Why OKLAHOMA?

May 3, 1999 Near Anadarko, OK

          On May 3, 1999, a spring day turned into a nightmare as an EF5 tornado ripped through the lives of Oklahomans. It showed no mercy. Forty-four lives and more than 300 homes could not escape fury’s path. Surely, it was the tornado that would never be equaled – at least that’s what we thought.
          We were proven wrong on May 20, 2013, as another EF5 plowed much of the same area and left splintered lives dazed in unbelief. Twenty-four Oklahomans, including nine elementary students became our latest heartache. The speed at which the skies boiled into one deadly cloud left little time for even the most savvy weather watchers to find cover. Sixteen minutes was their allotted time to read Mother Nature’s mind and get out of her way.




May 20, 2013 Moore OK by Wikipedia

          And, as disaster relief workers from around the state and the nation were settling in for weeks of recovery efforts, May 31 became another page in our history books.
          An EF5 tornado that measured 2.6 miles wide and carried winds of 295 mph became the largest tornado ever recorded worldwide. More lives were lost. An infant and her mother, three experienced storm chasers whose study of the storms have saved countless lives, and a family of seven were among the victims. The trail of destruction differed only in the names of the highways, streets and structures affected and the flooding brought on by record-breaking rainfall. Rain that hid the beast from its victims until it was too late. The rest of the sad scenes filling media reports were much the same.


Photograph by Mike Bettes     El Reno, OK  5/31/2013

          Why Oklahoma? We’re a small state in the heartland that, absent tragedy, rarely grabs a headline from national and world-wide news.
          According to our local weathermen, the tornado that struck the area east of Oklahoma on April 19, 2013, could easily have been pegged an EF5 had it not been in a rural area. It wiped out a mobile home park, many additional homes and took two lives. On April 19, 1995, it was hatred that used our state as a personal and political site and literally put us on the map.
          Dr. Ronnie Hill is an evangelist from Ft. Worth, TX. On May 26, 2013, he was the guest speaker in our church. First Southern Baptist Church was a command post after the May 3, 1999 tornado. Dr. Hill's powerful message followed the path of the tornadoes, but with healing rather than destruction.
          When he shared Job’s story, I followed along and was surprised that I had never noticed how Job’s children died. One of several messengers bringing bad news to Job that day reported the most heartbreaking:

“…'Your sons and your daughters were eating and

drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house and behold,

a great wind came from across the wilderness

and struck the four corners of the house, and it

fell on the young people and they died, and

I alone have escaped to tell you.’”

(Job 1:18,19,NASB)

          Why Oklahoma? Why not? The tragedies that are becoming part of our history seem out of proportion to the size of our small state, but we’re certainly not the only ones in America who are hurting in the face of natural and man-made grief.
          We are learning to “bear one another’s burdens” as we mobilize our man power and resources and rush to the aid of our neighboring citizens, and as they do the same for us. Fellow Americans are never too far away and the need never too great to cause one second of hesitation in reaching across the miles.
          Pastor Dave Evans of Highland Baptist Church in Moore watched on May 20 as the monster tornado took dead aim for the church. As he drove about a mile east to flee the path, he prayed for God’s will. Willing to accept either the church’s demise or the responsibility of ministering to the community, he watched God work.
          The tornado lifted away from the chosen campus, then resumed its path. Later one of the members would point out the date inscribed on the plaque commemorating the day of dedication of the church. It was May 20, 1984.
          On the heels of the May 20 tornado, Operation Blessing was literally driving through Moore asking God for His direction. All heads were bowed (except the driver, of course.) When they looked up, they saw their answer. The sign that read “Highland Baptist Church” told them they had reached their destination.
          Our son-in-law, Ken Kniskern, joined the staff at Highland as a bi-vocational worship leader a few months prior to the outbreak of violent storms. He chases and photographs tornadoes and was literally on the heels of the storm. He and the pastor arrived at the church very quickly. They would be there for the next several days and nights working with other volunteers, doing what they could to see to the immediate needs of Moore, OK residents. Ken’s full-time position at the University of Oklahoma graciously gave him over to the church for those days because that’s where he was needed most.
          At this writing (one week to the day) the church is still operating with generators. Classrooms now house truck loads of kindness from around the nation. The sanctuary has been transformed into a dining room for upwards to 1,000 volunteers who have come and gone and for those who arrive daily. (That number would grow to more than 5,000 with more volunteers showing up daily.) One young man, Hugo, traveled with a group from Texas and when they had to return to their homes last week, Hugo stayed. Oklahoma welcomes her newest resident.
          On May 25, the morning service gave way to living the scripture as teams were dispatched into adjoining neighborhoods to deliver food and essentials and to continue the monumental task of cleaning away the ruins.

