Deeper

This week I am posting "Deeper" By Meredith Andrews. It seems to be the prayer I pray without words and the way that God is working in me. Going deeper isn't always easy or pleasant, but the relationship that develops makes it all worthwhile.

He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king."
~ Daniel 2:21-23~

For more great songs, follow the link in my side column to TSMS Saturdays.

Complete

Do you remember as a child that there were days that were so complete that you couldn't fathom how life could get better. You played so hard and so long that you were so exhausted your feet felt like lead weights and you body just wouldn't work anymore?

I had the honor and joy of spending the day with my kids last Saturday and we savored every second of it. We went to the State Fair and, although I loved spending time with Kevin and seeing him have fun, I got so much joy by watching Abby experiencing her first fair. She was so exhausted that she barely made it past the fairgrounds on the way home before she was out like a light.

I love the knowledge that I got to be a part of one of those days from childhood that just felt complete, and you couldn't have imagined anything better.

Head on over to Chatting at the Sky for more profoundly normal moments.

State Fair Day

Today we spent the day at the state fair.

I have to admit, It was fun. We looked at exhibits, saw some live stock, people watched, had fun at conservation world, and the big hit of the day...DOGS!

As soon as we walked in the gates there was a dock dog competition going on. There was a stage that was the "dock", and the dogs would run down it and jump into a huge splash pool chasing a toy. We all watched for quite a while.

Later in the day, in Conservation World, we stumbled upon a Jump! dog show. Of course I forgot my camera today, so I didn't get to get many pictures, and none of the dogs, although they were the hands down favorite thing of the day for both kids.

We were going to take Kevin to the midway and let him ride some rides, but it will be cheaper to take all four of us to Six Flags! He was OK with not riding anything. It was the end of the day and we were all tired of being on our feet and ready to head home.

Although I did forget my camera, I caught a couple fair images on my phone that I wanted to share.

Ahhhh, sweet home-made fudge! I managed to get past with only a picture to sustain me.

No trip to the state fair is complete without checking out the butter cow. This year the artist (s?) really out-did themselves by including Abraham Lincoln reading a book while leaning against a log, a couple woodland animals, a couple of butterflies (I didn't get them in the picture!) and of course, the cow.

Waiting for the JUMP! dog show to start

People watching

All wore out and heading home.

I am so bummed! I was waiting to get a couple pics of Kevin on the rides, then we didn't end up doing rides! He really was there and we had a great day!

Crazy Love ~ Lukewarm and evil sacrifices

In chapters 4 & 5 of Crazy Love by Frances Chan, he talks about lukewarm Christians, and how there really aren't any. You are a follower of Christ or you aren't. Yes, Jesus talks about the lukewarm Christian, but he talks about them in the context of vomiting them from his mouth.

That is not someone who is saved.

Now, I have heard these verses and thought about it, and thought, "I'm not lukewarm, I do love Christ";"I do want to do what he asks of me".

But how desperately am I actually searching for that directive from him?

Frances Chan puts it this way:

It's easy to fill ourselves up with other things and then give God whatever is left. Hosea 13:6 says, When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me". God gets a scrap or two only because we feel guilty for giving him nothing. A mumbled three-minute prayer at the end of the day; when we are already half asleep. Two crumpled up dollar bills thrown as an afterthought into the church's fund for the poor. Fetch, God!

How true this is. We all know it. We all abuse the grace God provides us. But how perfectly is it summed up with those two little words he tacked on the end..."fetch, God!"

We expect God to run after whatever we decide to throw to him, and be happy with it. I was deeply convicted about this. Luckily, God wasn't done with me yet. I read on and felt God sticking me directly in the ugly places of my heart.

But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts. ~Malachi 1:8(NASB)

With the human tendency to scan over the majority of the Bible, I have missed something essential in this verse. Frances Chan puts it this way:

They assumed God was please because they had sacrificed something. God described this practice as evil. Leftovers are not merely inadequate; from God's point of view (and lest we forget, His is the only one who matters), they're evil. Let's stop calling it a "busy schedule" or "bills" or "forgetfulness". It's called evil.

Evil. When I read that it literally turned my stomach. When I am not offering God my very best, my all, the biggest sacrifice I can give, what I am offering he considers evil.

I can not tell myself that I am busy or that I am at least doing something. I am insulting God with the little that I feel up to giving, no matter how much that is. I have even caught myself in the place of knowing I wasn't doing what God wanted me to do, but since I was doing something, I felt I was fine.

Better than nothing, right?

Like I said, this book has completely messed me up in several areas.

I have been working on trying to prioritize my life correctly. I have seen Christians that try to fit God into their schedules already too-full of sports practices, time with friends, and vacations. I have seen Christians spend so much time searching for God's calling on their life that they are completely useless to him because they are not doing anything. I have seen Christians that think they are working hard for the cause of Christ, but they are only doing so to the extent that they are happy and comfortable in the position they have chosen to serve in.

