Hello to all those that are reading my blog.
The Olympics are on - which in my house means that the one computer is being occupied by watching the Olympics. I have no time with which to blog so I will be taking a short vacation.
When the Olympics are done, I will resume blogging.
Thanks for reading.
In His Grace...
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Waiting on the Lord
Do you ever feel like somehow, you are not hearing from the Lord?
I have been in that place lately. Asking questions, looking for answers through prayer and in Scripture and not finding them.
But I know that scripture tells me that He is always with me. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 This means that even when I do not feel Him or hear Him, I can still trust in the fact that He is with me. And if I trust in Him, then I will make good choices and follow His path "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:4-7
As for seeing Him, I can always see evidence of Him just by looking around in this amazing place I live, the Napa Valley. The mountains, the vineyards, the trees, birds, insects, animals - everything points to the evidence of His presence in this world. I am thankful for this.
In His Grace...
I have been in that place lately. Asking questions, looking for answers through prayer and in Scripture and not finding them.
But I know that scripture tells me that He is always with me. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 This means that even when I do not feel Him or hear Him, I can still trust in the fact that He is with me. And if I trust in Him, then I will make good choices and follow His path "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:4-7
As for seeing Him, I can always see evidence of Him just by looking around in this amazing place I live, the Napa Valley. The mountains, the vineyards, the trees, birds, insects, animals - everything points to the evidence of His presence in this world. I am thankful for this.
In His Grace...
Friday, July 27, 2012
Sharing the good news
Does anyone else listen to KLOVE? I love KLOVE. I am not affiliated with KLOVE in any way, but I love the message it provides, the uplifting songs that somehow seem to come just when you need them.
On my way to work this morning, as usual, I was listening to KLOVE. There was a little blurb (I call it a blurb because it's not really an advertisement but it isn't music) by Luis Palau. He was speaking about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. He said people often don't share their faith in Christ because they don't want others to feel like they are forcing religion on them. But, he pointed out, if we see a good movie, read a good book, really like a song, we tell our friends all about it. If we own the book, we may even give a copy away. We want our friends to experience what we have and we hope they will enjoy it like we have.
His point was that we don't do this with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I immediately thought of a book that I have told many people about. I did even give a couple of copies away. And yet, I am reluctant to share the Good News of Jesus. Even though His love has changed my life in radical ways. Even though I am a new person in Christ.
I was challenged by this and I will be challenging myself to remember this as opportunities arise in which I might share Jesus's love.
How about you?
In His Grace...
On my way to work this morning, as usual, I was listening to KLOVE. There was a little blurb (I call it a blurb because it's not really an advertisement but it isn't music) by Luis Palau. He was speaking about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. He said people often don't share their faith in Christ because they don't want others to feel like they are forcing religion on them. But, he pointed out, if we see a good movie, read a good book, really like a song, we tell our friends all about it. If we own the book, we may even give a copy away. We want our friends to experience what we have and we hope they will enjoy it like we have.
His point was that we don't do this with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I immediately thought of a book that I have told many people about. I did even give a couple of copies away. And yet, I am reluctant to share the Good News of Jesus. Even though His love has changed my life in radical ways. Even though I am a new person in Christ.
I was challenged by this and I will be challenging myself to remember this as opportunities arise in which I might share Jesus's love.
How about you?
In His Grace...
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Raising Children
Raising children is hard.
Scripture tells us children are a gift from God. Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 Yet, so often it seems we do not take the responsibility of teaching and disciplining our children very seriously.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 I pray about this regularly. I pray that God will guide me as we teach our little man His ways. I thank God for the opportunity to be a parent.
In my little man's bedroom this evening, after he had fallen asleep, I just gazed at him. My little man has taught me so much in these almost four years. And God has used him to teach me so much about God and my relationship with my heavenly Father. I lifted up a prayer to my heavenly Father, just thanking him for this gift.
I think we get so overwhelmed and distracted by the difficulties of raising children in this day and age, that we lose sight of what a gift they are. Yes, they can be difficult. Yes, they can be challenging (some more than others). Yes, sometimes they make us want to pull our hair out. But in the end, let's remember that "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" Matthew 19:14.
