GodandMe2theMax

I Have Only Done My Duty...

Do you ever feel like you need a little extra credit for a job well done? Maybe a little more affirmation than what you are receiving? Do you want to somehow find a way to humbly brag about something really cool you've done? I've been there, and if being completely honest, most people would say they've been there, too.

I have been reading in Luke 17:7-10. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

We have only done our duty.

As I read those words, I stopped still in my reading. How many times have you thanked someone for something and they said, "No problem; I was only doing my job." I've heard that response many times. In other words, no extra credit was necessary, it was all in the 'line of duty.'

So I started to think, what exactly does this mean when it comes to spiritual matters? What is MY DUTY, in relation to God? And when I do what God has called me to do, am I being a self-promoter or a God-promoter? Ouch! Certainly, as a blogger and song-writer, there's nothing wrong with sharing the talents God has given me with others. But the difference is in the attitude of the heart. Who is taking credit for the end result? Am I out there saying, "Hey everyone, look at this cool song I wrote?" Or am I out there saying, "Let me share with you what God has allowed me to do!"? Or "Let me share with you what God is teaching me."

This is a tough one for me. I wouldn't say I'm a proud person, but I'm definitely not a naturally humble person either. The truth is, I'm a talker. A communicator. And I'm the kind of person that likes to share everything going on in my life with my friends and family. However, I've been told by a close family member that "all my talking" comes across as bragging sometimes. That's a tough one to swallow.

So back to the phrase, "I have only done my duty." What is it that God has called me to do? He's called me to obedience. He's called me to write. He's called me to tell others about Him. But when the praise and accolades come from the various "work" that I do for Him, is my heart's response, "I have only done my duty."? Definitely, this is a convicting phrase for me.

I think it's no accident that this passage in Luke uses the words of a servant in the master's home. Isn't that what we each are supposed to be, a servant? We must be serving each other, not self-serving. The words to that old Maranatha song ring loudly this morning...

Make me a servant. Humble and meek.
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant. Make me a servant. Make me a servant today.

Father, keep me humble. Let me give all the glory in any accomplishment to You. Without You, I am nothing. Without You, I have nothing. And without You, life is not worth living. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart always be acceptable to You. Let my response always be, "I have only done my duty."

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

You Wanna Trade?

"You wanna trade?"

How many times do you remember looking at your friend's chips or better yet Swiss Cake Roll over the lunch table compared to the piece of fruit your mom sent you with? How many times did you say those exact words to your friend, knowing what they had was definitely more compatible with your longings? I can remember a lot of times, and if you grew up sitting around the lunch table with friends, you probably can, too. Sometimes we had to be quite covert to get the job done, because I can remember that we had "No Trading" rules, even in elementary school...and that was a very long time ago!

So I've had a rough couple days emotionally. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say that I felt like some of my dreams came crashing in, never to be restored. I've poured buckets of tears, and I'm not usually a big cry-baby like that. Pretty much, things weren't going like I wanted them to, so I decided to have a big pity party for myself. Of course, in the moment, I didn't realize that's what I was doing, but in reality, it was exactly that.

When I woke up this morning, the Lord reminded me of Nehemiah 8:10. The end of the verse says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Then I started humming the words to the song, I'm Trading My Sorrows. If you don't know it, it goes something like this...

I'm trading my sorrows. I'm trading my shame. I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.
I'm trading my sickness. I'm trading my pain. I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord.
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, YES! Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, YES!
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, YES, AMEN!
I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.
I am blessed beyond the curse for His promise will endure
And His joy's gonna be my strength.
Though the sorrow may last for the night, His joy comes with the morning...

I started to think about that song as I hummed it, and I realized, yes, God may give His joy in the morning, but I have to choose to trade what I've got for His joy. I've got to make a conscious effort to glance over at what God has and ask Him to trade with me.

Remember that feeling when you asked your friend if they wanted to trade something in your lunch, and they said, "No way, that's my favorite!" Yeah, I remember it. What a let-down after my salivary glands had already started to water, thinking about how good that swiss cake roll my friend had was gonna taste in comparison to my orange. But the cool thing about God is that He never does that. He will gladly take our bad life's fruit, our tears, sorrows and pain. He will take whatever nasty things we have to offer and replace them with joy. I've just gotta ask and actually make the trade.

