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-Amy

Passionately Pursued Today

My daughter accompanied me to a doctor's appointment a few days ago. She was quite impressed when the doctor said my knee looked like that of 78 year old. I, however, was not as impressed! Dismayed might be a better word to describe my reaction.

When we got in the car to leave, my daughter was still in awe of the"age" of my knee. I jokingly told her that in order for me to run, I would have to be pursued by the mafia or a grizzly bear, otherwise running is out. The pursuit would have to be real or the run would not take place. Of course, we don't live in area where we're in danger of being attacked by the mafia or a grizzly bear, so I am safe for now. I hope.

But the pursuit that hopefully never happens led me to thinking about one that really does.

He would leave the ninety-nine in the field to pursue the one that was lost. He would - and Jesus does - leave those in safety and security to pursue the one that has wandered off (Luke 15:4-7). What causes this one to wander away from the others? Are they distracted? Terrible decisions? Bad friends? Whatever the reason, it's not relevant to Christ. What is relevant: This wandering child is His child, His creation and He doesn't wish that one of His children should be lost - so He lovingly pursues that one.

The thought of Jesus pursuing us is mind-blowing! There are evidences of this divine pursuit weaved throughout scripture. We can witness His unswerving pursuit of Jonah, as Jonah ran away from God, but God pursued Jonah in love. He still does this for us today. In John 4, Jesus traveled out of His way for His divine appointment with the Woman at the Well. His pursuit went across cultural and social barriers and brought a love - a salvation - that forever changed who she was. He still does this for us today.  Luke 19:10 says " For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost." The God that seeks, He is still seeking and pursuing the lost and wandering today.

Jesus wasn't and isn't passive in His pursuits. He passionately pursued and still pursues us today.

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Two insights we can gain from this:
One: Be daily thankful for a God who lovingly pursues the lost and wandering.
Two: Be reminded of how we should gently, lovingly and compassionately pursue others as Jesus did.

He's Got This

* Okay. I know. I am not the most consistent blogger. Sometimes between family, work, church, and just life, blogging time gets cut out. I need to and want to make more time, somehow, to write. I admitted it, and now it's time to move forward.

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Some people believe Christmas is the most hectic time of the year. Not me. The most chaotic, unhinged time of the year has to be the end of April and the beginning of May. State testing, class trips, school programs, semester exams, students with a sudden interest in their grades, parents hoping their children will move on to the next grade or graduate... All these elements combine to form an almost irrepressible explosion, that I, the teacher, feel the need to control. I don't want the shrapnel of crushed hopes, let downs, or disappointment recklessly flying around my workplace, so I smile and pretend that all is well in the world of education. I will do my best to muffle out the negative and control my environment as I manhandle the ticking time bomb that is the last few weeks of school.

At each school year's end, there is a raging, new surprise awaiting. No matter how much I plan and prepare... Boom! It's there. Sometimes the blast is mightier than the year before and sometimes it's just a dismal flareup. I often feel the need to retreat, but then I remember: I love what I do; and most importantly, I don't have to feel in control, because God's got this.

God is in control - in any circumstance. Big. Small. One day. Years. It doesn't matter: God is in control.  I just need relinquish whatever control I'm holding onto. He doesn't need my help. If I want to take my problems and retreat, that's fine as long as I know God is my refuge (and He may tell me to get back up and face the problem). 

The hectic times are inevitable, but so is God's ability to handle every circumstance in our life. He's got this!

"You are my refuge, my fortress, and my God in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2

"Now to him that is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us..." Ephesians 3:20

One Way to Begin 2013

I am so looking forward to getting together with a group of friends this weekend. We're going to eat. We're going to talk. We're going to hold each other accountable.

It may not sound like the perfect dinner date to you, but this "Girls Goal Get Together" is long overdue. I am tired of setting goals in my mind or on a careless sheet of paper. I am ready for someone to hear what I have to say, to listen to what I say I am going to accomplish. I am just fine with someone texting or calling me up and asking just where I am in the great progression of my goals, as a matter of fact; I think I crave the accountability.

