GodandMe2theMax

These are my people...

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God' people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.  In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.  Ephesians 2:19-22

 

Have you ever had that niche of people that you when you're with them, you just want to say, "These are my people!"  I have had a few experiences with that kind of feeling.  But the best example I can think of is vicariously through my daughter Amber.  She played volleyball on a competitive team from late elementary school through junior high.  She was one of the starting setters for her junior high 8th grade team, but when the season was over, she said, "Mom, I'm done.  Next year in high school, I'm going to focus on theater and not volleyball."  My heart sank, because I love volleyball, and not only did Amber have some talent, but we had a lot of years of money invested in that talent.  But as I wrestled with her words, I had to validate the fact that she wasn't happy for some reason, and she wanted to do something new.  At the end of her 8th grade year, she auditioned for and made the "Black Box" theater for Wylie High School, and she began her freshman year with that being her new passion, her new focus.

At the end of Amber's freshman year, she told me, "Mom, I'm done with theater.  Next year I'm going to focus on debate."  Now that one was not so easy to swallow.  I didn't know much about "debate."  Actually, I didn't know anything at all about "debate".  What I did know was that Amber had given up after five plus years of volleyball to do theater, and now in my mind, it appeared that she was giving up on theater.  How wrong I was.  My daughter knew herself, and she was searching for "her people."  So with our blessing, Amber began her sophomore year active on the debate team.  It didn't take long for her to realize she finally found what she was yearning for.  I'm so thankful for the coach and the other team members who have embraced her into their little family.  She has a home.  A safe place.  She has found her people.

Through a friend's encouragement, I have been praying through the book of Ephesians, reading and dialoguing in prayer as I read.  As I pray through this book, it's definitely taking me more time than I ever imagined it would.  I can read pretty quickly.  But when I read, and pray back to God what He's showing me, journaling it, well, that takes a lot longer.  Doing this, however, has given me the time I need to really focus on what He is telling me, instead of just reading and "moving on" with my day.

So as I finished up reading Ephesians 2 this morning, I can't help but think of this story of my daughter Amber in parallel to what we have in Jesus, if we have found our peace in Him.  Take a look at Ephesians 2:19-22.  Paul is addressing the fact that Jesus died for both Jews and Gentiles.  There is no difference between the two, and we all have free access to God through what Jesus did on the cross. 

Paul says "we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens in God's household."  As a small child, I made the decision to give my life to Christ.  I wasn't a drug dealer, I wasn't an alcoholic, and I wasn't a really bad person - I was just a child.  But there was a point in my life when I realized I was a sinner, and my sin separated me from God in heaven. So I asked Jesus to come into my life, forgive me of my sins, and I put my faith and trust in Him and Him alone.  There's nothing I could do to earn his grace; it was only by accepting His free gift, the gift of His Son Jesus dying on the cross to pay for my sins.  Now go back to the verse:  "We are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens in God's household."  Did you catch that?  Because I have asked Jesus to come into my life and forgive me of my sins, because there's been a time in my life when I've asked Him to take control, He says to me and others who have made that same commitment, "THESE ARE MY PEOPLE." 

Yes, I am a member of God's household now.  I have my place.  But just like Amber had to do her part to fit in with her new Debate Family, we do need to do our part as well with God.  No, doing good things do not save us, but our lives should match God's expectations, and that is where we fall short so many times.  I mean, if Amber had joined the debate team and then never actually went to a tournament, if she never prepared a case to debate, if she didn't do her part of being on the team, do you think that would go over too well?  I don't think so.  Not with the coach, her partner, or her fellow team members.  Then why is it that we don't take the same approach with being on God's team?  That is where I fall short too often.  Look at verse 22  "In Him, you too are being built together..."  I love the fact that it says "are being built."  That means that it's a process that takes place and there's still hope for me! 

As I prayed through the end of chapter two today, I stopped at that last verse "to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit."  Is my life being lived in a manner that God is comfortable enough to dwell there?  When we have company coming over, we clean, clean, clean.  Why?  I don't know about you, but I clean so I won't be embarrassed by the dirt in my house.  I want my guest to be comfortable, and truly, I just want to have an enjoyable time of fellowship.  So as I read this verse, God just reminded me that just like I clean my physical home, I need to constantly also be doing spiritual cleaning so God's Holy Spirit is comfortable in my dwelling place.  He longs to have an enjoyable time of fellowship with me, but if I've not been confessing sin and seeking His will, there are going to be a lot of dust bunnies built up that would make open conversation with Him perhaps a bit awkward, if not even the elephant in the room. 

