MarriedToThePastor.com

Is New Year's Day Your Friend or Foe?

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 17:43:00 +0000

I didn't intend to blog today. I didn't wake up with the idea of a "Fresh, New Year" and a commitment to write more, to be a better person, or to lose weight. (Well, maybe a tiny bit of weight...) I wasn't working out all my New Year's goals, and even though it's definitely in my nature, I wasn't obsessing over everything I want to change in the new year. I was just having a cup of coffee...oh, and a little chat with God.

It's always interesting to me how God consistently and gently reminds me that we're going to do things His way, not mine. So, here I am. Writing.

I've written plenty of posts in the past about my struggles with New Year's. By nature, I love goals. I love planning. I love lists and motivational material and all the things that make New Year's the perfect time for a new beginning. But over the years I've found that New Year's is not always my friend.

I easily turn those things I love into things that ensnare. I turn opportunities into pressure. I let the weight of what could or should be, crush the blessing and the beauty of what is. So I must consider whether or not these things are really friend or foe. Do they help me or hinder me? How do I take the good with the bad and have the wisdom to demonstrate balance?

That's what God and I were chatting about. And, in His consistent and gentle way, he reminded me of the answer.

"His mercies are new every morning."

Every morning. Not just New Year's Day. Not just Monday mornings after weekend failures. Every morning. So New Year's Day can be my friend. We can hang out together, un-decorate the Christmas Tree, write a blog post, drink coffee, and maybe even make some good plans for the days ahead. I don't get it all perfect. I can dream and plan and God can cover me with His mercy.

May God's mercies be yours today and every day in 2016.

Happy New Year!

Want To See What India is Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 23:28:00 +0000

Here are some photos from my recent trip with Partners International to the southern part of India. For more information, visit www.partnersintl.org.

Lost Passions

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 15:37:00 +0000

MultiMarkdown

There are a few things in life that I love to do. I mean, I know we all have things we enjoy, but I’m talking about those activities that we absolutely love. The ones that somehow minister to our own souls and maybe, like Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire, cause us to “feel God’s pleasure”. Those things.

I have a few of them, and I suspect you do to. I won’t name them for you because surely yours are different from mine and this isn’t about mental comparisons of the activities themselves. But let’s just all agree that we have them and can identify them.

The question that rattles around in my head is, “Why do I rarely do them?” These passions seem lost in the everyday ebb and flow of my life. They are the things I love most, but can never quite get to. If you’re old enough to know who Jim Croce is, you know this isn’t a new phenomenon because “There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them”.

But there are plenty of instances where I have the time, but still don’t make the effort. Surely there has to be something else at play. Here are three possibilities that keep me from my passions and a few reminders to myself on how to overcome them.

Help, I’m Drowning!
Overload and mental fatigue are likely my biggest deterrents to fulfilling lost passions. When there’s so much of life that I can barely keep up, and I finally have a quiet moment to myself, I don’t want to fill it with anything…even something I love. Maybe it’s stress or simply lack of motivation. It’s just too much effort to do one more thing. Being so overloaded that I begin to lose desire, even for those things I love, is a warning sign that I need to throttle back a bit. I need to alter my “full steam ahead” pace and slow down. Take inventory of your days. Is your stress load drowning you? Are you so exhausted that even the thought of doing something you love sends your circuits into overload? Make an effort to lower your pace and make space for yourself and the things you love.

Get it Right!
I often fall into the trap of thinking, “If I can’t do it properly, I’m not going to do it at all”. For those of us with perfectionistic tendencies, we don’t want to tackle our passions if we can’t do them properly or perfectly. So we sacrifice the whole thing and reassure ourselves we’ll get to it when we can “really do it right”. Don’t let perfectionism hinder you. You don’t have to devote all weekend to your passion. You don’t have to buy more gear before you can begin or watch hours of YouTube videos to make sure you have correct technique. Start small. Work with what you have and do it for a few minutes. Get started. Do what you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

