Fall Asleep in His Arms

As I lay awake

With my head on the pillow

I recount the day and think

about people I know and

have known.  I think about

my many blessings and

how time seals the gap

how it heals the hole

in your middle.

Feeling helpless is a result

of loving so much – the fear

of losing so much.

Pray instead.  Fall asleep in His arms.

As I said in a prior post, thoughts have been swirling around me and the people appear to be acrobats dangling by a thread.  Maybe it’s just me getting older and worrying more about things, but every day brings a new challenge and something else to pray about.  I don’t think there’s been a night this week I haven’t gone to bed “in God‘s arms.”  Falling asleep praying is something I used to feel guilty about, but have since realized we are just tucked safely in His arms.  I wish I could tuck each and every person I’ve heard about over the past several weeks safely in God’s arms, but it is not to be.  Prayer will have to do.

It seems as though terrible tragedies like the storm on the East coast and other people near and far I have encountered seem to be living with serious health problems. I wish I could reach out to each and every person and give just an ounce of encouragement.  I must sit back, as we all do, and leave it to God.  It’s difficult to send your children to school in a world of such uncertainty.  Nothing is certain though is it?

It’s official! I’m a nut!

Why would a seemingly sane middle aged woman who has plenty to do agree to be an assistant soccer coach of 4 and 5 years olds?  Do I have some kind of death wish?  I don’t have patience.  This is a Christian league so it’s not competitive and the goal is not about winning but how you play the game.  I always thought I was a good sport and a Christian who would have no problem with the non-competitive nature of this league.  I now find I am not a very good sport and may need some works, work in the Christian department.  Little slip of the tongue there.

We’ve only had two practices and one game and I’m already looking at the date of the last game and, I might add, doing a lot of praying.  My daughter is having fun (at the moment) and I’m trying to teach her how to be a part of a team.  It seems I don’t have to teach her this lesson; I need to learn it myself.  There is no “out” here.  I can’t quit or come up with some excuse.  I’m in this until October folks.  Please pray for me.  I need all the prayers I can get.

Do you know you can’t say “Oh man!” and “Are you kidding me?” in a Christian soccer league or even with 4 and 5 year olds?  I know it’s a good idea and what the sport should be about at this level, but it’s difficult to restrain myself.  I may end up learning the most in this experiment.  What do you think?  Any similar experiences?

The Work of the Shepherd

Our Priest gave a very interesting sermon back in April and began by talking about how his father used to put their names on all their belongings so they wouldn’t get lost.

The message is we can never get lost from our Shepherd because we are sealed or “marked” with the holy spirit.

“Be the Church!” is what he said.

When you see someone on the street who doesn’t look like you remember they’re “Not the Other, but the Brother”.  We are all intertwined.

Sealed with the Spirit

Indeed we are

healed from within

was why he bore the scars.

Why did he do it

for people like us?

For people who

are not happy

but go around and fuss?

He did it for us.

It’s hard to believe

why a God so great

would choose that

as a time to celebrate.

You see, he knew, and

he tried to tell others,

why he was here

and what he’d discovered

but we didn’t understand

like sheep on the land

and went on living

in sin as we do.

In my bed awake

at night all alone

I think how

the savior bought me

and what I did for it

was nothing -

seems too much to bear.

God says sleep my

child because there’s

work to be done.  Fields

are ripe for harvest and

many are to be won.

Witness to others.  It’s one of our greatest gifts!

spiritually spoken

Prayer Rock

Prayer rock – side 2

I had a “hair was standing up on the back of my neck” moment last night. Here’s what happened. Lucy was looking through a bowl of prayer rocks I have in my room. She chose the one you see, she read it and announced she was going to look it up in her Bible. I, of course, encouraged her. What seemed like half an hour later, some crying and frustration, we found the verse together. I went about putting away the laundry, etc. and then cleaned out her backpack. Yesterday was their last day of Pre-K. In her backpack was a card I had earlier overlooked. I opened it and it was from one of Lucy’s teachers. It read:

Sweet note

See the recurring theme here? Ever since then I have been looking at things quite differently. In most areas of my life, it seems, I choose to “lean on my own understanding.” I am trying to trust the Lord, instead. Really made me think!

