One year ago, Drew left for Afghanistan. Nearly six months ago, he returned home. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time as a family since then. But as is often the case, time and routine have worn down the shine of reunion and I have allowed the same to inundate me with busyness and tasks. In the process, I have allowed more important parts of my life to slack and it is time that I amend that. So I am going to do my best to get back to basics, to those things which I have found have had the most profound impact on my thoughts, attitude and actions- prayer and praise! It is not necessarily the acts themselves that impact me the most but the reminder of the bigger picture. For when I am on my knees before the Almighty or am praising and thanking God for His providence and all the good He has made and done, little irritations, minor inconveniences, personal insults, failings and pride fall to the wayside.
May 30, 2015
Our Neighbors- They have been so wonderful in so many ways and today was another reminder of that. As I struggled to try to get our push mower to start so I could mow the front yard (something that usually is achieved easily), the neighbor's son came out to mow their yard. He saw me struggle and just as I decided to take a break on that and focus on the back yard, he offered to mow our yard at the same time as theirs. If that wasn't enough- as I pushed our mower back towards our storage shed, he asked if I would like him to mow our back yard as well. This may not seem like a huge offer, but our back yard is not your typical mid-town yard. We live on nearly half an acre of land and it takes me a solid two hours to mow the back yard on a riding mower- not including edging ect. I ended up mowing the back yard myself as I had the means and do enjoy mowing, but the offer was so generous and so greatly appreciated.
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17
May 31, 2015
Lord,
I have a friend who is hurting this night. You know who and You know why. You also can be present and comfort them in a way that I cannot. Please do so. I cannot imagine their pain right now, their sense of loss but You can and do. This I know and this I trust. I know You are with them now and I pray that they will feel Your presence and are able to rely on Your strength and comfort in the days ahead. Guide my friend, Lord and lead them to quiet waters.
Thank you Lord for the assurance that we, as believers, have in Your presence, Your providence and Your eternal plan when the direction our finite lives take seems to have been turned on its head. Thank you for experiencing this life and being personally and intimately aware what it feels like to lose a loved one, face betrayal, experience temptation, laugh and cry. Thank you for not only creating and setting this world in motion but choosing to be involved and concerned with our individual needs and our eternity.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
In the Silence of Saturday
Saturday..... the day between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. What happened in the silence of this day?
We know that Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in a borrowed tomb before sunset. We know that a guard was placed outside that same tomb. And we know that when the women arrived on Sunday morning, Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
However what happened with Jesus in the time between the guards and the women is less known. I've read various opinions and scholarly discussions concerning this time. And while the conclusions don't always match up, one thing remains constant: Jesus Christ was dead. Both the Apostles and Christ Himself testify to this within Scripture.
"This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Acts 2:23-24
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelation 1:17-18
I may not know, and I have a hard time even trying to imagine, where Christ was or what Christ was doing on this day, but I can imagine what Satan may have been doing. Satan- a being known for his pride which led to his fall and for his lies. How would Satan view this day? Could he see that there was more to come or was he blinded by his own arrogance and audacity? Did he recognize that this was the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”? Did he know that this action, which seemed so final and so destructive, was nothing more than a wound on Christ's heel? I can't answer those questions, but because of his pride, I still always imagine the same response from him when I consider this day.
Have you ever seen a rooster in the barnyard, all puffed out, crowing and strutting around? That is how I imagine Satan on this Saturday. On the day when Jesus' disciples locked themselves away in a room, preparing for Jesus' final burial treatment, I envision Satan strutting around in all his pride and audacity proclaiming his victory. The son of God was dead. Whether he thought he had achieved the ultimate victory or if he was already aware that God was working in the background, I don't know. Still I imagine he was thrilled with the current state of things. Big or small, this was his victory.
But was it?
God may have seemed silent when viewed through our mortal eyes, but God was not dead and His plan was not thwarted. Because Jesus didn't stand before Pilate, die on a cross or lay in a tomb because of any machinations of Satan. No, Jesus did everything because of the will and plan of God. And this "silence", this waiting was part of that plan as well.
