Capture the Moment

                          

With each child you have, you capture less and less milestones on film. Not because you want to but because your hands are trying to maintain the others through the process. Yesterday was HUGE for the Seawell Family. Quinn, our little girl who is one, walked across the floor, with many steps, to me!  And we got it on film! Our iPhones were ready, and she was too! The boys stood around cheering her on and it was a beautiful moment for our whole family. 

We sat down as a family, using Apple TV, and threw the video onto the flat screen. Then we scrolled threw the other videos on my phone and watched them up there too! Sweet memories flooded my heart as I noticed a video capturing a time before my oldest lost his front teeth. Another video caught my middle singing a birthday song to his Daddy. I loved each moment we have shared together as a family. 

I was convicted that I hadn't taken more footage of the kiddos. I need to SLOW down and commit to take at least one video of the kids each week. Which really will be once a month, but it will be more than now. I don't want to look back wishing I had taken more. 

How are you with capturing the "moments" of the life of your little ones?? Videos? Photos?

Make a plan to SLOW down and capture some memories you will cherish tomorrow. 

"Vapor" Part 1 - by Lena

Vapor- visible exhalation, as fog, mist, steam, smoke, or noxious gas, diffused through or suspended in the air. In James 4:14 we read “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. As we can see, the word vapor means here for a moment, and then gone the next. I have had many of these Moments. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about moments and the word vapor and life.

It started a few weeks ago when my oldest son, Brayden (5), took an interest in cooking. You see, Daddy and Brayden will sometimes watch cooking shows on TV, but nothing like Top Chef or Iron Chef, but more like on the Create channel. I never thought he really was paying attention to it much. However, almost suddenly, over the last few weeks, Brayden has really become engaged in my kitchen routines.

It started one morning when he asked to make his own breakfast. It started as something as simple as putting frozen pancakes in the microwave. I taught him how to punch in 35 seconds and wait patiently for the “beep”.  Afterwards, I assist with taking the pancakes out of the microwave and then I put the syrup on them. I have also taught him how to use the toaster to make strudels and Pop Tarts. Again, I remove them from the toaster; however, he knows how to push the button and wait patiently. After a few days of breakfast, Brayden eagerly moved to other meals, and began assisting me with lunch and dinner. Before I knew it, I had a little chef in the kitchen.

At times I would find myself growing frustrated with the fact that it was an interference with “MY” time in the kitchen and the fact that what would normally take 20-25 minutes to prepare, was now taking 35-45 minutes because  I was teaching him how to do this and that. And then, it hit me like a ton of potatoes! This was a vapor moment. Who knows how many more days I would have to teach my sweet son how to cook? Who knows how long he would have this hunger or desire to want to learn? Tomorrow may never come. 


A few days later I received heart-breaking news from a dear friend of mine. Her husband was diagnosed with Leukemia. They have a 2 year old son. Her husband has just begun his chemo treatments and a 5-6 month journey. In hearing this, I am even more reminded, life is but a vapor. How am I spending my moments? Am I seizing each day? I want to live each day as if it’s my last and make an impact on those I come into contact with; my children, the cashier at Wal-Mart, my children’s Pediatrician, the waitress, etc. How am I spending my vapor moments especially the ones with my husband and my children? As the famous song goes we should, “ Live like we’re dying” by Kris Allen.

Prayer: Lord, no matter how tired I am, what I am going through, where I am in my life, help me remember that life is but a vapor. Help me to live in the moments you give me. Help me to see the divine appointments and opportunities you place in front of me to minister and reach out to others. Thank you Lord for each day I have to spend with my loved ones.

Lena

Sharing Truth

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. - James 4:14

                                          
In 1988 my older sister, Beth, lost her battle with Lymphoma cancer. She was only14 years old, and lived with the disease for 8 months before going home to Jesus. She is the one with the Santa cap on in the pic above. Sunday, April 22, was the anniversary of her death. I have so much respect for my parents. I watched them walk through trial relying on the Lord for strength, which allowed them to grow closer instead of apart (many divorces occur from the loss of a child). They have ministered both by mouth and action to many who have lost a child.

Now, being a mom, the phrase to "lose a child" has a whole new meaning. I allowed Sunday to be a day our family rejoiced over the life of my sister. I explained to my kids where Beth was and that when we get to heaven we will be greeted by Jesus and Beth too! Some may shy away from talking about death with a four year old, but it gave me an opportunity to share with him truth about life and death. That here on earth we have a beginning, our birthday (day we are born), and an ending (where we will meet Jesus face-to-face if He is our Savior).


