A Week of Goodbyes

Last week was a week of goodbyes.

On Tuesday, a precious friend and writing mentor went home to be with Jesus after a battle with cancer. On the same day, another writer friend passed away after suffering a stroke.

I had a coffee date with a friend, a luncheon, and a potluck, as sendoffs  (we are saying, "See you later") before my youngest son and I made final preparations to move.

Yesterday, I sang with the choir for the last time before heading out of town.

My oldest son decided to stay where his job is instead of moving with us (he is an adult so I knew I needed to give him the freedom to make that choice), so I feel like I left part of my heart behind in Reno, Nevada.

Needless to say, this week has been one long emotional roller coaster ride. But one thing gives me hope--in each case, I say goodbye to someone I will spend eternity with. As I accept the reality that life is full of sadness and change and letting go, I know I will one day be in a place where I can enjoy my brothers and sisters in Christ--whether friends or family--forever, with no sad "See you laters."

Have you had to say goodbye to someone you love lately? How did God help you through it?

Aiming for Perfection? Think Again.

I was minding my own business, driving to church, when suddenly I heard the familiar stutter. It was the engine, and it was talking to me:

Feed me.

Only I was miles from the gas station, I was wearing a pair of red heels completely not conducive to walking, and it was ninety-five degrees outside.

Easy, right? Make a phone call. Only it was at this very second my phone began to scream death chants at me. I’m dying! I’m dying! Beep. Beep.

I felt like I was on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, but with only one lifeline. I knew there was enough juice to make exactly one phone call as I veered to the side of the road and searched for the hazards on my husband’s Jeep.

(Did I mention it’s my husband’s Jeep? That the gas gauge is broken? That he apparently determines when it needs fuel by “how it feels when the engine cranks”? Nice.)

So I called a deacon from church. I listened hopefully as his phone rang again… and again… and again… finally to be answered. Only he was at the beach. Nowhere near my stranded car.

Score.

My deacon-friend blurted the church number quickly enough for me to hang up and dial the pastor’s wife, who sent a search party to the highway just as my phone breathed its last.

(And why did I not call my husband? He also was having a rough night and accidentally left his phone on the kitchen table.)

I arrived at church in time to teach four out of my five classes. But it wasn’t pretty. I was hot, I was sticky, and I was in a mood. Also, I’m pretty sure four out of every five kids won’t be coming back to VBS because of the gas fumes that were leaking from my pores.

I tell you this story as a confession:

I used to obsess about “having it together”.

I couldn’t teach, couldn’t write, couldn’t contribute unless my life resembled a perfectly pristine, starched, white shirt.

No wrinkles.

No flaws.

No mistakes.

I think it’s something we do as Christians; we don’t want people to know when we screw up. We don’t want to admit we don’t have it all together.

But God has something different to say about us. He wants us to do our best—all for His glory—but trust that He uses our weaknesses as strengths for His kingdom.

1 Corinthians 1 says, But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

Feeling flawed today? Like you don’t have it all together?

Go ahead. Breathe deeply. Let it go. God might just choose to use that to further His kingdom.

****
Q4U: What can you let go of today?

Book giveaway - A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman

Camy here! Today I’m giving away a book!

A Perfect Square (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery)
by
Vannetta Chapman

There's more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond, murder is also afoot. And Reuben Fisher is in jail as the suspect! Reuben refuses to divulge any information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he didn't commit. So, with her English friend, Callie---fellow sleuth and owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop---Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. But the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie's help in finding his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes. An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose his future. Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events---one that can bring unexpected touches of God's grace and resolve the tragedy that has shaken this quiet Amish community.

Camy here: I’m giving away 3 copies!

To enter to win today’s book, leave a comment on this blog post, giving your name and US state. Sorry, no international entrants. Please click here to read giveaway rules and why I had to change them.

Please also leave an email address or website where I can contact you (please use this format--you [at] yourmail.com--or something like that to prevent spammers from trolling for your email address). It is the winner’s responsibility to check to see if you won and to email me if you haven’t yet heard from me.

I always email the winner and give them a week to reply, but if I don’t receive an answer, I will pull another person to win the book. I am not responsible for a lost opportunity if you are on vacation or leave an email address you don’t check frequently.

