Open Door Ministries Blog

Today's Fun Fact!

Confession #1:  a day’s pretty much wasted if I don’t learn something new; I’m a student and I love learning; and I especially enjoy laughing at myself when it’s something that’s been there all along, right under my nose. 

Confession #2:  I have a love/hate relationship with kitchen wrap; plastic, foil, wax.  Until today they were a necessary evil in my kitchen pantry.  I love the convenience of covering, securing, protecting and easy clean up.  I hate pulling them off the stupid roll which either flies out of it’s handy ‘dispenser’ box, gnarls and cements itself to itself or refuses to be serrated by it’s ‘handy’ serrator. Wraps in my kitchen require an extra hand (and an occasional foot or elbow).

But today’s a good day…just learned something new, and snickering to myself, it was right under my nose, there all along.  Please tell me that I’m not the only woman that didn’t know that the wrap boxes have a push tab on both ends that secures the roll in the box, thus creating it’s own ‘extra hand’! And it works!  Who knew?  I wish I could tell you I discovered this eureka myself, but I read in a community freebie paper.  Today’s a good day!

I thought of something Pastor Aaron said in Sunday’s message: ‘Every generation must find God for themselves. My Dad taught me that there is a God and I will have to deal with Him someday.’  His message…we want our children to find God, then we must find God; we want them grounded in His principles, then we must be grounded in those principles; we want them to have good influences, then we must place among good influences-and we must engage with those influences ourselves; we can’t make them but we can lead, model and point.  

And like most of life’s real lessons, it’s caught not taught.  The push tabs are right there, but if I don’t push the tabs, things are gonna fly.

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Deana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Am, Aren't I?

According to Facebook, right now I have friends actually on the ground in: Greece, France, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Afghanistan, Jordan and Canada.  Soon the list will include India and Germany.  These don’t include my snail mail pals in Israel, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia and Guatemala.  Nor the myriad of vacation, business-traveling vagabonds splattered across the USA.

Something Aaron mentioned in Sunday’s message reminded me of an important lesson in my spiritual development a while back.  It’s been my honor and privilege to travel abroad on several occasion; many of our ODM peeps have shared those journeys with me.  Those who have traveled with me know that I have a gripping fear of flying. I will be forever grateful to one of our own who took the time to painstakingly teach me about flight, the principle of lift and how the pilot knows and does those magical things that keep those ginormous hunks of steel up in those tiny little particles of air!  But I confess, I’m still pretty scared.

If you happened to be my seat mate on those travels, you were no doubt aware of my anxiety; each and every time we lifted off the ground or lined up for our approach, under my breath I’d pray: ‘Please, please, please, Dear Lord…get us up, get us there, and get us down; please, please, please place your guarding angels about us and protect us from pilot error and the thoughtless acts of other…. I literally and wholeheartedly blithered on beseeching the Father for protection and safe travel.’

On one such occasion, teeth gripped and white knuckled, I felt the Lord speak deeply into my heart; ‘Deana, when you take your family on a trip or vacation, do you plan ahead, do you service the car, make the reservations, pack the snacks and bags, look for unique opportunities to experience and enjoy, cover the bases back home, map out the route and sneak in a surprise or two?’

Well yes, Lord, you know I do, you know I love doing those very things.

‘Then what makes you think that you’re a better parent than I am…I AM, aren’t I?  Little lady, you’re going to be so surprised all that I have planned for you…memories of a lifetime!  Now strap that seatbelt down, hold on tight if you must and fly with Me!’

It forever changed the way I pray about a lot of things.  Aaron confessed that parenting and concern for his little boy has kept him awake at night, and I know from experience that there will be more nights like that in spite of his faith and resolve.  But God’s word to him, as to me, was…why are you a better parent than I am?  ‘Please protect’ is a prayer of fear, it’s defensive in its nature and assumes that Satan has the better position on the field of life.  Whereas, ‘thank you Lord for what you are and will’... is offensive in it’s nature and assumes that the Lord gained the first down before I ever got in the game! 