I pray that I will open my eyes, ears and heart to how my son relates to his heavenly Father and that I will be able to do the same. I pray that I will instill respect in my son. I pray that with God's help, I will teach him to make Godly decisions. And I pray that he will become a boy, teenager, young man, mature man after God's own heart.
In His Grace...
Scripture tells us children are a gift from God. Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 Yet, so often it seems we do not take the responsibility of teaching and disciplining our children very seriously.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 I pray about this regularly. I pray that God will guide me as we teach our little man His ways. I thank God for the opportunity to be a parent.
In my little man's bedroom this evening, after he had fallen asleep, I just gazed at him. My little man has taught me so much in these almost four years. And God has used him to teach me so much about God and my relationship with my heavenly Father. I lifted up a prayer to my heavenly Father, just thanking him for this gift.
I think we get so overwhelmed and distracted by the difficulties of raising children in this day and age, that we lose sight of what a gift they are. Yes, they can be difficult. Yes, they can be challenging (some more than others). Yes, sometimes they make us want to pull our hair out. But in the end, let's remember that "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" Matthew 19:14.
I pray that I will open my eyes, ears and heart to how my son relates to his heavenly Father and that I will be able to do the same. I pray that I will instill respect in my son. I pray that with God's help, I will teach him to make Godly decisions. And I pray that he will become a boy, teenager, young man, mature man after God's own heart.
In His Grace...
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Selfish
As we were driving to meet with a possible new small group, my husband and I were talking - what night would be the ideal night, would we want to be able to bring our son, do we really want to participate.
We had been in a small group before but it has been several years. We want the opportunity to fellowship with other believers, to have a support group of friends and to grow in our faith with bible studies and spiritual growth studies. But what we are struggling with is the time commitment. Meeting once a week, fitting it into an already busy schedule, spending the time away from our son. We have been reluctant to commit.
But then a small voice says to me "It's a small commitment in light of what Jesus did for you."
He was badly beaten, He was crucified, He was separated from His heavenly father and He died.
He died for me.
He bore the weight of my sins.
So that I can spend eternity with my heavenly Father.
Why am I reluctant to give a few hours a week to grow in my faith? Why do I resent the time commitment to become closer to my heavenly Father?
Simple.
Selfishness - we are born into a fallen world where having it my way is the preferred way. It is a difficult thing to overcome.
I pray that through His grace, I can overcome. My first step is to change my attitude about the small group.
It was a good first meeting - We are excited to participate and see what treasures God has in store for us!
In His Grace...
We had been in a small group before but it has been several years. We want the opportunity to fellowship with other believers, to have a support group of friends and to grow in our faith with bible studies and spiritual growth studies. But what we are struggling with is the time commitment. Meeting once a week, fitting it into an already busy schedule, spending the time away from our son. We have been reluctant to commit.
But then a small voice says to me "It's a small commitment in light of what Jesus did for you."
He was badly beaten, He was crucified, He was separated from His heavenly father and He died.
He died for me.
He bore the weight of my sins.
So that I can spend eternity with my heavenly Father.
Why am I reluctant to give a few hours a week to grow in my faith? Why do I resent the time commitment to become closer to my heavenly Father?
Simple.
Selfishness - we are born into a fallen world where having it my way is the preferred way. It is a difficult thing to overcome.
I pray that through His grace, I can overcome. My first step is to change my attitude about the small group.
It was a good first meeting - We are excited to participate and see what treasures God has in store for us!
In His Grace...
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Difficult decision
I have been at my current job for a little over 7 months. Making the decision to leave my previous position was an agonizing one. I kept looking to God, but for whatever reason I did not feel that I could hear or see an answer. I finally made the decision to move to the new job. I thought it would be a good learning opportunity.
For the last several years, I have been in finance. I was working at a winery in the finance department doing accounts payable and interstate shipping compliance (there are a lot of laws regarding shipping wine between states). After maternity leave, I was only looking for part-time work and the winery did not have anything for me. I quickly found a part-time bookkeeping job for a different winery. I was doing accounts payable, payroll, general office work and some compliance. I was hoping that I would have the opportunity to learn more about accounting while I was there, but the company was growing and it was all the controller and I could do to keep up.