Only one entry per person. The winner can expect their free book in 4-6 weeks.

I'll pick a name out of a hat on November 14th. (BTW, you can post a comment and NOT enter, too.)

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the first book in her new series, Protection for Hire, which is like Stephanie Plum meets The Joy Luck Club. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Jesus's voice in the storm...

We all go through storms of various sizes and intensity. Storms regarding friendships, grades, choices, peer pressure, relationships, finances. No matter how old we are, how established we are, how wise we are - there is always either a storm coming or a storm we are just getting through.

I'm going through a storm right now that is deep and personal and hurts. A storm that leaves me helpless and out of control and pleading for God's mercy. A storm that instead of booms thunder, booms lies. A storm that instead of flashes lightning, flashes hopelessness. A storm that seems it could truly sweep me away.

The other night, a random storm sprung up here in the country. My four year old and I were headed home, and my husband was at the fire station. Little Miss is always more nervous when he's not at home, and she's TERRIFIED of lightning and thunder. I was reassuring her and comforting her while we were in the car driving down our street and parking in the carport. I carried her inside and once we got in the house, the truth of what I had just spoken slapped me across the face.

I'd said in the course of the last few minutes:

"It's just a storm, baby. God is still in control."

"This storm is just an example of God's power."

"It will be over soon."

"Remember the Bible story, when Jesus and His disciples were in the boat and a storm came? Jesus was asleep, and the disciples were scared. Jesus woke up and calmed the wind and the waves. The storm had to respond to Him."

"It made Jesus sad that His disciples didn't trust Him in the storm."

"Just because Jesus is in Heaven now doesn't mean He's not still in control."

Wow.

Yeah.

What's your storm today? And which sound are you choosing to listen to in the midst of it? The overwhelming noise of thunder and wind and crashing waves?

Or the voice of Jesus? The One who is in control of it all and won't let you drown?

I trust You today, Jesus.

How to Adopt Amish Principles . . . as a Teen

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Living in Montana for fifteen years I enjoyed being out of the flow of busy life. Montana is a destination. It's not someplace people "drive through" or "stop by." Life has a slower pace, too. Maybe because there is snow on the ground 6 months of the year. Maybe because the views of the meadows, mountains and lakes make you remember what's really important in life—God, family, nature—and not the to-do list.

Imagine my surprise when I traveled up to the West Kootenai area and discovered a slower pace still. My daughter Leslie and I had lunch in the West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery and noticed neighbors running into each other and sitting down for an impromptu lunch—Amish and Englisch alike. There were little boys driving four-wheelers and a few girls riding horseback down the country lanes. Another teen boy was mowing the field behind the grocery but his attention seemed to be drawn to the sky and the mountains on the horizon as much as the weeds he was trying to whack down. People in the store chatted about their gardens and yesterday's rain. I thought my life had been slow-paced in Kalispell, but being in the mountains of West Kootenai I felt like I'd taken my first deep breath.

Since writing Beside Still Waters I've moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. Things are busier here. There are more cars, more traffic, more things to do and see. The challenge for me has been not to get caught up in the flow. To remember that just because people around me have full schedules doesn't mean I have to do the same. It's something I'm still trying to figure out.

Yet being in the West Kootenai has taught me a few lessons I've tried to incorporate, and you can, too.

1. If you run into a friend, whether you're at school or at the grocery store, try to chat for even five minutes. Ask about that person's day. Ask how they really are.

2. Take a few minutes to enjoy nature. Yes, that means putting down the phone for a few seconds. Really stop and look at those beautiful vegetables you are bagging up at the grocery store. Pause to appreciate a flower bed at the park or even in front of your favorite store.

3. Take a big breath and sit back and enjoy lunch on a weekend with someone you care about. You don't need to be on vacation or spring break to make time for a friend.

4. Finally, appreciate God's handiwork in your area. He's created each place with joys of their own. Don't forget to thank Him for that today.