Photo by MacKenzie Cage 5/23/2013

          That evening, the worship center was staged outdoors for a community service. The church sits on a beautiful hill overlooking the pain, yet the hope, that resides in her view. One of the members looked up during the service and saw a cloud formation of a cross. Many pictures of rainbows appearing over us that week have been shared through social media. Highland Baptist Church is but one of so many churches and organizations doing exactly the same things for Oklahomans. Churches out of the area partner with the ones that have the best accessibility to the wounded and homeless.
          Our daughter, Mandy, walked through Highland’s parking lot and counted 15 different out-of-state license tags. Food, water, and clothing – all essentials are being brought in by cars, trucks and semis from around the country. The generous cash donations enable families to address their particular immediate needs.

***********

          WHY, Oklahoma? Why do we stay in a land known as “Tornado Alley”? We know the storms are coming, yet we never know exactly where their razor-sharp tailwinds will strike. There are certainly more beautiful and serene places to live. But Oklahoma roots run deep.
          We appreciate the quality of life and the quieter pace. For many, those roots are deeply grounded in our faith and in knowing that God is sovereign and that His time is measured in eternity, not in our limited perspective of the temporal.
          As horrible as the scenes we relive with every news cast are from this side, we know that the innocent children are in a place of unimaginable beauty and forever protected from another moment of pain or sadness. They didn’t leave this world alone. They were accompanied by the Jesus who loves them to that special place He had prepared for them before the first hail stone fell from the sky or the circular winds began to blow.
          We have the opportunity to show others, not the Oklahoma Standard, but God’s Standard. We are just the messengers of His love and provision as we reach out to others and as we accept their incredible love and support when the need is ours. We show that our hope is not misplaced as lives are healed and homes are rebuilt.
          It is our prayer that, through it all, hearts will be changed and that many will come to know the Jesus we serve and the One who loves them enough to die for them through His sacrifice for our sin. Then their perspective will be forever changed from the temporal to the eternal.
          May we be found as faithful as Job and as willing to accept that which we cannot comprehend or attempt to explain:

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

(Job 1:20b, NASB)

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,

which comes upon you for your testing,

as though some strange thing were happening to you;

but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ,

keep on rejoicing, so that also on the revelation of His glory

you may rejoice with exultation.”

(I Peter 4:12-13, NASB)

© 2013

Sing It Through

                     Sing It Through

When morning awakens yesterday’s fears

And light fades behind clouds filled with your tears

Let hope fill this moment with His promises true

Just open your heart, let His Spirit sing through.

Let His love shine brighter than what lies ahead

And light today’s journey without sense of dread

Each step brings you closer in faith to renew

Just open your heart, let His Spirit sing through.

We’re never alone when our trials we face

He’s living and loving in a heart bought by grace.

We share Him with others in all that we do

Just open your heart, let His Spirit sing through.

The Son is the source of the praises you sing

You offer them freely to Savior and King

He inhabits your voice and His love shines in you.

Just open your heart, let His Spirit sing through.

For Mary LaFrance

Nancy K. Sullivan

April 22, 2016

  

How Big Is Your Storm?

 

          On May 30, 2013 this cloud was taking aim for Falls Creek Baptist Assembly. Located near Davis, OK, it is one of the largest youth camps in the nation. There were 4,500 children and sponsors attending one of the weeks set aside for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students from around the state. The local weather teams who make it their life's work to study storms and keep our citizens aware of danger had instructed those at Falls Creek to "get below ground."
          Can you imagine being at the camp, or even a parent or other relative, of one of these children. Oklahoma had just said good-bye to nine of our youngest citizens. And now...this.

          Personnel and volunteers are well-trained and prepared for this type of emergency and got word, through the news outlets, that the children were in structurally sound buildings. 

          But, still we prayed and requests were quickly shared through social media. 

