Female Firefighter at Fourteen

Really...I was.  I have pictures to prove it and memories to share of my times as a junior fire fighter.  I was the first female active member of my hometown fire department.  This was my first volunteer outlet.  Following my dad's career path as a professional fire fighter this was the way I could hang out with my dad, give back to my community, and do cool things like take cave rescue training classes (where they used me as the victim, strapped me into a basket, and turned me upside down).  As the youngest and littlest I did have fun with those guys!  So with that little spinet of background, I want to share how God painted an awesome picture for me while studying Proverbs 31.

The maidens and ladies of our church have been studying Proverbs 31 this school year.  Each week new verses are tackled by the women of the group to bring understanding to girls and women of all ages.  Last night was my first chance to explain some verses.  I've been preparing for this for quite some time and the verse 26 was a piece of cake to understand (although not always practice) and thought I had a pretty good idea of how to explain the lesson (or at least what God was teaching me) to the group some time in advance.  However I was drawing a blank for verse 27 until Sunday afternoon and then during the teaching.

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26
Using some skits, stories and even fake prayer requests (yep this can translate to gossip) we discussed how much words can truly hurt or comfort.  We then read "A word fitly (or aptly) spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11
I had the girls reach into a bag to feel apples and a pineapple and then tell with descriptive words what they felt.  You can imagine the words as you picture how apples and pineapples differ in appearance and texture.  Our words can be like the skin of apples: golden, beautiful, smooth or like that of a pineapple: rough, prickly, even painfully sharp.  We are all guilty of putting our foot in our mouth at some point in time.  We must think before we speak.  Sharing our golden sweet apples with others should be our goal.   

"She watched over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31: 27 
Just a few words jumped out at me in this verse: watched over and bread..... 

This is how I can picture we are to be women of virtue watching over our households.  We are called to be on the watch, on the lookout if you will of the fire watchtower.  God gives women an eye for detail and an eye for the big picture.  Our job as the watch woman is to sound the alarm.  We are not to leave our post.  We are not to go put out the fires.  We are to cry out- to pray to God for help.  He's got all the equipment needed to either: put the fire out (using water by vehicle, chemicals by air, or people on foot), allow the controlled burn (aka prescribed fire), determine how long to let the fire go, or even to start a back fire.  Regardless of how the Fire Chief acts or commands other fire fighters to take care of the fire, our job/role is to sound the alarm and let the Fire Chief handle it.  PRAY and TRUST that God's got it under His control.  I think our job is to be alert, ready, paying attention, active, prepared, not sleeping on the job for when we spot fires we know what to do.  They will come.  Some will naturally start by God, others will be man made (which most are) but our job is to stand our post.  The younger girls of the group or those who haven't experienced fires in their families may not understand or get this. 

So let's modernize the analogy.  When we call 9-1-1 we talk to the dispatcher.  If the dispatcher started to panic with us, that would not be helpful.  If the dispatcher took a nap or break when we called, no one would respond to our call.  It's the dispatcher's responsibility to assess the call and get the appropriate emergency service to tend to the call.  Hmmmm.

I hope this picture is running in your mind's eye the way I can see it now.  I hope you see as a woman of God what our role as a watch person over our household is to be like.  Right now I can see a fire burning, it's dangerously close to my family, and my job is not to panic, not to rush and try to put the fire out (I don't have the right equipment: oxygen, protective suit, tools and I haven't been commanded by my fire chief to move.)  My role I've been commanded to do is PRAY. 

If you are a married woman I hope you see the role that the Captain of your household, your husband, can play.  It may be his role to put the fire out under the command of the Fire Chief.  I'll give you permission for your creative imagination to run with this!

Now the bread....children today unfortunately may not understand how bread takes time to rise.  It's not a quick fix.  I remember my mom making bread (rolls in particular) our families is true work/labor. 

I had no idea the Holy Spirit would revel this much teaching from a small visual picture and two verses.  I am excited to share what I am learning and hope these pictures stick with you. 

Who are you?

I am...

holy and blameless in his sight,

adopted,

redeemed through his blood,

forgiven,

chosen,

predestined according to the plan of him,

marked in him with a seal

according to Ephesians 1 this is God's view.  Not the world's view and I admit often not how I view myself. 
Holy and Blameless: to me means perfect, without flaws, nothing to be blamed for. 