No, No, No…After You!
As women, wives, and moms, we often give in to deciding that we will take care of everyone else’s needs, and if and when there’s any time left over, we can do something for ourselves. This way of thinking crosses a subtle line between loving and serving our families and falling into martyrdom. Hours turn into days that turn into weeks that we fill with the activities of others, but not our own. Maybe I’ll get to that on Saturday. I might have 10 minutes before bed next Thursday night. But those times never come because we continually fill them with our to-do list for other people. We tell ourselves, “After I finish taking care of everyone else, I will allow myself to do something for me”. But, we get tired and the passion gets lost, or at best, relegated to lowest priority. We’re afraid that by taking time to enjoying our passions, we’re shirking responsibility in other areas of our lives. Guilt creeps in, so we go back to serving to soothe our conscience. By all means, take care of the loved ones in your life, but don’t trick yourself into thinking that somehow you’re being a better person by always putting your own passions last. Martyrdom will leave you bitter, especially at those you are trying so hard to serve.

Whether your passion is a hobby, a relationship, or maybe even your walk with God, don’t let overload, perfectionism, or martyrdom be the reason you don’t follow through. God is the author of our desires and passions. He created them in us for a purpose and He is pleased when we properly put them to use for His glory!

The Sacrifice of "Craze"

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Thu, 08 May 2014 15:04:00 +0000

“My life feels out of control!”, I confessed to God, as I drove in to the office. I have a 30 minute commute and even though the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, it wasn’t enough to calm my restless spirit.

I’ve been grappling with an overpacked schedule, a few small physical challenges, a few more mental challenges, and coming to terms with my inability to juggle it all.

As I poured out my laundry list to God, I found myself running the gamut of issues, from teensy to gigantic, as we often do when we feel overwhelmed.

I'll never get everything on my to-do list done today...

I'm too busy to keep my house perfectly like my friend does...

If I don't make it to the store today, it'll be Lucky Charms for dinner...

Dang, I'm out of grocery money...

Maybe I shouldn't eat anyway. I'm too fat...

Why haven't I saved more money...

We'll never be able to afford college for our son...

I'm going to die alone and broke...

...and on and on it goes.

Then after a momentary pity party, a humbling realization hit me. Being in ministry, working hard to give priority time to my family, pushing myself out of my comfort box, and sometimes living in chaos, are choices I deliberately make.

Sometimes we sacrifice peace, low stress, and easy living in order to follow God's calling on our lives.

It's a sacrifice of "craze", given to God to let him rule our lives as He seems fit. I could very easily skip church and clean my house spotless. I could trade my time preparing Bible lessons for time at the gym, and I could certainly work more hours, make more money, socking it away in a retirement fund, rather than spend time volunteering with a mission organization.

We don't do these things because we're some kind of wonderful, extra-holy person. We do them because God has put them before us and asked us to humbly serve him. It's an honor, a calling, a privilege. And, it requires sacrifice.

So the humbling realization that hit me was...gratitude.

Once I arrived at work and settled in to my desk, I decided to read a quick scripture before I started my day in earnest. I let the Bible App on my iPad suggest a random chapter and here’s what I got…

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,

in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

- Isaiah 32:18

So, for now, I will remind myself that there will always be a to-do list, that a house can be cluttered, yet full of love, that "I have never seen the righteous forsaken or God's children begging bread.", and that Lucky Charms are "Magically Delicious".

It's my reasonable service, my sacrifice. Maybe it's yours, too...

Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:43:00 +0000

My devotion this morning was Palm 103. One of my all time favorites, which in fact, inspired one of my first published articles, The Benefits Package. "Praise the Lord, O my soul...and forget not all his benefits..." I love the list that follows of all the things that God does for us.

Today, however, verse five seemed to jump off the page at me. "He satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." Lately I've been feeling the pressure of the desires of my life that don't seem to be getting met.

I'm not talking about the superficial things we all want (not that those are all bad either), but I'm talking more about those desires of our heart that run deeper than anyone but us really knows or understands. We may share them with a friend or a spouse, but even though they try, they don't really get it. It's those longings unfulfilled that I wonder about. Does God care about this? Can I ever make this a reality in my life?

Maybe. And maybe not. But Psalm 103, verse 5 reassures me that God does care about those desires. More than that, he'll satisfy them. That doesn't mean all my desires will necessarily come true, but God will satisfy them with good things. Good things. I can quit all my worrying and planning over these desires, because He knows them and will satisfy me with good things. Even if it's not the original thing I think I wanted. Whew. Relief.

