First Actions Make Loud Impressions

We all know the value of making good first impressions! You know the saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." It's true - for the good, or for the bad! As I have completed a three week back to school marathon at NNU,  I am struck by the myriad of positive first impressions that I have experienced in action:

• More colleagues than I ever imagined appear genuinely interested in my family's well being as a result of this cross-country move. Plus, I have witnessed colleagues care for each other via meaningful actions.
• Person after person intentionally visits my office to introduce themselves to me, and to welcome me to the NNU Family. I really like it when they wear their name tags! Ha!
• At New Faculty Orientation, Faculty Retreat, Faculty Workshop, New Student Orientation, and the NNU Gathering, there is lots and lots of laughter. Laughter is a really, really good thing!
• In nearly every venue, there is genuine prayer. At the first NNU Community Chapel, the staff and faculty surrounded the auditorium while several representatives prayed over our students. Then, a student representative prayed over the staff and faculty. It was such a simple, yet deeply meaningful action.
• Appreciation is eagerly and freely expressed. At the NNU Gathering (a dinner for staff, faculty, and spouses), the University President called out half a dozen individuals to express public gratitude for a job well done - a job often unseen by others. I was very touched by this act of thanksgiving. It's funny, to witness another person being appreciated is akin to personally being appreciated. In addition, each person present was given a card to express appreciation to another individual within the community. Appreciation begets appreciation, doesn't it?!?
• I am able to walk into any meeting, lunch, or gathering among my new colleagues and KNOW that I will be noticed and welcomed into the family. I am not intimidated or lonely because they are already caring for me. In my 40 years of life, and in numerous transitions from state-to-state, and from job-to-job, I have never felt like this so early in the transition - if at all! Thank you NNU!

I know I am in the "honeymoon phase," and I wonder how I will feel in a year, 2 years, 10 years, and beyond.... A professional marketing agency noted two traits that are widely characteristic of NNU, and unique to NNU when compared to like schools: Love and humor. As I listened to the presentation  announcing these characteristics (and others), I smiled because I had already personally experienced these traits of NNU. Actions speak louder than words!

NNU's actions have made first impressions beyond mere words, and I am thankful!

It Lives & Breathes - Part 2

In relationships, in commitments, in discipline:

"Whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

As I ponder how God provided for us when we moved from Kansas to Ohio, I am reminded of this verse:

"Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you everything you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Matthew 6:32b-33

As we make this move, one of my most passionate prayers is for the spiritual growth of my boys:

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Lord, will their hearts be hardened? Will this life experience harm them emotionally, psychologically, spiritually?

"Love the Lord your God will all your heart, and will all your soul, and with all your strength.... Impress (these commandments) on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7

This is my heart.

It Lives & Breathes

In 2009, I joined Beth Moore's blogging community in memorizing 2 pieces of Scripture a month for 12 months. It was an amazing experience; it was truly life changing! While I have not continued to memorize Scripture in 2010, I have continued to journal significant pieces Scriptures throughout the year. The Word of God really lives - it does for me! It breathes life into me! Lately I have been reviewing my chosen verses of 2010, as I have pondered the leading of Lord from Ohio to Idaho. Here are a few of my thoughts via the living, breathing Word of God....

As we applied, waited, interviewed, and waited some more for the NNU job, and as we prepared, packed, good-byed, and traveled, and as we currently wait for our house to sell, for Steve to find employment, for our boys to call Idaho home:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:4-5

In trusting God, in focusing on Him rather than earthly distractions, in persevering:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

In accepting the job offer, and looking ahead:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert (the high desert of Nampa, ID) and streams in the wasteland (the life experiences that hurt at the time, but are used for a purpose bigger than my mind recognizes). Isaiah 43:18-19

So far in 2010, I have 18 such pieces of Scripture. This is just a sampling. I will share more later....

This Weekend... I

• participated in NNU's Faculty Retreat. It was a great opportunity to meet people, experience more of NNU, and relax at a beautiful campground in Cascade, Idaho. I continue to be impressed with the friendliness of the people and the camaraderie of our new NNU family.
• cheered Tyler on as he overcame a fearful opportunity, and rode a very high zip line over the trees of the forest.
• marveled at God's creation. I love, love, love the mountains and rivers of the Northwest! Maybe it's because it is so similar to the landscapes of my childhood, but mountains, evergreen trees, and water speak volumes to my soul.
• ate at Qdoba Mexican Grill, which is as close to Chipotle as we are going to get in Idaho. Unfortunately, food speaks to my soul, too....
• sensed confirmation from the Lord in regards to our move. Even though there are several significant pieces of the puzzle that need to fall into place, I know God is leading and providing perfectly.

House of Drama

Our house was the "House of Drama" last night!! The day will forever be marked by the first day of school in our new town. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed for this day... yet, it still was a very difficult day for the boys. My heart was breaking.

24 hours later I am humored by each of our unique responses to the stress:

Tanner arrived home mad as a hornet, and wouldn't talk to anyone for awhile. After he and Steve had some quality father-son time, he appeared fine. I knew he was just stuffing his feelings - which is both good and bad.

Tyler arrived home fairly happy, but hit a brick wall at some point and spiraled downward for most of the evening and into the night. I call this Tyler's "drunken-man funk" because everyone knows you can't reason with a drunk man.

I ate every snack food I could get my hands on. Then, I curled up on the couch and slept the discomfort away. This approach is oh, so "effective."

Steve methodically moved from one family member to another trying to be the peacemaker-problem fixer. We are the epitome of opposites attract in these kinds of situations!!

As I processed all of this today, it made me laugh! We humans are strange people - especially when under stress.

Canaan's Fare

Since I don't seem to be finding much time to write complete blogs, I enjoy sharing quotes from my current studies. Here is another from Kelly Minter's No Other Gods (p. 175):

The Lord will not allow us to be in the desert forever. Manna is only for a season. If you are going through a lean time of wafers on your tongue and burning sand beneath your feet, this too shall pass.

Corressponding Scripture is found in Joshua 5:11-12 (NIV):

The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

In not leaving us in the desert forever, I must remind myself that God allowed the Israelites to wander in the desert for 40 years! Personally, I get a little impatient with 40 minutes of waiting.... I am thankful for this reminder of God's perfect timing and provision. I KNOW eating Canaan's fare will be worth the wait!!

My Heart in Less Than 40 Words.

I am completing Kelly Minter's Bible study entitled "No Other Gods: Confronting Our Modern Day Idols." It is a great study!! It is thought-provoking and deep, but not so much so that it becomes overwhelming. The final lines read:

With every bend, twist, and dip in the road, we proclaim God faithful. We proclaim Him good. We proclaim Him right. And mostly, we proclaim Him God. As my friend put it, "God with a capital G."

And, that my friends, sums up my heart right now!