In His Grip

Happy Easter Morning

Happy Easter!  Our family has been celebrating Easter morning for generations.  I have been blessed to be raised in a Christian family, so Easter morning was always a big deal in our home.  This picture I am guessing was taken around 1972 when our family lived Tulare, California.  Yes, our dresses, shoes, and accessories were new for this special Sunday.  My memories of Easter morning are full of baskets full of trinkets and candy, going to church, coming home to Easter Sunday dinner and the knowledge that Jesus not only died for my sins, but rose again on Easter morning.  I am thankful for my heritage and the parents that brought our family up with a faith that each of us live out today. 

My First Christmas In Heaven - Repost

*This is a repost from Decdmber 17, 2010, my Dad's 1st Christmas in heaven.  In light of the recent tragedy in Connecticut, as well as the passing of a few friends and family, I wanted to repost it.

 

My First Christmas in Heaven 

By Wanda Bencke

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

 

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones, You know I hold you dear.

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

 

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

For I can't count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

 

This poem was sent to me from my friend, Donna.  Our family talks about what holidays must be like in heaven for Dad.  Seriously, Christmas with Jesus, angles, and streets of gold, how can our mere attempt at holiday decorations compare?

Homemade Christmas

There is just something about a homemade Christmas gift that I just love.  Not only does it have that one-of-a-kind, special quality to it, you know that it was made especially for you.  Every year I am on the lookout for that special homemade gift idea that I can make for the special folks in my life.  My goal is for the gift to mean just a bit more than a gesture given at Christmas time.  This year I found these great ornaments at Homegrown Hospitality.  Stephanie is a fabulous artist and offers online classes several times a year and these ornaments were part of her “Welcome Home for the Holidays” class. Once I decided that these "JOY" ornaments were what I was going to make it seemed everywhere I turned, JOY was there.  Panera, one of my favorite meeting spots, had "brimming with JOY" as their holiday cup designs.

In this season of life I will choose JOY.  When I have had a tough day and things do not go my way, “I will choose JOY.”  When circumstances are disappointing, “I will choose JOY.”  When life is fantastic and I find great surprises along the way, it is easy to, “choose JOY.” 

In this Christmas season “I will choose JOY,” and am reminded of one of my favorite Bible passages.

Psalms 100

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are his.

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Join me and "choose JOY" this Christmas.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout

Bible Study-Solitary Style

It might be news to some of you that I have not done a Bible study in the Fall all alone, in my guess, over 10 years.  Yep, that is me always doing a study with girlfriends.  This is by far my favorite way to study the Bible.  I love doing a study with friends where there is accountability, discussion about how things are connecting with your life situation, and a history that you journeyed a particular path together.  So as Fall approached and I realized that doing my girlfriend study just was not going to work into my schedule, I knew that I had to figure out how I would find something that I would connect with as well as stick to without my girlfriends along side me. 

I have been following along with the blog She Reads Truth since early last Summer.  I haven’t really been doing the study, just seeing what was there and how it might pertain to me.  This is a Bible study blog with a daily devotional and reading plan. Then on Saturdays there is a She Shares link up where you can go and read how others are doing with same reading plan.  Okay, so it is not really with girlfriends or totally solitary either. I have to be disciplined on my own to do my daily study, but then get the added benefit of seeing others’ perspective on the same scripture that I have studied the previous week.  So this has become my meeting place with God each morning.  I read the assigned scripture and devotional praying that my heart will be changed in ways that will WOW me.  Here’s to my way of Bible study, solitary style.

Walking My Tight Rope

It seems like lately I have been walking a tight rope.  There is always a balancing act between my personal desire of achievement and the plans that God has for me.  On one side of the tight rope is my desire to succeed and on the other is my desire to follow God’s plan.  I do believe that these can be the same at times, but right now I am in a struggle feeling like these two things are opposing each other. 

Part of my problem is that I know there is a path that I have been called to and the fact that I know I have to work very hard to achieve any kind of success (my perception, of course) in my marriage, business, even roles in ministry and life in general.  I want to work hard at these things but also know that God’s idea of success and the worldly (my) idea of success are often quite different.   I know in my head that the worldly idea of success matters very little in the end and my “well run, idea of success” is what may keep me from experiencing the true blessings that God has waiting for me.  What if I come to the end and God, says “Well done good, clean, well managed servant.” But fails to find me faithful in Him?  What good is that? 

