The Messy situation

So, Fur Ball went with me today to run some errands. He likes going in the Land Rover, and sometimes I think his name should have been "Rover". He sits in the back seat, and sometimes in the front seat, never in the very, very back. If he feels like looking out the window then he sits in the front seat, if he wants to spread out and take a nap, then he goes to the back seat.
Today, he was in the back seat. We had several stops to make, one of them was by the lake so he could have a nice walk. It was a new place for him today and he was unsure about the people that were there. A couple times, he simply stopped and sat down, refusing to walk past them. "Fur Ball, come!" I would plead. But, he preferred that the travelers on the trail walked by us first, then he got up and continued on his way.
Our last stop was to the grocery store, and just as I parked the Rover and turned to say a word or two to Fur Ball he opened his mouth and lost his entire breakfast all over the back seat. EWWWW!! YUCK!  "Fur Ball, that is so gross!" I whined. And, my thoughts fondly went back to Stinky Dog and her misfortune in the back seat of my Land Rover.  "Fur Ball, did I tell you the story of Stinky Dog and what she did in the back seat of the Land Rover?" Fur Ball just sat there, and it seemed to me he was trying to decide whether or not to recycle his deposit.
I managed to clean up my seat, thanks to a baggie that was left by my children on the floor! And handy wipes that my husband kindly put in the front compartment for me. I was grateful that this time my children were in school and not here to witness the messy situation.
I left Fur Ball in the car and as I roamed through the grocery store I talked to God. It seems that there have been so many messy situations, and so much to clean up. I kept hearing Him say again and again that He is who he says He is, and battles are long, but they make warriors strong.  I have to let Him continue to clean up the messy situations, just like Fur Ball let me clean up his messy situation. I have to sit back, and rest in Him. It's not easy to give up control.
As I drove home I checked in with a friend and she could hear the waver in my voice. She reminded me that if I could see the battle that is all around me I would be praising my God for the rescue from the messy situations every day! And, I know that she is right. The truth is, God has promised that the battle is won, He is light, I am complete in Him, and though it appears to be a messy situation at times, victory reigns!
Say That Again, Jesus my King, You are the Victor!

The Traveling Shoes

My shoes have been in Israel. They were on the feet of a friend and they walked the streets of Jerusalem! I think that since I did not personally get to go to Israel, the next best thing was to send my shoes.  Now, I can say, my shoes have walked the streets that Jesus walked!
I have shoes that have traveled to other countries on the feet of a friend, and it has become a fond habit of mine. Traveling shoes take on new meaning as they walk with a friend, and then come back to me and I hear the stories through the eyes of someone else.
As I walk my journey of every day life, I want to wear the shoes of Jesus. I want to travel where He goes, see what He sees, and do what He does. I want to hear His perspective on everything. I want Him to take my shoes, and be in complete control of me, so truth reigns in my life.
Jesus, Say That Again to me. Enable me to wear Your shoes and travel with You, and give me the ability to give you my shoes. I'm Yours today.

The Stinky Stuff

Fur Ball had a bit of an issue Sunday so he ended up back in the bath tub. He needed a major scrubbing, and he has become so accustomed to the bath tub or shower that it's just routine now. Like I've said before, he thinks he lives at the spa.
Yesterday, my husband and I took Fur Ball for another walk up the hill. He was pretty excited about the adventure. He took his time to sniff every branch and blade of grass, and did his little deer hop through the long weeds. And, then he discovered the stinky stuff. I didn't catch him before he was down on the ground and happily rolling around. I know, he was in scent heaven!
"Fur Ball!" I commanded. He jumped in surprise. "Get over here, you are going to end up in the bath tub AGAIN!"  I went into my stories about Stinky Dog and triedto explain to him that she was not named Stinky Dog because she rolled in stinky stuff. But, once again, Fur Ball wan't interested in my stories. He hopped off in search of more grass and stinky roll stuff. Ah, life is good on top of the hill!
I know how Fur Ball feels. Sometimes I keep going back to the same stinky stuff and I have to talk to God about it over and over and over again. I'm the one that keeps bringing it up, God cleans me up and reminds me that the enemy is full of accusations and lies, and He has bathed me in His light. Off I go again to face life!
This morning God led me to Psalms 62, again. He and I have spent numerous mornings here. My eyes rested on this verse this morning:

"God, the one and only--
I'll wait as long as he says.
Everything I hope for comes from him,
so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul."

There are a few things I am waiting for, He is asking me to wait and to rest. Some days, in the midst of the rest, there's stinky stuff. But, hope comes from Him, and He is solid rock under my feet, and with Him my soul will breathe.
Say That Again, Sweet Jesus, in the wait, there is hope, solidity, and breath.