He is my Chief Cornerstone, and each one of us as Christians should be working together to accomplish His will so we can be identified as HIS PEOPLE.  Is that not the highest compliment God Almighty can give?  To say, "YOU...are mine.  YOU are my people."  To say to the body of believers, "These are my people."

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

God's Mulligan of Grace...

I Timothy 4:12.  ““…be an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

I’ve often said half-jokingly that after we become “empty nesters” maybe my husband I should take up golf together.  They say you should have a common interest that you should do together so that when the kids leave the home, you still have something in common.  The more I think about that idea, the less I like it, actually.  Truth is, I don’t even like golf on the Wii.  I’m sure there’s some hobby we’ll find to do together, but golf is probably not going to be it, given that I’m not one for being out in the Texas heat for hours on end.

Last week I read a book by our friend Peron Jones, The Pole, God’s Mulligan of Grace.  (I highly recommend it, and you can purchase it here:  http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000499425/The-Pole.aspx)  In it, Peron shares the story of his daughter’s near death accident while drinking and driving.  He tells how God gave his family a “mulligan” in life.   I never heard that term “mulligan” before, until I read the book and really came to grips with the spiritual application that Peron gave it.  A mulligan is a golf term.  It’s a do-over, a second-chance. 

To be honest, since I read the book, I’ve used the term quite often as if I’m an expert on golf terms. You see, my son Jacob starts at a new school today.  Last year in 7^th grade, he was bullied quite a bit.  When we built our house, we ended up moving into a new zone for him, but in order to keep him stable, we opted for an inter-district transfer.  That worked great until he entered Junior High, and some of the kids decided he was an easy target.  So last year as we prayed through what to do, it was clear that God was leading us to move him to his “assigned campus” – a new school, new friends, new teachers, a new reputation to build.  Today is a fresh start for his 8^th grade year, as Peron Jones would say, a mulligan.

We’ve explained this term to him and tried to emphasize that we don’t always get do-overs in life, but God has given him an incredible opportunity.  He has the chance today to go into school today with no one knowing his history, no one comparing him to his sister, no one knowing anything about him.  Almost like entering the witness protection program as a new person.  I wrote in his binder a paraphrase from I Timothy 4:12.  ““…be an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”  If he can really live that out, I know this year will be a great year for him.  As he just walked out the door, I told him, “Don’t be a self-promoter, be a God-promoter.  The choice is yours.”  And so the journey begins for Jacob today.  His mulligan of grace.

 

Jacob Banfill, 1st day of School, 8th Grade

 

How many times in life does God give us a mulligan?  I think about Jonah.  He certainly had a mulligan, and he blew it the second time, too.  David had a mulligan after his sin with Bathsheba, and he became forever known as the “friend of God.”   Saul had one in life.  He was the chief persecutor of the Jews, and when God gave him a second chance, he didn’t waste it.  He even got a new name, and penned much of the New Testament.

As I think back over my pastor’s sermon yesterday, he said, “God brings opportunities for us to be a part of His plan.  If we choose to not take the opportunities, God will still accomplish His will.  Nothing can stop God’s plan.  But one step of obedience makes the next step easier.”  So as I reflect on how far God has worked in Jacob’s life, I can’t help but think how many mulligans God has afforded me, too, as his mom.  God wants obedience, and because of His grace, He allows me to have those mulligans in life, to give me a second chance to do things right instead of blowing it.  Yes, God often gives us as Peron would say “Mulligans of Grace.”  The question is how we, scratch that, I will respond...

-- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Roadblocks...

"I press toward the mark (toward the goal) to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 3:14

We were driving into the Serengeti National Park on a dusty, bumpy dirt road.  In the USA, it would be considered a one-lane road, but not in Africa.  If oncoming traffic appeared, you just slow down and pull over until the dust has settled enough to see again.  It didn't take us too long to understand the meaning of Serengeti.  "Endless plains where the land meets the sky."   And truly, as far as the eye could see, that was apparent.  I couldn't help but think we were literally in "the ends of the earth" as mentioned in Acts 1:8.  Beauty and solace surrounded us in every direction.

We saw a few animals on the drive into the park, but nothing massive or up close.  Then seemingly out of nowhere, we came across a herd of wildebeest who had decided it was a great idea to have a big family reunion right in the middle of the road.  Now, if you've never seen a wildebeest, let's just say they are pretty homely.  I had seen them before, and I really didn't have a desire to bring home pictures of them to show to all my friends.  I definitely never anticipated writing about them.  But this herd was so massive that it was somehow beautiful and captivating.