So this morning, I can say that joy came in the morning. No, things haven't necessarily changed in my situation, but I have changed. My perspective has changed. I've traded a few things for joy.

When's the last time you asked God "Do You wanna trade?" Think about it. I know He'll selflessly trade joy for all of your life's bad fruit. "Though the sorrow may last for the night, His joy comes in the morning. Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, YES! AMEN!"

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

 

DadAndMe2theMax

It was 2003, and we spent our spring break in Ohio. The night before we were supposed to drive home to Texas, the hospital called telling my family that my dad had taken a turn for the worse, and we should get to the hospital as quickly as possible. His breathing was labored, and he was in and out of consciousness. We sang over his bed. We prayed over him. We told him it was ok to let go. We cried. We sang. We prayed. And we cried some more. Miraculously, and as often happens when death's door is knocking, my dad started to do better. We weren't sure if we should drive home or not, but the kids had school on Monday, and it's a long drive from Ohio to Texas. We also knew that the cycle of him getting better, worse, better, worse, etc. could go on for quite a while. We decided we should just start the trip home. By the time we hit Tennessee, I had received the call that my dad had passed away. All this took place nine years ago today, on St. Patrick's Day.

This blog is typically all about GodandMe2theMax, but the truth is that I wouldn't be where I am today in my relationship with the Lord without my dad's influence in my life. So it's only fitting today on St. Patrick's Day that I dedicate my blog to "DadAndMe2theMax."

What I learned from my dad...

1. My dad taught me tenderness when it comes to spiritual things. I can't ever remember my dad sharing his testimony of how he gave his life to Christ without breaking down in tears. I remember when I was younger, I used to watch him cry like a baby when sharing about Christ. He got saved before I was even born, but he never "got over" that moment when God penetrated his life. I'm thankful for a dad that wasn't afraid to show emotion for the things that mattered. He wasn't perfect, but he was a great example to me of passion and love for the Lord.

2. My dad taught me how to have good, clean fun. He was the funniest man I've ever known. Anyone who knew him would agree, too. At his funeral, I was able to share some of my favorite humorous stories of growing up as his daughter. I still marvel at how I managed to do this without breaking down, but somehow God gave me the strength!

There was the story of dad hiding the Pepsi bottles in the back of the toilet.

There was the story of him acting like he tripped down the stairs of the church, only to have the pastor's wife ask him if he was ok. His response, with full blown emotion, "I think I have an infected ovary."

There was the story of him being asked to close in prayer at church. He leaned forward against the pew, only to set off the musical tie he was wearing.

There was the story of the somber holiday service where the entire church circled around holding hands to sing. It was a candlelight service, if I remember correctly, and it was dark, except for my dad's flashing bow-tie.

There were the countless stories of my dad's hand-written letters to me at college. They were always so funny that I actually had friends who would check mail with me, just in case I had a letter from my dad. They loved reading with me, not to mention seeing the terrible spelling and sometimes poor grammar combinations he created.

And then there was the story of him proudly wearing his belt buckle, "World's Greatest Lover."

These are all fragmented stories with much more laughter behind them, but that was just how my dad rolled. He gave you enough to laugh hard, but not too much that he was annoying.

One of my best character qualities (at least what I like most about myself!) is my quick wit, a direct link to my dad's genes, for sure. He always had a quick and funny comment for anything. There were countless times where he tested the waitress at a restaurant. The conversation would go something like this...

"Hi! My name is Laverne. How are you today?"
Dad's response: "I'm fat."
"Great! Do you know what you want to drink today?"
Dad's response, "Yeah, I thought you'd like that one."
"Just water then?"...

As I watch my kids grow up, I'm thankful they both got that same McNabb wit, too. Every time they come up with "a good one" I know my dad is looking down from heaven with a big smile saying "That's MY granddaughter!" or "That's MY grandson!" If you're my friend on facebook, I'm sure you've seen many of these repeated examples of how my kids model their Pop-Pop. And now you know just where they got it!

