Rollercoaster Days

We were within 48 hours of the high school senior registering for classes at Oklahoma Baptist University.  Choosing a college was a breeze for the oldest - the first college that sent an acceptance letter to him was it. We have been a little back and forth with Jessica. She has had a couple of friends who came home after only 1 semester of college so she doesn't want to make a mistake. Anyway, on Thursday Jessica received an email from DBU with information about a new degree plan. We were on the phone making an appointment to visit with the professor and at DBU meeting with him before the afternoon was up. As a result, Jessica is now planning to go to Dallas Baptist University and we will be the proud parents of 2 Patriots this August. Whew!

We are less than 3 weeks away from graduation and are busy making party plans, graduation plans AND planning for the summer as well. Which includes vacation plans and mission trip plans. I've been having trouble sleeping - not because I'm worried or anxious but simply because there are sooo many things going on.  On top of that, Josh is moving back home today for the summer. It's so rarely the 5 of us and just the 5 of us that I am cherishing these days.

There's too much to do today to be blogging so I'm out!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

How do YOU define success?

Last Sunday my Life Group (Sunday School) class lesson was from the 1st chapter of the Old Testament book of Joshua. In that chapter, God was speaking to Joshua as he took over leadership of the Hebrew people after the death of Moses. In verse 7, God encouraged the people through Joshua to be careful to do everything God said and to follow His law so that they would have success wherever they went. I made the point to my ladies that God does not define success the same way our culture does or maybe even the same way we might.

To my youngest son, success might be defined as passing the driving test. Yes, my youngest is now a licensed driver and I am out of the momma taxi business. Maybe that is a sign of success, I don't know. To my middle child, success might be finishing her senior year strong and going to the college of her choice in just a few short months. We will be packing her up and moving her to Oklahoma Baptist University in the thriving metropolis (I typed sarcastically) of Shawnee, Oklahoma, just 3 1/2 months. For my oldest, success might be sticking with a major for a solid year in college and even planning to keep the same one into next school year. Only, he's added a master's degree program but we are still trying to get him out before #3 starts college. Now, that would be success!!

How do you define success? Is it related to your career or your family, personal ambition, material possessions?

How do you think God defines success? Ahhh, now that's a good question! Then this one - where does your definition of success intersect with God's?

These are just thoughts I am pondering today. It's so beautiful outside maybe I'll just take my thoughts out there. All I know is this, if I had created this day - one of the most perfect weather days ever - I would count that a success!

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Passion Week and Good Friday

I have been looking over the passages in the Gospels related to Passion Week during my personal Bible study this week. On Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple and cursed a fig tree. Jesus said, "My house shall be called a House of Prayer; but you are making it a robbers' den." He quoted Jeremiah 7:11 where the prophet, Jeremiah, warned his listeners that they were dishonest with themselves and with God by going to the temple and practicing religion but not living it out in their daily lives. I think it is similar to what the writer of Hebrews (unknown to us) scripted in chapter 6:11-14. I once heard Will Graham call the kind of believers written about there as "spiritual dwarfs." It's time to stop drinking milk and get to the good stuff, the solid food.

On Tuesday, Jesus was back at the temple having conversations with the religious leaders. They questioned Him and He taught truth. They (the religious leaders) were out of their minds with anger and frustration. They were plotting how they would stop Him but they had to calculate how they would do it and get the people who were believing to go along with it. Matthew 21:46 records that "they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet." They had yet to believe He was all that He said He was and is. Some would never believe. Jesus desperately wanted to save. In Matthew 23:37 He said of Jerusalem, "How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." (emphasis mine) Those last 3 words are chilling to me but I have to wonder how often have I also been unwilling.

Also on Tuesday, Jesus had the conversation with His followers about the end times. They asked, "How will we know? What will be the signs?" Are we still asking those questions? I think so. We see the wars and rumors of wars, the famines and earthquakes that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24. I mean, for real, are we having some crazy weather things going on in recent years and even weeks? I love Luke 21:28 (I heard Francis Chan quote this verse recently), "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Amen and amen.

There are no recorded events in the Bible for Wednesday. I wonder what Jesus did. Did He eat a good meal and go out to play football with the kids like we might do on a holiday? Did He spend the entire in solitude with the Father, in preparation for the days ahead? Of course, we don't know. But, the next days would be intense and He knew it.

