Are You Ready for Some Joy?

09 Mar 2010 by sypace

Birthday Party!

Joy. What a sweet word.  So short, and yet, full of impact.  I got to experience pure and unadulterated joy this weekend.  It was our Mia’s Eighth birthday.  She wanted to have some friends go ice skating with her.  She had never been, but ever since the Olympics, that is what she plays constantly at our house.  She wears slick socks and fancy costumes and choreographs elaborate routines to “skate” around our kitchen and family room.  So, to get to go ice skating for real was her hearts desire for her birthday.  Now you know me. You know that things that are foreign to me make me anxious.  You know that when I am in a situation that is beyond the parameters of my control my palms sweat, my heart pounds and I really just want to throw up.  Yep, it’s that bad.  So you can imagine how things were going as we arrived with 4 girls ranging from 7 – 10 years old and then two 3 year olds to go skating.  It was not a pretty to say the least.  I had not planned on skating.  My plan was to sit back and supervise.  But then I quickly realized that my husband just cannot ice skate.  Watching him weeble and wobble a couple of feet and hearing him tell Selah(our 3 year old) that Daddy really just couldn’t help her, gave me hives.  I could just see split skulls, broken arms and bloody lips.  So of course I had to march myself back down to the ticket window and rent myself some bee-you-tee-full hocky skates.  I got back up to the rink and proceeded to step out on the ice to try and keep chaos at bay.  Luckily, my sister was there to help the kids too.  We quickly realized that there were too few of us, who could actually stand up to be able to help our, shall we say, less graceful family members.  Luckily those smart people running the place provide these little red ice skating walkers that can be rented for an extra $5 and my Mom and Dad procured some of these broken-bone saving devices.  Those who needed the extra help got the extra help.  Those who wanted to try it on their own did.  And in the process of being on that rink in the gorgeous weather, (so hot we stripped off our coats and just wore our shirts) watching those girls skate and fall, get up and go again, making friends with those around them and the whole time laughing their fool heads off, I let go.  I let my big girl skate as fast as she could go and wipe out with a thud that made my Mama’s heart shudder.  I let my husband just be himself having fun with those kids.  I let my baby girl talk me into holding onto her and the walker and push her around that rink so fast our hair was blowing in the wind and she was yelling “Go faster, Mama, go faster” in between bursts of gut-wrenching giggles!  At the end of the session I even let that little bundle of joy take off on her own while I stood back and held her Daddy’s hand and we made fools of ourselves skating together. And along the way I felt joy rising inside of me and spilling out of my mouth.  It caught me off guard.  Finding that joy there on the ice was exhilarating and liberating and scary.

Joy is a word, that for me, usually conjures up a sense of sadness and loss.  I know that is the antithesis of the meaning of joy and yet, for me the connotations of the word are not so joyful most of the time.  I like so many of you am weathering some stormy times right now.   I’ve been taking some time to dig deep; ask myself difficult questions and pray for God’s answers to come.  God’s been after me for a while to just give it all up to Him.  I saw this weekend that He can give me a joy that is totally foreign to me if I will just let Him. My bible says this: “He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” I found this verse in Job of all places. Job, who had ever right to be angry, sad, defeated, you name it and he had the source for all those negative emotions and yet in Job 8:21 the Word tells us in no uncertain terms that God will give us joy.  We all go through times of trial and struggle but I am clinging to the above verse and holding onto Psalm 30:5 “. . . weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” It’s time for me to let God give me some joy in my life.  I have robbed Him of that by “controlling” my life.  I’m ready for some joy.  Are you?

Heading out all by herself!

Going all by herself!!

Letting her go!

Letting Her Go!

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Called Through God’s Grace.