Making Health Fun

Lately I have been on a health kick. A stressful couple years was taking its toll and I couldn't afford to get sick or drag around. One fear I had was that I would start out strong only to lose my enthusiasm and slack off. Instead, the opposite has happened. The more benefits I see (make that feel) in this healthier eating plan, the more I want to stick with it. The nice part is that my family is on board too, which hasn't always been the case in the past. I think part of this has to do with my attempts to make it fun. For example, we discovered that we can pack a lot of nutrition into a smoothie and it still tastes like dessert. The nice thing about smoothies is that you can throw in whatever you want. Here a few items to keep on hand for a quick health boost:

Milk
Yogurt (I like plain Greek style)
Frozen berries
Bananas
Other fruits like mango or kiwi
Honey
Wheat germ or ground flax seed
Ice cubes


If you really want to be brave, add a handful of spinach or kale. I tried this a few weeks ago and no one in my family could taste the difference.

You don't need to know how to cook; you only need to know how to operate a blender. Smoothies make for a great breakfast or afternoon snack.

Play around with different combinations and see what great-tasting things you can come up with.

I would love to read some of your creations if you come up with a recipe that you really like.

Enjoy!

     

Social Media

Camy here! I was at Yogurtland with the high school kids from my church youth group because only two of them came, so instead of having lesson, we went for frozen yogurt. :)

We were talking about social media--well, specifically Facebook and Instagram. It was neat getting their perspective on it and understanding how they used it as opposed to how I and my husband use it.

I use Facebook a lot for connecting with people who read my books, and also for playing Zuma Blitz. :) (I love Zuma Blitz!)

I haven’t used it for connecting with my youth group, mostly because I accept pretty much any friend request, and I don’t know a lot of those people personally, and I don’t want any of them to be able to be find the profiles of any of the youth I know.

The high school kids, on the other hand, use social media as “social” media. They connect with friends and utilize media in a way I don’t often think about. Take Instagram. I haven’t used it much, but they were talking about the ways they use Instagram all the time, and it enables them to post pictures on Facebook a lot easier than the clunky Facebook app on their phones.

So how about you? How do you use social media? And if you’re on Facebook, like my author page! Pretty please? :)

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the first book in her new series, Protection for Hire, which is like Stephanie Plum meets The Joy Luck Club. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

What's enough?

Betsy here, with a hard question today.

What's enough?

Interesting question, too - and if you ask a 4 year old, the answer is usually "nothing". lol They always want more juice in their sippy cup, more Cheezits in their bowl, more cartoons on TV, more candy at Halloween, more money in their piggy bank, more friends at their birthday party, and always, always more cake.

It's never enough.

And we're sort of like 4 years old too, aren't we?

We never have enough friends. Enough popularity. Enough allowance. Enough clothes. Enough attention from the hot guy at school. Enough status. Enough cash. Enough talent for the team. Enough GPA to get to the college we want to go to.

It's exhausting, isn't it? The good news, JESUS is enough. And I know that sounds like a trite, church answer. I used to think that too, used to think that I SHOULD believe that. And I did believe it. But rarely felt it. It was like, okay, God, I know you're supposed to be enough for me, and my pastor says that a lot, but I'm not feeling it. Come on - I'm human. I want this other stuff too. I want a boyfriend and a husband and kid and a good job and my dreams to come true. I want to love and be loved. I want money and a nice house one day and security. I want to tour Europe and live life. What's wrong with that?

Jesus came that we might have ABUNDANT life. And abundant life isn't found when we stick Jesus to one side and focus on that never ending, exhausting, "never enough list". Because when we get those things, we discover they weren't enough after all.

And that truly, seriously, deeply - only Jesus is.

Think about that today, as you review your list of wants and needs and desires and longings. Where does Jesus fit at the list? The Bible tells us to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added. "Added" - meaning, later, in addition to, at another time. Because we have to get the steps in the right order, guys. And when we truly live for Jesus and want Him and let Him be enough in our hearts, we're strengthened and encouraged for the journey.

Top Ten Reasons to Stay Abstinent

No one doubts that sexual activity is physically, emotionally, and socially dangerous.

But what are the actual risks?

10. The risk of death. More than 600,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States since 1981. As many as 900,000 Americans may be infected with HIV.

1 Corinthians 6:18 says, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."

9. The risk of lost relationships. When you choose to develop a sexual relationship with someone, you've immediately changed the definition of the relationship. There is no such thing as casual sex. Once you have developed a sexual relationship, that relationship turns a critical corner. After the relationship ends, you and your partner will experience that guilt and pain of promises broken.