I was no longer learning anything there so when this new opportunity came up, it seemed it might be a good thing. While they were offering less money, I thought that the learning opportunities would be worth it. My ultimate goal was to learn enough that I could then go out on my own and have a few clients that I could keep books for from my own home office.
It has not turned out as I hoped. The training has been lacking, my learning has been slow. Additionally, when I was hired, there was no mention of a non-compete agreement that must be signed. However, they are now asking me to sign a contract, agreeing that I will not be involved in a business that would directly compete with theirs for two years after I leave their employment.
Again, I am praying, seeking God's will. Again, I am lost as to what to do.
Life is full of difficult decisions. I am fairly new at leaning on God and trying to discern His will in my life. I struggle with it and often feel like I am making the decisions without any help. But He says in scripture "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (emphasis mine).
I pray that I will continue to remember that He is with me always, right beside me, walking through the difficult decisions alongside me.
I can be confident that as long as I am seeking Him, the decision will be a good one.
In His Grace...
For the last several years, I have been in finance. I was working at a winery in the finance department doing accounts payable and interstate shipping compliance (there are a lot of laws regarding shipping wine between states). After maternity leave, I was only looking for part-time work and the winery did not have anything for me. I quickly found a part-time bookkeeping job for a different winery. I was doing accounts payable, payroll, general office work and some compliance. I was hoping that I would have the opportunity to learn more about accounting while I was there, but the company was growing and it was all the controller and I could do to keep up.
I was no longer learning anything there so when this new opportunity came up, it seemed it might be a good thing. While they were offering less money, I thought that the learning opportunities would be worth it. My ultimate goal was to learn enough that I could then go out on my own and have a few clients that I could keep books for from my own home office.
It has not turned out as I hoped. The training has been lacking, my learning has been slow. Additionally, when I was hired, there was no mention of a non-compete agreement that must be signed. However, they are now asking me to sign a contract, agreeing that I will not be involved in a business that would directly compete with theirs for two years after I leave their employment.
Again, I am praying, seeking God's will. Again, I am lost as to what to do.
Life is full of difficult decisions. I am fairly new at leaning on God and trying to discern His will in my life. I struggle with it and often feel like I am making the decisions without any help. But He says in scripture "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (emphasis mine).
I pray that I will continue to remember that He is with me always, right beside me, walking through the difficult decisions alongside me.
I can be confident that as long as I am seeking Him, the decision will be a good one.
In His Grace...
Monday, July 23, 2012
Living like there's no tomorrow
Do you live this way?
Does anyone live this way?
I know I don't. I take it for granted that there will be many more days. I'm fairly young, I'm in pretty good shape, I eat healthy (for the most part), I take care of myself, I drive carefully. There should be many more days to love, to live, to share God's love with others...
But in reality, none of us know when our time will come. It may be in 30-40-50 years, or it could be tomorrow, or it could be in an hour. Yet we live like we have all the time in the world.
Yes, odds are that if you are young, take care of yourself, eat well and exercise, you probably have many more years to go. But we just don't know.
God knows. He knows when He will call each of us home.
I pray that I will start living like there is no tomorrow, boldly sharing God's love especially with those I love that do not know Him.
Life is so fragile.
Let's not take it for granted.
In His Grace...
Does anyone live this way?
I know I don't. I take it for granted that there will be many more days. I'm fairly young, I'm in pretty good shape, I eat healthy (for the most part), I take care of myself, I drive carefully. There should be many more days to love, to live, to share God's love with others...
But in reality, none of us know when our time will come. It may be in 30-40-50 years, or it could be tomorrow, or it could be in an hour. Yet we live like we have all the time in the world.
Yes, odds are that if you are young, take care of yourself, eat well and exercise, you probably have many more years to go. But we just don't know.
God knows. He knows when He will call each of us home.
I pray that I will start living like there is no tomorrow, boldly sharing God's love especially with those I love that do not know Him.
Life is so fragile.
Let's not take it for granted.
In His Grace...
Friday, July 20, 2012
Losing
Why is forgiveness so hard?
This subject has been on my mind since we visited my family last weekend. I wrote about one family member that I think is far from God. I think the root of the problem is unforgiveness - for others, for God and maybe even for herself.
Jesus tells us to forgive each other "...not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:22 I don't think he means that we are to forgive exactly seventy-seven times, no more and no less. I think, rather, that he is telling us to forgive each other over and over and over again.
