Blooming with Grace

Recently, I told God my plan and He said "I don't think so, Tam!  I want you to stay where you are a little longer and learn to bloom where I have planted you."  What's a girl to do?  Can't very well ask for guidance then argue with His directions, so I'm blooming right here - at least I'm working on it. 

            

A few weeks later, my sister challenged me to find a word to act as a "theme" for the coming year.  I have sort of done this in previous years - 2014 focused on change (graduations, weddings, etc); 2015 was supposed to be focused on "growth" (mine) from stagnant mom to intentionally, moving forward and re-discovering me.  But, I didn't really have a vision for what I want or expect in 2016.  Stay with me - this is going to connect in a minute.

Next, I was browsing Pinterest for a picture or graphic with the words "Bloom where you're planted" to use as a background on my cell phone - kind of a reminder.  I ran across the beautiful image above.  Because it's landscape rather than portrait format, it didn't work for my phone, but it is just so pretty!  It made me curious about the "The Life of Faith" website that is imprinted on it.  I was surprised to find that the title refers to the actual life of a woman named Faith.  

Specifically, the link took me to a post from 2012 in which Ms. Faith was receiving her own "bloom where you're planted" message from God.  She quoted 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: 

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.  You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and you will not be dependent on anybody."

How did that verse speak to me?  Let me count the ways:  

1. A quiet life - This has been my ambition for several years - in several forms:
•  To live quietly in a "non-flashy, non-attention grabbing" way;
•  a more literal choice to turn off the TV  and other background noise of life;
•  and in a "shut your yap" kind of way - "Be quick to listen, slow to speak" (James 1:19)
2. Work with your hands -  sewing, gardening, crafts, cooking, housework
3. Win the respect of outsiders - Let Christ's light shine through me and around me as an example to our children, friends, employees . . .
4. Not be dependent on anybody - Another goal since we purchased our own business at the beginning of 2015.  Dave is gone long hours and I have taken on not only the bookkeeping and cooking for the business, but responsibilities at home that were formerly his.  This verse seemed to be telling me that I could handle it.

Still with me?  I promise it all comes together in the end like an A-Team plan.

I began searching for scripture references to "blooming" and ran across this sermon from Deer Park United Methodist Church, in which the writer looks deeper into "bloom where you're planted" by examining it's parts:

bloom -  An action - participation is required - involving your abilities, your will to grow.

where you are - Not just your house or your job or your city, but everywhere your life takes place. Where you exist. All of the things which surround us, each day---the good and the bad, some that we had no part in choosing.

planted - It implies Someone, outside of ourselves, purposely placing us exactly where we are.  An act that requires a lot of care; a lot of thought; and a lot of hope.  He chose this place as the perfect place for this hidden, non-descript, little capsule of life to blossom into the world as something bigger and more beautiful.

The author referenced the words of Jeremiah, spoken to those who had been exiled into slavery. In this moment, God’s people are stranded in a foreign place. Their temple destroyed. Their sacred space in ruins. Their lives in a place they’d never expected.  And Jeremiah tells them to bloom where they are planted - build houses, plant gardens, get married and have children.

 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on it - Jeremiah 29:7

He told them to live fruitfully in that seemingly barren place, and spread the goodness they can make of their lives, into the life around them.

I returned to Pinterest and continued my search for a picture for my phone.  This time I found a slight variation which, evidently, is a French proverb:  "Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace."  Don't just bloom - bloom with grace.  Isn't that pretty?  It conjures images of Grace Kelly in that breath-taking black and white gown from the movie "Rear Window" - The picture of elegance and . . . well. .  .Grace.  I have always wanted to be like Grace Kelly - I want to bloom with grace.



Here's the big finale - the part where all the parts fall into place to reveal one coherent picture.  