There is a vast emptiness from knowing there is more to me and that I'm just completely missing the mark. God has designed me for more, and I am failing. I'm not saying that so people will feel sorry for me. I am saying I have failed because the recognition of that failure pushes me to seek more of Him and less of myself - because self fails.

I am ready to meet with the girls because I want my Christ-centered goals to be more than mere words or dead paper. I know my friends will hold me to my goals as they lift me up in prayer and love. And I am willing to do the same for them.

This is one way I will begin 2013.
Proverbs 27:17

Oh. My. Goodness.

Oh. My. Goodness.  I wish I could explain how I feel when I  have the opportunity to hear my teenage son preach. At times, everything in me wants to jump up and exclaim, "That's my boy!" At other times, I reach for my kleenex and look around for a small distraction to keep from crying like a ball bag.

Whatever end of the emotional gamut my body and mind choose to travel, the feelings inside are indescribable! I mean, I love watching him run track - he is quite speedy - I turn into the crazy, screaming mom in the stands faster than you can blink; but the emotions I stumble through while he is preaching the Word are just different.

The knowledge of how God has already used him.
The reality of how God is using him right now.
The tremendous sense of pride in who God is growing him to be.

It brings up a level of emotions, of pride (in who God has created him to be) that are off the charts. The only thing I can relate it to is God's love for us.

Each time I hear my son preach, I get a tiny glimpse of how God feels when His children are obedient to His call, a little taste of how it feels to fully, unconditionally love. Even if it is a small, minute peek into how God views us when we walk with Him in obedience, it has challenged my desire to walk humbly by God's side.

These indefinable emotions have raised the standard. I long to have more moments where God exclaims, "That's my girl!"  I want to willingly walk in moments that matter in eternity.

Intentionally Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for, but how often do I even think about it?

I know it is cliche - We have so much to be thankful for. But, honestly, how often do we really think and mediate on all we should be thankful for? The answer for me: Not nearly enough.

It shouldn't take us watching the news, hearing of a tragedy from a friend or reading a gloomy post on Facebook to reflect on all God has given us. We should think about these things daily, constantly  through our thoughts and prayer.

How different would our lives look if we focused more on the things we are grateful for rather than the things we're just not happy with or things we wished we could change. How differently would we see things? People? Situations? The World? Not only would we see these in a new light, we would also experience God in a new, amazing way. Being truly thankful in all things would transform us. Can you imagine the ripple effect true thankfulness would have?!

Our lives would be immensely different and completely changed if we were consistently, truly thankful. Transformation in us and around us would be inevitable!

I am striving to be more thankful, to make thankfulness a purposeful, intentional, every day way of life.
 
Give thanks to the Lord. For He is good. His mercy endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Quik Trip. Lasting Impression.

Anyone who knows me, is well aware that if I am near a QuikTrip, I must stop.  Although I do seem to be thirsty all the time, driving in the vicinity of a QT makes the thirst worse! I have to say, on this particular day, I was beyond blessed when I stopped to get a drink at my favorite convenience store...

I had to make a run to Wal-Mart, and it did not seem right to be so close to a QT without taking advantage of it, so my daughter and I stopped in for a quick thirst quencher. As we made our way to the register to pay, a lady came up and stood in another line to the side of us. When I paid for our drinks, I was instantly drawn to her actions. As she started to pay for her drink, an older gentleman stepped up to the counter, to wait in line to pay for his. But, before he could even think about it, the lady paid for his drink.

The look on his face was of sweet awe and absolutely priceless. He wasn't sure what to say, and after fumbling over a few words, he said, "Well all I can think of is, thanks. Thank you."  The lady who purchased his drink replied, "You're welcome. Just pass it on when you get the chance."