I think one of the reasons it is so hard is that it feels like we are losing. We are losing the argument, we are losing the fight, we are losing the point we were trying to make...we feel like we are losing when we forgive. But really, are we losing?
When we forgive, don't we win by obeying God? Don't we win by releasing anger and hurt? God sacrificed his only son so that we might know His forgiveness. And the only one that lost was Satan.
When we hold onto our anger, our hurt, our unforgiveness, the only one that wins is Satan and we do lose - we lose the closeness to God that comes with obedience and forgiveness.
I pray that as I practice forgiveness, it will become easier and easier.
After all, practice makes perfect, right?
In His Grace...
This subject has been on my mind since we visited my family last weekend. I wrote about one family member that I think is far from God. I think the root of the problem is unforgiveness - for others, for God and maybe even for herself.
Jesus tells us to forgive each other "...not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:22 I don't think he means that we are to forgive exactly seventy-seven times, no more and no less. I think, rather, that he is telling us to forgive each other over and over and over again.
I think one of the reasons it is so hard is that it feels like we are losing. We are losing the argument, we are losing the fight, we are losing the point we were trying to make...we feel like we are losing when we forgive. But really, are we losing?
When we forgive, don't we win by obeying God? Don't we win by releasing anger and hurt? God sacrificed his only son so that we might know His forgiveness. And the only one that lost was Satan.
When we hold onto our anger, our hurt, our unforgiveness, the only one that wins is Satan and we do lose - we lose the closeness to God that comes with obedience and forgiveness.
I pray that as I practice forgiveness, it will become easier and easier.
After all, practice makes perfect, right?
In His Grace...
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Reminder
"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
Today as I was visiting with a lovely friend, I was reminded of this verse. I have known this verse for quite some time, however, I find that over time, it slips from my mind. I begin trying to control my life and find myself fearful when things do not go as I plan.
In so many instances, I can ruminate about a situation in my mind but it takes actually talking about it with a Godly friend to really get an accurate picture of how I am trying to control that situation. I could not see what I was doing until I talked about it with my friend.
It wasn't anything she actually said, it was a voice inside myself as I was telling her our situation that said "stop being fearful, remember, God does not give us a spirit of fear...". Peace filled me at that time. It was a beautiful reminder that God is in control and that I can trust Him with everything - everything - in my life. He has a plan and as long as I work at looking to Him, I can be assured that all will be well.
I pray that I can continue to keep this verse at the front of my mind and do a better job of trusting God with everything.
In His Grace...
Today as I was visiting with a lovely friend, I was reminded of this verse. I have known this verse for quite some time, however, I find that over time, it slips from my mind. I begin trying to control my life and find myself fearful when things do not go as I plan.
In so many instances, I can ruminate about a situation in my mind but it takes actually talking about it with a Godly friend to really get an accurate picture of how I am trying to control that situation. I could not see what I was doing until I talked about it with my friend.
It wasn't anything she actually said, it was a voice inside myself as I was telling her our situation that said "stop being fearful, remember, God does not give us a spirit of fear...". Peace filled me at that time. It was a beautiful reminder that God is in control and that I can trust Him with everything - everything - in my life. He has a plan and as long as I work at looking to Him, I can be assured that all will be well.
I pray that I can continue to keep this verse at the front of my mind and do a better job of trusting God with everything.
In His Grace...
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Free Will
We visited my family over the weekend and I am sorry to say that someone that is near and dear to my heart is far from God. She mentioned something over the weekend and oh, how I wish I was better at responding. Sometimes it takes me so off-guard, I can come up with nothing. In this instance she was talking about her neighbor.
She has a new neighbor. But before you envision a house 10-20 feet from her own, you should know that she lives on 80 acres. This new neighbor is interested in hunting wild turkeys on her property. She does allow one person to hunt turkeys on her property when it is turkey hunting season but she didn't want to have others hunting as well. So she told the neighbor no.