• God's response to my plan
• My sister's challenge
• A 3-year-old blog post by a total stranger.
• A sermon from an unknown pastor in an unknown church.
• A French proverb

These five random things brought me to my "word" for the upcoming year - grace.   I will never have the beauty of Grace Kelly. I will never have the graceful movement of Fred Astaire.  But grace comes with a variety of definitions:

• Poise, dignity - "She is clothed with strength and dignity" - Proverbs 31:25

• To do honor or credit to (grace with your presence) - "Her husband has full confidence in her . . . her children arise and call her blessed." - Proverbs 31:11, 28

• Courteous good will, decency, respect (have the grace to...) - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." - Matthew 7:12

• The condition of being favored (in good graces) - "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart; then you will win favor and a good name with God and in the sight of man." - Proverbs 3:3-4

• A period of rest or relief from something difficult; respite (grace period) - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

• A prayer of thanksgiving and/or blessing - "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it..." - Luke 22:19

• A form of address for royalty (Your Grace) - "And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6  "Since we are his children, we are his heirs" - Romans 8:17  If I am a fellow heir with the Prince of Peace, I am also royalty.

• To be attractive, adorn (grace the cover of a magazine) - "The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" - 1 Peter 3:4

To be graceful and gracious, as defined by these scriptures, is my desire; and is only possible through the God's amazing grace:

• The free, unmerited favor of God - "For it is by grace you are saved" - Ephesians 2:8

Wishing you all a grace-filled new year!

Will it Go Round in Circles

Before you read this post, stop for a moment and enjoy this little throw-back to 1973:

Did you sing along?  At least in your head?  'm sure I haven't heard that song more than three times in the last twenty years, but I knew every word.  And the words make no sense!  "Will it go round in circles?  Will it fly high, like a bird up in the sky?"  Will WHAT go round in circles?  The melody-less song or the step-less dance?  And is that part of the dance - to go round in circles?  This song certainly seems to go in circles and repeat itself, although it does have a melody.  

There is a point to all this circular talk.  Last April, I posted a review of The Grace Impact by Nancy Grace.  The book is divided into 30 daily readings, and it was my intention to write some follow-up posts pertaining to my favorite readings: 

 Over the next few weeks I will be sharing on a few of my favorite lessons from the book and how they touched me. (me - in previously mentioned post)

Life got the best of me, however, and I've been running in circles and haven't gotten it done.  So, I'm going to claim that when I said "next few weeks", I actually meant "four months from now".

I mentioned the other day that I'm reading "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo.  Part of the author's plan for decluttering life is to hold each and every item I own and gauge whether or not it "sparks joy" in me.  Only those things that spark joy should remain in my home.  I'll post a full review "shortly" (open for interpretation) but, for now, the point is that my goal has been to thin out all the stuff in my house that isn't necessary or doesn't "spark joy". The whole concept had my mind spinning with visions of the joyous and peaceful space I would soon have.  But when I tried to put the plan into motion, I was spinning my wheels.  I've been through my house several times over the past couple years and, honestly, it's as de-cluttered as it's going to get. Things may sometimes be out of place, but I'm not a hoarder.  I don't have mountains of detritus to wade through, as Ms. Kondo experiences with her clients.

So, if it's not clutter and/or excess possessions, why do I have this vague feeling of unrest about my house?  Although it's de-cluttered and clean enough - the beds are made, the dishes are washed, the craft projects are confined to the craft room (mostly), the floors have seen a mop/vacuum in recent history - it never seems to be as "together" as I would like.  I never seem to be as together as I would like.  The answer was depressingly obvious - I don't manage my time and/or energy effectively.  I'm always rushing at the last minute, and disappointed at the end of the day that there's still a stain on the kitchen linoleum next to the dog dish*, the last load of laundry is sitting in the dryer wrinkling, and the weeds are taking over the garden.  I don't need to de-clutter my house, I need to de-clutter my schedule.  I need to de-clutter my mind. 

Ok.  Now I'm on to something.  Put down the smart phone and pick up a pencil.  Make a list:

1.  Clorox spot by dog dish
2.  Fold clothes
3.  Weed the garden
4.  Write blog posts you promised 4 months ago.

Now prioritize those items:  

1.  I'm out of Clorox.  Add it to the grocery list. (check)  
2.  Restart dryer to de-wrinkle clothes.  (check)
3.  Check weather app - 87 degrees, 80% humidity.  The weeds aren't that bad. (check)
 4.  Ok - blogging moves to the top of the list. I found my notes on The Grace Impact, and randomly selected one of the passages I had marked:  Day Sixteen - The Dashboard of Life.