18 Feb 2010 by sypace

Recently Barry and I joined the Newly Married Bible Fellowship class at our church on Sunday mornings.  We aren’t exactly newly married, but because we had been through so much in our own marriage and come so far we hoped that we might be of some service to some of these newly married couples and we have also learned that there is much to be learned from them as well!  We are so blessed to have our pastor teaching the class.  It is so wonderful to see all these godly couples that God has brought together!  Right now we are studying Living by the Book by Howard Hendricks.  It is an in depth look at how to study the Bible for yourself.    In last weeks lesson, Hendricks suggested sticking with an entire book of the Bible for one month and studying it thoroughly.  He also suggests that you read out of different translations of the Bible because often when the same thing is presented differently we see something new.  Studying one book per month in different translations would, in one year give you an intimate knowledge of twelve books of the Bible and after4 – 5 years of study you would have an astonishing level of understanding of God’s word.  So, Barry and I have decided to do just that.  We decided that the book we would study is Galatians.  Why Galatians?  I have a complete outline for writing a book on Galatians Five, but to do so, we felt called to research and know intimately all of Galatians.  This will hopefully allow me to use Chapter Five, not out of context and to honor God with truthful writing.   But I am afraid.  I’m afraid to commit to something I don’t feel equipped to write.  I am afraid that others won’t like it.  I am afraid that I am biting off more than I can chew.  I am afraid .  But I feel called.  The words I read this morning have made a huge impact on my decision to get started in earnest.

As I began to read in The Book this morning I asked God to show me something new and with fresh eyes that I could see Him more clearly; that I could grow closer to Him.  I am so thankful that I prayed that prayer this morning.  He so graciously answered my prayer.  Let me share the scripture first and then share what is on my heart.

Galatians 1: 15 – 17  ” 15But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased  16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,  17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Three things stand out to me in this sections.  First Paul notes that God set Paul apart even from his mother’s womb.  What does that say to me?  That he has a plan for each and every one of us; that we are known from the time we are conceived.  We each are ordained for the ministry where God places us and in whatever form He wants it to take.  It doesn’t matter if that ministry is to preach God’s word, like Paul or teach our children to love the Lord.  It doesn’t matter if He calls us to be missionaries in Africa or coach a football team in Nebraska.  Wherever we are, whatever we do, God cares and He has a path for us.  Second, Paul was called by grace.  So are we.  We can’t earn our salvation.  We don’t deserve our salvation and yet God is “pleased” to give direction to our lives through his grace.  I am a sinner.  I fall short daily.  But I am loved and I am His child.  My direction in life comes as a direct result of accepting His undeserved grace.  Third Paul says that when God gave him[Paul], his [God's]direction Paul did not stop to “consult with flesh and blood nor . . . go up to Jerusalem. . . but . . . went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.” Yikes.  How often do I immediately pursue the things that God has laid on my heart?  Often I will turn to a friend or family and say, “what do you think about…?”  Or “Do you think I could/should. . .?”  Ouch.  I see so clearly this morning that when I turn to others for ideas and their perspective instead of listening to His Spirit inside of me, I am walking away from Him.  I am taking a journey down a path that is not of His choosing.  That is painful.  I am a people pleaser.  I don’t want to disappoint anyone.  And when I do, I am miserable.  And yet, why am I not as concerned with pleasing Him  as pleasing others.  How much pain do I cause the One who has so freely given me such grace?

Father, please allow me to hear your voice, take comfort in your grace and accept the plans that you have for me.  Help me be content in those things.  Lead my steps, guide my words and forgive my failures.  I desire to know you more fully and to be ever faithful to your teachings.  Strengthen me to do so when I am weak.  Draw me close to you.  I love you Lord.  Amen.

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“Give Me Your Eyes.”

11 Feb 2010 by sypace

Today is my last day working at the tax office.  In a way it’s a big relief.  It’s been hard on my kids to get up and go stay with someone else during the day.  Getting up so early is not generally in our daily routine. Lol.  But we have survived and along the way my heart has been touched tremendously and I hope my attitude changed forever.  I just have to share my experience with you and hope that you are blessed.

All day long I sit and do data entry.  What that means is that for every person, couple or family group that comes in I put all their documentation into the tax program we use at the office to calculate the tax refunds that are eligible or what is owed to the IRS.  In the past when those papers would come rolling in I would groan and moan when someone would come in with several W2’s or Unemployment, 1099R’s, Social Security benefits because it meant more work for me.  All I wanted was a single, simple w2 that was neat and efficient and I could be done with their file quickly and move on to the next one.  I also have to admit when people would come in with several W2’s and unemployment my thoughts about them were not the kindest.  And heaven forbid if you only came in with unemployment.  Just could not fathom how anyone could not be more productive.  My heart aches at the sinfulness of those thoughts.