So though it seemed as if God was silent and all was grim, never forget that Sunday is still coming.
We know that Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in a borrowed tomb before sunset. We know that a guard was placed outside that same tomb. And we know that when the women arrived on Sunday morning, Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
However what happened with Jesus in the time between the guards and the women is less known. I've read various opinions and scholarly discussions concerning this time. And while the conclusions don't always match up, one thing remains constant: Jesus Christ was dead. Both the Apostles and Christ Himself testify to this within Scripture.
"This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Acts 2:23-24
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelation 1:17-18
I may not know, and I have a hard time even trying to imagine, where Christ was or what Christ was doing on this day, but I can imagine what Satan may have been doing. Satan- a being known for his pride which led to his fall and for his lies. How would Satan view this day? Could he see that there was more to come or was he blinded by his own arrogance and audacity? Did he recognize that this was the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”? Did he know that this action, which seemed so final and so destructive, was nothing more than a wound on Christ's heel? I can't answer those questions, but because of his pride, I still always imagine the same response from him when I consider this day.
Have you ever seen a rooster in the barnyard, all puffed out, crowing and strutting around? That is how I imagine Satan on this Saturday. On the day when Jesus' disciples locked themselves away in a room, preparing for Jesus' final burial treatment, I envision Satan strutting around in all his pride and audacity proclaiming his victory. The son of God was dead. Whether he thought he had achieved the ultimate victory or if he was already aware that God was working in the background, I don't know. Still I imagine he was thrilled with the current state of things. Big or small, this was his victory.
But was it?
God may have seemed silent when viewed through our mortal eyes, but God was not dead and His plan was not thwarted. Because Jesus didn't stand before Pilate, die on a cross or lay in a tomb because of any machinations of Satan. No, Jesus did everything because of the will and plan of God. And this "silence", this waiting was part of that plan as well.
So though it seemed as if God was silent and all was grim, never forget that Sunday is still coming.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Good Friday?
Sometimes I struggle with the term Good Friday. I understand that the response of God which we celebrate on this day is good- beyond good, but I cannot think about the events of Good Friday without thinking about the original why. I cannot think about the events of Good Friday without recognizing and mourning my own complicity in it all.
I just read a post where someone referred to today as a Black Friday and sometimes that is more how I view this day. So maybe sometimes Good Friday feels a bit like Black Friday and I'm okay with that. I'm forgiven and I know I no longer must bear the guilt for my poor choices and sins, yet I never want to forget my role on this day.
-Jesus was betrayed by His creation and His people in order to open the way between us and God.
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. ... By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished." Isaiah 53:3,8
-Jesus bore the crown of thorns and stripes on His back so I wouldn't need to.
"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." Isaiah 53:4
-Jesus went to the cross to make restitution for my sins.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6
A Black Friday because everything that happened should have been mine to bear.
Yet the only Black Friday where we all can get exactly what we need and everything we could ever want at the greatest price ever- FREE. Jesus faced it all for me. Jesus faced it all for you. Whether you or I acknowledge who He is and what He has done, He still did this for each of us. That's grace. That's love. That's what makes a Black Friday Good Friday as well.
And we cannot forget whether you find yourself mourning your role or glorying in God's forgiveness and grace, either way- we know that Sunday is coming and there is no question regarding the victory of that day!
I just read a post where someone referred to today as a Black Friday and sometimes that is more how I view this day. So maybe sometimes Good Friday feels a bit like Black Friday and I'm okay with that. I'm forgiven and I know I no longer must bear the guilt for my poor choices and sins, yet I never want to forget my role on this day.
-Jesus was betrayed by His creation and His people in order to open the way between us and God.
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. ... By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished." Isaiah 53:3,8
-Jesus bore the crown of thorns and stripes on His back so I wouldn't need to.
"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted." Isaiah 53:4
-Jesus went to the cross to make restitution for my sins.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6
A Black Friday because everything that happened should have been mine to bear.
