Time with Daddy
Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The opportunities are few but when they come, I take full advantage of them. The moment I am talking about is when my youngest son, Jedidiah, falls asleep on my chest. When he was an infant, his head frequented my shoulder as a cozy pillow but now that he is a busy two-year old, these moments come far too seldom. The days of him sitting still on his daddy’s lap while I kissed his forehead have been traded in for wrestling matches and tackle football games. The only reason he slowed down this day to lie on my chest was a virus that had overtaken his usually exuberant body and left him looking for comfort. It does bring me some delight knowing in his toughest moments he still desires to lay his head on my chest.

What is interesting is the correlation between this relationship with Jedidiah and my relationship with God. Many times I am too busy to sit down and find quiet rest in my Father’s arms. I am too busy with the meetings, the phone calls, or emails. Sometimes I am just more excited about other things that are around me like the football game on TV, the movie that we have rented, or the desperate need for sleep. All of these things catch my attention while my Father is patiently sitting on the couch waiting to fold his strong arms around me and take away all my pain. Yet on most days, I give him a quick hug and an insignificant peck on his cheek as I walk out of the door to tackle another day.

God, change my perspective for all the things that keep my attention and help me find the more critical moment of solace, in having time with You.

- Will <

Reaching In/Reaching Out
Thursday, October 9, 2008

As a child I was very outgoing. I loved to talk and be with people, until I started getting hurt. Kids can be rude, girls can be cruel, boys can be mean and then…a concept I didn’t expect, adults can be horrible. Of course, most people aren’t mean, cruel or horrible all the time – but if you live long enough, you will be on the receiving end of other people’s bad day. So, I started to withdraw. Little by little, I loved spending more time inside and less outside. I then married a man that felt the same way. We had great evenings together while keeping the majority of people at a distance. It was nice.

The problem here is that God calls us to be different. He wants us to show others love, his love; how can we do that while hiding in our homes? 

One day I felt God encouraging me to reach way beyond my comfort zone and allow people into my life. I had to go over and over some of my biggest fears (and silly ones) to make it happen.

#1.  My house is good enough.  Although I am a horrible decorator, have old stuff and my baseboards could use painting, it is good enough. 

#2.  I can host. Never really done it before and I don’t feel confident – but I’m going to do it anyway. 

#3.  I am fine. I’ve always struggled personally with my flaws and others’ judgment of them, but I am the way God made me. 

#4.  I can handle any bad thing that someone thinks or says about me. 

#5.  God can use me. Goofy, insignificant me.

Breaking free of the thoughts and fears that bind us is so important to be who God wants us to be! Please know that God uses broken, sinful people. It’s all he has to work with; and he will work if you let him. As we started to let others’ into our lives, my husband and I started seeing things happen that wasn’t there before. Cool things that can be missed if you never step out in faith. So I ask, what are some binding thoughts that keep you from getting out there, and will you challenge yourself to change them?

Anniversaries
Wednesday, October 1, 2008