Tag Archives: kristi burden

My Sunny-Yellow Barstools and Endurance

Kristi Burden • 23 September, 2013

Yellow- "Being the lightest hue of the spectrum, the color psychology of yellow is uplifting and illuminating, offering hope, happiness, cheerfulness, and fun" (empower-yourselfpsychology.com)

I'm a walking contradiction. My last post urged you to be a quitter because "some things are worth letting go". But I met two sunny-yellow bar stools last week that don't fit under that "let-them-go" category.

I have a shopping rule that I use frequently with myself and the kids. When you want something, not need but want it, it's a good idea to walk away from it and keep shopping. If you still want it later and have the money for it, then get it.

I waited for days.

Today I returned to Target to purchase the barstools eager to bring them to their forever home. I checked the price to make sure they were still on sale, one of the factors in my deciding to get them. They were still 25% off. Score!

I rolled my buggy up to the front and made friends with a lady behind me in the check-out line. Eyeing her daffodil yellow toilet and bath rugs I smiled, "Don't you just love yellow?". We chatted happily until I noticed my purchase ringing up at regular price. I assured the clerk that they were on sale to which she checked the sales ad.

To make a long story long, the sales ad didn't show the barstools being on sale. Another nice clerk went back to the chair section and confirmed that they weren't on sale.

I kept my smile and my cool, but I wasn't budging. I was sure the tag had said they were on sale. I asked permission to go look one more time at the tag I'd seen and also to check out some other barstools. The clerk followed. I was right. The tag matching my barstools were on sale.
I got my barstools on sale. The clerks, Target, the sunny lady behind me and I are all still friends. The end.

Almost.

I was so happy I worked up a spiritual application for you, increasing the value of my sunny-yellow barstool purchase.

Though my "sticking with it" was entirely for something fleshly, a mere thing, I was reminded of the importance of endurance concerning spiritual matters. And as I sit typing perched upon my four-legged ray of sunshine a couple of thoughts come to mind.

Sticking with it

1. The finish line doesn't always mean a win. There are those who play poorly before crossing the finish line. If I had made the clerk cry upon a bullying insistence or caused a big disturbance in the check-out line, it wouldn't have been worth the effort. I find myself being the most enduring when it comes to making sure someone knows I'm right. If I hurt someone just in effort to prove my validity, I'm not really accomplishing anything of value. Quit a race that's being run godlessly.

2. Make sure you're in the right race in the first place. Don't destroy yourself on a diet you don't need to be on or stay up until midnight with an aching, hunched back mopping a floor that can wait a day, or a week..... My lately prayer is that God would help me in choosing what I say yes to and in the things I respectfully decline. I need that help.

3. Be mindful that not all races are a short distance. I really envied my friend in Junior High. She ran all of the sprints. She was finished in seconds. I had to run the mile and two-mile. I wasn't fast. I. just. had. to keep......going. It wasn't easy, but that was the race I was meant to run.

4. There are some races you're forced to run. I've mentioned before that a "football" coach was in charge of our track team one Saturday way back when. He signed me up (at a whopping hundred pounds) for the shot-put and the four-hundred meter dash (Did I mention I wasn't fast?) I tried to pretend like I was asleep come time for the first and second call, but I ended up being forced to run a race I didn't want to run. I'm running some of those kinds of races now too.

More important than anything, for your races and the ones your friends face, pray the great words that come from Colossians 1:11

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.

And between your racing, may you find a nice yellow barstool like mine to rest on; a place where you find happiness and hope.

Live Above the World • 2 Comments

Kristi Burden • 14 September, 2013

The Lord is my strength and my shield ; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exhults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength

I've always said if I could choose a time period to live in, I'd choose to live in the pioneer times. I'd be happy in my simplicity with my log cabin and fresh-baked bread. I'd look good in a bun and no make-up. Then again, in the pioneer days there would be no Google to search for the definition of the word 'docent' or 'cicerone'. I wouldn't be able to find a recipe by typing the words 'tomato, feta and avocado' into my phone.

