Trust By Liz Huggins-Thompson

My lips were dry and I said as much. My 8 year old daughter said she had some Chapstick in her purse. I thought, #1- how cute she has a purse and #2 - she'll let me go in it. How trusting they are at this age. Thinking of the upcoming teenage years, I said, "You'll let me go into your purse?". She said, "Sure, whenever you want." I said, "Can I get that in writing?". She agreed, so I wrote it out, she signed it, and at the bottom she wrote, "And you can leave little surprises inside."

Can I Get A Witness? By Michelle Rocker

My cousin, Casi, agreed to watch my children for me one day while I went to a lunch meeting.  To thank her, I went by Starbucks to get her a drink.  She doesn't normally like coffee, so I ordered a caramel, apple cider.  I pulled up to the window, and the cashier informed me that they were out of apple cider. I said that it was okay, and changed my order to a hot chocolate.  As I handed my credit card to the cashier, she handed me a coupon.

“This is good for a free drink on us, any time you want it.  You would not believe how many people have yelled at us today.”

“Really?” I asked in complete shock at how rude people can be.

The manager told me how awful customers had been, and how much they appreciated my willingness to accept the problem of the lack of apple cider, as well as what a nice person I was.  I will admit that I left Starbucks with a giant smile on my face.  I even puffed my chest out because of my astounding Christian testimony.  What is that verse? Proverbs 16:18:  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

A few days later, I went to the bank.  There was only one other car in the drive-thru in the farthest lane from the teller.  I pulled right up to the spot next to the window.  The teller never even looked up. 

I thought, “Surely she can see me”, but she just continued to count her money. I watched the other car leave, and another car pull up. 

I sighed and thought, “Any minute now.” That car left, and I began to feel inpatient hives starting to break out on my neck. 

Finally, she looked up and said, “Oh, I’m sorry.  I didn’t see you.”

“Yeah, uh huh, sure,” I thought. She opened the tray, and I placed my deposit in the tray, and she pulled it back in.  My jaw sagged open as I watched her walk away from the window without my deposit.  The third car drove away, replaced by the fourth car.  My inpatient hives had taken over my entire body.  I swear you could have seen smoke coming out of my ears.  She came back to the window, and still did not take my deposit out of the tray!  She proceeded to count some more money.  By then the other teller, servicing her FIFTH car, looked at me quizzically.  I cannot repeat the thoughts that then filled my brain.  With huge willpower, I clamped my lips together.

After ten minutes, she finally took my deposit.  As she deposited my receipt into the tray, I had reached my boiling point.  I violently grabbed the receipt out of the tray squishing it into a wad, as if it was her head, and hit the gas of my minivan as hard as I could.  Apparently not just muscle cars can do burn outs.

A few days later after my minivan burn-out, I had a rough day with my kids.  The perfect cure for a stressful day:  my free well-deserved drink at Starbucks.  I ordered my favorite:  a venti, non-fat, peppermint mocha, with whip cream.  (I know that the whip cream cancels out the non-fat part, but it makes me feel skinnier.)  As I pulled up to the window, I handed the cashier my little gift card.

She said, “Oh, that’s nice.”

I smiled, and explained how I had earned the gift certificate by my startling display of politeness. 

The manager peeked her head out, and said, “Oh, I remember this lady.  She was so sweet. We had run out of apple cider, and she said it was not a big deal and changed her order.  We had been yelled at all day.”

I flashed my dazzling white smile, and nodded my head like a queen.  Yes, I was a walking example of Christianity.  As I pulled out from the drive thru, I proceeded to choke on my venti, non-fat, peppermint mocha with whip cream when God whispered to me, “Too bad they didn’t see you at the drive thru at the bank the other day.”

My free mocha didn’t taste as good anymore.  I bowed my head and repented. We witness every day whether we mean to or not.  Some days I am successful, other days, not so much.  But I am a work in progress, and am happy to report no burn-outs in my minivan for the past year.

Life is Hard by Liz Huggins-Thompson

Life is hard. Pray harder!

Take a Moment By Liz Huggins-Thompson

It's the significant moments in life that we recognize and celebrate. What about all of the other moments? The smell of clean laundry, the feeling of your feet digging into the sand, the sound of cicadas in summer, the sight of a bubble floating gently and quickly away on the air, the taste of a tear as it runs down your cheek and slips into the corner of your mouth.

Take a moment to celebrate God's gifts of the familiar and forgotten.

Whine by Michelle Rocker

Do you serve whine when things don't go your way?

Or do you serve it when things are okay?

Maybe aged whine is more your style.

You have years worth stored in your vile.

Soured properly, years passed from the plucked vine,

At just the right time, you pop the cork of whine.

Gallons served without an ounce of tenderness,

A long-winded sermon fueled by bitterness.

No one wishes to dine on this whine,

Sour and bitter, the worst moonshine.

So, all you who serve whine pay attention!

Whine is quite an addicting addiction.

Zip those lips when you wish to complain,

And as for the whine, you should abstain.

The Faith Of A Child By Michelle Rocker

When my son, Nolan was nine years, we were working on him understand that
money does not grow on tree.  He was always the one who wants something
at the store even if it is ten cents.  

