Forgetting the Past...

"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal...
Philippians 3:13-14"

This was the start of one of my devotionals (For Every Season by Greg Laurie) the other day.

Here, the word "forget" doesn't mean a failure to remember as much as it means no longer being influenced or affected by the past. You may not be able to erase them from your memory you just don't need to be inluenced by them anymore. Sometimes we dredge up the things God has forgiven and forgotten. The Lord says:
"I will remember their sins no more"
Jeremiah 31:34
Yet many times we will bring past sins up, forgetting the fact that our God has a big eraser. Why should we choose to rememer what God has chosen to forget? If God has forgiven my sins and forgotten them, then I need to leave them behind, learn from my mistakes, not do the same thing again, and move forward.
In addition to forgetting our sins, we should also forget our victories. Certianly, we are to thank God for them. But we need to remember that there are new opportunities ahead of us.

I've read these passages so many times, and I know that I am to forget my past sins and move forward. For some reason it never hit me that my past also includes my victories. Not dwelling in the past means leaving the good and the bad of my past behind and create new victories.

Finally...A Good Blonde Joke

A lawyer and a blonde woman are sitting next to each other on a long flight.

The lawyer asks if she would like to play a fun game.

The blonde is tired and just wants to take a nap, so she politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists, that the game is a lot of fun.

'I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5; you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.'

This catches the blonde's attention; and, to keep him quiet, she agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question.

'What's the distance from the earth to the moon?'

The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches in to her purse, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer

Now, it's the blonde's turn. She asks the lawyer, 'What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?'

The lawyer uses his laptop, searches all references.


He uses the Airphone; he searches the Net and even the Library of Congress.

He sends e-mails to all the smart friends he knows, all to no avail.

After one hour of searching he finally gives up.

He wakes up the blonde and hands her $500.

The blonde takes the $500 and goes back to sleep.

The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer.

He wakes her up and asks, 'Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?' The blonde reaches into her purse, hands the lawyer $5 and goes back to sleep.

Happy Easter

Church was so wonderful this morning...I love Easter! Our little girl looked adorable in her new Easter dress.

Here are a couple pictures of Easter 1984. My sister and I sang "Christ Arose"

Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus, my Savior!
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus, my Lord!

Chorus:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a victor
From the dark domain,
And He lives forever
With His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2. Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus, my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus my Lord!
Chorus:

3. Death cannot keep his prey,
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away,
Jesus my Lord!
Chorus:

Actually I say "Christ Arose"...my sister stood behind me and told me the words.

This one is my mom, me, Carol, my Aunt Laurie.

Is it really here...

As I was rocking my little girl tonight it hit me...

Tomorrow is Easter!

I don't know what happened. Why have I been so out of the loop? I've seen all the Easter decorations in the store, bought some Easter candy, even got an Easter package in the mail from our family in Washington, but for some reason it just now hit me. I love Easter and why haven't I been in the Easter mood? Why haven't I been spending time reflecting on what Jesus did for me, why haven't I been reading our little girl her Easter book?

I think its because Easter is earlier than it has been in my lifetime, there is 6 inches of snow outside, and no Spring like weather has something to do with it.

I had planned to grill for Easter dinner tomorrow- but we haven't pulled our grill out. I got a stellar outfit to wear, but white pants and a sleeveless shirt just doesn't seem appropriate when I spent 30 minutes this morning snow blowing our driveway. I even got a new dress for our little girl, but couldn't find tights, because it's not the season for tights anymore and Target didn't have any.

Easter is here and I've let the lack of Spring trick me into missing out on the anticipation of such a wonderful and important day. So, tonight I will get my work done so I don't have to do it tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a day spent dreaming of Spring, rejoicing over my salvation as well as playing and enjoying time with my little girl and husband. We'll also make sure to sit down and read her Easter book, before it gets packed away for next year.

My Hats...

Child of the King - I'm so excited that my new devotional book is in the mail on its way to my house. I really miss that time with God. I didn't realize how much I need it until I haven't had it.

Wife - It's been great having my husband home more the last few weeks.

Mother - Little girl's 2nd tooth is coming in, she's figured out how to scream and voice her opinion, she's getting into everything, she's growing up...quickly!

Aunt - My little nephew is getting so big...I can't wait to see him again.

Daughter - I feel blessed to see my parents so much and look forward to seeing my in-laws in a couple months.

Sister - I miss my sister.

Friend - I have so many friends near and far away. I miss so many of them and wish I had more time to spend with them.

Employee - I am very blessed in my job, but also treasure the days I am home and don't have to work.

Housekeeper - I ALWAYS have laundry to do, floors to clean, and toys to pick up.

Chef - I like to call myself that...I love to cook and bake. I wish I planned our meals better and had more time to spend in the kitchen.

Dreamer and Believer - I can always find time to dream.

I feel overwhelmed just making that list.

Fulfillment...

I read this a couple weeks back in a devotional book I have called Prayers and Promises for Mothers:

I know I'm looking in the wrong direction for fulfillment. The world doesn't care about me or my needs. Only You can take care of the desires of my heart. Allow me to feel the joy and contentment that come from being filled with You, Lord. Then my children will also see the truth and seek You. When they know You personally, then my heart will be filled to overflowing.

This has really been heavy on my heart. So many times I find myself trying to find my place in the world and become very discouraged. Then I realize, again, that I can't find my place because it's not where I belong. My place is not in this world, and yet I long so long to belong. I wish I didn't feel this way. I know that God has so much more to offer me than this world, but sometimes I still fight it...it's that whole human nature thing trying to fight through.

I am reminded of Paul's struggle in Romans 7:15-24

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Isn't it wonderful to know that the Lord loves us and is always there to pick us up?

Michigan Poem

It’s winter in Michigan
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.
Oh, how I love Michigan
When the snow’s up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I’ll hang around
I could never leave Michigan
‘Cause I’m frozen to the ground!!!!

Ya know...I'm getting rather sick of this winter! We had a couple beautiful days in there with sunshine sprinkled in and then BAM...another winter storm might come through on Friday. On a positive note, April is almost here...that has to mean Spring is on its way...doesn't it?!?!

Today...

I got to sleep in a little bit.

I got to have breakfast with my Dad.

I filed my taxes electronically...and they were accepted...yippee!

I had a video chat with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew.

I stayed up way to late and need to go to bed!!!!!

Good Quote...

I found this quote on the Internet tonight and it really struck a cord with me.

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good.

Lately I've realized that I need to get my life back in order. Having a baby is wonderful, but she sure turned my life upside down. And while most things are just fine staying that way there are a couple things that need to be turned back upright again.

I used to be very committed to reading my Bible and doing a personal Bible study every night. If I am honest I've fallen quite behind on this. I finished my last study and haven't picked up the next to do...my husband even bought it for me for my birthday. I've missed this time with God, and now I'm more committed than ever to get back into that groove again.

Everyday when I drove into the parking lot of my job I would sit in the car for a few minutes and say a prayer to start my work day. I would pray that I would be a blessing to someone today and that something or someone would be a blessing to me. It was amazing how often God would answer that prayer. I miss those exciting little moments in my work day. Looking for those opportunities where I can let God's love shine through a little bit brighter. Sure, I still live for God at work, but I need to search for ways to make that light a little stronger.

So things have changed...my world has been turned upside down...but it's been wonderful! I have a great husband, beautiful baby girl, and an amazing God who loves me despite my faults. I have a new outlook on life, and I wouldn't change it for the world!!