What if I choose to jump off the side of the tight rope that is God’s plan and all will be to His glory?  What if I follow closely after Him and the world begins to think I “missed out” and even perhaps failed?  I realize that my fear is what “looks” like failure not necessarily failure itself.  Although, I am not fond of real failure either.  I have to jump off the tight rope into whatever it is that He has for me.  Achieving has always been a high priority for me.  I want to achieve in the right things, the worthy things, the things that matter in the end.  I will stop walking the tight rope and make that leap into the uncertainty that faith requires.  I will let go of my fears in lieu of my greatest fear of all – a life that made no difference.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate

 

Answered Prayers: WOW

Over the last couple of weeks our family has been running crazy to events.  I finally had some time to sit back and realize all of the answered prayers these last weeks represent.  From the time my kiddos were born, I had prayed that they would all, make the choice to be followers of Jesus, graduate from college, and find a job that would support them.  The time spent praying is totally worth the blessing of  these answered prayers. The heart of a mom goes through so many high emotions bringing our kids through their growing up years, from things as small as the proud, full, heart of watching your child take their first steps to seeing them realize their dreams and take the measured risks to fulfill their passions.   Recognizing answered prayers has always been a big faith builder for me.

However, seeing the answered prayers of others can sometimes be even more of a faith builder.  Recently a friend of our family had a huge prayer answered.  Seeing the excitement and tears in his eyes when he realized that God was truley taking care of him in ways and through people that he was not even aware of gave me chills.  I spoke with the generous folks that were the answer to his prayer and they too had a faith boost when they realized how much their gift (small to them but huge to this young man) meant to him.  I think God enjoys WOWing us.  It wouldn't be God if there were no WOW factor.  I love being WOWed and feel so blessed for the all of these prayers answered, WOW.  

Third Sturman is Employed

Congratulations are in order to Anna as she has signed a contract with the Spring Hill School District. Yeah!  Our youngest child is now employed with a real career.  Where has time gone?  It seems like just yesterday that I sent this baby girl off to her first day of Kindergarten and come next Fall she will be teaching someone else’s babies.  When I look back at parenting our kids this day seemed so far off and to be honest I was not sure we would all come out alive.  But to be at this place and look back at those times that were hard, messy, and a bit unbearable, I would do them a hundred times over to feel the satisfaction and pride that I feel for what great adults our kids have turned out to be. This all despite of the mistakes that I know we made during those tender growing up years.  This proves that prayer and faith in God can be more powerful than any missteps two humans trying their best to raise the precious gifts God entrusted with them.   Yes, Jeff and I have successfully parented three babies who are now adults and contributing members of society.  Wow, really God? How did we deserve such blessings we find in our children?

Skate For Change Gets a Media Boost

Our son, Ryan, has been a part of a start up ministry called Skate For Change in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Their primary goal is to connect with the homeless community in their city.  Basically, they are a bunch of skate boarders that have a heart for the under resourced in Lincoln and are doing something about it.  This weekend they got a huge media boost with the visit of Ryan Sheckler.  Ryan Sheckler is a skate boarding icon, business owner and charity founder.  He was interested in what Skate for Change was all about and wanted to experience, along with the skaters of Lincoln, the act of serving the homeless.

To view the news video of the day click here.  The hope is that Ryan Sheckler will take this experience back to Los Angeles and start a Skate For Change in his own community.  Mike Smith, Skate For Change founder, is also the owner and operator of Bay 198, a nonprofit skate park whose desire is to mentor and empower the skate culture through a positive environment.  They are creating a space where skaters of all ages can creatively develop individual skills while cultivating an atmosphere of growth, love, and community.

Trust for three?

This past Sunday in church we were each given three playing cards.  Coming from a baptist background, my pastor, grandfather would be quite disturbed by the fact that we had playing cards let alone drums and guitars in church.  But that is a whole other story. We were to assign each card something we value most in our life; family, job, security, etc.  Once we had done that, we were asked to give them over to Jesus.  Giving him total control and trusting him for the plans of each of these things we hold so dear.  During an extended time of worship and prayer, when we had given these things over to Jesus we were to lay them face up on the floor in front of us.  I have been a Christ follower since I was 12 years old and grew up in a Christan family believing that I was able to give it "all" over, but I have to be honest with you I was unable to lay these cards down.  I want to be able to trust Christ for everything, and there have been times when I think I have come close, but as soon as I would lay it down, minutes later I would pick them up again.  Daily, if not hourly, I have to force myself to allow Christ to have control in areas of my life that I want him to and areas where I struggle to give up that control. Needless to say, I still have my cards and have not yet laid them down. The desire to trust fully is there it's just the lack of control that I have trouble with. 

