What happens when you want (WHY?) to be a little bit controversial...

Okay.  SO yeah... I'm joining the ever-growing Chick-fil-A debate.  I shouldn't.  Really.  I know I shouldn't.  But instead of asking myself WHY? again, I just said WHY NOT??? So, if you don't want my opinion, you should stop reading... now.  Yep, right now.  I'm a bit opinionated, I'm loyal to a particular party, I want to volunteer for that party when I'm old and gray, I don't understand why anyone wouldn't vote, I tear up when I see a man or woman in uniform, I've cried saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and I flat-out, 100%, do not apologize for loving this great (say what you will) nation's foundation.  So I warned you.

The Chick-fil-A issue is not about hate.  It has never, ever, ever been about hate.  For me, the pride and determination I felt while waiting in that drive-thru line was about something far greater than disagreeing with a lifestyle.  It was about FINALLY feeling like a company was NOT pushing me away.  Like they were saying, "Hey! Lindsay Habedank! There are millions of people going to Chick-fil-A today who are feeling exactly like you!" In a world where Christians are pushed away, where traditional families are fading from view, where the nation is losing sight of what it was founded upon, it was like a bit of water to dry, thirsty ground to see communities pulling together in support of Chick-fil-A.

I worked for four years in public schools.  The last two years, spent in Metro Nashville, I was the outsider, made fun of for my beliefs, invited by the school system to attend an event celebrating Darwin, and told that I was almost not hired because I was "too conservative."  Now, let's examine this end of the spectrum.  There are so many people rushing to the defense of a certain lifestyle because, bless their hearts, "Christians hate them."  You and I know this will never be true of someone who is honestly seeking Christ with their whole heart on a daily basis.  But what about the Christians? Nobody is saying, "Bless their hearts, the whole world thinks they're stupid." Nope.  They are joining right in with them and calling us crazy.  We are the minority.  We are discriminated against.  We are pushed to the side.  If the world could only see that segregation is happening all over again... only not with race.  This time it's religion.  Oh, WAIT! No!! It's NOT religion.  It's Christianity.

The Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was not about hate.  It was about love and support for a great company who is celebrating and maintaining their traditional values.  Let the other companies celebrate gay rights, if they so choose.  You won't see Christian mayors calling for the closure of those businesses.  Why? Because it'll be dismissed as... wait for it... crazy and hateful.  It's time that Christians realize that this is discrimination.  Make a bold move and stand up for what you believe is right.  "They" do.

What Happens When You Are Waiting to See Your Husband on TV...

You write a blog because you remember that your mom really gets excited about it.

Have you ever examined yourself during those times where life is becoming a little bit routine? You know what I'm talking about.  The times where "praying without ceasing" is the last thing on your mind because everything seems okay.

In this season of my life, I am a teacher.  Right now, it is my job to solve problems for little people who don't have a clue where to put quotation marks in dialogue and they are struggling with the Order of Operations.  Because it's my job, I meet those needs to the best of my ability. But I don't just hear all their problems with school. 

This morning a little girl brought a picture of her parents' wedding for me to see.  Another student has told me about how craaaaazzzzy she is about Justin Bieber.  Yet another one always wants to know my opinion of American Idol.  And then there's the girl who shared that she felt that she was getting a "migration" (migraine).  Why is this important? It's when they share their heart that I truly get to know the kids.  I know a lot about their families by what music and movies they are allowed to hear and see.  Every kid struggles with some concept in school.  No surprises there.  It is the moment between the concepts that I learn about the child.  And when I learn about them, I can use that to meet their needs (How many kids were at the Justin Bieber concert if there were 42 times as many kids as we have in our class? See... it's all about making the connection :)

How much more true is that in our relationship with God? Does He hear from you when all is well? Do you share with Him your joys and your dreams and how thankful you are for the times that He has met your needs? I know that I need to do a lot more "sharing" so that He knows that my heart is open for Him to pour His love in and meet every need that I have.  

He's Jesus for the safe and for the unafraid; for those who are redeemed and for those ashamed.  He sees you where you are:  your healed OR broken heart. No matter what you need, He IS for who you are.

What Happens When You Go to A Christmas Concert...

Tonight I had the privilege of attending Christ Church Choir's Christmas concert (say that real fast, 9 times) with my friend Dani and her mom.  From the first strains of the orchestra's opening notes, I was overwhelmed with simply knowing that this celebration was because a little baby was born...

Although there were phenomenal moments throughout the night, there was one song that absolutely rocked my world.  This might seem strange to you, but I have been a huge fan of "The Little Drummer Boy" for quite some time because of one little line, "Then, He smiled at me."  Love it.  But tonight, I really heard what happens right before that line:  "I played my best for Him."  Now I don't know about you, but my eyes are filling up with tears once again.  I am guilty of harboring my dreams and ambitions because I'm scared of not being the best at those lofty things I desire to be.  I'm a perfectionist from way back.  I've even held back my "best" from the One who gave me those dreams.  I've tried to ignore them and I've tried to silence them by replaying the words of those who've told me that I just don't have what it takes to see these dreams fulfilled.  But what if I just "'play' my best for Him?" I hope, with all that is within me, I hope He smiles at me.  That's fulfillment enough for me.