          God heard. And He answered..

          The weather reports began to change. The super cell was "failing to organize" into what could have been another disaster for a state still reeling from May 19 and 20, 2013. 

"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

  And He brought them out of their distresses.

  He caused the storm to be still...

  Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,

  And for His wonders to the sons of men!

  Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,

  And praise Him at the seat of the elders."

   (Psalm 107:28, 29a,31,32 NASB)

          There are more storms coming. Some in the form of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes. Some in the form of men who seek to destroy and to weaken our faith.

          God is bigger. And He is our only hope, whatever the storm. 

          Should we do everything in our power to avoid the things that seek to destroy us? Be aware? Be prepared? The answer is obvious. 

          Regardless of the particular storm heading toward us, we must also:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests 

be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:6,7 NASB)

       

 Photo by Mandy Kniskern, OKC

The Baker's Dozen

   

    During the holiday seasons cookie recipes fly through cyber space and land in kitchens waiting to be mixed, baked, decorated and displayed. But only the kitchen-tested, most uniform, and perfectly baked will survive long enough to be presented to guests. The ones that are a little too brown around the edges or broken will be tossed or used to appease the appetites of those who could care less about the irregular appearance of the warm, tasty dough.
     Have you ever been in a church service on a day the congregation was “tested” for its compassion? You know the one. An unkempt man or woman enters and moves noticeably to the front pew as the congregation reacts. Some may stiffen with the awkwardness. Others may show downright indignation. More often than not, at least one tender soul will do exactly the right thing to welcome the person who is obviously in need of pastoral care and prayer and who, like the broken pastry, might otherwise be cast aside in favor of one more suitable.
     What about the more discreet differences. Perhaps the person standing next to me is more demonstrative in their worship than I. Or maybe I know the political bent of a fellow Bible Study class member, and I don’t feel it lines up correctly with scripture. A more timid or reserved attendee may come across as aloof or unfriendly, while someone with an outgoing personality who is ready to jump in and tackle any service project or need the church may have could intimidate a more laid-back approach to church life.
      Few of us would nestle comfortably into a “cookie cutter” form of Christianity. What would that look like anyway? Who would get to set the criteria for that batch of believers? Hopefully, not most of the original New Testament congregations:

“But to what shall I compare this generation? 

It is like children sitting in the market places, 

who call out to the other children, and say, 

’We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; 

we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” 

(Matthew 11:16,17, NASB) 

     God’s personal messenger, John the Baptist, chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah, couldn’t even please them:

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’” 

(Matthew 11:18) 

     And how about those scruffy disciples? A reformed persecutor/murderer, tax collector, a doubter, even a spy-turned-betrayer (and his replacement) rounded out this Baker’s dozen. Not a great public offering from a worldly view.

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 

'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, 

a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” 

(Matthew 11:19, NASB) 

      Jesus didn’t fare any better than the others in the Pharisee’s eyes. It’s time for us to lose those cookie cutters and throw open the doors of our sanctuaries --- while we still can --- united and with the invitation that comes from the King of Kings. Thankfully, Jesus had His own standards for His church family imprinted on His nail-scarred, outstretched hands:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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. 

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

(Matthew 11:28-30, NASB)

Heaven's Gate

Heaven’s Gate

The gate of Heaven opens wide

And beckons the weary to come inside

Some enter quickly and some tarry there

As they finish the race, they’re covered in prayer

The mourning keep a vigil at the heavenly gate

Releasing and reclaiming loved ones who wait

For faith to become sight so they can see

What lies beyond where they become free.

Free from the pain, the sickness and sorrow

As those who surround them pray away tomorrow

For we all long to claim the love that will free us

As we gather through faith at the gate to see Jesus.

© Nancy K. Sullivan

    April 23, 2014

Wonderful Words of Life

Ella strokes her little girl’s blond curls one more time before slipping out of the quietness of a room awash in daisy wallpaper and stuffed animals “sleeping” with eyes wide open. The heaviness of her heart belies the sweetness and calm behind the now-closed door.

Another day of intense headlines from every corner of the world struggle to fill this mom’s head and heart, and are slowly succeeding. “There really are no surprises here,” she whispers to no one. “God told us this time would come.”

“The Last Days.”