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4

I do believe this, its the application that I can't seem to manage.  Have a great day and "trust" in the Rock eternal.

Living Life Together

In the past I may have used the phrase living life together a little flippantly.  This group of women are the gals that I often talk about who meet at 6:30am each Saturday morning for coffee and spending time together.  Over the course of 30 days we will have truly lived the very highest and lowest of lows in life.  As a group we have and will continue to help each other live, the death of a 22 year old nephew, the death of an American hero, and the passing of a much loved father-in-law. And yet these gals will also live and celebrate the birth of a grand baby and the marriage of a child.  How is one such precious group of women able to live this roller coaster?  We are doing this together, along with our faith and hope in Christ.  We may not know how to do this the "right" way, but just walking through it hand in hand knowing that someone is always there to prop you up when you can no longer stand, is "right" in and of itself. Loving each other enough to be there to weep and mourn and in that grief recognizing that there are celebrations as well is a true testament of the deepest kind of friendship there is.  I love these gals and we are truly living life together.

Life Can Overflow

What if my life was like a fountain? What if hope, grace, peace, and love flowed freely, never drying up or feeling depleted?  Try as I might to fill that top bowl of my "fountain" with the things of this world, approval, accumulating stuff, gaining advantage, etc. it never seems to fill up enough to spill out into the bowl below and then the bowl beyond that.  Trying to fill my own fountain makes me weary and ultimately burned out.  But when I build into my day time to pray and do a devotion, somehow that top bowl begins to fill and the more often I do this, the fuller that bowl becomes and starts to spill over into the next bowl and my fountain begins to flow over into other areas of life.  My desire and quite frankly, struggle, is to live a life that is overflowing with the love of Christ that it may even be splashing onto things I do not even expect or imagine.  

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." ~ John 7:37-38

Praying for a Soldier

Praying for a solider has changed my perspective on how I take my freedom for granted.  When I stop to think about it, I live as though it is my right and dog gone it, I deserve to live in a country where I have known no other way.  But if I stop there, that would mean that those who live in a part of the world where they have little freedom and live under oppression deserve that way of life too.  It comes down to the fact that there is no real justice in where we are born and the circumstances of the government we find ourselves ruled by.  I have come to be so much more thankful and appreciative of the men and women of our armed forces and the sacrifice they are making to give me the right to freedom.   One of the gals in my "tribe", saturday morning coffee group, has a son that has been deployed.  Just hearing regular updates of the conditions and morale of our guys and gals who have chosen to put themselves in harms way on a daily basis has really taken me to pray daily/hourly for our solider. He asks for prayer for his fellow soldiers as well and the difficulties they have being away from loved ones and having to be "on" everyday in the face of mortal danger.  Our "tribe" has been wearing these bracelets as a reminder to pray for our solider as well the rest of our military.  I have only had this bracelet for a week, but I cannot tell you how many times a day I have been reminded by this bracelet to pray for our solider.  I would challenge you to make yourself some kind of reminder to pray for our military on a regular basis.  Our solider depends on prayers to get him through his time of service to our country.  This is the verse I pray for our solider regularly.

God is your refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 41:1

Little Country Church

The little country church on the edge of town in Cook, Minnesota, is one of the happening places when it comes to making God's kingdom grow.  We have been attending this little church on our vacations for over 25 years.  The transformation from a very traditional older, baptist church to one that is keeping up with the times and meeting the needs of their community has been fun to watch over the years.  This is the first church that my dad attended as an infant as his father was the pastor here when my dad was born.  I think of the this old song from the 1970's every time we attend here.  "Little Country Church" by Love song.  This song has to be written about First Baptist Church of Cook, Minnesota.

