Proverbs 31

I have a friend who has been choosing one of her friends on Facebook and posting as her status what she admires in them.  Earlier this week, I was one of her friends that she chose and I was so blessed and yet overwhelmed and humbled by her words, that it is all I have thought about for a few days!  Yesterday as I was talking to my hubby about it, it hit me as to why it impacted me so much!  Her words, have been my life mission!  They are just what I would want my boys and husband and really everyone else, to be able to say about me at the end of my life.  Here are her words:

"When I think of Proverbs 31, Terri Lynn Harris comes immediately to my mind. A worthy woman. You are true to your friends. Pure to you husband and children. Loving to strangers. Content with what you have. You have opened up your home for others since the day I met you. You are a bright light in a dim world and I wanted to tell you that today. God Bless you Terri."

At first, I thought, wow, that's not true, what is she thinking!  BUT, as I read it again, I said to myself, "that really is my heart, that is who I strive to be."  So, why do I always doubt when someone says something kind to me, or says something about me that they see or feel?  I don't know!  It drives me crazy!  I have often prayed, "Lord, help me see me the way Bruce sees me."  My husband is an amazing man, I am so thankful that God decided he was for me!

Here are the words of advice from Solomon in Proverbs 31, while I know that we can not be exactly everything that this perfect woman is, but there is so much that we can glean from these words.  Proverbs is an advice book for us.  It is not a commandment or a law that is to be followed exactly.  Look at it as a gentle guidance from someone you respect.  I came into marriage and mothering with not a lot of healthy, good examples.  I have often felt that I was on my own and to learn how to be a good wife and mom.  It is not an easy job by any means, but I truly believe in this scripture, and that if we strive to be anything close to this woman, as a wife and mom, we will have amazing marriages full of love and respect!

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?  She is worth more than precious rubies.  Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.  She will not hinder him but help him all her life.  She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.  She is like a merchant's ship; she brings her food from afar.  She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan he day's work for her servant girls.  She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.  She watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night.  Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.  She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.  She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes.  She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth.  Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.  She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.  When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.  She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.  Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her. There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!  Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.  Reward her for all she has done.  Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." 

                                                     Proverbs 31:10-31

Inside My Heart

It definitely has been awhile since I have sat down and put words to my thoughts.  These past 6 weeks have been quite full!  My father-in-law is definitely doing much better.  Back in December he was having a hard time walking, well, more like a general weakness in his lower body.  It just continued to get worse, so we ended up in the emergency room after several falls at home.  He was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, high blood pressure from not taking his medication properly, along with taking too much Vicodin.  He ended up in a rehabilitation hospital for about three weeks trying to get his blood pressure back in control and working on building more strength in his legs.  He is now home and doing much better.  His dementia makes things pretty dificult for the family, but everyone has stepped up and is doing their share. And we are now on a new journey!

One  thing that has really spoken to me through this journey is how blessed I am to have such amazing in-laws.  I am often asked why I would do what I do for my father-in-law, or how do I keep going?  I have had many a conversation with my husband, and have to say, I am blessed to be able to care for him.  I would have to say, the absolute number one thing that I have gotten from this man is unconditional love!  My in-laws have always been proud of who I am as a person, a daughter-in-law, a wife and mom. I have never felt that I have had to perform or be someone I am not to them.  I wholeheartedly know without a doubt that they are truly proud of me for who I am.  I have not done anything special to earn their love and respect.  They have truly shown it to me.  I absolutely love being in their home.  I always feel at home and can settle in and truly know it is where I belong.  And for that, I am truly grateful!  And so to answer the question of why I choose to do what I do and how I keep doing, how could you not do for someone who truly needs you and loves you and appreciates seeing you there with him and continue on this journey...only God gives us what we need and desire, and for now, I am proud to be the daughter-in-law that God has called me to.

2010 Christmas Letter

As 2010 comes a close, it is always  fun to reflect on our year and see where God has blessed and encouraged.  This year has had many changes, and we know that in all things,  God’s glory is truly what matters!

As for Bruce, you can go back to the last 5 or so years, and it’s still the same.  Just the way he likes it!   He didn’t do a whole lot of fishing this year, but was able to reconnect with some of his old fishing buddies and went up to the Sierra’s and had a great time!  Except, of course, coming home with a pulled hamstring and that  hasn’t been fun!  He is still anxiously awaiting that retirement date, unfortunately, with the economy,  and it may mean a couple more years of working.  Bruce’s highlight for the year, is making it through the worst part of this recession.