Death is part of life. It is the sweetest part of life if we know Jesus.
Talking about death with your kids doesn't have to be a scary thing because the conversation that follows is about Jesus. One about TRUE life, how to find it, and His path to heaven.

Has you family encountered a loss of a loved one (Grandma/Grandpa, family friend, dog, cat, ect) is there is an open door to talk about heaven and TRUE life?

Gotta Live Like We're Dying

      "We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
       Turn it all around or to throw it all away
       We gotta tell them that we love them
       While we got the chance to say
       Gotta live like we're dying"
      -Lyrics from Kris' Allen's song "Live Like We're Dying"   

What if today was my last day here on earth? 

 
This thought came across my mind yesterday as I drove home from the grocery store with my boys. I absolutely love the remake by Kris Allen, "Live Like We're Dying" because each time I hear it I ponder my life and ask myself the question, "Am I living my life like it could be my last day?" As I turned around I saw my kids rockin' to the music (The boys & I are known to bop our heads to songs I LOVE and jam out with our windows down!!) and then my son noticed a rainbow in the sky. As we drove on we seemed to be getting closer to it while the colors became even more vibrant. At the next stop light I glanced a few lanes over only to see a person with their smart phone taking a picture of it. Then another car pulled up with the driver, looking straight ahead, completely missing the beautiful creation of God right in front of them.  Isn't that how we are with life sometimes? Missing the true beauty right before us because we are so focused on what lies a head or behind us. We are so busy planning tomorrow that we miss today.  In James 4:14 it says, "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone." It has been mentioned from the pulpit, that as we leave church there is no guarantee we will be back the next week. What a thought, huh? 

How would my life change?

What would your day look like? What task would you be sure to do or complete? What friend would you treat to a coffee and try to reconnect with?  How would you respond in conflict and who would you forgive? What wounded relationship would you be sure to mend? Would you serve Christ more knowing you would be seeing him face to face sooner than expected? Would you write a note of encouragement to that person struggling with life? Would you give some food/cash to the man always asking at that light you pass each day? Would you judge less and assume the best? Would you have more patience with your kids? Would you go back in their room tonight with extra hugs & kisses to tell them how much you love them? Would you be sure to praise them for all the amazing attributes God placed within them? Would you smile at that neighbor with the stinky attitude who doesn't really deserve it? Would you tell someone who is lost about the love of Christ and eternal life? Would you....you fill in the blank.


The Somber Reality is...

Each time I rock out to that song there is a somber reality as I am reminded there is no guarantee for my tomorrow. It makes me think about my life and ponder how I'm living it. It makes me hunger that same Holy Spirit boldness to serve and pray with a complete stranger, in need of a friend, as Tammy shared. I want to be one who listens to the prompting of the Lord's still small voice as Teresa talked about. I want to be the mom who sees the amazing God-given qualities my kids possess, that stretch and challenge my faith some days, and trust HE is going to do great things with them like Joannie spoke of. I want to ask God what my main focus should be in this season of my life and hunker down and follow it as Maggie touched on. I want to prioritize and invite the Lord into my day, and agree to set aside some daily "closet time" like Courtney mentioned.  I want to have patience for His will to unfold for my life, and trust Him through the process knowing He has my best interest in mind like Tracey explained. I want to share with the lost, who hunger to fill "their void with temporal things", about the One who will fill every need until their cup runs over. As I write this I am realizing there is still so much I want to do before I go home to be with Jesus. At the end of my life I want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" I am a work in progress and I am grateful He continues to teach me, with love, in the areas I struggle in, while providing GRACE as I learn. I've got a long way to go but I am so thankful for songs that convict and compel us to grow in our walk with Christ....especially if we can rock out to it in the process!


"Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying"

Challenge:
 
(1)Grab two note cards/ sticky notes and jot these down......
    (a) "Live Like I am Dying"  and post it on your bathroom mirror :)
    (b)  James 4:14- "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? 
          For your life is like the morning fog, it's here a little while, then it's gone." 
          Put this card somewhere you will see throughout your day...
          maybe on your car dash board (Not covering the gas gauge!) 
          or work desk, as a daily reminder that life is short...and the 
          Lord wants to do great things
          in and through you until He calls you home!
(2) Watch and see how your life becomes vibrant like the rainbow where others stare in wonder at the amazing gift in His creation...you!

Click the video below, or this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbfeSImDntw, and enjoy the song that inspired this post and... decide today to "live like you're dying"....