The Dress in the Window

I had to spend some time talking to God today, because I had some moments that weren't my favorite times. I went through periods of feeling irritated and I sent a text or two to a friend that I knew would "get it". She did, and it was helpful. God reminded me of a time a few years ago when my family and I were on a trip and we were all standing in a long line to get into this super duper restaurant. The line went all the way outside and around the block, but supposedly it was well worth the wait. So, we waited. As we all stood there, my boys and husband began to pull out there phones and look at all the gadgets they had, comparing everything they had with each other. I, on the other hand, began to gaze across the street at a dress that was in the store front window. It was pretty far away, and I was trying to see exactly what was in the window, color, texture, style, etc, so my face was getting crinkly and showing various expressions. My son, glanced at me, and he assumed I was crinkly because everyone was distracted with their phones. He was mind reading!  When in truth, the last thing I was thinking about was them and their phones.
So, when talking to God today about my troubles, He asked me the same thing. "Are you mind reading?"  He continued. "Could the people you are feeling irritated with be looking at the dress in the window?"  Ouch!   So now I'm the mind reader? Uh, yeah.
God is good, and shines light very quickly where it started to look a little dim. I'm thankful for that. He reveals truth and demonstrates His love to me in wondrous ways, this was one way. Say That Again, God, my mind belongs to You and You alone, keep me focused on You, and not what others might be thinking!

The Dead Fish

When my son got home from school today it was discovered that the last and final fish in his tank was dead. We still haven't found the missing in action fish. So, now he has an empty fish tank. He took the news pretty well, no tears or anything like that, but he did want to be reassured that he would get two more fish. Oh my, how many times will we be going back  to the pet store to buy fish? And, why do his fish die, or disappear? Our daughter doesn't have this issue.
A friend of mine sent a text saying that her son had a fish missing in action a few years ago, and when they finally find it the poor little fish was stuck to the back of the dresser, all dried up. Where or where, could my son's fish be? At least when the fish dies and it's floating on top of the water, we know where it is.
We gathered together for dinner tonight with our group of friends. We had a lovely dinner of grill cheese, soup, and salad. We had pie for dessert. It was very nice. We talked about the dead fish, the missing fish, and dancing on graves. I know, it's a little weird. We laughed, we prayed, we talked about the things we think about the most are the things we worship.
Oh Jesus, turn my thoughts to You when there is drama like dead fish and missing fish, and all the stuff in between. I want to think of You! Keep me rooted in You, because I need You desperately, today, tomorrow, and always. Bring Your Word to my heart and mind, so I walk on the path You have laid out before me.
Continue to Say That Again to me, No one is missing, You have me captured in Your Hands, and alive for eternity!

The Missing Fish

My son has a fish tank in his room with two fish, well, he did have two fish. Now, he has one. Last night he was looking for fish number two and couldn't find him anywhere in the tank. My husband began to investigate the tank as well, and sure enough fish number two has gone missing. My husband began to take apart the innards of the tank, he thought that maybe fish number two was playing hide and seek with him, but, still there was no fish to be found. He then began to look outside the tank, but still, there was not a sign of fish number two anywhere. We don't know where he has gone. I suppose we could put up posters, but in the fish world, I have my doubts it would do a lot of good.
Fish number two has simply disappeared, and at this point it seems rather hopeless for finding him. Of course, if we ever do find him; it's still rather hopeless, because fish can't live without water, and fish number two is not in his tank.
My son has not had good luck with his fish. He started with two, and one died right away. Lucky for my son, the fish had a warranty, and he got a new one!  Now, the new one, fish number two, has gone missing. As I'm thinking about this it reminds me of the verse in 1 Peter 1:1,2 , starting at the end of verse 1:
"...Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has His eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice  of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!"
This is reassuring to me. I will never be missing or forgotten! Unlike fish number two, who will probably never be found by any of us, and will go down in family history as the missing fish. God knows! And, on the days that I feel like the missing fish, I can remember His promise that no one is missing or forgotten.
Say That Again, Father God, You do not forget Your children or allow them to be missing children.

The Ski Hill

We spent the morning at the ski hill so our two younger children could have lessons in skiing and snowboarding. Before getting there our eleven year old was certain that he was already an expert and he was a little put out that I had signed him up for the beginners class. Our daughter wasn't too sure that she wanted to learn how to ski, she thought that maybe it would be too frightening for her to conquer even the bunny hill.
So, we made our trek to the hill, my son in shorts with snow pants on top and a forgotten coat. My daughter without her gloves, she left them at school, so she had tiny mittens for a three year old. But, we made it, and I loaned my coat to my son, then made my way to the lodge only to find that every table had been claimed by other eager parents and hungry children. Oh well.
I peered out the window in an effort to watch my son's expert moves on his snowboard. I could see him perched on the snowbank just above, but there were no jumps, or twists, or cool moves from my point of view. I could see my husband with him giving him a few pointers, and my son would get up now and then and do a little maneuver, then back to his perch.
My husband trudged back and forth between both children. Our daughter, who was frightened to go down the hill at first, discovered that her ski's needed a little more wax, so she couldn't go down the hill without being pushed anyway!! My husband gave her a good shove. She discovered it wasn't too scary after all and she was rather skilled at skiing.
As their lessons wrapped up and both my husband and I  helped them move towards the lodge, we watched them show off their new tricks, I was surprised with another skiers new trick as he raced down the hill and ran over me. He landed flat on his back, and so did I! It was a big surprise.
To sum it all up, we experienced some blunders on the Ski Hill. My children are going back next week, and I hope they remember their gloves and coat. Maybe, I will be less achy by then, but either way, I may stay off the Ski Hill. My son has learned that it's okay to listen to others and learn. My daughter learned that facing her fear is a good thing. My husband got some good exercise. We all had some nice family time, even though it didn't go perfectly smooth.  It added to the adventure, which reminded me of a quote I read just this morning: "Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; wherever there is opportunity there is danger."
In the voyages of life there are going to be many blunders, mishaps, and risks, yet all of these can grow opportunity, strength, courage, boldness, and the ability to love. I just need Jesus to be there with me all the way.
Say That Again, Jesus. You will walk with me through the danger, and turn it into opportunity!

