Chismville

When asked what he would do if Christ were to return the next day, Martin Luther’s responded, “I would plant a tree.”

God is pleased with our work on earth. Our vocation, our family, our every day living should bring glory to God! How do we spend our day?

I find that it is very easy to waste a day! My hope is that I will be more aware of each day God gives me and be busy about my Father’s work: whatever that may be. God is pleased with us! So let’s live each day as though it is our last!

Yesterday, while getting ice cream I noticed all the negative signs Yardage City had on its store front windows! It was funny to me, one who likes marketing, so I had to take a picture. To those of you out there who do not get excited when you see good or bad market this Photo may not be interesting.

It left me with the impression that they don’t want visitors or customers.

Click on the picture above to enlarge it.

I do not mind making decisions when they do not affect other people. I find two types of decisions that I take very seriously: 1) When it involves my family and faith, 2) When it involves my relationship with other people.

At work recently, I have been faced with a couple of major decisions that I do not like to make, because they involve making decisions that will end or cut back certain business relationships. I had to interview three marketing companies this past week and make a decision on who I would hire while ending my current marketing relationship with a company back in Boston. They have done a very good job for me, but I realized that I need a local marketing firm to help grow our business. The company currently working for us is more creative and full of good ideas. However, their weakness is probably in the area of executing the plan and staying on target. Long story short, I did NOT want to “fire” the Boston company, because I have really enjoyed most of my experience with them. They are great people…but just not the best fit. So, that is a decision I have made and now I need to execute my plan! I have also made a final decision on the company I am going to hire which was also a very difficult situation. Why? Because of the companies I really felt would be decent is new in the business. She is just starting out, and she is in my peer business development group: Vistage International. So I see her every month for our business training, and now when I tell her I am hiring someone else, I will feel weird talking in our group each month about my marketing and growth knowing she did not get the job.

I came to my conclusion by much prayer and pleading with God that He would help me do what is best for the company and that I would not have the fear of man. I think it really came down to that sin of pride. I hate thinking in my mind what people think about me. Being in business with my Dad, I have to act like a business owner and take the lead. A good leader, I am learning, will make decisions that are not always liked by those around him but in the end…it is right! I’m still building the “guts” to tell the lady from Vistage, who is very excited to work with us, that I have hired another company!

The other area in my life I have really struggled with at times is trusting God. God is so good and so faithful. Our company right now is struggling with getting qualified leads, and I have not had a very good sales month once again. We are behind in our goals and I care a lot of that load on my shoulders. I am praying that God would keep me leaning on Him, trusting in His sovereign will in all things and knowing that He knows all that we need. I am reminded of the verse on Matthew 6 that tells us to not take any thought for our lives what we will eat or drink or what we will wear because our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask. He has ALWAYS been faithful to provide for our needs and bless our business. So, I will go to sleep tonight and wake up trusting in the goodness of God: Oh Taste and See that the Lord is Good! He is my hope! He is my strong tower, and I will praise Him for blessing me with such amazing grace!

My last post I was boasting of the great parenting in being able to put the two kids in the same room to sleep at night. It was a piece of cake. I thought to myself, “I can write a book on parenting, because my kids obey me and are perfect responders to new ideas I have!

That was almost two weeks ago!

I am humbly admitting that Joel and Chalice have been officially separated again! I know… “bad parent…not sticking to my guns…” bring it on, I’m ready to hear it!

Chalice was not getting any sleep, and it looked like a boxing ring. Joel figured out a way to climb into the crib with Chalice and dominate the bed. Chalice would be jumping up and down away from Joel with her little pleading eyes, “Help! Get me out of here…I’m tired! worn out! exhausted! He wins!” So, after much disciplining of Joel, long talks, putting him back into his own, bed. We separated them into two rings to get a break. We are ready to start up again soon, but for the mean time…we are all sleeping well.

On another note…

Today, Joli and I are doing a face lift to our dining room chairs. I am sanding and refinishing the woodwork and cutting the new foam. Joli was in charge of the buying of the foam, picking out the fabric and doing the recovering of the chairs! So, I’m done with the finishing work and taking a little break. I’m tak’n the kids out for a bite to eat while Joli finishes her errands!

Trying to juggle four families schedules for our first Marriage Study was a challenge for me, but I finally had to make a decision and begin! I kept changing the start date and ended up with the first meeting being last Thursday evening, the 6th. Joli and I were so glad we jumped in and did what we have been talking about for months! We are so glad to have three new couples commit to learning and studying with us: Dave & Dana Blackford, Mike & Monique Kingsley and the newly engaged couple, Patrick Crais & Melissa Crandall.

