Spring Cleaning

It’s that time of year!  I don’t know if by starting now I am hoping that spring cleaning will encourage Spring to arrive or if it will just take me longer to accomplish what I want to do this year.  With Easter coming soon, I am reminded that it is also important that I take time to make sure that I am a “clean” vessel for God to use for His kingdom’s work.  Both types of cleaning have much in common.

* Wishing that something is organized, cleaned, or made right doesn’t make it happen; it takes effort.

* Cleaning out the things that are no longer helpful or useful helps make room for the new and necessary.

* Some projects are going to take more than a few minutes to accomplish.

* Having a plan helps keep the cleaner on track.

* It is good to keep things clean as you go so that you don’t have to do a major overhaul later.

* Sometimes additional help/accountability is needed for the cleaning.

* The longer you let something build up or go, the more time and effort it will take to restore it to what it needs to be or to completely eliminate it.

* Sometimes cleaning can be tedious and time consuming, but the end result will be worth it.

* Once something is clean, it’s important to spend extra time and effort to keep it that way.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:5-10

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

 “Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Romans 4:7-8

Going Home

 

This past Wednesday, we took Scott, Abby, and Mary to the airport to fly home.  It’s been over a year since Abby has been home and this will be Mary’s first time in her new home in another country.  What was to have been a three month visit after Mary’s adoption turned into a nine month blessing for our family.  It has been amazing to watch and see so many of God’s provisions during these days.

Upon arrival in the US, even with all of the paperwork filled in correctly, a wrong code entered at the time of processing caused several delays.  Added to that, the citizenship laws for foreign adoptions were changing and the government had a shutdown.  But at just the right time, each of the items on the list were processed and granted.

Because of the delays there were additional blessings:

* Scott and Abby were able to attend a two day adoption conference at Houston’s First Baptist Church where they gained valuable information to help with Mary’s adjustments.

* Counselors and doctors with adoption expertise were available.

* We had the joy of watching Scott and Abby lovingly parent Mary.

* A townhouse became available for them to rent which helped with the bonding process.

* Scott was able to have access to books for his research that will be beneficial for his doctoral work. 

* Mary’s passport and citizenship papers came at just the right times.

* When the citizenship interview was completed, the woman asked Scott, Abby, and Mary to wait in the lobby.  She issued the papers to them that day so they wouldn’t have to wait additional weeks for them to arrive.  They hadn’t even asked for that!

* Each family gathering took on a special awareness of gratitude for special times together.

* Mary knows who we are and calls us by name.

* We were blessed with time to share activities, games, and songs that Mary associates with us.

* Last Spring, direct flights were made available to the place where Scott’s family lives.  No layovers for their trip home!

* Last week a friend made an unexpected trip to their city.  She took 2 full suitcases for them.  Leigh Ann and another friend unpacked the suitcases at their apartment.  When Scott, Abby, and Mary arrived, Mary already had some of her favorite toys, books, and other familiar items set out to greet her in her new home.  They also took four videos so Mary could see the rooms in her new home. 

* On the day they were to depart, the parking lot for their apartment was to be resurfaced.  That meant they would have to move the van that we were using to pack their luggage quite a distance from the door.  Due to the all day rain prediction, they postponed the resurfacing for a day.  And the rain slowed to a slight drizzle while the luggage was being loaded.

* Scott does not like to fly in turbulent weather.  It rained all the way to the airport.  Thirty minutes before their plane took off the rain stopped, the fog lifted, and the skies cleared.

* Their 12 hour flight landed 30 minutes early.  Scott said, “Flight went about as well as we could have hoped.”  Your prayers were answered and made a difference.

* Seeing and knowing that God has taken care of the details, in their right time, helps me trust and know that He also knows that this is the right time for them to go home.

* Yes, I will miss them greatly.  I would love for all of our family to live close by and be able to see each other all the time.  But even more, I want them to live in obedience of going and doing what God has asked and gifted them to do.  And I want to do the same.

Scott, Abby, and Mary, as you go, you have our hearts, love, blessings, support, and prayers.  You also go with a command and promise from Jesus.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Matthew 28:18-20

2014 Winter Olympics

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are just a few hours from being complete.  Once again, we have been able to watch and see some of the best athletes in the world as they have competed and experienced the “thrill of victory and/or the agony of defeat”.  We have also caught glimpses of the best in the human spirit.

Cross-country skier Anton Gafarov had the privilege of skiing in and for his homeland, Russia.  During the Men’s Sprint Free Semifinals, Gafarov crashed early and broke his ski and pole, but not his spirit.  He got up and resumed the race.  Even after two more falls Gafarov would not quit.  Seeing the fall, rival coach Justin Wadsorth of Canada realized that the base had come off of the badly damaged left ski.  "I went over and gave him one of Alex's [Harvey, a member of the Canadian team who didn't qualify for the sprint final] spare skis. It was about giving Gafarov some dignity so he didn't have to walk to the finish area."  Not only did the Canadian coach give him a ski, he also fastened it on Gafarov’s foot.

