Because of some life changing things going on in my extended family, plus having two kiddos with
pneumonia, plus about five other things I could list, but won't otherwise I'll begin to sound like a
martyr, and really you wouldn't believe if I did-life has really been that unpredictable and chaotic; I
have felt a bit lost at sea and tossed about on some major waves, somedays even like I am drowning.
Which has gotten me thinking about the Apostle Peter. I love the life lessons of Peter. I love that God
used this flawed man to do great things for him.
In Peter's life, I find hope for mine.
When Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water he showed such brash courage.
I want that kind of courage.
Lately, I feel like I've been clinging to the side of the boat for dear life. Like somehow if I hold on
to the 'boat' it won't sink taking me along with it.
Perhaps, the greatest miracle of Peter wasn't that he walked on the water, but that he let go long enough
to jump out of the boat.
Peter didn't sink because the waves were to big; no, he began to drown because he lost his focus.
When his focus was on Jesus, he didn't need the boat, or swimming lessons.
I don't need swimming lessons either, I did focusing power.
Do I focus on the waves that threaten to pull me under or do I focus on the Creator of the waves?
I've found the courage to jump out of the boat, now do I have the courage to keep my focus on
Jesus when the waves threaten to pull me under.
My natural reaction is to start swimming back to the boat.
But I don't want to be that person. I don't want to swim for safety, I want to walk with determination
and courage.
What if we all choose to believe the Creator of the waves when He tells us "Don't let your heart be troubled" or "Take Courage" or "In weakness you are made strong". . .
What if instead of swimming for it, we rose up and walked keep our eyes ever forward on Jesus.
No more swimming lessons for me,
I read something on twitter the other day from a well known pastor that basically said when we say we see God at work everywhere we are reducing him down to our size.
I was so startled when I read that. . .
After all I see God at work everywhere or at least I TRY to. . .
Was I wrong in my approach?
I don't have a theology degree, I am 'just' a mom.
Maybe I was wrong.
But, then I saw this
And this
I was so startled when I read that. . .
After all I see God at work everywhere or at least I TRY to. . .
Was I wrong in my approach?
I don't have a theology degree, I am 'just' a mom.
Maybe I was wrong.
But, then I saw this
And this
And this
And this too
And here I see Him here too
Maybe this ordinary girl is wrong, but I think to NOT see God at work everywhere we go would be a sad and wrong way to live.
I'm certainly not trying to reduce God to my size.
In fact I think when I see Him at work everywhere, I'm reflecting on His amazing power and also love and grace. . .
That the God of the universe cares enough about me, about all of us, to allow us to catch glimpses of him in our days while go about our lives is such a gift. . .
just another way He shows his grace.
After all we could live in an all brown world, but instead He gives us glimpses of the extraordinary in the ordinariness of our every days.
I hope you see Him today.
Not so He'll be 'our size' but so that His Greatness will be magnified even more next to our ordinary.
Blessings,
I have used this blog on one other occasion to discuss politics. (Twice if you count my post on Chick Fil A-and I don't, but some might.)
Not that I don't have opinions -because I do.
But, because that's not what this blog is about.
But, today is a special day. One every American should be grateful for and not take for granted.
For some reason today, I can't get that picture of the Iraqi's holding their purple thumbs up in the air
after their first free election out of my head.
And we get cranky because lines are long. . . .
Anyway that's not really what I wanted to talk about today.
I was watching a news story about violence and kids. Particularly, kids committing violent acts younger and younger and why that might be.
First of all, let me say that I am an ordinary girl and my thoughts might be simple. I realize that.
However, these two thoughts keep jostling their way over and over in my mind :
Perhaps if we didn't teach kids that they are disposable in their mothers womb where they should be the safest, things might be different.
And after we that, perhaps if we didn't teach them they were decedents of animals they wouldn't think it's ok to act them.
Not just when it comes to violence but also when it comes to kids and sex.
That they can control themselves, don't have to act on every urge.
It is possible to wait until marriage and have one partner for life.
Simplistic, I know.
And yet not all at the same time.
Happy Election Day America, let's not take for granted the right so many died for and so many others wish they had.
