Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Be a cat :-)

A few months ago Drason and Macguines were in the car outside of the Giant Eagle. I don't remember the specifics of what they were talking about but I do remember that Macguines kept hounding his dad for answers. It seemed like one question just came on the heels of another until finally Drason had had enough. He stopped answering and told Macguines to "be at peace" - While this did require some explanation, Mason thought about this for a minute and asked if he could be a cat - I don't know what he thought an "at piece" was but apparently if Macguines was going to get to be something - Mason didn't want to miss out. So around our house whenever someone needs to chill out we tell them to "be a cat"

There are so many times lately I have just wanted to know the bigger picture. I wonder if God ever feels like Drason did that day - completely hounded. Lately I have needed to be a cat - and tonight I found this online - It is originally from Max Lucado - my be a cat moment - ever have something show up that was meant just for you?

"I stand six steps from the bed’s edge. My arms extended. Hands open. On the bed Sara—all four years of her— crouches, posed like a playful kitten. She’s going to jump. But she’s not ready. I’m too close.
“Back more, Daddy,” she stands and dares. I dramatically comply, confessing admiration
for her courage. After two giant steps I stop. “More?” I ask.
“Yes!” Sara squeals, hopping on the bed. With each step she laughs and claps and
motions for more. When I’m on the other side of the canyon, when I’m beyond the reach of
mortal man, when I am but a tiny figure on the horizon, she stops me. “There, stop there.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” she shouts. I extend my arms. Once again she crouches, then springs. Superman
without a cape. Skydiver without a chute. Only her heart flies higher than her body. In that
airborne instant her only hope is her father. If he proves weak, she’ll fall. If he proves cruel, she’ll crash. If he proves forgetful, she’ll tumble to the hard floor.
But such fear she does not know, for her father she does. She trusts him. Four years under the
same roof have convinced her he is reliable. He is not superhuman, but he is strong. He is not
holy, but he is good. He’s not brilliant, but he doesn’t have to be to reminded to catch his child
when she jumps.
And so she flies.
And so she soars.
And so he catches her and the two rejoice at the wedding of her trust and his faithfulness.
***
I stand a few feet from another bed. This time no one laughs. The room is solemn. A machine
pumps air into a tired body. A monitor metronomes the beats of a weary heart. The woman on the bed is no child. She was, once. Decades back. She was. But not now.
Like Sara, she must trust. Only days out of the operating room, she’s just been told she’ll have
to return. Her frail hand squeezes mine. Her eyes mist with fear.
Unlike Sara, she sees no father. But the Father sees her. Trust him, I say to us both. Trust the
voice that whispers your name. Trust the hands to catch.
***
I sit across the table from a good man. Good and afraid. His fear is honest. Stocks are down.
Inflation is up. He has payroll to meet and bills to pay. He hasn’t squandered or gambled or
played. He has worked hard and prayed often, but now he’s afraid. Beneath the flannel suit lies a
timid heart.

He stirs his coffee and stares at me with the eyes of Wile E. Coyote who just realizes he’s run
beyond the edge of a cliff. He’s about to fall and fall fast. He’s Peter on the water, seeing the storm and not the face.
He’s Peter in the waves, hearing the wind and not the voice.
Trust, I urge. But the word thuds. He’s unaccustomed to such strangeness. He’s a man of
reason. Even when the kite flies beyond the clouds he still holds the string. But now the string has slipped. And the sky is silent.
***
I stand a few feet from a mirror and see the face of a man who failed. . . who failed his Maker.
Again. I promised I wouldn’t, but I did. I was quiet when I should have been bold. I took a seat
when I should have taken a stand.
If this were the first time, it would be different. But it isn’t. How many times can one fall and
expect to be caught?
Trust. Why is it easy to tell others and so hard to remind self? Can God deal with death? I told
the woman so. Can God deal with debt? I ventured as much with the man. Can God hear yet one
more confession from these lips?
The face in the mirror asks.
***
I sit a few feet from a man on death row. Jewish by birth. Tentmaker by trade. Apostle by
calling. His days are marked. I’m curious about what bolsters this man as he nears his execution.
So I ask some questions.
Do you have family, Paul? I have none.
What about your health? My body is beaten and tired.
What do you own? I have my parchments. My pen. A cloak.
And your reputation? Well, it’s not much. I’m a heretic to some, a maverick to others.
Do you have friends? I do, but even some of them have turned back.
Any awards? Not on earth.
Then what do you have, Paul? No belongings. No family. Criticized by some. Mocked by
others. What do you have, Paul? What do you have that matters?
I sit back quietly and watch. Paul rolls his hand into a fist. He looks at it. I look at it. What is he
holding? What does he have?
He extends his hand so I can see. As I lean forward, he opens his fingers. I peer at his palm.
It’s empty.
I have my faith. It’s all I have. But it’s all I need. I have kept the faith.
Paul leans back against the wall of his cell and smiles. And I lean back against another and stare
into the face of a man who has learned that there is more to life than meets the eye.
For that’s what faith is. Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see.

Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel’s angel.
Eyes see storms. Faith sees Noah’s rainbow.
Eyes see giants. Faith sees Canaan.
Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.
Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees His blood.
Your eyes see your grave. Your faith sees a city whose Builder and Maker is God.
Your eyes look in the mirror and see a sinner, a failure, a promise-breaker. But by faith you
look in the mirror and see a robed prodigal bearing the ring of grace on your finger and the kiss of your Father on your face.