Yet the only Black Friday where we all can get exactly what we need and everything we could ever want at the greatest price ever- FREE. Jesus faced it all for me. Jesus faced it all for you. Whether you or I acknowledge who He is and what He has done, He still did this for each of us. That's grace. That's love. That's what makes a Black Friday Good Friday as well.
And we cannot forget whether you find yourself mourning your role or glorying in God's forgiveness and grace, either way- we know that Sunday is coming and there is no question regarding the victory of that day!
Thursday, March 19, 2015
The Power to Choose
This Monday I had a situation presented to me which left me with, what felt like, a pretty big decision. I spent a day or two considering the different aspects of my choices and considering possible ramifications for each. I spoke with Drew and another good friend. I asked a few to pray for my decision and I did the same. For three days, I went round and round about this choice. Throughout the process, I felt stress and was often left distracted. Yet once I made my decision and shared it, what peace!
Interestingly though, I had peace despite coming to a conclusion that was not what I or those closest to me might have expected. Yet I had peace because I knew that if and when the day came when I questioned the choice, I would recover easier and more quickly because it had been my choice.
There's power in having the choice; there's responsibility with it as well.
But what about those times when it feels as though the choice has been taken away from us? When the doctor gives you news you never expected and couldn't have changed even if you had some foreknowledge? When a job ends or requires you to relocate? When a child is born with a disability or major illness? When your spouse changes- and not in a way you particularly care for?
Now consider another reality- what if fate really was completely in control and nothing you did or chose would really have any affect on the final outcomes? I know I've personally seen more than one or two shows/movies that have depicted just this idea- following two separate realities based on making a different choice only to have the outcome remain exactly the same. I guess that takes the stress and worry out of decision making. However it also takes away the power and from what I have seen, people like having the power to choose.
Got me wondering why and I was taken back to what I have recently begun to see as one of the greatest gifts to humanity- the gift of choice.
Imagine you are the all-powerful, supreme being who has created other living creatures. As the creator you desire to know your creation and to be known by them. You want to have a true relationship with them- not one based solely on fear and submission as their ruler or creator.
Now imagine you are creating the world they will live in and giving it the laws that will govern every aspect of that world and their lives.
Imagine that you are not only all-powerful but also all-knowing, so even at the creation of the first being you already knew everything about him and all his descendents, their strengths and weaknesses, their successes and failings. And because of this knowledge, you know that giving your creation the power of choice will mean allowing many, possibly even most, of them to defy, deny and discredit you.
In that scenario, would you want to give your creation the power of choice knowing full well that it means giving your creation the ability to not fulfill your greatest desire for them, a part of why they were created?
I can tell you this. This woman, with her severely limited comparison through motherhood, who is obviously far less benevolent would not. Why would I- all-powerful, all-knowing, supreme- why would I do that to myself when I get to call the shots?
And that's what makes it such an incredible gift. God gave us the power of choice- despite knowing the ultimate outcome- because of His great love and benevolence. You may not think about that when you are weighing the merits of your choices or celebrating a well made decision, but there is something in us that loves the fact that we can choose. And there's something in me that can't help but thank God every time I find myself going round and round about a decision. God didn't have to, and given many of the choices I've made, it would have been much easier if He hadn't- yet still He did. And He did so, knowing that one day it would require an even greater sacrifice on His part......His greatest gift.
Interestingly though, I had peace despite coming to a conclusion that was not what I or those closest to me might have expected. Yet I had peace because I knew that if and when the day came when I questioned the choice, I would recover easier and more quickly because it had been my choice.
There's power in having the choice; there's responsibility with it as well.
But what about those times when it feels as though the choice has been taken away from us? When the doctor gives you news you never expected and couldn't have changed even if you had some foreknowledge? When a job ends or requires you to relocate? When a child is born with a disability or major illness? When your spouse changes- and not in a way you particularly care for?
Now consider another reality- what if fate really was completely in control and nothing you did or chose would really have any affect on the final outcomes? I know I've personally seen more than one or two shows/movies that have depicted just this idea- following two separate realities based on making a different choice only to have the outcome remain exactly the same. I guess that takes the stress and worry out of decision making. However it also takes away the power and from what I have seen, people like having the power to choose.
