yes to teaching a Sunday School class. I’m part of the decorating committee at the church so December brings lots of demands in that area. Trying to get my own house decorated as well. Finishing up the last week of homeschool with all of the planning and grading that brings. And to top it all off in the best way…Momma’s coming for Christmas….nuff said.

The cooking thing is actually starting to sink in a little bit. We’re trying “eat clean” as I’ve mentioned in previous posts. So for the last four weeks I’ve been reading the labels of everything I buy. If I can’t pronounce it I have to find another way to make it. Yep, all in the name of health. Of course, as usual, 2^nd man has gotten whipped back into shape in no time (it’s questionable if he was ever out of shape). He’s losing weight that he doesn’t even need to lose. I read these books on the workouts and the clean eating. I read the testimonials of all these women who lost like 19lbs in 7 week! Wow! I start the calculations of where I can be in like one months time. Get motivated. Don’t cheat. And, yes, once again, four weeks after starting I’m still the same weight as when I began. I mean, It’s like me against the body. Come on! Oh, well. I may not be lighter, but I do have crazy amounts of energy (and muscle soreness). So there’s a plus. Guess we’ll keep truckin and see if anything else happens.

Sunday school class is coming along…slowly. I should be working on it right now, but am once again distracted. It’s been a week of total guilt over teaching this lesson that I’m still learning. I mean, isn’t it weird to know something and not do it? I finally had some breakthrough last night in my own personal Bible study time. I think I’m all turned around too, because I used to have my personal Bible study in the mornings before everyone else awoke. Now that 2^nd man and I are working out, I have to have it at another time. It just feels weird. Starting new habits can be very stressful. I find myself so distracted with all these things that I even found the peanut butter up in the cabinet with the drinking glasses. I’ve thrown away dishes and who knows where the dog is…just kidding. The point is, I’m having a hard time concentrating.

The decorating thing at church, well, I think it’s gonna have to go for now. I absolutely love decorating for banquets and seasons etc. However, it really does take large chunks of time when things need to get done. 2^nd man and I have been talking and I’m praying about it. I think the time with my kids and family is just going to have to take precedence. One of these days I’ll have free afternoons to decorate..right?

Finally, the exciting news. Momma and Daddy are coming for Christmas. I think I finally guilted them enough to get them moving. They’re even packing the dog along as well. This requires lots of prep work around the house, but I love all of it. I bought new towels today. I’ve been waiting for an excuse for those towels. I love when houseguests come and many of those wants around the house become needs. Woo hoo! I really miss family around this time of year, so I just cherish it when they can make the trip. Hope their dog likes cats.

Through all of this craziness 2^nd man has really stepped in to help. Since he’s the one who initially wanted to go the clean eating direction, he’s been helping with the cooking and even the dinner dishes when he can. He’s been bringing me my favorite tea in the evenings, and helping out a lot with the kids. Oh I am blessed. Is this the time to say nanny nanny boo boo to all you other ladies? Well, ok I’ll keep it nice….nevermind.

Associate/Youth Pastor's Wife, Life Lessons, Parenting

Trying to Get Deep

Posted on November 30, 2010 by jenschuyler

I wonder sometimes if anyone else ever struggles with their devotions? Boy, I can go in spurts that can be awful. Here I’ll already feel guilty with the Lord about my lack of depth or insight and then I’m inclined to share with a teen girl or lady from the church they really need to get into the Word. I think I just complicate it in my mind. I’ll read a book by someone else and think “Wow! They got some real insight from the Lord!” and then I’ll sit down to read and I get a geneology or something similar. I’ll try to read as deep into as I can… but the…I get nothing.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s not always like that, I was just wondering if anyone else ever struggles. It’s like a feeling of inferiority. I think the teacher in me wants to find some new insight or wow moment to share with everyone. I’ve struggled with it recently because I’m supposed to teach the pastor’s wife’s ladies class this Sunday. I think I tend to overcomplicate things. So, I’ve decided to do something I’ve never done before. I’m stealing 2^nd mans stuff. Not really, I asked him for it first. He actually taught his Sunday School lesson to the teens last week on this kind of thing. How we should be meditating on the Word of God and how to make it more meaningful and gather all we can out of it. He didn’t even know my struggle when he prepared the lesson, but it was pointed right at me.