3. My dad taught me how to play ball, but more importantly, he modeled some pretty important parenting skills, too. We spent endless summer afternoons and evenings pitching to each other, fielding, and sweating in the Ohio humidity. He was my biggest fan. I played on a summer league all during high school, and he never missed a game. Never. He told me what I did wrong and didn't sugarcoat it. I can remember him repeatedly saying "You're dropping your shoulder when you're at bat. You have to point your elbow more." Then he would work with me in practice on what I was struggling with. Not only did he never miss a game during summer softball season, but I don't think he ever missed a single game when I played volleyball either. When I first started, I was terrible. My skills were far behind others on my team. I warmed the bench a lot, but dad didn't care. I was his pride and joy, and I knew he wanted nothing more than to be there in the stands to support me.

My three brothers may disagree, but I know I was my dad's favorite child. How could I not be after three boys and then finally a baby girl? :) At least that's how I will choose to remember!

The truth is, I could go on and on. Memories are the most cherished thing I have. And if you don't take time to remember, you put yourself at risk to forget. How I wish my kids could have known my dad. Jacob doesn't remember him at all. Amber remembers him only after he was already sick.

But I remember. Perhaps one of the most lasting memories I have is repeatedly getting up for school at five AM, only to find my dad sitting at the dining room table reading his Bible. I had no idea back then what a precious memory that would become. He set the example for me. When my kids walk in on me having my quiet time, I always think of the same scenario when I was younger. I hope one day they will have fond memories of interruption as well.

So today, it's all about Richard Neal McNabb. It's about remembering a life of love and laughter. I will choose not to be depressed. Sure, I may shed a tear here or there, but I will not focus on the sadness of not having him around any longer. Instead, I will focus on what he taught me. He was a pretty brilliant guy for someone with only a Jr. High education!

I will choose to be the kind of parent that he modeled for me. I will love my children unconditionally. I will support them. I will teach them about spiritual things. And I will create moments for them to have lasting memories, even after I'm gone. And by God's grace, they too will go 2theMax with God because of the legacy I've invested in them. And I am who I am today in part because of DadAndMe2theMax.

 

Richard Neal McNabb
November 21, 1935 - March 17, 2003

Dad, with his famous flashing bow-tie.

 

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Branding. What's your Life's Tag Line?

**I'm lovin' it!**Be all that you can be! **The Breakfast of Champions**Good to the last drop! **It takes a licking and keeps on ticking! **Just do it! **Melts in your mouth, not in your hands! **So easy a caveman can do it! ** Taste the rainbow! **Finger-lickin' good! **Have it your way! **

The list can go on and on of slogans, marketing programs, and branding techniques so good that you instantly identify the product with the phrase. Most people reading this will know every single one I listed, maybe even sing the jingle. I think perhaps one of the best and my personal favorite is that of Target. All they have to do is show their logo, no name, nothing else, and the consumer just knows who it is. I remember the first time I saw a commercial with just that red bullseye. I stared blankly at the screen for literally two seconds, and then my brain connected the dots to Target. Brilliant!

So lately I've been thinking a lot about branding. Branding in two senses. Of course, first I think about cattle out on a field. They are branded so that there is no discrepancy as to who owns them. They are marked. It's clear. If a cow wanders off or gets through the fence, everyone in the farming community would know who it belonged to so they could return it to the proper owner.

Then there's intentional branding, like what a marketing person does. This is when you do certain things to make your product recognizable, more attractive, well-known, and likeable even.

Leave it to my random ADD mind to be consumed with this thought as of late, but I can't shake this idea of spiritual branding, both kinds. Paul says in Galatians 6:17 that "he bears on his body the marks of Jesus." He was branded! After Paul became a Christian, I think everyone who came in contact with him knew who he belonged to. It was how he was identified. But what about me? No, I don’t have a physical brand on me. I have no tattoos, and I’m not planning on getting any. Physical pain is something I try to avoid. But like Paul, “Do I bear the mark of Jesus?” When I wander outside my fences of home and church, can people tell who I belong to? Is the fact that I am a Christian recognizable to others? Or do I just simply blend in with the crowd? Sure, blending in isn’t always a bad thing. I don’t need to be flamboyant in my Christian walk. But the Bible clearly teaches we should be set apart. Different. And I believe, like Paul, we should be branded.

Then I think of the spiritual aspect of branding when it comes to marketing. How do we market Jesus to others? I know, I know, that doesn’t sound quite right. But think about it. Isn’t spreading the Gospel entail “marketing” in the truest sense of the word?