And I wouldn't be able to search for the answer to questions like "Why do birds perch on power lines?".

I actually did that.

The other day I was feeling overwhelmed (surprise, surprise... I stay in a constant state of some degree of overwhelmance /made up word alert/).

As I was racing to the car I spotted a group of birds situated on the line in our backyard. I've seen them there a hundred times.

I envy those birds; their being so stable,

unmoved by all the world hurrying around them

They're unafraid of falling, those birds.

They know.......I mean they really know they have no better place to be than on those heights; it's the place where their grasp is firm.

I jumped in the car and did a quick google search "Why do birds perch on power lines?" hoping that I might find an answer; anticipating that God might have carefully situated nature once more to teach me something.

Here's what I found:

Many birds like a view from the highest vantage point possible...., said Miyoko Chu, director of communications for the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology....

Call me simple-minded, but a bird's eye view is just what I need.

I need a place where I am not overcome by appointments and my unchecked list of obligations.

A place where I can be still, even when I have to keep moving.

I want to be in that place where I can survive things gone wrong

like a sticky kitchen floor from spilled mandarin oranges

or sick kids and one kid that I had a big fat blow out with

A place above difficult circumstances.

I need my own powerline.

I'm glad to be reminded that I have one. God kindly tucked it deep within me so it might be with me wherever I go, whatever may befall me........... Makes me think of a song.

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay

Though some may dwell where these abound

My prayer my aim is higher ground

I want to live above the world

Though Satan's darts at me are hurled

For faith has caught the joyful sound

The song of saints on higher ground

(Higher Ground)

The power to live beyond the mess is within us.

On second thought, the pioneer days didn't have google, power lines or this hymn that's got me humming again. I'll take today... and I'll be thankful for my vantage point.

Birthdays, Bowling and Borders • 3 Comments

Kristi Burden • 8 September, 2013

Well we survived another birthday party. I'm not talking the benign kind; you know where the grandparents come and there's cake with candles and singing and a couple of presents, and then the adults have coffee and visit? I like those kind.

This was another kind. Rylie recently brought it to my attention that she's never had a "friend party". I've found a perfectly good excuse for her to not have one every year.

She's the third kid. I've learned from her older siblings that friend parties can be nightmares.

Pandora's box is always one of the things unwrapped and opened at the parties I've had for the kids. Things have been broken. Stuff has been spilled..... including tears. I remember one party sitting catatonic in the middle of the floor while the children ran around in a circle and threw bits and pieces of wrapping paper in the air in some sort of frightening sacrifice ritual. Another time (a slumber party gone wrong) a sandwich of some sort (slathered in ketchup and ranch, topped with pickles and cheese slices) was built in my underclothes that were heisted from my room. I have a picture of it, but I'll spare you.

(Sigh.) Memories.

Rylie had her "friend party" at Max Bowl Saturday.

I just knew her birthday cake was some sort of bad omen. I'd grabbed it at HEB. I told the lady behind the counter (who did not ask) twice how to spell Rylie's name....... She still spelled it wrong. However she let me know it was no big deal as she scraped off the incorrect letters and squirted nice, thick purple letters to disguise the error. Hours later the icing on two sides of the cake wilted, looking somewhat like a landslide.

But we carried on.

Jason wanted to turn around and go home when we had a hard time finding a parking spot at the bowling alley. I'm pretty sure the inside was crowded too, but I could barely see a thing- except for red and green laser twinkles and whatever fluoresced with the black light.

I was terrified that a kid in my care was going to get lost or snatched. There were a couple of times that a kid would try to wander over to the arcade. I'd bring them back. I guess it's the teacher in me, but I pretty much did a headcount over and over the whole time we were there.

I drew imaginary lines for them at the border of our bowling lanes much like an air traffic controller and told them to stay inside them. I even dangled the $5 arcade cards literally over the heads of the two escapees as an encouragement to stay put. I was a total party pooper.

