maturity

Success = Consistent Progress (and vice versa)

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I have each child’s report card in front of me, and I‘m so proud that both of them received straight 3s (consistently meets expectations) for all 4 consecutive quarters of the school year!  Not that it was easy, but my hubby and I kept prodding them, and they kept pressing.  Their stellar report cards (along with quarterly awards recognition for Academic Excellence, Exemplary Citizenship, Perfect Attendance, and Accelerated Reader) provide an accurate reflection of the hard work they did all year long.

As a self-described “artistic type,” I had great disdain for consistency in my younger years; truthfully, I thought it was boring.  However, maturity has taught me that some achievements only come as a result of consistent effort and execution.  I relied too heavily on chance or being fortunate when I could’ve been assured of my outcome from the beginning if I’d been willing to do the same thing each time – start early (instead of waiting until the last minute), take time to study and do research (instead of cramming and flying by the seat of my pants on what I thought sounded good), and apply myself consistently (instead of being sporadic, unpredictable, and driven by whatever mood I happened to be in).

Funny how it took my own children in elementary school to drive this lesson home to me, but I’ve finally “got it” and I understand the importance of consistency.  I believe God uses our children to help bring us to where we need to be.  There was no way I could help my son do well with his Science Fair project if I didn’t face my own anxiety over the subjects of Math and Science.  I really can’t stand to dust and ironing is a foreign concept (though I love to vacuum), but that matters not since I’m responsible for training my children in proper housekeeping techniques.  So in order to accurately demonstrate the skills and provide a credible example, I have to get over myself.  May we as parents and leaders be ever mindful of the critical role we play in developing those following in our footsteps.

Congratulations to all graduates celebrating the fruit of your labor – job well done!  Be richly blessed as you advance to the next level of applying yourself to be excellent in Christ.  🙂

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

(Joshua 1:7-8)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 3:14)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Spic ‘n’ Span Clean: Reconciling From the Inside Out

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Every now and then, we get a good wake-up call that reminds us of exactly where we are – and how far we have yet to travel on the path of spiritual maturity.  Whether it’s an issue of true forgiveness (not just that lip-service stuff), letting go of a habit we’ve been convicted of – multiple times (yes, change requires a converted heart), or just downright being obedient to the voice of the Lord (the first time), let’s balance the books and settle some things once and for all.  By dragging things out over time, we impede our own progress.  Resolutely determine that today will be a new start.  Put off the old man (Colossians 3:9) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Let us take an accurate personal inventory and give the Holy Spirit free reign to ensure that we’re clean through and through – not just in the places where others can see.  There’s no need for hypocrisy (double standard, insincerity, pretense, two-facedness), for God sees it all, especially the hidden man of the heart (I Peter 3:4).

Father, help us to silence the tumultuous turmoil that bombards our minds, and toss out the accumulation of useless mental clutter that’s collecting dust and slowing our growth in Your Word.  We desire to hear Your voice clearly without interference, distraction, or distortion.  Wash us clean, Lord – from the inside out!  This is the cry of Your children’s hearts today…so we can remain in constant, unbroken, uninterrupted fellowship with You.  Amen.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

(Matthew 23:25-26)

 © Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

The End is Near vs. Emergency Preparedness and Staying Ready

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This title was brewing in my spirit all day, but from a different perspective (think recent apocalyptic prophecies and wild weather epidemics).  However, the way I spent my last 2 hours was the icing on the proverbial cake.  Just what was I doing, you might inquire?  Teaching ALGEBRA to my 2nd grader for his homework sheet due TOMORROW.  Eeeek!!!  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhh!!!   The end surely must be near…

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

(Matthew 27:46)

As if enduring the torture of working on a science fair project over several months of my adult life wasn’t penance enough (I guess it wasn’t), I had to face yet another one of my idiosyncratic hang-ups from the high school/college years:  math phobia.  Yes, I know I’ve worked at a bank for 8 years.  Yes, I’ve finally learned to TRULY balance my checkbook within the past 2 years.   Yes, I’m acutely aware that my God has a sense of humor second to none.  See, I’ve always been the liberal artsy type – the KHS TV/Radio Club President (geez, I’m dating myself – that was in the early 90s…before the term “media” became savvy), the show choir song ‘n’ dance gal, the Speech Communications major extraordinaire, the one whose “gift of gab” helped get her outta many a sticky situation. 

Yet, here I sat at MY kitchen table with MY child, reviewing math concepts his teacher had just introduced today: finding missing numbers.  Like I’m some expert on unknowns – kumbayah!  I cringe and shudder to even reminisce on the math requirements I trudged through – including 9th grade Algebra, and 11th grade Algebra II (God bless my teacher and her many hours of after-school help on my behalf).  I won’t even mention 10th grade Geometry…let’s have a moment of silence for the only “C” on my “I graduated as one of the top 10 students with “highest honors” transcript.