And, as an added bonus, the end of the verse tells me my youth will be renewed like the eagle's. That's not such bad news for a 40-Something girl with a birthday coming up either...

All Things...Almost

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 06:03:00 +0000

I played basketball when I was young. Height was never on my side, but I could usually make up for it with speed and aggressiveness. Movement came naturally to my young body. I was physical, active, competitive, and didn't understand why everyone made such a big deal about stretching. I figured it was just the old people telling us kids to stretch because they needed it, not because we did. My pet peeve was doing arm circles. Really, Coach? Arm circles? Come on. Give us something challenging to do.

Now, speed has left me, motion (at least to the degree I had it when I was young) has left me, and I save my aggressiveness for my Pinochle game. Well, that and driving. I play basketball with my son, but the older and bigger he gets, the less success I have.

I've been struggling with pain in my neck for a little more than a year, and it's, well...a pain in the neck. In a conversation about "motion" with a friend at work, we were discussing how, even as former athletes, we just stop using parts of our bodies effectively over time and the pain sets in. The dreaded arm circles came up and how much more difficult they are as adults, because we don't use that full shoulder rotation for very many activities.

When I came home from work, the arm circles were still bugging me, and my competitive nature began to seep out. Of course I could still do arm circles. They're the easiest of all exercises, right? Maybe if I did more of them, my shoulders and neck wouldn't hurt as much. I hopped out of my recliner to the middle of the living room and began flailing my arms around. See? I can still do this. Easy Peasy. This just might be the answer to all my pain problems.

An hour later, I can barely move my left shoulder and my head doesn't turn that direction. I guess "I can do all things through Christ" doesn't include arm circles after 40.

The Unrecognizable Me

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 04:50:00 +0000

Change is a strange thing. Sometimes you realize its presence and other times it catches you totally off guard--creeping up to startle you when you least expect it. Last year at this time, I was a career Information Technology Manager. I worked more with machines and systems than with people. I had a PC, a benefits package, and a nice salary. This year, I look in the mirror and wonder, who is this girl and where did my stable life go?

The problem with this change thing is, if you're not careful, before you know it, you find yourself working part-time in the Marketing department--with a MacBook. Being creative rather than logical, learning to play the guitar and suddenly, you don't recognize yourself any more.

What's more than that, you're a missionary, working with people, traveling to some pretty scary places, raising support, and learning in a whole new way what "Trust the Lord" really means. Weird.

Additionally, you're a writer who hasn't been writing much but looking for inspiration. You're a teacher, feeling much more like a student. Learning...changing...growing. Being forced to step outside your box. Way outside the box. To step out of the boat, because that's where God is leading you.

Before you know it, you are the Unrecognizable You. So, if you think your Christian life is comfortable and under control, hang on because...change is coming.

10 Ways You Know You're Not in Kansas Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 02:21:00 +0000

#1 - Gigantic Shoes

#2 - Prayer & Smoking Rooms

#3 - Unique In Flight Entertainment Systems

#4 - The Domestic Terminal (Yep, I flew out of here)

#5 - More on-the-job Naps

#6 - Open Market Fruit & Veggie Stands

#7 - Fondly Referred to as...Squatty Potties

#8 - Different Method for Making Krispy Kremes

#9 - Bicycle Rickshaws

#10 - Goofy Glasses & Wonderful Women!

Thanks to those of you who prayed while I traveled!

The Safety of Pickles

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 16:40:00 +0000

When traveling around the world, especially in third world countries, security is of the utmost importance. That's why I was extremely comforted to be assured that nobody would have any rogue pickles in their carry-on baggage on my flight from New Delhi to Amsterdam. No guns, knives, pepper spray, ammunition, or...pickles. Whew.

You can never be too cautious.

Disturbing Discoveries

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 03:26:00 +0000

I've had a few life changing discoveries during my time here on earth. The first one came when my son was very small and I realized, listening to one of his kiddie toys, that the ABC song and Twinkle Twinkle little star were, in fact, the same song. Unbelievable! I felt somehow cheated out of a song and dare I say, my whole childhood.