The 2014 Olympics also saw the debut of the ski halfpipe.  David Wise is a freestyle skier from Reno, Nevada.  In an interview after winning the gold medal he stated, “I think it’s more important to be a good husband and father than it is to be a great skier.”

Other lessons observed:

* Any person/team can win on any given day.

* The best don’t always win.

* Being a good sport matters.

* When you fall, get up and keep going.

* It’s important to keep your eyes focused on the course and finish line.

* No one makes it to the Olympics on their own.

* Athletes were quick to celebrate with and thank family, team members, coaches and fans…the people who invested love, time, energy, and encouragement in them.

* Even if it has been 62 years since your country has medaled in the two-man bobsled, you compete to win and celebrate when you succeed.

* Even if your country has never won a Winter Olympic Medal, you continue to strive to be the first.

* Sometimes it takes 17 years of work with your partner to accomplish your goal.

* Age is not a factor.  The US had the oldest athlete in an event win as well as the youngest athlete to ever medal in a particular event.

* Sacrifices of time, energy, patience, perseverance, money, and effort are part of achieving your dream and goal.

* There is camaraderie, amidst the competition, with athletes who compete in the same sporting event.

* Just as the athletes are representatives of their country during the Olympics and other competitions, we have the opportunity of being representatives of Jesus every day.

For a few short weeks in Sochi, Russia, people from many tribes and nations gathered in peace to participate in the 2014 Olympics.   Some came as athletes, others as coaches and family members, and many as spectators.  And one day there will be an even greater gathering of people from every nation, tribe, people and language that will live in peace forever because they know, follow, and have a relationship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:36

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 

Revelation 7:9

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.

Revelation 14:6

Winners Before the Games Even Began

Before the Winter Olympics even began, there were two athletes who were gold medal winners in my book.  For 15 years now, twins Lanny and Tracy Barnes, from Durango, Colorado, have been competing in biathlons.  Both sisters competed in the 2006 Olympics in Torino, but only Lanny made the team for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.  Tracy and Lanny both tried out for the 2014 team to be held in Sochi, but this time only Tracy qualified.  Because of illness, Lanny missed 3 out of the 4 qualifying races in Italy and did not make the team.  In interviews, both men and women stated that an athlete has to be 100% to perform at the level that is needed for a successful biathlon race or trial.  As soon as Tracy realized that Lanny was sick, she knew it would be tough for her to qualify for one of the five spots on the Olympic team with so many great athletes competing.  That’s when Tracy’s Olympic Gold Medal idea began to take root.   As was their tradition after every biathlon, Lanny and Tracy took a hike to reflect on the event.  Tracy knew that Lanny was having a great year training and competing and would fare better in the competition.  She didn’t want her dream and goal to end there.  On their walk, Tracy told Lanny that she was declining her selection for the Olympic Biathlon Team.  Since Lanny had qualified as the first alternate, that meant that Lanny would now be part of Team USA Women’s Biathlon Team for the Sochi Olympics.  Against all protests, Tracy refused to change her mind so now Lanny will be competing in her third Olympics.  And Tracy has earned a gold medal for love, selflessness, and sacrifice.

Shaun White, the Flying Tomato, is also competing in his third Olympics in the men’s halfpipe.  He received the gold medal in both the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and is preparing and training for his third medal in Sochi.  Originally, Shaun had also qualified to compete in a first time event in the Olympics, slopestyle.  He was a heavy favorite to medal, but Shaun withdrew from the competition in order to exert all his time, attention, and focus on the halfpipe.  No matter the outcome of his race, that made him a winner in my book.  Shaun was willing to give up something great and prestigious in order to give his time and attention to what was best.  No matter the outcome, he wouldn’t have to second guess whether he had given his all to prepare and compete in the halfpipes.  And I think his mother deserves a gold medal for ever letting him try snowboarding the halfpipe in the first place much less compete in that event for years, especially since as a child Shaun survived two open-heart surgeries.  Shaun now gives 8% of his income to St. Jude’s Children’s Fund to help other children have a chance at life, too. 

Although Shaun had the highest score out of all the halfpipe preliminaries, he came in fourth place in the finals and did not medal.  Even with a loss, he was still a winner.  Shaun was interviewed multiple times after his loss. Upon hearing about a 10 year old boy who had been given tickets to come and watch him compete through Make-A-Wish Foundation, he jumped the fence around the interview area so he could speak with him and wish him well in hopes that his cancer will stay in remission.  Shaun White realizes that life is about much more than competing in and winning a gold medal.  Sometimes the most important Olympic moments come without a medal being awarded.

Gold Medal Lessons to ponder and apply:  in humility, value others above yourself and be willing to give up great things in order to pursue what’s best.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12:3 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

I Corinthians 9:24