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Deana

 

 

 

Integrity: Caught not Taught

This past Sunday we started our new series, ‘Remnant Generation’.  One of the key points Pastor A made was that someone is always watching, meaning of course, our children and followers.  As a mature parent (who is too immature to classify myself as older, LOL!)  Anyway, as a mature parent, I’m often asked about character development in children, most often in the context of when, where and how to teach them character.  The answer is the simplest in the world…really it is…the answer is as natural as breathing in and breathing out…in fact that’s how it’s done. Character is caught not taught; with every breath we breathe we’re teaching character to those precious eyes and ears.  Every roll of our eyes, every sigh, every curt word, every slight of hand, every glance, purchase and exchange.  And every prayer we pray, every smile we give, every door we open/close, the care of our home, lawn, business and the blessing on our lips toward our spouse, parents and friends.   It’s happening when we spot the police officer, observe the umpire/coach, and comment on our child’s teacher, friends and friend’s parents. It’s in the way we approach problems, challenges and decision. All the things we do without thinking, as easy as breathing in and breathing out.  Matthew 12:34 tell us that whatever is in our heart determines what you say (and body language is a huge part of what we say).

A couple weeks ago, as the school year was winding down, I became aware of the story I’m about to share from our ODM family.  In deference to their humility, I’m withholding the names but feel free to say that this is a real family that lives real lives in the real world…with young eyes watching:  Their son had done excellent in school all year.  In fact he had made straight A’s all year with the exception of the last period when he earned an 89 in math (one point away from an A).  The expectations of his parents are high and they know the student could have earned an A during this marking period as well.  There are two academic awards at his school (Headmaster’s List=all A’s; Honor Roll=A’s and B’s); the office made a mistake and awarded the student the Headmaster’s List during the Award’s Ceremony.  At the end of the ceremony, the student returned the certificate to his parents and pointed out that the award was not his.  Honestly, the student could have walked away that evening and never mentioned a word; it’s doubtful that the school or the parents would have caught the mistake.  But at a mere 11 years old, he chose not to take credit for something that he’d not earned.  Later that day his Dad, chocked and teary, was able to tell his son that the integrity he’d shown made them more proud than any A he could have earned.   I can tell you, long before that day, my young friend had caught something that will serve him well all the days of his life.

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Deana

 

 

The Napkin

I am a person of story, both the oral and written art of painting a picture that only the mind can see.  It is through His story and His stories, that I’ve come to dearly love the Man whose face I’ve never seen.  Whether each story has been translated correctly or told accurately is of little interest to me.  I’ve found more than enough that identifies Him as a human like me and yet, the God who created me…. I can no more bring those two extreme mysteries together than I can prove the text of this entry.   This crossed my desk some five years ago and I’ve read it often, searched to validate its content and simply enjoyed the thought that He might Himself enjoy a good yarn or two like me…. so, in anticipation of Resurrection Sunday, I share….

John 20:1-9(NLT)  ‘Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.  She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb.  They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.  Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.  He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.  The disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed-for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.’

Now why would John expressly mention the cloth that covered Jesus’ head was ‘folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings?  As told to me…in order to understand the significance of the folded cloth or napkin, you must understand customs of the day.  When a servant boy set the table for his master, it was vitally important that everything be to the master’s liking.  Once achieved, the young boy would wait nearby, just out of sight.  According to custom, servants would dare not enter, touch nor disturb the table until it was certain the master had finished his meal and left the room.  If the master had completed his meal, he would rise from the table, wiping his fingers and mouth with his napkin and toss it onto the table thus signaling, ‘I’m done’ and the table could be cleared.  But if the master got up from the table and folded his napkin, laying it beside his plate, the signal to his servant would mean, ‘do not touch, I am not finished, I am coming back.’  