All those papers coming through my hands were/are people’s lives.  Lives that are messy and complicated and difficult.  Lives of single Moms trying to get by.  Lives of men struggling to provide for their families in a tough economy.  Lives of Grandmothers who have grown sons and daughter’s and their children who’ve lost their homes and are now living with Grandma while she works three jobs trying to help them all.  Lives of a  Mom and Dad who both have a W2 and unemployment slips, doing the best they can to hold on to the means to provide for their family.  These are the people who’s lives come through my hands with so much messy paperwork.  God loves them immensely.   God sees them and His heart aches for the trials that they are facing.  I saw that this time.  I felt that this time.   Initially, Brandon Heath’s song, “Give Me Your Eyes.” began to play over and over in my mind as I entered all the data into the computer.  This year, as those files have come into my hands and then on to the preparers hands my heart has ached and my voice has begun to lift them up to a God who sees their needs and loves them.

I am so thankful that God opened my eyes and allowed me the privilege of praying for His children these few weeks.  I am so blessed.  His words command us to “love one another.”  John 13: 34 – 35: 34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  I so hope that in a small way I have loved these people who have come through the doors of the office and that I have honored Him in doing so.



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Keeping My Mouth Shut!

26 Jan 2010 by sypace

I told you a couple of weeks ago that God had really laid some scripture on my heart and wanted me to ingrain it heart and mind into the very fabric of my soul.  This is not an easy thing for me because I have a pretty sharp mind and the ability to use words to my advantage in most cases.  My Mother always said that I should have been a lawyer because I could win any argument that arose and my husband will tell you she isn’t too far from the truth.  I have learned that I use my words to hide my vulnerability.  I use them to keep people from seeing who I really am and the insecurities that I feel.  I use them when I am unsure of myself, so that I feel secure.  And as you know, if you have been reading my blog, I like to feel in control and when I don’t, it scares me!!!  So without further excuse and putting it off here is what God has been telling me to do:  KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT!!!

I have heard some form of Ephesians 4:29 all my life.  My Mom used to love to use her version of it, by saying, “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”   I just never realized that it is a mandate from the Lord.  Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ouch. So He really wants me to keep my mouth shut?  When I am scared and want to defend myself?  When I am vulnerable and don’t want to hurt?  When I am wrong and don’t want to admit it?  When I am angry and want to lash out?  When I am not in control and that’s what I want?  Yuck.  I LIKE to talk.  So this command is not an easy one for me.  I have also figured out that the place where I most struggle with this is in my own home.  It is hard for me not to be critical of my husband.  It is hard for me not to push my kids too much.  It is hard to accept that God is in control and I am not.  I would be lying if I didn’t admit that.  So how is this ever going to work????

Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”  This is how I’m going to do it; by praying His word daily, hourly and sometimes minute-by-minute.  I have already failed repeatedly at this over the last few days, but it is getting easier.  You know what I have noticed?  My relationship with my husband has become especially sweet.  I have felt things for him that have been denied to us because of my accusatory words.  My kids have benefited from this new denial of self in the way I have been able to see and love them without my words getting in the way.

Our preacher told a story about a young man that was instructed by his father to go pound a nail into a fence-post every time he said something negative to someone.  At first he was constantly pounding nails into the post.  As time went by and he got tired of putting those nails in and he had to do so less and less.  Eventually it became a rarity.  Finally his Dad told the boy that he felt like he had worked on it and done a good job changing his behavior and that now the boy could go pull all the nails out of the post.  As the boy was finishing up, the Dad came out and asked the boy to look at the post.  It was full of holes and badly scarred.  The Dad told the boy that what he was seeing on the post was exactly what our words do to those around us.  We can say we’re sorry, much like pulling out the nails, but the holes and scars are still there.  We can never undo the damage our words cause.  The only way to prevent those scars is to not say the words.

I want my family to be strong, beautiful posts supporting others around them.  I challenge you to join me in upholding Ephesians 4:29. If you need to use Psalm 141:3 like me, by all means grab it too!!!  If there are other verses that mean more to you share it with us here.  We could all use the help!!!

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With a Heavy Heart. . .

22 Jan 2010 by sypace

This morning I really feel the need to share something that is weighing heavy on my heart.  With all the news coverage coming out of Haiti and the economic situation in this country, coupled with a friend who is now having to make a huge transition into single motherhood, I wanted to share with you what I think is the most important thing in this world.  Sometimes we get caught up in the everyday living and become so ego-centric that we miss the really important things because we are so caught up in self and so short-sighted.   My day yesterday showed me that in a powerful way.