I hemmed them in.

I do a lot of hemming.

I hem myself in too; tight, like the shirt that I attempted to put on the day before yesterday that got stuck at my shoulders (I love that shirt, but it's too binding). I hem myself in to where there's no freedom, only security with fear of what exists beyond my safe place (Is that really security)?

I have no business hemming really. I can't even sew on a button.

We survived the party, and good news, nobody was hurt and no tears were shed. I've returned to the world where I do my best to control my surroundings; my personal Gilligan's Island. Still, with certainty life will throw me curve balls tomorrow that force me to step outside my safe borders.

On all occasions it does me good to remember that there's a master seamster:

Waiting on texts from your teenager to assure you he's ok

New opportunities; ones you aren't sure you can handle

In the mystery and in the scared-known, we can rest assured:

⁵You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

⁷Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸If I go up to the heavens, you are there;  if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn,  if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰even there your hand will guide me,  your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139

As we run in circles

In our wandering off

and stealing away

Beyond the safely defined borders

Into the unknown

He is there.

An Open Letter to Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Robertson, • 6 Comments

Kristi Burden • 3 September, 2013

It seems lately that letters have become a popular way to express our feelings about public figures. In the past few weeks I've seen letters addressed to Miley Cyrus and her dance partner Robin Thicke which aired grievance toward their lewd public display at the VMA's. I don't keep up with football, but apparently Johhny ("Football") Manziel has committed what ESPN has referred to as "inexcusable antics" and has become the subject of a few "what not to be like" posts. These public letters are addressed to pop icons who will never read the words so carefully typed out. They will be read by those of us who watch from the sidelines, those of us with impressionable children and grandchildren.

These letters use people in the public eye (who we can hardly ignore) to remind us how depraved we are without God as our guide, which is great. But it kind of stinks that it's the undesirable behavior that's getting so much attention. That's why I wanted to write a letter to you.

Dear Sadie,

I'm a huge fan of Duck Dynasty. Living next door to Louisiana, and having been raised in a small-town, I rather feel like you're my neighbor- or someone I'd want to be my neighbor. I love the idea of simple life that focuses on faith and family. I'm thrilled that your family's show has been such a big hit. I've been asked a dozen times which character on the show is my favorite. And I must say that I have a hard time saying because you all play such a special part. God is the coolest when it comes to our design. He purposes each person to bring something special to the "table" of life.

You though Sadie have caught my attention.

I've seen the video of you and your friend Kolby advertising your Monday segment "I am Different". Here's the link for anybody who hasn't:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=85nDCFuiBzA&fulldescription=1&client=mv-google&hl=en&guid=&gl=US

I love it that you're sharing that it's ok to follow God's view of living versus the world's view; the one we find on most reality shows and in everywhere else in the media.

I'm giddy that you're using God's word as one of authority instead of pointing girls to "what guys think or want" or even basing your words on your own opinion (you are famous after all).

I also noticed that you're coming out with your own collection of prom dresses. I love that you're not shying away from purity; you're rather bold with it.

This is SUCH a big deal.

I so admire you sitting on the porch swing (in the video) putting your faith out there, all the while being nervous knowing full well that it may draw criticism from those who think differently than you or simply from those who make a habit of bringing others down.

This is an altogether different thing than standing behind your parent's faith in hopes that the living out of their faith pretty much covers you too.

You're owning your faith. I like that.

There may be young girls out there that think this endeavor, and that your life in general, is easy. Afterall, you have money, fame and good looks to boot. But I know better. Life isn't easy. Life as a believer isn't always easy either, but life as a believer is one filled with hope and promise..

I just want to say that "this thing that you're doing" is worth it. I wish I had lived out my faith more boldly.

So to you and to every other girl out there:

I think I speak for all moms of faith when I say-

I can guarantee you'll not regret teenage years well-lived and God-centered. You will however, regret times when you base your decisions on fickle feelings instead of what you know is right. You will do some of both.