She enters the living room and sinks into the nearest sofa cushion. The evening news replays the terror of so many innocent lives, born and unborn. “Lord,” she sighs.

She clicks on the late night news, then quickly dismisses it with another click. “I could never understand how EVERY nation would align against Israel. We’ve always been Her closest ally, at least until now. We have a president who brags that we are no longer a Christian nation. How could we actually elect a man with no heart for God or His chosen people.”

She leans her head against the back of the sofa. Somewhere in her memory the words “Sing them over again to me.  Wonderful words o…. “ seem to her to be audible.

“What was that song Mother used to sing? ‘Let me more of something, something.’” Somehow, even the sparse recollection warms her a little and she feels the tension ease from her creased forehead.

Little by little, phrases from songs her mother used to hum or sing throughout the day gather in her memory. She wishes she had listened more attentively while she could. Those childhood memories are all she has now. Had it only been six years? It seems much longer since the source of her nighttime comfort had passed away.

Her own curls had been unruly and red. But her mother would smooth them just as lovingly as she sang, not a child’s lullaby, but the words of a hymn from years, maybe centuries ago. It always worked. Whatever the day had held, the softness of her mother’s touch coupled with the equally soft voice was a gentle form of hypnosis each night.

“I wonder why we don’t still sing hymns in church. Praise songs are wonderful. They’re filled with truth, and isn’t that why we’re there on Sunday morning? Is it just my personal memory that makes the multiple verses of Mother’s favorite songs seem to special?”

She turns sideways toward the dusty piano keys beside her easy chair. Surely there is a hymnal somewhere in the box of dated sheet music she had inherited along with the old upright. “There it is.”

“Sing them over again to me

Wonderful words of life.

Let me more of their beauty see
Wonderful words of life.”

“How long has it been?” Ella muses as she searches for chords and bass notes. It takes a few shaky attempts, but soon her fingers find familiar notes and positions on the key board. She scans the browning pages of ancient sermons set to music: “Have Thine Own Way,” “Just As I Am,” “I Surrender All.”

“'I Surrender All.' All of my heart and will. All of my fears of so much uncertainty and even things that are absolutely certain and heading our way. My daughter, the one blessing of a painful and failed marriage." How Ella longs for the comfort and security of a strong and loving husband.

“On Christ the solid rock I stand…” Ella’s rock feels more like an earthquake threatening to open up beneath her small home, then close over her and her blond princess sleeping in the next room.

She continues through the stanzas of more promise and hope historically written through times of suffering, yet trusting. They were inspired words of different eras, yet so familiar in their searching. Another sigh, then Ella retreats to a chair she often shares with her best friend Bailee. She lifts the fuzzy face to her own and begins to sing once again, “Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life. Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.”

A sense of who she was begins to reappear. The little girl’s childlike faith joins with memories of her mother’s voice singing God’s reassurance into the still of her own bedroom so many years ago. The next book within her reach is her Bible.

Tomorrow will be a better day. A day of renewed hope and the knowledge that The Solid Rock is the same today as all of the days before, and each day to come.

We're Four years Old!

The new issue of Christian Women's Voice is now available. What a joy to be a small part of this special offering as God leads Debbie Dillon, founder and editor-in-chief, through every step of each issue. You won't want to miss the November/December issue for a jump start to the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

You can find us here:

http://christianwomensvoice.org/

God Bless

Mandy's Turn...The Sun Above the Clouds

Mandy generously agreed to let me share her Facebook post from a few days ago. I've seen this progression in her relationship with her two precious, funny, exasperating-at-times, blessings from God. If it's true that there's a special place in Heaven for mothers of little boys, Mandy will surely be the honored gate keeper welcoming her comrades of giggles, tears, body sounds - that should remain private but rarely do - into their eternal Calgon-infused mansions.

I love you Mandy and no mom/nanny has ever been more proud.  

     "This has turned into a slightly longer post than I intended, but is one that I've been pondering for awhile... I hope it's encouraging! smile emoticon

Brendon and Big Brother Barrick

     I have many parenting fails, but wanted to share a success that was good positive reinforcement for me recently (and there have been more fails since:)...