Got me wondering why and I was taken back to what I have recently begun to see as one of the greatest gifts to humanity- the gift of choice.
Imagine you are the all-powerful, supreme being who has created other living creatures. As the creator you desire to know your creation and to be known by them. You want to have a true relationship with them- not one based solely on fear and submission as their ruler or creator.
Now imagine you are creating the world they will live in and giving it the laws that will govern every aspect of that world and their lives.
Imagine that you are not only all-powerful but also all-knowing, so even at the creation of the first being you already knew everything about him and all his descendents, their strengths and weaknesses, their successes and failings. And because of this knowledge, you know that giving your creation the power of choice will mean allowing many, possibly even most, of them to defy, deny and discredit you.
In that scenario, would you want to give your creation the power of choice knowing full well that it means giving your creation the ability to not fulfill your greatest desire for them, a part of why they were created?
I can tell you this. This woman, with her severely limited comparison through motherhood, who is obviously far less benevolent would not. Why would I- all-powerful, all-knowing, supreme- why would I do that to myself when I get to call the shots?
And that's what makes it such an incredible gift. God gave us the power of choice- despite knowing the ultimate outcome- because of His great love and benevolence. You may not think about that when you are weighing the merits of your choices or celebrating a well made decision, but there is something in us that loves the fact that we can choose. And there's something in me that can't help but thank God every time I find myself going round and round about a decision. God didn't have to, and given many of the choices I've made, it would have been much easier if He hadn't- yet still He did. And He did so, knowing that one day it would require an even greater sacrifice on His part......His greatest gift.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Oops, I Did It Again
Maybe you loved the song or maybe you cringe as you read the title because of the song, but right now, it feels like a fitting description for me.
For the last week, our two sweet little girls have been on fire. Attitudes, bickering, selfishness, demanding, picking, and arguing are just the beginnings of what has been happening in our home. And while much of it has been directed at each other, one in particular has also directed it at Drew and I. Leading up to this morning, I realized just how much it was wearing on me and I prayed that the Lord would give me the control of emotions and wisdom to best handle each and every situation as it arose. Of course, this morning, the girls were in particularly good form. A morning which started with a great sense of peace and control slowly erroded under me as the girls wore down on my every nerve.
As I prepared their lunches (only a few hours after getting up), I was spent. I just wanted a break, a little time away from the two of them and all that was going on with them. Peace, quiet and time for me... a place to get away from the voices that can carry through the house. How much was I really asking for? So while I stood there with their lunch plates, I found myself listing off the things I wanted away from- the selfishness, the demands, the whining and the constant need to be on my toes to address each. And as I listed off these issues, a thought came to the forefront that silenced all my complaining- because really, that's what I was doing, wasn't it?
How many times have I spent my days whining, bickering, arguing and demanding things from God, the almighty, all-powerful Creator of this whole universe? And when I do (take this morning perhaps), has He ever called it quits or decided to just take a break from me?
No, the Lord is faithful, incredibly patient and loving with me.
As the title intimates, I know I've been in this position before. I have felt the way I felt this morning far more than I would ever wish to admit. I have also had the Lord remind me that He has stuck through it with me; He has been patient and loving even when I am not. Even when I question or forge ahead, fight His leading or ignore His nudges, He still works on me and can work through me. And on those days when I just don't feel able, He shows me that through Him, so much can be accomplished.
Yet still, I find myself back here.
It's the sad story of me but the amazing and incredible story of God and His love.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you. Thank you for not leaving me to wallow. Thank you for sticking with me as I complain and whine or argue over Your guidance. For if you were affected by me the way I am often affected by our girls, You would have thrown in the towel long before. Instead You have patiently reminded me time and again that there is a better way and that the work laid before me is not only God-given but can be God-led. May it be so, Lord. May it be so.