Simultaneously smiling from the inside out, my daughter and I walked out of the store. She looked up at me and said, "How cool was that?! What that woman did was so nice!" I wholeheartedly agreed. It was "so nice" and simple, yet huge. Besides just the random kindness, one thing kept at my heart and mind: That older gentleman will remember that for a long time, maybe forever. He won't remember it because of the monetary cost; he will remember it because of the ladies' action. Someone stepped up and acted out of kindness and love for someone they don't even know (and may never see again).

I know God had to be smiling! My daughter and I couldn't quit smiling and talking about it for quite a while. I even called a friend and my husband to let them know what we had the privilege of witnessing.

This may have been a "Quik Trip," but it left a lasting impression not only on the older man, but also on those who got to see the kindness unfold (and I am sure it warmed the heart of the lady who paid). It is great proof that we don't have to have innumerable, inexhaustible resources to make a difference in the lives of others. What we do have to possess is love and the willingness to step out and share that love with others. Through our willingness to share, we can pray that the recipients of our love will do the same for someone else. Little things do make lasting differences.

Look for Me

Don't you just love it when you see God working! Whether it is a small glimmer of His reassurance or a huge banner He waves just so we remember He is there, seeing God at work is inspiring and amazing.

A few days ago, as I sat in a book club rummaging and rambling over what we were reading, I had the blessing of listening to a friend pour out her heart. Although I could not say I knew exactly how she felt, I could say that I knew we served the same God. A God that never takes a vacation - A God who hears our cries - A God who has a hope-filled future for each us. I encouraged her to look for the glimmers of God working around her, because I was sure the glimmers were there. As I encouraged her to look for God working, God reminded me to do the same: Look for Him.

How many times have I missed that glimmer of divine encouragement because I chose to look elsewhere? How many days have I missed God working all around me because I am just not looking? It really made me think about so many prayers, where I have asked God for some type of sign and just how many times I missed seeing that sign. Maybe I missed it because I did not diligently look or missed it because I expected some certain type of sign? Whatever the reason may be, God's message to me was: Look for Me.

When God shows Himself, in the midst of a tough situation or in our everyday circumstances, it is always a divine experience. The cool thing: He shows Himself even when we do not ask, and He shows Himself in ways we could never imagine. The thing we have to remember is: Look for God. Whether in a glimmer or huge banner, He is always there.


The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.    Zephaniah 3:17

Check the Mail

Inspired by a letter my mom wrote...

A few times I have wondered, "God, are you there?" Maybe it was in the midst of a traumatic personal experience, like a sudden death in my family. Maybe it was a heart-wrenching incident I witnessed someone go through, like losing everything they had in a fire. Or, maybe I just didn't feel that God answered a prayer I had prayed so many times.

Regardless of the the circumstance that led me to the lonely feeling, the lonely feeling eventually led me in a desperate search for God; and, as scripture promises, God will be found (Jer 29:13). Although so much could be said about God carrying us through the lonely times, there is also much to be said about possible reasons we even encounter the lonely feeling at all.


Imagine you have someone you consistently write letters to, and they in turn, consistently write letters back. As a matter of fact, the majority of your correspondence is dependent on these letters. Every few days you check the mail in anticipation of a letter, and every few days they do the same. You write a letter. They receive it and respond. You recieve and write... And it goes on and on. Think how this would change if, although you received letters every few days, you only opened and read them once a month? And - although you only opened them once a month, you still continued to write every few days. How confusing would this be to your friend? Think again, how much would change if you totally quit reading their letters, but continued to send them. That is just insane, right?! Your friend would wonder what your crazy ramblings were even about. There could be some very important information or questions in their letters, but you would never know because you don't read them.

When looked at alongside our relationship with God, this letter writing analogy makes sense. So many times we "write" to God (in the form of prayer,  praise, or just talking), but we never read His letters (the Bible). We want to communicate with Him, but do we really desire to hear from Him? It makes me wonder if God turns His head to the side and says, "Huh?" when we ask Him things that, if we read His Word, we would know the answers. How does it make God feel when we question and search for answers to our situations and circumstances, when all we need to do to find the answers is get into His Word.