Unfortunately, this is a neighbor that has mentioned to her that he reads his bible every morning before he heads off on his long commute to work. His actions after being told that he couldn't hunt on her property were not very biblical. He watched for the person that does have permission to arrive, then he stood as close to her property line as he could and started up his chain saw and his weed whacker. That may sound perfectly reasonable except for the fact that it was still completely dark outside at this time in the morning. He was trying to prevent the person with permission from having any luck hunting by scaring all the turkeys away.
Because of his actions and because he had mentioned to her that he reads his bible, she takes this as another strike against Christianity. This is where the difficulty lies. She is holding her neighbor to an impossible standard because he is a Christian. She feels he shouldn't act improperly, he should always be able to maintain an even temper, he should be able to act like Jesus because he is a Christian.
Nowhere in the bible does it say that once we ask Christ into our lives, we will be perfect. We are human. God gave us free will, the freedom to choose. And often times we still choose the wrong thing, even with a relationship with Christ.
What I pray I can relate to her at some point is that being a Christian does not mean being perfect. It means that we need to try to have a right relationship with God. It means working at our own relationship with Jesus Christ. And it means not judging others when they get it wrong.
We should not be concerned with how others are following God's law. We should be concerned with how we are doing ourselves. Often times that means we must confess our own sin to God, repent of it and ask His forgiveness. It also means we must forgive others when they sin against us, whether they ask for our forgiveness or not.
In His Grace...
She has a new neighbor. But before you envision a house 10-20 feet from her own, you should know that she lives on 80 acres. This new neighbor is interested in hunting wild turkeys on her property. She does allow one person to hunt turkeys on her property when it is turkey hunting season but she didn't want to have others hunting as well. So she told the neighbor no.
Unfortunately, this is a neighbor that has mentioned to her that he reads his bible every morning before he heads off on his long commute to work. His actions after being told that he couldn't hunt on her property were not very biblical. He watched for the person that does have permission to arrive, then he stood as close to her property line as he could and started up his chain saw and his weed whacker. That may sound perfectly reasonable except for the fact that it was still completely dark outside at this time in the morning. He was trying to prevent the person with permission from having any luck hunting by scaring all the turkeys away.
Because of his actions and because he had mentioned to her that he reads his bible, she takes this as another strike against Christianity. This is where the difficulty lies. She is holding her neighbor to an impossible standard because he is a Christian. She feels he shouldn't act improperly, he should always be able to maintain an even temper, he should be able to act like Jesus because he is a Christian.
Nowhere in the bible does it say that once we ask Christ into our lives, we will be perfect. We are human. God gave us free will, the freedom to choose. And often times we still choose the wrong thing, even with a relationship with Christ.
What I pray I can relate to her at some point is that being a Christian does not mean being perfect. It means that we need to try to have a right relationship with God. It means working at our own relationship with Jesus Christ. And it means not judging others when they get it wrong.
We should not be concerned with how others are following God's law. We should be concerned with how we are doing ourselves. Often times that means we must confess our own sin to God, repent of it and ask His forgiveness. It also means we must forgive others when they sin against us, whether they ask for our forgiveness or not.
In His Grace...
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Love them
While running errands this morning, my little man and I had stopped at a stop sign. It was a four way stop with four lanes of traffic running east-west and two lanes running north-south. We came to a stop at just about the same time as a car perpendicular to us. Just after we came to a stop, another car stopped right next to us. It was obvious to me that he stopped after the other car at the intersection. But in a move typical of today's self-loving society, the car that stopped at the stop sign last seemed to think that it was his turn to go first. I observed this as he pulled forward and the other car pulled forward at the same time. The last car ended up going first and I applaud the other driver that gave over her right of way.
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Matthew 20:16
It reminded me that as we (Christ followers) head out into society every day, we must continually fight our fleshly desires to be first, to put ourselves first, to take the right of way. We must continually hand that desire over to God. Then in true Jesus fashion, we must love the other driver by letting them go first. Love your spouse by letting them be right (even if they aren't). Love a stranger at the grocery store by letting them have the last one (even if you really wanted it, whatever it may be). We are called to "...Love your neighbor as yourself" Leviticus 19:18 which means going against what is the norm in our self-loving, selfish society.
It is a constant struggle, it is challenging.
I challenge myself to it every day...sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail. But those times that I succeed, I bring glory to God. And I thank Him for loving me.
I challenge you to it as well.
In His Grace....
