Jesus and Mary

So often I wonder about Jesus as a baby.  Was he into everything as a little boy?  Did Mary loose her patience with him sometimes?  Just because he is our saviour does that mean he wasn't a typical toddler?  I mean He was fully man and fully God.  And Mary, well Mary was a girl.  A young woman with so much on her plate.  I wonder if she felt overwhelmed.  I think about how my days feel overwhelming sometimes.  I think about how I'd rather be doing something selfish and all for me.  Yet, I know that raising my kids is where God wants me to be.  It's not easy.  It's not even fun sometimes.  But like Steven Curtis Chapmans song, "Do everything", I am doing everything for his Glory.  When I keep that thought in the forefront of my brain it sure does make things a little easier.  I am sure Mary had to do laundry again and again.  And of course she had dinner to make and dishes to do...she did it.  As have many many other mothers since the beginning of time. 

It really doesn't feel like a very glamorous life sometimes.  I have snot on my shirt and yogurt on my pants.  I can't seem to find time to do my makeup or hair and even fitting in a shower can be a challenge at times.  But I know that God has me right here in this place for a reason, a season and a purpose.  Nothing lasts forever...if I can only grab onto what it is that he's trying to teach me during this time than I've come out a winner. 

Thank you Lord for entrusting me with your children.  I am so blessed to be their mother.  I pray for their health and their hearts.  I pray that you guide me daily in the way I'm to raise them and that they see you in me.  I pray for their safety and most of all for their salvation.  Let them walk with you all of the days of your life and do great things for your glory.  Amen

Baby Joey

Sitting here wondering how I would cope knowing my 3 year old child is in the hospital with a rare form of cancer and has just been given 1 to 5 years.  What do you do with that?  I know you take it to God.  I know you have faith that He can do miracles, that these are just doctors, people like me.  But wow how difficult that must be.  I know that for me I wouldn't be ok with hearing God does everything for a reason...I would not be ok with hearing that we all are only here for a short time.  I'm not ok with hearing it for my friend.  I can only imagine the pain that they are in right now. I'm praying and believing in a miracle, yet I'm so fearful of him not following through on that miracle.  I'm fearful for Michele and Joe and the rest of their family and I'm fearful for my own faith.  I am not doubting that he can do it.  I'm more concerned with "WILL HE?".  And I know that if he doesn't that He has his reasons but I'm really not comfortable with that.  I hate NOT knowing WHY... I want to know why for everything.  It's taken me a long time to stop asking why for everything.  Sometimes things just are.  I'm not sure if I'll ever fully understand God.  I mean who will?  He is a total mystery.  James 5:11 says that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.  That with perseverance he will bring you through your troubles.  Refrencing Job...

And is says that you should call the elders of the church to pray over him and annoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up....I'm praying Lord that you will heal Joey Johnson make him well.

March 14, 2011

I thought I'd try something new today.  I always find it exciting and a little scary to try something new.  The thoughts go through my head.  What if I mess it up?  What if it's not good?   Then I answer my own questions.  Who cares if I mess it up?  I don't think that there is a "Right or Wrong" way to do this.  Who is judging if it is good or not?  The only one that I need to please is God and I think he'll just be happy that I'm brave enough to try something new.  It's so funny the things in my life that take "bravery".  When I think about the fears inside of me it's always about my heart.  My heart is afraid to show.  It cowers in a corner like a scared kitten waiting for someone to coax it out.  And these days I hear God coaxing me.  I hear him telling me to take a step, sometimes he even wants me to leap.  Today I feel like leaping.

 I was reading in Matthew Chapter 3 last night.  It's funny sometimes how one or two words just keep repeating themselves after I've read them.  I read two chapters of Matthew yet the only thing that has been stuck in my brain is Chapter 3:4 "John's clothes were made of camel's hair and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey."  I can't help but wonder what clothes made of camel's hair would look like. It really doesn't seem like a very glamorous outfit to me.  And then the part that really keeps resounding is that he ate locusts and wild honey.  Locusts!  They are bugs.  He ate bugs!  And he had to get wild honey out of bee hives.  I don't know about you but my biggest fear is bees.  I panic when I see bees.  I absolutely hate them.  And yet, John the Baptist had to eat from the beehives.  I'd say that he was a true warrior. 

I know that I'm not called to eat locusts or wild honey and I'm so grateful for that.  I do however think that God calls each of us to do things for him everyday.  And some of those things are not "fun".  Like eating a handful of locusts or sticking your hand in a beehive to get some wild honey.  Yet when we follow his lead, when we listen to his coaxing the rewards are indescribable.  I want to be a brave warrior for Jesus.  I want to do whatever it takes in order to be glorifiying His kingdom.