But wait a minute, someone asks. How do I know this is true? Nice prose, but give me the
facts. How do I know these aren’t just fanciful hopes?
Part of the answer can be found in Sara’s little leaps of faith. Her older sister, Andrea, was in
the room watching, and I asked Sara if she would jump to Andrea. Sara refused. I tried to convince her. She wouldn’t budge. “Why not?” I asked.
“I only jump to big arms.”
If we think the arms are weak, we won’t jump.
For that reason, the Father flexed His muscles. “God’s power is very great for those who believe,” Paul taught. “That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead” (Eph. 1:19—20).

Next time you wonder if God can catch you, read that verse. The very arms that defeated death
are the arms awaiting you.
Next time you wonder if God can forgive you, read that verse. The very hands that were nailed
to the cross are open for you.
And the next time you wonder if you will survive the jump, think of Sara and me. If a flesh-andbone-headed dad like me can catch his child, don’t you think your eternal Father can catch you?"

Taken from Stronger in the Broken Places by Max Lucado

Peace out
Amanda

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Fluffy the 2nd

Some of you already know that we had an unexpected visitor at our house on Sunday. The little guy showed up just before lunch and after Drason walked around the neighborhood asking if he belonged to anyone we allowed the boys to bring in "fluffy" and we cleaned him up a bit - He had burs all over and was a matted mess - BUT we were able to recognize that this was a cute dog after some clean up. It looked something like this



Sunday evening we posted an ad in the Advocate that we had found a dog, and then Monday Drason called and let the Dog shelter know. So after 4 days with "fluffy" his owners call and claim him, at 10:30 last night.

This is both good and bad - it's great because we really didn't think we wanted another dog, but it is really bad because the boys had gotten so attached - even after repeated talks about - "fluffy will have to go home"

So Macguines very solemnly says to me last night - "I guess God wanted fluffy to live at someone elses house." He gives the couple their dog and is very grown up. He didn't even cry while they were there - I was so proud of him. They offered a reward, but we refused so they gave it to Macguines.

As soon as the front door is closed the tears start, and we all have a talk about how we would want to go home with our family if we were lost. Macguines tearfully goes to bed around midnight.

This morning he was so tired and his eyes were so red I decided to allow him a mental health day from school, and instead of going on the field trip we had planned, we went on the central Ohio tour of county animal shelters to find, you guessed it, Fluffy the 2nd. After all day and no luck we see an ad in the Advertiser, and guess how much Macguines had to pay for Fluffy the 2nd? The reward money!

So Fluffy the 2nd is currently hiding under the computer table while I type - but all is well again in the Sillin house - no more tears - Fluffy is here :-)


Sweet Dreams
Amanda

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Time to trim the fat

and no I'm not talking about points.

I have been going to the "discerning the voice of God" bible study ( good study) and this past week the thing that has been coming up a lot is that I really need to trim the fat out of my life.

This may sound silly, but I honestly think there are a lot of wasted opportunities that if I would just trim out some of the junk I don't really need to do I would have more time to focus on the things I should be focusing on.

Our world is designed to keep us busy, distracted, upset, worried and defeated.

Think I'm wrong?

How much time do you spend worried about a bill, about how you look, about what others think instead of just being focused - tuned into God?
One of the things this study talks about is using the time you have to focus on God - to be still and just listen, pray and meditate on God's word. Many times when I am driving, running an errand, folding laundry - or whatever - I am focused on how I am going to solve a problem. I could spend that time to focus on God, to think about what is important to Him.

How much time do you spend as a "human doing" rather than just a human being - you know what I mean - running to baseball practices, stressing over the smallest details?

Why do we do this?

Because we live in a world where everything is "gotta have it now" Fast - speedy - bargain - the very best- a must have society.

And we sell our peace for an extra baseball practice, or for having the perfectly manicured lawn, or the prettiest/priciest outfit.

Then we worry about our kids, our jobs, our spouses, our relationships, our everything - instead of just focusing on the important thing to begin with

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."


11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Peace out
Amanda

Sunday, May 4, 2008

U-P

Mason comes in the kitchen today and is obviously very proud of himself. He says to me "Mom, guess what I can spell?" (At this point alarm bells start going off in my head - oh no what can he spell?, I hope he doesn't spell it in Sunday School!, I am going to kill his older brothers....) But before I can ask he says "Up you know U-P"

"UP?" I ask - thankful it isn't anything bad, and then he giggles at me
"Yeah mom, UP, get it U-P"

Sometimes it is really hard to keep a strait face around here.

Tonight we went out to dinner with our friends Sam and Amy and had a great time, always good to get some grown up time, especially with such good friends!

See ya
Amanda

Friday, May 2, 2008

Time to update

Lets see, time to update

We had a great week this week at church - lots of good missions stuff - very inspirational and encouraging, made some new friends.

The Boys had baseball, have baseball and will have baseball it seems until mid June.

Marshal turned 7 and received his favorite gift not from his parents - but from the Geirling kids - nice!

Holly is expecting her baby any day now - She has picked the name Lily - so lets hope it really is a girl.

I read John 6:22-59 in a quite time, then it came up again later when talking to a friend, ever wonder if God gets frustrated with you? He doesn't sound too angry He explains himself again and again - trying to convince the Jews. No it's not ok to be dense, but it is good to know that He is patient even when we inadvertently are.

Drason's business is coming along - anyone need a security consultant?

Overall we have had a very long couple of weeks but a very good couple of weeks - in short I can't complain - we have had all we needed, when we needed it - and sometimes not a day before :-)

Amanda