 

Helping Japan

I just can not get the images of the devastation in Japan out of my head.  Sitting here in my home with water, electricity and many other comforts makes me feel so helpless.  From here, I know there is really only one thing that I can do and that is pray for the leaders and people of Japan.  Their need for comfort, daily needs, and wisdom in the face of all the destruction has to be overwhelming.  My heart goes out to the organizations that are on the ground in what I am sure is a desperate need to help and not stop until there is nothing else to be done.  I always have a yearning to go to these devastated places in the world and help, but I have no way to do this, let alone funds to make a difference.  I do know I can help with my donation to organizations that are there on the ground and they do need the funds, even if it is just my little bit.  Here are few ways you too can make a denotation.

Heart to Heart International is an organization that mobiles volunteers and supplies in the face of disastors.  Find out how you can help with a donation or provide personal care kits at their website.

Salvation Army has made it possible to donate by texting the words "Japan" or "Quake" to 80888 to make a $10 donation, or make a donation via their website here.

The Red Cross also offers this option, text "Redcross" to 90999 to donate $10 as well, or visit their website to make other donations.

Not Too Close, Please

I have to say, there is a small group of people that really know me and I think that they would agree that I really know them.   Some are in my family and others are people that I have chosen to be a part of my "family".  When we allow people to be close enough to really get to know us, they can tell by our expressions and body language what we are thinking and feeling.  This can be a good thing when you are in a group, someone else is talking, and your spouse gives you a look and you know exactly what they are thinking about what is being said.  Or, you and friend can be walking in a crowd, you pass someone, you both look at each other and just crack up knowing exactly what they are thinking without saying a word.  I love having people in my life that I can do this with.  However, there are people that never allow others to get too close.  They have walls up for whatever reason and just don't know what they are missing out on.  In fact, they may feel they are not missing out at all and wonder what the big deal about "living in community" is all about.  I want others to experience a close circle of friends that they can depend on in good times and bad.  Although, I am not the kind of person to give up easily, I do respect, "not too close, please" when I see it.  How can I make a difference to that "not too close, please" person?  Something I have been thinking a lot about lately.

Breath of Heaven

One year ago today my Dad took his first breath of heaven.  I imagine it was a long, full, deep, breath like none he had for quite some time as he had interstitial lung disease.  This last year has been full of firsts without Dad there to offer loving encouragement, share is his wisdom, prepare the boats for fishing, and not the least of which was to tell me how beautiful I am ever time I saw him.  Together my Mom, sisters and I, as well as family and friends, have navigated these days and have made it through with the comfort in knowing that this is not all there is.  We too will one day take a breath of heaven and Dad will be there cheering us through those pearly gates.  The memory of that last evening together as Dad prayed and blessed each one of his children and grandchildren knowing that he would soon be taking that first wonderful breath of heaven is one that is sweet and I hold very dear.   Although I know that this will not be my last experience of loosing someone I love so dearly, I do know now that I have a God that is way bigger than death and all the sorrow that comes with it. 

I Will Become In 2011

This is my plan of action for 2011, to become all that God has planned for me. 

I will walk with the dreamers
the believers,
the courageous,
the cheerful,
the planners, the doers,
the successful
people with their
head in the clouds
and their feet on the
ground. Let their spirit
ignite a fire within
me, to leave this
world better than
when I found it.

~Wilford Peterson~

My First Christmas In Heaven

 

My First Christmas in Heaven

 

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

 

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones, You know I hold you dear.

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

 

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

For I can't count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

 

This poem was sent to me from my friend, Donna.  Our family talks about what holidays must be like in heaven for Dad.  Seriously, Christmas with Jesus, angles, and streets of gold, how can our mere attempt at holiday decorations compare?

Why I Celebrate Christmas

I believe that in the business of the Christmas season I often forget what my celebration is really all about.  Even as a follower of Christ, I am  sucked into all of the activities of our Christmas holiday that our culture suggests.  Everywhere I look there is a reason to buy gifts, decorate my home, and go to parties.  As my blog and home are here to tell, I love the Christmas season with all of its glitter, sparkle and surprises.  But I have been reflecting today why it is I do all of these things and why the excitement builds as the month of December progresses.  For me, it starts with family and the memories that are involved with the celebration of Christmas.  There is not a Christmas for me that did not include the telling of the first Christmas in Bethlehem.  I began thinking today that even if you do not believe that Jesus is the son of God, you celebrate his birth everyday of the year.  Our calendar is based on the birth of Christ and there is no getting away from that.  Today my heart is happy that Jesus was born and brought with him the gift of grace and forgiveness. That is why I celebrate Christmas!!!!

Trunk or Treat Invite