Hebrews 12:16 says, "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son."

8. Risks of incurable disease. Imagine you have found that one special person with whom you want to share your life . . . and now you are forced to break the news that you have an incurable disease. Even though such diseases like herpes are generally not considered life-threatening, currently no cures exist. Not only is it incurable, but it fills a life with worries, awkward revelations, and continuous need for medication.

1 Corinthians 6:13 says, "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

7. The risk of damaging the destiny of your future marriage. There is no way premarital sex of any kind is positive for your future marriage. (Just ask my husband how he feels "knowing" about my past.) It only causes suspicion, mistrust, and regret.

Hebrews 13:4 says, "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

6. The risk of permanently damaging your testimony as a Christian. You'll never be able to say honestly, "I was a virgin before I was married." You'll never be able to live as an example of committed purity.

Ephesians 5:3 says, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."

5. The risk of depression. Those who participate in premarital sex experience emotional damage that can lead to an increased chance of mental depression and emotional despair.

2 Corinthians 12:21 says, "I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged."

4. The risk of placing your future children in spiritual harm's way. The Bible clearly speaks of the concept of generational sin. What you sow (plant) spiritually may be reaped in the life of your children. Remain pure before God, and you'll be tenaciously guarding the future of the next generation.

Proverbs 20:7 says, "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."

3. The risk of sexual dysfunction. People spend millions of dollars to correct sexual dysfunction through drugs and psychotherapy. Why? Because they entered marriage with unresolved sexual issues. For example, a man may think that he will be free from the curse of pornography once he gets married, only to find that the problems are even more noticeable and controlling. Sexual purity before marriage is the first step to incredible sexual fulfillment after marriage.

Mark 7:21 says, "For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,"

2. The risk of shame. Premarital sex imputes a spiritual state of shame that becomes a major weapon for our enemy. God forgives you, but you will still be vulnerable to Satan's whispering accusations on your worth.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 says, "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you . . . Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief?"

1. The risk of disobeying God and letting Satan get a foothold. The Bible, time after time, tells us to flee sexual sins. Why? Because it is a major strategy of the devil to sabotage God's work on Earth. How can God work through you when you aren't living up to His standards?

1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality."

So, what do you think?

When it hurts too much to pray

I've been thinking a lot about Hannah lately; about her desire for a child.

Even when God was silent, Hannah continued to press in. Even when her heart was breaking... she didn't push the Lord away.

Lately I've been grieving my own lack of answers. And I know my heart is a great distance from Jesus, as if I've withdrawn into myself; somehow become immobilized.

Tonight, as I lay on the floor, I asked Jesus to meet me there. To make up the distance I could not reach. To give me the desire for relationship with Him in the midst of the pain He's allowing.

Not even to restore me... but just to begin by wooing me.

Woo me gently, Jesus
When I don't have the strength to raise my hand
Woo me gently, Jesus
When my heart breaks and cannot understand

I've knelt before You here so many times
I gasp for air, not sure that I'm alive
My hopes are scattered pieces on the ground
I try to speak -- my lips won't make a sound

When I am broken, lonely, and ashamed...
Gentle Jesus, woo me once again.

****
God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit... (Psa. 34:18)

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart... (Psa. 37:4)

Trust in the Lord and do good, trust also in Him and He will bring it to pass...
(Psa. 37:3)

****
Postscript: I wrote this blog before God gave me the desires of my heart. He answered my prayer most of all in allowing me to see that He was enough for me in the waiting.

Will you ask Him to be enough for you today, even when it hurts?

Love,
Bekah

Labels

This past weekend I attended a writer's conference, the 2012 American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Dallas, Texas (www.acfw.com) and as always, it was fabulous. I took away a lot of info this year related to craft, and more importantly, related to my heart.

One of those nuggets of truth I'd like to tell you today.

Fellow author and teacher JIM RUBART (he writes fabulous books, ya'll) said during one class I attended "You can't see the label from inside the bottle." He was speaking partly in regards to our writing careers as authors - meaning it's hard to see how we are being perceived, how we appear to others, our label, our brand in our career, what we represent, etc. But he also meant in regards to our heart. And that applies to you too, author or not.

