We all blinked and 2014 is about to be nothing but a memory.
You hear it all your life. . .about how time fly's, but you absolutely do not understand until you are a
grown up.
2014 has over all been a good year to the Wilkinson 5.
We've laughed some, cried some, yelled some, taken leaps of faith, tripped over baby steps and
learned along the way. Some days we loved each other more, others we weren't sure what
we were doing and why we were doing it together. But, everyday God was there.
Jerry and I celebrated twenty-two years of marriage. It hasn't all been sunshine and roses, romance
and candlelight, but grace has flowed and God's been patient with us - and we even survived our
first ever major house remodeling project as we gutted our hall bathroom. We laugh more than we
cried and we loved more than we were angry. I call that a success.
This year we crossed some thresholds has parents.
Chose a new school path for our oldest-who also had the audacity to turn 16- which hasn't been easy
but has been very rewarding. Saw that same kiddo through a major eye surgery. And let him set
out on a grand adventure with his friends were he spent six days canoeing in the remote Boundary
Waters of Minnesota.
Our Middle is stepping his toe into the Tween/Teen years, and we are gearing up to hang on.
Watching him become a man of prayer and a loving friend and big brother has inspired me on
many difficult days. He also pushes me and makes me think which often leaves me tired and worn
out-but I wouldn't trade it for the world. He recently finished up playing one of the main characters
in the school Christmas program. . .something so far out of his comfort zone, but he did it and did it
well. I want to be as brave as him when I grow up. And if I could just siphon off some of that energy
--well, I'd be rich.
Our precious baby girl, isn't a baby anymore. She's eight and growing into a beautiful, smart, fun
young lady. I see the 'mean girl' thing beginning to creep into her peer group at school -and oh if
I could I would shield her from every hurt. But that is a mother's heartbreak, we can't protect them
from everything. So we teach, and love and listen. As I watch her discovering who she is and
watch her gifts unfold, I marvel at how I could be this fantastic person's mother.
Personally, this has been a somewhat difficult year for me. I've struggled with some health issues that
landed me in the hospital in March and still are giving me the business. I've taken on more hours at
my children's school, which while a blessing, has also been an adjustment. I've lost a friendship
along the way that has still left me somewhat broken.
But, each step, God has been there.
I was blessed to be apart of the launch team for Beth Moore's newest Bible study, Children of the Day
and speak at a few churches and ladies groups-which I pray I never take for granted. Women's
Ministry, and doing it well, burns deep in my bones. The blog is like a faithful friend, even when
neglected it's still there waiting for me and I've been blessed to have several new readers and
encouragers this year, which I do not take lightly. The fact that people would take their precious time
and read my words and then comment or share them with others is a wonder and a blessing to me
each and every time. So, thank you Dear Readers, you are more precious to me than you know.
2015 is a blank slate. Just waiting there for us to put our stamp upon it.
Dreams and passions to pursue. Goals to conquer. Laundry to fold, bathrooms to clean, groceries to
be bought--
and grace to find in the everyday and ordinary.
What will this year bring? I don't know. But, I know who goes before and I know He has a plan, for
me and for you too.
Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.
Blessings to you, My Friends, in this new year to come. As you wave goodbye to 2014 I would
love to hear some highlights and how you saw God at work there.
Grace and Peace,
Christmastime is here.
Homes are decorated, city governments even have trees and decorations throughout, Linus and
Charlie Brown are on TV, churches are filled with music and candles-there is no denying it
we are in the throws of the season that means everything to many of us.
Each year I like to ponder and mull over a particular part of the Nativity story.
God poured so much detail into every aspect of that Holy Night, if we're not careful we'll miss it. . .
after all this is a story most of us have heard since childhood and could recite backward
and forward.
This year I've been thinking quite a bit about the Place where it all happened.
Bethlehem.
A town, full of sheep and shepherds and a harried inn keeper.
Bethlehem, 30 miles from Jerusalem -but it might have just as well been 3,000.
That little seemingly insignificant dot on the map of Israel, but where God chose to
give us Hope wrapped in clothes and laying a feeding trough.
As I've been pondering Bethlehem I think the thing that has struck me the most is it's
seemingly insignificance to those around it.
Although, it did have a claim to fame in being the hometown of Israel's greatest king and poet, David,
those years had come and gone.
The word that keeps circulating though my mind when I think of how those who lived and worked in
Bethlehem during that time is --insignificant.
Insignificant place full of insignificant people-at least to those who didn't know better.
And as a person who has been able to recite Luke 2 since I was 5 years old this thought has struck
me in a fresh and powerful way this Christmas time.
Maybe because I found myself in what to the outside world looks like some pretty insignificant
places.
Home with babies, folding laundry and cleaning bathrooms. Trying to stretch a dollar farther
and farther at the grocery store. Wonder how all of 'this' could matter to the kingdom.
