Happy Birthday Mom

Gloria Jean

Sitting at the mirror,

a precious little girl

looking deep inside herself

into another world.

She wasn’t sure she liked

The reflection that was seen.

She knew her name yet could not see

the treasured Gloria Jean.

She saw herself as she thought others did

Finding each and every flaw,

When she looked at her reflection

It wasn’t herself she saw.

She saw a girl who seemed so weak,

A girl quite plain and dull.

She felt like she was not a gift

to anyone at all.

God saw Gloria Jean’s heart was troubled

And one night in a dream

He opened up her eyes and mind

And this is what was seen.

God said, “You are a gift and more than just to me!”

He then began to show her things that no one else could see.

She saw herself through eyes

that weren’t hers at all.

She now could see with God’s own eyes

Another girl so small.

Perplexed by what she now could see

A new and different reflection,

She realized she knew this girl

But struggled to make the connection.

The girl that was before her now

Was beautiful and brave,

Deep blue eyes full of passion

And a heart that gave and gave.

Then suddenly before her

A young woman did appear.

An adoring husband by her side

And four children she held dear.

Carefully she reminded

each of her little ones

That they were special, loved, and smart

Magnificent and fun.

She then turned to her husband

Looking deep into his eyes

Without a word she let him know

He was her perfect prize.

Love beamed from her heart like sun rays

Kindness from her pores

Patience, understanding, peace

That stretched to distant shores.

Then God said,”This girl you see,

Is the same one that I see.

 I see YOU as a gift

and the gifts not just to me.”

As Gloria Jean awoke

From a long and restful sleep

She realized that this amazing dream

Was a gift for HER to keep.

God made her just as He saw fit

Each piece and every part,

And only God can fill the holes

That lie within our heart.

On this special birthday

Know that you may get lots of gifts but to us

YOU are the gift!

With Love,

Brittany

9-30-11

Are you a Referee?

     I am not a confrontational person by nature. I don't like chaos or conflict so I avoid it at all costs. I am learning though that not all confrontation is necessarily a bad thing. Either way, I still don't like it. It makes me feel bad, uncomfortable, and all around bleh. Well, being a mother, wife, teacher, and friend limits my ability to live my zen existence that I so desire. I would love nothing better than to just live in Utopia where "everybody just get along."
      I get up in the morning and my kids are already arguing and forcing me to be the referee. Then I go to school where I have to make 22 kids coexist and use their "lifeskills." I spend my entire life being a peacemaker but never seem to succeed! Then I think of God and how he must feel. He just wants us all to love one another and get along. His plan for us is straight-up love and we do just the opposite so much of the time. The little bits of conflict that I am working out in my life are so minimal compared to the chaos God looks down on everyday. What a wonderful day it will be when we all live in perfect peace. I am really looking forward to it and I bet God is too!

     ^"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here's what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you're worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he's asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things."
1 Peter 3:8-12

Intermission

"Be still, and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10

     Today was a great day...a needed break from the
merry-go-round of life. Everyone needs an intermission every once in a while and mine was today.  I woke up with no alarm going off, meandered to the coffee pot, watched some mindless entertainment on Animal Planet, then worked in the yard. Working in the yard may not sound like a sabbatical from life, but for me it was something that slowed me down enough to take notice of the things that really matter. We sorted through rocks for hours, laying plastic underneath so that the weeds would not come poking throught the rocks. But while doing that seemingly mindless activity my whole world seemed to make sense again. God has a way of showing us what is really important if we just "Be still." The beauty of a bunch of river rocks, crawling insects, and sunshine slowed time down and allowed me to be still in the chaos of this world.

Thank you God for the little things.

Homesick

     I'm homesick. Even though I am at home sitting right in my cozy little living room, I still have the strange feeling that I am not where I am meant to be. Now don't worry, I am happily married and love my family, but there is a distant ache inside that yearns for my real home. God gives me beautiful glimpses everyday of Heaven while I am here on earth and though those glimpses are good and satisfy, they make me long for what I know will one day come. I look forward to seeing the face of the One that made me, the One that knows me like no one else ever could. The One that saw this broken girl and recognized the potential that even I couldn't see. I long for peace, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more crying.                       
     This world seems to have so much to offer...get what you want, get it now, its all about you. I used to think that was what I wanted. Now I know that its what I depise. I want to live in a world where people love one another, where a neighbor is someone you actually know, where you don't have to worry about your kids playing in the front yard. Praise God that one day this will be a reality. My current world will seem so insignificant in the eyes of eternity. The little things that get me down and the earthshaking things that make me sad will be history.
      So, what do you do when you are homesick? Well I Googled that very question and here is what the answer was...
"If you are homesick like a child away from his/her parents then I think you should call whoever you miss, but keep yourself busy until they get back so that you don't think to much about it."
Sounds like a simple answer but it actually makes quite alot of sense! I need to talk to my parent (God) by praying and communicating with Him and I need to keep myself busy until He comes back. That is exactly what Matthew 28:19 says to do, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That should keep me busy!

