OK, so my husband is a reader and most of that reading happens in bed just before we turn out the lights. Last night he was sharing what he was reading with me, which he often does and I like because I am not a big reader myself. The book he is reading....way over my head, it has huge words and says things like metaphysical and it is about quantum physics. Did I mention that the material was way over my head?
Anyway, what he was reading was like a lullaby to me but, I listened intently and understood the meaning of what the author was saying! Basically-loosely translated....it was saying that until we take all the negative in our lives and make peace with it we will be out of balance.To every negative there must be a positive. This is so true! God doesn't let anything through his hands into our lives that he can not use for good. Nothing! NOT a thing, no slipping through the cracks, no mistakes. EVERYTHING that is brought to us God intends to bring us through for His glory. So whether you say it in complicated terms or just plain broken english it's the same.
We are not able to function at our full potential if we are distracted by our past. Pain, bitterness, bondage and emotional crippling can take over and we loose our focus.
The book stated a lot of things that there is no way I could ever quote verbatum but, the meaning....it was healing so you can reach your full potential. So, no matter how you choose to say it, it was all the same to me, a good word I needed to hear! :D
April 27, 2011
April 26, 2011
bursting the bubble
So I did it, I burst a huge bubble for our youngest child last Thursday afternoon....I told him that now that he was 10 (for only 8 days, I will have you know) he needed to know that, "there was no Easter Bunny - that was not what Easter was about". Really, just about those exact words...I caught him completely off guard and blew the nice safe Easter Bunny bubble right out of existence.
Now, while I do believe that he is old enough to focus on the REAL gift of Easter. In hind sight, I think I could have handled it better.
There really was no need for the out of the blue- shock, I could have had a conversation with him and eased into it but, I didn't take that route. Luckily, he did not freak out on me and it all went fairly well. He said that he "kinda" knew (meaning someone at school had let the cat out of the bag first) I realized what a bullet I dodged and said a quick prayer Thanking God for gifting me with such a resilient child.
I began to see a parallel between the Easter Bunny fiasco and my prayer life. It just struck me, how often do I just blurt out my thoughts and feelings to God in prayer instead of quieting down and having a conversation with my Father God? I don"t want to miss the blessings and lessons that He has in store for me because I get into a rush and forget what a bullet I dodged because He took it for me.
Lest I ever forget what an amazing God I have that loved me so much, it pained him to be forever separated from me. He made a way to be with me forever, if I chose, and HE paid the cost through the holy blood of my Jesus, His son and my redeemer. I hope that I endlessly search for the entire weight of the cross and all it encompasses.
Now, while I do believe that he is old enough to focus on the REAL gift of Easter. In hind sight, I think I could have handled it better.
There really was no need for the out of the blue- shock, I could have had a conversation with him and eased into it but, I didn't take that route. Luckily, he did not freak out on me and it all went fairly well. He said that he "kinda" knew (meaning someone at school had let the cat out of the bag first) I realized what a bullet I dodged and said a quick prayer Thanking God for gifting me with such a resilient child.
I began to see a parallel between the Easter Bunny fiasco and my prayer life. It just struck me, how often do I just blurt out my thoughts and feelings to God in prayer instead of quieting down and having a conversation with my Father God? I don"t want to miss the blessings and lessons that He has in store for me because I get into a rush and forget what a bullet I dodged because He took it for me.
Lest I ever forget what an amazing God I have that loved me so much, it pained him to be forever separated from me. He made a way to be with me forever, if I chose, and HE paid the cost through the holy blood of my Jesus, His son and my redeemer. I hope that I endlessly search for the entire weight of the cross and all it encompasses.
April 14, 2011
The heart of a Lion
God is remarkable in his individual creation of our spirit. We see it everyday, we watch telethons about it, we see newspaper articles about it, we see expose about it on TV, we pay to watch movies that exploit it and it testifies to our souls that there is still good in this world.
The human spirit to me is that voice inside that encourages us to strive for more, that focus's us and drives us in whatever it is that we are passionate about.
I myself see it daily and often am brought near tears at the sight. In this corrupt world filled with all the crud we are surrounded by I look for the human spirit to arise and reassure me that I am not alone.
I am so blessed to be a mom and see the spirit in my children daily however, it's those times that the unexpected happens that we realize that God took so much creativity and care in knitting together His masterpieces you and I.
My daughter just lived out one of these miraculous times for me in what would seem a usual day. That is it...making the ordinary extraordinary. God knit into my daughter's very being a passion for track. She loves to run and is very competitive. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful things I know, to see someone living out their passion. I am partial, however in this instance, I think we can all appreciate this example of how the human spirit can move us, motivate us and encourage us.
She has been on crutches for 8 days and it has been a long 8 days. She has stood by and watched others step into her place and fill her positions and with each passing day doubt has set in, her spirit...downcast and unsure.
On Tuesday she had the opportunity to run full out for the first time since being on crutches. This was a small meet, not special but, to her it was going to be a defining moment. She stepped on the track again and she ran, if you ask me she flew. She was going to be OK was what was on mind mind, she was definitely back! The second race was one she had determined to prove herself, come what may she was going all out, no holds barred, she had resigned herself to leave it all on the track. It was a hard race and as she received the baton they were behind by 15 or so steps. As she took off it looked grim for us to win as we were following a significant lead. As she started into the first turn we all could see that she was catching up. There was hope still alive in this race. she did, she caught up and was neck to neck with the competitor and then as she crossed the finish line she fell. It was horrible to see and for a millisecond she was motionless. It was one of the scariest moments I have endured as a mom. She was skinned from her temple to her shoulder to her arm, wrists, elbow, thigh, knee just all the way down her body. She was kind of like a drunk person that wants to drive....she kept saying I am alright trying to walk away but, her legs were useless. I believe that she had expelled so much energy that her body just hit empty.