For the last week, our two sweet little girls have been on fire. Attitudes, bickering, selfishness, demanding, picking, and arguing are just the beginnings of what has been happening in our home. And while much of it has been directed at each other, one in particular has also directed it at Drew and I. Leading up to this morning, I realized just how much it was wearing on me and I prayed that the Lord would give me the control of emotions and wisdom to best handle each and every situation as it arose. Of course, this morning, the girls were in particularly good form. A morning which started with a great sense of peace and control slowly erroded under me as the girls wore down on my every nerve.
As I prepared their lunches (only a few hours after getting up), I was spent. I just wanted a break, a little time away from the two of them and all that was going on with them. Peace, quiet and time for me... a place to get away from the voices that can carry through the house. How much was I really asking for? So while I stood there with their lunch plates, I found myself listing off the things I wanted away from- the selfishness, the demands, the whining and the constant need to be on my toes to address each. And as I listed off these issues, a thought came to the forefront that silenced all my complaining- because really, that's what I was doing, wasn't it?
How many times have I spent my days whining, bickering, arguing and demanding things from God, the almighty, all-powerful Creator of this whole universe? And when I do (take this morning perhaps), has He ever called it quits or decided to just take a break from me?
No, the Lord is faithful, incredibly patient and loving with me.
As the title intimates, I know I've been in this position before. I have felt the way I felt this morning far more than I would ever wish to admit. I have also had the Lord remind me that He has stuck through it with me; He has been patient and loving even when I am not. Even when I question or forge ahead, fight His leading or ignore His nudges, He still works on me and can work through me. And on those days when I just don't feel able, He shows me that through Him, so much can be accomplished.
Yet still, I find myself back here.
It's the sad story of me but the amazing and incredible story of God and His love.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you. Thank you for not leaving me to wallow. Thank you for sticking with me as I complain and whine or argue over Your guidance. For if you were affected by me the way I am often affected by our girls, You would have thrown in the towel long before. Instead You have patiently reminded me time and again that there is a better way and that the work laid before me is not only God-given but can be God-led. May it be so, Lord. May it be so.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Girls, Please Don't Settle
This weekend is Valentine's Day and with it, romance movies are hitting the box office. This year in particular, one movie has been getting lots of attention- some are fawning over its release and others are speaking out against it. I don't really want to discuss the content of the movie or the books it is based upon, but as I have read reviews of the books and comments made by ladies on both sides of the aisle, I have realized that a great deal of women have come to idolize the lead male, Christian Grey, and view him as the epitome of a male. The more I have found out about this character, the more I felt like yelling from the rooftops, "Girls, please don't settle for this kind of man or this kind of love. There is so much better out there and each and every one of you deserve the real thing."
From the comments I've read, women admire the Christian Grey character because he is confident, knows what he wants, communicates and goes after the same, is "protective/concerned" and is "capable of change" through the unfailing love of the woman. He is also said to be quite handsome and wealthy, which certainly doesn't hurt his case. (Items in quotes are areas of great dispute, depending on how you interpret his actions and words.) Yet, from the excerpts which I have read, Christian Grey's qualities are completely self-serving.
Now for a real world example, and lucky for me, it's my husband. I regularly tell him, and often tell others, that he is a "good man." Often I feel the phrase seems too simple and understated to truly express all that I mean, yet that is exactly what he is- a good man. I am blessed to have a husband who is self-assured and confident, aware of what he needs and wants, a great communicator, a provider and a protector, compassionate and concerned, and filled with great love. While initially the lists between the two seem rather similar, there is one enormous difference between my husband and Christian Grey. My husband does none of these things out of selfishness, and this one difference affects every other attribute I mentioned.
His love is matched by his respect.
His awareness of his needs and wants is matched by his desire to know and meet my own.
He communicates so that we can better understand each other.
He provides and protects me because he cherishes me and finds great value and worth in me.
His concern and love are not self-serving but are sacrificial.
This is the picture of a good man. This is a picture of a real love story.
As I write the next lines, I think specifically of our daughters, who will grow up in a world where Christian Grey has always been, but also for any young lady or woman who desires true love.
