A Game Lost, A Lesson Learned

Losing is never easy. Especially when you are as competitive as my middle son, Kendall.  Don't get me wrong, he is a very good sport when it comes to losing, but it still hurts.  He had his first soccer (or futbal) game this last week.  It was a close game and Kendall was playing his heart out.  The other team was tough and wearing out our defenders.  The team kicked the ball, our goalie reached out for the ball and it slipped through his hands.  Kendall jumped behind him and stopped the ball from going in!!!!  "Yea!", I yelled.  But I soon realized that he had stopped the ball with his hand...it was a penalty on him.  The opposing team got a free kick, scored and won the game.  Kendall was devastated.  

As they waited to start a second game, I saw Kendall standing on the field with his back turned to me.  The coach walked up and put her arm around him and I then knew he must have had tears in his eyes.  I wanted run out on the field, wrap him in my arms and take him home. Instead, I let go a little and watched him play another game as hard as he could.  

Upon becoming a parent I do not think I was prepared for what it would be like to watch them hurt and go through disappointments.  The empathy I have for them during these times runs deep.  Then there are times and will be times that I do not know they are hurting or why. 

I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who is always there and cares about the details of our lives.  He is always with them, knows their every thought, action, and feeling.   In John chapter 10, Jesus speaks of Himself as the Good Shepherd.  In verses 10-11 he says, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."  And then in verse 14, "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and they know me."  Jesus cares.  Jesus is there.

May we all remember our loving Father in heaven who is with us always (even when our momma's cannot come scoop us off the field)!

    

Something About Landon

"Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right."  Proverbs 20:11

There is something about Landon. He is unlike anyone I have ever known.  He loves others with a love that I know stems from His relationship with the Lord.  My oldest son turns eleven this Friday.  I am thankful for these years spent as his mom.  

Landon was born while we were in Canada.  I remember the ride home from the hospital like it was yesterday.  I sat in the backseat with him and he held my finger.  I remember telling Todd that Landon was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. 

One morning after the church service at Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane, I picked Landon up from the nursery.  He was still very little.  I walked through the sanctuary and the Lord spoke quietly to my heart.  As I held this small little boy in my arms I knew the Lord was letting me know to whom he belonged.  

Landon likes books, his Playstation,  telling jokes, drawing cartoons, and watching movies. But if you ask him what he loves, he will say his friends, family, and most of all Jesus. "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."  Psalm 100:5  I pray that he will love the Lord with all of his heart for all of his days.  Happy Birthday Landon!!!!  We love you, Mom, Dad, Kendall, and Caden

Jesus, my Dearest Friend

Loneliness is something that I have struggled with at different times of my life.  Growing up in a small town brought comfort.  The thought of seeing someone you know each time you go to the store, knowing every face you see at school, and always having family down the road was a blessing for me. But there were still times, even in all the comfort of home, that I found myself lonely.  

 I have moved 4 major times since the day I married more than 12 years ago.  For a girl who never drove on the interstate but maybe once before I was married I had to make major adjustments each move.  In the midst of all the adjustments God was and is always with me.  

God has always provided me with precious friends.  When we moved to Cochrane, Alberta we had never been there before, but we knew that is where the Lord wanted us to be.  I was five months pregnant and far away from home.  Soon a few ladies invited me to come to a prayer time.  This was just what I needed at such a time.  These ladies were much more mature in their faith and God began to teach me the importance of staying close to Him in prayer.  What beautiful times I had learning from all the students, wives, and teachers that passed through our home during those years!  And best of all, God was with me.  "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13

Then we moved to Todd's home town and he began working at his home church.  He knew everyone and I knew very few.  Missing all my friends back in Canada, I remember sitting at our dining room table and weeping.  Praying, "Lord, why did you move me again? I am so lonely, what should I do?"  I was feeling pretty sorry for myself, when the Lord spoke straight to my heart, "Lisa, I am here with you."  In John 15:4, Jesus says, "Abide in Me."  I then drew near to my Father and He comforted me.  We spent 3 years there and God gave me friendships that will last a lifetime.  And best of all God was with me.

Almost 5 years ago, we followed the Lord as He led us to move here to Botswana.  I had never been on the continent of Africa.  For years I had dreamed of what it would be like.  Arriving in the small airport, with heat blazing, I knew my dreams had now become a reality.  I was not alone as Todd and our two small sons were by my side and our new missionary family greeted us.  We soon moved to a village/town where we would study language.  There was another missionary family there studying as well.  They had three boys and a baby to be born not long after we arrived. We were fast friends.  And most importantly God was walking me through each new adventure He had laid out before me.  

Through all of these experiences the Lord has taught me that we can be surrounded by friends and yet still feel alone.  In those times I have learned that there is no friendship more important than the one we have with Jesus.  If we are not walking with Him each day, even if we have all the friends "Facebook" can hold we will be still lonely.  We were all made to be in fellowship with Him and there is nothing or no one that can fill that void but the Lord Himself.  I encourage you to get somewhere alone with Him today.  Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden, is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Friends Are A Gift From Jesus

Our friends and co-laborers here in Botswana have a daughter named Allison.  She came and stayed a while with me this afternoon.  Caden was taking a nap and the big boys were still at school.  So we decided to watch Cinderella together.  For some reason this is not a movie that is Ever requested by my boys.  We talked, colored, baked cookies, and I put her hair in a ponytail.  These couple of hours were precious.  The boys soon came home from school and the house was filled with laughter and excitement.  I noticed they were all outside looking for ladybugs and grasshoppers, collecting rocks, and climbing our tree.  She even said she would play football with them and Kendall said, "I'll go easy on her, Mom."  I know if they would have played she would have proved herself a worthy opponent.  

  God uses my children, nieces, nephew, the children of my friends, kids from the neighborhood, and my boy's buddies to bless my life everyday.  Let us not dismiss them in order to get on to "more important" things.  Take time to get to know them and share God's love with them.  That is what Jesus did and taught.  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Mark 10:14

Caden Sweeping...

Sweeping the dirt....

This picture was taken today in our front yard.  One thing I have learned since moving to Botswana is how to sweep the dirt.  There is  a fine art to sweeping it correctly.  You bend at the waist and sweep in one direction.  You put your left hand behind your back as you sweep with your right.  As you can see, Caden still has to work on his form a little.  After you are done sweeping is should all look nice and "clean".  I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that while you are sweeping away the lose dirt underneath it is still simply dirt.  

When it comes to our own lives do we just ask the Lord to help us sweep away the lose "sin" in our lives that seems easy to remove.  Or do we let Him go deeper into the sin that maybe we have not even recognized.  

For me it is all about my relationship with the Lord.  I do not want there to be anything within me that would keep me from walking with Him in harmony.  "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

  So I continue going before my Father and asking Him to show me any "dirt" in this heart of mine.   "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9

Just remember to allow God to dig deep into your heart.  He is faithful and will heal the brokenhearted.  

Heart Lessons

I have been reminded this week to share with those which God has placed around you how much you love them and more importantly how precious they are to the Lord.  Over the years many friends in my life have passed away unexpectedly.  Remembering my last moments with them, I try to think about the last thing I said.  I know that life is like a breath and it vanishes so quickly, but so often I have not taken every opportunity to share God's love with others.  My mind drifts to the story of the last supper in the Bible where Jesus washed His disciples feet:

"So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him......".

 After Jesus washed their feet He told them, "And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet.  I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you."  John 13:4,5,14,15

I can never go back in time and share with those friends how dear they are and that grieves my heart.  But I can allow God to use that grief to help me become more and more dependent on Him to show me how to wash the feet of others.