Now tonight, my second, and perhaps just as important discovery. Hot dogs and bologna are the same thing, one is just squished flat and one is in a tube! Luckily for me, I can claim ignorance because it's been more years than I can count since I ate a slice of bologna (thank goodness). But my son has been on a kick lately and tonight, when he made me try a bite...the lights came on.

This makes me wonder how many other injustices and travesties of this nature are lurking out there and how long it will be until I discover the next one. For now, maybe I'll go have a bologna sandwich with mustard and relish. On second thought...I'm good.

Look Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 05:31:00 +0000

I'm not sure what it is about a sparkling, crystal clear swimming pool. I love them. I can't resist them. The smell of the chlorine and the clear glassy water draw me in...literally. On Saturday, I spent the afternoon at the water park with my son and his friend. The weather was nice, but it was a little breezy, so when the boys ran and jumped in the wave pool, I delayed and perched on a lounge chair. But the draw of the pool proved too much.

Just as I waded carefully in, the wave machine started up and the water came to life. I was still cautiously getting used to the cool temperature, when I heard frantic yelling, "Look out! Look out! Look out!" I turned to see a kid boogie boarding on an air mattress straight toward my head. The next thing I knew I was inhaling water on the bottom of the pool. I bobbed to the surface, snorting and a little stunned, wondering what just happened.

This isn't the only time recently I've been knocked off my feet by the unexpected. Occasionally life throws something my way and before I know it, I'm on the bottom of the pool wondering what just hit me...although it's not usually a boogie board. But God is good and before too long, I find myself bobbing to the surface. I might be stunned, but I'm back on my feet; snorting, but I'm still breathing.

After the initial shock of being run over (by the way, the boy apologized profusely), the water actually felt pretty good. Maybe it's the same with some of life's circumstances. The first impact is difficult, but in retrospect, I'm able to say, "Come on in...the water's fine".

The One-Track Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 03:13:00 +0000

When my little brother was young (now he's old and foot taller than me), my parents always used to complain that he had a one-track mind. At 4 or 5 years old, he would get on an issue and absolutely not let it go until I wasn't sure if mom and dad were going to kill him or themselves. I'm not sure if his one-track mind was just that much more prominent than mine or if it's only been in my later life that I've developed my own one-track mind skills. But, either way, I have definitely hit my stride.

Typically, my single-mindedness has surrounded technology. The smallest inkling I need something, quickly turns into a full blown obsession. First I have to give it a lot of discussion and thought, weighing whether or not I really need the thing. But needing something is so subjective, I usually make it past that stage and on to the justification of why I need it.

Then comes the shopping, price-comparing, and bargain hunting...followed by another strong dose of justification. Once I actually order the item, the obsession turns to tediously watching my email for order updates, shipping notifications, and tracking information. Tracking the package is an art all its own, the details of which are beyond the scope of this article.

All aspects of this process, from my first sentence of, "Hey, I wonder if I should get a ..." to my ceremonious opening of the package and meticulous reading of the owners manual, drives The Pastor nuts. However, over the past few years, this model has served me well. Usually, beginning at the discussion phase, The Pastor is already so sick of hearing about it, he comes forth with "Just go buy the dumb thing already, will ya!" This helps speed things along, as it cuts down the justification phase a bit.

But last week I sunk to a new low. My one-track mind focused not on a new computer gadget, not on a trendy decoration for our house, or a even a new espresso machine. The subject of my all encompassing thoughts...cheese. Costco was sampling Dubliner Irish Cheese and I made the mistake of trying a piece. It was an awesome mouthful of cheesiness. But, the thirteen bucks they wanted for a brick of it put me squarely over my budget. I denied myself the cheese. But all week long, I found myself craving it. I couldn't stop thinking about that stupid cheese. So much so, that I had to make an extra trip to Costo (which is 40 minutes away) just to go get it the next weekend.

By my latest calculations, I spent $32.47 to get that cheese, and I have gained eight pounds in three days eating it. Maybe I should have spent just a little more time deciding if I really needed it. Maybe I should just start making my own cheese. Ooh, maybe I should get a.... nah.

Get Out of the Boat!

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:08:00 +0000

Last summer we got a new boat. Well, not a new, boat, but new enough for us. Not long after we brought it home, we pulled it down to the lake near our house and took it for a spin. The Pastor would rather stick his nostrils together with Crazy glue than go swimming, but my son and I went prepared with our suits on, because we know that, as much fun as it is in the boat--sometimes it's even better to get out of the boat.

