its just better as a kid!

This past weekend I was reminded at just how awesome and amazing kids can be.

Friday night I became an 8 year old girl consumed with games of twister, ice cream cake, pillow fights, and fun sleepovers. All the worries of money, economy, life disappeared and suddenly the biggest decision I had to make was what pajamas I was going to wear and whether or not my Hannah Montana dance moves would earn me 5 stars!! (by the way, we played until 2 a.m. !!!!)
Conversations about school and birthdays and games lingered long after the girls fell asleep and reminded me that God is glorified in laughter and silly games.

Saturday afternoon my friend and I took two little ones downtown to Amazement Square. Its a hands on children's museum and quite frankly one of the coolest spots in Lynchburg. As we explored the 4 floors of fun and science I was suddenly a child again learning about music as we played the drums, the heart as we traveled the same path as our blood, indians as we looked for fossils and spent time in an indian hut, hunting as we felt the furs of beavers and rabbits and deers. Fun slides and zip lines were mixed in and made for one AMAZING afternoon! As I watched the kids run from one floor to the next, I was reminded that God is glorified when we learn and explore the world that He has created for us.

There is nothing like dropping the kids off at the house and them NOT wanting you to leave. The night began with games of guitar hero (I ROCK AT THIS GAME!!) and rounds of hangman. A few games of Twister and some pizza were included to make a good night even better. As I helped put the kids to bed that night, I learned about crocodiles and alligators as a soon to be 8 year old read me a bedtime story. Our night closed with bedtime prayers and extra hugs and kisses. As I pulled her door shut I lingered just a few extra seconds and watched her fall asleep. Her face looked so peaceful next to her pink pillow and pink bedspread and fluffy rabbit. I could almost hear her giggles and see her smiles. As I finally convinced myself to shut the door I was reminded that God is glorified with we take the time to kneel and pray and thank him for our friends and family.

I didn't get any cleaning done this weekend. My dishes are still dirty, my towels are the same ones I used last week, my sheets haven't been changed and my laundry is still piled up in the basket BUT my heart is reminded that God loves me and will use whatever He has to get my attention and remind me how much He loves and cares about me.

"Who knows how

He'll get a hold of us

Get our attention to prove

He is enough

He'll do and He'll use

Whatever He wants to

To tell us I love you"

Expectations.

"Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in
chains" (Colossians 4:3, NLT).

Paul was in prision as he wrote these words! His surroundings and his circumstances were dismal. I don't think many of us would argue that if he threw in the towel, he gave up to easily. His surroundings were anything but ideal, his circumstances anything but easy. Doors were closing all around him. There certainly appeared to be "limitations" to his mission and his purpose. But Paul didn't see it like that. Instead he remain focued on a God that is limitless.

This verse really challenges me. So often in my life when things are not going according to plan or get really difficult, I want to throw in the towel, stop taking the risks, quit making myself vunerable and become a recluse in my safe little world. I fail too often in recognizing the power that is God. He promises to walk with me and sends the Holy Spirit to be with me. Those feelings to shut down and become cut off from sharing and investing with others are not from God. He is still there and He is still working in my life.

I think that part of this problem comes from an issue of expectations. I expect to much of people and surroundings and don't expect enough of God. There is a dream in my heart that He has planted there and no matter how many times I fall or get hurt or burned I have to keep expecting and keep believing that He is opening doors of opportunity to share the Gospel with other people. It is my responsibility as a servant of Christ to create those opportunities and live expecting Him to not fail me.

The issue of expectations is not an easy one to overcome for me but it is necessary if I want to become the person that God desires. All I have and all I need comes from God. Not from people, or places or things but HIM.

What would happen if we not only believed that but if we all lived that truth?

Worth the Trip.....

So this weekend I went to the Southern Living Christmas Show with 7 other women!
It involved a 4 hour car ride down, upteen hours walking around in a crowded civic center, snoring sleepers, suitcase survival, and mall sprints. I should also let you know that in the last two and half years my desire to shop has dwindled to a minute nothing so this was not the ideal way to spend my weekend. In fact, I was joking with some friends that I was going to skip the show and go down the street to watch the Saturday College Football games! (GO HOKIES!) I wanted to spend time with the people but didn't necessarily want to shop for 10 hours.