Remind me to tell you why my dad says we have the smartest dining room table in Virginia…I vaguely recall that it had something to do with me taking a “teleclass” for Statistics through community college one summer – thinking I wouldn’t need to actually watch the classes…until I ‘fessed up to my dad a week before the exam and he had to coach me through probability and Lord knows what else in no time flat.  Parenting – the job that keeps on giving…

Tonight, after realizing that my son didn’t understand the process for getting to the answer, I pulled out the blue and red checkers from the Connect Four game, 4 sheets of scrap paper (we used the front and back of 3 sheets), AND my calculator, to boot.  After I talk with the teacher tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll realize I did it the hard way, but we had to solve 10 – a = 4 without a negative number (a concept that hasn’t been introduced yet)…so you can probably imagine my BFQ (brain frazzlement quotient) after an 8-hour workday full of its own idiocy.  In the end, the boy made me proud – I don’t know if he was just pretending to “get it” so I’d let him go to bed at 10 p.m. (bless his li’l belly button – he’s usually crawling into bed by 8 p.m.), but he was able to show me his work after about the 12th problem we had to correct.  We’d stuck it out together.  Go, Team Cathcart – beat those mean ol’ numbers!  We RULE! 🙂

Nevertheless, God gives more grace to the humble…’cuz baby, I sure needed it tonight!  Lord, I thank You for being ever-present and ever near.  You are my Solution in the midst of every problem, puzzle, quandary, and conundrum.  Because You are more than able to equip me to handle whatever emergency arises, I can rest in You.  Selah.  Help me keep my heart ready to yield to Your every command. 

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

(Matthew 24:3-6)

 © Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Solitary Confinement: Confessions on Kicking a Bad Habit

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You know, the flesh can talk really loud.  When you try to ignore it, it starts yelling.  Put it into withdrawal from its appetite of choice, and it launches into a full-blown temper tantrum.  Maybe that’s why Paul said, “I die DAILY” in I Corinthians 15:31.  Being “crucified with Christ” is the only way to keep the flesh in check!  The flesh must be starved; otherwise, the more you feed it, the more it wants.  They say that confession is good for the soul, so here goes…

I recently rediscovered how competitive I am…with myself.  A couple of weeks ago, I pulled up a computer Solitaire game to wind down one evening before bedtime instead of doing a crossword puzzle.  Harmless, right?  So I thought…

Forty minutes later, I had gotten the hang of the scoring mechanism, and I learned how time figured into my score.  And I wanted to beat it.  So I said to myself, “Just one more game…”  But that “one more game” wasn’t enough.  Ten games later (can you say compulsive personality?), I’d won several games, but I still hadn’t beaten my “best score.”  I was giving myself the gift of bags under my eyes, but I was fixed (more like fixated) on my goal.  I’m sure God would appreciate me having that same laser-like focus on His Word.  Imagine – having an addiction to the Word of God; we’d be unstoppable, saints! 

A few days later, my hubby came in to bowl a couple of games on the Wii. He must’ve seen my eyes glazed over as I peered intently at the computer screen, concentrating on winning.  He laughed and said, “You’ve got a Solitaire “jones,” girl!”  As much as I wanted to disagree, I knew he was right.  And I had to break that preoccupation – unproductive “idle” time was was creeping into “idol” territory.  He “sentenced” me to “no Solitaire games at night” for a couple of days straight.  I began to itch.  But I knew it was for my good, since I’d been mega-sleepy the mornings after my private Solitaire tournaments.

One night I was just waiting for him to fall asleep so I could – yep, you guessed it – go play Solitaire.  He put the brakes on that and told me to stay in the bed and channel surf until I got sleepy.  Now I KNOW channel surfing is a waste of time, but here I was stuck with the “lesser of two evils.”  I wasn’t at obsession level with this game (yet), but this seemingly harmless way to spend time had captivated my affections.  I was actually plotting and scheming when I could have my Solitaire time (making provision for the flesh)!  I don’t think the game itself is bad – it just became bad for me because I wasn’t disciplined enough to read my Word first or stop playing after 15 minutes and finish my other evening tasks (making lunches, laying out children’s outfits, loading the dishwasher) like I had some sense.