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Matthew 20:16
It reminded me that as we (Christ followers) head out into society every day, we must continually fight our fleshly desires to be first, to put ourselves first, to take the right of way. We must continually hand that desire over to God. Then in true Jesus fashion, we must love the other driver by letting them go first. Love your spouse by letting them be right (even if they aren't). Love a stranger at the grocery store by letting them have the last one (even if you really wanted it, whatever it may be). We are called to "...Love your neighbor as yourself" Leviticus 19:18 which means going against what is the norm in our self-loving, selfish society.
It is a constant struggle, it is challenging.
I challenge myself to it every day...sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail. But those times that I succeed, I bring glory to God. And I thank Him for loving me.
I challenge you to it as well.
In His Grace....
Monday, July 16, 2012
"I'm sorry for the things I do that you don't like"
We recently traveled up to Vancouver, Washington to visit some friends of ours. They have known me since I was about 14 years old (I'm considerably older than that now). They are wonderful people - kind, loving, generous, friendly, joyful. I have always loved spending time with them.
In recent years, we have not been able to spend much time with them. His work kept him from traveling to places they didn't want him to go and she always traveled with him. In our previous jobs, we were able to see them about twice a year. When we left those jobs in 2006 and bought a home, we stopped traveling as much. Then with the birth of our son, we didn't try long trips at all for quite some time.
But in our recent trip, one day he seemed tense. At one point during the day, she mentioned to me that sometimes he becomes tense if things weren't going the way he had thought they would. I can relate.
I have struggled with that for quite some time. If I had planned things (or even if I expected things to go a certain way without really planning) and it didn't go how I wanted, I would get bent out of shape. I suppose I am still that way to some degree.
But when she had the opportunity to be alone with him, she said to him, "I'm sorry for the things I do that you don't like". What an example of humility. She didn't even really know what she had done but she apologized for it anyway.
I want to be like that. I struggle to be like that because it does not come naturally to me. I struggle with pride, wanting to be right even when it goes against what I know of God and His word "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
Thud! That would be me, pridefully falling because I can't humble myself.
My prayer is that the next time I am in a similar situation, I will think of her example and be the first to apologize or forgive. She told me later, he got tears in his eyes and said the same thing back to her. When my family and I arrived at the car, the tension had vanished.
What a beautiful gift she gave to him....and to all of us by example.
In His Grace...
In recent years, we have not been able to spend much time with them. His work kept him from traveling to places they didn't want him to go and she always traveled with him. In our previous jobs, we were able to see them about twice a year. When we left those jobs in 2006 and bought a home, we stopped traveling as much. Then with the birth of our son, we didn't try long trips at all for quite some time.
But in our recent trip, one day he seemed tense. At one point during the day, she mentioned to me that sometimes he becomes tense if things weren't going the way he had thought they would. I can relate.
I have struggled with that for quite some time. If I had planned things (or even if I expected things to go a certain way without really planning) and it didn't go how I wanted, I would get bent out of shape. I suppose I am still that way to some degree.
But when she had the opportunity to be alone with him, she said to him, "I'm sorry for the things I do that you don't like". What an example of humility. She didn't even really know what she had done but she apologized for it anyway.
I want to be like that. I struggle to be like that because it does not come naturally to me. I struggle with pride, wanting to be right even when it goes against what I know of God and His word "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
Thud! That would be me, pridefully falling because I can't humble myself.
My prayer is that the next time I am in a similar situation, I will think of her example and be the first to apologize or forgive. She told me later, he got tears in his eyes and said the same thing back to her. When my family and I arrived at the car, the tension had vanished.
What a beautiful gift she gave to him....and to all of us by example.
In His Grace...
Friday, July 13, 2012
Grumpy
Last night was not a good night. My little man went to bed with no problem at 7:30pm. He slept for two and a half hours without any hitches. Then at 10pm as I was getting ready to go to bed, he cried out. I went in and sat with him for a couple of minutes and turned on his ladybug nightlight. No worries.
But then at 12:30am it happened again. And again at 1:40....and at 2:30. Now I'd like to say that I calmly helped him back to sleep each time and went back to sleep without any problems. However, I would be lying.
