Have you ever seen The Greatest Showman? When my amazing friend, Brandi, first told me about going to see it I just kind of smiled and listened. She was so excited about it but it didn't sound that interesting to me. I mean 'based on a true story of the guy that basically began what we now know as a circus'. Cool. But do I really want to spend the money to go watch it in theaters? Not really.
But I kept hearing about it and people kept exclaiming about how wonderful it was. So when my friends suggested renting it I agreed. I really wasn't expecting to find it to be such an amazing story.
I was laughing, yelling and tearing up. I was completely caught up in the story. And the soundtrack! Oh my! I knew right away that I would want to hear these songs again.
There was one song in particular that stood out to me more then any other. During this incredible scene when all of the circus people band together they sing 'This is Me' by Keala Settle, written just for this movie.
It starts out with words that really make you think.
"I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are"
Haven't we all felt that way at times? I mean seriously, who hasn't been ashamed or felt unwanted, unloved. But we are wanted, we are loved, and we have a Friend who is not ashamed of us. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, He is proud to claim us and rejoices when we come to Him.
The second verse is also pretty amazing and calls us to hold our heads high.
"I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are"
Pretty incredible that because we are children of the Lord we don't have to be ashamed.
The song is amazing but it's the chorus is that I really want to share with you today.
I may not know you but I know the One who does. Whatever you're going through today remember that you don't have to hide from Him. He will help you. He made you who are and even when you have bumps and bruises you can still offer yourself to Him and say- This is me. He will never reject you.
"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."
Psalm 51:17
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
What to Post?
It's Friday night. My weekly blog post goes online at 5 a.m. Saturday morning. Every Saturday morning so the post has to be written, edited and scheduled before I can go to sleep on Friday. I've forgotten before and there's always this awful panic moment when I realize. Then it's the hassle of having to figure out how to log in from my phone and try to navigate the screen that I'm used to looking at from my ginormous laptop screen. I swear, nothing looks the same on my phone. Some tech person would probably explain to me that's because there's different formats for the websites depending on if I'm looking at it on a laptop or a smartphone. At which point I'm trying to keep myself from screaming 'Deceptecon!' and running, screaming, the other direction. I may not know much about technology but I've seen 'Transformers' enough times to be concerned when the devices start getting too smart. It's probably some alien robot in disguise. Or am I getting my alien races confused with the ones from Men in Black? Hmm....
Well whatever nefarious aliens there may be, I still have to write a post. So what to write? I've been thinking about this all week. Discarding one idea after the other, scrolling through my 'draft' file that has all those ideas that started out so great then didn't get finished or just didn't turn out the way I thought they would. Occasionally I find one in there that I actually did finish but didn't get around to posting for some reason. Those come in handy every now and then but alas today is not one of those lucky days so I need to write something. But what?
I flip through the pages in my Bible and find some great notes but nothing that seems to need to be shared this week. I leaf thru my planner but haven't actually written any notes about what to post in there that I randomly forgot. So I check my phone, see if I left a note on there... no. Hmmm... what to post?
It shouldn't be this hard. I mean I've had this blog for four years now. I've been posting weekly for about two years now so why do I still go through this struggle? I mean really, shouldn't there be something interesting enough to share in my life? Well... yeah, no, there's not.
And letting my mind wander about why or why not I have nothing interesting to write about will not get the post written any quicker. So focus Kattarin! What are you going to write about?
Hmm... I have no idea.
That's okay, I'll call Mom and Dad. Maybe they'll be able to give me a suggestion. Mom? Dad? What should I blog about?
Well, what do you mean you don't know?
Well I don't know or I wouldn't have been calling you!
Ugh! Parents! They're so unhelpful sometimes.
Yes, I'm still talking to you and yes I am being sarcastic. I wonder where I got that from?
What do you mean write a post about what to post Dad? That's weird. Who would want to read that anyways?
Oh wait, you just did!
Hope it put a smile on your face too!
Well whatever nefarious aliens there may be, I still have to write a post. So what to write? I've been thinking about this all week. Discarding one idea after the other, scrolling through my 'draft' file that has all those ideas that started out so great then didn't get finished or just didn't turn out the way I thought they would. Occasionally I find one in there that I actually did finish but didn't get around to posting for some reason. Those come in handy every now and then but alas today is not one of those lucky days so I need to write something. But what?
I flip through the pages in my Bible and find some great notes but nothing that seems to need to be shared this week. I leaf thru my planner but haven't actually written any notes about what to post in there that I randomly forgot. So I check my phone, see if I left a note on there... no. Hmmm... what to post?
It shouldn't be this hard. I mean I've had this blog for four years now. I've been posting weekly for about two years now so why do I still go through this struggle? I mean really, shouldn't there be something interesting enough to share in my life? Well... yeah, no, there's not.
And letting my mind wander about why or why not I have nothing interesting to write about will not get the post written any quicker. So focus Kattarin! What are you going to write about?
Hmm... I have no idea.
That's okay, I'll call Mom and Dad. Maybe they'll be able to give me a suggestion. Mom? Dad? What should I blog about?
Well, what do you mean you don't know?