On yet another evening (I hadn’t learned my lesson yet – this went on about 2 weeks), I tried to circumvent the process of breaking my habit and “having just a li’l bit.”  Yeah right.  Actually, I was just planning to “do my own thing” (Did I really say that?  Yes.  It’s the truth – and that makes us free).  I figured that since I’d be sitting under the hair dryer for an hour, I could play Solitaire (multi-tasking – LOL) – after all, it wasn’t extra time I was spending on the game…it was just time I’d already be awake that I’d be using for personal recreation…right?  WRONG!  Time is God’s gift to me, and if I’m going to be a wise steward over it, I have to use it as HE directs.  Though I’d already set the laptop next to the hair dryer, I said ALOUD, “Flesh, you are NOT going to get what you want this time!.  You are going to read this Sunday School lesson and meditate on the Word of God for the hour you’re under the hair dryer.  This is what we’re gonna eat for the next hour.  You are starving from Solitaire.”  Do you see a theme here?  I had to actively choose righteousness and building up my spirit man.

I could’ve been content that I’d “given up” my spy TV program a couple of months ago.  I could’ve continued to rationalize that I “deserved” some time for a comparably innocuous relaxing activity.  But I was setting myself up for a fall.  When God points something out, He wants us to take action right then.  Nothing should have “beloved” status in our lives but Jesus.  However, is that really the case?  We’re in an information-driven society; would you go through withdrawal if someone took away access to your e-mail, iPod music downloads, cell phone, online social networking, text messages, novels, games, favorite TV programs, etc. for a week?  Be honest…with yourself!

Now I KNOW I’m not the only one who needs to use the invaluable resource of time more productively for God’s glory!  Today, I challenge you to solitary confinement with His Word.  Declare war on a time-waster that has usurped your single-minded attention on and devotion to your First Love!   Deny yourself something that you enjoy and instead, spend that time with your Creator.  You just might be surprised at what He shows you during your time of communing.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

(Galatians 2:20)

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

(Galatians 5:24)

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

(James 5:16)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Ignoring the Obvious: Do You Hear What I Hear?

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On an old SNL skit, whenever someone said something displeasing or annoying while she was supposed to be providing customer service, “The Vancome Lady” character (aptly played by Nicole Sullivan) would to cover her ears, look away, and say loudly, “La la la la la la la la la – I’m not listening to you!  La la la la la la la la la…”

I had an “ah-ha” moment the other day when I realized I’d been doing this to God…and it wasn’t funny.  I was drinking a glass of water when I acknowledged that I hadn’t heeded what He said a long time ago that I’d made food an idol (among other things).  “Surely not me, Lord!  You can’t possibly be referring to me,” I reasoned.  But indeed, He had my name, address, and zip code – He knew exactly and precisely to whom He was speaking.  And He was right.  But I had been in denial.

When we ignore someone, we imply by our actions that we esteem them lightly – if we esteem them at all.  We disregard them and everything they stand for and represent.  Take inventory of your own attitude to see if you’ve scornfully despised, disdainfully disrespected, discounted, overlooked, passed over, written off, cancelled, or nullified someone God put into your space for a specific purpose in this season.

A wise son heeds his father’s advice.  So it is with us as children of the Most High.  Why should He dispense the wisdom of the ages when we won’t obey?  We must take obedient action; we’re accountable for what we’ve heard through God’s Word and His ambassadors.

“I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.”

(Jeremiah 22:21)

 “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

(Mark 13:33)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Rotten Fruit Does NOT Get Better With Time

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Perhaps I’m unconsciously nurturing my unbeknownst-to-me inner scientist.  Maybe I’m a high-stakes risk-taker and just don’t know it yet.  Whatever the reason, more often than I care to admit, I have experiment-worthy items hiding in the back of my fridge.

“Fresh” is not a relative term, I’ve learned.  Yet, I keep wondering, “How could something that was so good 2 weeks ago be spoiled now?  A once-sweet, firm, ripe fruit is now sour, fermenting, and soggy.”  Well, fresh items deteriorate when not connected to their source of nutrients.  When plucked out of fertile soil and whisked away from exposure to regular water and sunlight, the fruit can be sustained on its own for only so long.

How does this apply to our own lives?  If we had (past tense) the fruit of the Spirit in operation in our lives in the past, but now it’s not operating at optimal level, we need to reconnect with our Source (through reading the Word, spending time in prayer, and listening to hear what God is saying specifically to us) so we can bring forth some fresh fruit.  Just a thought…ask God what He has to say about it.

Read on to see what the Word says will happen to a good-for-nothing tree producing bad fruit…

“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

(Luke 3:7-9)

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

(Galatians 5:22-23)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

You Can’t Take It With You – and don’t dumpster dive to retrieve it!