I know that too many times I have been guilty of "writing" letters to God and not reading His letters to me. How many times have I been in the midst of a tough situation or trial, prayed, but then didn't look for the answer or even comfort in His Word?

This only reiterates the importance of our quiet time with God - that one-on-one time that we have to "write" letters to our Savior and eagerly await the wonderful letters of love we will find in His Word. Jeremiah 29:12-13 tells us that God hears our prayers and cries, and if we seek Him with all our heart, He will be found. Sometimes all He is asking us to do is check the mail.

50 Shades...

Be careful little eyes what you see.

 Be careful little mouth what you say. 

Be careful little ears what you hear. 

It is not surprising that a "magic" movie and a "shady" book have people talking. What is surprising is who is watching and reading.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" could sadly be a description of many relationships with God. The only problem: There is no grey when it comes to God. As Christians, it is time we stop acting like we think God has any part in some choices we are making.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to "lean on our own understanding." Instead we are to "acknowledge Him in ALL [our] ways and He will make [our] paths straight." Human understanding says we can watch, listen, read, and do whatever we want and it will not change us. That is a lie! What is put in the heart and mind does change us. The cliche, "Garbage in, garbage out" is not only true, it is Biblical (Prov 23:7, Mat 15:15-20, Psalm 101:2-3). There is no way to walk the straight path God has laid before us when we do not even acknowledge Him when deciding what we watch, read or listen to.

It is easy to make excuses or exceptions for these choices. We may fool others, but God is not fooled (Gal 6:7). These choices we categorize as "no big deal" are, in fact, huge because they say something about our relationship with God. Every choice either pulls us closer to or further away from our Savior. And - what should break our heart - every choice tells other people, saved and lost, who we believe Jesus really is. This is the point where many will say, "No one judges me but God." For Christians, that just is not true. We are to hold one another accountable - to judge one another in love (1 Cor 5:12, 1 Pet 4:17).

This is about so much more than one certain book or movie. This is not about "judging." This is about being Christ-like. It is time for Christians to live the life God has called us to live, a life of accountability, truth and integrity. In Christ, there are no grey areas and we have to stop pretending there are (1 Cor 6:12).

For the Father up above is looking down in love -

Be careful little eyes what you see.

 Be careful little mouth what you say. 

Be careful little ears what you hear.

2 Cor 5:17

Get a Little Perspective

Perspective. God has kept this word tattooed in flashing neon on my brain for a seemingly endless amount of days.
Words. Thoughts. Body language. Reactions. These all serve as great indicators of where our perspective lies. It all comes down to this: Is our viewpoint coming from our disheveled heart and mind or the heart and mind of Christ?
I keep finding myself in different conversations, places and circumstances where God might as well yell out, "That's your perspective, not Mine!" And, He's not yelling at the people I'm talking to or the people I'm with; He's hollering at me! As I grit my teeth or even roll my eyes, I can almost feel Him slap me gently on the back of the head, reminding me that I need to share His perspective.
By adjusting my view of the situation and tuning into His, I see the situation more clearly. Things like selfishness, jealousy, pride and lack of understanding take a hike when I choose to see things as God sees them and choose to see people as God sees them.

Brave

This past weekend I had the privilege to not only attend the Oklahoma Ladies' Retreat, "Brave," but also lead seminars there. The whole experience was absolutely, all-around amazing!

God used this weekend to affirm works He is doing in my life - things that I had been wondering or even questioning Him about. I love it when He places people right in front of us, in our path, just to let us know He is still very much at work in lives! What an amazing God He is. What an overwhelming comfort, knowing that when we seek Him, pray to Him, and cry out to Him, He is there and listening! What assurance is found, knowing when we ask Him questions, He will answer (in His way and His timing). Most of all, it is inexplicably great to know we can rest in the fact that God's plans are always for the good, even when things seem tough.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me so much that You remind me of things You have reminded me of so many times before.