Terri’s 2010 has been pretty good. She had been praying for God to show her where her ministry would be and is now  a Bible Study Leader on Tuesday mornings at church and has gotten a group of amazing young moms.  She has had fun getting to know them and some other young college age women to talk with and help them to be able to see how important they are and how much they truly matter to Jesus!  She is still loving being at home,  most days, it’s a whole new ballgame with two “adult” children living in the home and all that that brings!  She also has finally picked up her camera again and is ready to do some learning and explore some new options.  Terri’s highlight of the year would have to be her trip to Seattle with Ryan to see the Mariner’s vs. the Angels series over Mother’s Day weekend. It was truly a blessing.  Fun times!

Ryan turned 20 in September and is growing into a pretty amazing young man.  He still enjoys his job at Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Store, and tries to fish whenever he has a moment.  He works there every moment he is not in school.  Ryan has declared his major in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology!  He wants to be a Zookeeper and is working towards transferring to Humboldt State in the future.  His newest love this year has been golf.  When he gets an interest, he goes all out, and now,  is known to go out the door at 6am to play a round before work or even at 9pm to hit the driving range…oh to be 20 again!   Ryan’s highlight of the year would be his road trip he took with  his buddies Adam, William and Cody.  They spent a week traveling  to see 4 different baseball games in 4 different states: Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Colorado.  They truly had an amazing time!  What memories!

Dylan has had a year of growing up…started dating a wonderful girl, Renee in March, turned 18 in May, graduated high school n June and started Fullerton College in August!  He went to school part-time this semester and still works at Palace 4 Paws at Downtown Disney.  He is a pretty amazing guy too!  I guess I am partial, but if you ever get the chance to sit down and have a conversation with him, he will blow your socks off!  Dylan is one compassionate person and the heart of him is one that makes you want to be a better person.  And of course, his dog, Roxy is still absolutely his best friend!  Dylan’s highlight of the year would have to be Renee.  She has brought him much joy and gives him a reason to be the person he is.

We would have to agree that the biggest blessing of 2010 was our trip to Kauai, Hawaii!  What an amazing trip we had.  It was so fun to be able to have a once in a lifetime trip.  We went tubing down old sugar cane canals, sailing down the Na’Pali coast with snorkeling and an awesome spinner dolphin show on the way, yummy food and good times hanging out in the sun.  It will always be remembered, and hopefully will not be the last time.

We pray that your 2011 will bring much joy as you seek to know what God would have for your life this coming season.  May God grant you all that your heart desires as you lean daily on Him and let Him guide your every thought, attitude and motive.  Jesus loves you and so do we!  May we continue to grow in love and character together in 2011!

                                                      Bruce, Terri, Ryan and Dylan Harris
                                                                 (Roxy and Lily too!)

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through who also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Romans 5:1-4

Choosing Joy

Webter's Dictionary Definition of Joy states:   the emotion evoked by wel-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT;   the expression or exhibition of such emotion:  GAIETY;  a state of happines or felicity: BLISS;  a source or cause of delight;  to experience great pleasure or delight:  REJOICE, GLADDEN, ENJOY.

Last Sunday, our Pastor began our Christmas season theme of JOY.  I must say, I am pretty excited about this, being that  one of my 2010 visions was learning Joy!  I want to get to the place where I truly live each day full of joy.  What is joy and how are we supposed to live with joy everyday?  I don't know all the answers, yet, but I am sure that God will reveal all this to me.  I wait with great anticipation to see where He will lead.  Sure, it is the end of the year, but hey, I believe in God's perfect timing and so here it is! 

I want to share a glimpse of how I've gotten to this place.  This year has been just slightly overwhelming with changes.  I'm not one who embraces change.  I don't like when things don't go as planned. I want it all to just stay the same.  But really, can that be?  Nothing ever stays the same, and if it did, what fun would that be, right?

These past few weeks I have had a general overwhelmed feeling.  I prayed and asked God to show me areas that I could let go of adn where I needed to refocus and redirect my energies. I made the painful decision to give up one of my bible study groups and a very part-time job I was doing, and although, it was a hard decision, I know it was the right decision.  Since doing this, God has given me some confirmations! 