The Sticky Situation

My son purchased some stickers at the mall, and in his enthusiasm he pasted them on his door. So, now, every time I walk down the hallway past his room, this is what I see! Lovely.  My husband talked to him about it and told him it would have been better for him to discuss the stickers with us before he put them on his door, but he said he just assumed that it would be okay. After all, he draws on his walls, so why shouldn't he be able to put stickers on his door?
As I was laying with him in his bed last night and we were discussing the sticky situation, he could not understand why I was not excited about seeing his stickers every day as I come out of my bedroom and start my day! To him, it seemed like the perfect way to start the day. To him, he simply wanted to share his beauty!
As I read in Psalms this morning I turned to chapter 27 and verse 4 says this: "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
This was my prayer this morning, and will continue to be my prayer through out the day, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. I want Him to open my eyes to all of His beauty and fix my gaze on Him and Him alone. I won't see the stickers on the door, or the circumstances in my day, or the unpredictable future, or the fears....my gaze will be fixed on the beauty of the Lord.
Say That Again, dear Jesus, You have brought me to the place of Your dwelling to gaze upon Your beauty!

The Piggyback Ride

My son is growing faster than a weed. His feet are now much bigger than mine, and he thinks its the greatest that his shoes make my feet look tiny! When I pick him up after school, the first thing he wants to do is lift me up and show me how much stronger he is ! Now, he wants to give me piggy back rides, and much to my surprise, he gets pretty far!

My heart is all tangled up in this little boy! He brings me so much joy, and I have been blessed with ten years of watching God grow him. His eyes sparkle when he laughs, and when he teases his sister he is full of mischief. He loves to cuddle and wrestle and hang out with his older brothers.  He has taught me a lot about relationship. Each day with him is a new adventure.

Today, I am soaking in the blessings of family. The joy of all my children, the richness of piggy back rides, the warmth of grandchildren, the love of daughter in laws, the circle of everyone together. Today I am feeling overwhelmed with the blessing of what God has given me, because I know it is a richness that cannot be purchased or replaced. He has touched my soul with piggy back rides, they are the hand of God!

Jesus, Say That Again, Your blessings are so abundant, I cannot begin to count them. You have showered me with them!

The Lump in my Throat

My Grandson was born today. His mother is strong and courageous. His father brave, compassionate, and trustworthy. This little boy is blessed. I know that he coming into a family that will love him with such a passion, he will never doubt  it for a moment. I know that his parents will raise him in such a way that he will know his God, he will know his identity, he will be able to dance with the Spirit of God, and his heart will sing!
As I watched my daughter in law push her way through labor, I was challenged with a lot of emotions. As I gazed upon my own son, I was especially met with a roller coaster of emotions. My son, now a man, having his very own son, is facing a whole new adventure in life. He is about to open his heart to a different kind of love, a new kind of hurt, a bigger joy, and an unbelievable willingness to give of self for this little life. How can one little person change life so much?
My children have tugged, pulled, and ripped at my heart everyday! Just being in the room with this experience was an amazing experience for me, a tugging, a pulling, sometimes a ripping. My heart wanted to rescue my daughter in law from her pain, I wanted to hurry things up and spare my son from the wait. I wanted to know that everything would be okay, and not have to wait on God in faith. The lump in my throat was often so big it felt as if it would never go away. Yet, I'm just the mom, the onlooker, for them it was far more intense.
Jesus, You have brought a new life into our lives. You have given my son and daughter in law a wonderful son, thank you. You are good, You provide in amazing ways. You have blessed me with the opportunity to be a witness to all of this. Say That Again to me, Jesus, I am blessed to be witness to all that You have done. Thank you.

The Hair Cut

So, Fur Ball got his hair cut. My husband insisted that he couldn't see anything and decided he must be completly miserable. We cut his bangs, now not only can he see, but we can see his eyes! Fur Ball was not impressed with the addition of hair cuts to our spa. He tried very hard to wiggle out of the deal and it took both my husband and my son to hold onto him while I used a rather dull pair of scissors to snip away at his bangs. I just have this feeling he was thinking this: "You said this was going to be a no hair cut house!!" While we had him in the bathroom nicely secure in the arms of my son and husband and scissors in my hand, I decided it would be a good idea to cut some hair off the other end so as to prevent more poop balls from forming in the future. This too did not make Fur Ball happy in the least, he was slightly embarrassed, I do believe.
But, now that the trauma of the scissors is over and he has experienced sight and poop ball free days, he is pretty happy. In fact, he is doing better everyday.  Yesterday, he went on his longest walk ever and saw his reflection in a window for the first time. He considered himself very interesting, and couldn't stop looking. He also saw a man on a bike and stopped to consider the situation for a long time. When we encountered the cement truck, it was a little more than he could handle and he stopped dead in his tracks! It was a big Fur Ball adventure, and by the time we made it home he was ready for a nap, and wished for longer hair over his eyes for he had seen way too much!
I know exactly how he feels. There are days that I want to dig a hole and jump in head first. If I can't see it; it's not there! But, that doesn't exactly match up with my prayer of speaking and searching and knowing truth, does it?
So, Jesus, keep the hair out of my eyes, and I will abide in You. Say That Again, Lord Jesus,  You are here to open my eyes!