Jean Stockdale...

Brain Drain

The fact that I posted two blogs that are nearly identical on the fact that I am not a morning person only proves my point! I am not a morning person. I should not be allowed near my keyboard before 3:00 in the afternoon, which is when I usually peak!

In my defense-I am frantically writing a new Bible study on the book of James for the Moms Ministry in September. It needs to go to print in August. Between now and then I will have my first grandchild-obviously I am expecting more-but no pressure-and I will be trying to win the "Greatest Grandmother of All the Ages" award, I have a 10 day trip to India to speak at a Women's Conference, I am publishing my second study on II Timothy called "Run Well. Finish Strong" and I have all the usual household things to do, parents to tend, animals to feed and so on. So if the only screwup that comes down the pike is the fact that I repeated myself on the blog, then I guess that is good, right. You think I am okay, don't you? You think I am doing good, right? Right? Sure I am. Right? Let me sleep on it and I will get back to ya'. Blessings.

Good Morning!

I am not a morning person. I mean really, do we have to start the day with morning? Really? I am not a morning person. As I write this, I notice that it is 9:44, which I still consider to be early in the morning. What can I say-I am not a morning person. Guess who I married? Mr. I-love-to-get-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn-so-I-can-relish-the-dawning-of-a-new-day, that is who! Mr. Stockdale loves mornings. He loves early mornings. He bounds out of bed with a prayer in his heart and a song on his lips. At least, that is what I assume he does. I have never been up to see it. We have been married for 32 years now and his morning deal got old to me early on in the marriage. Only when I was able to substantiate it with Scripture did he understand my take on mornings. Proverbs 27:14 says, "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him." Yes, that is what the Book says. So take that all you happy morning people and quietly keep it to yourself while the rest of us catch some shut-eye. Blessings.

God's Waiting Room

What are you supposed to do while you wait? Waiting if hard for most of us. We live in a fast paced world with microwave meals, drive-thru fast food, Minute Rice,Instant Oatmeal, speed dialing, speed dating (seriously?), instant messaging, automatic bank tellers and who has not used the check-out line for 15 items or less? We do not like to wait. Anywhere. Anytime. So what do we do when we wait? Most people fuss and fume and complain loudly. However, that is sad way to spend an unexpected burst of down time.

Several weeks ago I had a dentist appointment. I owe him my perfectly beautiful smile so I am his most grateful patient!! I arrived early. I always do. I was informed that he was a bit behind and I would have to wait. Hey, that was fine with me. I love some down time! I sat in that cool air-conditioned (my car does not have one that works) waiting room, with elegant furniture and lovely accessories and I waited. His dental assistant came to get me and agologized for the wait. He was having a bit of an emergency with another patient. I assured her I was not in a hurry and that I was actually enjoying sitting quietly and waiting. She ushered me back where I was stationed in a private room with a reclining leather chair and a television. And I got the remote! At my house Mr. Stockdale liked to hold our remote so this was a very special treat! And there I sat. As I waited I caught up on my prayer life. I prayed for everyone I could think of. When the nurse came in to say he was still running behind, I offered to leave and come  another day since I was not having a dental emergency. She quickly accepted my offer, knowing it would help open up a window in their packed schedule and get them back on track. She and the office assistant were so very sorry and profusely apologized. "Are you kidding me?" I replied to their kind words. "I have had an hour of unexpected and uninterrupted down time. I have relaxed and caught up on my prayer life. This is one of the best days I have ever had!" I meant it too.

What do you do when you wait? God often puts us in His waiting room in order to lead us beside the still waters and make us lie down in green pastures. He wants to restore our souls and sometimes we are so busy that we cannot even hear Him. So He puts us in His waiting room and He lets us get real quiet so He can speak and we can hear. What do you do while you wait? Listen to God. He is speaking. Blessings.

Still Waiting!

No Baby Yet!

Since I know that is what many of you are looking for, let me say it quickly-there is no baby yet. Lest I make my sweet Patti feel like a chicken sitting on an egg, let me assure you that I will be sending out an all-points bulletin when the blessed event happens! Patti is feeling well and is working from home now a-days, which is a HUGE blessing. We are all starting to live with our cell phones in hand and Craig and I - well, really just me - startle every time the phone rings! So if you call me and I sound breathe-less, it is because when the phone rang I ran and grabbed my bag, put on lipstick, ran a brush through my hair, grabbed my car-keys, snatched a diet coke from the fridge and headed towards the door before I answered. I am practicing, just in case! God is so good, my dear ones, and we are living in His grace.

