The Snow

Okay, I have to ask: Is someone out there praying for snow? Seriously, can you stop? It's April 7 and we are suppose to have lovely tulips and daffodils by now, but no, we have snow.  An entire blanket of white, beautiful, snow, and it's everywhere! Here at my house, we are covered.  And, as lovely as it is, I don't want to see snow anymore. I'm thinking summer here.  Hot, sunny, long days.  Biking in the park, picnics, swimming in the lake.  Barbecues, coffee on the porch, walks that last forever....Not Snow!
So, today I'm going to hunt for the lovely little flowers that peek out of the snow, the ones that give me hope of Spring time, sun, a little warmth.  That will be fun.
Isn't it just like life? I can be musing along, doing great and then one day it snows. I feel wet, cold, blah. And, I have to ask for the Spring and Summer sun to soak me up, give me warmth.  The Son of God covers me, and I find hope.
I'm pleased with the day, even with the STILL resiliant flu hanging on and the snow, the cold.  I'm pleased to be who I am IN Jesus today. Pleased that I have loving friends and family.  Pleased that life is full.  I'm praying for eyes to see His way, for understanding, for love, and for reconciliation. I need all of that to be bigger in my life today.  I'm praying for wisdom, His Fruit and the power of His Spirit.
I'm not praying for Snow!
Say That Again Jesus, You allow the snow and the sun in my life for growth.  I am here to do everything Your way. It's all about You, dear Lord!

The Feet

So, I found the perfect pair of shoes for my feet today, and I purchased them. It seemed like a good thing to do with the lingering flu still hounding my body. My feet need a little work after the long winter of boots. They have been somewhat neglected. I think my daughter and I will have to have a toe painting party.
I woke up this morning asking God what He wanted me to read and John 13 came to mind. I was still so tired though, that I didn't read it right away. I did get up and had some coffee, and decided bed was better, so I went back to bed. My son woke up early too, and went back to bed. So did my daughter. It was a back to bed morning.
When I woke up the second time around, John 13 was still on my mind, so I decided I better get to it right away. The chapter is about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, and about Judas betraying Jesus. At first I wasn't sure why God was so insistent on me reading this story, but now I'm getting it rather clearly.
Isn't it amazing that Jesus washed the feet of Judas? He knew this man was going to betray Him to death, but still, because of His love, He got down on His knees and washed the feet of the man that was about to hurt him. He remained loyal to Judas to the end, even though Judas was not loyal to Him! He gave Himself up for this man.
Further on in the chapter it reads this: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples--when they see the love you have for each other."
Okay, I have to ask myself: "Am I willing to wash the feet of those that have hurt me, betrayed me?" I have to be, Jesus has commissioned me to do this! Is it even possible for me to understand this kind of love towards those I have been hurt by? It must be, because Jesus has told me to love as He loves, and He loved Judas! His love for a man that hurt Him was far beyond my experiences.
I am clothed in Jesus, His Spirit is alive and well within me, so I know that I can love as He loves. I can wash the feet of those I encounter by serving them, loving them, upholding them, being in their lives, and praying for them. His shoes are my shoes, and He will enable me to wear them well.
Oh Jesus! Say That Again to me today, as I lift my heart up to You. You are love and truth, I will follow in Your foot steps.

Until next time....

The Birthday

Today is my daughter's birthday. She is six years old. She has been waiting for this day, since her fifth birthday. I think she has talked about it, planned it, and imagined it everyday since last year! She wanted to have dinner at her favorite Italian restaurant, which we did. And, she had her dad take pictures of all the gifts she wanted us to buy, so we wouldn't forget. She's been planning her cake, which we ordered today, because she's having her party tomorrow at the skating rink. Oh the joy and the anticipation of birthdays! As a child they are the highlight of the year, right along with Christmas. Why does a child think that growing up is going to be so cool? Getting older, to them means more freedom, less rules. They are unable to see the responsibilities that come along with growing up.
The stuff like paying the bills, and going to work every day. The responsibility of making dinner, cleaning the house, and feeding the dog. As adults, we know the list is never ending, as a child, they have no idea.
My daughter trusts that it will be good. She sees my life, and she wants the same. She's in love with her daddy, and she wants to be someone's princess some day. She just believes that life will be good, because it is good. She has been loved, protected, cherished and celebrated.
This is how I want to look at my future. I am loved, protected, cherished and celebrated by Jesus. He is preparing a place for me to live, someday that outshines this place here on earth. He is excited about the fact that I will live there. His Spirit is IN me, growing me up to an ever increasing place of strength, integrity, responsibility,and truth in Him. I'm excited about this, and I'm anticipating how much more I can live in His Glory, as each day comes to me. I am trusting that His will prevails all the time, and He is good, all the time.
As I move through this day, feeling tired and still not totally up to par, I'm going to anticipate heaven. It will be better there on every level. I won't get sick. My friends will be loyal. And, best of all, I will be able to sit at the feet of Jesus, go for walks with Him, SEE Him whenever I want. It'll be like a birthday everyday of the year!
Say That Again, Jesus, You are loving, protecting, cherishing, and celebrating me today. And, I am praising You for being so good all the time.

Until next time....