Thank You for giving me the chance and privilege to share Your love with others.
Thank You for placing people in my path to remind me, Your love is constant. 
Thank You for being the Lord of my life.

A Future. A Hope.

In order for us to grow and mature in our faith, we have to be willing to change. Sometimes that change involves us giving up or letting go of something. It could be a newly acquired habit or ritual or something we have held onto (or something that's leached onto us) for quite sometime. No matter how long it's been in our life, when God says to let it go or destroy it - We have to do just that!

Too often we think that this change - life without our habit or ritual - is going to be hard or not as good as it once was. We justify whatever it is we're holding to so dearly, and sadly other Christians come alongside and justify it for us too. The thing to remember: If God's told us to get rid of it and we hold onto it, it is sin. Even if everyone of our friends does it, if God tells us to leave it alone and we don't, it's a sin.

God has really been working this in and all around me lately. I think of one of my favorite passages, Jeremiah 29:11-14...  God has great things for us. A future. A hope. He will answer when we call. We search for Him, he will be found. And - He brings us back from the things that hold us captive.

He wants to bring us back from the sin that holds us captive, from things in our life that distract us from Him. But, we have to be willing to let things go. He wants to bring us closer to Him so that we can live a better, more abundant life. But, we must be willing to lay things down or even destroy them, if that is what He asks.

To grow, mature, and become more like Christ, we must be willing to let things go. God has better, actually the best plans for our life - A future and a hope - when we are willing to let go of what holds us captive. 

Just Busy or Too Busy?

   Have you ever sat down and really thought about everything you do? Your responsibilities. Demands from work. Family needs. Extra activities.  And - All God requires of you. Maybe it's easiest not to think of all these things, but sometimes a little self-check is what we need in order to diagnose our problem: Too busy.

   I will admit: I am busy. Between teaching, family and church, my schedule is often packed! But am I too busy? What even constitutes as "too busy?" For me, there is a balance between busy and too busy; that balance can sometimes be tricky. I have a full-time job, that is never finished. The mass of papers I grade is like the laundry at home; it never goes away! I also have a family. Between my husband's crazy work schedule and my kid's school and church activities, we are constantly on the move. I also have God, but the question is, Does He have me? 

   It is beyond easy to get sucked in by busyness. You're just doing what you have to do, right? This is where I have to check myself, or rather, let God do the inventory for me. A few of the questions I prayerfully ask of myself:

- Am I so frustrated, that I no longer find joy in what is keeping me so busy? 

- Am I so busy that I often forget or neglect my time with God? 

- Am I ignoring the things I am passionate about?

- Am I so busy doing things that I am too exhausted to do what God has called me to do?

- Am I so busy that I cannot make time to develop and nourish relationships with family and friends?

After the God to self evaluation, I have to be honest with myself (It also never hurts to have friends who will be honest with me if I choose not be!). Am I too busy?  If "too busy" is the answer, it's time to eliminate some things and rearrange priorities. 

   What I find about myself: I am usually not "too busy" but I am definitely busy. If God is in control of my busyness - I'm good. Me in control of my busyness is destined for disaster and that "too busy" feeling. This is where balance has to be found. I don't want to ever feel so good about my seemingly hectic schedule that I take control of it! I don't ever want my schedule to have me. I want God to have me.

** I have also found busy people can make other people uncomfortable. They often want to label you as "too busy." When this happens, I just do a God to self check. I believe God has a supernatural way of expanding time and energy when we're about His business and not just our busyness! 