I was reading an article recently on lessons to learn from branding mistakes. It says “Brand extensions should be carefully considered and with a deep understanding of the core brand and its appeal. Fans will not flock to a new product just because they think your brand is the best thing since sliced bread, not to mention one too many disappointments, and they’ll be flocking to a competitor instead.” http://kpbj.com/headlines/business_tools/2012-03-02/famous_branding_mistakes_and_what_you_can_learn_from_them

Did you get that? It says brands should be considered with a deep understanding of the core brand and its appeal. People may come to Christ or even come visit church because it’s exciting at first, but of course, that excitement eventually wears off. Then what happens? They move on. To another fad. Another interest. Another market. Just like the article says, I must have a deep understanding of my core brand. And what’s that? It’s Jesus. It’s His power. It’s His love. It’s His creation. And it will take a life-time of devotion and study to develop that deep understanding so that I can represent Him with appeal.

So what’s your brand? What’s your logo? What’s your tag line? I’m challenged today to write my own. Seriously, take a minute to write what you think others would say your life’s tag line is right now. If you’re brave enough, ask one of your friends what they would say your life's tag line is currently (and not one of your church friends or your family, either!) Then take a minute to pray about what God would want your tag line to be. Is there a difference? If so, like me, you probably need to work on your branding.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Pulling off the blindfold...

When I was a teenager, my friend Anne and I used to take turns blindfolding each other while the other would drive around town. When we were done, the one who was blindfolded had to try to guess where we ended up. We always tried to be pretty creative with our turns and circles, so much that in the end, no matter how hard we tried to follow the turns, the guess of the final destination was usually wrong. Our sneaky lefts and rights had left the other disoriented enough to not know the truth.

That's where I was last night. Blindfolded by some sneaky lefts and rights thrown at me from the deceiver himself...so much to the point that I was disoriented from the truth.

Do you ever get in one of those moods? Maybe you can relate. Everything sets you on edge, and you have this angst in your spirit. Well yesterday evening, I was overcome with that exact emotion. I didn't feel it earlier in the day, but I have a feeling it's been there for a while...building. One thing set me off, and needless to say I got pretty ugly. And stayed that way. Even after everyone went to bed, I laid in bed, unable to sleep, just being plain miserable. Miserable with everyone around me. Miserable with situations out of my control. Miserable with my emotions. Miserable with...me.

As I often do when I can't sleep, I started praying. It's amazing when you ask God to reveal Himself to you how His Holy Spirit does just that. It didn't take long for me to see the problem. Me. (It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out - the problem is always me!) I've had a busy week, back and forth to Jacksonville, Florida, lots of extra hours at work to catch up from being out of the office, and something had to give. Unfortunately, I made the wrong choice, and the thing that "gave" for me was my quiet time.

As a seasoned Christian, I made a calculated error. "It won't matter if I miss spending a few days with my best friend. I'll catch up later, when I have time." The truth is, for me, if I'm not seeking God every single day, then I'm not growing. I went to bed thanking God that His mercies are fresh every morning. I went to bed knowing changes needed to be made in my morning schedule, and today will be different. He removed that blindfold that was disorienting me.

This morning as I sat down to read, the Lord brought my attention to these verses in 2 Peter 1:5-9.

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. "

"Make every effort." Hmmm...nope, definitely I haven't made every effort to do much of anything but work lately. Ok, well, maybe I've made every effort to do the exact opposite of some of these things. Truth is, it comes so naturally that I didn't have to try much at all. I've defininitely not made every effort to add to my faith goodness, knowledge (and we won't even go there with the self-control issue when it comes to my raging temper the last few days!)...perseverance, godliness, mutual affection (what's that?!?) and love. Love? I've been so blinded.

"Add to your faith." ... "Increasing measure." Not only does God give me a big list of things I should be working on here, but He says to add to my faith and possess these qualities in increasing measure. If I can't measure my growth, if these things are not being added to my character daily, then it doesn't matter how seasoned of a Christian I am, I'm not in God's will, and I have been blindfolded.

You know, most people who are blind do not lose their sight overnight. Sure, some are born blind, and some have injuries that cause immediate blindness, but the majority of people lose their sight, over time. It's a process. And that's just how satan gets us. A little at a time. He chinks away at us when we least suspect it, when our guard is down, hoping to disorient us to the truth of who we are and where we should be in Christ.