Know that I and thousands of moms are behind you. We're a part of "that cloud of witnesses" and we're on the sidelines cheering you on. We're over the moon excited to hear you talk about your relationship with Christ and of purity instead of things that won't matter next month when the calendar page is flipped.

We're praying for you; praying that God will guide you in your willingness to be a light. We're praying that your desire for Him will continue to grow.

We won't expect you to be perfect. We pray that you'll experience His endless, matchless grace when you do get out of step. We pray that the knowledge of that grace will help you get back into step without your wallowing in guilt or shame.

We pray..

-that on days when you feel ordinary, God would remind you that he has created you wonderfully with unique purpose

and on days when you feel extraordinary and maybe even a little self-absorbed (like we all do) that God would humble and overwhelm you by His greatness.

You have our prayer that in the busyness of life-when you're trying to do everything right- but you just feel tired, that you will remember to "Just be still and know that He is God"

He is God on bad hair days

And He's God on the days when it seems like the whole world is crashing down around you.

We pray that you will be surrounded by Godly influence and that even in your youth, that you'll be one too.

Our prayer is that you will be thankful for a family who has made God their first love. A depth of that knowledge will help you to trust them in tough times when you have disagreements.

Be confident when your plans don't pan out, that the plans God has for you are better than the ones you dreamed for yourself. I personally hope your Monday video views skyrocket.

God tells us in Hebrews 10:24

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works......encouraging one another

There's a lot being "stirred up" these days. I just want to say thank you for what you're stirring up.

We thank you,

Kristi Burden

and a host of cheering fans

We Are God’s Girlies

Kristi Burden • 28 August, 2013

"What is God's Girlies"?

I've been asked this question quite a few times. The only answer I can usually muster is "I'm not sure". I'm waiting to see what God wants it to be. Here's what God has shown me God's Girlies is, so far.

This is God's Girlies.

This is too.

These are God's Girlies.

Generations of girls bridging the gap to be friends and confidants; family. We offer advice when you need it and a hug.... maybe a glass of tea, a cup of coffee or a juice box when you don't.

We're in desperatel need of prayer whether we know it or not.

We're sisters, grandmas, mamas and daughters in need of companions whether we think we have time for one, or not. We talk on the phone, we text, hang out at each others' house (not enough). We chat it up when we meet unexpectedly in Dillards.

These are God's Girlies. Well, almost........

Men who have little clue how we work yet they love and support us. They pray for us and encourage us. They teach us too. Some of them even read this blog. I'm blown away by that; over the moon grateful.

We're big sisters and little sisters

and we're girls who feel like sisters.

We're friends from afar.

Time and distance has no bearing on our friendship.

God's Girlies are strangers with a connection. We're girls who strike up a conversation with the check-out lady in Wal Mart. We read sweet stories like the one about the ninety-six year old man we've never met who wrote a song for the wife he just lost. We smile a blurry-eyed smile. We share in the pain of a mom in a restaurant with an inconsolable baby. We stop and listen to the zany songs of street performers and

we remember how important it is to stop and listen.

We reach out across computer screens, but our bond is deeper. We're girls that laugh and cry in the same minute; we're a mess. We get angry. We learn. We grow. We're selfish and we serve. We pray.

It's much more fun to do life together.

We're a community that knows that God is our help in time of trouble. Sometimes that help comes in the form of a friend.

Two more things help sum up who God's Girlies are-

1.) God's Girlies-Last Sundays of the months, young girls about first grade through sixth, meet up with their moms or some other mature girly and fellowship together. We play games, do a craft and a devotion. We've had so much fun that a group of High School girls have decided to join us as mentors. I LOVE THIS GROUP OF GIRLS! Check out in the top menu-"Just for GG's" to see some of our previous get-togethers and activities!