   

Lesson in Clean Up

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to do a little "clean up" with a few friends of mine. This wasn't a regular clean up job though. It was something God had laid on our hearts. The problem was we had procrastinated...
We had driven by this fence row a few times. We had all noticed the trash blowing freely in the fence, especially the big plastic pieces hung up in the barb wire. So we discussed it and knew, we had to clean it up! Well, we were all busy and several weeks went by before we got back around to that trash in the fence. The thing was, what had once been large pieces of plastic in the fence, had now been shredded by the wind into smaller pieces of plastic. The large pieces that would have been easy to remove were now slivers of plastic clinging for life to the fence. And, it was now not only in the fence, it was also in the trees and weeds close to the fence. Our clean up job was growing! So we set the date and got the fence row - and trees and weeds - cleaned up!
As we cleaned the fence row, it occurred to us how much this trash was like sin in our lives. How when we listen to the Holy Spirit the first time and remove the sin from our life, it is so much easier to remove. But, unfortunately, too often we don't listen the first time. We allow sin to remain and become a part of us, and it becomes so hard to remove. It gets a hold, even a stronghold in our lives. What makes it even worse, we're not the only ones our sin affects. Like the plastic that had shredded and blew into nearby trees and weeds, our sin has an effect on the lives of people around us.
As we finished cleaning up the fence line, we were all thankful for an amazing God who taught us a little lesson through our "hands on" experience.

The Fragrance of East Asia

  I recently had the privilege of going on a mission trip, really more like a journey, to East Asia. Though I have definitely physically returned, it may take quite awhile for my mind to process everything, and I am positive that a piece of my heart will always remain.
  There is so much I could write about - so many things that are impressed upon my heart, but right now, there is one thing that stands out above them all. The three cities we visited had something in common. Not the people, the high-rise apartment buildings, or even the roadside markets. Although each city shared these commonalities, the one thing that won't leave me alone are door-side incense shrines. These aromatic shrines could be found outside almost every business and apartment building doorway. Their fragrance filled the air each day, as they were methodically lit every morning for "good luck."
  At first I was just saddened at the fact that this is what people are placing their hope in. The fragrant smell started to become a little unpleasant as I thought about it. Their hope for each day rested in the burning of the incense? Then I found out, after visiting with some area students, many people aren't even burning the incense to a particular god; they are just burning it out of tradition and honor. It's a ritual, everyday habit. They do it because their parents did it, their grandparents did... They have no idea why they really do it, other than they must do it for good luck. They believe in it. It made my heart hurt.
  I cannot get these shrines out of my mind; I sometimes feel as if the scent is chasing me! I can't imagine waking up, lighting my incense, and then believing that my "luck," my hope for the day, was dependent upon how long or good the incense burned. But then a convicting question arose from my heart (from the Holy Spirit, I'm sure) - Are these people more dedicated to ritualistically lighting the incense every morning for a god that doesn't exist, than I am to the One, True God who is alive and does exist? That thought makes my heart break.
  I pray the incense shrines, along with the people of East Asia stay on my heart and mind...
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Obedience... Grrrrr!

Why is obedience so hard! When I tell my kids to do something, I expect them to do it. I don't count to five or even three, because that only gives them time to be disobedient; I expect them to do what I say, when I say. I also expect them to do what I have asked them to do - not their own way or halfway, but as I have stated (wow, I sound bossy). And God expects the same of me.
When he tells me what to do, He expects me to do it when He says it; but unfortunately I catch myself wanting Him to "count" and give me more time (and counting to five wouldn't be close to high enough). But His timing is perfect and I have to learn to fully trust in that (Prov 3:5-6). When He tells me to do something, it's because that is the time to do it. It's got nothing to do with how I feel or what I think. God has already went ahead of me and prepared everything - I need to trust Him. For me not to do what He says when He says demonstrates a lack of faith and is nothing less than disobedience.
For me to do things my way or halfway is also disobedience. So often I've said, "Well God, I did it!" And that's just it, I did it; it really had nothing to do with God because I changed what He told me to do. Even  just changing God's command a little takes glory from Him and brings it to us, which eventually always leads to disaster. God is the only One who can contain glory and the only One who deserves it, and when He is glorified, lives are truly changed.
We must be obedient in doing what He says, just as He's said, so only He receives glory;  Just thinking that my disobedience could cause someone to stumble or miss God completely is heartbreaking. What better way to demonstrate to my children about true obedience than for them to see me obey God daily - to see me obey God when it's not the easy thing to do. What better way for my friends, family, and co-workers to learn what God really means in my life? What better way to win the lost than to be obedient?