Our Sunday school lessons for the past few weeks have been a video series by Ray Vander Laan, called In the Dust of the Rabbi. (If you've never heard of Ray or seen one of his videos, look him up...you won't be disappointed) In the Dust of the Rabbi is about being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Set in the Holy Land with Mr. Vander Lann teaching about the specific location and what it meant to be a disciple, it is humbling and thought provoking.

In a recent video, he stood at the edge of the Sea of Galilee and taught about Peter walking on the water with Jesus. He summarized the lesson with this powerful statement: "If you're going to follow a Rabbi who walks on water, you're going to have to get out of the boat." Ouch.

I don't like the idea of getting out of the boat. I'm not much for risks. I only take them if they are carefully calculated and I feel I know the outcome. That doesn't make for much of a risk. I want my Christianity to be safe. I want Jesus to be safe. Here's a clue...he's not. But as Mr. Beaver says to Lucy in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe "..'course he isn't safe! But he's good."

If I really want to be a disciple of Jesus, if I really want to follow him wherever he might lead me, even if I can't completely see where I'm going, I better learn to take some risks and get out of the boat. ...And learning, I am. Three weeks ago I packed up six years worth of files, books, and notes. I moved from my office with a nice big window into a nondescript cubicle in a corner, and I watched as a new Information Technology Manager came through the door of Quest Aircraft to take my job.

Near as I can calculate, I've been in I.T. for almost 18 years. It's a bittersweet thing to walk away from. My new title at work is "Marketing Specialist" and I've reduced my hours from 40 to 24 in order to provide me with the time to volunteer with Partners International Women as a Servant Leader, part-time missionary. Let me tell you, I am way out of the boat!

On the Sea of Galilee, Peter could see the wind and the waves. I'm sure he could easily calculate that it wasn't safe to attempt to walk on water. But even more than that, he knew Jesus was good. Like Peter, shakily walking on the water toward Jesus, we can take the steps of faith that God calls us to, with assurance that even if we begin to sink...He is good!

It's time to get out of the boat!

I've Been Blogged!

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:16:00 +0000

I received a message from the Partners International Women office last week that said, "You've been blogged!". Each month PIW features a Volunteer Spotlight, a brief interview with one of their volunteers. This month I was the lucky candidate. Thanks to PIW for giving me the opportunity to be involved! If you're interested, you can check out the post HERE!

Hard Places

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:10:00 +0000

I'm in constant awe at my own ability to misjudge a situation. It was very easy for me to think that I was going to pack my bags for Africa, and because I truly felt like God called me there and my friends and family were praying for me, that everything was going to go without a hitch.

As great as this trip was, there were still plenty of challenges involved, and certainly different ones than I anticipated. I think there's two reasons. First, because he loves us, God wants to stretch and teach us. In His wisdom, he often calls us out of our comfort zone to do this. When we can't rely on our own ability, we are forced to rely on His. Those are truly the teachable moments. I know they are for me...

Second, Satan is most certainly not happy about the Kingdom building work we do. He's looking to attack on every front...to kill and destroy. He will do everything in his power to discourage and dissuade us from doing the work of our Father.

There were times on this trip where I was uncomfortable and had a clear understanding of why the call it Mission "work", but thankfully, God doesn't spare present pain or comfort for eternal profit. Whether or not I was comfortable had nothing to do with the success of the trip.

The goal of this trip was to equip and empower God's women across Africa. Despite the minor discomforts and challenges, that objective was wildly successful! God proved Himself faithful and showed up in Ghana in a mighty way. The 30+ women we worked with were absolutely amazing and I built wonderful friendships over the two weeks I spent with them. They were so excited to learn how to teach the Women in the Window Inductive Bible Study method and take it back to their own countries and communities to pass on to others.

Many of these women really know what it's like to be uncomfortable. They truly live in the "Hard Places" of this earth. Some have been displaced, persecuted, and even feared for their lives. Yet they "press on for the prize for which they've been called in Christ Jesus".

Are you working in a difficult ministry or circumstances? Don't be discouraged or confused because things seem hard. Those "Hard Places" are exactly where God will do His mightiest work...in you!