On a sad note, Craig and I resigned our Sunday School class this past Sunday. This season of life is simply so complicated for us to keep up with the many demands that are on our lives right now. God reminded me that life is lived in Seasons. To everything there is a season. We tend to think of life in terms of roads-each road taking us somewhere, but the idea of seasons is much more accurate. Life is always in a state of flux, ever evolving from one season to the next. Some are blissfully short and some are hard, cold and painfully long. Craig's mom has fallen and fractured her back. She is in a back brace and making some improvement although she is limited in what she can do. She has a caregiver with her and we are not sure how much or how limited she will be. We have a beloved grand baby on the way and we are anxious to invest whatever God would have us to do in his life. We have both of our children nearby and we want to be involved in serving them and enjoying this season in their lives with them. I teach and I write 2 Bible studies a year. That is a lot. Even John Grisham does not crank out that many words! Not to put myself in his league, but I write more words than most writers over the course of a year. And don't even get me started about how many words I speak! And then there is the travel. Craig and I are going to India in July and to Nepal in November to teach. So, it was time to lay something down. It was a hard decision to come to, but the right one. Life is lived in seasons. This 4-year season with this SS class has been a blessing, but it has come to the winter solstice. This season is over. It was lovely while it lasted, but a new season is budding. What will the next season hold? Only God knows. Blessings.

Not Yet!

Baby Love has not made his arrival. He is officially due on June 16th which is about 3 weeks away! If I sound calm, I am not. There is talk of synchronizing our watches and cell phones. Yes, it is that time.

Now if you know me at all, you already know this, but I am not good in crisis. If you need someone to pray for you, I am your girl. I will pray and I will weep and wail with the best of them. But if you need help in the middle of a good-get-all-up-in-it-and-help crisis, I am not that girl! I wish I was, not I am not. I fall apart and require more attention than the immediate crisis generated. It is true. I live for drama. And frankly, I tend to manufacture it. So, when I was assigned the job of driving Patti to the hospital-because I am the closest- if Jason is out on a job, well... you can just see how this is going to go. Need I say more! That said-pray, sisters, pray. Please pray for baby Declan as he makes his entrance into this world. Some mighty fine parents are very anxious to get their hands on him. And his Poppa and (?-any suggestions are welcomed) cannot wait to kiss his whole face. Pray for Patti to have a smooth delivery and above all, pray that God will be glorified in the life of this little one. Blessings.

Quick Update

Baby Watch.No baby yet. I promise I will post pictures as soon as we have some. Patti is due on June 16-give or take a few days. She is packed and ready to head to the hospital and the nursery has been adorably prepared for weeks. Did I tell you that I helped paint his room? Well I did. I am working on the coveted "Grandmother of the Universe" (not just the whole world, I am talking the whole universe here)award and I am not kidding!!

I made Patti a little flip book of some of my favorite thoughts on mothering along with some Scriptures that are pertinent to the art of Christian mothering. I was struck with the warm flood of memories that writing it evoked in me. Mothering, for me, was one of the greatest gifts I have ever gotten. I loved it. I relished it. I reveled in it. I miss it. I say this to encourage you, you who are still in the throws of it and wonder when these kids will ever grow up and leave you alone! In reality, that is exactly what they are doing! They are growing up and they are headed out the door! Mom, slow down and enjoy the ride. Why? BECAUSE I SAID SO, THAT'S WHY! Blessings.

Mother Love

A mother is the only creature that can evenly multiply her love with the arrival of every child, without dividing it.

I am writing a study on the book of James. In James 2:1 he cautions, "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism." That is, Christian mom who loves God with all her heart, it would be inconsistent with the character of the Lord of Glory to show favoritism to anyone, but especially to one child over another. As a Christian mom you cannot favor one sex over the other, one temperament over the other, one's appearance over the other, one's achievement over the other or one's ability over another. You cannot love God and dishonor Him at the same time by showing partiality. It would be inconsistent with the character of God, who does not show partiality. Colossians 3:11 says that in God there is no distinctions made among His people because Christ is all and in all. God does not show partiality to any of His children and neither should you. Just thought you might like to know that! Blessings!

Bite Your Tongue!

If you love Jesus, bite your tongue. If you belong to Him, your words should reflect it. Nothing in your speech or your actions should deny His presence in your life. If you have identified with Him, you have given the whole world the right to look at you and see what Jesus is like! Wow. And any time anything slips out of your mouth or creeps into your life that is less than...well, sister, less than Christ-like, you are telling a lie about Jesus. You are misrepresenting your Lord. Those are fighting words! I realize that.

