I need ideas of what to ask for for Christmas. My sisters are upset that I have not given them ideas yet. What did you ask for? what are the best gifts you have received or given?
I just wrote (and then lost) an entry on Breaking Down Barriers within our congregations.
The gist of what I want to get across is that as Christians we need to not compromise ourselves in order to be all things to all people.
In our congregation, I feel like there are is a lot of segregation. The young, single people stay in our group and those that are married with kids are in a completely different social group. What good is this doing anyone?
In order to fit in with a certain group, perhaps a group of Christian friends, do you ever feel like you have to compromise who "insert your name here" is? Do you have to pretend to be perfect? well, let me point out, not one of us is perfect.
Here is a song by Casting Crowns that illustrates my feelings succinctly:
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
*Chorus*
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
Chorus x2
Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
My preacher used those words in a sermon this year and was talking about breaking down barriers...it was a really great lesson. I love the Casting Crowns!
I have a dilemma on my hands: I have the perfect job, it is flexible, it pays enough for now, and it is giving me great experience. However, I need to start paying back student loans next month and would like to be able to put some into savings. Do I keep my perfect job or look for something that pays a bit more?
Last week I was sitting at the kitchen table with the kid I nanny. Sam is 5 and autistic. We were writing words on a white board while eating breakfast. I wrote the word SAM and he took it and wrote UEL. It now looked like this: SAM UEL.
I asked him what it said and he replied "Sam and mom." I tried everything to get across to him that it said Samuel and mom was spelled MOM. He gets up from the table, frustrated, goes to the study and comes back with a package he had got in the mail. He points to the label which read Samuel Dewitt and says "Sam and Mom Dewitt see." The package had come for Sam but had some stuff in it for his mom. We will try having another spelling lesson next week.
I have been thinking lately about "the rest of my life." now, I know that I probably won't stay in Tampa forever. I began thinking about where I would go. This is when something terrifying happened. I started thinking about raising a family and where I would want to do that.
Here is my list of places and reasons:
-Lowell, MA (one of the top 100 cities to raise a family)- my family is there.
- Concord,MA has always been one of my favorite places.
- Colorado Springs, Colorado because it is beautiful and I like the culture of it.
- my list keeps coming back to these three
I lived in Foxboro,MA and Providence,RI for a total of 5 years...loved it! I don't like that everything is so expensive and so cold in the winter...but that is beautiful country there.
We'll be at the Hamiltons house. I have to get down there early to finish my classes so I don't know how much free time I'll have. I'd love to do something though!!!
Be where your family is. Not only will you get their support, but from experience, it helps to know your grandparents, and you want for your children to know their grandparents i'm sure. of course, a lot of it will depend on your husband and what he wants to do, where his family is, and etc.
