Listening?!?

Has anyone wondered if the some of the urgings that they are feeling are from God or from their own imaginations and thoughts? I have been struggling the last few weeks with hearing God, and finding His voice to guide my life.

I have an amazing friend who shared with me several months ago, that she felt like God was preparing her for something big;. Long story short, she and her husband have three little girls and were not planning on having anymore. My dear friend ached for another baby, but honored her husband and their decision not to have any more biological children.

They had been praying and thinking about adoption for the last several months. Last week this little miracle was literally dropped into their lives. They are now planning on adopting a little boy. I am not at liberty to go into details, short of saying that this story has God written all over it!! Because she stopped and listened, God spoke to her and was preparing her and her family for their new addition long before they had any idea what was going to happen.

This made me realize...a little quiet time with the Lord and some time spent in His word will go a long way towards "hearing" Him. Isn't it truly amazing that we have a God that knows what is in our hearts and that He has given us this amazing manual to find the answers and truths to better hear Him!!

Deuteronomy 30:20
..."that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him...

I hope we can all take time out of our busy lives to stop and listen to the plans our Lord has for us!!

What are your "Talents"?

God's timing is always correct. Sometimes I don't notice and it schlaps me in the face, leaving me thinking, "....ooooh yeah! Now that makes sense!". This last weekend, our message at church was about the parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-28).

I always viewed that story as a good way to talk about finances and tithing... How God wants us to be good stewards with the funds he blesses us with. But this weekend shone a new light on the subject and I thought of the word "talent" not as $$$, but talent.

I've spent quite a few years "hoarding" some talent that I was feeling too stingy to use. I thought of singing and how I've always thought of it as mine....NO WAY! I realized it's God's voice and he entrusted me with it for a reason. WOW. What am I doing sitting on it? And his perfect timing?: I had just prayed during worship before the sermon, asking God to give me a sign if he wanted me to serve on the worship arts team and sing again. So I'm gonna do it.

So, what's the talent that God has entrusted you? Have you been sittin' on it too?

Matthew 25:13

"Therefore, stay alert, for you know not the day or the hour..."

So when we finally get to see our Savior face to face, I want to tell him that I used every bit he gave me...

Lesson in envy

Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings
instead of your own.
- Harold Coffin

Today, I spoke with a good friend of mine who told me that they just bought a new house. I was so happy for them but couldn't help thinking why they bought a new house when their current one was really nice anyway. They are expecting their first baby, and they are checking off the list of things that they need before the baby comes. I'm so glad that they are having a baby. They are truly wonderful people, and their children will be extremely blessed to have such good parents. But why upgrade when the house you live in is REALLY nice already? Their new neighborhood is just down the street from us, so I decided to drive through. The more I drove through the neighborhood, the more envious I got. I'm not the main financial provider in my family, and my husband has a job where people think he earns about three times as much as he really does. We struggle to pay bills sometimes, and it's really frustrating. I guess I found myself feeling jealous that my good friends get to start out their family in such luxury while we are scraping the bottom on the barrel at times.

Then I realized, why be envious of my friends when I have everything in life that I need right now? I have a wonderful husband, two happy and healthy kids that make me smile everyday, a roof over my head, and food on the table. We can laugh, cry, eat meals, welcome friends and family, and love in a house of any size. Besides, if we had every physical desire that we want NOW, it doesn't make us appreciate what we acquire in the future. So today I wake up, give my girls morning hugs and kisses, make breakfast in my fully-stocked kitchen, shower in hot water, and put on clothes from our almost-too-small closet. And I'm thankful for every last bit.

Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.
- Psalm 37: 4-5

Patience and Ferocious Love

It is true. With parenthood comes the ever-present need for patience. I wish I could store it all up and use that extra patience I had from day 1 and use it on day 4. I found myself losing my patience several times today with my almost-2-year-old daughter as she ferociously loved my 6-week-old daughter - namely, she was laying smack dab on top of her, hugging and kissing her. She has her gentle moments, and then she has her violent and ferocious love moments. All come with good intentions, but you think she would reconsider literally smothering her sister with love while she screamed and writhed in pain beneath her. And yes, I called my mother tonight to ask her what to do. Ended up, I was doing the right thing all along, which was yanking the old one off the younger one and explaining the whole concept of inflicting pain on someone smaller than yourself. Not sure if it got through to her 20-month-old brain, but here's hoping.

How many times have you found yourself in the same situation? How many times have you tried so hard to have patience with your little ones, with your husband, with your parents, with your co-workers...and you get to the point where patience just doesn't cut it anymore and you want to blow your top? And how many times have you had the patience to love kindly, gently, patiently...and when there is no physical reception of that love, have you ever lost your patience and loved "ferociously?" They are the extremes, these things called patience and love - so easy to feel, yet so hard to contain.

So tonight, I will go to bed and pray for my patience to restore itself while I sleep. It's nice to know that with each day comes a new slate, and we can approach it as patiently or ferociously as we choose.

Timid

Inside each of us is someone who is timid. Whether you're a little timid, or a lot, we have aprehensions; fears. Fears of spiders, fears of abandonment, fears of death, and of the unknown.

Don't be afraid. Encourage yourself by filling up on God's word, so that you can be ready at a moment's notice to share your hope with those who don't know how to hope.

I Peter 3:14b-16, "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (NIV)

We are accepted...even when we don't accept ourselves

Feel like your life is full of muck? Are things "messy" and do you sometimes feel out of control? That's good...it means you're still alive and you're human. :) Do you know that even in an imperfect world and in an imperfect life, we can be accepted?

"When God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given back our lives.

Titus 3:4-6 (The Messge translation)

A Father's Love Letter

Don't you know that it's not about our pursuit of God....your life is the story of God's pursuit of you.

Take five minutes and watch this love letter from God video. It's beautiful and amazing. HE is beautiful and amazing. Be blessed...

Click HERE