But, God had a plan for this weekend and the results were amazing! I was set to drive my SUV down with my mom and aunt. We had to take more then one vehicle because of the number of people going. As the date approached, I grew completely dissatisfied with this plan and didn't want to drive .... AT ALL! I also didn't want to complain or speak up against the decision we had previously made, but in the end one of the young girls that was going decided she wanted to drive instead. I offered to ride down with her and keep her company instead of riding with the older crowd.

It was early Saturday morning when we left. I was suppose to get up at 5:15 and instead slept thru my alarm and woke up paniced that I was going to cause the group to be late! In a matter of 20 minutes I walked the dog, showered, dressed, packed, did my hair and wrote a note to the dog sitter. I was ready to go at 6:05 am when Mari pulled up out front. Our trip started with music and talks about her upcoming wedding. She was filling me in on her ideas and her plans.

Suddenly, a door opened. I am not even sure how it started or what she said but all of a sudden I found myself in the middle of a beautiful conversation about Jesus and the amazing gift of salvation. For the next 90 minutes we talked about salvation, good works, baptism, committment, obedience, church and christians. Her honesty was refreshing and real. She made no apologies for what she said or her lack of understanding. She asked questions and shared experiences. Her understanding was so mature and simple.

She wanted to know and learn and grow. She was interested in understanding and in sharing. I cherished every moment of that conversation and pray that I will have the opportunity to talk to her again. I am SO thankful she is walking away with the understanding that Salvation has nothing to do with how perfect we are or how much good or bad we have done in this world. It has everything to do with the cross and love of Jesus Christ. Its not about perfection but about honesty and committment. She no longer thinks baptism is the equivalent of Salvation but an act of obedience to the Lord's commands and has a firm understanding that Salvation is deeper then the goosebumps and emotion of the moment but is one of committment and relationship.

She isn't saved .... and isn't ready yet to make that decision in her life. I will pray for her and salvation. I pray that her heart would heal from past bad experiences. I pray that God would continue to place people in her life that would be bold in sharing their testimonies and in sharing the Gospel with her. I will thank God for the opportunity to make a difference in her life and pray for more opportunities to share with her and with her family.

As we settled back into our conversation of music and weddings and life, I couldn't help but close my eyes and thank God for helping me be aware of the opportunity to share my faith and my Savior with a child He loves and longs to be in relationship with.

Well worth the trip..... I thought as a smile crossed my face and a peace settled in my soul.

Mom hang on a second....

My co-worker has three children. She got a phone call from her middle child the other day pleading with her about going to get her back-pack. He appearantly left it at home. As she discussed the situation with her son, he put her on hold!

As she sat waiting for him to return to the phone she realized that he put her on hold to say the Pledge of Allegiance! (HOW FUNNY!) When he returned to the phone, mom asked the most important question: "How are you calling me?" The response made me chuckle..... "Mom, Im using my teacher's cell phone."

Afterwards, the conversation continued. As it came to a close, my co-worker said "I have a job so you and your brother and sister can eat. I can't go get your back pack."

Something about this conversation makes me laugh at the perspective of life from a child's perspective and a parent's perspective. I am grateful for the reminders we have and the joys we are a part of ..... like a phone conversation between a son and a mom.

"Ill pray for you"

My friend had a birthday today. I called and sang Happy Birthday to her. We chatted for a bit and at the end of the conversation I said "Happy Birthday Em." Without skipping a beat she responded "Happy Birthday to you too" Of course its not my birthday. I don't celebrate for a few more months but without even realizing what she was saying out it came. We laughed for a few minutes at the silliness of our conversation.

As I hung up, I began to think of the many program responses we have. Here are just a few.

" Have a good day" Response: "You too"
" I love you" Response: "I love you too"

I immediately began to think about the times when something happens in someone's life like a death of a family member or a serious illness. Perhaps they just got bad news about their job or their house or their child. So many people say "I'll pray for you" or "You are in my prayers"

How many times has someone shared with us an event or an experience or news with us and our immediate response is "Ill pray for you" and how many times are we actually intentional about following thru and praying for that person or that situation.

Why do we have that program response? What is it about ourselves or our discipline that makes it difficult to control what we say or when we say it? Why do we feel guilty when our response is not the norm or the everday answer?

What would happen if we actually DID pray for the people and situations that we said we would?
Even if the outcome was still not ideal .... even if the end result was still the same the Bible teaches us that God listens to us and delights when we take that time to spend with Him.

Who knew that a simple Birthday conversation would open up a door for God to remind me to follow thru with the prayer requests of others. If I say that I am going to pray, then I need to pray and leave the outcome and the results to God.