Did I tell you that I am writing a new study on the book of James? Well I am and just to refresh you memory, James was the half-brother of Jesus according to the flesh. He was born of Joseph and Mary-Jesus, of course, being the Only Begotten Son of the Father, born of a virgin into this world through the womb of Mary, did not have Joseph as his father. James was probably the first child born from the union of Joseph and Mary. If you remember, Luke says that Joseph kept Mary a virgin until after the birth of Jesus, but then they went on to have children together. We think James was the next one born to this unique blended family! James grew up with Jesus in the house. Can you believe it? Yet, throughout his letter he never mentions his earthly relationship with the Lord. He refers to himself as the bond slave of Jesus Christ the Lord. Wow! That tells me that only his heavenly relationship with Jesus Christ was of any worth or value to him, not the unique earthly one. The heavenly relationship is available to any who believes by faith; the earthly one was only possible for a few in the city of Nazareth.

All that really matters then is this-do you believe in Jesus? Has there been a time when you received Him into your heart and life? If so, act like it. That is what James wrote. "If anyone things himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." Bite your tongue. If you belong to Jesus, bite your tongue. You no longer have the right to say or do whatever you want to. You belong to Him now. You represent Him now. You're an ambassador of Christ. Act like it. Talk like it. Live like it. Love like it.

Just thought you might like to know! Blessings.

Hello Jackson!

I was so privileged to go to Jackson, TN. two weeks ago and visit with the moms group at Northbrook Church. A group of six moms have been meeting each week in Angie Robers home and doing my study on Proverbs with my workbook and DVDs. Angie is the sweet sister-in-law of our own Emily Rainey, who shared what the study of God's Word had meant in her life as a mom. Emily, you did a great job! I was just as proud of you as if you were one of my own children! You are a wonderful mom and a great role model. After Angie spoke to the circle of women, they shared. What a blessing to get to hear what God had taught them through the 10-week study of the book of Proverbs. Such sweet mommas! And then they presented me with a scrapbook of blessings. Each woman had written about what the Lord had revealed to her. Wow. Many thanks to Angie, Ellen, Lucenda, Hannah, Cindy and Sharon for the sweet morning and the love gift. Thank you, dear ones, for the invitation to come and meet with you and blessings on you all as you train up your children.

Mornings!

I am not a morning person. If you know me well, you will already know this fact about me, but did I mention, I am not a morning person. As much so that it puts me in a bad mood to go to bed at night because I know I have to face the morning first thing! I think mornings are a terrible way to start the day and I resist it with all that is within me.

Now, wouldn't you know, I married a morning person!Before I married the man I had no idea how completely devoted he was to the habit of getting up early and joyfully! It would not have been a deal breaker, but in retrospect, I do wish I had had some idea of what the next 30+ years would hold for me. I guess it never came up in our pre-marital discussions on who would do what, but I had no idea that he would do mornings!! But here we are, 32 years later, and he is definitely a morning person and I am....well certainly not. Craig loves to get up early and start his day with fresh brewed coffee and some quiet time with the Lord. I, on the other hand, do not like to get up at all, much less start my day in the morning. So what is a couple to do? Years ago I discovered this verse tucked in Proverbs. "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him." Proverbs 27:14 tells me that Solomon was mostly likely not a morning person either. I showed Craig this verse and told him that he was free to get up early and even enjoy it for all I care, as long as he kept all his joy to himself! Can I get an amen!?!?! Sorry ya'll, but I think I need a nap!

I'm Back!

Sorry, but do to a small glitch with bookkeeping, I have been off-line for a few days. So sorry. Here is a quick update of what you have been missing!

Jas and Patti are down to 4 more weeks before our baby Declan arrives on the scene. Well, more or less. You know who determined babies can be about coming on their own schedule. So we wait! Patti is feeling well and is perfectly nested up, packed and ready. The babies room is done in chocolate brown and blue and is the cutest thing I have ever seen. When I think of the tiny little borrowed bassinet pushed up against our bed and the used avocado green changing table that combined to create our entire "nursery" I feel like apologizing to my children!But they turned out okay, so I guess it was fine for then. But, whoa baby, the cute stuff they have nowadays! I took a turn through Baby Time yesterday. Mr. Stockdale and I were out rocker shopping in anticipation of getting to rock Baby Love to sleep in the near future. For those of you not in the Moms Ministry, you should know that my precious little mommas gave me a cash gift to purchase a rocker! What a sweet love gift. I had commented that I did not have a rocker, and no self-respecting grandmother can be without one of those. So girls when I get the rock in my nursery all set up I will email out a picture to share. Thank you again. You are amazing women, terrific moms and extremely generous to boot!