Well I don't know or I wouldn't have been calling you!
Ugh! Parents! They're so unhelpful sometimes.
Yes, I'm still talking to you and yes I am being sarcastic. I wonder where I got that from?
What do you mean write a post about what to post Dad? That's weird. Who would want to read that anyways?
Oh wait, you just did!
Hope it put a smile on your face too!
Saturday, August 11, 2018
You Are ______
Have you ever been having a conversation with someone and you're just fed up? You want to scream at them. "You're just lazy!" Or "You're such a coward!" Sometimes you're so tempted to say, "You just keep screwing up. When are you going to grow up?" Maybe you want to really hurt them and tell them that the bad things in their lives are what they deserve.
It sounds awful but haven't we all had those moments? Those moments when as your temper rises and your mouth opens to spew the awful words that little voice in the back of your head warns you not to say it. It reminds you that once the words are out there you can't take them back. But the little devil on your shoulder is cheering you on, fanning the flames of your temper and you ignore that voice and say it anyways. And immediately the guilt begins to set in. But you don't take it back, you ignore it. You justify your words to yourself, reminding yourself of every bad thing they've done or hurtful thing they've said. You're in the right, you tell yourself, and this is what they need to hear.
When I was a kid we had a stupid little saying 'Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me'. The other one was just as bad, 'I am rubber, you are glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you'. There's absolutely no truth to those sayings. In fact I'd even go so far as to say that it's almost the opposite.
Words do hurt. We all know that. But words also make a difference. Every time you tell someone that they're a failure, that they're lazy, that they're not good enough, that they're unlovable or that they can never be forgiven you build up that image or characteristic in their minds. Before I go any further I want to point out that yes, people can overcome those constant refrains that are thrown at them. They can prove all of those assumptions wrong but most of the time they don't.
We all know we shouldn't say those things. Sometimes our temper gets the best of us. Sometimes the disappointment of cleaning up one more mess, or cleaning up this first mistake that's such a surprise because this is 'the good kid' is so shocking that those things just slip out. Either way, we know better; but I don't want to talk about what we shouldn't say. I want to talk about what we should.
Maybe you have a daughter that is just selfish. No other way to put it. She's just a spoiled little girl that thinks the whole word revolves around her. Instead of telling her that she's selfish tell her she's beautiful. Teach her that beauty comes from the inside and projects out. When you see her being kind don't say, "Why can't you be that way all the time?" Praise her for that moment. "You are so kind." Not "You are so kind today, what's up with that?" Reinforce that good quality and do that each and every time. That way your perspective will start to change and you'll see more of her good qualities and her behavior will start to change as she works to live up to those standards of praise you're already giving her.
Maybe you have a son who is lazy. Don't scream at him for never do anything, thank him for the things he does. "Oh I so appreciate your hard work," when he takes out the garbage or feeds the dog. "Thank you so much for your work ethic, that will really serve you well all your life," when he cleans up his room. Then stand back and see what changes begin to occur.
And yes, I know that children have to be corrected and disciplined, but that doesn't mean that you have to berate them or talk down to them. You can still be encouraging and use those moments to teach them and encourage them. It may just change the whole relationship you have with them. Don't worry though, you'll still mess up and when that happens go back to last week's post. You're not a failure. Recognize you made the mistake, learn from it and move on.
Say it's your spouse who drives you crazy. Focus on the good things you like about them. Talk those things up. Listen to them and spend time with them. Learn to care about the things they care about and see how your marriage is transformed.
Thank your coworkers, thank your boss, thank your pastor or your friends. Focus on the good qualities of those around you and speak into their lives. Be an encourager and see how you are encouraged through the process.
It sounds awful but haven't we all had those moments? Those moments when as your temper rises and your mouth opens to spew the awful words that little voice in the back of your head warns you not to say it. It reminds you that once the words are out there you can't take them back. But the little devil on your shoulder is cheering you on, fanning the flames of your temper and you ignore that voice and say it anyways. And immediately the guilt begins to set in. But you don't take it back, you ignore it. You justify your words to yourself, reminding yourself of every bad thing they've done or hurtful thing they've said. You're in the right, you tell yourself, and this is what they need to hear.
When I was a kid we had a stupid little saying 'Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me'. The other one was just as bad, 'I am rubber, you are glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you'. There's absolutely no truth to those sayings. In fact I'd even go so far as to say that it's almost the opposite.
Words do hurt. We all know that. But words also make a difference. Every time you tell someone that they're a failure, that they're lazy, that they're not good enough, that they're unlovable or that they can never be forgiven you build up that image or characteristic in their minds. Before I go any further I want to point out that yes, people can overcome those constant refrains that are thrown at them. They can prove all of those assumptions wrong but most of the time they don't.
We all know we shouldn't say those things. Sometimes our temper gets the best of us. Sometimes the disappointment of cleaning up one more mess, or cleaning up this first mistake that's such a surprise because this is 'the good kid' is so shocking that those things just slip out. Either way, we know better; but I don't want to talk about what we shouldn't say. I want to talk about what we should.