(I might add here one of my beefs about older teens who say they don’t get anything out of the youth classes anymore. BALONEY! I’ve been in the youth class for the 13 years we’ve been married and then some. I get stuff out of it regularly. That’s an excuse for feeling too big in their britches or just wanting out. Parents beware of this excuse.) Ok, I’m off the soapbox.

Anyway, my pastor’s wife says that she likes to give me, and the outreach minister’s wife these opportunities to share what God has done in our lives lately. Well, this is what he’s been working on…getting deeper. Deeper with Him and deeper into His Word. I’ve used other people’s books before as outline guides for a class so why not my own husband’s stuff. (with girlier application and illustration of course).

Sweet Mom Moment: Driving to church Sunday night, my kids noticed the big, lighted angel in the local park was turned on that night. They were all oohing and aahing at it. My daughters decided to quiz our little guy about it. “Whose birthday is it that we decorate for?” to which he replied, “Jesus, it’s Jesus’ birthday.” They were praising him for getting it right when he went on, “I hope it makes him happy.” My thought to that is “me too” I hope it makes Him happy too.

Life Lessons

Moved by the Martyrs

Posted on November 16, 2010February 2, 2013 by jenschuyler

I love Tuesdays, it’s 2^nd man’s day off. We love having him home. It’s our “Saturday” around here. It actually took me a few years to get used to this idea. Growing up, Saturday was when we all spent the morning doing chores and Dad did housework or yard work. Everyone was off on Saturdays. Then, when we got married, and moved to Oklahoma, all of a sudden it was Tuesday. I didn’t like this at first, because I was teaching school and had to work on his day off. Now that I’m home with the kids, it’s great. We can go to the bigger cities and go to fun places and practically have it to ourselves on a Tuesday! Not sure what the plan will be today, but so far everyone’s sleeping in…ahhh….I love Tuesdays.

I finished reading a book I mentioned before Tortured For His Faith by Haralan Popov. It has really stirred my heart. There is a similar book out I’d like to read now called Tortured For Christ by Richard Wurmbrand, which is probably even more popular. We’ve received newsletters from his organization called Voice of the Martyrs. I was looking around on their website www.persecution.com last night realizing that their headquarters is only about 45 minutes from where we live. I’m determined to take my kids over there if not get 2^nd man to take the teens.

I suppose I was moved on two accounts. First, the description (by both authors) of the secret underground church in closed countries. Closed countries are those that don’t allow the gospel to be preached or churches started. I was recently at a pastors’ wives retreat in which at dinner we were broken up into pairs and given a time and place to go. Essentially, we all ended up in the same room at different times and through different doorways. The idea was to show how others have to sneak around to even meet as a body of believers so as not to tip off any suspicion. We then had to sing, “Jesus Loves Me” without making any sound, just movement of our lips. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. The thought of not being able to proclaim him, even in a song was heartbreaking. The account of not having access to a Bible was also heartbreaking and honestly, hard to imagine. I mean, we can buy them at a dollar store. Most of us have several sitting around our houses because of replacing worn our more worn ones.

The second thing that moved me was the highlighting of Hebrews 13:3 “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the body.” I shamefully, must admit, that I’ve never really given much thought to those around the world in bonds for Christ. I mean, I’ve kind of heard about it and felt bad at the time. However, I’ve never pursued what’s going on or really realized what they are suffering. It’s an out sight out of mind situation. I’ve hardly even prayed for them.

God was gracious enough to allow me to be born and live here in the States. I don’t know that he’s calling me to missionary work outside the States. However, I do feel more aware of fellow Christians and their suffering around the world. I want, desperately, to do something about this. I will definitely start with prayer and am moved to do more as well. Wherever He leads I will go.

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