But there’s more; carpenters were known to take a cloth and wipe the sweat off their face, fold the cloth and leave it by the side of their work as an invoice, signaling that their work was finished.

I can not tell you what the Master Carpenter meant to signal to us that day; what I can tell you is that the Cross finished God’s Redemptive work for me and I am assured that one day He will return…and then I’ll see Him, Face to face.

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Deana

 

Mind Games

In the span of seven days, the weather has peaked at 80 and plummeted to freezing.  There’s been rain, wind, sleet, frost and more rain.  My state of mind is struggling with all this variation as March winds it way into April; it’s apparently time to 4.8 my thoughts AGAIN!  4.8 is my call to remember that well intended verse in Philippians…’Finally, brethren (and sistaren), whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.’

I’m spending my week caring for my Mom in my home, helplessly watching her slip and slide down the slopes of Mt. Alzheimer’s. It affords a look into the amazing creation of God we call the human soul; that place where our mind, will and emotions intersect creating the person we really are.  As her thoughts and memories yield to actions and emotions, it occurs to me that what I dwell on today may well be encoding my mind for the future.  The human mind, quite amazing in many ways, either controls us or we control it.  Not a battle easily won, but worth the fight just the same.

On a lighter side, I offer the following ‘mind game’ to illustrate it’s powerful potential!  This is not a misprint…. believe it or not, you can read it.  

I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg.  The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan  mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt thing is that the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit plae.  The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.  Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.  Amzanig huh?

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Deana

 

 

 

J.O.Y Part 4

I appreciate so much the conversations and responses to this Blog series, wish more could have posted here cause the verbal feedback has been interesting!  So, to finish out our thought process, here's my last thoughts on the subject of JOY....

J Really good friends of ours adopted the tradition of only wrapping three gifts for their children in remembrance of the Gifts of the Magi.  One gift represents gold and is something of value to the child, perhaps that one gift they're really hoping for.  One represents frankincense and has a soothing/fragrant implication like bubble and bath supplies, warm fleecy PJs and slippers or something for their room.  Finally, myrrh is for their spiritual development as a Bible, devotional book, Cds, etc.  While they limit under the tree or Santa gifts to 3, there's still a little space for play in the stockings.

O For various reasons, this has been a difficult season for me; my usual, well hewn systems have failed me this year so I've found myself striving for the JOY and woefully behind in my plans.  As I write this entry, I'm reminded that just this morning I was running errands that would normally have been done days, if not weeks ago and there was no joy to be found.  'But God', as a friend of mine says when all seems impossible, 'But God, He gives grace', and He did.  He gave grace when the clerk at the pharmacy was nearly in tears and I had the chance to ask her how the transition was going; tearfully she thanked me for asking.  And again when an older gentleman needed an honest opinion about his wife's gift....and each time I stopped to give them my valuable time, God's grace multiplied my time and my heart's joy returned.  But God, He made the way.

Y I close with a fond, fond memory.  Back when my kids were kids, the Raleigh Service League had a 'Secret Shoppe' at Crabtree Mall every Christmas.  It looked like a candy cane cottage and had festively clad assistants who would consult with parents as to a budget and gift list that our little shoppers needed to complete.  Then the kids would disappear into the candy cottage to pick out their own little gifts, emerging with wrapped and labeled packages and strict instructions not to reveal the secrets within until Christmas.  To this day, tucked in PsG's bedside table is a box of handkerchiefs engraved with an 'N', cause at 3 our last name is pronounced 'Nennedy'. Make yourself some wonderful memories!

Christmas Blessings,
Deana    

J.O.Y Part 3

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a classic, anyone who's worked with children and the general public can see so much fun and truth in it's pages!  We used to read the whole book on Christmas Eve, it only takes an hour and every year (and I do mean every year), I'd cry when I read of Gladys strolling up and down the street in her white robe and dirty sneakers yelling out into the dark night, 'Hey, unto you a child is born.'  Talk about a story that kids can relate to and yet, in the end, makes Jesus the focus of this wonderful season.