2.) A Thursday for Your Thoughts - much more precious than a penny for your thoughts. Thursday is reserved on this website for ladies who want to recipe/story/learning experience/share. No writing experience or club membership required. We're just girls sharing our hearts. To read some past posts go to the top menu and click on "A Thursday for Your Thoughts". My cooler than cool friend Jordan is sharing tomorrow about our awesome mom's prayer group. You don't want to miss. So, y'all come back now, ya hear?!

Miley Cyrus, Your Kids, and the Knowledge of Good and Evil • 6 Comments

Kristi Burden • 26 August, 2013

I'm in between loads of laundry so I'm taking the uninterrupted opportunity to write. We have less than stellar wireless service which means my internet connection stops abruptly if one of the kids decides to microwave a hot pocket (Not today; the kids are at school 🙂 ).

Did anybody see Miley Cyrus on the VMA's last night? I didn't watch it, but Facebook lit up with posts about her performance. So I did what any curious person would do. I looked it up on YouTube. I can honestly say I was embarrassed watching it. As Jason has said before, "I felt like I needed to go wash my eyeballs".

I remember Miley years ago when she played Hannah Montana. Hallie watched the show some, but she really liked Miley's music. I did too. Her music started off kid friendly, but it wasn't too long before Miley started posing provocatively in photos. Her lyrics mirrored that negative change.

I remember Hallie praying in third grade (or so) that God would help Miley not to lie. She said that Miley, in an interview had stated the Bible was her favorite book. Hallie prayed saying she didn't think Miley would be acting that way if the Bible was her favorite book.

If I had the choice for Hallie to never have heard of Miley Cyrus or for her to have known of Miley and her shortcomings I'd choose that she knows her, and prays for her.

It's not just Miley that disappoints. And it's not just music.

I find myself perched on the shakiest of teeter-totters as a parent.

Bizarre, unhealthy relationships and families with an alternate design other than what God intended are injected into what we see on TV. Young voices sing "I crashed my car into the bridge. I watched it. I let burn." and Eminem glorifies being in an abusive relationship (even the clean version). It's one thing to see the broken. It's an altogether different thing to encourage, even promote it. Watch and see, there will be girls dressing up like the Kardashians this Halloween.

Not one to protect my kids from everything, I allow them to be exposed somewhat to a deteriorating society (It's almost impossible to avoid). We allowed our kids to see "The Hunger Games". I read the book to them on one of our Colorado trips. I'm well aware of the violence in the book. However we had good conversations about Christ-like sacrifice and not losing yourself to the pandering crowd.

We are in the world.

We are called to "not" be of it.

I'm all for protecting my kids. They rather abhor the fact that I get on their ipods and go through their music googling song lyrics of titles found in their playlist. I know they intentionally get some songs they know they shouldn't have. Other catchy songs are purchased without a thought as to what the lyrics mean providing a chance to talk and learn about what they mean (Words mean things). Either way, inappropriate songs are deleted.

Sound wishy-washy?

Here's what I'm thinking.

1. I don't want to shelter my kids to the point that they have no awareness of evil. I want them to recognize evil for evil. I want Jesus to be the mark of goodness they use to measure all else.

2. Any exposure I allow the kids, should NOT be exposure without supervision. I'm almost nervous to let the kids watch TV (even the Disney channel now) without my checking every few minutes or watching the TV with them. I am becoming more and more convicted about the times where I haven't been so cautious.

3. What I allow the kids to watch and "listen to" HAS to become more of a matter of prayer. It's ok for me to say no. And it's ok for them not to like it. You best be sure we won't be watching the VMA's. I'm done with Super Bowl half-times too. Don't let the Jones's idea of what to watch dictate what you do. PRAY ABOUT IT.

4. It remains important to have an open dialogue. There have been dozens of conversations that have been accompanied by pink cheeks and sometimes disagreement, but hopefully the kids know that there is not an off-limits topic. I walked in to Hallie's room one time to find her watching "Toddlers and Tiaras" My instinct was to tell her to turn it off. Instead we talked about how mere toddlers' innocence had been stripped and replaced with flippers and spray tans.