Blessings,
Not that I don't have opinions -because I do.
But, because that's not what this blog is about.
But, today is a special day. One every American should be grateful for and not take for granted.
For some reason today, I can't get that picture of the Iraqi's holding their purple thumbs up in the air
after their first free election out of my head.
And we get cranky because lines are long. . . .
Anyway that's not really what I wanted to talk about today.
I was watching a news story about violence and kids. Particularly, kids committing violent acts younger and younger and why that might be.
First of all, let me say that I am an ordinary girl and my thoughts might be simple. I realize that.
However, these two thoughts keep jostling their way over and over in my mind :
Perhaps if we didn't teach kids that they are disposable in their mothers womb where they should be the safest, things might be different.
And after we that, perhaps if we didn't teach them they were decedents of animals they wouldn't think it's ok to act them.
Not just when it comes to violence but also when it comes to kids and sex.
That they can control themselves, don't have to act on every urge.
It is possible to wait until marriage and have one partner for life.
Simplistic, I know.
And yet not all at the same time.
Happy Election Day America, let's not take for granted the right so many died for and so many others wish they had.
Blessings,
Driving into church last night, it was already dark because of the evil known as 'Falling Back'.
(I would vote for the first candidate that promised to end the whole nonsense of Spring Forward and Falling Back. Enough Already!)
But, while driving, I came to red light next to a building that's been under construction for quite awhile now.
My first thought was, "Boy they've been working on that forever, I wonder when they'll be done?".
My second was, "Now they'll lose working time because it's getting dark so much sooner.".
Then, as the light turned green and I drove closer to the actual site; I saw way in the back of the
building one little light, and as I looked closer realized it was a headlight on a construction worker who
was working away at something.
I couldn't tell what it was, but he was busy.
As I've thought more about that building, it occurred to me that is how so many of us view what's going on in our lives.
We feel like we're under construction.
Like it's taking forever and will never get done.
Only to have something else out of our control make the progress feel as if it's stopped.
We're in the dark.
But, we can't see is that construction is still going on.
Maybe slower than we'd like, maybe way in the back.
But, it's happening.
God is still working on us and our lives.
What we've got to do is trust.
Trust in our Divine Carpenter.
Trust that even though it may be dark for us-
He is the Light.
He knows the plans and He can keep working, no matter what we can't see.
In Jeremiah He tells that not only does He have a plan for us, but His plan is only to do us good.
And, if we seek Him, we will find him.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jer 29:11-13)
If today, you feel left in the dark, half unfinished and not sure when work will ever be complete.
Trust the Maker of the Plan.
He's still at work.
Even if it's in the dark.
Blessings,
(I would vote for the first candidate that promised to end the whole nonsense of Spring Forward and Falling Back. Enough Already!)
But, while driving, I came to red light next to a building that's been under construction for quite awhile now.
My first thought was, "Boy they've been working on that forever, I wonder when they'll be done?".
My second was, "Now they'll lose working time because it's getting dark so much sooner.".
Then, as the light turned green and I drove closer to the actual site; I saw way in the back of the
building one little light, and as I looked closer realized it was a headlight on a construction worker who
was working away at something.
I couldn't tell what it was, but he was busy.
As I've thought more about that building, it occurred to me that is how so many of us view what's going on in our lives.
We feel like we're under construction.
Like it's taking forever and will never get done.
Only to have something else out of our control make the progress feel as if it's stopped.
We're in the dark.
But, we can't see is that construction is still going on.
Maybe slower than we'd like, maybe way in the back.
But, it's happening.
God is still working on us and our lives.
What we've got to do is trust.
Trust in our Divine Carpenter.
Trust that even though it may be dark for us-
He is the Light.
He knows the plans and He can keep working, no matter what we can't see.
In Jeremiah He tells that not only does He have a plan for us, but His plan is only to do us good.
And, if we seek Him, we will find him.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jer 29:11-13)
If today, you feel left in the dark, half unfinished and not sure when work will ever be complete.
Trust the Maker of the Plan.
He's still at work.
Even if it's in the dark.
Blessings,
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