We had the top open in the vehicle while our driver navigated his way through the herd.  Some of us stood up and watched as one by one, the wildebeest would jump out of the way just a moment before our vehicle would hit it.  We slowed down, but we never stopped or even honked the horn.  There were thousands and thousands of them, as far as the eye could see, but we kept pressing on.  It gave us a glimpse of what the Israelites experienced when the Red Sea was parted.  I'm not exactly sure how long it took us to get to the point where the road was clear again, but I think it was close to ten or fifteen minutes.  

For me, this was a poignant, and very visual application of Philippians 3:14.  "I press toward the mark (toward the goal) to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  How many times do we hit roadblocks in our life and just stop or give up completely on what God has called us to do? 

Sometimes we hit roadblocks without even knowing that's what they are because we haven't established the mark.  Sometimes we hit roadblocks because we don't have a plan to get to the goal.  We know what the goal is, but we don't know which way to move to get there. 

This week I had lunch with a long-time friend.  We were talking about how so many Christians know what they believe, but they don't know how to articulate it in a way that others can understand the clear plan of salvation.  It's not that they don't want to share their faith, they just never learned how.  Yes, in a sense, that is a huge roadblock that many Christians face.  They are stopped dead still in the middle of the road, without a plan to press on.

My sixteen year old daughter Amber has been going on mission trips with me since she was nine years old.  She learned all the Bible verses for the plan of salvation at any early age, and she not only knows what she believes, but she can clearly tell others.  During the school year, rarely a week goes by when she doesn't share a story of how she was able to witness to someone who crossed her path.  However, I can't say the same thing of my thirteen year old son Jacob. 

You see, Jacob has some differences.  I used to call them "special needs" but God has intervened in so many areas of his life that "special needs" doesn't necessarily give the right connotation.  (Jacob has Aspergers, but at one point in his life he was completely non-functioning.  If you don't know his story, you can see a video on youtube by searching "Amber Banfill Original Oratory".)  But because of these differences, his experiences have been much different from that of his sister.  Until now, we haven't even considered letting him go on a mission trip.  Now don't get me wrong - this boy loves Jesus.  His heart is so sensitive to things of the Lord.  He wants to go on a mission trip and serve, but we have known as parents that he wasn't emotionally ready or mature enough to go.

But God convicted me after coming back from Africa that as Jacob starts to mature and get to the point where we could actually consider taking him, there was still another roadblock.  As a parent, I had never invested the time to teach him how to articulate his faith.  I have been failing him by not giving him the right map.  So this week, Jacob started learning the "Romans Road."  (If you're not familiar with this term, there are a series of verses in the book of Romans that you can use to clearly share the plan of salvation.  Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10, 10:13.)  He's memorized two verses so far, and he's determined to keep learning until he can clearly share his faith.  He's determined to remove that roadblock that is standing in the way of him going on a mission trip. 

I definitely have a new perspective of wildebeest these days.  Those ugly creatures tried to keep us from pressing on, but our driver knew the path and how to overcome the roadblock in our way. 

 

 

Talk to the Driver of your life (God).  Identify the goal.  Remove the roadblocks.  Then press on!  Like I discovered, sometimes the only roadblock is you.

 

---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

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

"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

Do it ALL for Him...

I Corinthians 10:31 "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God."

It's early on a Friday evening, but bedtime for me is right around the corner. I'm a resident chauffer and judge for Amber's debate tournaments, and tomorrow's tournament is 90 minutes away. We have to be at the high school at 5 AM, ready to pull out of the parking lot. (What was I thinking by volunteering! Someone please slap me!)

Anyway, tonight, Amber was working on her speech for the tournament tomorrow. She has memorized and prepared a 8-9 minute speech which she will delivery without notecards in a category called OO - Original Oratory. If you know Amber, you know she's a perfectionist. She got second place at the last tournament. Tomorrow, she wants it perfect, she wants it right, and sure, let's be honest, she would love to have first place. What child wouldn't after putting all that work into something? But the problem is, this week, Amber is fighting a bad throat infection, she's had little sleep, averaging about 4 hours a night, due to all the homework, and she's simply sick and exhausted.