Press On!

Amazing Africa!

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:36:00 +0000

Some of the sights of Ghana!

God's Purpose For My Life

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:51:00 +0000

Here is an article I wrote for the local newspaper last June. It's a good reminder to myself as I consider the new year ahead. Maybe you could use the reminder, too...

* * *

The other day I was digging in my junk drawer for a rubber band or some other trivial item. Not finding what I was looking for, I got frustrated by the amount of useless pieces and parts in the drawer and piled it all on the counter.

“Do you have any idea at all what this thing is for?” I asked my husband as I held up a small plastic doohickey. After examining it closely, he said it must be something very important, although, admittedly, he had no idea what it was. When he looked away, I tossed it in the garbage can.

The Bible says that I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He prepared for me in advance (Eph 2:10). Not only did God create you and me as his unique masterpieces, He gave us a special purpose, one He’s had in mind for us from the beginning.

Sometimes we agonize to figure out what that purpose is, and how we should fulfill it. But the Bible tells us that’s not our worry…God will do it for us. Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Your love, O Lord endures forever.” And Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Try as we might, we can’t fulfill our own purpose. God must do it for us. We need his guidance and control in our lives. He will do it in his power, his timing, and his way.

Besides promising He will fulfill our purpose, God also tells us what the ultimate objective is. “…by his power, He [God] may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith…so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) God’s goal is that He will be glorified in us. He wants us to reflect His image to the world we live in.

The final confidence we have regarding our purpose is that God always finishes what He starts. In Philippians 1:6 it says “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” God assures us that He has a purpose for us and we will not be stuffed in the drawer and forgotten about, only to be discarded later. His plans for us are too important.

Don’t be discouraged! God has a plan and purpose for you. He will bring it to pass. In the meantime, I think I’ll clean out that junk drawer.

Why Not Now?

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:02:00 +0000

You know you do it. I do....every year. My Christmas dinner hasn't even finished being digested and the vows to start a New Year's diet begin. I've just finished pulling the paper off my last gifts and the promises to have more self discipline as soon as the new year rolls around commence. I will read my Bible and exercise more, yell at my son and worry less. My mind naturally goes there. Whatever failures I've had in the current year will certainly be remedied in the one to come.

I'm fully aware of how silly this is, thinking that the turn of the calendar to January 1st will somehow endow me with superpowers to carry out things I couldn't in the previous 11 months. But, I still fall prey to the thoughts each year. I prepare myself for that magic day when the day will turn and all will be set right in my world.

Of course, it doesn't happen. It never will. I'm not suggesting that giving up is the answer, but rather, I think I'll take some pressure off of January 1 this year. Who says I need a magic day to begin to make the necessary changes in my life? Why not start today? Right now. Why can't I be more patient today? Why don't I eat a little more salad and less sugar today? instead of trying to achieve perfection once the new year arrives, why don't I make some small changes today?

How about it? Will you join me in the quest to take some pressure off of January 1st? Let's think about the things we want to accomplish in 2013 and ask ourselves...why not now?

Don't Miss It! - Black Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Don't you hate it when you miss something? A couple weeks back I was bidding on a pair of shoes on eBay. They were mint condition $100 loafers and my bid was in the lead for somewhere between $30 and $40. I was sure they were mine. Then I got busy. As the bidding was coming to a close, I was distracted with some other--granted important--things. I forgot to watch my bid and I missed it. Someone else beat me for a dollar. Ouch.

The other day The Pastor was out hunting when a little deer jumped up in front of him. He fired off a shot, but a strange angle and some extra brush thwarted his effort. He missed it. Now, I firmly believe that missing a shot at a smallish deer has no comparison to missing a hundred dollar pair of shoes, but The Pastor was distraught, nonetheless.

I'm sure it hasn't escaped you that this week is Black Friday. That little detail certainly hasn't slipped by me...the ads and hype inundating me have kept me constantly reminded. People are making their plans, terrified that they will miss out on a once in a lifetime deal. My fear is that they're missing out on so much more.