If you have been reading my blog at all you know that I have been a stay-at-home Mom for a few years now.  I love my job.  But, every so often I start to miss the adult connections found in a work place.  All four of our little family unit spends the majority of every day in the same house.  Most days I love that.  Some days . . . I feel like I am going to pull all my hair out.  That being said, I have a friend who runs a tax office and she always hires temp workers for the season and Barry and I decided to see if I could join her staff this season.  We could definitely use the money, I could get out of the house and we found suitable and affordable childcare for my girls for the part-time hours I would need to be away.  All these things seemed so important as we were making that choice.  I had no idea how working one day would really impact my heart.

Yesterday was my first day on the job.  I was not used to being away from my kiddos and I worked a really long day!  I didn’t get home until late yesterday evening and Barry and the kids had waited on me to eat dinner.  I had put some soup in the crock-pot before I left for work so we could all just sit together and eat when I got in.  I sank wearily onto the seat at our table and just took in the sight of my girls and their precious faces.  My Mia is a quality time girl.  She was ready to talk about all the things she had done that I had missed that day.  It was enough for her that I was able to sit and just listen to her.  My sweet Selah is a physical touch, love-bug.  So the whole time we ate dinner and Mia talked, Selah kept scooting closer until her little bottom was resting on my lap and her back was firmly pressed up against me.  Every once in a while she would look up and kiss me and say, “I love you, Mama.”  I wish I could convey the sweetness of that moment, but words just don’t suffice.

I was bone-weary from a schedule I wasn’t accustomed to.  In the past, I might have let myself dwell on needing to rest, and that Mia could not quit talking, and Selah was all up in my space.  But that wasn’t what I felt last night and thankfully that attitude has become less and less over the years.  As I sat there I thought about how fortunate I was to have that time with my girls.  I kept thinking about all those women who have to work; those women who don’t have a choice, especially all the single moms who have to do it all.  My heart was breaking for them and I felt so much respect for the job that they do every day with their families.  I felt so undeserving.  I felt so blessed and so unworthy.  And as I sat there with that precious voice of one daughter swelling in my ear and the warmth of my other daughter resting in my lap, I thought not just about all the working Moms who have to mother their children through their weariness, but also about all the families in Haiti who will never again have an opportunity to hear or hold their children or children who will never hear or be held by Mom or Dad.  My heart is so heavy for those families.

My experience working yesterday and thinking about Haiti made me see that no matter what the circumstances and the future holds for me, I have a precious opportunity in every minute God allows me to have with my family. I know that I may need to work or that may not be His plan.  I have no idea what my life’s path is going to take.  I don’t have to know and I don’t have to worry about it.  His word tells me in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future.” I am so thankful that I have a Guide who will direct me, provide blessings and sustain me when things are hard.  Watching my friend go through this last year, seeing all the destruction in Haiti and especially all the orphans and their plight has really brought home to me the importance of knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I pray that if you don’t have the assurance of that relationship, you will seek Him out.  Having a relationship with the Savior, studying His word and living life for Him makes life so much sweeter and makes the impossible, possible.  The following video is a powerful reminder of who He really is, even in the midst of weariness, chaos and destruction.  Do you know him?

My heart so longs for you to know Him.

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Sunrise with the Storm Rolling In.

20 Jan 2010 by sypace

This morning as we were getting ready to eat, my daughter Mia, was looking out our back door and asked my husband and I to come look outside.  She asked me to take a picture and the picture to the right was what we saw.  The sunlight was just barely touching the tops of the trees and storm clouds were blowing in behind the mountains.  It reminded me that often in our lives even as the storm approaches God’s goes before the storm and prepares the way.  He tells us in Deuteronomy 3:18 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” How awesome is it to know that even when life is nasty and and our lives are blown about, He is there.  Is there a storm approaching in your life?  Take the time today to bask in His light.

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Praise Him!!!