Along the 'Others' line, stealing this one from Abby cause it is ingenious.  Basically, if Santa says do it, we can count on kids 'doing it', so leverage that secret by placing a box of kid friendly thank you notes in your kids stockings with instructions from Santa to write notes to those who gave them gifts. Keep it simple and be willing to help out, be realistic as to how many and to whom but stretch 'em a little.

Finally, 'You'...as we approach our Christmas Message this Sunday, make REDEMPTION a topic of discussion with your kids; do they know your own story of coming to accept Jesus as your personal Savior.  Articulate for them where you were, how you felt, the difference Jesus made in your life then and now.  YOU are an important part of their history, make HIS STORY in you a living testament in their lives.

Blessings,
Ps D

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J.O.Y Part 2

Rae, thank you for your comments.  I so deeply enjoyed that you opened your heart and shared the JOY through Brian’s eyes.  I love the idea of going to look at the Christmas Lights and taking OTHER kids with you…I’d love to be a fly on the steering wheel to hear some of the comments, thoughts and dreams that will be spoken that night!

We know several people have read this blog and we hope each of you will take a moment to add your ideas to the mix.  B&N tells me several copies of ‘Jotham’ were sold this week!  Here are 3 more ideas from my files… 

J (Jesus): A Nativity, Manger or Crèche is a given if you want to keep Jesus’ Birthday in your kiddos minds during the season.  I tend to be drawn toward the type that the kids can touch and move around.  Back when ODM was about 100 or so people, I used to bring the kids to my house for their Christmas Party.  I have a rather extensive Fontanini collection (thanks to my Mom) and enjoy watching kids ‘tell their version’ of the story and move the pieces around…believe me, Bethlehem has known some rather rough nights but I’m guessing their versions were far more authentic than the ususal warm glow and starry, starry night!

O (Others):  Rae gave us a grand idea for Others, anytime you include another person, you’re moving in the right direction.  Also want to point out our ‘Give Back Tree’; ODM has partnered with Hope of Glory to provide Christmas for several families in the Pitt County area.  Drop by the Info Desk for more details.  Be sure to include your children in the decisions, purchase and wrapping…remember they catch more from the process than they do from your information.

Y (You):  When I was little, I could hardly wait for the arrival of the Sears and Roebuck BIG Christmas Wish Catalogue, there’s nothing, and I mean nothing, like it anymore.  My sister and I would spend hours, tummy down in our PJs on the floor, looking and planning what to ask for.  One night to dream, really dream, can be a lot of fun.  Listen to what they’re saying and why they’re saying it.  Sure, you’ll hear a lot about ‘me and I want’, but watch how the conversations develop and resolve, you’ll learn a lot about those sweet gifts of yours!  And while you’re at it, what was your favorite holiday story, tradition, and gift…take a moment to share.

Pastor Deana

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J.O.Y

Been makin’ my list and checkin’ it twice.  Many of my tech savvy friends find it most amusing that I use the envelope system for purchasing Christmas gifts.  We use a budget each year which I divide amongst my peeps, placing the designated cash into envelopes and commence with ‘shop till I drop’ fervor.  If your envelope comes up empty before my idea-list does, oh well, maybe next year, maybe not!  I think my peeps will tell you that I can stretch a dollah better than a southern belle can stretch out ‘bless your heart yall’.

As Thanksgiving gives way to Christmas, conscientious parents wondering how to keep Christ in their children’s Christmas amid the hurry, fury and flurry often approach me.  I don’t claim to be an expert, but I do have a few suggestions to offer.  But, I’ll bet I’m not the only one!  So, I’m opening a month long discussion on our BLOG and welcome your comments, ideas, feedback, praise reports, questions and thoughts.  Please let us hear from you!