Well, I will keep you posted on the baby watch and the other delicious things that are happening in my life. Until then, press on, by beloved, and become the women of faith that God has called you to be!

Baby Watch!

Jason and Patti are quickly approaching the due date! Patti had her first shower yesterday. It was given by her Sunday School class taught by Scott and Geri Benjamin at Bellevue Baptist. Thanks to all you had a part in it and for all the lovely ways you honored my sweet children and joined in our joy!

It was just precious to be with people who love my children. One of the great joys of a mother's heart is to be around people who love their children! Because I am able to experience this in my earthly limitations, I can only imagine how it blesses the heart of the Father to see His children gather together to celebrate the joy of knowing His Son! He loves people who love His Son. It thrills His soul when He sees the family of God expresses their love for His Son, just as it blesses me to know people who love my son (s) and our girls. When we get saved we are placed into the body of Christ AND the family of God. We are a family. We need one another. Our fellowship and our relationship revolve around the Lord Jesus. God especially loves those who love His Son. He delights in the sweet fellowship of those who gather around the common bond of Jesus. We are a part of the family of God. When the family of God works well, it works well! Amen?!?! Amen!

Anyways, for all you sweet young women who joined in our joy yesterday, I thank you. Our little grand-baby, Declan, is coming into a home where his mommy loves his daddy and they both love Jesus! Amen and amen. Furthermore, he is coming into a circle of family and friends who love him and love the Lord.

I will continue to post updates as we press on towards June 16th. Pictures will follow! I am currently writing the study of James for the Moms Ministry at Bellevue and I am publishing my second book entitled, "Run Well. Finish Strong" on the book of II Timothy. Many details and deadlines are pressing upon me, so please pray for me as God prompts you. I am exceedingly blessed and favored by God to be involved with teaching mommies how to love the Lord, love their husbands and cherish their children! More to come. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, press on!

Urgent Prayer Request

Knowing that you will quickly relate and emphasize with this sweet momma, I would like to ask all of you to pray for Stephanie Vasofsky. She is a young mom who attends the Bible study that I teach at Bellevue for Moms. She and her husband have one little girl named Zoe. Stephanie was just diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer. The chances of such a young woman (28 years old) being diagnosed with such a catastrophic advanced disease is greater than a million to one. To say that Stephanie is facing this enormous test of her faith with relentless courage and grace is an understatement. Her faith is uniquely strengthening her. She is not just surviving this unbelievable crisis of belief; she is actually thriving in the midst of it! Praise the Lord. She is facing 24 treatments of radiation and chemo with unwavering faith and unruffled grace. Only God would give such power in the face of this overwhelming adversity.

I have been writing a new Bible study for moms on the book of James. James famously says to consider it all joy when you encounter various trials because you can know that you know that God is in control. He is working out His truth and His treasure in you through the avenue of suffering. He is at work building purity and passion in your innermost being so that the reality of Christ in you, the hope of glory, might be seen like a shining star in the midst of the bleak crooked and perverse generation. He is maturing you, building perseverance and power in your life. He is testing you so that the dross of unbelief might be burned away, leaving the gleaming gold and silver of a faith that can be tested and proved behind after the ashes of the encumbrances of this world have been reduced to a fine powder and blow away. He is giving you the opportunity to become desperate for Him and to ask Him for wisdom to glean His perspective from the season of suffering He has ordained. God never wastes suffering. It is merely one of the tools He uses to groom His bride, the church, adorning her with grace and preparing her for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

I have walked with God for nearly 30 years and frankly, I cannot adequately explain why God would take a young family through such a painful process. I do not know why He would ask this precious mom to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But this I do know...He never wastes any sorrow or suffering in the live of His children. But it remains a divine paradox to me why God would allow such pain and suffering. However, I rejoice with Stephanie in her ability to stand strong in the name of the Lord, without wavering and without abandoning her faith.

Stephanie, I do not know or understand the path God has carved for you, but this I do know...Our God is faithful. He is too loving to be unkind and too gracious to be cruel. He knows what He is about in your life and He will give you wisdom and insight as you continue to look to Him by faith. May God give you what you need during this testing of your faith. As one of many in the great crowd of witnesses surrounding you and cheering you on (Hebrews 12) please know that I am exceedingly proud of you and honored to be counted among your friends in the Lord. Run hard, the race that is set before you and fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  May God bless you, dear one, and may you run and not grow weary and walk and not faint. May you sense that God is lifting you up on eagle wings and filling you with His favor. And may He cause those of us who know Him to pray on your behalf. James tells us that the fervent prayer of a righteous man will avail much. Pray, dear sisters in the Lord, for our sister Stephanie and her family.

Father, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.