     A few weeks ago, I had left my favorite coffee mug sitting on the edge of the tub... loved the colors of it, the shape, how it felt in my hand... I bypassed the 25 other coffee mugs we have for this one on a daily basis. Brendon (4) was in the bathroom with me and turned quickly, accidentally knocking the mug over and breaking it on the tile. I said quietly, "Ohhhhh, Brendon... that was my favorite mug!" He was already mortified and his little eyes filled up with tears, and he started crying and saying over and over, "I'm so sorry Mom, I'm so sorry!" For all of his orneriness, he is so very tenderhearted heart emoticon. I made the decision to stay calm and assured him, "Honey, it's okay. You're a lot more important to me than that coffee mug. I'm sure I can find another one like it, or maybe even the same one. It's okay, don't worry about it." He cried and apologized a few more times.

Brendon in his element

     A couple of nights later, it was close to bedtime, and he had set up his cars in a parking lot arrangement of sorts on his and Barrick's bed earlier in the evening. I was straightening up their room and told him two or three times he needed to get the cars cleaned up off of his bed, because it was bedtime, and he could set them up again the next day. He ignored me and kept playing with other cars (so many cars!:) in the floor. So I cleaned the ones off of the bed and put them away. A couple of minutes later he saw that the bed was clear, cars gone, and started to melt down. He really let me have it for a few seconds, very upset with me for moving his cars, then settled himself down and said, "Mom, it's okay... you're more important to me than those cars being on the bed." As many times as I've seen my negative reactions come back full circle when the boys act or talk in a way they've seen me act or talk (convicting!), how rewarding it was to see the positive reaction from the coffee mug incident mimicked and come back full circle as well. Encourages me to try that more often wink emoticon.

     To share a little more of my heart about Brendon to hopefully encourage some of you who have little ones packed full of passion and intensity...

Papa Bud, Barrick, Mandy and Brendon 2015

     Brendon and I had a challenging time with each other from before he was 18 months until he grew closer to 4 years old (he'll be 5 in Dec.). There were some sweet moments, but they were fewer and farther between. It was like the sky was almost always overcast, with the sun shining through in an occasional break in the clouds. From early on, he would bang his head into the tile floor or into the cabinets, or side to side in his carseat, when he was frustrated. He wanted something, but he didn't... but he did... but he didn't. He wanted me, but he didn't... but he did... but he didn't. It was a constant push and pull, a daily tug-of war. I was so often battle weary. His natural instinct was to be contrary, to resist (I've often said, it may save his life as a teenager if he still feels that instinct to not go along with what's being suggested. My less dominant side, the resistant, contrary side, was the dominant part of his personality.

     He was also constantly miserable with allergies, even with medication, and not old enough to just deal with it yet, so when he didn't feel good, he was mad at the world and there was no pleasing him. Before he was two, he would angrily rake at his nose and say, "Nose hurts! Take nose off!" Poor little guy. I was in tears frequently, and often cried with him or out-yelled him in an effort to shut down the fuss. I would cry to Ken and say, "I keep pouring in love, and all that's coming out is fits!" Brendon wanted to keep me engaged, but in an emotional mess kind of way. There were times I just had to disconnect and would turn from him and walk away, and he would be even more upset because he sensed that emotional disconnect in me. There was no winning. I recognized the passion that God had gifted (yes gifted) him with, but what's a mom to do with that in a 2-and 3-year-old? Many times I have said, if he can survive me, we'll see what God has planned for all of that passion.

Barrick's first piano recital with mom/teacher Mandy

     Fast-forward to these last few months as he's gotten further into year 4... The sky is mostly sunny and only occasionally overcast and stormy (hooray!). I've shared all of this to hopefully encourage any other parents out there with small, passionate children. As Brendon has gotten older, I can rationalize with him more in a way that you can't do with a baby or toddler. He doesn't like losing his privileges which helps motivate better choices on his part. The fits are fewer and farther between, instead of the other way around. And all of the love that I kept wearily pouring in during those hard years has been spilling back out the past year. Unsolicited "I love you's" and hugs and kisses. And all of the other gifts God has given Brendon are shining through more and more all the time... So much compassion, friendliness, love, concern, tenderheartedness, and much more.

     So with some thankful tears welling up in my eyes as I finish typing, if you're needing it, please be encouraged that the sun is most definitely brightly shining above the clouds if you have an intense little one and are in those challenging early years. Many of those things that are so hard now will become easier as they get older, simply because they are growing cognitively and learning how to manage things better. Keep pouring in the love even if all that is coming out is fits. It will eventually come pouring back out heart emoticon."

