Power Of A Moment

I am fired up.

Something was brought to my attention on Monday that really got me seriously evaluating things.

I happened to be leafing through the latest copy of People magazine that afternoon while my son had his dentist appointment and I saw an article on Tom Cruise. He  spoke in detail about how he  prepared to play a rock star in his newest movie, Rock Of Ages.

“I’ve never sung professionally,” says the 49-year old star. “I approached it the way I learned race car driving or some stunt where you develop that part of your body.” Develop it he did, plunging into about 10 hours a day of intensive voice and movement training…for 4 1/2 months….Choreographer Mia Michaels’ routine with the actor also included  push ups and ab work….Cruise perfected his voice by singing nothing but scales for nearly three months. ‘His core strength is tremendous,’ says (his vocal coach). ‘You never see a great singer who isn’t a great athlete.'”

Ten hours a day.

To practice for a movie role.

I closed the magazine, my thoughts swirling.

You know what my pervasive thought was?

Tom Cruise puts a lot of Christians to shame.

When was the last time you pursued Christ and His kingdom with the kind of passion that Tom Cruise showed for his movie role?

Do you possess his  tremendous discipline, laser-like focus, and single-minded purpose?

No? Me neither.

(If you answered yes to those questions, I salute you :)).

Too often—despite my best intentions—I find it too easy to drift through a day. I want to dig into a personal summer Bible study, yet I allow the tyranny of the urgent to take precedence and the day slips away.  I want to get in better shape, yet I have found it easy to push the snooze button rather than get up and work out. I find it too easy to bypass my to-do list and read a book.

Drifting.

I don’t want to live my life like that anymore. I want to live with purpose and intention.

If this man ( who is not a believer) has that type of purpose and drive, how can I (who has the Spirit of the risen Christ living in my heart),  meander through my life, not meeting daily goals?  Saying things like, “It’s just too hard.” Whining that I wish I were in better shape, but not making wise nutritional choices or taking the time to work out? Singing the words, “I’m desperate for You” in church, yet not reaching for my Bible first thing in the morning because life is so busy?

So, I made some changes. Jesus deserves my BEST. I have always known that but I needed a reminder.

I am meeting with Jesus every morning first thing. He is my very life, my very breath. I am digging into that Bible study. I am getting up early every morning to work out. I am making wise nutritional choices. I am working my way through a list of things I need to do…and doing them with excellence.

No more drifting.

Matthew 16:27 asks, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” —(Matthew 16:27).

Tom Cruise personifies this verse.

Unfortunately, he is a passionate devotee of Scientology. He has been bold enough to proselytise about the cult to the extent that it harmed his reputation and cost him work.

He is zealous to share a lie. Sincere, but sincerely wrong.

Pray for him. While his drive and success are admirable, the bottom line is that he is a lost soul who is pouring his very life into things that will not last for eternity.

Where is our boldness as Christians?

Do we zealously guard our own reputations more than we are concerned with God’s glory and reaching the lost?

We know the TRUTH.

This is not a game. People are dying without Christ everyday while we tiptoe around, fearful of  being offensive.

Tears come to my eyes when I think about the loved ones who populate my life who do not know the beautiful and all-encompassing love of Jesus. I have shared Him with some of them but not with others.

No more.

I will share as I am led to by His Spirit, swallowing my fear and calling on His courage to open my mouth and share the words of LIFE.

I have this one life to live and I will live it with purpose rather than aimlessness.

I will live to get as close to my Savior as I can. I will  pray my heart out. If there is something in my life that I do not like, I will change it.   I will make wise choices. I will do what needs to be done. I will not make excuses. I will not whine and wish, but praise and plan.

There is no time to waste. He has work for us to do here. We are not promised tomorrow.

Do what you need to do today.

No more drifting.

The kids and I gave my husband Doug a kayak for his birthday in April.

He has wanted one for as long as I have known him and since we are surrounded by various lakes, all within a few minutes drive from our home, this was the year for his dream to come true.

We have had an unusually rainy spring so far, so when the weatherman predicted that today would be a sunny day in the 70s, we decided to take the kayak out on its maiden voyage.

There was literally no one out on the lake when we set out early in the morning. The water was smooth as glass. It was so quiet that we could hear all of the birds singing. The sun was warm on our skin and a small breeze gently wafted across our faces as we made our way deeper into the lake.

I should clarify that point by saying that it was Doug who was doing all the work. He was quite happy to let me take photos and enjoy the ride.

When I glanced back at him, he looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. Sheer joy and a huge grin. I loved it.