Well, Cassie recovered and went on to run another race still bleeding from the fall. Nobody would have expected her to run, in fact it would have been perfectly acceptable for her to skip the race and go home to tend to her injuries. Instead when faced with the decision she sucked it up, pulled herself together and won her heat in her last race.
I can't tell you how that example of the human spirit testified to my heart in the midst of an ordinary track meet. To many they have told her that they admire her heart and courage and to some they totally missed it, some probably think it was humiliating...to me it makes me more thankful that God is so intricate in His design of His children and how we see His beauty in others everyday.
The human spirit to me is that voice inside that encourages us to strive for more, that focus's us and drives us in whatever it is that we are passionate about.
I myself see it daily and often am brought near tears at the sight. In this corrupt world filled with all the crud we are surrounded by I look for the human spirit to arise and reassure me that I am not alone.
I am so blessed to be a mom and see the spirit in my children daily however, it's those times that the unexpected happens that we realize that God took so much creativity and care in knitting together His masterpieces you and I.
My daughter just lived out one of these miraculous times for me in what would seem a usual day. That is it...making the ordinary extraordinary. God knit into my daughter's very being a passion for track. She loves to run and is very competitive. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful things I know, to see someone living out their passion. I am partial, however in this instance, I think we can all appreciate this example of how the human spirit can move us, motivate us and encourage us.
She has been on crutches for 8 days and it has been a long 8 days. She has stood by and watched others step into her place and fill her positions and with each passing day doubt has set in, her spirit...downcast and unsure.
On Tuesday she had the opportunity to run full out for the first time since being on crutches. This was a small meet, not special but, to her it was going to be a defining moment. She stepped on the track again and she ran, if you ask me she flew. She was going to be OK was what was on mind mind, she was definitely back! The second race was one she had determined to prove herself, come what may she was going all out, no holds barred, she had resigned herself to leave it all on the track. It was a hard race and as she received the baton they were behind by 15 or so steps. As she took off it looked grim for us to win as we were following a significant lead. As she started into the first turn we all could see that she was catching up. There was hope still alive in this race. she did, she caught up and was neck to neck with the competitor and then as she crossed the finish line she fell. It was horrible to see and for a millisecond she was motionless. It was one of the scariest moments I have endured as a mom. She was skinned from her temple to her shoulder to her arm, wrists, elbow, thigh, knee just all the way down her body. She was kind of like a drunk person that wants to drive....she kept saying I am alright trying to walk away but, her legs were useless. I believe that she had expelled so much energy that her body just hit empty.
Well, Cassie recovered and went on to run another race still bleeding from the fall. Nobody would have expected her to run, in fact it would have been perfectly acceptable for her to skip the race and go home to tend to her injuries. Instead when faced with the decision she sucked it up, pulled herself together and won her heat in her last race.
I can't tell you how that example of the human spirit testified to my heart in the midst of an ordinary track meet. To many they have told her that they admire her heart and courage and to some they totally missed it, some probably think it was humiliating...to me it makes me more thankful that God is so intricate in His design of His children and how we see His beauty in others everyday.
April 11, 2011
Things to pass on
It has taken me a lot of thought to come up with my number one can not do without, information to pass on. Just for the record, it may change but so far this is what has proven to completely encroach on absolutely everything if left to fester.
Forgivness...unforgivness will lead to hate, bitterness and will seep into everything you do, plan, love and into your heart. It is a conscious choice we have to make, either to forgive or not to forgive. We fool ourselves into thinking that holding a grudge, punishing the wrong doer, or ignoring the elephant in the room will give us a FEELING of satisfaction. Our FEELING should not lead our choices the truth of God that we know in our minds should lead our steps. We fall into the enemies trap when we start living by feelings alone. This feeling we can get of "satisfaction", is short lived and is, in fact, a wolf in sheep's clothing, so to speak. Harboring ill feelings, animosity, or the past against someone will only bind, rob and destroy you in the long run.
In the word are we are, point blank, told to forgive as we were forgiven period, that's it- no if's and or buts about it. Over the years I have grown to see that God doesn't ask this of us just out of obedience but also because it is the absolute best option for us. Forgiveness allows us to live in the freedom that is our for the taking. So, forgive for your freedom and let God use you in remarkable ways!
Forgivness...unforgivness will lead to hate, bitterness and will seep into everything you do, plan, love and into your heart. It is a conscious choice we have to make, either to forgive or not to forgive. We fool ourselves into thinking that holding a grudge, punishing the wrong doer, or ignoring the elephant in the room will give us a FEELING of satisfaction. Our FEELING should not lead our choices the truth of God that we know in our minds should lead our steps. We fall into the enemies trap when we start living by feelings alone. This feeling we can get of "satisfaction", is short lived and is, in fact, a wolf in sheep's clothing, so to speak. Harboring ill feelings, animosity, or the past against someone will only bind, rob and destroy you in the long run.
In the word are we are, point blank, told to forgive as we were forgiven period, that's it- no if's and or buts about it. Over the years I have grown to see that God doesn't ask this of us just out of obedience but also because it is the absolute best option for us. Forgiveness allows us to live in the freedom that is our for the taking. So, forgive for your freedom and let God use you in remarkable ways!
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