I decided I would write what was on my heart about this, and I was shocked to see that I haven't even blogged once this year. Not once. Shame on me. I love writing. I love sharing what God's been doing in my life. But it looks like that blindfold has been attached a little longer than even I was aware.

Let me never forget what God has done for me. How he saved me. What a filthy person I could be and am without Him. Let me never allow the enemy to blindfold me, even for a moment. He is the great deceiver. He will go to no lengths to make lefts and rights and trick me into thinking I should be somewhere else. I am God's child. I will add to my faith. Increase in measure. And I refuse to go blind.

--Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

So you must be ready...

Matthew 24:44 "So you also must be ready..."

This morning in my quiet time, I came across the verse in Matthew where Jesus is telling the disciples that they must be ready for His return. I had to stop and ponder Jesus' command. I couldn't help but think, "What else does Jesus expect me to be ready for?" Certainly, Scripture gives some clear guidelines. II Timothy 4:2 says we should be ready in season and out of season to preach the word. I Peter 3:15 says we should be always ready to give an answer to any man who asks us about the Hope in us.

So you must be ready...
On Christmas Eve, the Lord opened up an incredible opportunity for my daughter, Amber. About five hours before the first of three Christmas services, my pastor texted me and asked if Amber would be willing to quote the Christmas story, Luke 2:1-20, at all three Christmas services.

Two Christmases ago, I worked with both of my children to memorize the Christmas story passage, Luke 2:1-20. It was something my brothers and I had all memorized as children, and it was part of my legacy that I wanted to pass on to my kids. But when I got the text from my pastor, my heart dropped. I wasn't sure if Amber could still do it, at least good enough for such an important service...and she had definitely never done it in public before.

I went upstairs to talk to Amber about it, and I could see the a bit of fear in her eyes. Then I said, "Amber, Maybe God had you learn that passage for such a time as this." She agreed to do it, and she immediately started reciting it, to be sure she had it down. I asked her a little later, "Are you sure you're ok with this? You don't have to do it." Amber's answer was simple, "Mom, it would be wrong of me to not use the talents that God has given me for Him."

"So you must be ready."
What do I need to be doing now to be ready for the next step that God is going to ask me to do? Am I spending enough time in His word to be able to have answers for people who ask about God? Am I memorizing enough of Scripture so that I will be ready to encourage a friend at the right time? God places opportunities in our path to prepare us for the next step of service to Him. The question is, will I have keen enough spiritual eyes to take advantage of the opportunity so that I will be ready for the next step He has for me? Jesus says, "I must be ready." I agree. I must be ready.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glu0YyejEog

 

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough.

When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough.

I went to visit with a client a few weeks ago, and I had the privilege of sitting in on their staff chapel while I was there. The president's wife was sharing a devotional, and she said these words. "When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough." When you think about it, those words are pretty profound, really.

This Christmas, like so many other families I know, we've had to come face-to-face with identifying needs and wants. Between extra medical bills this year, lack of income for the ministry, and one of Frank's clients having a large unpaid balance on an invoice, we've been faced with tough choices. Praise God that at the end of the day, all our bills have been paid, without one of them being late. But we can't take the credit for that, this is truly due to God's miraculous intervention on numerous times!

I'm so thankful that my children are not materialistic. They don't have long Christmas wish lists. Last year, Amber asked for one thing - the Indiana Jones trilogy. This year, just one thing again - a lock for her door. And Jacob, well, he just had his birthday party, so he doesn't have much on his list, either. A few months ago, I told my husband, "For Christmas, I would really like a pair of cowboy boots." He quickly replied, "I don't think that's going to happen. You don't really need cowboy boots." I really couldn't argue with him, knowing our financial situation; I knew he was right. But in my mind, I definitely thought "Doesn't every girl who lives in Texas need a good pair of cowboy boots?" :)

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply ALL your needs, according to His riches in glory..." So this morning as I contemplate those words my client said, what do we really need? Let me draw the circle around myself. What do I really need?