Adopted: this one hits home...literally.  I have an adopted daughter.  This relationship is unique.  I've described her for years as being my heart baby and not my belly baby. You see she was born in my heart.  She was truly given to me for me to raise as my own.  I "fell in love" with her, honestly it wasn't hard to do, big brown eyes, full of life and zest, an extrovert with a story to tell, a talent for singing and drama (and this was obvious to anyone she spent any amount of time with).   I have a love for her that is different, not less than and not more, than my biological children.  God has a sense of humor as well, many people have no idea that she's not my belly baby due to the physical features we share.  I believe that was of God's handiwork.  She is beautiful!  It has always been very important for me to care for, treat, and love my daughter as if she was my very own belly baby.  I have seen families where children are placed on totem poles, meaning favorites are easy to distinguish in homes.  I vowed long ago that I would allow God to take that tendency from me so that each of my children would grow to know that they are loved equally and unconditionally.   

Redeemed Through His Blood: We must accept that Christ died for each of us, shed His blood so that God can look upon us and have a relationship with Him.  Since the beginning of time blood sacrifice has been made in order to atone for our sin.  In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned against God and God sacrificed animals so that they would be clothed with the skins.  The picture story continues throughout the ages of animals being sacrificed and blood being shed so that God would not destroy the hard hearted, sinful people.  THEN, Christ came to earth so that no other blood sacrifice would need to be placed on the altar.  Christ, God's Son was crucified, bled and died for me and for you.  No other blood needs to be shed!  If we accept that Christ was sent for us, God looks down and sees Christ's blood covering our sin.

Forgiven: Have you carried something around that felt heavy?  The longer you carry it, the heavier it gets.  It feels great when you are able to set it down.  For me that's how I picture forgiven.  I don't have to carry anything, I can lay it (my mistakes, my sin) down.  Christ has taken it and carrys it for me.  When forgiven it's better than an apology acceptance, something we are all capable of.  Forgiveness is deeper.  An area I am struggling with as I type.  

Chosen: Travel back in time a few years or more to the days of kickball in P.E.  Remember how good it felt to picked by the team captains.  Maybe you were first, maybe you were last, or maybe just in between.  As young girls, more went into the choosing than atlethic ability.  I'm so thankful that God didn't choose me on my atlethic ability or any other ability.  He chose me.  Let that sink in.  He chose you!

Predestined According To The Plan Of Him: I'm not a Biblical scholar, teacher or expert so this phrase- predestined- is something I'm not going to pretend I "get".  I will say one of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  God has a plan for each of us, I believe He desires to know each of us intimately.  I think He has a purpose for each of us, and He wants us to love Him and worship Him, that is our destiny.  He has predetermined that He wants each of us in His loving arms. 

Marked In Him With A Seal: A distinctive symbol that signifies I AM HIS. Today we are given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to show who owns us.  Do you have an owner?  Does your expression glow with His presence? 

Reading Ephesians 1 helps me sit a little taller, smile broader, and remember who I am.  For more encouragement listen to Darrell Evans song "Trading My Sorrows"

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Puddle Hopper

 In my attempts to be obedient I'm amazed at what God tells me. I have started a blog recently called Puddle Hopper and while still transforming I felt like this morning I was focused on the puddle....  You see I was living and acting like a puddle for many years.  Have you seen a puddle lately? Have you been a puddle yourself? 

I am an emotional being.  Created in my Father's image.  Fashioned like my earthly father as well.  There have been times I've cried more than I thought was possible.  I've cried puddles.  I felt like a puddle, just a heap of tears.  Sad, depressed, alone.... I believe I was given an extra dose of emotions (some may call this drama), I know now that was for God's glory to shine through.  A year ago I would cry, tears of pity for myself, tears of not feeling loved, tears of gratefulness for feeling loved by Him, tears of shame, tears for my losses, tears....and more tears.  I am still an emotional being (Amens from the crowd?) yet I'm no longer a puddle, I'm a puddle hopper.  Yep, I still have puddles in my life.  Some are shallow and some are deep.  Yet I have grace and God to help me put on my rain boots and go splashing through.  Like a child who searches out the puddles just to jump in, get wet, dirty, and then laugh about how fun; I want to be the puddle hopper.  Boldly jumping through the puddles this life brings.  Grab your umbrellas and boots, let's go play in the puddles!