This is just not my day

You ever have one of those days you just wish you could stop, roll back the clock and start all over again? I've had many, and today was one of them. I woke up later than usual. I my must have been tired. I still had plenty of time tho. I tried to fix my hair. I just got it cut and it's adorable but I want to make it look the way the hairdresser styled it (an impossible task I'm positive! It never works so I don't know why I always try) So at least 30 minutes were allotted to try and curl my hair which only mad my hair a crimped, and hairspray full mess. With two strands that just wouldn't curl no matter what I did! Forget this. I still have time to take a shower and fix this. Yes, showers make everything better. Only to get a phone call that mom forgot her purse and I need to drop it off on my way. Snap. I'm already late...... Just hurry. Ok. I feel much better until I look at the clock and I should be leaving in like 4 minutes. I try on my first outfit and I feel hideous. Go to the old classic...I wore that last week. What will people think see me wear the same thing over and over? That's dirty, that's doesn't match. I have no idea what to do. My faces breaking out. I haven't even begin to put makeup on, I don't know what to wear, it's winter and my skin feels so dry. Grrrr.....I literally stand there staring at the pile of clothes on my bed. Ok, ok calm down and just do what needs done. Find an outfit and head to church. You're going to be late. Grab mom's purse and head out the door. Take a deep breathe. Things will be better...maybe. Good grief this is just not my day.

The moment those words came out of my mouth I knew it was wrong. Of course it wasn't my day! It wasn't suppose to be my day. And I'm not just saying that cause it's Sunday. No, everyday is the day the Lord has made. It is his. It is his to do with as he pleases. It doesn't matter what I look like, or how I feel. This day isn't about me, it's about Him.  

As I stood in my room, trying desperately to decided what to wear, I was reminded of a parable in Matthew. The King's son was getting married! The King in his delight invited all the nobles to attend! However, they each had an excuse for why they couldn't come. Because the nobles refused the king sent his servants out into the streets and invited all they could find. He even provided wedding clothes for each of them! The day of the wedding arrived! As the king walked around he noticed one of the guests didn't have wedding clothes on. He went to him and said, "Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless." 

When I was younger there were Sunday mornings I would dress really nice for church, pick out the perfect shoes, put my makeup on and curl my hair. I would then go to my parents room where there was full length mirror and examine myself, turn to my dad and ask him how I looked. His reply was always similar. "Well you look nice but as I always told you it doesn't matter how you look on he outside if your ugly on the inside." My dad lovingly reminded me that my character mattered more than my appearance. It's true! It doesn't matter how I walk into church or anywhere, God knows and sees me. But am I walking before him with a pure heart? Am I wearing the wedding clothes he has provided through his son? Am I exhibiting the fruit of the spirit? 

For today is not my day. This is the day the Lord has made so I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Taste and See

I realized that this year was my 18th second birthday!  I feel like we should celebrate second birthdays more than we do. The moment that I think about how God and I have been walking together for 18years!!! That's just blows my mind! And it makes me think through all those special moments we have shared together. I have tasted and seen the Lord; and my friend, HE IS GOOD. It doesn't mean I have arrived, that I have completely comprehended him. Nothing could be farther from the truth. No, it just causes me to long for him more.

When I was younger we did family devotions in the morning. As most kids, there were mornings it was hard to sit still and listen to a proverb being read. I remember dad talking about Matthew 5 and how we needed to "hunger" after God. He explained it by comparing it to the way the boys loved cereal. He said, "Just like you always want another bowl of cereal you should want more of God's word!" Often after that, dad would hear one of us kids say, "give us another bowl dad." When he had finished reading for that day.

I think the more you know Jesus, I mean really KNOW him, the more you want to know him. It's like a potato chip. I know, that's a weird analogy! But think about it!! "You can't have just one." And let's be honest, one moment, one day, one year with the Lord? No way!! Once you have tasted what it's like to be intimately known and know the Lord how can you ever be satisfied until you are in glory with Him FOREVER? I've had a taste of what's it's like to live with the Lord...and let me tell you, it is worth every moment.