Amber's coach is awesome, and he really knows how to motivate the students to better themselves. That's the sign of a good coach, really, when students want to do better to make the coach proud. Anyway, of course Amber wants to do good for him, too. But as she got frustrated with her soar throat and inability to speak the way she wanted, I finally had to remind her of our little family motto, one we've used over and over as she's grown up and been in different competitions. "You don't have to be the best, you just have to do your best." (She quoted it with me once she heard the first few words!)

We talked it through.

"Have you done all you can to prepare, Amber?"
"Yes, mom, I really have. But I'm still struggling with this."
"It doesn't matter, if you've done your best, that's all that matters" I said.

And then I reminded her, "First place doesn't matter. You do not need to win for your coach or even for yourself. You are doing this for God. Period. If you've done your best, that's all He expects, and you've already accomplished your goal."

God used the truth of His Word to relax her. I could see a change. Sure, her throat was still hurting really badly, and yes, she still had things to get done tonight, but I know He provided peace in her stress.

So as I write tonight, I'm contemplating that same thought. In all things, do I give 100% for God's glory? In my work? As a mom? In my domestic duties? (A-hem, no laughing! This is time for self-reflection!) As a wife? In my quiet time? In my prayer time? With my friends? Do I give it my best? Do I do it for His glory?

I love how God uses my children to teach me how far I still have to go. I can't be a know-it-all mom with all the answers when He's teaching me how imperfect I am, with so many failures. And that's just it, even when I give my best, I'm never going to be FIRST, because I AM SECOND, and that's cool with me...as long as I do it ALL for Him.

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

True Worshippers...

John 4:23  "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks."

The Bible talks alot about the faith of a child.  For the blog this week, I want to use the words of my twelve year old son, Jacob.  Many of you know that he has Asperger's Syndrome, which is high functioning autism.  It manifests itself mostly in social skills, but Jacob also really struggles with his emotions.  He wants so desperately to fit in, yet he understands that he has some special needs that keep him from doing so at times.  He has highs and lows, but one thing I can say about him is that he loves Jesus with all his heart.

A few weeks ago, Jacob came to me on a Saturday and handed me thirteen little pieces of paper.  He said, "Here mom.  Last night in my bed, I just felt like God was speaking to me, and I felt like I should write this down."  I looked down at what he handed me, and it was written on the back of thirteen pieces of paper "money", about two inches by three inches.  Jacob doesn't have the best printing, but as I sat reading, I was astounded at the depth of his relationship with God.  This is what he wrote, word for word, without one edit by me.  Here is Jacob's psalm to the Lord.

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God, please take this pain from my heart.  It’s burning up and over, over-flowing.  I lay in my bed shedding these living tears.  The devil’s trying to conquer my thoughts.  But then I remember You, God, and I find the courage to fight back those evil thoughts.  Your name is a miracle for all those who call upon it.  And You alone have the power to turn my sadness into a joyful wake up call.  So I thank You.  Yes, I thank You, God.

Now I want to take back those actions.  Thank you for these joyful tears.  I feel renewed in Thee, Spirit.  My heart was filled with sorrow, but now You’ve filled it with joyful thanksgiving.  Hallelujah, You have strengthened my heart, with Your unending love!  Thank you, God.  You’ve made me happy once again.  Thank you, God.  Thank you, God.

When the evil one comes beckoning, I won’t let him in.  I’ll find the courage to resist him.  With Your name I can do anything.  The devil has no hold over me with this new found courage.   Nothing can stop me from living my life for You.  You healed my broken heart.  What else can I say but thank you!

You never give up on this sad lowly life.  No matter what happens, I know that You’ll be there for me.  You’ve given me something to put my trust in.  You’ve revived me.  You’ve saved me.  You protect me.  What else could I possibly need?  Oh, thank You!

When the world comes trying to kill all my hopes, I know You will be there for me, fighting back those evil lies and giving hope for the future.  You saved me from the lies and fixed my broken heart.  When I was trapped in the devil’s web of despair, You freed my heart and revived my hopes and dreams.  Oh, how could I possibly end this song of thanksgiving?  You never stop giving me a reason to be thankful.  Mere words can’t describe the power of Your name.

Thank You!

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I sat there, reading in amazement..  Oh the faith of a child!  Oh how much I have to learn from my sweet son!  Take a look at the verse to memorize for this week.  John 4:23  "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks."