However, when I turned around to face the lake, I was horrified to see a big nasty black spider skittering quickly toward my feet.

Just like that, the morning stillness was shattered by my screams.

I hate insects of any kind, but especially spiders.

And a big spider that is crawling around when I am in an enclosed space where there is the distinct possibility that it could actually touch my skin is a horrendous nightmare for me.

You can clearly see my dilemma.

I am such a girl.

Doug tried fruitlessly to calm me down as I shrieked and stomped at the same time, trying to kill the interloper. With my fear of bugs, I could not believe that I hadn’t thought to check to make sure my part of the kayak was insect-free before heading out into the open water where there was no escape.

“Don’t tip us over!” he finally said in an elevated voice, tinged with panic as I continue to flail around in my efforts to end the spider’s life.

After what seemed like several minutes (but was actually a matter of seconds), the thing finally stopped moving and I was able to relax…about 20 minutes later when my heart rate returned to normal.

I was tempted to keep a laser-like focus on the area around my feet to ensure a quick death to any other insect that may be hovering in the nether-regions of the kayak but when I looked at all the beauty around me, I realized how ridiculous that would be.

With determination, I raised my gaze and drank in all the sights and sounds around me, refusing to let the spider mar such a perfect day.

Doug was definitely on board with this plan, as he was able to once again enjoy his kayak’s maiden voyage in peace.

For the rest of our trip, we shard some great conversation as well as comfortable silences, marveling once again that we are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Our time on the lake seemed to end much too soon.

We can hardly wait to  get back out there.

What about you? Do you live near a body of water and what water sports do you intend to enjoy this summer?

Ever since moving to New Hampshire in 2007, Doug and I have wanted to go to the Lupine Festival in Franconia.

This morning, we decided that today was the day.

We dropped the kids off at school and headed up into the mountains.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and there was a gentle breeze. Perfect.

Our first stop was a famous breakfast place, Polly’s Pancake Parlor:

Unlike the rest of my family, I am not a huge breakfast person.

However, that has now changed after our visit to Polly’s.

Best. pancakes. EVER.

I am already making plans to go back.

Since Polly’s is in the heart of lupine country, it was only a short drive to the vast array of lupine fields atop Sunset Hill.

Along the freshly-mown trails, there were inspirational signs displaying portions of poems and songs along the way…

I know my cousin David would have loved this one… (wistful smile)

Doug and I were the only ones out in the field at that hour. It was supremely peaceful…feeling the sun on our shoulders, listening to the birds sing and the insects buzz, watching butterflies dance among the flowers.

This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24)

On Sunday, our pastor mentioned that if this fallen world is so lovely—reflecting the stunning and dazzling beauty of our God—just imagine how glorious Heaven will be.

I thought of that as we wandered among the lupines.  I felt so close to God there. My heart overflowed with gratitude to be sharing this day with my husband. To be in good health. To have eyes to see and ears to hear. To feel the weight of this wonderful moment in time.  To walk on the topsoil of earth with my Savior, who delights in walking with me.

After strolling through the green paths dotted with all that glorious purple, we visited a quaint country store.

On the drive home, I couldn’t resist stopping to snap a photo of this little country church that is just quintessential New England:

I was delighted to find one of my very favorite quotes among the lupine fields:

This day truly will be written on my heart as one of the best ones. 🙂

Why not take a moment or two today to discover the beauty in your own backyard?

My country, ’tis of thee
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrim’s pride,
from every mountainside, let freedom ring

My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above

Let music swell the breeze
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong

Our fathers’ God to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom’s holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King

Last night was the spring concert at the high school. Our son Josh plays the oboe and the saxophone and our daughter Julia plays the flute.

The kids all did a fantastic job and everyone enjoyed a wonderful night of music.

Afterward, Doug, Julia, her friend Diana, and me struck up a conversation with the father of one of my friends who is well into his eighth decade. In fact, he and his lovely bride have been married for 64 years.

He began to share his love of music with us, including the fact that he still performs shows at nursing homes…”for the old people,” you see. 🙂

I motioned to Diana and told him that she plans to be a Broadway star one day.

His eyes lit up and he said, “Do I have a piece of advice for you!’ He paused for a moment then said, “Every song tells a story. You have to believe  the story with every fiber of your being. Then you look people in the eye and you sell that story! They’ll never forget you!” 

I thought about his advice long after we went home that night. Specifically, how it relates to the greatest story ever told…the Gospel of Jesus.

As Christians, we possess the most incredible, surpassing, breathtaking, beautiful story that this world will ever hear. And we have been given the privilege of sharing that story with those who cross our paths…some for a lifetime, some for a moment.