The more you know him the less you stress. I know it's kinda weird.... However, one of my coworkers and I were talking the other day about how the older we get in our faith the less we seem to worry or stress over situations. I've thought about that often since then. I honestly think it's because we have seen the Lord work. The world doesn't understand but after walking with God, we have evidence that he works, he heals, he comforts, he provides. God is in control. Relax people! God's got this! Sure, we aren't perfect. There are times we still stress, worry, panic, try and take things into our own control and completely mess it up. But when that terminal illness appears, when love of your life turns out not to be the love of your life, when finances are tight, when life falls apart, we still stand. That's one of the coolest thing about being believer is how everything around us can be a huge battlefield rife with death, pain and scars. Yet, we stand, unharmed. The difference between those who have been walking with him longer is that they have a fiercer battle faces. You know that scene in the movies where the battle is raging in slow motion all around the hero and the hero just stands and calmly walks through it all. The new believer looks a little timid, astonished at the fact that they are unharmed. The older Christian has been through this before. They grit their teeth, pick up the sword and make the most of the moment. Guys, I have seen the Lord work and it's incredible, indescribable, absolutely amazing! 

I have tasted and seen the Lord and HE IS GOOD!

An Image

I have recently gotten back onto social media. Social media is such an amazing tool. Being able to connect with people and share with people in an amazing way. However, I have been struggling with something….I just feel like my social media life can be so fake. Now, I'm not here to rant and rave about how people are "fake" on social media. In fact, I honestly wasn't thinking about others as much as myself. I can be having the worst day, struggling spiritually, having a bad attitude or maybe going through a crisis and yet on Facebook…..

"I just love the smell of coffee in the morning! #blessed #coffeeadict #thisishowigetthroughtheday" 

Although, I am not one to vent all my frustrations on social media walls! In fact, I love staying positive and thankful, helping people have a different perspective on their circumstances. Goodness, that's why I started blogging in the first place! How do I fix this conundrum?!? How do I be real and not spilling my emotional guts online.

As I was pondering this dilemma, I wondered what is was that caused me to feel "fake." It's like I make this IMAGE of myself…..IMAGE…. I'm good at creating a good image. Let's be honest….why do you think I was an A+ student in high school? I could figure out what my teacher expected or wanted and I began to create an image….be who they wanted with a little JP twist. I mean after all I'm still an outspoken, headstrong first born….I have an image to uphold people!! Snap. It slipped out again….

IMAGE- A representation of the external form of.

 From the UrbanDicionary-The overall outlook of a place, person, or thing.

likeness. similarity. appearance. portrayal. shape. REPRESENTATION

Exodus 20:4 "Do not make an [image] for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth." 

As I began to think about the word IMAGE, I thought of the Israelites in the desert. Today we are not faced with many golden calfs that are pronounced to be the delivers of a great nations. No, our "graven images" are a whole lot different. But, come on, we live in the world of technology!! They have to be 10x cooler. Ya, they involve clever quotes and catch phrases, hashtags, selfies, and yep, you guessed it…FILTERS. All of it adds up to an IMAGE. An IMAGE I am creating to cause you to fall in worship of me….to bring myself glory. 

Hebrews 1:3 "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high"
The older I get the more apparent it becomes that life is NOT about me. It does not revolve around me, it will keep going without me, it is not dependent upon me. No, this world was created by God and held together by His mighty hand. Everything in it, including me, was created for HIS GLORY….not mine.
Psalms 115:1 "Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth."
Social media is just a new package to an old problem. instead of sticks and stones its cameras and filters and clever quotes. Instead of animal portraits its selflies. God created each of these as tools to be used to bring us good and him glory and yet as Romans clearly tells us, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles….They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen." 