For the past few years, Black Friday sales have started earlier and earlier, but this year we have finally crossed a very important line. Now, rather than staying up until midnight or setting your alarm clock for 2am, you can wolf down your turkey dinner on Thanksgiving day, and instead of pushing back from the table and taking a nap in your Barcalounger, you can leave your crazy relatives behind and go shopping. Sounds appealing on some levels, but is it?

Have we become so obsessed that our need for a great bargain requires others to work, rather than spend a holiday with their families? Are we so consumer driven that we can't even take ONE full day to be thankful for what we have, before running off to acquire more? Is the $20, $50, or even $100 savings worth it? What kind of society and people have we become?

I'm all for a good sale as much as the next guy (or girl), and I might even set my alarm for 2am for a super sweet deal, but we have so much to be thankful for in our lives, that when it comes to Thanksgiving Day...let's not miss it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Going With God

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 16:25:00 +0000

There's a familiar song from church that says, "I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord..." I've been working on some decisions in my life lately that have been difficult to think through. I can't quite make the logic of them "work out" in my head. I can't figure out how to get all the pieces to come together neatly to ensure that the plan is sound. Try as I might, I can't see how it's even possible to do what I think God is calling me to do.

In the midst of my decision making, that song keeps playing in my head. Thinking about my trip to India earlier this year and pondering where else the Lord might want me to travel to, I find myself telling Him, I'll go where you want me to go, Lord. But even as I hear the words in my head, I realize that in my single dimension thinking, I'm only considering physical places the Lord might want me to go--a country, a continent, a city.

Today I had to ask myself the hard question of where God might want me to go and where He might want to take me that are not physical places. Maybe he wants to take me into uncertainty. Will I go there? Perhaps He wants to take me to a place of circumstantial or financial hardship. Will I go there? Will I follow Him to trouble, suffering, or sorrow? That's a much more difficult decision to make.

There's a quote I've heard and keep written on a 3x5 card. I realized this morning I haven't seen it in awhile and I think maybe the card has been buried in my desk amongst the papers, receipts, dried up highlighters, and other office supplies that live in my desk drawer. The quote says, "Anywhere we go with God, is a place of safety." Anywhere. That applies whether I travel to Africa or into the dark land of uncertainty where I don't understand what He is doing. Anywhere I go with him is safe. As long as He's with me.

So that leads me back to my original dilemma of decision making. I think I better go dig that card out of my desk drawer, post it on the fridge where it can remind me of God's provision for me, stop wavering, and decide if I'm really willing to "Go where you want me to go, Dear Lord".

You Can Run...Well Maybe Not.

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:14:00 +0000

A lot of you know...The Pastor has been on crutches. Chalk it up to a bone problem related to his Diabetes. I won't get into the gory details, but let's just say that the crutches have been difficult for everyone involved, if you get my drift.

I don't blame The Pastor for getting weary of the crutches, and for the most part, he's been a good patient, "crutching" around as he should. However, a couple weeks ago, we went out to lunch and tired of lugging them around with him, he left the crutches in the car, though he should have been using them.

He hobbled into the sparsely populated restaurant and before he could make his way to a table to sit down, he ran smack dab into...his foot doctor. Oops. The perils of living in a small town.

I've learned the hard way, there are some things you just can't run from. (Especially when you're on crutches, but that's not my point.) God tells me he shuts doors no man can open and opens doors no man can shut (Rev 3:8). Simply put, if God wants to do something, he will do it, and no amount of whining, complaining, or running away on my part will change that. God will accomplish his purpose.

Lately God is calling me to some tough decisions. I don't particularly want to make them. My inclination is to run and hide until the whole situation miraculously works itself out without any effort from me. But, I'm getting the distinct feeling that's not going to work. I need to come face to face with the fact that God wants something of me. And if he wants it, one way or another, he will get it. In the far corners of my heart and mind, I can hear him whispering, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way..."

The doctor has finally told The Pastor he can put down the crutches... and I think maybe it's time I take off my running shoes.

First....

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:38:00 +0000

...Trip to Washington DC.

...Pair of shoes bought at DSW

...Watermelon Sorbet and Cake Batter ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery

...Visit to Georgetown Cupcake (DC Cupcakes)

...Chic Fil A spicy chicken sandwich and chocolate shake

...11 hour wait time in an airport.

...American Management Association training seminar in DC.