A Change for the Better

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

        Isaiah 26:3 NIV

God's word is so vital for us everyday, yet I treat it like its another thing I have to "do" on my ginormous list of day to day busyness. I just cannot understand why I have to keep reminding myself of this fact. Each time I study the Bible and trying to deeply understand His words for me, I am so richly blessed and somehow it changes me. It changes me from the Brittany I don't always like to someone I can be proud of. It makes me want better things for my life and for my family. It gives me strength to start my day, and get through it with a loving attitude. It makes me want to pray for others, to care for others, and stop thinking of my needs. If that is how it makes me feel then why do I constantly need a reminder to spend time with God? It reminds me of the verse Paul wrote in Romans, " For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." God, help me to think of you as I think of food and water. Not just an afterthought, but a necessity. Feed my soul and help me change into the person you want me to be. I want to seek you like I would seek out water in a desert. You are the only thing that can quench my thirst. Keep me from trying to fill myself with things that won't satisfy. Help me slow down and hear Your voice.

Update

Back after a summer of rest and relaxation...not! I hiked 74 miles of the AT and then painted the house. Oh, and helped Robin paint hers too. Now I am back at school with 22 students. That was my quick update. More to come soon! I will add pics of my wonderful trip and stories as well.
Britt

Distractions

     As I sit here at the library distracted by the screaming child that isn't getting her way, the man with the laptop that has no headphones, the phone that no one seems to answer, and the lady at reference that is talking like she is at a concert I wonder to myself, why do I not have a computer at home with Internet? I just wanted to go to my favorite place and relax. Not today.  After stopping and just really listening it came to me that amidst all the distractions its so easy to get caught up in what is going around me that I forget my purpose. What is my purpose, you ask? Well, let me tell you...my purpose is to be the kind of person that draws people to Christ. Not because I am so holy, because I'm so far from where I'd like to be in that area, but because they can see something different in me. I wonder if I measure up? I wonder if my attitude is just as it should be? Ok, so the answer is probably not...seeing that I just complained about the above mentioned annoyances at the library! Reflection has really helped me see what I need to change about me. It helps me look at my day and see what I did right, what I did wrong, and what I want to do better. So the annoyances I spoke of earlier turned out to be more of a lesson in self-reflection. Amazing how if I just stop and listen, God has a lesson for me. Distractions aren't always bad, sometimes they serve a greater purpose. Instead of keeping me from doing what it is I need to do, they point me back to my purpose!
Lovin' it. Strange how I can change my attitude from the beginning of my blog to the end just by stopping and listening to the distractions.
   

Third day- King of Glory

Doors

This morning as I read Psalms 24 I was reminded of just how much power God has. He is the creator of everything and sometimes I get so caught up in my little pesky problems that I forget that He has my back. In the Psalms it starts out with how amazing God is and how He is the creator of all things, then it asks who is worthy to give Him that praise. Well none of us are, but then I remember that God has called me His own. When I gave my life to Him, He wrapped his love around me and called me His child. Comforting as this sounds this was the real kicker for me:
 ⁷ Open up, ancient gates!
      Open up, ancient doors,
      and let the King of glory enter.
 ⁸ Who is the King of glory?
      The Lord, strong and mighty;

      the Lord, invincible in battle.
 ⁹ Open up, ancient gates!
      Open up, ancient doors,
      and let the King of glory enter.

I know...it sounds weird. At first I thought he was talking about physical gates and doors. Then it hit me that maybe he is just talking about me. Maybe instead of talking about castles gates and ancient doors, David is really talking about walls I build, gates I seem to shut without realizing it. Sometimes I can't help but think that when I take time to listen to God, He has something to say to me. He knows of all the hurts in my life, disappointments, and struggles that make me close the doors and gates to my heart. The sad thing is that beyond those doors and gates lie the King of Glory and there I am with the door shut. He doesn't mention any walls,which is great! Doors and gates can easily be opened if you have the right key or if you just push a little! So today, rather than shutting myself in, I am airing the house out. The gates and doors are open and I am going to bask in this King of Glory!!!!