Although I am so thankful for the tool of social media I must recognize I am susceptible to breaking the 2nd commandment. I never realized idolatry was such an issue in my life. Sure, pride, selfishness, laziness.... I get those. But idolatry?!? However, here I am carefully carving myself a graven image in the form of filters and hashtags. 
The sad thing is it's a image that can't hear, can't see, can't meet your deepest needs. It's an image on the screen. How I long to serve a living God!

He is the image of the invisible God...

Be imitators of God

Colossians 1:15/Ephesians 5:1

Spirit Led or Coffee Fed

 I have been told that the first step in resolving a problem is to admit that you have a problem. I HAVE A PROBLEM!! I might need professional help. Is there a Coffee Anonymous?! I might need to check into the program if it exists. I honestly didn't think my coffee drinking was that big of a problem until recently….You know I used to hate coffee. Oh, Ms. Marilyn what have you done to me?! Good Ol' Ms. Marilyn! She's been in the ministry for over 50yrs. I met her my first year as a camp counselor. The spunky, drive a golf-cart crazy and would probably run over you, super particular about folding towels, Ms. Marilyn. I want to be her when I grow up. Anyways, it was Ms. Marilyn's coffee that began my journey to becoming an addict.... Ok maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit. Nontheless, that summer was very memorable. A milestone in my life. It was that summer that God began to develop a love and longing for ministry in my life; especially camp ministry. It was also the summer I began to like country music and coffee. And as I say, you can't go wrong with the three C's: Camp, Coffee and Country music! Ok I'm getting really off topic....

Coffee, the elixir of life. There is nothing like waking up to a the smell of fresh brew of coffee. The mornings my little brother would peek through my door and come in bearing a warm cup of joe, those were the best! Walking through the cafeteria door earlier in the morning, getting ready for the breakfast rush, was all worth it when I saw Bob's coffee pot full of steaming coffee. 

Yep, coffee has become a idle in my life. And I thinks about time to do something about it. Not that I think coffee is sinful or that I will never drink another cup.... Actually I'm drinking some right now.... But maybe I should make sure it's not taking over my life. 

I can't imagine a day without coffee. I can't imagine! -Howard Schultz

What has caused me to think this way? To realize I have a problem. Well.... When your coworker makes the comment, "Have you seen yourself before you've had your coffee in the morning? 'Cause I have." Makes me wonder if God is the one changing and controlling my attitude or am I allowing coffee to do that? 

Maybe I should also consider wearing more makeup to work..... I mean I work with plumbers so I really didn't think too much of it until one morning I came in, clocked in, drug myself to the coffee pot and heard "Woah! Looks like we have Mr. Hyde this morning instead of Dr. Jekyll. Drink that coffee girl! We need Dr. Jekyll!" I mean I hadn't got a lot of sleep the night before but I didn't think I looked that bad!!   

I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake. -Lewis Black

Ya'll when your coworkers, who are plumbers, start commenting on your dependence upon coffee something is wrong. So again, I think I need a coffee annoymous.... maybe I should start one. I still love coffee. Fact is I'll wake up tomorrow (Lord willing) and as I walk into the breakdown, will go straight to the coffee pot and pour myself a cup of coffee. However, I do need to be more attentive to my attitude and making sure it's being controlled by the spirit rather than coffee or anything else.

A Broken Vessel

"I AM NOT OK." Four little words whispered to myself in a moment all to myself. A phrase that is followed by buckets of tears. As I have briefly mentioned before, I hate vulnerability. It feels like weakness, like a problem, like ungratefulness. To be vulnerable means I didn't have enough strength. I didn't rely on the Lord enough. I am being negative and ungrateful. A couple months ago my sister and I took the emotion quiz. I thought it odd that I turned out to be joy. But now I see it. Maybe that's why the movie hit so close to home for me. I am Joy. I must make things work. I fix problems, I find the silver lining. In the midst of this crazy world there is a reason to be happy, and happy we must be. We can do this! Find the positive. Keep going. Be Happy. So, I give myself my pep talk day in, day out. "I am fine. God's got this. He's in control. I am fine. I am fine. I am fine." But, the truth is I'm not. I'm falling apart. I'm battered, I'm bruised, I'm BROKEN… I am so broken…..