Mandy Sullivan Kniskern

October, 2015

The Kniskern Clan: Mandy, Brendon, Barrick and Ken

Taste and See

     Has this past summer been like a high speed chase toward fall for you like it has for me? Time 

flies. Before we know it the scare crows and fall flowers that have emerged in anticipation of cooler temperatures and wonderful autumn aromas will soon flow forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. And we know what THAT means:

     Cookies, cakes, Christmas candies, stuffing, pumpkin pie, hot rolls all wrapped up with family and friends and, hopefully, centered around the true meaning of our special holiday – the birth and life of Jesus Christ. What if we begin now to prepare mentally and emotionally for a new focus, one that might be less centered on over-indulgence and the regret of added pounds once the tinsel and favorite recipes have been packed away?

     Thanksgiving or Christmas without pumpkin pie or Grandma’s special recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies? No whipped cream or Brown Betty fudge? That would never do. We can enjoy those wonderful traditions and still keep them in their proper perspective. Begin now to include exercise in your daily routine to get that metabolism working at optimum efficiency. Learn the discipline of drinking plenty of water during the day. Gather new recipes or healthier versions of favorite ones from the abundant supply online.

     When party season arrives, be prepared. Scope out healthy dishes to prepare and take as your contribution to the festivities. You’ll be doing others a favor as well as protecting your own good intentions.

     Don’t skip meals, rather have a light snack of veggies and/or fruit before leaving for the party. Drinking plenty of water will help take the edge off of your hunger. And NEVER shop hungry!

     It’s so easy to load up that desert plate with a sample of each offering until the flavors really blend together and we lose that particular, delightful texture and taste of our favorite seasonal experience. Take only your very favorite offering and pass on the things that you can live without. Make the gathering more about the people. Engage in conversation – away from the food. Offer to help clear the table and/or wash dishes.

     When planning that special time in your own home, engage your senses with beautiful colors and textures. Make a feast for the eyes rather than the pallet. Fill the room with beautiful music and scents. 

     Keep plenty of calorie-free beverages at hand for yourself and your guests: Iced tea, diet soda, water pitchers filled with cold water and slices of fresh, colorful fruit.

     Replace those huge disposable ovals with smaller dinner plates and desert bowls. Use smaller serving spoons. Cut the meat into smaller serving sizes. Limit the number of dinner rolls per guest. In the long run, you’ll help prevent their overeating and, probably, have much less wasted food for the disposal. You and your guest will enjoy ending the day satisfied, not stuffed.

     Having containers at hand for packing away or sharing the leftovers could signal that it’s time to move on to non-food socializing. Maybe some planned activities and/or games to draw your guests away from the table will help ward off the continual nibbling simply because the food is so accessible.

     As for your own enjoyment, delay that tasty dessert or treat – set aside a special time (and your very own serving) to indulge and savor every bite. Maybe that quiet moment with your senses could be at the end of the festivities when you’ve traded your apron for your comfy robe and fuzzy slippers. Just you and, well – you fill in the blank. Eat slowly and deliberately, and enjoy. 

     Statistically, we gain an average of ten pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. Is it any wonder that the resolve to "go on a diet" or "lose ten pounds" usually lands at the top of our ever-fading list of resolutions for the year? After losing 60 pounds a couple of years ago, I thought I was bullet proof and decided I could indulge over the holidays and beat the odds. Ummm...NO! I'm still trying to undo that lie! Think ahead of where you want to be on January 2, 2016 and keep your eyes on the prize rather than the pies.

     It will serve each one of us well to remember that the extra calories of the season will result in added pounds that will linger long after the treats, meals, and leftovers have been tasted, served, and scraped into oblivion. At least until next year.  

     Don’t wait for the inevitable New Year’s resolution to shed those holiday pounds that have been adding up over the past few Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Get a head start, then maintain your success with wise choices and by remaining focused on the real Reason we gather in thankfulness and celebration: God’s wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 “O taste and see that the Lord is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

(Psalm 34:8, NASB)

“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house,

they were taking their meals together

with gladness and sincerity of heart

praising God and having favor with all the people.

and the Lord was adding to their number day by day

those who were being saved.”