First, church on Sunday morning was amazing.  One thing that stood out to me was, that challenge + risk + hope, brings JOY.  We have to be challenged and take the risks involved and know that our hope will bring us ultimately to JOY!  Wow, so in all the struggles and worries, we can still have JOY?  Yes!  This is exactly what I needed to hear, there is JOY in the midst of it all!   

Monday, I get a text from a friend asking me if I feel distracted?  Absolutely!  My mind is so full of what's next on the to do list, that I can't focus, or enJOY what I am doing right now.  That's what I want to change!  Anyway, through the conversation she says I need to pray about the "right things."  She went on to say "Sometimes we engage in things in our lives that we think we should be in and God doesn't want us there.  Sometimes we get in too deep, sometimes we do it for other people.  Only you and God can decide what role you play in each."  That was exactly where I had gotten! 

So then yesterday, I read Beth Moore's study of Daniel, and she says, "I understand how difficult this is.  But you must let it go.  Don't just release it.  Renounce it.  Push it off. You must, or it will eventually destroy you...get to it, because it's getting to you!"  As Isaiah 1:16-17 says, "Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!"  It's my time to have JOY in doing the "right" things, and not what I "think" I "should" be doing.  And to top of the day, I get an invitation to do a study over the Christmas break from our Tuesday morning bible study, and guess what the book is..."Choosing Gratitude...A Journey to Joy" by Nancy Leigh de Moss!  It is a study about being thankful and learning how to live that way!  Of course I'm in!

So, I have the Christmas lights on the house, decorations in the yard, tree is up and the inside of the house is all ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus!  I am excited to sit back and see, "The Lord is Good!"  Remember, we are His gift, and we are the only gift He wants!  I pray that we all find and experience His JOY as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Blessings to you,
Terri

As Luke 1:45 says, "You are blessed because you BELIEVED the Lord would do what He said!"

Celebrate The Memory

Today would have been my Dad's 63rd birthday.  Unfortunately, he isn't here to celebrate with.  Nine years ago he went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with heart disease.  Every year this day comes and instead of it being a good day of remembering him, it always seems to be more of a sad day in remembering that he is not here!  As I was talking with God this morning, I felt that I needed to focus on the good I got from my Dad, so here are my thoughts on what I learned from my Dad!

1.  I learned that the greatest gift in life is to love.  He was a man who gave his whole heart and never regretted.  He loved to the ends of the earth. 

2.  I learned that I couldn't do anything to earn his love.  He loved me anyway!  Although my Dad wasn't around much for the first 16 years of my life, the day he can back, it felt as if he were never gone.

3.  I learned that a flick on the back of my head was a good thing.  It was his love pat and something that would be deeply missed.

4.  I learned that everyone should have a nickname and that it really makes one feel special.  There are so many: Termite, Cryin Ryan, Bubba, Baldy, Spaceshot, BubbleButt, Nickel, Lady Di, it goes on and on!

5.  I learned that working hard and giving your all makes a world of difference to those around you who are watching everything you do.

6.  I learned that the way you treat people is how you earn respect.

7.  I learned that smoking is a terrible addiction that is extremely and almost impossible to break and that it definitely shortens your life!

8.  I learned that one man giving his life to Jesus, can affect so many! 

9.  I learned that ultimately no one can make you happy, you have to be happy with yourself.

10.  I learned that very few people get the honor of having that one special person that they fall in love with and will love literally until the day they die. 

I definitely miss my Dad, but I can honestly say, I am so thankful that I had him in my life even though it was for such a short time!  It is a true blessing to have been his daughter and to have been so loved.

Blessings,
Termite

"There is a time for everything, a season for very activity under heaven. 
A time to be born and a time to die. 
     A time to plant and a time to harvest. 
A time to kill and a time to heal. 
     A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. 
A time to cry and a time to laugh 
     A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. 
     A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 
A time to search and a time to lose. 
     A time to keep and a time to throw away. 
A time to tear and a time to mend. 
     A time to be quiet and a time to speack up. 
A time to love and a time to hate. 
     A time for war and a time for peace."    
                                                           Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Perception

Florence Chadwick was a swimmer and she was pulled into the boat after giving up.  Because there was so much fog, she could not see how much further she had to go.  She was exhausted and decided to give up.  Once on land, when she was told that she only had half a mile to go before the shore, she said: 

"All I could see was the fog, if I could have seen the shore, I think I could have made it."  Florence Chadwick

Our Youth Pastor, John Riley spoke on this last Sunday morning and it really touched my heart!  Isn't this how so many of us live our lives?  We only live for the moment.  We can't see past the one thing (our fog) that is so consuing.  Every decision is based on the hear and now.  Long term thinking, or long term waiting is not what we practice.  If we believe in a Sovereign God, why do we limit ourselves?