Perhaps you work in what my Sweet Momma has termed a 'cube farm' and you wonder how
what you do and who you are could possible matter to anything in the light of eternity.
Single, Widowed, Divorced, New Mom who hasn't figured out how to a get a shower in every day.
Sure others are doing big things for God, but you? You find yourself in the most insignificant place
you can think of.
Oh! How I love that about God! How He bends down to the most insignificant places and changes
everything.
On that night, so very long ago when the world changed forever, God sent his son, Jesus 'The Bread
of Life', to be born in the little insignificant town of Bethlehem 'The House of Bread'.
Thirty miles away from royalty -both of kings and religion. But, God chose that places to cradle
and care for his one and only son.
Maybe no one else-not even can you-can understand how the place you're in now can be one of
any significance for the kingdom. It doesn't matter.
God is writing his story. His story that includes you. And He knows. He's always known.
Just like he knew Bethlehem would be the birthplace of his son--
Micah 5:2a The Lord says, “Bethlehem, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. But out of you will come a ruler over Israel for me.
He knows where you are, He sees you. There is not one place that is insignificant to Him.
Be on the lookout-just like that night so long ago-He might just be ready to change everything.
Now, to the those rulers in Jerusalem or the farmers near by, nothing physical about Bethlehem
might have changed, but those who saw and believed -they knew-OH how they knew-everything
had changed.
God might never pick us up and physically move us. Our outside position may never change, others
might always see where we are what we do as insignificant, but we know Who has come and the
work He is doing.
So, change those diapers, cook those meals, file those forms, do what you do and know that
no where is insignificant if Jesus is there.
Peace,
Homes are decorated, city governments even have trees and decorations throughout, Linus and
Charlie Brown are on TV, churches are filled with music and candles-there is no denying it
we are in the throws of the season that means everything to many of us.
Each year I like to ponder and mull over a particular part of the Nativity story.
God poured so much detail into every aspect of that Holy Night, if we're not careful we'll miss it. . .
after all this is a story most of us have heard since childhood and could recite backward
and forward.
This year I've been thinking quite a bit about the Place where it all happened.
Bethlehem.
A town, full of sheep and shepherds and a harried inn keeper.
Bethlehem, 30 miles from Jerusalem -but it might have just as well been 3,000.
That little seemingly insignificant dot on the map of Israel, but where God chose to
give us Hope wrapped in clothes and laying a feeding trough.
As I've been pondering Bethlehem I think the thing that has struck me the most is it's
seemingly insignificance to those around it.
Although, it did have a claim to fame in being the hometown of Israel's greatest king and poet, David,
those years had come and gone.
The word that keeps circulating though my mind when I think of how those who lived and worked in
Bethlehem during that time is --insignificant.
Insignificant place full of insignificant people-at least to those who didn't know better.
And as a person who has been able to recite Luke 2 since I was 5 years old this thought has struck
me in a fresh and powerful way this Christmas time.
Maybe because I found myself in what to the outside world looks like some pretty insignificant
places.
Home with babies, folding laundry and cleaning bathrooms. Trying to stretch a dollar farther
and farther at the grocery store. Wonder how all of 'this' could matter to the kingdom.
Perhaps you work in what my Sweet Momma has termed a 'cube farm' and you wonder how
what you do and who you are could possible matter to anything in the light of eternity.
Single, Widowed, Divorced, New Mom who hasn't figured out how to a get a shower in every day.
Sure others are doing big things for God, but you? You find yourself in the most insignificant place
you can think of.
Oh! How I love that about God! How He bends down to the most insignificant places and changes
everything.
On that night, so very long ago when the world changed forever, God sent his son, Jesus 'The Bread
of Life', to be born in the little insignificant town of Bethlehem 'The House of Bread'.
Thirty miles away from royalty -both of kings and religion. But, God chose that places to cradle
and care for his one and only son.
Maybe no one else-not even can you-can understand how the place you're in now can be one of
any significance for the kingdom. It doesn't matter.
God is writing his story. His story that includes you. And He knows. He's always known.
Just like he knew Bethlehem would be the birthplace of his son--
Micah 5:2a The Lord says, “Bethlehem, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. But out of you will come a ruler over Israel for me.
He knows where you are, He sees you. There is not one place that is insignificant to Him.
Be on the lookout-just like that night so long ago-He might just be ready to change everything.
Now, to the those rulers in Jerusalem or the farmers near by, nothing physical about Bethlehem
might have changed, but those who saw and believed -they knew-OH how they knew-everything
had changed.
God might never pick us up and physically move us. Our outside position may never change, others
might always see where we are what we do as insignificant, but we know Who has come and the
work He is doing.
So, change those diapers, cook those meals, file those forms, do what you do and know that
no where is insignificant if Jesus is there.
Peace,
My oldest son and I have adopted this song as our theme for the current school year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw
If you spend anytime at listening to Christian radio I'm sure you've heard it as it's become an anthem
for many of us.
