Lately, I have been reading the minor prophets like nobody's business. I don't know what it is... I just can't get enough of these short little books of the Bible that are chocked full of some of the absolute worst things you would ever want anyone to say to or about you (ie. you are all going to die. Your descendants will be captured as slaves and dispersed among the nations. If you bowed to a false god, you will die. And the list goes on.).
But there, in the midst of those little books, are some of the sweetest and most poignant revelations of who God is.
And so, I am reminded... On day 3 of sick kid patrol, as I think I am nearing the end. Even as I hear the dreaded, "miss Beff..." Followed by a precious boy puking all over his bed and pillow and freshly bathed body. In the midst of the craziness of life... I have a Father who loves me. Loves me like no other. So, I smile. And we hit the bathtub yet again.
The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. (Joel 3:16 ESV)
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. (Haggai 2:4, 5 ESV)
yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:18, 19 ESV)
and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joel 2:13 ESV)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Faith like a child
My 6yo got in the car this morning proudly showing me his short sleeved shirt underneath his jacket. He exclaimed, "I prayed and asked God to let it be sunny today, and I think he said maybe. So, I've got my short sleeves on!"
Oh, man. How many times have I prayed about something and doubted God's goodness. How many times have my prayers been many but my faith was few...
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. (Matthew 18:1-5 MSG)
Dude. I'm praying about a lot of stuff right now. Big, weighty, life changing stuff. Jesus, help remember to put on my short sleeves under my jacket and start trusting in you and your plans like my precious 6yo child!
Oh, man. How many times have I prayed about something and doubted God's goodness. How many times have my prayers been many but my faith was few...
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. (Matthew 18:1-5 MSG)
Dude. I'm praying about a lot of stuff right now. Big, weighty, life changing stuff. Jesus, help remember to put on my short sleeves under my jacket and start trusting in you and your plans like my precious 6yo child!
Friday, March 1, 2013
And you thought you have a hard time in the grocery store...
I'm a mom. A mom to a few children. Some were given to me at conception, others are placed in my care by the sovereign hand of God and the watchful eye of the Department of Human Resources. My kids are amazing, unpredictable, impulsive, active little people. They make every day an adventure. Some days feel like an adventure on the road to crazy town, and others... Well, lets be honest. Most days are the crazy town days!
But, you know what? I think the road to crazy town is a pretty awesome place to be. Maybe not for everyone, but it seems to suit us just fine. (And, I think that if we are honest with ourselves, a lot of us are on that same road!) There are definitely some things we can improve upon. Always. But, in the end, God knew what he was doing when He set the lonely in our family!
I have some amazingly wise friends who love Jesus - like a lot. For real. I am so thankful God has shared His beautiful daughters with me. I learn from them. I grown with them. I pray with them and for them. It is just amazing to have people in my life who love Jesus so much that I don't have to fear being judged or looked down on for any reason. They are amazing reflections of God's love for me.
And this has become my soapbox lately. (At least, the soapbox in my mind.) Why must we constantly fear the judgement of others? I guess that statement could be reworded a few different ways, but you get the point.
I go to the grocery store with all 5 kids. I do it a lot, actually. (Even though, each time I swear I will never do it again) I have a few children with a great love for alcoholic beverages. So much so, that they scream in excitement Everytime they see beer. And they are NOT screaming "yay!" They are screaming, "beer! I want some beer!" Over and over and over and over. I try to avoid the aisle, but the frozen pizzas are directly across from it, and what mom of 5 kids do you know that does not keep frozen pizza on hand? ..... Exactly.
Who wants to guess what the grocery store shopper and employees look like when they see my kids screaming for beer? Anyone? ...Bueller? ...Bueller? Right... That's because we all KNOW it is not a pretty sight.
Or how about when we are having screaming tantrums, or when I sanitize my baby's hands after someone has touched her. Or, when my big kids haul off and shove each other down, or when I look as scraggly as I feel inside. And let's not forget to mention Mount Foldmore - the 4-6 loads of clean laundry that grace my couch pretty much all the time.
I told a friend of mine, "I think God is just trying to make me humble." And she responds, "Maybe He chose you for the job because He knows you are the one who can do it. That He has given you everything you need to be successful."
Praise God for speaking through that friend, and for reaffirming that very thing to me in His Word! I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with friends who encourage me and love me. I'm so thankful for a God who loves me and allows me to live in the freedom of what He can do through me.
My hope and prayer is that we - the church - God's own beloved - would STOP the judging and start the loving. There is so much freedom and power when we spend our time loving others and encouraging them. It's kind of a big deal. So, to all you out there who love and encourage me, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. And, to those of you in the grocery store - the next time you hear kids yelling for beer, feel free to come say hello! :)
But, you know what? I think the road to crazy town is a pretty awesome place to be. Maybe not for everyone, but it seems to suit us just fine. (And, I think that if we are honest with ourselves, a lot of us are on that same road!) There are definitely some things we can improve upon. Always. But, in the end, God knew what he was doing when He set the lonely in our family!
I have some amazingly wise friends who love Jesus - like a lot. For real. I am so thankful God has shared His beautiful daughters with me. I learn from them. I grown with them. I pray with them and for them. It is just amazing to have people in my life who love Jesus so much that I don't have to fear being judged or looked down on for any reason. They are amazing reflections of God's love for me.
And this has become my soapbox lately. (At least, the soapbox in my mind.) Why must we constantly fear the judgement of others? I guess that statement could be reworded a few different ways, but you get the point.
I go to the grocery store with all 5 kids. I do it a lot, actually. (Even though, each time I swear I will never do it again) I have a few children with a great love for alcoholic beverages. So much so, that they scream in excitement Everytime they see beer. And they are NOT screaming "yay!" They are screaming, "beer! I want some beer!" Over and over and over and over. I try to avoid the aisle, but the frozen pizzas are directly across from it, and what mom of 5 kids do you know that does not keep frozen pizza on hand? ..... Exactly.
Who wants to guess what the grocery store shopper and employees look like when they see my kids screaming for beer? Anyone? ...Bueller? ...Bueller? Right... That's because we all KNOW it is not a pretty sight.
Or how about when we are having screaming tantrums, or when I sanitize my baby's hands after someone has touched her. Or, when my big kids haul off and shove each other down, or when I look as scraggly as I feel inside. And let's not forget to mention Mount Foldmore - the 4-6 loads of clean laundry that grace my couch pretty much all the time.
I told a friend of mine, "I think God is just trying to make me humble." And she responds, "Maybe He chose you for the job because He knows you are the one who can do it. That He has given you everything you need to be successful."
Praise God for speaking through that friend, and for reaffirming that very thing to me in His Word! I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with friends who encourage me and love me. I'm so thankful for a God who loves me and allows me to live in the freedom of what He can do through me.
My hope and prayer is that we - the church - God's own beloved - would STOP the judging and start the loving. There is so much freedom and power when we spend our time loving others and encouraging them. It's kind of a big deal. So, to all you out there who love and encourage me, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. And, to those of you in the grocery store - the next time you hear kids yelling for beer, feel free to come say hello! :)
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