We tend to only focus on the fog.  Think about that.  When there is heavy fog, we can only see right in front of ourselves.  We can't see past the fog.  Even in light foggy mornings, we only see the fog, we don't see the sun that is looming in the distance.  We only see the one thing that is right in front of us, the fog.  When we face our "fog" what do we, we give up, because it is too heavy! It is the only thing we can see, we know that the sun is out there, just waiting to break through, but we can't see it.

Our "fogs" can be different for each of us.  Sometimes it's heavy, death, divorce, illness, unemployment.  Sometimes it seems trivial, or what others may see as trivial, to us it may be overwhelmed with housework, spouses, children, jobs, basically life issues,  BUT, in our fog it is real to us.  It is overwhelming, stressful and scary.  We can't understand why we are in this fog.  We think we will never be able to see the other side, so it seems easier to give up.  Just give in and let life pass us by, because, really what's the point of all this?  And yet, we find out it's just a little bit further to get to the shore!

So, what to do when in our fog?  I believe the first step is to get to the realization point that we are giving up.  Sometimes, that is the most critical point.  Realization.  Take the time to acknowledge that all you see is fog.  Whether it is heavy or light, it is fog.   And we are in it!

After realizing you are in a fog, accept it.  Accept that you are in the fog, you don't know how thick it is going to be, but you are gonna keep pressing through until the fog gets lighter and lighter.  It may be within minutes, or days, weeks, months or even years, but it will get lighter.

And then, let go and let God.  I know that is cliche, but really, it is what it is.  It truly is our only Hope!  We have to give our fog to the One who can walk us through it, every little step.  Inch by inch.   We have to get to the point of saying, "God, only you know what I need, and what is best..  Give me Your ears to hear and Your eyes to see!  May my will be Your will so that You are glorified in all things.  Amen."

Our lives here on earth are only a small fraction of our lives spent in eternity with the One who loves us.  Let's step into the fog when it rolls in and know that God is in the fog!

                   Photo by The Mighty Neptune

Blessings to you!

Terri

"Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!  Many are they who rise up against me.  Many are they who say to me, "There is not help for him in God."  But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.  I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!  For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;  You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.  Salvation belongs to the Lord.  Your blessing is upon Your people."  Psalm 3:1-8

Friendships

"A true friend is one that you can always count on to support you as you obey God. There are friends who will back you up when you try to do what is right. Thanks for being a true gift from God, a friend who helps me and others when we try to do what honors God."

I received this in a text last week, and to be honest, I didn't know how to respond. This was from someone who I dearly love, but I had not felt that I had been this kind of friend over the last couple months. I found myself pulling back, not giving of myself for awhile, and then this comes out of nowhere!

I got this early in the morning and I thought about it all day. I didn't respond until late that afternoon. Honestly, I didn't know how to respond. Why would she feel that way when I didn't feel that I was being that kind of a friend? So, I responded with "Wow! That's a lot to take in!" She tells me that I'm a smart woman and I can take it, so of course then the process of searching within begins...

This is the person I want to be. It is someone I am when I am willing to be open and honest and vulnerable. We need to be this kind of friend, and we need to have these kinds of friends! Having a friend that you know without a doubt that you can call on at any given moment is a treasure. She is this and I definitely don't want to lose her friendship. We may go through valleys in our friendship, but those valleys lead to a deeper more intimate relationship.

I am learning to let go of my insecurities and fears and being willing to let God do what only God can do! He has blessed me with some open and honest friendships and I need to embrace all of it. The laughter, the accountability, the tears and most importantly, the love.

So my prayer is this: Lord, help me to be a true friend. Someone that can always be counted on to support frieds who obey God. Let me be a friend who will back others up when they try to do what is right. Thanks for giving me a true gift from God, a friend who helps me and others when we try to do what honors God. Amen.

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17