"God has led two lives to take one path..."
This appeared on our wedding invitations and has been so true throughout our marriage. We are on a path together that is directed 100% by the Lord. This path has taken us in some directions that we knew were coming when we got married 13 years ago, but it has also taken us down some unexpected ones. This path has been a journey. We don't always know the destination but we do know that God will be glorified when we are obedient to go when He says "go" and to do when He says "do."
I keep being directed to and reminded of the word "journey" over recent weeks. I was reminded that the journey, the path we take to get somewhere, is in many cases just as important, if not more so, than the destination itself. I must find joy in the journey because it is a joy based on God's sovereignty and power, and because my obedience will be for my good and His glory.
May I be reminded of these truths as we journey this year.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Trusting the Life Jacket
Recently, God has been reminding me about trusting in Him completely.In the good and the bad. The easy and the hard.Catherine is my extremely anxious child. She fears a lot though doesn't always admit it. Routine is her best friend and new people, places, and things, are not. She likes to be in complete control of her situation. This means water and swimming have never been her favorite place to be.
As we were swimming last night Catherine (for the first time ever!) fully trusted in her life jacket. She never fully believed it would help her to float, and last night after floating with it over the steps a few times and asking several times if it always worked that way or if it would get tired of helping her float, she had the best time she has ever had at this pool (or any pool where her feet couldn't touch with her head above the water). As I watched this, trying to figure out why it took her so long to believe us when we said the life jacket would support her, I realized I do the same thing to God. I ask a dozen times and I toy with the idea of trusting in Him in the shallow water over the stairs but only when I let go and get out in the middle of the pool can I truly bask in the peace and joy that living fully in His presence will bring.
Philippians 4:6 says "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God." When we have a request for God, we are to trust in Him so completely that we can thank him for the challenges knowing that they are all a part of His plan.
Then we can find the peace which surpasses all understanding.
Living in His presence daily will let us bask in the joy of The Lord and bring us comfort that there is a plan even when we don't know what it is or understand how it will work out for the good (Romans 8:28).
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Beautiful Feet
Abby got her toenails painted for the first time last week.
She chose purple nail polish. She was so excited and so proud of her "purple toes" that she had to wear a purple shirt the next day "like purple toes." When we went to the library, another family came in and she proudly walked up to the dad and told him about her purple toes. She was excited about her beautiful feet.
Isaiah 52:7 says, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
Like Abby, I want beautiful feet. But it takes more than purple nail polish or even a full blown pedicure to get them that way. I must share the good news! I must tell people that my God reigns!
Why couldn't I be proud of my God like Abby was proud of her purple toes going up to a man she never met to share? Lord, help me to seek out opportunities to have beautiful feet.
She chose purple nail polish. She was so excited and so proud of her "purple toes" that she had to wear a purple shirt the next day "like purple toes." When we went to the library, another family came in and she proudly walked up to the dad and told him about her purple toes. She was excited about her beautiful feet.Isaiah 52:7 says, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
Like Abby, I want beautiful feet. But it takes more than purple nail polish or even a full blown pedicure to get them that way. I must share the good news! I must tell people that my God reigns!
Why couldn't I be proud of my God like Abby was proud of her purple toes going up to a man she never met to share? Lord, help me to seek out opportunities to have beautiful feet.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Celebrations
Easter is always hard for us because we are 600 miles from our family and don't have people here to celebrate with. Easter seems like a let down because we rush around on Sunday mornings anyway preparing for church. Adding special Easter things is a challenge. Making it meaningful in a special way is even harder. Then we come home from church and have no family, no huge meal (hard to justify it when it is just two of you that will eat it).
This week, several things happened that reminded me that my kids may have forgotten the real meaning of Easter. They thought our egg hunt at church last week was Easter and were concerned when I didn't have their new clothes ready that morning. Andrew was concerned about what the Easter Bunny would be bringing him.
Anyway, this morning, I tried to make it meaningful. We had a great Sunday School lesson about the resurrection. Then I went into church and noticed the missing people...the missing family members. Some ended up coming in late, some left early, and some just didn't show up. The reason wasn't that they overslept or were sick. It was that they had to get ready for the family gathering coming up at their homes right after church. They needed to cook or clean.
I admit, it was frustrating. How could these people put the celebration ahead of the reason for the celebration? Why would someone make celebrating Easter in worship of the Risen King be less important than celebrating Easter with family? It seemed a lot like putting the cart before the horse.
Then I started thinking. When I hosted my private pity party about the day being a let down and my kids missing out on family traditions, I realized that I was doing the same thing. Instead of celebrating Christ on one of the biggest Christian holidays of the year, I was moping. I was frustrated instead of joyful. I was just as guilty of missing the point of Easter.
This week, several things happened that reminded me that my kids may have forgotten the real meaning of Easter. They thought our egg hunt at church last week was Easter and were concerned when I didn't have their new clothes ready that morning. Andrew was concerned about what the Easter Bunny would be bringing him.
Anyway, this morning, I tried to make it meaningful. We had a great Sunday School lesson about the resurrection. Then I went into church and noticed the missing people...the missing family members. Some ended up coming in late, some left early, and some just didn't show up. The reason wasn't that they overslept or were sick. It was that they had to get ready for the family gathering coming up at their homes right after church. They needed to cook or clean.
I admit, it was frustrating. How could these people put the celebration ahead of the reason for the celebration? Why would someone make celebrating Easter in worship of the Risen King be less important than celebrating Easter with family? It seemed a lot like putting the cart before the horse.
