Category Archives: New Normal Living

Bring my coat, would you?

17 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in New Normal Living

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My community bible study teaching director encouraged all to be still and know God the week before our 1-week Spring Break.  Not having any other spring break plans, I decided to take a chapter-a-day of the writings of Paul and study them using my inductive study bible. Bring on the colored pencils and thought provoking questions!  I quickly found myself jumping out of bed by 4am to go upstairs to study God’s Word – a chapter at a time.  Now 9+ weeks later, I’m still studying.  Today I finished the last book Paul wrote, II Timothy.  When I started the book, I was chatting with the Lord about what could be next.  I studied all the letters of Paul except the big 3 and not even thinking about Hebrews….

I suggested John.  He suggested 1 Corinthians.

I suggested Esther.  He suggested 1 & 2 Corinthians.

I suggested Nehemiah.  He suggested 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans.

Sigh…The thing is – those 3 books are more than a few chapters!  

So I go back to thinking about 2nd Timothy and especially Paul’s words to Timothy…’Bring me my coat.’ (2 Tim 4:13)  I laughed at how sometimes we like to place Paul and the disciples up on a pedestal, but here we see a man not so unlike us.  It’s cold.  Timothy, can you stop by Troas on your way and get my coat… Reminds me of the trips to Wisconsin where my mom would pick her TX family up with winter jackets and/or gloves or boots for the kids, or you name it…

I have treasured this time with Paul. I feel like I know him a bit better.  But do I have to do the big books of Paul?

I turned on the Village in Baldwin, WI’s service not only because I know most of the praise team but also because their pastor, Stu, is a character who loves the Lord.   He began to speak from his garage and low and behold, on his sweatshirt…. I Cor. 6:19-20. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit … You are not your own…glorify God in your body.  (But….)

Thru Stu’s message, I began to realize that I am indeed on a sabbatical right now. God has drawn me to Himself by waking me early for time with Him.  The time in God’s word has strengthened my beliefs and drawn me closer to Him.  In short – I feel like I have been experiencing a revival of sorts.   Isn’t that exactly why we need sabbaticals?  To be refreshed?

But being in the Word has kept me away from things of this world. I haven’t spent hours in Netflix binges or Amazon Prime watching. I haven’t craved things of this world and more than anything, I have a peace that passes all understanding guarding my heart. (Phil. 4:7)

I am not anxious but instead give my worries to the Lord (Phil. 4:6.)

I am not fearful because I have God’s Holy Spirit in me and He is NOT a spirit of fear but of POWER, LOVE and a SOUND MIND/DISCIPLINE/SELF-CONTROL. (2 Tim. 1:7)

I am not growing weary from doing good but instead rejoice in the ability to bring joy to others by using my gifts given to me from God for encouragement – to build up.  I am part of the body – trying to do my part for unity.  (Eph. 4:8-16)

God’s Word in me is protecting me by letting me focus not on the world but on Him.   It is giving me life, joy, love, and building my faith. 

I am in no rush to gather in groups.  I have no problem wearing a mask in public places when I go.  I show my love for my neighbor by doing my part to keep others safe. It may not be perfect, but I do what I can.

Tomorrow is a new day and a day of new beginnings, namely delving into I Corinthians.   I do long to see friends – just as Paul longed to see so many.  Perhaps I could put out the plea, bring me an iced latte when you come.  Coats aren’t needed now in Austin, TX.  

Amy

 

Starting a new normal

24 Friday Apr 2020

Posted by in Blessings, New Normal Living

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My sister, Carrie Koh (Carrie Koh Consulting, LLC), posted another webinar about pivoting into our new normal.  This got me thinking about the many times in my life where things took a change for the better, worse or a little of both.  Thinking back here are some that come to mind:

