Oh my goodness our God is good is He not? As I sit here today listening to the birds and smelling the fresh spring air and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face I just want to sing! Is there anything like the changing of the seasons that brings out the majesty of the Lord? Just when we are weary of the winter and He knows that another snowflake would drive us to the brink of insanity, He graces us with a few days of nearly perfect weather. How great is our God? He is so involved in every detail and He goes to great lengths to make that known if we will just stop and pay attention.
I had a WHINEY day yesterday, allergies are acting up, haven't had much sleep and I didn't really feel good. It doesn't take much to get us focused on the negatives in life - well at least it doesn't take much to turn me into a Negative Nelly - especially when I am tired. Let the world fall down around me but Lord knows don't interrupt my sleep! Anyway, I could feel the Spirit wooing me all day to pray and spend some time alone with Him but I didn't. I filled my day with all that I had to do and then the day was gone. I went to bed in the same mood I woke up in and wasted a day on ME. Forgive me Lord.
This morning threatened the same thing but this time I opened the Word first thing and went through my Esther study and the Lord spoke so sweetly to me. It brings tears to my eyes how relevant the scripture is right to me - today! I guess that is why the Word of God thrills me - because scripture speaks to me today, someone else 2000 years ago and it will speak to the generations to come as the Lord tarries! His Word is complete, everlasting and accomplishes the purpose He sent it forth to accomplish. What other god is there that is able to tell the beginning from the end? What other god is there like our God? None, I tell you, none! He is so high above us that we cannot even comprehend the height and depth and breadth of Him and yet He stoops, literally bends down, to speak directly to us, His fallen creation. What a God, what a God!
Oh Lord that we would sing Your praises today. Teach us, teach me, to be a grateful people. Teach us to DENY OURSELVES, take up our cross and follow You. You are so worthy, you are high and lifted up and exalted. May our lives reflect the GLORY of who You are. Make us all about YOU, all about YOU! Amen.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Orange Blossom Special
On a lighter note...I went today to get my first spray tan. I wouldn't ever pay for a service like this, I usually just stick to my "tan in a can" but this was a FREE offer. Well, you can't argue with free so I went - the caveat? The people who are spraying you are learning so, good luck! My only fear was that I would come back looking like an oompah-loompah (ask Willie Wonka). Anyway, I wore an old bathing suit and when I "disrobed" I was immediately mindful of every dessert, second helping and midnight snack I had enjoyed since last summer. If you need an excuse to start a diet this would be it!
Anyway, they give you several tips to follow after they are finished to help your tan last longer, one of them being not to shower for at least 6 - 8 hours afterwards. As I was reading the blog entry I had written earlier today to Kraig I began to cry. I had to immediately stop and gain my composure in order to assure that I would not mess up my spray tan! (I am not making this up - you couldn't make up anything this good!) So, I had to share because I got completely tickled that I was so concerned about my tan that I totally glossed over the sincerity of the moment. After all, we may not make it another eleven years if I have to walk around with streaks down my orange face!!
P.S. Kraig thinks it is cute! Two points for him! ;)
Anyway, they give you several tips to follow after they are finished to help your tan last longer, one of them being not to shower for at least 6 - 8 hours afterwards. As I was reading the blog entry I had written earlier today to Kraig I began to cry. I had to immediately stop and gain my composure in order to assure that I would not mess up my spray tan! (I am not making this up - you couldn't make up anything this good!) So, I had to share because I got completely tickled that I was so concerned about my tan that I totally glossed over the sincerity of the moment. After all, we may not make it another eleven years if I have to walk around with streaks down my orange face!!
P.S. Kraig thinks it is cute! Two points for him! ;)
Who Knew?
Eleven years, ELEVEN years! Today, Kraig and I have been married 11 years. I have been saying to myself all week - "who knew?" Ultimately, the answer to that question is that God knew! He knew in spite of all of our short-comings and fears that "He would do a work in our day", as He told Habakkuk, "that if He told us we would not believe!" Praise Him! I was talking to my Mom this morning about what we were doing at 9:30am eleven years ago...she was fixing me my last breakfast at home as a single woman. I almost cannot describe the feelings I had on that day...scared to death, not knowing what to expect, trying to be excited that this was my wedding day and trying to be brave because I knew this is what I had to do. This was the right choice. I didn't know much else but I knew that this was right and you can't improve on that. So, I made a choice.
Choice. That is a word that a lot of young people don't realize about marriage. Instead we substitute "feelings" for "choice". Then, when the feelings change the choice changes. But, when the choice is made and the feelings change - the choice remains. I almost can see now that making that choice without all of the feelings was a grace from God. As women, we are so driven by feeling that we can swing like a pendulum from one day to the next. If I had made my decision to marry Kraig on feeling, I would have probably bailed within a few years. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Kraig but I choose to stay. Why? Because this covenant is not mine to break. The marriage covenant belongs to God not man and I covenanted on that day to the Lord to be Kraig's wife.
I would be remiss if I didn't give all glory to the Lord first and foremost! We were a total mess in a total mess! Only God could have made us what we are today - joyful! We are joyful about each other and our marriage. We are joyful to the Lord for His sanctifying work in our lives through the hardships of life and marriage. We are joyful that we have been able to experience life together.
I would also be remiss if I didn't recognize that our eleven years is a drop in the bucket compared to the 88 plus years of marriage that we have had as our example from two COMMITTED sets of parents! We have known the perseverance and CHOICE of marriage from them year after year after year. I love nothing more than the thought of two gray-headed people loving each other right onto glory. God grant us this grace!
And to my husband...Kraig, on this day I love you more than I ever thought possible. I praise God for giving me what I needed and wanted even when I couldn't know what that was! It amazes me that you are to me each year all that I need and want as we grow older and walk through the seasons of life together. I would not want to do life with anyone but you! Thank you for cherishing me, loving our kids and being the servant-leader Christ has called you to be! I am overwhelmed that you have always seen in me what I hope to be. Thank you for being my companion, my counselor, my friend...who knew?
Choice. That is a word that a lot of young people don't realize about marriage. Instead we substitute "feelings" for "choice". Then, when the feelings change the choice changes. But, when the choice is made and the feelings change - the choice remains. I almost can see now that making that choice without all of the feelings was a grace from God. As women, we are so driven by feeling that we can swing like a pendulum from one day to the next. If I had made my decision to marry Kraig on feeling, I would have probably bailed within a few years. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Kraig but I choose to stay. Why? Because this covenant is not mine to break. The marriage covenant belongs to God not man and I covenanted on that day to the Lord to be Kraig's wife.
I would be remiss if I didn't give all glory to the Lord first and foremost! We were a total mess in a total mess! Only God could have made us what we are today - joyful! We are joyful about each other and our marriage. We are joyful to the Lord for His sanctifying work in our lives through the hardships of life and marriage. We are joyful that we have been able to experience life together.
I would also be remiss if I didn't recognize that our eleven years is a drop in the bucket compared to the 88 plus years of marriage that we have had as our example from two COMMITTED sets of parents! We have known the perseverance and CHOICE of marriage from them year after year after year. I love nothing more than the thought of two gray-headed people loving each other right onto glory. God grant us this grace!
And to my husband...Kraig, on this day I love you more than I ever thought possible. I praise God for giving me what I needed and wanted even when I couldn't know what that was! It amazes me that you are to me each year all that I need and want as we grow older and walk through the seasons of life together. I would not want to do life with anyone but you! Thank you for cherishing me, loving our kids and being the servant-leader Christ has called you to be! I am overwhelmed that you have always seen in me what I hope to be. Thank you for being my companion, my counselor, my friend...who knew?
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