Jephthah's Daughter

       I just read a story from the Bible about Jephthah. I know...who is this guy? I went to Bible college and somehow managed to let this story slip between my fingers. I sat here after reading it wondering what in the world I might reap from a story like this one. Ok...so you might have to look up Judges 11 and read it but I will give you the quick version:

       So this guy "Jeph" was born to a prostitute and his half brothers dropped him from the family like a bad egg.  He was set out and basically left for dead. Lucky for him he was a tough bird and so he went out and met other outcasts and became their ringleader. He was so impressive that when his previous clan got into a fight with the Ammonites they came back and wanted him to lead the cause.  He was perplexed by the offer but accepted. Off Jeph goes to fight for the same people who kicked him out in the first place. What an idiot.
       Well Jeph must have had a real desire for acceptance because he took the offer and made a promise to God that if God would let him conquer the Ammonites he would sacrifice whatever came out of his front door first when he came home.
("If you give me a clear victory over the Ammonites, then I'll give to God whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in one piece from among the Ammonites—I'll offer it up in a sacrificial burnt offering." )
      Jeph goes to war, wins by a landslide, and returns home. Dun duh duh...the plot thickens! Guess who comes dancing out of his house when he returns? His one and only virgin daughter! Does he know that is what is going to happen? Did he expect it to be his wife, mother-in-law, or the family dog? The Bible doesn't say that part but what I do know is that he freaks out and blames the daughter for being the first one out the door. HE makes a promise to God and then when God not only delivers but helps him conquer 20 more cities he starts blaming her. So basically Jeph was willing to give up a family member so he could look good in the eyes of others.
      Now this is where I get really interested! If it were me and my father made a promise like that to God I would be begging him to renege on his vow. But when the unnamed daughter finds out what is at stake she tells him to follow through with his vow. What???? Did she really just say that? She does do something that I think is really interesting though. She tells her dad that she wants to go to the mountains with her friends and mourn her inability to ever marry and have children. The daughter goes to the mountains with her most trusted friends rather than spending the rest of her days with her own father. She returns and is sacrificed. Or is she...it seems kind of vague whether she was literally sacrificed or whether she went the rest of her life unmarried and childless. This in itself was like a death sentence for Jewish women. They wanted nothing more than to have a child. Either way she paid the price.
     All this to say that sometimes, or most of the time, we do stupid things to impress people we don't even like. I find myself trying to please others all the time. Its happening less and less these days but its still a vicious cycle we get ourselves into. When our motive is more about pleasing people than pleasing God we end up unhappy and unfulfilled. Jeph made a promise to God to impress people who were horrible to him in the first place.  Jeph did great things for God in his time as a judge but sometimes he let his ego get in the way. I do that, too. God help me to do things for you and not to please man.

"I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." Galatians 1:10

   

Finding Favor

     This morning was different than most for me. I woke up with God on my mind right away. It was as if He whispered in my ear to go and listen for Him. When I went to open my Bible the first verse that came to my mind was the 23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or through the darkest valley),
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-- Life Application Bible - NIV

It was such a comfort for me and it reminded me of the song Matt Redman sings called "Never Let Go" which is about God holding us during the storms of life. I put the song on while I read the verse over and over. Why was I so intense about these verses? On the way to school I realized that God was preparing me for a battle that I was going to have to overcome today. I had no idea that those verses would come back and soothe the pain that often comes with battle wounds. When I got to work I went straight for the first person I knew who was usually fully suited in her armor and ready for battle. She prayed for me and asked for favor for me today. Not just regular old "favor" that comes with being a child of God, but extra favor everywhere I stepped. As I sit here typing this blog thinking of the painful tears I shed this morning and how now they are tears of joy and peace. God found favor upon me...favor I don't deserve but am thrilled to get. Little things that may not matter on a regular day happened today to show me just how much God cares for me. Even though he has millions of children he still has time for his little redhead down here in Tennessee. Thanks God for showing favor on me today, for wonderful friends praying for me, for everything good.

This song really helps me remember who I need to call on:

Couldn't Wait to Share

     So, I told you on Friday that I was totally exhausted and needed to hide for a bit. I was soooo looking forward to what God was gonna do. I had big plans for Him! (lol, literally) Dave was off this weekend and I thought it might be nice to go hiking in this beautiful weather and just relax as a family, literally hiding in the mountains where I would be closer to God and nature. Turns out He had a different thing in mind. Dave started running a fever Friday night. He was in bed all day Saturday and continues to be there as I write. So, my big hiking plans were halted. The boys had major cabin fever so we ran some errands and the usual stuff we do on weekends. Ok God where is my hiding??? I am anxiously waiting for you to zap down and cover me with your hand! Last night I had come to the conclusion that I probably wouldn't get that rest I so desperately wanted. I figured I must have missed it while I was busy running errands.
     This morning I woke up knowing I had to go to church and teach 3rd-5th grade kids alone. (Dave is still sick in bed) So I muster up all the "teacher" energy I have and hit the road. When I get to the church there is a sign on the front door that says, "Your kids classes have changed...ask us how." Would you believe the heat went out and all the kids were supposed to stay in the service with the grown ups. So that means that I get to go to church! (Not that I don't love teaching, because I do!) At this point I am at church alone. Nobody in my family is there but little ole me. I don't have to wonder if the boys are getting what they need and if they are listening intently. I am not aware of anything but me and God. Then it happens! I am in my hiding place. Every song that was played was like it was played just for me. Every word that was spoken was just for me. Every scripture that was breathed was for me. For one hour I was transported into a place where Moses had been once. I was up on a hillside waiting for God to pass by and guess what? He did!