I started by explaining how hard Daddy works for the money, and that he should
say, “Thank you.”

Next, I explained the bills.  Understanding more, he would ask me WHEN we
would have money so that he could buy such and such.  His demanding money
was no longer an issue.

Several months later, I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. With no insurance,
we were faced with close to thirty thousand dollars.  Nolan knew it had been awhile
since he could choose one of the legos he wanted.

He came downstairs completely dejected that we didn’t have any money.

He said, “Well, mom, I guess I’m just going to have to pray for a miracle, ‘cause that
is all that can happen.”

I told him that was a good idea, but was nervous that his faith would be affected when
it didn’t happen.  How was a nine year old little boy going to earn and receive money.
His birthday was seven months away.  Christmas was still four months away. I just
didn’t see how.

One hour later, my neighbor stopped by and asked if Nolan could baby sit their bird
and dog.  She also stated she would pay him.  I started bawling, and my neighbor
asked what was wrong.

“He was praying for a miracle, and you are his miracle.”

As I explained, my neighbor’s heart was touched as well. 

In Mark 10:15-16 we are told:  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in
his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus understood how children think.  They have absolute faith.  Their faith is not
yet tarnished by people, circumstances, and things.  In order for us to have the
same faith of a child, we have to put aside our disappointment and our unbelief.

Hebrews 11:1 says:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen.

Somehow between childhood and adulthood, we have to see in order to believe
that it is going to happen.

Think about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Rabbit.  Kids believe
even though they’ve never seen them.  After they believe, they see the results.
I’m always sad when my kids find out Santa isn’t real.  It is the beginning of them
losing their child-like faith.

My kids believe that God is a god of miracles, and I pray that they never lose that.

When I called Nolan downstairs and told him that his miracle had just been
answered. He wasn’t in awe like I was. 

He was just matter of fact as if to say, “Yep!  That is the God I serve.”

Oh, to have the faith of a child.  It’s no wonder God answers the little one’s prayers.

Waves & Butterflies - Power & Glory By Elizabeth Huggins-Thompson

I took a walk on the beach. It was my personal time to talk to God

and enjoy His gift of warm sand and cool breezes. Along Florida’s

Treasure Coast, there are some dead coral reefs that are called

breakers. This one particular day, the tide was such that the

waves would break on the coral with a terrific boom and spray

of water. I climbed up on one of these rocky outcroppings and 

enjoyed the mist of the waves around me as I looked out onto

the water. I was mesmerized by the beauty, power, and rhythm

of the ocean. I began to notice butterflies. They were flying

along the coast where the waves met the shore. Not just one

or two. There was a steady stream of them. I thought they were

horribly close to these powerful waves. I was worried they would

get swallowed up by the heavy water. As I watched, I saw how the

butterflies danced amonst the spray, riding up and down the air

currents. There was such a symmetry between the two, I was struck

by this amazing balance God created. He knows what was needed.

He knows the limits of each. The butterflies always keeping just out

of the water’s reach. The waves creating an air current for these

delicate, sensitive crea- tures to not only utilize, but play with.

It was so magical I began to cry. God knows what we all need. He

also let me know that there are times for me to push and times for

me to play. There needs to be a balance in my life. I do not need

to bear the weight on my shoulders. In Matthew 6: 33- 34 it says,

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all

these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious

about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient

for the day is its own trouble.”

Rest Stop By Michelle Rocker

My car headed down the road of life.
Today it was bumpy—full of strife.
I wasn’t sure if I should scream, pitch a fit and cry,
Laugh hysterically, or drive off the cliff and die.
I realize what people would think and say.
Well, I can’t help it!  Sometimes I feel that way.
Okay, I really needed help, where should I stop?
Stop?  No! Too many crumbs in the kitchen to mop.
I hurried faster and pushed the pedal down.
The quicker, the better getting through this town.
Do you know which town I mean?
The one where no room is clean.
No matter how many times you do the dishes
They multiply like the five loaves and two fishes.
The baby’s finally asleep and my brain’s fried.
I slammed the brakes and pulled over to the side.

But the rest stop is too short lived
My toddler is blowing his lid.
So, I push the pedal back down
Two more years in this toddler’s town
Then my husband comes home and asks for his dinner..
Hmmm… pizza delivery sounds like a winner.
He says, “There’s no money, you have to cook.”
I glare at him, and hand him the cookbook.
My cruise control seems broken so I have to drive
That cliff sounds inviting and where I want to dive

“God, are you listening? I’m so very tired.
This job—well—I don’t want it, can I be fired?
I need your strength to get through this day.
Just a little help, what do you say?
I saw a road sign ahead,

“Leave your cares behind,” it said.
I turned and saw the road led into the sky
The heavens opened and I began to cry
This was the rest stop I really needed

“Let me stay here!” I desperately pleaded.

“Sure, my child.  Rest your head for awhile.
Today you’ve traveled so many miles.”
I rested and knew this was the place to be.
Tomorrow I would stop here first, here I’d flee.
Something happens when in Jesus you rest.

It is only then that you drive your best.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

~Matthew 11:28-29 NIV