In connecting the dashboard of a car to the dashboard of my life, Nancy likens the speedometer, which measures how fast we are traveling, to time management.  Well, that's appropriate!  

"We have given our busyness a different name - multitasking.  Renaming it doesn't alleviate the stress; it causes more."

I recently read (and I apologize that I can't remember where) that "multi-tasking" is actually just dividing our attention between two things and focusing on neither.  If multi-tasking was really possible, we would all be texting and driving successfully.   

The next dial on our dashboard is the fuel gauge.  In order to accomplish the tasks on my to-do list, I need to be well fueled.  Proper fuel includes several components, but the number one priority is my relationship with God.  A large part of that relationship is - you guessed it - time.

"Beginning the day with reading the Bible and devotionals gives your mind and soul a God-centered focus.  This habit is more beneficial than checking the news or your Facebook page, as it can set your heart and mind at peace for the day."

Pick up my phone before I pick up my Bible?  Would I do that? (I'm trying hard not to look guilty, but I don't think I'm pulling it off.)  Which brings me full-circle.  I need to "tidy up" all the clutter that comes between my intention to live a life of fellowship with, and service to, God; and the accomplishment of that goal.  Nothing else can spark that kind of joy.

In the next few days  Over the coming weeks  Eventually, I will share more of my favorite lessons from The Grace Impact.  In the mean time, you can get your own copy at Barnes and Noble or other booksellers.

* Feeding dogs in the kitchen sparks a rant long enough to be a separate post, but in this small house, there is legitimately no other place for it.

The Grace Impact

Last August, when our youngest child moved to New Mexico, and I was feeling lost and unsure of my next step, I was inspired by an article in Gracenotes, the newsletter of Nancy K. Grace.  In that article, Nancy was discussing "mid-points":

In the past month I've been diligently editing the manuscript for my first book, The Grace Impact. I made it half way through when I came upon a delay. I had a choice--to let it derail me or to press through, remembering the greater vision of the completed book.

 That's how I felt.  I was at a midpoint and, honestly, I was letting it derail me.  

One of the challenges of the mid-way point of a project is pressing on to finish in spite of the setbacks of tiredness, lack of motivation, or loss of vision for the completed project.

That sentence was the catalyst to the blog series "Life Under Construction", which chronicles my efforts to press-on.  I wrote:

I realize 53 is most likely not the "mid-way" point of my life, but I am feeling a decided tiredness and loss of vision for both the blog and life.  So both are getting an overhaul.  Not just a face lift - although that is part of the plan (figuratively for me and literally for the blog) - but a true remodel; tear away those things that are not necessary for the next chapter and start fresh with only those things which ad value and beauty to my "second half."

Nancy did press on and complete the editing and publication of her manuscript. I was thrilled to get an advance copy and the opportunity to introduce you all to Nancy.  

About fifteen years ago, we lived in Beloit, Kansas, where Nancy and her husband, Rick, pastored the church we attended.  The Graces left Beloit shortly after we did and are now in Arkansas.  You can read all about Nancy's achievements as a gifted musician, speaker, and author on her website; but the memories of Nancy that stick in my mind are of her role as teacher.  I attended several Bible studies that Nancy led and the lessons learned still come to mind frequently, even through the fog that is my memory after fifty.  Her insight, humor and ability to make whatever we were studying "real" inspired me to look deeper into God's word.  

The Grace Impact contains that same impactful teaching.  It is a collection of the "best of" Nancy's writing from her GraceNotes newsletter; thirty devotional readings, centered around 2 Corinthians 9:8 and the theme of - what else? - grace!  

Come back on Thursday, April 16th, for an interview with the author, along with information on where you can get your own copy of the The Grace Impact.  Over the next few weeks I will be sharing on a few of my favorite lessons from the book and how they touched me.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  (2 Cor. 9:8)