It's hard to see ourselves from inside us. After all, we all live internally. Only we hear the echoes of our hearts, only we hear the thoughts in our heads. These echoes and thoughts are what develop us and shape us and give people the outside persona.

What does your label say?

Your label, in my opinion, is how you dress, how you speak, how you act, how you react, etc. So what does your wardrobe say about you? What does your reaction to a traffic jam say about you? What does a bad grade on a paper say about you?

More importantly - What do you WANT it to say?

Think about today, as you go about school or work or other hobbies/chores. What is your outside label reading, and does it match what you want others to read about you?

This Weekend, Watch a Movie

I know what you're thinking: Classic movies are boring. They're old. They're not relevant. But let me just tell you that I loved these movies as a kid, and as my kids grew older and I showed them these movies, they came to love them, too. So, since this is the weekend, grab your friends and host a classic movie weekend. You might just be surprised at "new" favorites you'll find!

Tricia's Top Picks:

Newsies—My 20-year-old daughter and I love watching it together. The music and dancing is great!

Source: google.com via Tricia on Pinterest

The Sound of Music—I didn't watch this until I was an adult, and now I watch it a few times a year. I've been to Austria and know members of the von Trapp family, so that makes it extra special to me.

Source: imdb.com via Tricia on Pinterest

The Parent Trap—This was my favorite movie growing up. I didn't know my biological father ,so I always dreamed I had a sister out there somewhere. Come to find out I had four sisters!

Beauty and the Beast—This was the first movie I took my son Cory to. He sat through the whole movie, eyes wide.

Annie (1982 version)—I love the music, and I love the story. Carol Burnett cracks me up.

The Princess Bride—This is a family favorite. If you are around the Goyers for any length of time, you'll hear us quoting it!

The Sandlot—This was Cory and Nathan's favorite movie when they were small. Along with The Land Before Time, I can sit there and quote the whole movie!

It's a Wonderful Life—This is my favorite Christmas movie. I'd always begged my kids to watch it with me. They were turned off by it being black and white, but when they finally watched it, they loved it, too!

Below is a list of movies for teens. Make sure you check out reviews first.

The List:

2,000 Leagues Under the Sea

3 Ninjas

Alice in Wonderland

All I Want For Christmas

Angels in the Outfield

Anne of Green Gables

Annie

Annie Get Your Gun

Back to the Future

Beauty and the Beast (Disney)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Benji

Big Red

Bob Hope Movies

Calamity Jane

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlotte's Web

Cheaper by the Dozen

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Cinderella 

Corina Corina

Crocodile Dundee

Denise the Menace

Dudley DoRight

E.T.

Free Willy

Incredible Journey

Into the West

It's a Wonderful Life

Goonies

Heidi

Herbie the Love Bug (old versions)

Home Alone

Homeward Bound

Hook

Iron Will

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Karate Kid

Little Women

Mary Poppins

Matilda

My Fair Lady

My Girl

Newsies

No Deposit, No Return

Not Quite Human

October Sky

Oklahoma 

Old Yeller

Oliver

Pete's Dragon

Pippi Longstockins

Pollyanna

Richie Rich

Rocketeer

Sabrina (older version)

Secondhand Lions

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Shirley Temple

Short Circuit

Singing in the Rain

Sound of Music

The Apple Dumpling Gang

The Labyrinth

The Man from Snowy River

The Mouse on the Motorcycle

The Mountain Family Robinson

The Never-Ending Story

The Court Jester

The Princess Bride

The Sandlot

The Scarlet Pimpernel (with Leslie Howard)

The Secret Garden

The Swan Princess

The Swiss Family Robinson

The Music Man

The Little Toaster

The Three Musketeers

The Treasure Seekers

The Wizard of Oz

Where the Red Fern Grows

White Fang

Yours, Mine and Ours

Enjoy! And also let me know of any that I missed!

Who’s reading Young Adult novels?

Camy here! I came across this article in Publisher’s Weekly today about a study that showed 55% of YA Books are bought by adults. I thought that was interesting, although not really surprising.