(Acts 2:46, NASB)

 

Soaring or Hooting?

          I live in the owl kingdom. Eyes wide open, sometimes blinking against the worries of a day that ended hours earlier or perhaps anticipating the next day’s struggles, imagined or real. I wrestle against the guilt of not being one of those who are snuggled beneath cozy blankets with their heads resting on fluffy pillows. The eagles are being rewarded for a day’s hard work as they drift through patterns of sleep designed by our Creator, and they will be repaired and prepared to soar through another day.

          Not all of my sleepless hours are spent in a negative way. I love the quietness of my home and enjoy the glow of a small lamp illuminating a few of my favorite things against the wall facing my easy chair. The texture of yarn as it weaves from one knitting needle to the other with a slow, steady rhythm adds to the serenity of the moment.

          These stolen hours of self-indulgence come with a price. My body is losing valuable time of restoration in each area of my life: spiritual, physical, and emotional. God did not just create our bodies with a built-in need for proper rest, He also set the example.

“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,

because in it He rested from all His work

which God had created and made.”

(Genesis 2:3, NASB)

          God gave us sacrificial women permission to set life aside for a few precious hours each day. This period of rest affords us the time to cease from being a wife, mom, homemaker, and/or professional for a few precious hours out of each twenty-four. A time of not worrying, or planning, or living out the next day before it even arrives. Why would I make the conscious choice to struggle against such a gift, or for that matter, against the Giver:

 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28, NASB)

          While God uses the eagle as a symbol of strength and majesty, owls are not spoken of in such glowing terms. In the Psalms, a prayer of an afflicted man pouring out his complaint before the Lord likens himself to the wide-eyed of the night:

“I have become like an owl of the waste places. I lie awake,

I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.”

(Psalm 102:6b,NASB)

          In recent years, the medical community has acknowledged the critical need for rest. Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson is one of the first doctors in the country certified in critical care. In his book, Discovering Your Optimal Health, he states:

          “Only in the last few years have science and medicine begun to understand that without enough high-quality sleep, our health and lives unravel. Poor sleep rivals poor diet and inactivity as a reason that 90 percent of us languish in a state of being non-sick (the state between optimal health and sickness) or have already slid onto the path to disease.”

          He goes on to say that we can be who we are. Larks or owls. As long as we get seven hours of sleep each night. Larks (or for the sake of this article, eagles) are morning people and will get more efficient rest by turning in at an earlier hour. Owls may not be able to will themselves to sleep at 9 PM or 10 PM for a wake-up call before dawn. A better bedtime for them (us) may be midnight to 7 AM. The key number here is seven, and isn’t it interesting that, in God’s design, “seven” is also the number for completion?

          More research on sleep disorders and helpful steps one can take to a good night’s sleep are available on the internet and in libraries, but we only need to look into the heart of God when it comes to His desire for our rest and well-being:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul.”

(Psalm 23:1-3a,NASB)

          A good, peaceful night’s sleep is part of that restoration. Acknowledging that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit carries the responsibility to be obedient and disciplined in how this temple is maintained. As much as I enjoy those purloined times of tranquility into the early morning hours, I need to, instead, accept the true peace that only comes from assurance in Jesus Christ:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do not let your heart be troubled,

nor let it be fearful.”

(John 14:27,NASB)

           If you are an eagle, I sincerely applaud you. If you suffer from rebellion in this area, as

do I, maybe it’s time we sidestep off of that nightly perch, grab some much-needed zzzz’s (for the seven hours that best fit our untimely schedule), and be ready to soar out of our nests in the morning.

Winning at Losing

          As many of you know, I've experienced exciting improvements in my health through weight loss over the past 3 years, and am now committed to helping others do the same by introducing the program and supporting them (a free health coach) as they embrace the changes for themselves.

          I'm beyond excited to share my experience in this month's issue of Christian Women's Voice. I am a contributor for the magazine, and we would love to have you check out Winning at Losing as well as great articles from Debbie Dillon (Found and Editor-in-chief) and other ladies who enjoy sharing their faith and friendship in each issue.

          Drop by www.christianwomensvoice.org and check us out. (Click on the CWV photo at the right.)  

          If you would like more information about the health program, please email me at NancyKSullivan49@gmail.com.

Thanks and God Bless.