Do we believe it with every fiber of our being?

Are we courageous enough to look people in the eye and boldly but gently tell them about the unfathomable love of such an extraordinary Savior?

No, we do not “sell” the story with slick words or fancy techniques.

Rather, we share out of the overflow of a heart that is forever grateful for so great a salvation.

We share out of a heart eternally in love with the One who was willing to die rather than live without us.

We share out of love for those who are still living in darkness and desperately need the Light.

We share from wounded hearts that have been made whole by the Healer.

We do not need to be brilliant theologians. We just need to tell our stories about how we came to know Jesus and the difference He has made in our lives, both for time and for eternity.

Then we pray that they will never forget the words of life that we have shared.

Who will you tell your story to today?

My cell phone rang just as the Moms In Touch prayer meeting was ending.

When I saw my husband’s name, I was surprised since he was supposed to be at work.

“I hit a deer,” he told me.

It felt like ice water was suddenly running through my veins. Relief flooded my heart when he told me that although the car had been damaged and the deer was dead, he was okay. His next step was to contact the insurance company and obtain a rental car.

When we disconnected, I left the meeting and headed for the high school track where I had intended to walk. The entire time I drove, I was praising and thanking God that Doug was okay.

It was a fresh reminder how life can change in an instant. 

We can never take it for granted.

I turned on my iPod as I started to walk and Chris Rice’s song “Life Means So Much” began to play. So appropriate.

“Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much…

Every day is a gift you’ve been given
Make the most of the time every minute you’re living

Life means so much…

I looked all around me with new, appreciative eyes. Elementary school kids were running around the track, bursting with energy and excitement. High school kids played flag football on the field. An English class was taking advantage of the glorious spring day by discussing their assigned book on the bleachers instead of inside the four walls of the classroom. An elderly man was also making his way around the track talking quite loudly on an enormous cell phone. A dear friend and I texted back and forth.

On a sun-drenched spring day in New Hampshire, we had all been given the privilege and the gift of being alive.

And it was beautiful.

Cherish today.

Since my blog is called “The Power Of A Moment” I am always on the lookout for moments that reach out and grab me by the heart and don’t let go.

Between that and counting my 1000 gifts, it makes life a wonderful adventure and fills me with joy.

I witnessed one such moment last week. I pulled up to the high school entrance to wait for my son to finish jazz band practice. At that very moment, the sky opened up and the rain began to fall.

Seeing movement from the corner of my eye, I glanced down at the football field to see about 20 teenagers. The rain had clearly interrupted whatever they had been doing. However, rather than running for cover from the raindrops they…danced.

Every single one of them.

Their arms were open wide, faces upturned to catch the raindrops. They twirled with joyful abandon.  They locked arms and skipped round and round. They ran the length of the football field and made it look as effortless as if they were being carried by the wind. I slightly lowered my window and could hear the sound of their laughter wafting up the hill to fill my car.

I was transfixed and wished I had my camera with me to capture the moment. (I really need to just take it with me everywhere I go at this point!).

It was a moment of such joy, such freedom, such playfulness that it made my heart sing.

Why do we lose that? When do we begin to look at the rain that falls literally and figuratively in our lives and always run for cover rather than fully embracing the moment and allowing our spirits to soar?

No, life is not always fun and storms do come. Yet in the midst, if we look hard enough…there is joy to be found. Just a sliver of light to pierce the darkness. Gratitude for even the smallest grace.

“Whenever thanks is possible, joy is possible.”—Ann Voskamp

The next time it rains, I will remember that scene on the football field. And I just may leave my umbrella at home. 🙂

If you do nothing else today, please take the time to read this article and watch the short video at the end.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/why-we-got-married

I don’t think I have ever seen anything so heartbreakingly beautiful in my entire life. I sit here with tears streaming down my face, absolutely amazed that I have just seen the unconditional love and power of Jesus Christ on display in a way I have never seen it before.

I have been painfully humbled by my shortsightedness, by my sometimes petty concerns, by my frequent lack of an eternal perspective when I allow the tyranny of the urgent to eclipse what really matters.

On a day when the subject of marriage is in the national news, this is a shining and glorious example of the exquisite beauty of a Christ-centered marriage.

“When God stands as a witness to the covenant promises of a marriage it becomes more than a merely human agreement. God is not a passive bystander at a wedding ceremony. In effect, He says, ‘I have seen this, I confirm it, and I record it in Heaven. And I bestow upon this covenant by My Presence and My purpose the dignity of being an image of of My own covenant with My Wife, the church.’ ” —John Piper