2 John 1:6 "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning that you should walk in it." 

Broken Glass

   I am so easily distracted! All it takes is a little noise, a bit of commotion, a flicker of light and my attention is drawn away. Let's put this in better perspective...

   I'm trying to do my quiet time and I hear a noise. When I go to check on the noise I realize that a glass has fallen off of the leaning tower of clean dishes I strategically stacked to dry the night before. I hurriedly clean up all the shards of glass and chunk the remaining pieces into the trash. As I scurry back to my room to finish my quiet time I glance towards the couch and realize that I didn't quite finish putting the laundry away last night. Since there's only a couple of piles, there's no time like the present! So off to the kid's bathroom - quietly because the sweeties are still sleeping and then off to my bathroom to put away the rest. Ok, broken glass clean up is done, laundry is put up and back to my quiet time, right!?  Well almost...  As I'm about to step out of the bathroom I catch a glimpse of the toilet. Staring at the toilet, I say softly to myself, "How does that happen? Didn't I just clean that yesterday?" There are really no answers; just grab the toilet brush and clean. So that's what I do. After I wash my hands I'm ready to sit down and read, but as I take my hurried steps towards my bed and begin to sit down, I realize that something isn't quite right.    As I look around I can see everywhere I have stepped throughout my bathroom, with my right foot anyway. I had been in such a hurry to get things done, I hadn't even realized that I had a piece of glass in my foot - glass from the kitchen - my first distraction of the morning.

   As I sat on the side of the tub cleaning up my foot, I was immediately reminded of Jesus' feet. How Mary sat at His feet and listened to His Word (Luke 10:39), despite the distractions going on around her. How I, that morning, had very much played the part of Martha, too busy with all the preparations - too distracted - missing out on Jesus - the King of Kings - My Redeemer. 

  I sat in awe of how Jesus could use this tiny piece of glass to break my heart - but I'm so thankful. There's no place I'd rather be than at His feet. 

   

Good or the Best

So Many Good Choices, so little time...

When it comes to choosing what one is going to do with their life, there are numerous choices. Not only are there a variety of things to choose from, but there are also a variety of good things to choose from.  There are choices that society looks at and deems as satisfactory and acceptable, and although these choices can be fulfilling, lately I've been questioning, is good what God wants for me?

It easy to look at some of the things I choose to do and justify them because they're good choices, but are these good choices what God would choose for me? Previous to a few months ago, I would have said that if it was good then it was God; and I still do believe that without God their is no good, but that does not make every good thing I do a "God-thing." It's not been until lately that I've even questioned whether or not I should be doing some of these good things. And why would I even question doing good things? Well...

I've started wondering if I'm somehow missing out on marvelous "God" moments - glimpses of who God really is, because I'm simply preoccupied doing something good.  Don't get me wrong, these good things aren't bad, it's just not what God has designed me to do. He's designed me to do the best, but I'm settling for good. And what is so complicated and tricky about settling for good is it's appearance - it looks great! When others see me doing this good thing, most think none the less; as a matter a fact, they may think highly of me for doing it, and even compliment me for doing so. I've found out, it doesn't take too much to make a good task look deceptively better than it is.

That deception is what I'm trying to clear out. I don't want to settle for good, and I think we settle too often because it's comfortable (I know I'm guilty). My desires and choices should always be about what God has designed me to be and it's always going to be the best! When I am doing the best I will see Him clearly and others will see evidence of God in my life. I could never ask for more!

1 Cor 6:12
2 Cor 5:17