5. Hollywood, Nashville and the media provide examples of talent and physical beauty. In song, on film and gracing the pages of magazines these people appear heroic and perfect. Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong were quite the guys to aspire to be like until we learned that they both had problems with different kinds of cheating. Hayden and I had a conversation about Lance Armstrong. I told him that Lance Armstrong is just a person. He wasn't as good as they made him out to be in the first place and probably wasn't the devil they made him out to be recently either. It was a good reminder that people are people. Star role models are hard to come by. We need to talk about that. They're fallen people. Jesus and people who've made him their role model are the ones to pay closest attention to.

6. I have to make the effort to pour God into them. Though I fail, I need to be an example. I need to PRAY PRAY PRAY that as right and wrong are before them, that they'll choose right. And I pray that they'll be surrounded by a community of grace that loves them when they don't.

7. I must make time to turn the music down and the TV off.

It is my job to help them make sense of ALL the voices.

²⁰Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
²¹at the head of the noisy streets she cries out Proverbs 1:20-21

A Letter to Me and School Parents Everywhere • 4 Comments

Kristi Burden • 14 August, 2013

Dear Me and Other Parents running around trying to prepare yourselves for a great school year,

It's that time again. The school year seems to wind around about as quickly as the long arm on the clock. You're never quite ready for the new year to begin. You're making that mental list of the things you planned to do over the summer that didn't happen. And you're scrambling making sure that the kids have new socks and jeans, and the right kind of binder so they won't (and you won't) appear to be less than serious about their education. This year is no different from the rest.

But I do want to write to you, urging you to remember some things this school year. August, like January is a month full of good intentions. Those well-planned, smooth and seamless days will last about as long as the lunch money check you send.

You might as well drop your perfect school year dream.

There will be times when Hallie forgets her homework at school. Having consequences, especially if it becomes a habit, is fine, but don't worry about it too much. Don't freak out and don't let her freak out either. Her figuring out how to approach the situation will help her develop her problem-solving skills.

Hayden is more than likely going to take a test that he isn't prepared for. Asking him every day if he has a test the next day is ineffective. By the twenty-eighth time you've asked him, He's thinking that you sound like the teacher on Charlie Brown (wah wah wah-wah...) if he hears you at all. He's not once in the past responded to your question with "Hey Mom, glad you said something. I do have a History exam. I think I'll go study for it right now." Maybe have some expectation that he's aware of. Let him reach those expectations, or not. Go from there. Sheesh!

RYLIE IS GOING TO TALK IN CLASS. You know that, right? It's in her nature. It's not a bad thing. She's done pretty good the past two school years not getting into much trouble for it. Remember that her disrespecting the teacher or being unkind to someone is more to be upset about than her being chatty.

You're going to forget to sign her homework folder several times regardless of any "system" you set up to check her folder. Be gracious with yourself just as you are going to be gracious when she slips up and chats during class. If her not having her folder signed ruins her day, you've probably missed teaching her that we have imperfect days, and that it's ok.

Stay off that Home Access grading system. Or at least limit yourself for goodness sake. There's no need to check it like you do, willing good grades to appear, thinking that if you check it enough, new grades will pop up. It's not that helpful how you use it. You pick up the kids all nonchalant, and then in two minutes the afternoon mood has been ruined having been turned into a lengthy lecture on responsibility and self-discipline just because you spotted a bad grade .

Make the kids ease up on TV. They watch it too much. And you've already missed having them seven hours of the day.

Don't make such a big deal when Hallie's ponytail is messy-looking (Need I pull out old pictures of your hair?). It sure shouldn't EVER be the last thing you say to her before dropping her off in the morning.

Do try to keep a bedtime. They need their rest. So many times that's when you finally recognize that you let the afternoon pass without spending any time with them. Make time for them before 8:30 at night.

I know you're praying that they have good healthy friendships. Keep praying that.

Pray for their teachers too. Pray that they will see the good in each of your kids and that they will encourage them, love them and grow them (even when it might be a little painful).