15 Jan 2010 by sypace

Ya’ll, I just have to share my heart and shout a HUGE praise to my Jesus.  For years I have struggled with having a less than positive view of things in life.  I am so thrilled to say that as I read and have embraced Proverbs 17:22 this week, life has been so precious and wonderful.  All the things that normally drive me nuts seemed so insignificant.  I can’t even begin to tell you how freeing this has been.  This has not been an easy week.  There are some circumstances that could have made this week daunting.  And yet . . . I have smiled through it and looked at my life for what it is . . . a precious gift from God as well as an opportunity to praise Him.  I am not naive enough to think that I will never have a negative thought again, but what I do know is that when those thoughts creep in, God’s word provides the support that I need, to see that my outlook on life is a choice.  I just want to say “Thank you” to a Great God who showed me that truth through my devotions this week.

I promise you that I am going to share the scripture that God is directing me to in regards to my family.  It makes me almost giddy thinking about those words and the potential for blessings in them.  I want so much to share them with you, but it’s going to take a while and I want to have plenty of time to share my heart without having to rush through it.

I have another prayer request for you.  My Dad is currently in Belize on a Missions trip and my Mom will be joining him on Saturday.  Please pray for the team from First Baptist Church of Marion, NC.  I know they would appreciate it.  Here is a link where you can keep up with them as they work. http://fbc-belize.blogspot.com/

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A Cheerful Heart.

12 Jan 2010 by sypace

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. I have a confession to make.  I am not generally a cheerful person.  My husband is one of the most positive people I have ever met.  When anything happens in our lives that is, (in my opinion) less than wonderful, my approach is generally to see all the negatives of the situation.  Barry, on the other hand, sees those situations as opportunities for something better.  In the past it has made me so mad.  Invariably he will tell me that I have a choice whether to be unhappy about something or not and my very immature and ego-centric response has been to tell him in no uncertain terms that happiness in not a choice and for him to keep his chipper little attitude to himself; makes me cringe just to confess those words to you.  God has really been working on me about making some changes in my life as this new year begins.  There is something that He is asking me to do with my family that is extremely difficult.  (I intend to post the two verses sometime this week.)  But I have realized over the last two days that It is impossible to do what He is asking if I first do not embrace Proverbs 17:22.

Knowing that I cannot do what He desires without having a complete and total change of heart is daunting.  For so many years I have lived with my emotions and heart directing me to view life a certain way.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is telling me that it is time to change that viewpoint and that a “cheerful heart” is a choice.  I know that living life as a pessimist is no longer an option.  I also know that it is not possible for me to become an optimist on my own.  So pray for me.  I’m going to need it.

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My Big Girl’s Big Struggle and God’s BIG Answer.

08 Jan 2010 by sypace

Ya’ll, I have the smartest, coolest kid in the world! (I’m not partial, I promise. LOL)  But sometimes she wears me out with questions that I just can’t answer.  So yesterday I broke down and took her to our children’s pastor.  Her question was, “Mama, how do I know God’s real?”  I had answered with every spiritual answer I knew how to give.  I gave her examples of things in our world that show God’s majesty, power and to my way of thinking evidence that he exists and loves us.  In our homeschooling studies yesterday, the story of Noah was our Bible reading for the day.  My response to her was, “See God promised he would never flood the earth completely again and gave us the rainbow as physical proof.”  Her response was, “Well, scientists say that the sun and rain make rainbows.”  After a short phone call to the children’s minister, Josh, Mia and I discussed the fact that yes, sun and rain make rainbows, but God made the sun and the rain and the ability of those two things to make a rainbow.  But my little detail driven progeny said, “But how do I KNOW that GOD made the rain and the sun.”  Holy cow.  This is some deep stuff.  So we made the appointment to see Josh.

We spent almost an hour with Josh talking about what doubt is.  Discussing the ways that we are able to see God.  We looked at verse after verse about faith and trusting God.  We discussed Billy Graham’s faith that God’s word is truth and God blessed Mr. Graham’s faithfulness by speaking through him to reach millions.  Josh gave a specific example of a prayer request that God had answered for He and his wife Carrie.  But in the end we told her that it really is about a choice to have faith.

We have continued to discuss faith and read scripture and God is so amazing.  On Mia’s bible cover is Proverbs 3:5.  ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart. . .”  We then talked about the rest of verse 5 and 6 “and lean not on your own understand.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.”  I explained to her that as humans we make mistakes and we often can’t trust just the things that we understand.  We talked about the fact that God understands everything.  We also read Psalm 139.  I told her that God knew her and loved her even before she was formed.