Girls, let me tell you now- please don't settle for this sad, empty picture of love that media is glorifying. You are worth far more and are more precious than any and all the jewels in the world. You were created in the image of the Almighty God. He knew you before any of us even knew you would be. And after giving you the freedom to choose, He pursues with with an endless love. He offers forgiveness and grace when you fail and provides comfort and peace when the days seems dark. Because of Him, you have a deep and abiding value and worth that no one in this world can take away. And because of that, whether you find a man to spend the rest of your earthly life with or not, you already have the opportunity to be a part of the greatest love story ever. Don't settle for the paltry affections of men such as Christian Grey. Don't believe the lies of Satan which tell you it is love. And should someday you meet a man and wish to marry him, I pray here and now that he will be a good man- not as the world would define a good man but as God has ordained a good man to be.
Lord,
I pray for our girls as they grow. We know the world will tell them many things about love, their value and worth and the type of man they should desire. We pray Lord that they would look to You for the truth and that in You and Your love, the answers would become evident.
And I thank you Lord for the good men in my life- my grandfathers, Dad and husband. Men who exemplify love, respect, honor, commitment and devotion and have lived out stories of true love in their own lives.
From the comments I've read, women admire the Christian Grey character because he is confident, knows what he wants, communicates and goes after the same, is "protective/concerned" and is "capable of change" through the unfailing love of the woman. He is also said to be quite handsome and wealthy, which certainly doesn't hurt his case. (Items in quotes are areas of great dispute, depending on how you interpret his actions and words.) Yet, from the excerpts which I have read, Christian Grey's qualities are completely self-serving.
Now for a real world example, and lucky for me, it's my husband. I regularly tell him, and often tell others, that he is a "good man." Often I feel the phrase seems too simple and understated to truly express all that I mean, yet that is exactly what he is- a good man. I am blessed to have a husband who is self-assured and confident, aware of what he needs and wants, a great communicator, a provider and a protector, compassionate and concerned, and filled with great love. While initially the lists between the two seem rather similar, there is one enormous difference between my husband and Christian Grey. My husband does none of these things out of selfishness, and this one difference affects every other attribute I mentioned.
His love is matched by his respect.
His awareness of his needs and wants is matched by his desire to know and meet my own.
He communicates so that we can better understand each other.
He provides and protects me because he cherishes me and finds great value and worth in me.
His concern and love are not self-serving but are sacrificial.
This is the picture of a good man. This is a picture of a real love story.
As I write the next lines, I think specifically of our daughters, who will grow up in a world where Christian Grey has always been, but also for any young lady or woman who desires true love.
Girls, let me tell you now- please don't settle for this sad, empty picture of love that media is glorifying. You are worth far more and are more precious than any and all the jewels in the world. You were created in the image of the Almighty God. He knew you before any of us even knew you would be. And after giving you the freedom to choose, He pursues with with an endless love. He offers forgiveness and grace when you fail and provides comfort and peace when the days seems dark. Because of Him, you have a deep and abiding value and worth that no one in this world can take away. And because of that, whether you find a man to spend the rest of your earthly life with or not, you already have the opportunity to be a part of the greatest love story ever. Don't settle for the paltry affections of men such as Christian Grey. Don't believe the lies of Satan which tell you it is love. And should someday you meet a man and wish to marry him, I pray here and now that he will be a good man- not as the world would define a good man but as God has ordained a good man to be.
Lord,
I pray for our girls as they grow. We know the world will tell them many things about love, their value and worth and the type of man they should desire. We pray Lord that they would look to You for the truth and that in You and Your love, the answers would become evident.
And I thank you Lord for the good men in my life- my grandfathers, Dad and husband. Men who exemplify love, respect, honor, commitment and devotion and have lived out stories of true love in their own lives.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Enjoy the Journey
A few weeks back, people were asked to call into a radio station to which we listen and share advice from their parents that had stuck with them and affected their life. I heard a few grown children share their memories and began to think of my own. There is one phrase that really comes to mind. It is something I heard from both my Mom and my Dad and it is something that they had to remind me over and over again- even into my adult years.