I have been all of these.

I am striving now to be none of them.

I have learned to be OK when God isn't calling me to some huge act of faith. Sometimes it takes more faith to get up and keep doing the same thing than to step out and start something new and exciting.

Sometimes God is calling us to strengthen our home so that we will be capable of facing the challenges he has planned ahead.

Sometimes he calls us to spend time growing with him so that we can offer the guidance and council that another might need.

It's not always about the fabulous, exciting and dangerous life of a faithful follower of Christ.

Sometimes it is just about the life of a faithful follower. The difference is giving the very best of myself no matter where I am and what I am doing.

Jesus Paid It All

Ok, I have to post two songs this week!

I was playing around on YouTube and found this. I absolutely love singing this in worship at our church and it has been waaay too long since we have.

That being the case, will you join me?

Happy TSMS Saturday!



Once again, follow the link in my side column to go hang out and praise along with a lot of great people!

Hallelujah

I'm taking it all and giving it back as words of love and adoration.

Whatever changes come, whatever I am called to do, big or small, take it all, every part of me and use me as you see fit. If I'm called to the mission field thousands of miles away, or if I am called to never go further than my hometown, I will faithfully follow and strive to do all that you ask, and through it all I will say Hallelujah.




Head on over to TSMS Saturdays to join in on some more wonderful praise! Follow the link in my side column.

Organizing in progress...

I want to post a nice long blog offering. I really do! I just can't.

I have been reading Crazy Love by Frances Chan and I have so many thoughts, comptemplations, realizations and yes, let's face it, some changing to do.

Thanks so much to my dear friend I have never met, Tara over at Giggles N Gulps for recommending this book.

I am hopeful that I can find time to sit down this weekend and organize my thoughts into some kind of written order. At least some of them.

Denial and crying for a little while

My baby just turned 10. At 12:46am he became a kid with a double digit age.

He has friends staying the night, so I was nice. I called him in the other room to do my fun little "at exactly this time 10 years ago..." story.

He is not supposed to be in the pre-teen double digits.

He is supposed to still be playing with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and taking a nap in the middle of the day.

He is supposed to still be a cute little thing that wants to do nothing more than take care of Mommy.

He is not supposed to be playing baseball (and impressing the stink outta me as catcher) and getting ready to head into the 4th grade.

He is not supposed to be doing fearless dives off the high dive at the pool. Running the board, stomping the jump, soaring away....tuck in the head, arms and legs straight, cutting the surface with hardly a splash. I am amazed by his fearlessness and natural ability.

He's not supposed to be giving his dad as good as he gets in a paintball war.

He is not supposed to take off on his own and go to his friends house without me holding his hand to go across the road.

He is not supposed to be only 8 inches shorter than I am.
I keep trying to deny that time is passing, but it is just not playing along. It just keeps marching.

Tick. Tock.

Flip the calendar page and on it goes.

Tick. Tock.

My kiddo isn't a little kid anymore. My Little Man is almost as tall as I am, and we only have a few short years left where I am the only woman that he wants to hug him.

If you will excuse me now, I am going to go cry for a little while.

Pink Warriors

I can not make it through this video without crying. I see Jesus so much in these women, it makes my heart hurt.

I hope you experience the same.

Psalm 18:35 (New International Version):

You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.

Join in over at Then Sings My Soul Saturdays and post a song that has touched your life in some way this week Just follow the link in my side column.

What Encourages Me?

Over at the brand-spankin' new, still shiny in the box site, (In)Courage, they have a fun little get-to-know-you party going.

The topic: What encourages me?

I read about it while I was over visiting at Chatting At The Sky (you should bookmark her blog and visit everyday. So much to take in and ponder).

Now, back to (In)courage. It looks completely amazing and the grand kick-off is Monday, August 10th. Head on over and enter your encouragement story to win the super-cute tee shirt that is shown on the home page.

So, here goes...

What Encourages Me?

It is what God does with this average, ordinary, insecure and flawed girl typing away her thoughts onto an unforgiving monitor.

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

~ Philippians 2:13

What does that look like, exactly?

I am encouraged when God uses my words to minister to a sister's heart.

I am encouraged when sharing my struggles allows God to bring me healing through another's hands.

I am encouraged when I read stories of God's amazing power and ability to bring us through things that are too big to even imagine, much less get through without him.

I am encouraged by the way there always seems to be a friend with strong arms around when I need a hug more than I need my next breath.

I am encouraged when I don't think I can take anymore and from nowhere, out of nothing, I feel the desire to just stop and breathe. And remember. I am not alone. I am never called to face anything in my own power, but in the power of the one who created it all.

I went too many years and through too many things without that knowledge and power to take it for granted. If God now chooses to use me, all I can think is: "Wow. Look at little 'ol ordinary me. Doing great things for a God who shouldn't, but does, love me with an indescribable grace and mercy."

How can I not be encouraged by that?