Maybe you have a daughter that is just selfish. No other way to put it. She's just a spoiled little girl that thinks the whole word revolves around her. Instead of telling her that she's selfish tell her she's beautiful. Teach her that beauty comes from the inside and projects out. When you see her being kind don't say, "Why can't you be that way all the time?" Praise her for that moment. "You are so kind." Not "You are so kind today, what's up with that?" Reinforce that good quality and do that each and every time. That way your perspective will start to change and you'll see more of her good qualities and her behavior will start to change as she works to live up to those standards of praise you're already giving her.
Maybe you have a son who is lazy. Don't scream at him for never do anything, thank him for the things he does. "Oh I so appreciate your hard work," when he takes out the garbage or feeds the dog. "Thank you so much for your work ethic, that will really serve you well all your life," when he cleans up his room. Then stand back and see what changes begin to occur.
And yes, I know that children have to be corrected and disciplined, but that doesn't mean that you have to berate them or talk down to them. You can still be encouraging and use those moments to teach them and encourage them. It may just change the whole relationship you have with them. Don't worry though, you'll still mess up and when that happens go back to last week's post. You're not a failure. Recognize you made the mistake, learn from it and move on.
Say it's your spouse who drives you crazy. Focus on the good things you like about them. Talk those things up. Listen to them and spend time with them. Learn to care about the things they care about and see how your marriage is transformed.
Thank your coworkers, thank your boss, thank your pastor or your friends. Focus on the good qualities of those around you and speak into their lives. Be an encourager and see how you are encouraged through the process.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
A Note to Parents
I'm not a parent. However because of my position as a youth director I talk to parents who are often at their wits ends with their teenagers. I get the opportunity to talk to them about what's going on in their lives and their kids lives and offer them encouragement during those difficult times. There's one thing that I hear consistently from parents.
"I'm a terrible parent. I feel like I've failed them."
Over and over and over again I hear parents from all walks of life say this to me. And for the record I have parents of kids who aren't teenagers say this to me too. Parents of little ones say this all the time and just so you know I've even had parents of adults say this to me.
The thing that I tell parents is what I want to share with any parent reading this today. If you love your child, if you teach them what the Lord calls them to do, if you're doing the best you can and consistently trying to do what's right for your child then you haven't failed them. Have you made mistakes? Sure. Everyone does! Whether or not they're a parent. There's no way around that.
The fact is that there's no way to be a perfect parent. There's just not. What you can do is be the best parent that you can. Here's a few things I've heard parents suggest over the years.
When you make a mistake, admit it and even apologize.
Make your kids a priority. Consistently be there for them and go above just providing their basic needs, provide them the love and support that they also need.
Encourage them. A simple word of encouragement will go miles with your kid. I promise.
Teach your kids about the Lord. This is the most important thing you can do, teaching your kids about the God who created them and loves them. Teaching them to follow Him is the most important lesson you can ever teach them.
Loving them. Seriously, it's hard to express how far just a simple hug will go. Your kids need to know you love them. Say the words, give them hugs, show affection. That's so, so, so important!!!!
So let's recap. Love your kids, teach them what's right, teach them a relationship with the Lord, make them a priority, encourage them and accept the fact that you won't be perfect and neither are they. No parents are perfect. It doesn't mean you're a failure. As your kids become adults they'll make their own decisions, some of them will be wrong. Just be there for them. Just because they're growing up doesn't mean they don't still need you. They're kids and they're frustrating but they're your kids. There will be times you think you failed but chances are you haven't, you just need to hang in there and teach them do the same.
"I'm a terrible parent. I feel like I've failed them."
Over and over and over again I hear parents from all walks of life say this to me. And for the record I have parents of kids who aren't teenagers say this to me too. Parents of little ones say this all the time and just so you know I've even had parents of adults say this to me.
The thing that I tell parents is what I want to share with any parent reading this today. If you love your child, if you teach them what the Lord calls them to do, if you're doing the best you can and consistently trying to do what's right for your child then you haven't failed them. Have you made mistakes? Sure. Everyone does! Whether or not they're a parent. There's no way around that.
The fact is that there's no way to be a perfect parent. There's just not. What you can do is be the best parent that you can. Here's a few things I've heard parents suggest over the years.
When you make a mistake, admit it and even apologize.
Make your kids a priority. Consistently be there for them and go above just providing their basic needs, provide them the love and support that they also need.
Encourage them. A simple word of encouragement will go miles with your kid. I promise.
Teach your kids about the Lord. This is the most important thing you can do, teaching your kids about the God who created them and loves them. Teaching them to follow Him is the most important lesson you can ever teach them.
Loving them. Seriously, it's hard to express how far just a simple hug will go. Your kids need to know you love them. Say the words, give them hugs, show affection. That's so, so, so important!!!!
So let's recap. Love your kids, teach them what's right, teach them a relationship with the Lord, make them a priority, encourage them and accept the fact that you won't be perfect and neither are they. No parents are perfect. It doesn't mean you're a failure. As your kids become adults they'll make their own decisions, some of them will be wrong. Just be there for them. Just because they're growing up doesn't mean they don't still need you. They're kids and they're frustrating but they're your kids. There will be times you think you failed but chances are you haven't, you just need to hang in there and teach them do the same.
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