But, as I was listening the other day the line that struck me as a fresh word was
" Your grace abounds in deepest water". . .
I've been thinking about that deep ocean water.
Deep ocean water is uncomfortable and can be scary. Often times it can even hide the beauty of the
ocean because you become so focused on survival -especially if you're not a strong swimmer.
The shore, ankle deep that's comfy. That's doable for just about everyone.
I'm not keeping my eye out for the lifeguard when I'm ankle deep.
I might be able to swim or tread the deep water for awhile, but after a time it will be become
to difficult to handle alone.
There has been some deep deep water in my life: some I've drifted into, sometimes waves have
swept me into them, other times I've jumped in with both feet. . .but I'm not sure I've prayed to swim
in those deep waters.
As I thought these past two weeks about that specific phrase, it has been proven true in my life over
and over again. The deeper the water, the bigger the grace appears.
Don't get me wrong, there's grace along the shore line too. There's grace ankle deep or even shoulder
deep, I just tend to not notice it as much, because I can handle most of the swimming there myself.
Am I alone in this?
But Oh! How I need that grace in the deep murky waters. The waters that terrify me the most. The
waters full of unknown things.
Yet in the middle of all those scary, unknown things-- Grace surrounds me, and when I clearly focus
on the Grace Giver and not those deep waters, instead of swimming in them I find myself walking on
the waves that once threatened to pull me under.
Choosing not to be scared of the ocean is a daily battle for this momma, because of course I'm not
swimming alone, I've got three little ones (well they're not so little anymore but they'll always be my
babies) swimming out behind me. And as much as I'd like to keep them on the shore their whole
lives, deep waters come whether we want them to or not. How I would much rather have them
see the beauty and grace in them than be terrified of those deep waters.
How about you? Have you found yourself in the deep water recently? Are you currently trying to
tread water or are you swimming beautifully through the grace that abounds there, or have you even
found the courage to stand and walk on them toward the Grace Giver?
If you find yourself in any of those three categories know that I'm right there swimming along side
you-one moment treading -sometimes even feeling like I might be sinking, other times swimming
like I'm Michael Phelps-even daring to try and stand and walk. But, no matter what phase each of us
is in there is comfort in knowing the Holy Lifeguard-the Keeper of the Waters is making sure the
waves that threaten to overtake us never do.
Yes, I believe it. . .His grace does abound in the deepest waters.
Swimming in the deep with you,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw
If you spend anytime at listening to Christian radio I'm sure you've heard it as it's become an anthem
for many of us.
But, as I was listening the other day the line that struck me as a fresh word was
" Your grace abounds in deepest water". . .
I've been thinking about that deep ocean water.
Deep ocean water is uncomfortable and can be scary. Often times it can even hide the beauty of the
ocean because you become so focused on survival -especially if you're not a strong swimmer.
The shore, ankle deep that's comfy. That's doable for just about everyone.
I'm not keeping my eye out for the lifeguard when I'm ankle deep.
I might be able to swim or tread the deep water for awhile, but after a time it will be become
to difficult to handle alone.
There has been some deep deep water in my life: some I've drifted into, sometimes waves have
swept me into them, other times I've jumped in with both feet. . .but I'm not sure I've prayed to swim
in those deep waters.
As I thought these past two weeks about that specific phrase, it has been proven true in my life over
and over again. The deeper the water, the bigger the grace appears.
Don't get me wrong, there's grace along the shore line too. There's grace ankle deep or even shoulder
deep, I just tend to not notice it as much, because I can handle most of the swimming there myself.
Am I alone in this?
But Oh! How I need that grace in the deep murky waters. The waters that terrify me the most. The
waters full of unknown things.
Yet in the middle of all those scary, unknown things-- Grace surrounds me, and when I clearly focus
on the Grace Giver and not those deep waters, instead of swimming in them I find myself walking on
the waves that once threatened to pull me under.
Choosing not to be scared of the ocean is a daily battle for this momma, because of course I'm not
swimming alone, I've got three little ones (well they're not so little anymore but they'll always be my
babies) swimming out behind me. And as much as I'd like to keep them on the shore their whole
lives, deep waters come whether we want them to or not. How I would much rather have them
see the beauty and grace in them than be terrified of those deep waters.
How about you? Have you found yourself in the deep water recently? Are you currently trying to
tread water or are you swimming beautifully through the grace that abounds there, or have you even
found the courage to stand and walk on them toward the Grace Giver?
If you find yourself in any of those three categories know that I'm right there swimming along side
you-one moment treading -sometimes even feeling like I might be sinking, other times swimming
like I'm Michael Phelps-even daring to try and stand and walk. But, no matter what phase each of us
is in there is comfort in knowing the Holy Lifeguard-the Keeper of the Waters is making sure the
waves that threaten to overtake us never do.
Yes, I believe it. . .His grace does abound in the deepest waters.
Swimming in the deep with you,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