The Virtuous Mother

Mother’s Day card

Mother’s Day card and Cockscomb flower

My daughter did three things at school in preparation for Mother’s Day.  I got a wonderful card, a beautiful Cockscomb flower  (I will hopefully not kill it.) and the best of all  - fill in the blank answers to v. 10-28 of The Virtuous Woman/Mother.  See below.

Most of you are familiar with the popular Proverbs 31:10-31 verses:

The Virtuous Woman

10 An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

15 She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

Now for the Lucy Grace version:

The Virtuous Mother

My mom is better than toys.  (v.10)

My mom’s favorite chore is mopping. (v.13)

My mom cooks hamburgers for me. (v.14)

My mom gets up at 12:30.  (v. 15) (Not sure where this came from, but I definitely don’t get up before dawn.)

My mom shops for popsicles for me.  (v.16)

My mom helps me by cleaning up my toys.  (v. 20)

My mom wears pink. (v. 25)

My mom always says I love you.  (v. 26)

I call my mom Mommy.  (v. 28)

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Proverbs 31:29 NIV

I love the gifts I received.  They are so special and the Cockscomb is a plant that re-seeds itself and their teacher has continued to use the seeds from a former student for years.  This makes the plant even more special.  Don’t you think?

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone out there!

On Mission

The Great Commission

It is said everyone has a Mission.  You may not know this, but The Great Commission states:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

Our Mission as Christians is simple and deals directly with our individual spiritual gifts.  Some of us may be good at talking with the elderly, some at organization, some at music, some with children.  All of these gifts translate into our Mission in Christ.  I think it’s very interesting how God formed all of us with different strengths and weaknesses and the Holy Spirit moves us to use those strengths and sometimes weaknesses to reach those in greater need than we.

So I challenge you – Talk to someone today who doesn’t expect you to speak to them.  Maybe in the grocery, the hardware store or at work.  Sometimes a smile can make someone’s day.  Especially a day that has been, up to that time, going poorly.  I have done what I consider such minor things lately that have seemed to make a big impression on others.  Let God lead you and always be in your mind and you will find your Mission.

Helpless

there is nothing

I can do.

Nothing I can

say.

Just pray.

I say just pray

but its way

more than that.

We’re told it’s

the way.  Why

then do we wait

until we’ve exhausted

every other resource.

We are only helpless

without God.

Paul’s Perseverence

This is a Lifeway Bible Study I get daily.  This one really struck me because I love Paul so much.  I love his story and how much he seems just like us.  Read ahead for some biblical enlightenment.

Read Ahead: Philippians 3:3-10

I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8, HCSB

What matters to you more than anything else?

* Your family? Your friends?

* Your reputation? Your health?

* Your grades? Your achievements?

These are all good things. They should matter to you. But there’s one thing that should come before any of these–knowing Christ.

Before Paul was a Christian, he placed high importance on who he was and where he came from. He took great pride in his pure Jewish heritage, his excellent education, and his flawless behavior. His reputation in the community was everything to him.

Then he met Christ, and everything that used to be on the top of his priority list fell to the bottom. Once he experienced Christ, nothing else could come close! From the moment of his conversion, Paul sent everything else but Christ to the back of the line. As far as Paul was concerned–compared to the value of knowing Christ–everything in his life was as worthless as garbage.

Is knowing Christ that important to you? No one is asking you to stop loving your family, to hate your friends, or to harm your body. But knowing Christ more intimately should be the first item on your priority list. When you choose to place him first in your life, you’ll see everything else in its proper perspective.   You can sign up to receive this Lifeway devotional at this link.

What does this kind of attitude mean in practical terms, in day-to-day life?

Read Up: 1 Timothy 1:12-17, 2 Timothy 2:8-13

This devotional is courtesy of TQ.