This blog is written in mixed up order of the title:
So.... there was a football game last night... and even though it's been 27 years since I had on a cheerleading outfit, I was just as excited as those girls last night! It's just something about seeing the red and white, the fans all pepped up, and the Red Devils dominating the field that sends chills over me. I think the best part about my night was realizing that I wouldn't rather be any place in the world... my entire family sitting and enjoying what we love best... to beat Washington.
I didn't think I got a picture of Thomas and his you know what last night... but I did! He told me he wasn't sure he liked me taking pictures of that!
If you just want football talk... stop here...
For almost a year, I have been reading different books in the morning to go along with my devotional. It's true that the more you learn.... you realize the less you know. Every few months I go on Amazon and look for books that I think would be good for me to gain more knowledge about the Bible. A few months ago this one came up, and I think it was written just for me. I love it.
I love to write... and doodle... and take notes. It's true... I'm an engaged learner... If you don't have my attention... I don't learn anything. I often take notes in church... in my Bible... and on anything I can find to write...
I already did many things this book suggested through the Bible Study, but I learned so many things that I'm sure someone else might read and think... Where in the world did that come from?
The book is about margins... and how important they are. Writing in the margins is like having a conversation with God... writing your thoughts, your fears, your happiness... anything you want that connects you vertically with God... One story in the book is about a man who died of cancer... his family picked up his Bible and gave it to the pastor to see if anything he had been writing in it could be used at his funeral... it was filled with wonderful conversations with God... his children's names... and special events in his life. How wonderful is that? I have no doubt that death of any of my family members is going to be hard. But somehow... I think I would find comfort in seeing their thoughts on a page... but more importantly, I want my children to pick up my Bible one day and say, "Wow, Mama is in Heaven... and there is no doubt... look at how much she prayed for us, look at how much she worried about us, and look at how much she relied on her Bible to get through tough times, and look at how many times she wrote about knowing that Jesus was the answer to anything that was wrong or right." Some may think of it as a diary, but it isn't... it's your fears right there by God's words that let everyone know you rely on Him.
Many people have made the comment that writing in the Bible is not good... I always felt that until a few years ago when I just thought I needed to make comments about what the preacher said so I wouldn't forget the great points. One of the sayings in this book is a "Dirty Bible, Clean Heart".... in my words I wrote.... "Mess up your Bible to clean up your heart"....
Another point from the book that I find eye-opening was the verse from Leviticus 23:22- When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.
Leaving room for things to happen in the edges of your life (your margins) is important. A few years ago, I had to have a plan for every minute of every day. I would plan weeks in advance and always have something to look forward to when I was doodling on paper! I'm not sure when I decided that it was okay not to have plan... to sit at home sometimes with just the four of us... to eat at home.... and to watch television together. We probably don't watch the best shows we should, but we do get a few giggles out of many things we enjoy doing as a family. I'm so glad that I can now take this verse and put it to even better use. If you fill your time, If I fill my time, with something every single minute of the day... I leave no room for others to benefit... I love sitting down with friends and talking about what I'm reading... I love telling them about what I find each morning in my Bible... and I love getting private messages on Facebook telling me how much someone loves to read my blog. I falter... every single day.... but I still get up the next morning and ask for forgiveness... and try to remember throughout the day that I should do better. I think my biggest problem is my tongue... I could say "I can't help it"... but I can... I should wear earplugs every day... that would help a lot... throughout this Bible study... I have written in my journal "Keep your mouth shut!".
This Bible study was in parallel to me reading Proverbs this month... I read a chapter a day that goes along with the day of the month... throughout my reading of Proverbs this month....I have written over and over... "discipline children"... and "be careful what you go around".... It's so easy to slip... it's so easy to go back to old ways... it's so easy to cave into peer pressure... yes, at 44 there is still peer pressure... "I want to do what they are doing, I want to go where they are going, I want to have the best pictures on Facebook that make everyone jealous, I want to buy everything I see, I want to eat everything in sight, I want, I want, I want".... but at night... when I go to bed... none of that gives happiness and joy. I've learned that over the past few years....
I'm finished with my Writing in the Margins book for now. I'd love to loan it to someone else who might be struggling and need a little time with Jesus... I have a few notes written in it, but not many... I wrote my notes in my journal. I'd like to have it back though... for one day... I hope that KB and Ben both read it... and then pick up my Bible and see the notes... the notes I have about them in my Bible... and know why I write what I write!
Finally, I got the best compliment yesterday morning... I have been in Athens all week at a conference. As I was talking to Mark, he told me that he wanted me to know that if anything happened to me... he was going to get Rachel or Amanda to come and live with him. It was too much work to get both children where they needed to be... he didn't know if he should let KB go where she wanted to go... he had to make sure a volcano was built and would erupt... he had to take cookies to KB at school... etc, etc, etc.... I told him I knew what hard work it was... and I hated to break it to him, but I was going to be traveling this coming week too for three nights... He immediately responded with "I'm traveling too"... I asked him where... and he said, "I don't know yet, but I can't do this again... it wears me out!".... I love it... and him... for being a good daddy and trying! When I got home, I asked him if he could understand why on the nights he is traveling and calls me... I am not all into sitting down and chatting for thirty minutes about his day... there isn't time... there is too much to do. I don't know how single parents make it! My hat's off to you!
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