So as I look ahead, preparing for tomorrow and on to the next phase in my life and my family's, I will live in joy while on this journey, knowing I can trust Him who is faithful to guide me in and through each celebration and sorrow, each sprint and stumble and every other step along the way.
"Enjoy the journey,"
and always following right after was this Bible verse,
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
I heard this when I went off to college, when I stressed over grades or boys, when I graduated, when I worked two minimum wage jobs and still barely squeaked by, when Drew and I were engaged, when we married, when we announced we were pregnant, when I complained about the Army life, when friends seemed scarce, with each move we made and when news of deployment became a reality.
It sounds like a simple thing and there were times, when I was simply being told to "take a breath, relax and let go" of all the little details that were weighing me down. However over the years, it has really settled in and as I look at the words now, I know it holds so much more weight than simply, "breath, relax, release."
Enjoy- My parents never told me to go and be happy, and I'll be honest- I would be shocked if they had. More than that, I'm glad and ever so grateful that happiness was never their wish for me. No, my parents never mentioned happiness; instead they told me to "enjoy." There are many times in life when I am not pleased or happy about my circumstances- when I feel the burden, struggles and pain of this life pressing down upon me with the weight of world. Instead of encouraging me to seek out happiness, my parents took those times of unhappiness to remind me- both verbally and through memories- to enjoy. Lately I have thought of it as "living in joy," and for me, joy is not something that is dependent upon my emotions or my circumstances. Joy is dependent on Christ- His love, His grace, His faithfulness- and who I am in His eyes. No matter what I face, I can enjoy life because I am a child of God and He is my Heavenly Father; I am a failure on my own but I am a victor through Christ.
It sounds like a simple thing and there were times, when I was simply being told to "take a breath, relax and let go" of all the little details that were weighing me down. However over the years, it has really settled in and as I look at the words now, I know it holds so much more weight than simply, "breath, relax, release."
Enjoy- My parents never told me to go and be happy, and I'll be honest- I would be shocked if they had. More than that, I'm glad and ever so grateful that happiness was never their wish for me. No, my parents never mentioned happiness; instead they told me to "enjoy." There are many times in life when I am not pleased or happy about my circumstances- when I feel the burden, struggles and pain of this life pressing down upon me with the weight of world. Instead of encouraging me to seek out happiness, my parents took those times of unhappiness to remind me- both verbally and through memories- to enjoy. Lately I have thought of it as "living in joy," and for me, joy is not something that is dependent upon my emotions or my circumstances. Joy is dependent on Christ- His love, His grace, His faithfulness- and who I am in His eyes. No matter what I face, I can enjoy life because I am a child of God and He is my Heavenly Father; I am a failure on my own but I am a victor through Christ.
The Journey- We walk through this life with many roads and destinations to reach, but it is often in those mundane moments of everyday, the small choices, that some of our greatest acts and lasting impressions are made. The special events are sweet and such a treat, but my life is carried out each day- in our morning routine, the making of meals, the washing of dishes, the cleaning and errands, the silly songs and serious talks, the full days and the quiet evenings- and in each of those moments, I am given the chance to choose joy and share of myself. The tasks may seem trivial but the work and the walk can often hold the deepest joy and the most meaningful moments.
Proverbs 3:5-6- Of course, I can hardly consider the phrase "Enjoy the Journey" without thinking of Proverbs 3:5-6 and for me, that is only fitting. For how can I enjoy this often crazy, unpredictable, chaotic road I am on, if not for the trust I have in the One who I have asked to guide my feet? My own feet, when led by my own understanding, have often taken me into tough, painful, and even shameful situations, but it is God who has led me through and out of them to a place of peace and rest.
So as I look ahead, preparing for tomorrow and on to the next phase in my life and my family's, I will live in joy while on this journey, knowing I can trust Him who is faithful to guide me in and through each celebration and sorrow, each sprint and stumble and every other step along the way.
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