A Beautiful Creation

I recently attended an event where girls pre-teen to grandmothers gathered for the purpose of encouraging us all to be safe, healthy, empowered women of God. I have to admit that I got distracted while sitting in my seat. I found myself looking at the over 600 women in the room. I could only marvel at their beauty. Everywhere I looked there was a girl/woman who had a unique look that set her apart from everyone else. The creativity of God's hand is marvelous. I love that He makes us all look different, laugh different, walk different, talk different, and all so beautiful. I often stare with wonder at the beauty of God's creation: the trees, the clouds, a field of flowers. This was my view on the way to school today. I was telling God how beautiful I thought His creation was. Then He brought my attention back to the girls' gathering. I wonder what God thinks when He sees His girls all together in one place like that. I bet that He thinks we are His beautiful creation.

The Top of My List

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Psalm 37:31

I love reading. I love getting new insights and information from a variety of books. There is usually a stack of unread books on my bedside table that are "next on my list" to read. Too many times though, I fall victim to good marketing. I want to leverage my influence and be a better leader. I want to discover how I can engage and shape my kids' character. And yes, I want to lose those dreaded 10 lbs and have the body of a 20 year old. The issue is that I am looking for direction from a variety of sources but I am not looking for direction from the Source.

The Bible is the one place where I can go and know that it's 100% accurate. It's not misleading and it gives perfect direction. It tells me to walk humbly, justly, and lovingly when dealing with others. It tells me that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and in this I will prosper in His Kingdom. Reading the Bible: it's at the top of my list.

Peaceful Easy Feeling

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

As I am pondering the direction and choices of my life, I am hit in the face with God's sovereignty. He is ruler of my life. He knows the beginning and the end. His plan and love for me are written in the stars. They are great and mighty. So the question I have to face is how do I interpret the Wind? How should I make the necessary decisions? I don't really know a lot of specific details about my particular path, but this I do know...as the Eagles used to say, "I've got a peaceful, easy feeling."

What are you looking at?

One of the great things about returning to college at this stage in my life is that I can truely appreciate the people that God has placed around me. On my college campus, I have come in contact with such a varied group of individuals that it has struck me that I must have been blind not to have known they have been there all along. I don't have anything in common with a lot of these people. They have different ideas and beliefs of how the world should work. I love that. I love the fact that God is exploding my comfort zone and sending me out into His world. I want to be a shining light that impacts His kingdom. I want to bring honor and glory to Him. I want to throw off people's preconcieved notions of who they think I am and I want God to throw off my own preconcieved notions of who I think they are. In the end, I think everyone just wants to treated with honor and respect. I wish we in the church could remember that's how we need to treat people.

He Is In The Little Things

No one should ever say that God isn't in the little things. I really enjoy doing yoga. It's a great exercise for me: low impact but excellent benefits. I can do things in yoga that blow my mind. Recently the yoga center that I go to closed. They had a lot of classes during the day which suited my schedule. Normally, it really wouldn't bother me, I would just go to another center. However, all of the other yoga centers have their more challenging classes at night. Since I am in night classes at ETSU, my time at night is already claimed. I refuse to go to yoga classes at those studios because on my free nights I want to focus on being a mom and wife. So my friends at ETSU recently started talking about the school's fitness facility. THEY HAVE YOGA DURING THE DAY AND IT'S FREE!! I know it probably doesn't mean much to you, but to me, it's so awesome. It shows me that God really loves me. He has directed me to a place where I can do a challenging yoga class and remain healthy. He has guided me to a place where I can do yoga free (being a college student means I need to stretch the dollar). He has shown me that the things that matter to me, matter to Him. He is pretty incredible. Just another reason why I love Him so much.

In Him I Trust

A step in the dark still makes an impression
When I ponder what is to come I am visionless
However, I know the One who guides my way
In Him I trust what I cannot perceive
A future of beauty, love and fulfillment

The Handprint

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will bear even more fruit.

John 15: 2

I was contemplating this scripture today when I saw this form in the sky. Yeah, I know. He is pretty incredible. I am so thankful that I am a child of the Most High God and that His hand is on my life. I can't wait to see what He is going to do next.

Return from Camp

Gary, Max and Grace came home from camp today. You can always tell a good camp experience if someone has lost his voice. Two of the three have almost lost'em. This was the first camp experience for Grace. She has been so looking forward to camp. I wondered about the experience that she anticipated for so long...Would it be everything that she thought it would? Did she make it bigger in her mind than it was going to be just to be disappointed? I was so excited to see the gang when they got home tonight. They all had a remarkable time. Gary and Max, being KidJam Pros, came back voiceless and happy. Did I need to be concerned about Grace enjoying camp? I think this picture says it all.

A Moment of Clarity

I love how God teaches and guides me. Sometimes, it's like a whisper and I have to listen very close and think about what He is trying to show me. Other times, it's so unmistakable that I can't help but be giddy 'cause it's just so stinking obvious. This week has been one of those weeks where He is showing me something so apparent that I would have to be pretty oblivious not to see it.

Well, this is it: Sometimes people who have the purest intentions think they know what is best for you. The issue is that they then share that with others 'in the name of caring about you.' I know enough about people to know that it really has nothing to do with me. But how does a person deal with that? Does it need to be addressed? Does it need to just be ignored? Does it even matter? I came across this scripture late last week: Proverbs 18:12 that says: "Before destruction a mans heart is haughty, and before honor is humility." That really touched a special place in my heart. I want to honor God in all I do and I want my actions to bring honor. I want to do everything with humility so that God is the one glorified; especially when it comes to dealing with His people. At that point, I thought I had clarity. Then, I read a blog this week that had this statement: "Don't wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pigs like it." That's pretty stinking obvious, don't you think?

The God Who Knows Me

There are two things that came across my path today... (1) A quote from my John Adams book: Fortune may have yet a better success in reserve for you, and they who lose today may win tomorrow. Cervantes; and (2) Proverbs 18: 12 Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

So I look at these two quotes that crossed my path today and I ask what is God trying to teach me because I know that nothing happens by chance.

No matter what is happening, I need to trust God and know that He is in the middle of it. I need to trust Him for my present and my future.

Is He bigger? Absolutely. Does He need me? No. He gives me the priviledge of serving in His kingdom. I want to always remember that any difference I make is a gift from Him. I need to remember that my life is in His hands. He loves me and wants the best for me. I give Him total control over my life. I desire to make an impact in His kingdom. I desire to know Him more. I will listen.