  1. Moving to the middle of nowhere from main street of Chetek.  For those wondering, gone were the days of walking to the grocery store, biking a block or two to my friend’s house, going to have peanut butter crackers with Sybill, cooling off whenever I wanted in Lake Chetek (well – when Mom said it was ok ..), walking to school, riding my bike to the beach, and walking to Ben Franklin’s with Grandma to buy ‘Whatever we wanted!’  I can’t imagine life not on the farm now.  The acres to roam on snowmobile, weeding the seemingly football field sized garden, learning to drive on roads with tractors, riding the school bus for HOURS!  So many changes but it turned out to be pretty special.  Weddings/birthdays/parties at the Bannister farm are second to none.
  2. Graduating high school and then college. Taking the step into independence – to see the world and be a part of different communities. Anywhere I lived was a big change from Chetek, WI, but that just made coming home that much sweeter.  I can’t imagine what life would have been like had I let fear take over and not take chances.  Where would I be without taking 2 years to be a part of a musical theatre ministry?  Where would I be without taking a job that put me on the road more weeks than not?  Life changed – but I adapted and thrived!
  3. 9/11/2001.  Who can forget?  Life changed after that day.  No more meeting friends at the gate from flights.  No more shampoo bottles in carry-ons that were bigger than 3oz.  But even in me…something tried to take root.  Fear.  Fear of another attack.  Fear of the unknown.  I can honestly say, thankfully, I was not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control/discipline. (2Tim 1:7) We moved on, but I would be remiss if I didn’t count this as one of my life’s big moments.
  4. Marriage and having kids! Nothing humbles you more completely than having kids who listen to your every word and choose to repeat those words at most inopportune times! Learning a new normal of staying home with the kids and volunteering more.  It has been the best of times and the worst of times (can we talk about the all night sicknesses/lice/exploding diapers).  I can’t imagine life had I said I don’t 8/3/2002.  What a blessing.
  5. Now we have been at home since 3/14/2020. Covid-19 put a grinding halt to life as we knew it. No parties except on zoom. No movie dates except on Amazon Prime or Netflix.  No restaurant meals except the one Chuy’s take-out after Easter when Cadence found the most eggs and chose that prize.   No working with Bob currently looking and my jobs slowed or non-existent. But – what does it mean?  Dinners continue to be family times and now more than ever with no place to dash off to.  Singing and creating recordings with my husband and friends has been on the rise for sure! Doing for others has become an addiction with making fabric masks for anyone needing some.  Giving away preschool toys/games/activities to moms needing help! Zooming/writing letters/Duoing/Hangouting – connecting to more people.

So! My amazing sister, Carrie posted a webinar about steps to thriving in a new normal.  Four simple steps that she explains  much better than I can : The Push-Pull of Pivoting: 4 lessons during time of relentless uncertainty that will positively impact you!

So – what do I want to say goodbye to? Silly business. Being busy to feel better about my position in life. It sounds ridiculous when I write it down… I also want to say goodbye to adding stress to our lives. Stress comes from so many places but I think we can see now how much stress to make the perfect grade, write the perfect paper, ace the test and so on I was almost unconsciously putting on my kids! Nagging doesn’t make for great parenting.

What do I want to do more of?  Time for bible study/journaling and worship is top on my list. For the last 6 weeks I have been waking early to study the bible and taking time to just drink it in.  It’s been amazing for me and has changed my attitude and outlook for sure!  I also want to do more connecting! I don’t want to wait for the next crisis to talk to my college friends.  I don’t want to continue to ‘connect’ with a like to a facebook or insta post.   It’s time to go deeper.  Connect/support/love my friends, family and neighbors!

What am I resisting? Hmm…I’m not sure I want to put that in a public blog.  I’m still wrestling but there are a few things that I’m looking at namely for my career.  Also leading a bible study at my church…

How have my strengths and weaknesses magnified!?  Easy.  I am singing more.  I am studying more. I am connecting more. My weakness is falling into the trap of needing likes/comments on social media to be accepted.  It helps that I read a few blogs in the last few days and didn’t like or comment to a one of them…It’s not that I didn’t like them. It’s that I needed time to think on them.  So – maybe that’s why I enjoy spending so much time studying the bible…I quickly ascertain that I am not the one worthy of praise.  There is only one who is worthy of all praise, Jesus Christ.

 

Be blessed, my friends!

Amy