The Soggy Food

My daughter received a fish for Christmas, she's been wanting a fish for along time, so this was very exciting for her.  Her sister helped her get the tank set up and took her to the pet store to pick out the fish. She named her fish Render.
Everyday she is very careful to feed Render breakfast and dinner. A couple nights ago she informed me that Render spit his dinner out because it was soggy.  I wondered what Render is going to do about the soggy issue since he lives in water and all his meals are soggy? It hasn't come up again, so apparently Render has recovered from the soggy problem, but what if he hadn't? We would have had a starving fish on our hands and a tearful daughter.
It reminded me of the Israelite's, they were so excited when God provided them with Manna. But, after awhile, they didn't want it anymore and started to demand something else. They wanted meat.  It was hard for them to see the blessings right in front of them. They had a soggy attitude
Sometimes I am just like Render. God has provided for me abundantly, yet I sometimes am so caught up in the loss that I forget to soak in the abundance. I get soggy.
Wow, there is a richness in life, my life that I want to continue to soak up. It's abundant with blessings and it dries out the soggy. Jesus Say That Again to me through out the day, so I will walk in Your ways.

The Mercy Chart

My daughter and I were working on her Sunday school worksheet last night and she had to draw some lines from one stick figure to the next showing how many times she had shown mercy versus revenge in the last few days. Before I started asking her questions, she was sure that she had been "full to the top of mercy"  but by the time she had answered my questions the mercy scale wasn't looking so full! We both laughed, because my mercy scale isn't always so full either, and clearly we needed a little work.
Relationships require so much mercy! I've been thinking a lot about relationships and God's intention for them. Way back in the beginning when it was just Adam and Eve in the garden before sin entered, there was such a purity and innocence in their relationship, and in their walk with God. But, then things got really messed up when Adam looked off yonder, Eve took a big bite and shared it with Adam, they lied, they felt ashamed, etc...
So, now my question about relationships to myself and to others would be this: Are relationships in my life  there because I love them?  Am I  in their life to receive, to benefit, is there  something that I want from them?  I am there to serve?.  What I'm asking myself is, what are my motives in my relationships? Is the motive to further God's Kingdom, or to meet my own needs?
When I think about Jesus and the relationships He had on earth, they were always about moving people forward towards the Kingdom of God. He continually took their eyes off of Himself and onto God His Father. Jesus was an amazing dynamic leader, He did it by loving His neighbor, and spreading the Word of His Father. His ability to show them mercy, even when they mistreated Him was off the chart!
I've had the opportunity myself to show some mercy, and it's not easy. It's one of those times where I need to pray and ask God to allow His mercy to work through me, and with that give me His love so that His Kingdom will grow.
God has blessed me, and all of us with each other. We are gifts to each other. I like the image of the relationships in my life being gifts and of myself being a gift as well, something to be treasured and loved, full of God's mercy and His Spirit.
Jesus, Say That Again today, Your mercy is off the chart, You offer it to me in relationships and steadily teach me how to walk like You.

The Burning Coals

I'm on the final pages of Little Women and it has been a very enjoyable book!  The sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth journey through life learning lessons about God, life, death, boys, marriage, etc...
One of my favorite chapters tells of Amy going to the fair to sell flowers and her competitor sends buyers over to purchase her flowers. When Jo and Amy find out about the goodwill of their "enemy" they rally their friends together to go to her booth to purchase all of her vases.
Later that day as Jo is brushing Amy's hair and praising her for her actions, Amy kindly responded: "I only did as I'd be done by. You laugh at me when I say I want to be a lady, but I mean a true gentle-woman, in mind and manners, and I try to do it as far as I know how, I can't explain exactly, but I want to be above the little meannesses and follies and faults that spoil so many woman. I'm far from it now, but I do my best, and hope in time to be what Mother is."
Throughout the book, the girls confide in their mother. She is someone in whom they can trust and love. She is always kind, forever wise, tender and full of courage. She has taught her little women to be the same, and turned their thoughts towards God.
In Romans 12:20 it says this:
"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

Oh to be a true gentle-woman in mind and manners, to be above the meanness, follies, and faults that spoil so many. I too come to God daily and present Him with this desire, asking Him to help me work above the meanness, the faults and follies that so easily spoil me!  To be kind to those that are not always kind to me, to love and show mercy and grace, to be a gentle woman of God!
Jesus Say That Again, You have asked me to feed my enemy, and to offer drink. You have said that to love You is to love those that persecute me. Work through me, Jesus, and Say That Again!