“I see the fragmented beauty of grace in their lives despite continued struggles. Beautiful mosaics formed by broken pieces.” 

― Cindy McCormick Martinusen

Honest to goodness, I hate it! I hate falling apart. I hate not having it together and I hate being broken. I keep trying to fix it, to hold it together but I'm failing miserably. So, here I sit, completely vulnerable. My broken pieces lying all around me…. I am not ok any longer. 

6 

"You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart." -Psalms 52:16-17

So I cry… a lot. I hurt, and I wish I could make it all work. I wish I could fix it. To erase the brokenness and put my life in a nice little box with a ribbon and bow. That my life would somehow be perfect. Then I realize it's too late…. So I cry some more.

I pray that God will hold me. That God will fix it. That somehow out of the mess I made he will still use me…. And in the midst of pondering how great my God is I realize just how broken I really am…. so I cry even more. Oh how I've messed it up! How I have ruined everything! What on earth am I suppose to do now…. All I can think is "I'm broken. I'm so broken." What kind of vessel is a broken one??

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” 

― Vance Havner

It was the broken vessel which Gideon was commanded to use. It was the broken vessel that made the Midinites realize they were surrounded by the Lord. It was the broken vessel that God used to give the Israelites the victory. Through the broken vessel, the light shone. Oh Lord, please shine through this broken vessel. Use every hurt, and every bruise. I pray every broken piece that has fallen to the ground will let your light shine even greater. Oh Lord, use this broken vessel. Route the enemy, rally the army and bring victory. 

"I have won, and I have lost. I got it right sometimes but sometimes I did not. Life has been a journey. I've seen joy, I've seen regret. Oh and you have been my God through all of it." -Colton Dixen

A Love Story

"He's my darling.... 50yrs. We've been together 50 years September 3rd."

My electronic trance was interrupted by the sweet little old voice next to me. I couldn't help but smile as she nodded towards her husband hobbling toward us. I congratulated her on her 50th anniversary. But I was not to go back to my phone screen... "The secret is forgiveness." Again I smiled as I listen to the weathered voice give me advice for a long and happy marraige. "Forgive all the time, everything. For everyone."

"Not an easy thing to do" I replied. "No it's not always easy. But you get so...blessed when you do." She smiled at me with her brightly painted lips. "We've been through some hard times." She glanced at her beloved sitting next to her. "The thing that got us through was the Royals." She chuckled. " no matter the struggle, the health issues, we could sit down, forget all of them and watch the game. We would always end up smiling."  The couple looked at eachother with love in their eyes. I couldn't help but smile and chuckle to myself. How often do you get randomly caught up in a conversation like this waiting on your papa's eye appointment to end?

Of course you know what I had to ask next, "So, how did you meet?" She gladly told me the short tale. "Well he was in the service and I was in the service and we were at the bar and he asked me to dance. Everyone moved out of the way and watched us. Me in my high heels. We danced the boogie woogie." She giggled and nugged her hubby. "You two must have been some dancers." I responded. "Oh yes. We love to dance!" The next few minutes were spent talking about various things that had been occurring in their life. She doted on her husband. Telling him he was handsome and that he had a handsome heart. To which he replied, "They don't take pictures of hearts." lol 

She said he was a hard worker and he was really smart. The thing I noticed most is the admiration and love in her eyes. To her, he was everything. He was the most handsome, the smartest, the sweetest, the most hard working man alive and above all he was hers. Now that's a love story if I ever saw one! ☺️❤️

Jesus Holds Me

Oh how I love rainy, dreary days. Sometimes it feels like God decides to cry with us. That is one thing I love about weather and especially the bi-polar weather of Kansas. I feel like it's a way God speaks to us, let us know he is here with us...Emmanuel. How strange it is that a simply rainstorm can make us feel like God is mourning with us. Funny how a slight warm breeze can feel like he is embracing me, or the sun peeking through the clouds can begin to brighten the day. The endless clouds rolling on the blue Kansan sky shows his infinity, creativity, and consistency. Yes, I love how just through the weather he reminds me he is here, he is with me. He is Emmanuel- God with us. He is El Roi- The God who sees me. He is my God.