Then I started thinking. When I hosted my private pity party about the day being a let down and my kids missing out on family traditions, I realized that I was doing the same thing. Instead of celebrating Christ on one of the biggest Christian holidays of the year, I was moping. I was frustrated instead of joyful. I was just as guilty of missing the point of Easter.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Laziness
"A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things." (Proverbs 18:9 NLT)
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4 ESV)
My children are lazy. Now, I know part of it is just a lack of understanding and common sense. However, they leave things out or undone with the unrealistic expectation that it won't matter to anyone else and will take care of itself.
We are working on teaching the older two that they should be responsible for their actions and belongings. Sometimes that means leaving a mess for the day so that they can take care of it later. Or holding my tongue to keep from nagging them so that they can learn that not putting away their laundry means it is much harder to find a clean pair of socks to wear to school. They have to learn that someone has to deal with the consequences of laziness.
When you are lazy, who is it that has to pick up your slack? Do you think about who it is that has to clean up that trash you leave at the movie theater or the laundry you throw on the floor? How about thinking of who it is that has to help teach Sunday School because it takes too much time to prepare or work in the nursery because it is hard to clean up the toys at the end of the hour? If we all took Philippians 2:4 to heart, we would truly live in a better world. A world of service instead of selfishness.
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4 ESV)
My children are lazy. Now, I know part of it is just a lack of understanding and common sense. However, they leave things out or undone with the unrealistic expectation that it won't matter to anyone else and will take care of itself.
We are working on teaching the older two that they should be responsible for their actions and belongings. Sometimes that means leaving a mess for the day so that they can take care of it later. Or holding my tongue to keep from nagging them so that they can learn that not putting away their laundry means it is much harder to find a clean pair of socks to wear to school. They have to learn that someone has to deal with the consequences of laziness.
When you are lazy, who is it that has to pick up your slack? Do you think about who it is that has to clean up that trash you leave at the movie theater or the laundry you throw on the floor? How about thinking of who it is that has to help teach Sunday School because it takes too much time to prepare or work in the nursery because it is hard to clean up the toys at the end of the hour? If we all took Philippians 2:4 to heart, we would truly live in a better world. A world of service instead of selfishness.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Whiter Than Snow
"Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."
Psalm 51:7
God has given us an atypical winter this year. The kids have already had nine snow days which has not happened in a while here. We have had snow and ice and sleet separately and all together. I have truly learned what it means to be a northerner in the snow and I am very ready to buy a snowblower even for our very small driveway.
However, I was challenged by the sermon Sunday to recognize that God sent the snow for His glory and we need to accept that instead of complain about it. All week long, even as more snow fell, I have been looking at the snow on the ground and seeing God in it. I have truly enjoyed the beauty of the farms and fields that are free of tracks and footprints and are pure white. I have marveled at the vast amounts of snow but the way that neighbors have helped each other to clear it. I have listened as people have feared the warm up late in the week because they don't want the snow to melt too fast and cause flooding.
This morning while driving, I noticed something else. As we have had a few days of melting, the dirt and grime in the snow is starting to distract from the whiteness. It is starting to look gray and dirty and is no longer smooth.
The Bible tells us that when our sins are washed away we will be whiter than snow. Fresh snow is white, but as time goes by we continue to sin. We are no longer pure and clean and white, but we become dirty and grimy and something that even God doesn't want to see.
When you become a Christian your sins are forgiven. We are washed clean, but you don't stop sinning. We all sin every day, more often than we probably even realize. We become like that dirty snow, in need of renewal and refreshing.
God sent a lot of separate snow storms this winter. Each time an old layer of snow was covered with a new coat of white was a reminder of our continual need for forgiveness. A need to be returned to the whiter than snow condition of cleanness and purity.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."
Psalm 51:7
God has given us an atypical winter this year. The kids have already had nine snow days which has not happened in a while here. We have had snow and ice and sleet separately and all together. I have truly learned what it means to be a northerner in the snow and I am very ready to buy a snowblower even for our very small driveway.
However, I was challenged by the sermon Sunday to recognize that God sent the snow for His glory and we need to accept that instead of complain about it. All week long, even as more snow fell, I have been looking at the snow on the ground and seeing God in it. I have truly enjoyed the beauty of the farms and fields that are free of tracks and footprints and are pure white. I have marveled at the vast amounts of snow but the way that neighbors have helped each other to clear it. I have listened as people have feared the warm up late in the week because they don't want the snow to melt too fast and cause flooding.
This morning while driving, I noticed something else. As we have had a few days of melting, the dirt and grime in the snow is starting to distract from the whiteness. It is starting to look gray and dirty and is no longer smooth.
The Bible tells us that when our sins are washed away we will be whiter than snow. Fresh snow is white, but as time goes by we continue to sin. We are no longer pure and clean and white, but we become dirty and grimy and something that even God doesn't want to see.
When you become a Christian your sins are forgiven. We are washed clean, but you don't stop sinning. We all sin every day, more often than we probably even realize. We become like that dirty snow, in need of renewal and refreshing.
God sent a lot of separate snow storms this winter. Each time an old layer of snow was covered with a new coat of white was a reminder of our continual need for forgiveness. A need to be returned to the whiter than snow condition of cleanness and purity.
My Heart's Desire
Abby has a special blanket that she absolutely loves. She wants to take it everywhere and carries it around the house. She holds it to sleep, she holds it to wake up, she holds it near her when she eats, she holds it to sit in the car. She takes that blanket everywhere! Recently, she has started holding onto it as you lay her in her bed then standing up as fast as she can to throw it out of her bed before you make it to the door and turn the light off. Then she screams until you come back and give it back to her. Once you give it back, she curls up with her blanket and settles down to sleep.
This got me thinking about what I am clinging to and what I am doing to let go of those things. Do I hold on to it until I need it to do everything? Do I let it go to play games with others? Or myself?
This got me thinking about what I am clinging to and what I am doing to let go of those things. Do I hold on to it until I need it to do everything? Do I let it go to play games with others? Or myself?
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