Thursday - the Last Supper and those last precious hours with the disciples before the arrest, trials, and crucifixion. Jesus had been preparing the disciples for what was to come. They still didn't get it. "I will never deny you," Peter said. "We would never abandon you," they all agreed. Do you think their own words stabbed them in their hearts as the events of the crucifixion unfolded, as they looked at Him upon the cross? Then there's John 17, the High Priestly prayer - the Son of God's intercession for His people. It is intense. He spoke, He prayed, His desire for people of all time - that by knowing Him they would know God and that God would be glorified.

And then Friday, Good Friday. The events that woud follow started with a kiss, the kiss of betrayal from one that had been so close. Have you felt betrayed by someone who seemed so close? The events that would follow were harrowing and ended with the lifeless body of Jesus wrapped in burial clothes, placed in a tomb, and the stone was rolled to cover the opening. In the pitch black, the human body of the incarnate One, the Savior of the world, laid dead.

It wasn't over - Sunday was coming. Sunday is coming. Oh happy day! 

Good Friday is one of the most important days in the life of the believer but, Hallelujah, it's a day that leads to THE most important day that we celebrate - Easter. The price was paid on Good Friday but the benefits are eternal. Praise His name.

Serving the only One who has the power to save,

Jeanette

Sixteen Candles

Yesterday the baby of the family turned 16. Yeah, the youngest is 16 - amazing. I was excited to go to Rally last night and hear his band because I missed it last week. It was awesome, as usual. They are getting ready for Easter Sunday. Because our sanctuary will be packed on that Sunday, we will have an overflow room in the gym. There will be live music in both places then the sermon will be simulcast into the gym.

I am really so proud of Jacob. He's amazing on the drums, even if I am his momma. It's his passion. He's a deep thinker, too, but I don't think most people expect him to be because he's also really funny, the clown. He loves music and music trivia. He's intensely compassionate and sensitive to the downtrodden and the underdog. He's loyal and smart. He does not want to stand out or be the center of attention - unless, of course, he's playing the drums or being funny. 

Last night after church some guys came over and we had an ice cream cake that MawMaw purchased for the big day. Turning 16 is big stuff! Jacob won't get his driver's license for a couple of weeks then I will be out of the momma taxi service. Wow, that's weird to think about after being at that job for 21 years. Another milestone for the Dickersons family.

In the meantime, we're trying desperately to get wisdom teeth out and make college plans, mission trip arrangements, and reservations for our family vacation. We are just a month and a half away from graduation and school being out. I'm starting to ramble so I think I'll just end here.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

To Better Enjoy God's Creation, My Dear

I didn't see it and really don't know much about it but there was recently a new movie about the old story of Little Red Riding Hood. I think it was sort of edgy and dark. Anyway, I was thinking about the old story, the way we used to tell it. Remember when Little Red Riding Hood encounters the wolf dressed up like her grandma and she asks about her big eyes and the wolf replies, "Better to see you with, my dear."? And so on about other facial features. Well, this blog post is not really about that at all...

We recently purchased a convertible. It's a little, red Volkswagon EOS and it's simply fantastic. My youngest thinks it's showy and he is unwilling to ride with the top down, though I've made him do it a time or two anyway. It is a little conspicuous but it is totally fun to drive and ride in. The night the moon was closer to the earth than it's been in years - a Saturday night a few weeks ago - Johnny and I went out for a drive and then sat in a parking lot with the top down just to look at the moon.

I love the outdoors and enjoying God's creation. That's one of the biggest benefits of the convertible -- better to enjoy God's creation, my dear! The wind blowing in my hair, the sunshine warming my skin - I love it!

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

Springtime in Texas is the best time to enjoy God's creation. I've been out in my yard seeing which plants made it from last year and enjoying seeing them in bloom again this year. I've planted a few new ones and have been getting my garden ready for new herbs and vegetable plants.

And, I've been out there thanking God for His provision and His faithfulness. He really is so good.

Hey, get out there and enjoy a little sunshine and creation!

Serving the Creator of it all,

Jeanette

The Reason NOT to Go on Mission Trips

As you know, if you read my last 2 blog posts, I just went to the Bill Glass Weekend of Champions in Huntsville, TX, last weekend. Last night at church I saw one of my friends from the trip. We chatted only very briefly but she told me she had a conversation with the lady who planned our trip (and then got sick and could not go) about what to do now. Bascially she said something like this, "I can't go down there (to the jail in Houston) and spend 2 days then leave and say, 'see you next year.'" And then she said, "See, this is why I don't go on mission trips." She was kidding (I think) but completely got to the heart of the purpose of mission trips. Oh yeah, of course the purpose of mission trips is to share the Gospel with those that desperately need to hear as well as show the love of God in visible, tangible ways. That's the impact mission trip participants have on those they go to. But, the dual purpose is what God does in the lives and hearts of the mission trip participants. When you go and come back, you come back changed.