As I read Jacob's words as he poured out his heart to God, I couldn't help but think that this was true worship.  This is the kind of worship that God expects.  And I also wondered if I had ever worshipped God with my words the way Jacob had expressed.  Sure, I was proud of him, but more so, I was humbled that this son of mine, special needs and all, could "get it" when it comes to worship.  So many times, we equate worship with singing.  After all, "worship" is the music section of church, right?  Wrong.  Worship is so much more than that, and God our Father is looking for true worshippers.  He's looking for people who worship Him in spirit and truth.  My goal:  to have the faith of a child.  Like Jacob.  To be a true worshipper.  To have my Father recognize me as one who worships Him in spirit and truth.

As we memorize the verse this week, I challenge you to write down your worship psalm to the Lord.  Pour out your heart to Him.  Be a worshipper, a true one.  Let the worshippers arise!

 

---Beth (and Jacob) Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

 

Docent for Jesus...

Deuteronomy 6:6-7  "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

750 hours.  1250 hours.  2000 hours.  As I wandered through the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California, last week, I quickly became intrigued with the docents that were in each room, ready and willing to share any and all knowledge of the museum with me.  They each carried a small notebook with handwritten letters and actual historical pictures, bringing history to life.  Each docent also bore a name tag with their landmark number of volunteer hours printed on it.  There was one other point of comparison with each docent, and this one was quite apparent - they were each, shall I say, getting up in their years. 

Let me be honest here.  I didn't grow up loving history.  In fact, it wasn't until recent years that I found a museum actually something of interest rather than a torturous intrusion on my sleep.  However, being married to a lover of history tends to rub off on you, and after almost twenty years now, I can actually say I not only tolerate museums, but I actually like them.  You see, I got through history in school with B's and C's, but I never really embraced its importance.  My parents didn't instill a love for history in me, and frankly, that was just fine with me.  But now that I'm learning to love history, perhaps for the first time in my life, I wonder how many other people are out there just like me.  Worse yet, I wonder how many people are raising their children with the same lack of interest for history.  As I walked through the museum last week, looking at the docents and their volunteer hours, I couldn't help but wonder if museum docents would soon be a thing of the past, taking with them the mass amounts of knowledge that they bare.   

In Deuteronomy 6, God charged the Israelites to be, in a sense, spiritual docents.  Look at the verse to memorize for this week.  (Yes, I know, there's two verses to memorize, but I needed to include both for cohesiveness sake, ok?)   We are to love God, think constantly about His commandments, teach His commandments to others, and live our lives daily by the guidelines He sets out for us. 

Can you imagine how many volunteer hours we would have on our name plate if we actually lived our lives the way God expects us to?  Some of the docents at the museum logged 2000 hours and more.  Yet, how many hours have I spent telling others about Christ?  How much time have I spent teaching others about His mighty works?  Have I committed my life to teaching others His-Story?  Am I logging hours, talking about God when I am at home, walking down the road, laying down, and sitting up?  Or, like the gray haired guides in the museum, are spiritual docents quickly becoming a dying profession? 

Have I been obedient and served my God enough to even earn the title "Docent for Jesus" on my name tag?  How many hours of service will my name badge list when I get to heaven?  
 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

Is there a pickle on your plate?

Proverbs 14:29  "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."

As part of my job when I worked in Ohio, I used to teach customer service skills.  There's something we taught called a "hook."   A "hook" is something that invites you into unproductive behavior.  Simply put, it's the breaking point that makes you lose your temper.  I have a few hooks that I know of.  Do you know yours?  Knowing and identifying your own hooks is sometimes half the anger battle.  Once you know what makes you angry, it's a lot easier to give it over to the Lord. 

Many of you know about my son Jacob and some of his struggles and special needs.  Jacob has Asperger's Syndrome and severe ADHD, but about five years ago, we found out that he had a lot of bio-chemical issues as well.  Some of these bio-chemical problems manifested themself as bi-polar symptoms, and for years, Jacob experienced uncontrollable rage.  Jacob will turn twelve in a few days, and he has a sensitive heart for the Lord now.  He has given me permission to share his story with the Groupies4God and on my blog, specifically a story about one of Jacob's hooks.

Let me give you a little history.  By the time Jacob was about three or four, we knew we had a strong-willed child on our hands.  Both my husband and I worked full time, so we had to rely on pre-schools and day cares for our child care.  For a while, we had a great friend in our church care for our kids, but we ended up needing to move to the daycare route.  It didn't take long for us to be on speed dial with the daycare; in actuality, they had us on speed dial.  I can remember day after day seeing the phone ring with the caller ID identifying the caller as the daycare.  My heart would drop each time.  Not again!  What did he do now?  The truth is that by the time Jacob turned five, he was kicked out of every day care in our city and a few in the surrounding cities.  One of those was after a few short hours!