LH

Chapter Four: "What Happens When You Have the Same Color Thumb as Your Mother's"

My thumb, dear friends, is not green.  It is a nice shade of, well flesh, to be perfectly honest, but metaphorically speaking, it would be black.  So, I bought this lovely pot of festive flowers for our front porch.  And just like my mother (as she reminded me AS SOON AS SHE ARRIVED last weekend), I cannot remember to keep up the flowers.  We both have ADD tendencies and well, ummmmm something sparkly always seems to catch my eye right before it occurs to me to water the flowers.  I literally have driven up to our house and thought, "Hmmm... those flowers are dying." And the thought didn't really settle in my head well enough to come up with a second thought of, "Hmmm... I bet I need to water them." 

So, anyway... we now have a new GORGEOUS pot of flowers on our porch, perched right in front of a pumpkin.   These flowers always catch my eye, but the thought of them dying doesn't occur to me.  What does occur to me?? "Thank you Lord, for Hobby Lobby, where the flowers are just as vibrant as You intended for them to be."

Okay, there's more.  The day I brought these new flowers home, I needed to cut them away from their wire-laden bunch.  I don't have wire cutters.  I used a regular pair of scissors because I firmly believed that you don't have to have a "special" kind of somethings to cut fake flowers.  I broke the scissors (I replaced them with the EXACT same kind so I wouldn't have to tell my husband.  So much for that...).  Well, what's a girl to do?? Go in the garage to see if her husband has anything interesting to cut the beautiful fake flowers.  I found hedge trimmers.  That's all.  Yes, I used them. 

There I was, in front of our sweet house that looks like very sane people must dwell within.  Acting like it was the most normal thing in the world, I stood there with these enormous hedge trimmers that are 1/2 as tall as I am, clipping away at a little bunch of fake flowers from Hobby Lobby.  I seriously would not be surprised if it shows up on YouTube.  But, for all who drive by and see this scene (minus the hedge trimmers and me), you will see the prettiest little flowers and happy little pumpkin gracing our front steps.  The pumpkin is real.  The flowers... not so much.

LH

Chapter Three: "What Happens When You Are at Home on Saturday..."

... You feel quite the urgency to write.  In your pajamas. :) And as you're sitting here contemplating all the mysteries of life, you realize an overwhelming sense of thankfulness on this fall day.  With Thanksgiving approaching, we are anxiously awaiting the "warm and fuzzy" feeling of being close to the ones we love, sharing special moments, and making memories that will carry us beyond the ones we'll get to make again next year.  But what about this day? Today can be as much about Thanksgiving as we'll allow it to be. 

All of my life, I've been fascinated with song lyrics, remembering lines that can fit just about any situation.  Today, the lyric I'm reminded of is one from a NewSong live worship album a few years ago:  "Before the day slips away, I want to stop and say, "I love You, I love You." I often find myself so busy that I forget to stop and just be thankful... shame on me.  Because when I do, when I recognize the presence of the ever-loving, ever-merciful, ever-faithful Father, my day is a lot more like Thanksgiving:  although busy with preparation, scurrying around, trying to make the day just right... it has that peace that comes with knowing that every good thing we acknowledge, or forget to, comes from the One who longs to hear our thankful hearts.

LH

Chapter Two: "What You Do When You Want to Explain Your Blog Title..."

Ummm... a good start would be to create a new post. 

I've had many conversations lately with my husband and parents about a new journey that I've found myself on  (PREPOSITION, I know, but I'm a Tennessee girl and can't say, "on which I've found myself," with a straight face).  Seriously, though... they asked me days into the journey what I was thinking about it all, and I replied, "I'm just trying to 'be still and know.'" 

"Be STILL (you, Lindsay Habedank? Seriously?) and know what?" you may ask.  It is to wait, listen, and just know that He is God... and He is very, very good.  I'm 24, but as you read my blog, you'll find out... I've learned a LOT about that goodness in my young life.  I don't claim to know it all, but what a great place to start:  to just trust Him.

By the way... posting twice in one night will be very rare.  :D

LH

Chapter One: "What You Do When You Have Something to Say..."

Well, you sign up for a blog.  For the second time in your life.  I'm not really sure where this is going, but we shall see.  What can you expect? Hmmm... I am a thinker, so be very afraid. :) I'll probably let you know what I think on just about everything from the latest laundry detergent to why I think the Lord leads us to things that look a little less like where we thought we were headed. 

It's gonna be a fun ride.  Oh, and I "made" myself use the word "gonna" as I cringed at the thought of replacing my preferred "going to."  See... I warned you.  :)

LH