So often in this world we forget that he is here among us. Here to walk with us, to help us, to hold us. Scripture often talks about the faith of a child. There is something special about it. Not fearing the future, not worrying about the past but just resting in the knowledge that God's got this. How easy it was to believe that back before the cares of this world began to choke me. What a vivid picture is given in Matthew. 

"Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." -Matthew 13:22

Isn't that how life is? The older we get the more cares and worries begin to choke us making us unfruitful. When all the while he is right here, ready to put all the pieces back together. I never realized how much I long to be held, to have someone hold all my falling pieces together. How easy it is to seek that from those around me only to be brutally disappointed to find they, in their humanness can't. 

When I was a little girl it was so much easier to remember my first love. Easier to trust his plan. Easier to rest in his arms. Why is it that the older we get the cares of this world weigh us down? Why is it so hard to cast them aside to run the race? I miss my childlike faith. 

My aunt has many stories of he babysitting adventures with me and my siblings. One of my favorites is when I was 2. I don't remember it, but I've heard the story enough that it feels like I do. My Aunt was watching me one evening, I had already been put to bed. Suddenly my Aunt heard me cry out. She rushed in and wrapped me up in her arms, stroked my head and tried to soothe my fears. She thought she had succeeded in calming me down when I looked up at her and said, 

"Jesus holds me." 

Jesus holds me. He holds me when I'm broken. He holds me when I'm afraid. He holds me when I feel like I'm falling apart. He holds me. 

"Jesus hold my hand. Jesus hold my heart. Jesus hold my life, and Jesus hold me."

How did I forget that he holds me. That he is the only one who can hold all the pieces together. How comforting it is to rest in his arms. How on earth could I have forgotten what it was like to be held by him? All the while seeking and desiring it from another means, a poor imitation of the real deal. When everything and everyone else fails to hold my brokenness together, Jesus holds me. 

It's Not What It Seems

"It's not what it seems" a phrase from my childhood... Unlike most girls, I didn't grow up with Barbie and Ken, I didn't play with make up or wish for a pony. I think it has been established that I was not your ordinary little girl. However, there was one princess movie I watched over and over and over!! Not only did I have "The Swan Princess" memorized complete with ever musical number (which I am pretty sure I could still quote), I also had my favorite purple swan princess shirt and matching socks.... Maybe I just had purple socks... Either way I was positive they were meant to be worn together. I also had a very memorable birthday surrounded by the theme of "Swan Princess." Although I have to admit it was not the theme of that party that made it memorable. Instead it was the simple fact that I was devastated my daddy would be gone on my birthday only to have him walk through the back gate as my party began. :) My prince had arrived just in time for the ball! 

As prince Derek struggles to find the kidnapped princess Odette, he has only one clue given by her father the king. His dying words ring over and over in Derek's ears, "It's not what it seems..." 

Life is never what it seems. There are so many twists and turns. So many things are unexpected and unpredicted. Mostly it's because we live and deal with people. "People" a simple and yet complicated and messy word. I can't help but think of C.S. Lewis' character Aslan. It is said that he is not a tame lion. You can never predict his actions or his thoughts... Of course the untame lion is meant to represent God. And in who's image is every human created?? No, we are not God... Not even close. But if he is so unpredictable and untame then it only stands to reason that those created in his image are similar. The comforting thing is that he, unlike his creation, he is perfectly good all the time. He is orderly. He is just. He never changes. But he is untame. 