The Flu

So, I still have the flu. The achy, stuffy, fever, not feeling so well kind of flu. It certainly puts a damper on my day, and is forcing me to slow down and stay down. As I talked to God this morning, I asked for His healing hand to be upon me. He told me to go back to bed, and I'd get better in due time!
I think this is a test of patience. Nobody likes having the flu, and I confess, I'm a baby. It feels bad, I want it to go away, I'm just not happy.  To add to my flu day; it's snowing.  What? It's April! And, it's snowing? The weather has some ailments as well, and needs to go through some major transformations.
So, as I stay home today and drink a lot of water, I will continue to pray for God to speed up my recovery.  I will pray for patience. I will rest in my bed and IN Him. He will bring Spring, He always does.
Say That Again, Jesus, Spring is just around the corner!

Ugh!

We had dinner last night with my classmates. It was very nice. Sadly, my voice left me part way through the dinner. Gone, nothing. I started to feel sick, and being at a restaurant was no longer fun. It took me a little while to make the rounds of goodbyes.
It's been a good weekend, not we are on our way home. The drive is looking in our face, and this time I'm not looking forward to diving home, sick. But, I will look back on the weekend fondly. I got to see my old high school roommate, my college roommate, and lots of other people. It amazes me how so many people can change, and a few don't change at all. The lines of age are beginning to etch themselves in most every face, and the challenges of life show up in our eyes. Many are seeing the value of life lies in Jesus and in relationships with each other. The drive to be the best has subsided, and the hope to not be alone has grown.
The reality of age has set in, and we are in a place of examination.
I'm living a joyous life, even in the trials. I'm one of the ones that has changed. God has changed me, He is big in my life, leading me. The realities of this life are not forever, because I am an eternal being IN Him. It's good to know this, because it gets me through days like today.
So, Jesus, I am saying "ugh" today. But, You are not. You are here to carry me, love me, and change me more. Say That Again, I want to hear You clearly today.

Until next time....

Where Did the Years Go?

Twenty eight years of marriage, five kids,daughter in laws, grand child, a business, challenges, struggles, joys, successes, hope, despair, running, controlling, pursuing, losing, gaining and surrendering.  Each day has offered me something since I left high school, sometimes I took the offer of life, some days, I just didn't. I've learned that God was there to see me through it all. He has blessed my marriage, blessed my children, blessed my life. In high school, I said little, I did little.  I just survived each day. I didn't believe, in anything. That was 30 years ago, things have changed considerably.  I see now that God was in the picture all along, encouraging me, loving me, setting the path for me. It's an incredible story, really.
Everyone has an incredible story, a song actually. When the time comes that I am standing before His throne, I will see the song fully.  All the places that He stood when I couldn't.  All the times that He spoke, when I couldn't.  All the love and grace that He dealt out to me, when I felt hopeless. All the times He pursued me when I was running away.
As I looked around the room today at my classmates, I really wanted to know their songs of life. How has God touched them? Who is feeling hopeless? Who is feeling joy? Do they know where life is taking them? And, are they disappointed with where they are now?
It's been 30 years! How many dreams came true, how many were crushed? Who had dreams, who had none? 30 years! Where did the years go?
As God looks over the years, is His testimony of me pure and good? Can He look at me now and say "Good job, faithful servant?" Can He look at me and know that I will continue on His journey, the path He has laid out for me?
Today, I testify to my God that He is good all the time! I stand here, in this place, 30 years later and know that My God has turned all things for good. He knows the plan, and all that lies in my future will testify also of His goodness.  He will be the strength that pushes me through, the life that breathes on me.  It will be Him, not me that shines.
There's more years to come, I hope.  What will it be like 30 years from now? What will He testify then?
Say That Again, class of '81! Who is Your God and what is His testimony of YOU!

The Drive

We left this morning for my school in Idaho, the place I went to school for three years. We drove straight south, and the scenery was beautiful. The further south we got, the warmer it got. We drove along the river for a long time, and talked about white water rafting. We enjoyed the cherry blossoms on the trees, and wished it were this warm at home. We don't even have leaves on the trees at home yet. We stopped for lunch, then moved on with several hours still ahead of us. We listened to an audio book, the kids watched a movie, and I took a nap. We scouted out a place to buy coffee, in hopes that I would wake up a little bit! It was a good trip, even with my husband being cranky on the occasional turn. I far exceed him on the cranky scale, so he is granted a few days.
Tomorrow I will go to the school and see old friends, literally old! I can hardly believe it's been 30 years since graduation from high school.
I left home and drove to my high school when I was 15 years old. I was scared. I hadn't been away from home before, and being with a bunch of strangers was very frightening. I lived at this school for three years, and it was good. I made life time friends. And, I learned some invaluable lessons about life. I was loved there and nurtured.
From there I drove to a college in Washington and checked myself in. It was great there too. I met my husband there, and we've been married 28 years. It's been a full life.
I am here now, thanking God for the numerous blessings He has given me. Thanking Him for being the driver in my life, right now. Thanking Him for His amazing love. His hand guiding me to this school, and to the college, and to my husband. I'm thanking Him for all the good changes He has brought into my life, for the growth, the freedom, the hope, the joy. What an awesome God I serve.
Say That Again, Jesus, Your hand is upon me, guiding, loving, reassuring. Your Hand has brought me back to this place to see how long You have been the Driver in my life.

Until next time....