When (if) you have a teacher that does something incredibly insensitive, or unfair, and it infuriates you, don't let the kids know. They can know that you feel that they were treated wrongly without coming unraveled. You've done that before. Remember, a certain coach yelled something terrible to one of your kids and you lost it in the car. Rylie ended up, though she was only four, asking you to chant with her "Let's ruin Coach's Life". Surely there's a better way to let your kid know that you don't like what happened to them.

Let the kids know you appreciate their teachers. Maybe it will help them appreciate them too.

Take them lunch every once in a blue moon.

Tell them what they're doing right every now and then.

Go to a movie on a Tuesday.

Help them with their homework when they need it.

Have cookies waiting at home for them when they get out of school.

Don't put all the emphasis on grades.

Have a sound idea of what they're capable of.

Have an open honest relationship with their teachers.

It's ok to get them from school a few times when they say they're sick, but they're really not.

It's also ok to tell them to tough it out a few times too.

But above all, keep in mind how quickly the school year passes and another year's gone.

Encourage them

when it seems nothing is going their way

Enjoy them

When their grades are not up to your standards.

Enjoy them

When they come home in a rotten mood.

If you forget everything else I've said, remember this

If you'll replace even a quarter of the time you do worrying and lecturing, with praying for them, it's going to be a great year.

Enjoy it.

Enjoy them.

School years won't last forever. Make memories and foster growth that will.

La la la la Live Out Loud

Kristi Burden • 10 August, 2013

........Think about this

Try to keep a bird from singing after it's soared up in the sky

Give the sun a cloudless day and tell it not to shine

Anybody remember this old Steven Curtis Chapman song?
This was one of his upbeat songs in the nineties that I probably blasted in the car contributing to the hearing loss I have now.

Jason and I worked out this morning. We've been faithful to go to the gym even when we don't feel like it. We've been eating healthy for a week too. We've steered clear of wheat; a goal we sat for ourselves last week.

There has been a frosting on the cake (that we haven't eaten). This week has been full of old friends. We celebrated a friend's entrance to glory and remembered a life lived for God. Last night Jason and I had a fabulous date night. This summer is ending knowing that I spent more time with my family than I did on laundry and dishes. Rylie shared the best news possible.

I've learned how to better live on something other than "bread alone". I must admit, I'm feeling pretty good. Those of you who know me, have heard me complain on a regular basis though I've learned to try to throw in a jovial Ha Ha to make light my admissions of misery.

Just as I share my faults and failures, mishaps and other gripes, I should likewise be sharing a joy I'm finding undeniable.

Today I am.

While I was on the rowing machine this morning I had my headphones plugged in. I typically only jam on the inside. But this morning I couldn't help it. I began to hum "Dreams" by the Cranberries:

I know I've felt like this before

But now I'm feeling it even more

Because it came from you

The music in me had to come out.

Typically I only sing out loud in the kitchen, or beside somebody with good harmony at church, or in the car (when I'm not at a red light). I contain myself, fearful that I won't sound good; hesitant that someone might not appreciate my singing. I'm reserved. Other times I'm too tired to sing; too distracted to even listen to the words.

Today the shuffle on my Ipod played some of the best songs. I realized that though my sound may not always be sweet, there are some songs that are always worth singing. Somehow I understood that my singing shouldn't be about me being perceived as awkward or off-key, for I am not ashamed. Some songs are meant to be turned up and sung out.

I sing with Steven Curtis Chapman:

Think about this

If we really have been given the gift of life that will never end

And if we have been filled with living hope,

we're gonna overflow

And if God's love is burning in our hearts, we're gonna glow

There's just no way to keep it in

There's a soul-spilling song within us. Let's sing it out loud.

But if I say, "I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name," Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I can not endure it. Jeremiah 20:9

The Road Well-Traveled

Kristi Burden • 31 July, 2013

You've heard it said, "I took the road less-traveled". The bold traveler choosing it's path must be up for adventure. The one on the road less-traveled seizes newness and finds opportunity for growth. There's often glory found on the road less-traveled.