There's an old Gaither song that goes something like this: "Loving God. Loving each other. Making music with my friends..." It kind of answers the question. Sure, besides the obvious, we "need" food to sustain us (some of us less than others!) We "need" warmth and shelter to make it in the cold night. But what do I really need? No, it's not a pair of Cowboy boots. And to be honest, the list is not very long and can be simply put, God, family, and friends. But in reality, He could choose to take away even the family and friends part of the equation...leaving the one true need - HIM.

This last week I was humbled beyond imagine as I was leaving my worship team practice. As I was walking off the platform, my worship pastor stopped me and handed me a small red bag with a greeting and a hug, "We want you and your family to have a Merry Christmas." It was from the rest of the team.

I was floored and speechless, and I must be honest, I'm a much better "giver" than "receiver". "This can't be happening," I thought. "No, I'm the one who usually gives. Why did they do this?" I made a mad dash out of my church and cried all the way home, even before opening the card inside. I knew what was in it, and I knew the love and sacrifice behind it. I got home and opened it with my family and found a wad of cash and a beautiful ornament. I've wrestled with that "receiving" over and over. God knew our needs as a family, and He met them. But the giver in me said, "Isn't there someone else who needs this more than us?"

Either way, God's promise in Philippians was fulfilled once again, in a miraculous way, He met our needs. He doesn't promise to meet our wants...but in reality, He even does that so often!

Matthew 22:37-38 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

This holiday season, with today's cares and tomorrow's concerns, I remember God's wonders and faithfulness of the past. He sustains. Always. I'm figuring out the difference between my wants and my needs so I know when I have enough. But one thing I know, I never can have enough of God. The more I understand Him, the more I realize how much deeper into this relationship I need to go.

 

--Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Hibernating through the winter storm...

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save; He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing."

Last night, Frank and I were watching a television show called "Mantracker" on the science channel. It's another one of those reality tv shows; yes, I might need therapy. Emphasis on the word "might." Anyway, the premise of the show is that two individuals are dropped off in the middle of a rough Canadian terrain with a goal of getting to a pre-established "finish line" without being caught my "Mantracker." "Mantracker" has a horse, and attempts to use nature's clues to track down the couple before they get to the finish line. The Science Channel does a pretty good job making it an entertaining show to watch. I could never do it, for sure. Admittedly, I'm too bug-phobic and pampered. And last night, there were plenty of bear tracks to be found. No thank you, I will stay in the warmth of my media room and watch others be hunted.

So last night during the show, a bear fact was flashed across the screen. "Did you know that a bear's heart normally beats forty-fifty times per minute, but when a bear hibernates, the heart drops down to about eight times per minute?" That's more than a 75% decrease in activity!

This morning as I was thinking about that fact, I started to relate it to what we do as Christians sometimes. When the cold comes, when we feel alone in the Canadian tundra, when we feel like we're being hunted by "Mantracker", what reaction do we have? Do we thrive? Do we maintain the same number of heartbeats? Or do we go into hibernation, trying to hunker down til this winter storm is over?

When those storms of life come, I believe God has a purpose for them. ...And the purpose is not to hunker down and try to make it through. Either God wants to glorify Himself through the situation, teach us something, increase our faith, draw us closer to Him through the event, or any combination! But God does have a purpose in each trial we face. Sometimes we don't ever know it, and sometimes years later we understand. But I wonder, just like a bear in hibernation, how often do we allow our heartbeat to slow down during the winter of our lives? What reaction do we have when the trials hit?

On the contrary, when going through tough times, that's when our heart beat should speed up, not slow down. That's when we should hunker down even deeper into our Heavenly Father and His Word. Are you in hibernation today? Are you trying to "make it through" until spring and warmer weather hit your household? This verse in Zephaniah is one of my all-time favorites. I memorized it in 2010, and I'm reminded of it once again this morning. Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save; He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing."

No matter what the winter of life is that is causing you to want to hibernate, don't do it. Remember God is there. He delights in us. He quiets us with His love. He sings to us! Don't miss the voice of God because you're in hibernation. My God is mighty to save...even from the mantracker!