The first meeting, we missed Patrick and Melissa but managed to have a VERY good time of fellowship, reflection and studying of our new book, Love That Lasts. It was so encouraging for me to hear the men feel comfortable to share, ask questions and get involved. In most Christian churches and studies today, women seem to be more active then the men. So I was so excited to see Dave and Mike jump in and make the study that much better.

We began by sharing how each couple met, why they decided to get married and what they hoped to get out of a study on marriage. We all seemed to have a similar answer to why we were there: to learn from one another and to learn how to glorify God in our marriages.

Bringing Glory to God is really what the book is about. In fact Chapter one summarized these main points/questions:

• Does Your Marriage Find Its Purpose Primarily in God?
• Does Your Marriage Find Its Hope in the Gospel of Grace?
• Does Your Marriage Find Its Home in the Local Church?

So our purpose in why we got married, how we got married and why we continue in our marriage should be focused on God Himself. He created marriage! The Bible uses so many examples of marriage and God loves a marriage that brings Him glory. Second our hope to having a strong and lasting marriage cannot come from outside the Gospel of Grace. Grace is defined as God’s undeserved favor given or poured out to sinners who were saved from His wrath. We live each day with grateful hearts and having gracious hearts toward our spouse. Third, our home must be in the local church. We cannot have a God glorifying marriage if we do not submit to a local body of believers. Why? because it is prideful and God desires us to be under authority. The church of Jesus Christ is made up of believers that cannot live separate lives. At a good church, we will have the accountability we need and good Biblical preaching where we can grow as Christians.

Anyway, that is a summary from my point of view from Chapter one and our first study. I had fun and am grateful to the Lord for blessing our group! Oh yeah…Joli made an amazing meal for our first meeting and Dana made an incredible dessert! Such highlights cannot be forgotten.

This morning, Joli and I got up, did a Pilates workout, had devotions and got the kids ready for the day. actually, Joli did most of the “getting the kid ready.” ) sprayed for ants and worked on some real estate ideas I have been thinking about lately.

At about 8:45, we drove up to Poway to meet our dear friend Patrick Crais and his new fiancé, Melissa. we met them at Starbucks and then carpooled up to Julian! Joli and I have been praying for a godly wife for Patrick for a very long time. It is funny: Patrick is 36 years old, and some would wonder if he would find a wife or why it was taking so long! However, God is sovereign and was preparing a godly woman just for my brother. Melissa is around 23, and God saved her for Patrick! I am so excited!

Anyway, we drove to Julian, walked around the little tourist town and drove back to San Diego for a very late lunch. As we were leaving, I realized we were carrying a stolen piece of merchandise. Our precious son had grabbed a $25 angel hallmark statue and put it in our stroller. I quickly ran back and put it back without trying to explain what happened. Then when we returned to our final destination back in San Diego I found another stolen item! It was too far to go back, so now I’ll just have to mail a check for $6.00 and keep the “ginger spice lemonade mix!” Yummy!

Oh for the joy of three-day weekends if it weren’t for the restless nights of thinking thoughts! Growing up, when I could not sleep, I would play piano. How I had that luxury in a full house, I’m not entirely sure. Our house was solidly built and my playing was muffled by sturdy walls. I would release all the thoughts of a busy day onto the keyboard. Music has always been my passion, though my talent has never been extraordinary. What brings me joy is to be the background music–no louder than the paint–nice aesthetics to compliment a pleasantly conversing crowd. Music can be so frustrating at the same time as it is rewarding. I’d like to say I don’t really care what people think of me and my playing or singing. I’d like to say that, but living tells me it’s not true. I care far too much what people think. I used to be drawn to a piano and would play just for fun. I would flit from song to song like a happy bird. In recent years, I’ve neglected the piano. I sit to play and feel self-conscious and worry what people will think. I miss my place reading music and think of the dreadful blot on the atmosphere tapestry. I think of the people around me who play as well or better than I play. Furthermore, I feel like my playing is not necessary because my husband can play. What happened to the delightful release of thought and overflow of emotions I used to exude onto the responsive keys I can’t tell. I like to think of David, playing his harp to his sheep in the vast wilderness expanse. What beautiful music he must have played for the pleasure of his Maker and for his own joy and satisfaction! I realize I need to play, not because I can play incredibly, but because I can play at all. Even mediocre expression has merit for the release it brings to my being. I wager that I can be a better wife and better mother I think, if I take time to not just listen to music, but play for the glory of the One who made my fingers and my own joy. Creativity in whatever medium it is used is a way that we can reflect a masterful Creator. Banish the pride that robs me of joy and makes me so mindful of myself! Who do I think I am that I would desire to be greater than the next person? How thankful I am for ears that can hear and a heart that delights in lyrical expression!