I know this blog has a wide age range of readers, but the majority of you guys are young, right? So I thought if you guys are up for it, some of you please tell me:

1) how old you are (you can fudge and say twenties or thirties or forties rather than your age)

and

2) if you read young adult novels

I admit that I do, and I’m almost 40. But I’ve also worked with the youth group at church for 16 years now. My editors have often told me my adult characters sound too young, and I’m like, “But that’s how I talk!” so I think my youth group stint has made me think I’m younger than I really am. :)

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the first book in her new series, Protection for Hire, which is like Stephanie Plum meets The Joy Luck Club. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

For every season...let there be candycorn.

I mean. It's like they read my mind...

Autumn brings to mind blessings, and for the above, trust me - I'm pretty grateful ;)

What about you? What does Harvest Season do for your soul? I've never met a person, young or old, who didn't like Fall.

Think about - Spring is pretty popular, but has naysayers because of the pollen. (achooo!) Winter is enjoyed or despised for various reasons (too cold, or some other people love the cold) Summer is controversial because kids love being out of school (and teachers too!) but a lot of people just can't stand the heat.

But Autumn? It's beloved.

I think Autumn reveals to us a lot about God. It's a season when things are reserved, calming. Leaves are changing colors and twirling to the ground. It's almost mystical. There is still color, but it's muted. The air is brisk and tangy. Some view the falling leaves as death, others as a peaceful wait period before the promises of Spring and renewal.

Are you in a rough season right now? Remember, God promises His own Spring. Whatever trials you're facing are only for a season, an appointed time until life buds forth again. Regardless of the season, God is with you. He promises that, friend.

(And I'm personal testimony to the fact that you CAN save up enough candycorn through Autumn to last well into the summer...)

True or Not True?

In the third book of the Hunger Games trilogy, one of Katniss’s friends (I won’t say who in case you haven’t gotten to Book 3 yet) is held prisoner by the evil Capitol. He returns a completely different person who has been so tortured mentally that he no longer trusts Katniss. In fact, thanks to the Capitol’s cruel mind games, he is convinced that she is his enemy. The method that finally brings him back to reality is an ongoing routine of “True or not true.” He has a memory, good or bad, and asks her if it really happened.

“You (fill in the good memory). True or not true?”

“True.”

“You (fill in the bad memory)? True or not true?”

“Not true.”

Even while hearing that some of his worst nightmares are false, he must learn to trust Katniss again. Is she playing games with him like the Capitol did? Learning to recognize the truth from the lies in his head forces him to consider the source and choose to trust a friend who has so clearly earned it. 

Recently, the “True or not true” topic came to mind while discussing fears with some friends at church. One friend wanted to teach her kids to play this game when they got scared.

“There’s a monster under my bed. True or not true? Really?”

“God is with me, even in the dark. True or not true?”

I realized that I needed to start playing “True or not true” in some areas myself.

“I can’t expect God to keep providing for me. True or not true?”

“Life will always be this hard; I might as well accept it. True or not true.”

“Just because I can’t see what’s next, doesn’t mean God isn’t working. True or not true.”

I admit that it’s often difficult to sort the truth from the mind games that the enemy plays with me, and even the games I play with myself. But I’m learning to trust what I know about God. He has definitely earned my trust.

What about you? Do you feel like your mind is full of so many confusing messages that you can’t decide which is true and which isn’t? Do you need to start a regular “True or not true” routine? How do you know when a thought is from God?

 

Paranoia

My mother raised me to be paranoid. Which is why I am probably still alive despite growing up in (name of town censored lest I receive hate mail for speaking the truth).

What mom did not foresee was the consequence of teaching her airhead daughter to lock the door every time I leave the house. Mom now has a daughter who cannot get back inside the house, even if someone was chasing me... because the keys are inside.

I have met every neighbor on my street because I am too ashamed to use the phone at the same house more than twice (in a week).

One neighbor felt sorry for me when I was expecting. "Oh, it's just pregnancy-brain," she said. Another (who smelled distinctly of marijuana) withdrew his offer of a funny looking rolled up piece of paper after he realized it wasn't just a tumor growing in my stomach (medical relief, he said).

I think I'm inadvertently teaching my daughter to be paranoid, too. We always lock our doors and never talk to strangers... unless they have telephones or can remind us which rock our spare key is under.

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Q4U: What funny or helpful habits has your mom taught you?

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Bekah Hamrick Martin is a local writer who can be reached at writebrained@gmail.com, unless she's accepting a ride from the neighbors.