The best part happened this morning though.  This whole issue of hers has made me really look at my own beliefs and things that have happened in my own life that have shown me that He is real, He is awesome and that unbelievably . . . He loves me.  Me.  I have been reminded through my daughter’s questions how strong His love is for each one of us.  What a blessing.  This morning Mia and I were reading in Matthew 7:  7 – 8.  The scripture there says, ” Ask, and it will be given to you.  Search, and you will find.  Knock, and the door will be opened to you.  Everyone who asks will receive.  He who searches will find.  The door will be opened to the one who knocks.” (NIrV)  I explained to Mia that God was very aware of her searching to know Him and that as long as her prayers were for things that God wanted for her, He would provide those things.  We talked about the fact that she was searching for Him and the way to do that was through prayer and reading His word.  I told her I fully expected Him to give her answers and she should too.

Here is the cool part.  Her Dad has been on a business trip and hasn’t had the best of trips.  He locked his keys in his truck, left his lights on and the battery died and then last night left the one crucial piece of equipment he needed to do his job in a restaurant. (The power cord for his computer.)  So he called last night to tell me all of this.  He wasn’t too happy to say the least.  His plan was to try and find a computer store locally and buy a new power cord.  So after reading the scripture in Matthew this morning, Mia and I decided to pray specifically that Barry would be able to find a store open early enough to buy a cord, that they would have one, and that he could make his last meeting on time. About twenty  minutes after our prayer, Barry called.  He found a store about 3 miles from his hotel room that had the cord and was open.

I wanted to shout!!!  Mia and I talked about the fact that we had been praying for her Dad this entire trip.  When he locked his keys in his truck there was someone there to open it (at no charge), when his battery was dead there was someone there to jump-start the truck and last, when he needed the power cord someone was open and had what he needed.  After I had shown her, her Daddy’s struggles and God’s provisions for him, I asked her if she thought it might be possible that God was letting Daddy struggle a little so that SHE could see that God is real and that when we pray He hears and provides what we need.  Her eyes got huge and began to sparkle and I could feel my heart begin to just fill up almost to bursting at seeing God’s Awesomeness revealed in her seeking answers about Him.

You know, I haven’t up to this point in my life, really struggled with doubt that God is real.  My struggles have been with acknowledging His sovereignty over my life and giving Him the credit for my blessings and letting Him guide my life.  It was so powerful to see my girl looking and really searching to find God and for me to see how in control He really is.  If you are struggling with doubt email me.  I don’t have all the answers but I have THE word and can point you to some scripture that might help.

Love My God and Love His Big Answers to our Big questions!

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God’s Pearl in the Making.

06 Jan 2010 by sypace

I’ve been feeling the pull to blog for a while now, but sort of resisted, if you know what I mean. . . Seems like something keeps interfering, i.e. myself.  God is really working on my heart about the new year being a time to renew my commitment to Him, and in my case, that means honoring Him by changing my relationship with my husband and my kids.  In a couple of days I will share the scripture that has been laid on my heart as the means to do that very thing.  In the meantime, I want to share what I read in my devotional book this morning.  It further confirmed what God is asking me to do. LOL!!!

This comes from Five Meaningful Minutes a Day by Charles Swindoll.

“January 6

If it weren’t for irritations, we’d be very patient, wouldn’t we?  But like taxes, they are ever with us.  When it comes to irritations, I’ve found that it helps if I remember that I am not in charge of my day . . . God is.  And while I’m sure He wants me to use my time wisely, He is more concerned with the cultivation of the qualities that make me Christlike within.  One of His preferred methods of training is through the adjustments to irritations.

A perfect illustration?  The oyster and its pearl.”

Hmmm. Not hard for me to see how God is talking to me.  I am the kind of person that likes to be in charge.  I like to have things under control.  It gives me a sense of protection when things are in order exactly how I think they should be.  When things aren’t or people around me cause things to go (in my opinion) awry it causes me no small amount of irritation.  My husband would also confess to the fact that I am not a very patient person.  I am seeing a very clear theme to the message God is sending me repeatedly over the last few months.  He is so clearly speaking to me that I don’t really dare to ignore it anymore.  It’s time to let God make my life a pearl.  Will you join me?


Category: Reflection  Tags: , ,  One Comment
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