Nick and I have these dear friends that we get together with practically weekly. Their youngest has called it the BIG family, so we hung on to it. This weekend the Big family is gathering (daily) to celebrate a comfirmation into the church, a baseball game, soccer games, and a baptism. I am so looking forward to this time together. It will be such a special weekend.
Here's to you Harry D Bear! We love ya!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Total Protection
We all imagine what our lives will be like in the future. We plan for marriage, we plan for parenthood, and for our future career. Somewhere in there if you are a church goer, (I say that because even though you may or may not go to church regularly does not say anything about your relationship with Christ) you decide that since you are a Christian everythin will work out for you. Don't worry I made that mistake too. I assumed that since God was looking out for me, that He would be the heliocopter parent that swoops in and would never let me bump my head or skin my knee. After all what loving parent wants to see their child hurting. Right? ... right? ... WRONG!
You see, in my 'old age' (almost but not quite yet 30) I have come through more pain and tough times in the past 6 years than I ever planned for- really in the past nearly 30 years, but I don't want to get into the long ago stuff). Each time God has a new piece of Himself to give me. The first major pain lesson was humilty. I thought I had this perfect job wrapped up and tucked away in my pocket- WHACK! Here is your lesson. Do NOT think more of yourself than you should.
The second pain lesson came less than a year later, when I had gotten reassigned at my job. This was the lesson of planning or trying to dictate to God what He was going to do... WHACK! Nick and I had the perfect plan. After working for only one year, we would have paid off all of our college financial mistakes and my student loans, we would then purchase two new cars and get our first house. God must have laughed for a LONG time about that one... Nick and I are still paying for those mistakes, still driving those same old cars, and have just now spent the last 6 months in our beautiful new to us home. Lesson learned- God has a plan of his own and no matter how hard you plan for your life, if it isn't what God has planned for you, guess what. You'll be on the floor with me and all the other people who are getting pain lesson right along side of us.
Life throws curve balls at you. Thigs you don't plan for. Shortly after this latest lesson, I go and take care of my mom after her knee surgery. When I came back, Nick and I decided to start a family. We had been married for a year and even though I wasn't working, it just seemed the right thing to do. This is the pain lesson that just keeps coming... Patience with a little bit of Trust me poured on the top... 5 years later and we are still childless. God's plan for our family did not begin in 2005 as we thought it would. This road has been the longest. Ths pain lesson has been the hardest. That could only mean one thing. This pain lesson will have the best results!
For awhile, that was the only pain lesson God was teaching me. For awhile things were great. but just when you think it is smooth sailing, the waters get choppy and the wind starts knocking you from one side of the boat to the other. Super news! Here is you rnext pain lesson.
I know you must be thinking, how many more pain lessons can there be? Haven't I learned enough? Haven't I proven myself to you? Remember this- we NEVER stop learning!
Th most recent pain lesson is this- Know who your friends are. Trust that I have something better for you. Do not fret over where you will live, what you will eat, or how will you pay the bills. God is working on me right now. He wants me trust Him to provide exactly what we need. It is funny to see how my ideas of what i need are changing. my priorities are different just in the past few months.
Don't come to Jesus thinking that it means smooth sailing and that there will be no more trouble. Think of it as your total Protection Plan. Yes our Father is going to protect you from the really bad stuff. However this Protection Plan is just what it sounds like. A hand under your boat to keep it afloat and guide it along the way. He is the lighthouse by which you can guide your ship through a storm.
Look to the Father when you are suffering during one of his Pain lessons... Look for me. I get them a lot! :)
You see, in my 'old age' (almost but not quite yet 30) I have come through more pain and tough times in the past 6 years than I ever planned for- really in the past nearly 30 years, but I don't want to get into the long ago stuff). Each time God has a new piece of Himself to give me. The first major pain lesson was humilty. I thought I had this perfect job wrapped up and tucked away in my pocket- WHACK! Here is your lesson. Do NOT think more of yourself than you should.
The second pain lesson came less than a year later, when I had gotten reassigned at my job. This was the lesson of planning or trying to dictate to God what He was going to do... WHACK! Nick and I had the perfect plan. After working for only one year, we would have paid off all of our college financial mistakes and my student loans, we would then purchase two new cars and get our first house. God must have laughed for a LONG time about that one... Nick and I are still paying for those mistakes, still driving those same old cars, and have just now spent the last 6 months in our beautiful new to us home. Lesson learned- God has a plan of his own and no matter how hard you plan for your life, if it isn't what God has planned for you, guess what. You'll be on the floor with me and all the other people who are getting pain lesson right along side of us.
Life throws curve balls at you. Thigs you don't plan for. Shortly after this latest lesson, I go and take care of my mom after her knee surgery. When I came back, Nick and I decided to start a family. We had been married for a year and even though I wasn't working, it just seemed the right thing to do. This is the pain lesson that just keeps coming... Patience with a little bit of Trust me poured on the top... 5 years later and we are still childless. God's plan for our family did not begin in 2005 as we thought it would. This road has been the longest. Ths pain lesson has been the hardest. That could only mean one thing. This pain lesson will have the best results!
For awhile, that was the only pain lesson God was teaching me. For awhile things were great. but just when you think it is smooth sailing, the waters get choppy and the wind starts knocking you from one side of the boat to the other. Super news! Here is you rnext pain lesson.
I know you must be thinking, how many more pain lessons can there be? Haven't I learned enough? Haven't I proven myself to you? Remember this- we NEVER stop learning!
Th most recent pain lesson is this- Know who your friends are. Trust that I have something better for you. Do not fret over where you will live, what you will eat, or how will you pay the bills. God is working on me right now. He wants me trust Him to provide exactly what we need. It is funny to see how my ideas of what i need are changing. my priorities are different just in the past few months.
Don't come to Jesus thinking that it means smooth sailing and that there will be no more trouble. Think of it as your total Protection Plan. Yes our Father is going to protect you from the really bad stuff. However this Protection Plan is just what it sounds like. A hand under your boat to keep it afloat and guide it along the way. He is the lighthouse by which you can guide your ship through a storm.
Look to the Father when you are suffering during one of his Pain lessons... Look for me. I get them a lot! :)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Praying for each day
Father,
I come to you softly. Praying for each day to run smoothly. Asking you to bless the people around me. Seeking your arms to hold me when I am weak, afraid, sad, lonely, or melting. I beg for forgiveness, for confidence, for encouragement. I pour over the thought of you, over the picture I have of you in a comfy recliner with your huge arms outstretched beckoning me to come and let you old me and comfort me as only a father can do. Today, and everyday, Lord I seek you to find me and make me who you want me to be. Give me your love for others. Show me where to reach out, tell me who I need to pray with. Guide my every word, action, and step.
Amen.
I come to you softly. Praying for each day to run smoothly. Asking you to bless the people around me. Seeking your arms to hold me when I am weak, afraid, sad, lonely, or melting. I beg for forgiveness, for confidence, for encouragement. I pour over the thought of you, over the picture I have of you in a comfy recliner with your huge arms outstretched beckoning me to come and let you old me and comfort me as only a father can do. Today, and everyday, Lord I seek you to find me and make me who you want me to be. Give me your love for others. Show me where to reach out, tell me who I need to pray with. Guide my every word, action, and step.
Amen.
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