Friday, March 15, 2013

FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY - REST

Five Minute Friday time again with Lisa Jo Baker


REST

Rest is about perspective. If I am trying to figure everything out, plan too far ahead, make arrangements for things that might happen… there is no rest.

But, if I see things through Father’s eyes, I rest. He knows what to do. His vision is 20/20 in every direction. The One who knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end wants me to rest.

Resting isn't necessarily sofa surfing or bed bound, but peacefully pursuing His heart for the day – the small or big people He puts in my path, the tasks that bless my home and family, the words that speak wisdom and grace with the tenacity of a warrior who knows victory is on the other side of the current battle.

I see today through His eyes, His vision, His design in me, moving forward in the way He’s called me to go, busy with the relationships, tasks and challenges while I rest.
 
 

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Toothpaste on the Bathmat and Other Sticky Situations of Parenthood (Part 1) – Jennifer Bogdanowicz


I wash the bathmats. Often.

I have no idea how they do it. Well, I do.

That doesn’t make it less annoying to walk in to brush my teeth only to have my bare foot stick, to my freshly washed mat.

Grrr…

But, there are bigger things, stickier things that plant themselves on my heart that are harder to remove than a few tiny bits of Transformers overspray.

Like – This lingering sense that we missed something BIG in helping our oldest son learn to the best of his ability – Oh wait, we did!

Last week we discovered our oldest son has mild to moderate hearing loss that will require hearing aids and apart from a miracle, it is permanent. Yes, he’s 8. Yes, I had wondered for years if that was a problem. Yes, I’ve never missed a checkup and had the Doc look at his ears several times.  Yes, I thought he was “selectively” listening to us and had consequences accordingly. Yes, like a drop of toothpaste drool, I didn’t think it was really there until I stepped squarely in it.

And, like the blue foamy gunk, the guilt of the oversight sticks. It feels emotionally more like gum imbedded in the tread of my favorite shoe, but when I stop and think through the past several years that I have prayed over my son, seeking God’s wisdom and insight on how to raise him for the destiny he was designed for, I am very aware again of God’s perfect timing.

Trusting God with my kids is always sticky because I like to think that I am the one who knows what’s best for them. A lot of the time, I do. But I have the choice when I am dealing with this kind of sticky situation to view it as catastrophic like Bubble Yum squished into every crevice of my best running shoe or as a frustrating but simply removed minty fresh splash that ended up on my naked sole.

I am not likely to miss this kind of issue again. All the other little anatomically perfect ears in our home will receive the testing that checks the nerve development, the hidden culprit in this situation in the next few weeks.

Wisdom gleaned from sticky situations can always be applied to future possibilities. I plan to listen to my internal wonderings more carefully, respond more quickly, coach a little more on containing the slobbery brushing to the sink, and continue to wash my bath mats.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

HOME Is Where My Heart Is

It may be Saturday, but today is my opportunity to write with one of my favorite bloggers: Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday.

Friday's word prompt: HOME

When I think of HOME - the first thing that comes to mind is something that's been embroidered on zillions of pillows for generations:

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

For me today, I set my mind and heart on the things above *.

Today one of my dear mentors is being celebrated 11 hours from me after suddenly departing for Heaven last weekend. She is at HOME. Her nature and character communicated that you could always be at HOME with her too. I will miss her terribly. I grieve with her family and friends, longing for our eternal HOME together... looking forward to the reunion we will all have eventually.

Also, today is the fifth anniversary of one of my first "sons of my heart" trip HOME to Heaven too. I miss him. He was and remains a gift to those of us who had the blessing of loving and doing life with him.

Finally since I only have a couple seconds left... I am reminded that the earthly HOME where I reside is not permanent. I am here for a purpose, a destiny ordained for me by God, and I choose to be faithful and intentional about hearing His voice and walking forward in obedience and joy**. My heart is at HOME with my Lord, my life in my earthly HOME has a purpose, and I am trying to keep them both in their right perspectives.
My Purpose - Simply stated by "Unknown"

STOP - end of 5 min write.

* Colossians 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

** Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Who am I?

My photo
I have been married to my best friend for over 29 years and our children are 16, 15 and 12 years old. I have struggled with infertility, suffered the loss of a baby by miscarriage, and endured multiple career paths. I have experienced a crisis of faith that shook me to the core and lost dear friends to tragic death. I have a personal relationship with Jesus which is essential to surviving and even thriving in my circumstances. I hope you will be blessed by my heart and words. Thank you for being here..