Chanel's Birthday Post.. Happy Birthday Chanel Bell

BEAUTY   I remember a little girl being born on this date on a Wednesday I believe. Chanel, you were beautiful. You had the prettiest little complexion. You still have such a pretty tone to your skin. 

BRAINS   When you were four you taught yourself to tie your own shoes and to whistle.  You were always the top of the class with Cassie and Ashley. 

RANDOM THOUGHTS  You were my longest labor time. 5 1/2 hours. It was the doctor's wife's birthday.  He was the one who suggested the little mark above the e in your name.  Oh yes, when they knew about 3 months in whether you were a boy or girl... I said no I don't want to know.  Dad was waiting in the car.  But half way down, doc's office was on the third floor, I changed my mind.  I rushed back up and smiling said "I can't wait... is it a boy or girl".. I wanted a girl.   I ran down when they told me and told dad and we were happy.   But we couldn't name you Paul and carry on the name.  Dad picked Paula but I loved Chanel.  It was after a state overseer's wife from our church organization that 
Dad was a pastor in.  Her name was spelled Shanell and her husband dedicated you at our little church Mars Hill Church of God.  She thought you were so sweet.  She gushed over you.  One time at a meeting she had her grown son come over and showed you to him.  

FAMILY  Dad was right there with me.  Mandi, who was 9, was watching Love Boat, I think when you were born. Carla, who was 2 1/2, was home with grandma.  It was in a room where they just took off the end of the bed and we delivered there.  I remember when Tricia came to visit.. she was a teen and she whispered in your ear "I'm your favorite cousin" haha.... 

GOD AND BLESSING Your name, because it is also the perfume name, makes me think of that verse that talks about the fragrance of God. May you bring the fragrance of his love wherever you go.

BIRTH ORDER  You will always be my baby.  I have that in common with you, being the baby of the family. But you seem to be more like Dad at times and he was the oldest.  A neat combination.  You are playful but strong.  The baby but a leader.  You always stir it up, don't you?  I love watching this combo play out in life.  

PRIDE  So proud of the momma you are and the homemaker you have become. I love how you can be tough on Bekki but laugh with her.  I enjoy seeing you grow in these areas.  It's a beautiful thing.  You always say you don't like kids.  But what if having kids was really the key to happiness?  What if this actually turns out to be the thing you are able to shine in?  Your destiny?  I know being your mom has been my destiny.  Know why?  God love me like that.  

LOVE   Love you so very much. John, Bekki and John Paul are blessed to have you.   Actually your whole family and your friends are blessed to have you, especially Dad and me.   

Whatever you do, wherever you go, whoever you are with I will always love you!!!   MOM

A Masterpiece or a Paint by Number?

We all must paint our own canvas....  a brother in the Lord wrote that to me the other night.  An intriguing thought.  Beautiful unless your friends or family members are making bad choices.  Then you mourn their painting.  But you shouldn't.

Have you ever done a paint by number?  If you are a real painter, sorry.  I thought more people could identify with a paint by number illustration.  Please bare with me.

As I was saying... Have you ever done a paint by number painting?   At first it doesn't really look like a beautiful picture.  It's sort of ugly.  If you stopped there and showed it to people they would think.. Why that's undone why are you showing me it now?

That's what our friends' and families' pictures are.  Unfinished.  If we have faith and are praying for them, believing our good God is hearing us.  Then we need to relax.  Yes, they are making bad choices and yes that's not good.  But our mighty God isn't finished with their "picture" yet.  When it's done it will not be a paint by number picture, though that is nice.  But it will be a beautiful, breath taking painting.  Done by the artist that created the stars and painted the night sky, the ocean so blue and horizon with  a red fiery sun setting.  Yes, that artist is painting their painting and it will be beautiful.

When we try to control their lives by butting in, giving unasked for advise, fussing at them, berating them.  When we do those types of things.  We are trying to be the artist of their lives and it's so sad.  It's like a paint by number painter instead of a museum quality artist doing the picture.  He is a master painter, you know. The original Master artist. Why do we even think we can be in his league?

So relax.  Walk out your path well with an eye on theirs.  Pray much for them.  Believe much in your God and wait for the beauty you will behold in the end.  The Masterpiece He will make of each of their lives.

Phil. 2:12b and 13......work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 1:6

..being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Peter Show

I have a boy on my bus who has a lot of issues.  One day I had to tell him this isn't the Peter Show! (Named changed because of privacy laws). He is so used to being in control everywhere he goes.  He throws fits and has outburst when things don't go his way.  He wants all the attention.  He wants it his way, right now!  He does at times stomp on the floor in anger, lash out, scream etc. He has a melt down often.  All because he wants "his way".

 I got to thinking about this.  How many Christians are this way?  Do we want control?  Do we want "our" way?  Are we angry because things aren't going the way we want?  Do we go around and around, insisting on trying again a way that doesn't work?  Are we like Peter insisting on the "Donna Show"  or insert your name the  "         Show"?  Really we need to have each day be the Jesus Show.  

We also have been taught another thing at my job.  If a child has his hand gripped around something like the handle to hold to go up the stairs to get on the bus, we have a method to loosen his grip.  You "peal" his or her hand off the object.  You start with the pinky finger and work up to the pointer finger than the thumb.   You start with the weakest and "peal" the grip till its broken free.   Maybe this is what we need to have done.  We need to let the Lord "peal" our hands off the control lever of our lives.  Maybe we have to let him start with the little things and work up to totally letting go of our need to control what we really can't control anyway.  

It's funny and sad that we believe we have real control of our lives.  Like Peter who thinks he controls the world, we think we control our corner of the world.  Peter is, I think, ten.  I imagine he has been in control since he first threw a fit as an infant.  It's been the "Peter Show" that long.   How long has it been your show instead of the Jesus Show?   When, oh when, will we let him peal our tight grip free?   You know Peter just wants peace and freedom to live happily.   We can only have happiness, joy, peace when we let the Prince of Peace have control.  Peter has been in control badly for about 10 years with terrible results.  How long have you been in control?  5 years?  10 years? 20 years?  How long will you choose to stomp your foot and scream and yell "It's not fair!"?
 
I've started the process toward freedom but I have areas I'm still learning how to let Jesus control and Donna to just rest and follow His lead.  I hope you will join me in the journey of the "Jesus Show" today. Just like its the best thing for Peter to not be in control.  It's the best thing for us to not be in control.  Really!