Each time, I could feel the anger building inside a little more. The frustration, the irritation, the anger at having my own sleep interrupted yet again. After returning to my bed, I was stewing. What was the problem? Why did he keep waking up? What was wrong? I didn't have the answers and because I kept thinking about it, I wasn't sleeping either.
So it was a night with little sleep. Which led to a grumpy morning. Not just for him, but for me too.
Have you ever had one of those mornings where every little thing sets you off? You just don't seem to be able to make a smile on your face and it is all you can do not to yell at someone?
That was my morning.
Until I was walking with a friend. My little man and one of her little men went running ahead. Running ahead out of our view. When we came around the corner, we could see her little man but not mine. We were walking along the river...where was he? All you mothers out there probably know the feeling of panic that started rising in my heart. Her little man couldn't seem to tell us where mine had gone.
I went ahead on the trail... and there he was. Just looking at the ducks ahead. But oh what a reminder. How precious he is to me. What a gift from God.
And then I realized what had gone wrong with my morning - I had not been practicing my thankfulness. I had not been focusing my attention on all the blessings and good things God has given me and continues to give me. I had just been focusing on everything that was going wrong. I was practicing selfishness instead of selflessness.
I pray that I will continue to remember to practice my thankfulness, even when I am challenged by a non-sleeping son.
In His Grace...
But then at 12:30am it happened again. And again at 1:40....and at 2:30. Now I'd like to say that I calmly helped him back to sleep each time and went back to sleep without any problems. However, I would be lying.
Each time, I could feel the anger building inside a little more. The frustration, the irritation, the anger at having my own sleep interrupted yet again. After returning to my bed, I was stewing. What was the problem? Why did he keep waking up? What was wrong? I didn't have the answers and because I kept thinking about it, I wasn't sleeping either.
So it was a night with little sleep. Which led to a grumpy morning. Not just for him, but for me too.
Have you ever had one of those mornings where every little thing sets you off? You just don't seem to be able to make a smile on your face and it is all you can do not to yell at someone?
That was my morning.
Until I was walking with a friend. My little man and one of her little men went running ahead. Running ahead out of our view. When we came around the corner, we could see her little man but not mine. We were walking along the river...where was he? All you mothers out there probably know the feeling of panic that started rising in my heart. Her little man couldn't seem to tell us where mine had gone.
I went ahead on the trail... and there he was. Just looking at the ducks ahead. But oh what a reminder. How precious he is to me. What a gift from God.
And then I realized what had gone wrong with my morning - I had not been practicing my thankfulness. I had not been focusing my attention on all the blessings and good things God has given me and continues to give me. I had just been focusing on everything that was going wrong. I was practicing selfishness instead of selflessness.
I pray that I will continue to remember to practice my thankfulness, even when I am challenged by a non-sleeping son.
In His Grace...
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Comfort and security
We had a fabulous trip to the Redwoods...all of us except our dog.
What kind of dog doesn't like going camping?
He usually likes going wherever we go. He's even happy to come on a shopping trip and sit in the car. However, being expected to sleep in a tent and spend his time outdoors where there was no lawn (and sometimes no sun) appeared to be too much to expect. He let us know on the first night that tent sleeping was not for him. He got up twice to go out and on the second excursion out of the tent, he dragged me to the car. I opened the door for him and he hopped inside and promptly curled into a ball in the seat. That is where I left him. (Keep in mind I had also been up three other times with our little man and two times with him so I wasn't in a patient state of mind.) But the car is where he chose to sleep every night during our camping excursion. I think for him it was about comfort and security.
The comfort of sleeping in the vehicle so no one could leave without him. The security of more than nylon between him and the unknown.
I find my comfort and security in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I am so grateful to have this relationship that does bring me comfort. I pray that I can bring comfort to others because I have received it from God.
And the next time we go camping we will leave our dog in comfort at my sister's, so he can continue to sleep in the house :-)
In His Grace...
What kind of dog doesn't like going camping?
A Shiba Inu.
That is what we have. He's very cute. He's a lot of fun. He's very different than any dog I've ever had.