...Trip to American History Museum

...Time I stepped out of my box and invited the instructor to dinner. (Excellent Thai Food!)

...Stroll around Georgetown University

...Realization that American Airlines has cross-dressing flight attendants.

...Ride on the Metro Train

...Steak burrito from Chipotle.

....Self Portrait with my bro at the Washington Monument

...Hands on experience with the Retina Display MacBook Pro at an Apple store in the Pentagon City Mall. (HUGE!)

...Photo of the WWII Monument at night

...View of the White House

Blessed to have a great training class and trip,

Desperate For Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:51:00 +0000

Why is it so often that the things we want to do the most are the things we procrastinate the worst? I was lamenting to my friend today over lunch that I've been remiss at losing a few pounds that have found their way to my mid-section. Even though I have small amounts of success eating healthy foods, I know the one thing that needs to be done to get rid of the problem is exercise. I want to do it. I think about doing it. I plan to do it, but I never actually do it.

The same has been true of my writing life. I want to do it. I think about doing it. I desperately need the self therapy of doing it, but I won't put my butt in the chair, pull out the laptop and do it. I'm confused and exasperated by my own actions. I ask myself the same question over and over--why??

Why don't I exercise, why don't I write more, why don't I study my Bible more or get started on that redesign of my blog I've been mulling over? It's not a lack of motivation--I truly want to do them. At first glance the answer is easy. I'm too busy. Isn't that the reason we all have for not doing the things we have good intention of accomplishing? But if I look closer, and with honesty, I know that's not really it.

I believe my procrastination boils down to a much larger problem than busyness. Deep at the root of the problem is not time, but perfectionism. Perfectionism is an illusion to be chased and when it can't be caught, we give up, or worse yet, we never bother to try in the first place.

Don't let perfectionism steal your opportunity to try. Don't let it rob you of the therapy of doing something you love even if you don't get it exactly right. We are imperfect beings and that won't change until the day we see Christ face to face. Don't let that discourage you from the here and now and from doing everything to the Glory of God.

Nike was right...just do it!

Steak and Waffles - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:35:00 +0000

I must have had food on the brain when starting these last two posts. Okay, let's be honest, I often have food on the brain, which is why, if I'm not careful, I'll be posting from the Fit Woman Fat Farm. (Let's hope they have WiFi).

I'm a girl who likes to listen to music and lately I've been listening to a lot of worship and Christian music, but I've found myself disappointed and feeling a little flat that, while I've enjoyed the music, I've failed to have any overwhelming encounter with God as a result of it. I mean, it always encourages me and often confirms my views and beliefs about God's character. But, try as I might, lately, I just can't seem to get the spiritual insight and nourishment I'm longing for.

I was thinking about it the other day and realized just how long it had been since I tuned in to a sermon or some good teaching on the radio, rather than the music stations I'd been listening to of late. And then I realized my problem. Not enough meat. I've been drinking a whole bunch of spiritual milk. It has some nutritional value, but not all that I need. I'm lacking protein. I need some meat from the Word. I've neglected my diet and I think it's time that I made some changes.

As I consider my diet and eating habits, I can't help but think I better have more steak and waffles.

Steak and Waffles - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Cari Johnson) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:29:00 +0000

I remember a scene from when I my childhood. My mom was overwhelmed and freaking out. People were coming for dinner later that weekend, she had housework, laundry, and shopping to do. I remember calmly telling her it wasn’t that hard to figure out. She had plenty of time, she just needed to plan out her jobs and methodically do them. One thing at a time and she would be fine. I didn't understand what the hard part was.

Not long ago it was me who was doing the freaking out. My son observed my state of panic and said, “Mom, just think about one thing at a time. Be like a waffle.” Apparently he’s heard the “Women are spaghetti, men are waffles” analogy... don't ask me where.

It’s easy when we’re kids and don’t feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, but then again, we were never meant to feel that weight. Not then, and not now.

We are meant to give our load to Christ and do our part, which is to trust him to be faithful with one thing at a time. I only need to worry about what he's asked me to do for now. He is powerful and loving enough to take care of the rest. I am required only to love him and have faith like a child—just like I did when I was young and just like my son reminded me of recently.

It's lunchtime and I'm thinking...waffles.