I remember when I went on my first overseas mission trip. Even though I have travelled some for tours and vacations, it was nothing like going and sharing life with believers in a South American country. Eating what they eat. Worshipping like they worship, even if I didn't understand the language. Hearing their struggles and their joys. Hearing how God is calling them to fulfill His mission and seeing that in action. I was hooked. Me, the biggest homebody ever, was hooked. One of the greatest thrills of my life is to take people places they have never been to do things they've never done. Maybe they even wondered if they were capable. I am so glad we don't go in our own strength or talent.

So, here's the deal, do NOT go on a misison trip if you don't want your life to be forever changed. If you are content with living your life seeing the world from your comfortable perspective, don't go. If you don't want to know what's actually going on in the world, don't go. If you don't want to have the joy of telling someone about Jesus who has never even heard His name, don't go. If you don't want to be stretched out of your comfort zone or ability, don't go. If you don't want to come home and wonder what you can do to make an impact not only on unreached and hurting people around the world but also in your own city and neighborhood, don't go. If you think Christ's command to go and tell was not meant for you then, by all means, don't go.

However, if you take Jesus at His Word, then go. If you are willing to risk what He might do in you and through you, then go. If you are willing to take a step of faith and even take the risk of being forever changed, then please, I beg you, go.

I know it's asking a lot. I know it's a lot of money. I know it might mean taking vacation time from work or leaving your children. I know it might be hard and the food might be awful and you won't know the language. I know it might even seem dangerous. I know and I get it. Would you at least pray about it? No, no, I mean REALLY pray about it? Would you seek God's Word about it? If yes, then let me know how I can pray with you and for you. Let me know how I can help.

If God's not calling you to go, then don't go. Just find out for sure if He is or not. That's all.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Five Days

Yesterday I got back from a truly exhausting 5 days - first, to the prison event and then home for only 17 hours and then to Shawnee, Oklahoma, for a college visit. The exhaustion is mostly emotional, I think. I spent 2 days in Harris County Jail talking to inmates, precious women who just happened to make some really bad choices. One woman, whom I spent several hours talking to, and I really have a lot in common. We both have 3 kids and have spent years primarily being mommas. She told me she has been to Women of Faith and has even done a Beth Moore Bible study. She just got off track somewhere along the way. We spent a lot of time talking about the Bible. She reads it a lot because she has lots of time to do that right now. We exchanged information and she promised to write me to let me know what she thinks about some books of the OT I suggested she read. I hope she writes and I hope I am diligent to write back.

We got home about 9 pm on Saturday and on Sunday my cousin and her family were at our church. My cousin's daughter is a missionary and she was there to help promote missions in general as well as summer trips. We have not had too many people from our extended families come to our church so it was a rare privilege for me. It really, really meant more to me than I thought it would. We went to lunch with my cousin's family and our missions committee and then Jessica and I left to head up to Shawnee. She spent the night in the dorm with some girls, went to class & chapel, and attended some other pre-college events. I, of course, attended the parent-of-almost-college-student events. We talked at lunch before we headed home on Monday. She told me that spending the night in the dorm made her realize, a little bit, what it might be to live 3 1/2 hours from home. Then she told me she would miss me the most. I don't know if she would want me to write that or not but it when she said it I asked her about some other people she would miss. But, me the most. I held it all together really great the entire time we were gone until we got about 20 minutes from our house. She was driving my car and listening to some country music. A song came on about a dad and his daughter. Part of the chorus contains these words, "There goes my life. There goes my future, my everything. I love you, baby, goodbye." That was it. I lost it. She had to move to the next song.

In the meantime, my firstborn turned 21 just last week. And, we are working on driver's ed with #3. Jacob will have his license and be out and about on his own before summer. It is the strangest thing. I want them to grow up and be successful and have great adult lives and yet I want to hang on so tightly.

So, I'm worn out. Five days of intense emotion. Five days away from my haven, my home. Five days of being extremely thankful for where I am and all that God has done and is doing in my life and in the life of my immediate and extended family, including my church family. Five days away from my man. Five days jam-packed with activity and going and doing - I travelled over 1,000 miles in five days.

But, today, ahhhhh today. I'm working from home and I have a sick kid upstairs asleep. It's quiet except the dog is unusually antsy. Today I feel peaceful. And beyond thankful. And blessed, unbelievably blessed.

Serving the King,

Jeanette