People, his beautiful creation, made in his image, on purpose, with purpose, to glorify him... Boy are we a mess. An unpredictable, crazy, sinful mess. "The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; who can know it?" We think we have things under control and the doctor gives us the diagnosis. We think we have security, a home, and suddenly a natural disaster hits. We finally financial stability and the car breaks down. We are hurt, stabbed and broken by those closest to us. One minute life is great, the next it's upside down. Or maybe the house of your dreams finally becomes yours! Maybe you finished your degree somehow with no debt! Maybe the love of your life walked into your life by surprise! We are joyful, excited and astounded by the goodness of the Lord.... Life seems to be roller coaster ride of ups and downs. So here we are in a world that is "Not as it seems." 

How do we cope? How do we put this messy, crazy, unpredictable life into a neat box with a bow? How can we understand it? How can we make sense of it or determine how to react to it? I guess the simple answer is, you don't!! As a person who loves things in order and under control it pains me to say that you can't do that with life. Yes, we can make plans. Yes, we can be wise in decisions. We can even predict some things. However, life will never be under control of a human being. PRAISE THE LORD! Goodness, could you even imagine? No, this world is in the hands of the creator. He has already won the battle, he holds the future in His hands. It is because of this that we can laugh at the things to come as proverbs says. 

This is where we should be securely resting in the arms of our Father! Often in the midst of "it is not what it seems" we often panic. Trying to grab on the edge of cliff as if we are falling to the abyss. Flailing our arms as if we are drowning. Why is it that in the midst of a world that is upside down believers can stand fast and secure? HOPE. Hope in the coming of the Lord. Hope that we have a future beyond this world. A Hope that we can rest in the one who is in complete control. 

So when all is "not as it seems".... STAND. Don't worry. Don't try and fix it. Don't try and control it. Simply STAND on the Firm Foundation of Christ!

"On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand...."

Grace is Greater

If there is one thing I am bad at its being vulnerable. I absolutely hate it. Very few have seen me cry. Its not that I don't…. I actually do… more often than you might think. Its not that I have my life together. To be honest it often feels like its falling apart. Its not that I am strong or that I don't struggle. The fact is I just don't want you to see that part of me. I make it holy in my mind. I want to bring God glory and be positive about things. True, those are good things. But sometimes there is "pain in the offering." Sometimes things hurt. Sometimes there are trials you can't seem to bear. We get wounded, bruised battered, pushed down, hard pressed…… but we are not beaten. When is God glorified the most? When his strength is made evident in our weakness.

There is a strange balance in scripture. It often doesn't make sense to the human mind. Then again, who cares! Why? Cause it's fabulous! God is good all the time and one way that is shown is through our frailties, our mistakes, our mishaps. In my pride I struggle with this truth. How on earth could my human failures bring glory to God? All I see is humiliation and a lot of humble pie headed my way. The truth is it will not be rainbows and gum drops for us. No, I must face the consequences of my actions and choices. It's not easy. It's difficult. It's hurts and it's humiliating. But, God's Grace is Greater! 

We can have a horrible past. We can question and wonder how we can ever be forgiven. We can ask how we could ever be used. We are dirty, ragged, limping off the battle field. How can my testimony be used? How can I be a treasure? How can I be a vital part of a Holy mission? God's Grace is Greater!

I love these 4 words. Last year God took me on a long journey through the book of James. I thought I knew what he was doing then.... Little did I know that he wouldn't just build me up and stretch me then but he did that then to give me Hope now. Why? Because God's Grace is Greater. He had to teach me about his grace and begin to show me the truth of his Grace because he knew I would need his Grace for such a time as this. Now I get to understand the depth of His Grace personally. Oh my soul, Praise the Lord! Because God's Grace is Greater! 

What is Grace? Simply getting gifts we don't deserve. It is the covering. It is the robe placed on the prodigals back. No longer does anyone see my shame, my dirt, my filth, my sin. Now, they see a child of the king, clothed in his glory. Why? Because God's Grace is Greater. I will never get sick of saying it!! Let us shout it from the mountain tops! My God showers me with endless Grace!