You don't hear so much about the road much-traveled.

Some would say that the road that's traveled everyday is a road with lined with ruts. It's a path of drudgery. It might be said that the road much-traveled lacks luster in its old, familiar path.

Maybe.

I say the road much-traveled, when well-traveled, is faithful.

It's surely a road you travel in prayer.

Maybe you've prayed for a devastated friend for weeks; "Lord, help her get up in the morning. Help her rest. Help her know you're near." Your words, tired-sounding, come out nearly just the same on Friday as they did on Tuesday, but they're sincere.

A prayer may be long spoken for your children. Just like yesterday, and years before, you pray that your children would grow in their love for God. Your prayer firm, you ask again and again that he would draw them near.

Like an unrelenting child you pray for help, for those things with which you struggle, fear or a bad attitude. You pray honestly that God would help you to be unselfish and that you're love for His word would grow.

Keep walking your prayer road. Be thankful when its scenery is beautiful evidence of answered prayer. And be hopeful for those things which are yet to be seen.

Walk the road of prayer even when you don't feel faithful, for its destination is better than what we presently see.

Whether I run, or slow to a crawl, I will carry on down this well-traveled path knowing-

....your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 26:3

Ace Knows-Seeking the One and Only • 3 Comments

Kristi Burden • 24 July, 2013

I've heard Jason tell several people I was leaving him. That's only partly true. Summer is the only time I have the opportunity to see all of our family for more than a quick hello. The kids and I have spent pretty much the whole summer touring central Texas.

At the beginning of this week we even got the opportunity to visit Ace. He's my niece's busy all-over-the-place dog/kid. He's partial to Jessica, my niece, his mom. He runs around in a tizzy, then goes and checks in with Jessica (his master).

Funny thing happened this visit. Jessica was kind enough to share some of her duds with Hallie and I. I was able to squeeze into a pair of her jeans which I was quite happy about. I must mention that Jessica and I are similar. We've been told on numerous occasions that we look alike and that we have the same mannerisms (which also makes me proud-She's awesome!).

Well...... After one of Ace's dizzying spells, he runs up and jumps on the back of my legs, all "I love you, pick-me-up-like". I turn around to scoop him up and he "crawdad crazy crawls" backward in fast motion. Confused, and a little let-down, I went about my business.

But Ace did it again. Several times he approached me only to retreat as quickly as possible. Here's the only thing I can figure.

I'm in Jessica's house. I'm where she's supposed to be.

I look a little like Jessica, maybe his eyes are partly blocked by maltipoo fur.

Wearing her jeans, I probably even somewhat smell like her.

It's only when Ace got close that he recognized that I wasn't Jessica.

The little guy has made me think of how we humans often mistakenly approach a wrong master. Sometimes being financially secure or having a squeaky-clean image is our master. We'll make success and acceptance our master.

Being the "woman of God" that I am, I make every effort not to chase after those false Gods. Though I sometimes live for earthly things, I typically don't fool my saintly self into believing they're of God. While that's all well and good, it leads me to a problem I believe we Christians encounter.

Sometimes we wrongly run at anything that looks or smells like God.

Having an "Ace moment", we approach something that "looks like Him". Maybe we volunteer for some service project. Possibly we're involved in twelve different ministries at the church- the more God-seeming things you do, the closer to God, right? I have the decorative crosses adorning my wall and I have drawers full of church shirts. I listen to "the right music" (at least on Sundays).

Please don't misunderstand. It's not that there's anything wrong with going through the motions. The motions are often acts of worship; intimate time with God. Our church shirts and cross necklaces can be emboldened displays of a God we live for.

But don't be satisfied with anything that merely, on its own, serves as a substitute for time with the One and Only. Don't settle, believing Christian songs and t-shirts, bible studies and perfect church attendance are by themselves the "real deal"; be like Ace.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13,14