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There they stared at me:  reminders of pleasant memories – my birthday dinner, our family vacation…and the list goes on.  But really, after I recorded it in the checkbook, did I still need to keep the receipt?  No.  But honestly, I forgot the receipt was in there…so the clutter just continued to build up.  And receipts seem to have magnetic powers, as they obviously attract more of their own kind over time.  Maybe those dark folds and crevices of the purse are good for reproduction…

Whatever the case may be (and I think background, detailed reasons, and sentimental reasons are significant), I had to let it go.  Not to say that it wasn’t representative of something positive in my past, but I don’t need to keep that representation to my own detriment – particularly when space is at a premium.  By the same token, we sometimes hold onto memories that have become mental clutter.  Take a personal inventory today and see what old thoughts you can discard to free up some space in your mind.  Your thinking will be clearer and your heart will feel lighter.

Forgive my 12-step program tone, but I am in the process of becoming a reformed clutterbug…ooh, I do hate to admit that!  But as they say, admitting you have a problem is half the battle.  And as my hubby says, doing something about it is the other half…please pray for me, y’all!  As I’m learning to only hold onto things with eternal value, I acknowledge that I have miles to go on this journey! 

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

(Proverbs 3:13-18)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Shopping for the Apocalypse…and other ridiculously skewed notions

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Well, I finally cleaned out my purse because it had become increasingly and unbearably heavier over the past few weeks.  In a rare moment of “clutter enlightenment,” I realized some of the stuff I’d amassed just needed to be discarded, including:

  • A clump of tissues for those “mommy-preparedness moments” that had sunken to the bottom, were disintegrating, and were releasing bits of dustlets (is “dustlets” a word? I dunno, but the paper fibers are floating everywhere and it’s pretty annoying)
  • Business cards for a business I’m no longer in
  • Five assorted shades lip glosses and lipsticks – like, how many lips do I have?
  • Multiple pens in various colors – I will not give on this one – hey, I’m a writer!

What really caught my eye was the 4-week collection of grocery lists…and pantry inventories taken before weekly grocery trips…and accompanying grocery receipts.  Seriously – am I planning to conduct a quantitative analysis based on and extracted from my weekly shopping data?  NO.  So why can’t I just trash ‘em???  Oh wow – did I actually just find this online resource?  Not sure if I can do this, but I might have to give it a try…is that a key indicator if I had a sudden urge to PRINT this advice and post it in my cube???  Hmmm, yes, that’s addressed in #3…Lord, have mercy…

Praise report:  I am now able to stick to the weekly grocery budget given to me by my hubby.  That’s a major accomplishment for someone who didn’t connect going over the allotted amount by an extra $5 or $10 (or whatever) with taking available funds away from another bill in the monthly budget.  Did I subconsciously think there was a money tree growing somewhere on my property??? No, but my compulsive tendencies were fueled by the lure of “SALE – this week only!” and coupons for items I wasn’t even planning to buy.  With prayer, I’m learning to stay focused and get no more than what my family needs for this week.  But it’s tough when you can “justify” getting it “just in case” – especially if it’s on sale…

I repented as I sheepishly admitted that stockpiling for “just in case” and gluttony were closely tied to my “preparations” of having “enough” in the house.  No problem with being prepared…but when it’s driven by anxiety, you have to check your motives.  I did.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

(Revelation 2:17)

 “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

(Revelation 6:8)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Obscured by the Light of Christ

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During lunchtime, I ran into someone I’d worked with over a year ago.  Neither one of us realized the other still worked at the company.  When he walked away to get his lunch, he said, “Okay, bye Terri; good seeing you!”  I smiled and waved goodbye and didn’t bother to correct him, because it really didn’t matter that he didn’t know my name.

How many times are we willing to humble ourselves and be subject to someone else’s name – specifically, the Name of Christ Jesus?  Can someone “slip up” and call you by His Name?  Do your actions and attitudes reflect Him positively?  Let His light outshine you…

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

(John 3:30)

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

(Colossians 3:2-4)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Science Fair Project: Midpoint Progress Report

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Well, we survived yet another phase in the ongoing saga of 2nd Grade Science Fair Projectdom.  Go on – I dare you to ask me why some materials float and why others don’t…

After 3 protracted hours of internet research, draft writing, and re-writing (yes, it could’ve been done in 1 hour if he hadn’t dragged it out), my son prayed during the grace over his hard-earned dinner, “Thank You Lord for helping me to finish my Science Fair Project Progress Report even though I waited until the last minute…”  I froze; he actually got the concept we were trying to drill into his precious little head!  He met the deadline, but we are working to teach him that you have to do a little bit each week so it’s not overwhelming and stressful at the last minute.

Perhaps most touching of all was when my son said at the conclusion of our Google research session, “I couldn’t have done it without you, Mom.”  You betcha, son…you betcha.  But being there for him is my job – and I’m committed to it, just like God is committed to taking care of us as His children.  He is a loving and gracious Father.  Have you thanked Him today for the grace and mercy He has shown in your life?

“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

(James 5:10-11)

© Copyright 2011 by Kayren J. Cathcart