Wise Old Sayings

There are so many old wise sayings and proverbs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Who really knows how they originated. They have guided us, made us laugh and caused us to think. However, if you really begin to ponder the phrases, they are so strange! Some of them are just plain ridiculous. Here are a few of my favorite proverbs with my synopsis:

"Actions speak louder than words."

Obviously whoever came up with this phrase had never played charades! I mean think about this phrase for a second and think about how difficult it really is to communicate to someone without words!!! Sure, I know the point of the phrase…however, I don't think actions speak louder than words…that's simply bad communication. No, ACTIONS prove WORDS. It's like faith and works really. You can't have one without the other. They are two sides of one coin. Sure, make sure your actions match your words but don't throw out words all together!! Unless your really playing charades then you kinda have to, its the rules. 

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Seriously?!?! Have you ever met someone, ANYONE, who was able to keep doctors away with an apple? What, is it like wearing garlic around your neck protect you from vampires? Let's all wear apples around our neck to ward off doctors! I just don't get this phrase…I mean sure apples are good for you but most kids I know don't have a problem eating apples. I mean if they wanted to promote healthy eating why not "A broccoli a day keeps the doctor away?" or "A Carrot a day keeps the doctor away?" And why do you want to keep doctors away? I mean if you really think about that phrase, its strange. Doctors usually don't come to you anyways. Usually you have to go to them and wait for hours upon hours to get them to see you…..Must be all those apples everyone is eating….If people could just stop eating so many apples so doctors wouldn't be so late to their appointments…that would be great.

"Better a live coward than a dead hero."

But is it really??? You know I could go all biblical here and talk about as believers, after we die is so much better than life here on earth so obviously this phrase is completely wrong. Which is completely true. However, there is more proof….

BAM!

Chose to be a live coward instead of a dead hero. Now he pretty much can't die, is evil beyond belief, lost his son, lost his wife…twice…and is destined to never have a happy ending. So is it better to be live coward? No, no it is not!

"Imitation is the purest form of flattery."

I hate this proverb. Every time my little sister was being annoying, stealing my clothes, trying to play with me and my friends, deciding my hobbies were her hobbies, what did my mom say??? Yep, "Imitation is the purest form of flattery." It doesn't feel like it!! It feels like my little sister is stealing my life!! Its not imitation, its copy-cating. Maybe this phrase holds true in some situations but I don't believe it should be used in a sibling scenario…. Ok, so maybe its true and I just dislike this phrase….

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

I honestly just never understood this phrase…… I just don't understand what is so important about having a bird in your hand? And how did the bird get into your hand? And what is so valuable about a bird in your hand? And what is wrong with the birds in the bush? Aren't birds suppose to be in bushes and trees or telephone poles? Weren't we taught not to touch birds? I was always told to leave them alone? Really this phrase makes no sense to me…. Although it did make a good Geico commercial.

"A watched pot never boils."

I have watched the pot and it boiled……..End of Story. 

"All is fair in love and war."

Ecclesiastes says there is a time for every season under heaven… There is a time for war and a time for peace or love. Basically this phrase just described every season in life. Either we are in a season of war or in a season of love. Therefore, ALL SHOULD BE FAIR! However, people are always quick to remind us that "LIFE ISN"T FAIR." Can you say, "contradiction?"

"Great minds think alike."

Let us just follow logic here. If great minds think alike, then they come up with the same great ideas, and thoughts correct? Therefore, all the great minds in the world will be thinking similar answers. So, if all the great minds are thinking similar answers those who are not thinking similar answers are not great minds. And if all the un-great minds are thinking the not-right answer then they are more than likely thinking the same not-right answer. Therefore, all the not-great minds are thinking alike. And if all the not-great minds are thinking alike and the great minds are all thinking alike…..Who is to tell who is the great mind and who is the not-great mind? Something is not right with this proverb.

"There is no place like home."

Now this is a phrase I understand and completely believe is true!! There is no place like home! I think everyone can agree on that. However, take in context. It was Dorthy who said it speaking specifically about Kansas so really the phrase is, "There is no place like Kansas." ;)

When Life gives you Lemons...