He usually likes going wherever we go. He's even happy to come on a shopping trip and sit in the car. However, being expected to sleep in a tent and spend his time outdoors where there was no lawn (and sometimes no sun) appeared to be too much to expect. He let us know on the first night that tent sleeping was not for him. He got up twice to go out and on the second excursion out of the tent, he dragged me to the car. I opened the door for him and he hopped inside and promptly curled into a ball in the seat. That is where I left him. (Keep in mind I had also been up three other times with our little man and two times with him so I wasn't in a patient state of mind.) But the car is where he chose to sleep every night during our camping excursion. I think for him it was about comfort and security.I find my comfort and security in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I am so grateful to have this relationship that does bring me comfort. I pray that I can bring comfort to others because I have received it from God.
And the next time we go camping we will leave our dog in comfort at my sister's, so he can continue to sleep in the house :-)
In His Grace...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Surface friendships
They are getting a divorce.
Some friends of ours - and yet it came as a total shock to us. Why?
Not why are they getting a divorce but why did it come as a shock? Why was there no mention in our friendship of the trouble they were having? Why did they not feel comfortable enough to ask for prayer for their relationship?
I am certainly not saying this in judgement of them or as a criticism. If anything, I feel that is says more about our listening skills and the friendship we were offering to them.
It seems to me that friendships are going the way of so many other things in our busy, hectic, technologically infused lives. To the surface. No one wants to share depth, things that aren't going right, disappointments in their lives, difficulties, the things that we need friendships for. Why?
Why can't we share the hard things? That is what our community is supposed to be for. That is what Jesus wanted for us.
"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17 At all times, not just in the good times.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
In today's times we aren't usually asked to lay down our lives, but Jesus asks us to love one another by listening, helping and encouraging others.
I pray that I can be a friend that others can come to in all things - good and bad - and ask for prayer and a listening ear - a shoulder to cry on and a smiling face to rejoice with.
In His Grace...
Some friends of ours - and yet it came as a total shock to us. Why?
Not why are they getting a divorce but why did it come as a shock? Why was there no mention in our friendship of the trouble they were having? Why did they not feel comfortable enough to ask for prayer for their relationship?
I am certainly not saying this in judgement of them or as a criticism. If anything, I feel that is says more about our listening skills and the friendship we were offering to them.
It seems to me that friendships are going the way of so many other things in our busy, hectic, technologically infused lives. To the surface. No one wants to share depth, things that aren't going right, disappointments in their lives, difficulties, the things that we need friendships for. Why?
Why can't we share the hard things? That is what our community is supposed to be for. That is what Jesus wanted for us.
"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17 At all times, not just in the good times.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
In today's times we aren't usually asked to lay down our lives, but Jesus asks us to love one another by listening, helping and encouraging others.
I pray that I can be a friend that others can come to in all things - good and bad - and ask for prayer and a listening ear - a shoulder to cry on and a smiling face to rejoice with.
In His Grace...
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
His Majesty
We were on our way to the Redwoods for our first camping trip with our little man. In an effort to make the time go faster on the drive, we put in the first CD of our little man's Jesus Storybook Bible.
I love the introduction in the storybook bible which is taken from Psalm 19 and Hebrews 1. "The Heavens are singing about how great God is; and the skies are shouting it out, "See what God has made!" Day after day...Night after night...They are speaking to us." Psalm 19 (paraphrase)....God created everything in his world to reflect him like a mirror - to show us what he is like, to help us know him, to make our hearts sing."
As we were driving to some of the most majestic trees in our country, how fitting to be reminded of God's creation. The majesty we see all around us, in the towering Redwoods, in the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean, in the sunset that paints the sky red, orange, yellow. Everything around us was made by God to remind us of His majesty, His glory, His beauty.
It was a great trip!
In His Grace....
I love the introduction in the storybook bible which is taken from Psalm 19 and Hebrews 1. "The Heavens are singing about how great God is; and the skies are shouting it out, "See what God has made!" Day after day...Night after night...They are speaking to us." Psalm 19 (paraphrase)....God created everything in his world to reflect him like a mirror - to show us what he is like, to help us know him, to make our hearts sing."
As we were driving to some of the most majestic trees in our country, how fitting to be reminded of God's creation. The majesty we see all around us, in the towering Redwoods, in the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean, in the sunset that paints the sky red, orange, yellow. Everything around us was made by God to remind us of His majesty, His glory, His beauty.
It was a great trip!
In His Grace....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)