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

"Miss Excellence"

This last weekend, my daughter Amber competed in the Miss Teen of Texas competition. Now, before you start judging me with visions of "Toddlers and Tiaras" running through your head, let me explain more. This competition is not a beauty pageant. In fact, it has nothing to do with beauty or talent. There are no crowns given, only medallions, because medallions are a symbol of excellence. ...And excellence is what we want our daughters to strive for, right? I believe in this program because it has everything to do with who I want my daughter to be on the inside! The scoring is based on the following criteria: 15% - Scholastic Record (yes, we had to turn in transcripts and report cards!) 15% - Community Service and Achievement. 15% - General Awareness test. 15% - Personality projection and poise. 15% - Personal development. 25% - Interview with the judges.

Well, Amber has been involved in this program since she was in the 3rd grade. In the younger age divisions, it's called the Distinguished Youth of America, or in Texas, the Distinguished Youth of Texas program. For seven of the last eight years, we have spent Thanksgiving weekend at this program. Some may think it's been a sacrifice...but not me. I've seen how it has helped develop Amber into the beautiful person she is today. To make a long story short, Amber ended up placing in the top 6 at the Miss Teen of Texas competition, took home a medallion, and held her head high for accomplishing what she did -- no regrets.

So this morning as I try to assimilate back into my routine, and as I contemplate the wild emotional ride for me as a parent the last three days, I have to bring it back to God...and what He expects. Now think about it. We had to prepare a resume of everything Amber has done and accomplished in her short fifteen years of life. If you had to prepare a resume of your Christian deeds, Christian involvement, Christian development, what would you put down? No, being a Christian is not about deeds. It's about your relationship with Christ. But as you develop your relationship with Christ, good works are a natural outcome of Him working in you. So again, I have to ask myself, am I pursuing my relationship with Christ in all areas of my life? If my "Christian resume" was put under a microscope and evaluated, would God consider my life one of excellence?

Before the final program, we reminded Amber of two verses. Truth be told, she is so grounded, she really didn't need to be reminded...but I needed to say it probably more for me. (What mom doesn't want their child to be 'the best'?) Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose." and I Corinthians 10:31 "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

So today, are these verses your mantra as well? Are your decisions based on what will glorify Him? Are you seeking Christ-like excellence in all areas of your life? What would your spiritual resume say? What would God, the ultimate judge, say about you? How would He rank you?

I'm thankful once again for the children God has given to me to help me see more Spiritual truths. May I seek excellence in all areas of my life, not just the ones people see on a day-to-day basis. Lord, let me do all to Your glory, so You will see me as one of your children of excellence!

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Big Hands

Have you ever compared hands with someone, maybe a basketball player, and said, "Man! You have big hands!" Sometimes I will comment, "Those are piano playing hands!" Then I put my hand up to theirs and compare. Not for any specific reason. Just to see how small my hands are compared to theirs.

Now think about it. How big are God's hands?

This morning I was reading in Psalm 37:23 "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." God's hands are definitely big enough to guide me down the right path, if I'm on the right path to begin with! When I read this verse, I think of a walking with my son or daughter when they were little. Now, we were never a big 'hiking' family, but there were times when we would walk down dirt paths, full of stones and uneven ground. My natural instinct would be to put my hand behind my child to help guide them and keep them steady on the rough terrain. That's what my God promises to do. He upholds us with His hand. I just have to be sure I'm on the path He wants me to be on. You see, it's a conditional statement. IF He delights in our way, He will uphold us.

We all probably know that old kid's song, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Now that's some pretty big hands, too, don't you think?

Isaiah has some great references to God's hands, as well. Isaiah 40:12 "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighted the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?" OK, I'm no scientist, and I have not even one clue on how to figure out how much water is on the earth. And that's ok, because my almighty God does know, and he can measure it all in his hand!

Then finally, I love the visual picture of our image being tattooed on the palm of God's hands. Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands." Top that one, Miami Ink! Can you even imagine that?

God has such a tender way of reminding me that He is always near. He is omnipotent. And He can do much more than the little box I sometimes put Him in. When I fall and stumble, His hand upholds me. When I think the problem is so big that there's no way out, I'm reminded that His power doesn't end! And when I think I'm forgotten, I'm really not. I'm right there, tattoed on His hand.

Life is hard. Living the Christian life with diligence is hard. These truths about God are something we know with our head knowledge, but we often choose to forget them in our heart. We choose to worry and take the burden on ourselves. God has big hands. He has piano hands. He has basketball hands. Surely, with hands that big, He can handle our little problems.

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com