You see, Jacob had a real problem with anger.  It was as if something wouldn't settle with him, a swtich would be flipped, and a boy I didn't know would emerge. There was no rhyme or reason to his rage, and as a result, he was given a bi-polar diagnosis, at a much too early age.

A daily phone call was expected from the day care, and at least three times a week, things would get so bad that we would have to pick him up.  My husband and I took turns leaving work early to deal with the problems, and this time it was his turn.  "Come pick Jacob up, please, asap."  No explanation given; none requested.  We knew the drill.  I could tell the infraction was pretty severe, based on the curtness of the call I received.  When my husband Frank arrived to pick Jacob up, he got the whole story. 

The daycare was one of those that served also as a pre-school.  They served lunch to a the kids on one of those expandable lunch tables with the seats attached.  All of the children were seated at the table, food on the trays, and getting ready to eat.  The teacher then put Jacob's tray in front of him.  It consisted of a burger, a side item, and one infamous pickle.  You see, when Jacob was served his tray, that switch in his brain flipped.  He promptly got up on top of the table, ran up and down the table-top, kicking every child's food on the floor and all over the rest of the kids.  By the time the teacher caught him, it was too late.  The damage was done, with lunch for the entire class ruined. 

My husband got Jacob in the car, and started to talk to him.  I'm so thankful for a mild-mannered husband who almost never loses his temper.  The Lord knew I needed him, and the Lord knew Jacob needed a daddy who didn't lose his temper; one who always showed unconditional love.  If I had been the one to pick Jacob up that day, well, I don't know how I would have reacted, but I know it would not have been in a Godly way!  "Son, what were you thinking?"  Frank asked.  Jacob's response, "They put a pickle on my plate, and you know I don't like pickles!" 

A pickle.  That's all it took.  It was the pickle that has everlasting meaning in our home.  These days, we often joke around with Jacob and ask him if he wants a pickle with his food.  He isn't the best with kidding around, but he knows we ask that question in jest.  His answer always remains the same: a firm "No!"

When Jacob was in first grade, he was kicked out of public elementary school and put in what is called the BAU - Behavior Adjustment Unit.  That's where they put the 12 worst kids in the district.  You see, they tried to work with us, they really did.  In first grade, Jacob went through about six teachers, including two "Teachers of the Year", one of which was the Special Ed "Teacher of the Year" for the district.  But the day Jacob sent one of them  to the hospital was probably the breaking point. 

Shortly after Jacob was put in the BAU, we found a non profit clinic outside of Chicago, IL, called the Pfeiffer Treatment Center.  Jacob had been to neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, and any other kind of doctor that we thought would help.  But the Pfeiffer Treatment Center did bio-chemical testing that none of these other doctors had ever attempted.  They found that Jacob was actually not bi-polar, although he had many of the symptoms.  No, in actuality, he had an overgrowth of yeast in his system that was literally taking over his whole body.  Within a few days of being on the medicine, Jacob's rage was nearly gone.  The BAU teacher (who was initially skeptical of the findings) called us up and asked what changes we had made.  She could not believe her eyes.  The boy who just days before had caused an evacuation of the entire BAU was now the star student.  We believe God directed us to PTC to save Jacob's life.  No, not save it spiritually, but physically.  Today, Jacob is in the 6th grade, and in the Gifted and Talented program and doing awesome!

Hooks.  Jacob's hook at the daycare that day was a pickle.  I think I've mentioned previously that I used to have a terrible temper.  It's amazing how when you commit something to the Lord, He can miraculously take away the sin.  But just like the verse from  last week, it's important to continue to identify and do a self examination of sin in your life.  You see, I've found that when I let my guard down, my hooks return, and with a vengeance.  I don't try to lose my temper, no one does.  

Back to the verse.   "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."

When things don't go as planned, when my hooks manifest themselves, am I patient?  Or like the pickle on the plate, do I respond with a quick temper, resulting in folly?

Take some time to identify what your hooks are.  Now think about how you can respond to those times with patience instead of being quick to become angry.  The verse this week is a good reminder to me on how to react when "there's a pickle on my plate."

 

PS - If you want more information on the Pfeiffer Treatment Center, click on the link on the left of my blog entitled "Jacob's Journey."

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com