Number Three.........

Coming in at number 3 on my Upsidedown Bucket List is .......Refusing to Receive. Most of us are brought up to be responsible individuals and concerned citizens. I am definitely NOT saying we should not be responsible, but Jesus taught His disciples to receive. In fact, in order to have eternal life we must receive!

In John 13, Jesus demonstrates. Jesus said, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." We are familiar with Jesus becoming the Servant of All, but I want to look at it from a different perspective. Had Peter refused for Jesus to wash his feet then he could have never been prepared to wash the feet of others. Sometimes we must be willing to receive before we can give. Jesus continues, "For I gave you an example that you do as I did to you."

No doubt, we are more comfortable being on the "giving" end of the stick. However, God wants us to receive ALL that He has for us! In His infinite wisdom there are times when He wants us to receive. Trust Him! He places His people in our path that are sensitive to His Spirit and will use them as His vessels to pour out His extravagant love in our lives. Once we recognize who is really doing the giving, we are blessed and much more capable of giving.....because we have received. Afterall, "We love, because He first loved us." I John 4:19

Never Forget

Coming in at # 2 on The Upside Down Bucket List, (and I confess a few days later than I had hoped) is

"Never Forget Where I Came From!"

Luke 18:13 states, "The tax collector stood at a distance." This particular passage of scripture indicates to me an attitude of respect and thanks (make sure you see # 1 on my list). It is an attitude of remembering where Christ found me and the depths of which He went to save me! The only thing that makes me worthy of anything is the blood of Jesus.

I think John Newton probably said it best, "I remember two things; that I am great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior." Once we have experienced the overwhelming, extravagant love of Christ in our lostness......we are forever changed! As Christians, I am certain that we become casual about being in God's presence. In this passage, I am reminded of the great distance that once stood between me and God, and the bridge that Jesus became for me. I do not have to stand at a distance, as a matter of fact, He invites me to draw near to Him and call Him Father. We have been in a relationship now for about 36 years. I pray I never forget where I came from!

My Upside Down Bucket List

Recently our family had the blessing of vacationing together at the beach. I love the beach for many reasons, but most of all because God's presence is SO close. As I watched the tide come in and out and searched for treasures I was impressed with things in my life I DO NOT want to do based on some scriptures.

So I am calling it my Upside Down Bucket List! So until the Lord leads differently I will be sharing posts that are things I DO NOT want to do!!

One thing I never want to do is Fail to Say Thank You!

Luke 17:17-18 references a manifestation of Jesus bringing healing to ten lepers. Out of the ten, only one, just one......returned to say Thank you. I am most grateful for all that he has done, is doing, and will continue to do in my life! May I never forget to say thank-you. I try to carry this to the extreme by thanking the waiter every time he/she fills my glass of tea, someone holds the door open for me, or the clerk at Walmart remembers to turn and check for any bags she might have missed.

One day I will have the chance to say Thank-you to Jesus, face to face! I pray I never forget all the things I have been redeemed from and the pit of sin that I have been lifted out of!! I am by no means greater than anyone else.....in fact, I generally sign my name with a lower case "t" just to remind me to be humble! (My English is better than that.....i think) But there is one thing I know for sure, I have been bought with a very high price. So for everyone who sowed seeds in my life over the years, thank-you. Or as Gomer Pyle used to say, "Thank ye, thank ye, thank ye." Wow, that was a long time ago :)

Proud as A Peacock!!

This blog is dedicated to my best friend Pam and her husband Dennis. Tomorrow morning will bring a menagerie of emotions. They will be leaving to live in Maylasia for the next three years. The preparations, plans and prayers that have been in motion for years have finally come to fruition. If you could count the feathers on this Malaysian peacock, you could probably count my emotions. Ultimately, I send them with prayers and love, knowing that He works all things together for good! On the other side of this world, in our eternal home, I will see all the reasons for the delays, the frustrations, and His perfect timing.

It is only right that the thing I have learned the most of from them is what takes them away.....Their generosity......of all that they have! They have always been generous! In every respect, they are like the One who taught them generosity......and will continue to give!!!!

I am grateful for every table we have ever sat at together and shared a meal, for every grain of sand that has been under our feet, for every piece of clothing my girls were handed down, every phone call, every Bible study, every prayer, every minute in a swing or rocker, every laugh, every shopping trip, every game of Scrabble (even when you whipped my rear end) and Boggle, movies, and breakfasts you have prepared for me, just to name a few things! I am proud as a peacock to see you go and will forever praise the One who has called us to such great tasks!

Only One

Oak Island 2010

Anyone who knows me (Toni) knows how much I love the shoreline of any beach. We had a great opportunity to catch up with some fabulous friends that we hadn't been with in years in early June. It was our first trip to Oak Island. First, it was just comforting to know anyone would share their time at the beach with us. We are most grateful and cherish our time with them. I was honest (I know you may find that hard to believe) and told them that I wouldn't just share my beachtime with just anyone!!! And I meant it!

It is always a refreshing and sacred time for me. Just to know that the same God who created every grain of sand and tells the water how far it can go, chose me to be His Beloved Child! It amazes me. Then to see every living creature and know they each have a purpose absolutely astounds me!

So one afternoon, I had a chance to go with Laura-Kathryn to "The Point". It's the place where the beach ends, the waterway meets the ocean, and you can see Holden Beach begins. It was like finding a diamond in the ruff! Absolutely stunning, granted I am known for gushing!! While there I was talking with the Lord and scanning the shoreline when I spotted this one shell. (See the photo above) Out of all those shells amongst each other, each having their own life and story of where they have been, only One, was reflecting the light completely. My spirit was quickened and I was reminded that he also created me for a purpose....and I am to reflect Him, in all that I do. I wanted to fall on my face and worship because He reminded me that for those that fail to "glow" He doesn't destroy or do away with....He is a patient God. His mercies are new every day. I am thankful for every single one of them.

It is my prayer that I shine, no matter where I am placed! Happy Summer!

Fabulous Firsts!!

I have always loved alliterations. (A language arts term that means most words start with the same letter.) Although, to be honest I am not sure you can make it plural. Nevertheless, you get the idea! I also love exclamation points for the record!!!

So by God's grace, because only He could ordain my family being in the same spot for more than thirty minutes at any time, much less in the same week.......we had a Fabulous First! Friday, January 1st, 2010 brought us a day unlike any other. I mean seriously, you couldn't plan this much fun and it happen. By 6pm, we had thrown together an awesome baked spahgetti dinner with salad and cheesy bread. Then Kimberly makes monkey bread for dessert!!! I was one happy girl.

Then the entire crowd, Thomas and Tiffanie, Nick and Hillary, Mello and Morgan, Marybeth, Kimberly, Joel and myself spent the remainder of the evening around my "Christmas gift" in full swing!! A Fire in my new fire pit!! We made smores, snuggled and shared our hearts. I posted a status on facebook that said "Firepit, family, friends, food, Friday, and the First."

I pray this year will be full of firsts for you and yours. First (no pun intended) that Christ is given His rightful place in your life. He longs to be your first love and first priority. I pray that you and your spouse will make it a first to do something special together, if you are single....you are in a great position to make Him more important than anthing else, make your family more important than the dishes, spend time in the Word, (many people try to read through the Bible which is great, but just start by reading 1 book of the Bible, and allow God to speak to you), find someone to bless, feel free to live a life of simplicity.