I want to be as clear as I can when I say this, but my first suggestion is that we come to peace with the understanding that Santa’s already ‘run herd’ over Christmas.  He’s everywhere and in everything remotely connected to the Holiday; little kids are understandably mesmerized by his jolly laugh and merry, cherry nose and we’re not likely to change that. Riding a righteous high-horse won’t really make Jesus look any better to our little ones, in fact, He’ll end up looking like, well, The Grinch.  Please don’t misunderstand; I’m not saying this is right, I am saying this is what is. Judging myself and maintaining a bit of righteousness, peace and joy goes a long way in presenting Jesus as the Real Reason for the Season.

When my kids were kids, even back when I was a kid, we sang a little ditty in Sunday School that went like this:  ‘Jesus and others and you, what a wonderful way to spell joy; Jesus and others and you, in the life of each girl and each boy.  J is for Jesus for He has first place, O is for others we meet face to face, Y is for you in whatever you do, put yourself last and spell JOY!”  So, gonna organize my thoughts via my Joy Jingle; these are in no particular order of importance, except these first three, as they may require some preplanning:

J (JESUS):  Start by making Him a joyful and intriguing part of each day.  I trust most of you read daily to your children and tuck them in at night with prayers and BLESSINGS!  There’s a plethora of books and DVDs on the market to share the Christmas story and the gentle side of human nature.  Especially for school aged kids, my family enjoyed ‘Jotham’s Journey’ by Arnold Ytreeide.  It’s about a 15 minute read each night beginning the fourth Sunday before Christmas.  The story follows Jotham on a month long, cliffhanger at every turn, journey that brings him to the birth of the Christ Child.  I’ve ordered in 5 copies that will be at the Info Desk for anyone interested; B&N will have a few additional copies (and it’s available through CBD and Amazon).  There are 2 other stories in the series:  Bartholomew’s Passage and Tabitha’s Travels.

O(OTHERS):  Who of us hasn’t schlept past the Salvation Army’s red kettle ashamed that we had no spare change or cash to share.  It’s hard to even make eye contact with the Bell Ringers, let alone venture a heartfelt ‘Merry Christmas’. How about deciding today how much your Christmas budget will allow you to give this season and cash that amount out in nickels, dimes, quarter or bills to keep handily in your car or coat pocket.  That way you have a little to give each time you and the kids pass a kettle; kids will start looking for the stores that have a kettle (which, by the way, is not all stores.  Believe it or not, some have actually requested that the SA not stand outside their stores).  This can open up an ongoing conversation about ‘others’ at Christmas.

Y(YOU):  Although my discussion on ‘you’ will take on a much lighter note in later entries, I need to be direct and to the point.  Values, morals and life lessons are more caught than taught. Meaning, regardless of what we’re telling our children to say, do or think, they’re catching what WE ARE saying and doing, not to mention our attitude that goes along with it all.  Follow the Leader trumps Simon Says most of the time. So today, ‘you’ really is about you and me.  Is Jesus really the Reason for the Season?

Waiting to hear from you!

Pastor Deana 

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Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head

All the rain has reminded me of this story.

Circa 1960: One night, around 11:30 PM, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down; desperately needing a ride, she flagged the next vehicle. Though generally unheard of in those days, a young white man stopped to assist her. He took her to safety and arranged for mechanical assistance; realizing she was distraught and in a hurry, he called for a taxi. She wrote down his address, thanked him and sped away into the rainy night. Seven days later there was a knock on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant combination console color TV and stereo record player was delivered to his home; attached was this note:

Dear Mr James,
Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain had 
drenched not only my clothes but my spirit as well. Then you came along and you 
stopped. Because of you, I was able to make it to my husbands bedside just before he 
passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole

I've passed a fair share of runners, pedestrians, mom's wrangling carts and toddlers, an elderly woman fighting the wind and her umbrella, and a myriad of rain soaked sojourners along the way...I'm trying to remember if I moved away from the puddles, held the cart or the door, offered to share my umbrella or even ventured to give a smile or nod.  Did I ever think of their need, their battle, their discomfort; did I focus only on me?

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Deana