God has a way of showing up when he knows I need it most and when I least expect it. It wasn't at all like I planned for it to be. His plans are always so much better than mine. I forget that sometimes, til He reminds me. The above song really hit me hard...enjoy it!

The Cleft of a Rock

     I have to admit it...I am exhausted! I just need to rest. Not just rest by sleeping in or taking a vacation but really resting my soul by hiding in God. Sometimes this big ole world is just too overwhelming for me and I need to take a sabbatical from it all. Being my best at work, being a mom, being a wife, being a homeschool teacher, a friend, an housekeeper, a cook, an accountant, etc. seems to weigh heavy at times and I just want to crawl underneath something big and hide for a while, just until I can get my power restored. I am so lucky that I can do that...yep, just like that I can ask God to hide me and He will protect me from everything being too much. God placed Moses in the cleft of a rock so that he could get just a glimpse of His glory. I think if we ask God will hide us behind a "rock" so we can be recharged in His presence. I am looking forward to recharging this weekend. So if you can't find me you know where I'll be!

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
  That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
  And covers me there with His hand,
    And covers me there with His hand.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/334#ixzz1DgaKlcQV

Prayer Changes Things

     For some odd reason I am always suprised by God's ability to do something wonderful when I least expect it.  Today was a normal day by most standards. Nothing out of the ordinary happened at work. But at the end of the day when I was just ready to leave, an unexpected visitor came to my classroom. Unlike the snake that has visited my room from time to time, this visitor was more than welcome! It was a dear friend from work that has the true gift of encouragement. But today was not for her to encourage me, but rather for me to reach out to her. I asked her if we could pray together and she said, "I am so glad you asked me that!" I prayed for her and then she prayed for me. It was amazing because she has so much knowledge of God's Word hidden in her heart. She prayed scripture like nobody's business. Even though I set out to encourage her, she still ended up encouraging me! Lord, let me hide your Word in my heart so that when times are tough I can bring that back up from the depths and use it to encourage others and myself. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path...Psalms 119:105.

     Every day with God is a new suprise. I am never regretful that I chose to follow Him.

From a Distance?

     As I was cleaning house the other day I got a song stuck in my head. It was the song "From a Distance" by Bette Midler. I don't even know why that song in particular came to me...maybe I heard it earlier and it just stuck with me. Who knows? Anyways, as I was singing it I realized that the song says, "God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us...from a distance". Wait! My God isn't a distant God so why am I singing this song? He may seem far away because we can't see him, but in reality He is with us all the time. I feel His presence throughout the day and wonder how people can think of God as a distant being. He is in the sunrise I see as I am driving to work each morning and in the eyes of my kids at school. He is that whisper that tells me to "be still" when I get frantic about life's ups and downs. I can feel His presence when I am cooking dinner, enjoying a good song, and when I am spending time with my family. He is so present that I can almost sense His hand upon my shoulder like a close friend. No, God isn't watching from a distance. He is in your house right now summoning you to spend some time with Him. He notices you...and if we listen closely we might just notice that He is closer than we think.

How was your day?

     Everyday at exactly 3:20 pm I call Dave after I leave work (pending I don't get delayed). Every day Dave asks the question..."How was your day?" to which I seem to never really have a good answer. Today was different. I really had to think about how my day actually went. Should I rate in on scale from 1-10 and if so what makes a good day vs. a bad one? Then I realized that every day that we are given is a wonderful day, a blessing! Sure some days are definately more difficult than others but I realized today that I sometimes just try so hard to get through the day that I completely forget to simply enjoy it.
     As I look back over the course of my day I think of the wonderful husband who kissed me goodbye this morning, the father who called at 6:55 am just to say he loved me, the sweet little faces that greeted me this morning with a "Good morning Mrs. Pritchett" and a smile. I think of all my friends at work that make the day seem more enjoyable, and the teenage sons who still hug and kiss me every day, and the God who loves me even when I am unloveable. How was my day?
It was awesome!