Let's Talk About "OMG"

OMG.  It’s typed all the time on the internet. In texts.  In comments. 

And, it’s said in the same abbreviated form. 

“OMG!”

Usually, it’s in response to a “wow” kind of thing. Something that makes you feel astonished, amazed, or flabbergasted. (Yes, I used the word, “flabbergasted.”)

For me? Personally?

I HATE the abbreviation “OMG.” 

And I’ll tell you why.

It stands for, “Oh, my God.”

Not, “Oh my gosh.”

Not, “Oh my goodness.”

No, it stands for “Oh, my God.”

And it offends me.  Because MY God? He is Holy. He is to be revered. Respected. And the Bible tells me I am not to take his name in vain.

To me - that includes taking his name in abbreviated-form of vain. Or written-form of vain.

Listen, I get it. It’s an easy-to-adapt way to exclaim over something. You’re not REALLY saying “OMG” spelled out.

But, you are INFERRING “OMG” spelled out.

And intent is everything.

At least for me.

So, if you believe in the Lord, if you claim Him as your Savior - can I just ask you a favor? Think about what you say. Think about what you INFER when you say it. And think about how others might take it.

For me? I intend to try and honor my Lord in all I say and do. 

And that means, no “OMG” for me.

Be the Person You Wished You'd Had in Your Own Life

For some of us, we struggle with our purpose in life.  We wonder if we are at the right job, in the right town, or if we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing in life.

We dream of things being different.

We dream of living somewhere else. Doing SOMETHING else.

When our real questions and dreams shouldn’t have anything to do with what we DO at all.

They should address who we are BEING.

I think a lot of times, we feel empty inside not because of WHERE we are, but because of WHO we are.

We place our focus and priorities on the wrong things. Things that will satisfy only temporarily.

Life changes. THINGS change. WE change.

The grass will always look greener somewhere else, because we look at it through “movie-perfect” vision. We don’t see that there are still problems everywhere. There are still negatives. Still unsatisfied people living where we want to live. Working where we want to work.

Yes. We do often feel tugs and pulls that are not to be ignored. There ARE moments in our lives, where we need to change something, or move somewhere different and better. There ARE places where we can flourish more, than where we are at.

But……

And it’s a big “but”…..

Not everyone has a specific calling in their life. We don’t all have a “call” to a certain career. For a lot of us, we are simply meant to walk faithfully day in and day out. We are to BE the person we wish we had in our lives. BE the person we wish we’d had in our lives when we were younger.

Did you go through a “storm” in life, and wish someone had walked with you through it? BE that person.

Did you feel lonely as a child, because no one understood your home life? BE that person for another child.

Did you wish you’d had a better father figure, or mother figure? BE that figure for someone else.

BE the person, YOU’D wished you’d had. 

And you’ll feel that emptiness float away. You’ll find your purpose and meaning.

Not because of WHERE you are, but because of WHO you are.

Teach Your Kids To Keep Swimming

Being a parent is so emotional.  It’s hard enough navigating the tired days, the stressful, “too-busy” days….but the days where your kids are battling emotional issues outside of your home? Those can really take their toll.

If only I could swoop in and rescue my kids on these days. For it is excruciating, to stand by, and see them hurting. Whether it’s someone who verbally hurts them, an unfair situation that occurs, or feelings of inadequacy, those are truly pivotal moments in our children’s lives.

As are, how we handle them, as mom and dad.

It would be so easy to run in and rescue my kids. It would be easy to shelter them from the bruises that come from others. And it would be preferable to my heart.

But it’s not what our kids need.

If we don’t give our kids the tools and the roots to handle life when the ground shifts beneath them —- they will never know how to stand firm. They will get swallowed up and “lost.”

We may not always have the answers to help. But we do have ideas. We have compassion. And we can believe in who our kids are. Those tools can be EVERYTHING to help them get through those tough seasons.

The only promise we can give them, is that we will walk through this time with them. That we will listen, and we will love.

It doesn’t help to hurl insults on another party. To remove our children from the situation. (Unless they are in danger emotionally or physically.) It doesn’t help to address things FOR them. No. We need to give our children tools to speak up for themselves. We need to help them learn what “higher ground” is, and how to internally, and emotionally protect themselves, even when things aren’t fair.

These are the best things we can give our precious kids.

So, mom, dad? Teach your kids how to keep swimming. Teach them how to wade through those currents and rough waters, so that they don’t risk drowning.  We can’t always be there for them. We’ve got to help them learn how to be there for themselves.

For He Loved Me

“It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.”
Psalms 44:3

…”For you loved them.” 

That line brings such warmth to my heart. 

There are so many battles we fight in life. Some of them are physical, some spiritual.  And for most of them, we think it’s US doing all of the fighting.

We think it’s US waging the battle. Whatever it is, that has been placed before us, we feel like we have our swords drawn… daily.

And, maybe we do.  But we certainly aren’t in the battle alone. We aren’t waging the fight… alone. And WE aren’t the ones who bring about any victory.

There is a whole spiritual realm fighting for us. Fighting WITH us. And it’s those swords that bring about our victory. 

We can pray mightily. Fight mightily. We can muster all of the courage in the world. And those things, I reckon, will probably help us grow, learn, and become even stronger. 

But the battles are won, most times, because God simply loves us and wants to give us the victory.

We think there must be more. But there’s not. 

God does things for us simply because He loves us and He desires to bless us. 

He doesn’t want to see us defeated. He likes to encourage us, and reveal His glory to us.

Yes, I believe He wants us to get on our knees and pray. I believe He wants us to use what tools He’s given us in our faith, to fight the wars in our lives. But I think those things are there, more for our own spiritual growth and walk, than they are for end results, really.

In our own strength, we are so feeble. Do we really think it’s US that deserves the victory? 

Or God?

If I think I’ve done “enough” of something to win a battle, then it’s too easy for the focus to be on myself and what I can do.., then on what my God can do. And in fact, on what He DID.

So what a tender reminder this verse is for me to remember, that it is not by MY might but by God’s, that wins the battles and wars in my life.

And He does it for one simple reason.

Love.

For He loved me.