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I am pretty sure that is exactly what Marry Poppins was saying in her great phrase that turned into a musical hit, "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!" Think about it, the difference between lemon juice and lemonade is SUGAR. Yep, I am positive that is what Mary Poppins was thinking as she sang that song. And we have to believe Mary Poppins! After all, she is Practically Perfect in every way. :) Let's face it, LIFE happens. It's common knowledge that when you're running late you will hit every red light…Goodness, I hate that feeling! Rushing off to work and dying a little bit inside with every red light you hit. You woke up late, didn't get coffee, and your hair is pretty much a mess…but at least you have matching shoes on! Boy, have I been there…then I realized I was an hour early…. that's beside the point. What I was saying is that life happens and you can't do anything about it. No matter how much we try and make it so or desire it, we are not in complete control of life. Thank goodness!! I'm pretty sure I would have made of mess of things if I was. I am so thankful God is ultimately in control.

Life can seem pretty rough sometimes but then I wonder if it is really as bad as we think. Sometimes I think we make mountains out of mole hills, if you know what I mean. I love the characters from Mary Poppins. I feel like they can teach us a lot about life. Each one of them is faced with life. Things don't go their way and each one has a unique way of handling it! From Uncle Albert to the Admiral…Yep, some have to deal with lemon juice and others enjoy lemonade...

I love Uncle Albert; he is one of my favorite characters on the movie. WHY? Well, because he loves to laugh of course! Goodness, the best part of the movie is where Mary Poppins and the children run off the help Uncle Albert. What is so funny is that Mary Poppins seems to think that it is a desperate situation in need of remedy! Why not just enjoy the moment and LAUGH!! I mean they do in the end considering they have tea in the ceiling….. See, instead of making a mountain out of a mole hill, have tea on the ceiling.


So many of us get caught up in life like Mr. Banks. It is understandable. I mean he has the weight of the world on his shoulders as Bert pointed out. He has a family he has to provide for and a position at the bank where people look up to him. Both his household and his business seems to be falling apart before his very eyes…talk about stress! Thank goodness by the end of the film he realized that life was not in his control and that he needed to step back, take a deep breath and "go fly a kite." There must be some therapy in flying kites cause literally everyone ends up flying kites at the end of that movie….weird.


Then there is the Admiral. The strangest and least seen character in the movie, yet somehow I think he had it all figured out to begin with. The Admiral might be crazy but goodness he has a neat outlook on life! He took care of everyone. Watching the weather, knowing what was going on in the city and keeping everyone punctual. As bert said, "What he's famous for is punctuality. The whole world takes its time from Greenwich, but Greenwich, they say, takes its time from Admiral Boom." Ya, he may be strange blasting his cannon throughout the neighborhood and telling people the weather from his rooftop but he has to have one of the greatest quotes in the movie. 

"Glorious day, Mr. Binnacle! Glorious! No one sleeps this morning. Put in a double charge of powder." 

-Admiral Boom

It's the Admiral and Mr. Banks that cause Mrs. Banks to have an eventful and stressful life and yet Mrs. Banks handles every upset with poise and grace. From calmly listening to each of Mr. Bank's rants and qualms to effectively handling each of the Admiral's blasts that literally shakes her house. How a woman can be so feisty and yet so calm about everything seriously puzzles me. I mean even when her children get brought back by the police she acts quit calm about the whole thing. I feel like nothing can faze this woman! As she so fittingly sings, "We're clearly soldiers in petticoats!" Of course she was singing about her fight for women's rights but I feel like it accurately describes her!

After writing this post I am going to have to go re-watch this movie!! Mary Poppins came to teach the children and take care of them and yet from this classic disney film we all can learn. The moral of the story?

When life gives you lemons….

1. Laugh

2. Go Fly a Kite

3. Recognize what a Beautiful Day it is and Let EVERYONE know! No matter how crazy you look doing it! 

4. AND STAY CALM 

"A spoonful of sugar…makes lemonade out of lemons."