No Dead Ends With God!

photo credit: aopsan

Have you ever looked ahead and seen nothing but darkness, a bend in the road, or an obstacle across the path? Or, even worse, have you looked ahead and seen a brick wall, or a drop off straight into an abyss? Have you ever thought that there was simply no way to go forward and you may as well just sit down now and give up?

I have. More times than I want to count I have felt that horrible sense of hopelessness and simply wanted to quit. Most people have had these times at some point in their life, some more than others. 

But I'm so glad that God doesn't leave me in the place. Instead, as I choose to continue to walk forward with Him he shines His light into that darkness so that I can see which step to take next. He straightens the bends and removes the obstacles. And, when there was simply no way forward, when there seems to be a complete dead end and no way to turn around, He makes a way. The God Who created the universe and everything in it from nothing is completely capable of making a way forward where there was none before. Where there is no hope, no solution, no answers, He makes them when we trust in Him. He never fails us.

I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6

Isn't it amazing to walk with Him?

photo credit: twobee

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He Saw Jesus

It was a fairly typical weekday lunch time. The kids and I sat at the kitchen table eating and talking. The bird feeder just beyond the kitchen window was busy with a variety of birds and we were enjoying watching them and talking about the different kinds of birds we saw. Suddenly, in the middle of a sentence  Michael interrupted himself. "I saw Jesus!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining. Of course we all looked in the direction he was looking, but saw nothing unusual.  "Where?" one of the other kids asked, puzzled. "Oh He went up to Heaven" he replied casually as if seeing Jesus in our yard on His way to Heaven was an every day occurrence. He then went on with the previous conversation as if he had never changed the subject. The rest of us had a little trouble switching back so quickly, but within a few minutes the announcement seemed forgotten.

But I didn't forget quite so easily. In fact it was on my mind all day and I wondered what the meaning of this was or if there was any meaning to it. Was it just an overactive imagination? Did He really see something? Why didn't I get to see it? When I looked out the window I didn't see anything out the ordinary. And, while I don't have any solid answers to any of these questions it did lead me on some interesting paths of thought.

Michael has been very curious recently about where exactly Jesus is. "Where is Jesus?" is a question he has asked often. "Is He in Heaven?" I answer that yes, He is in Heaven, but He's also all around us and when we love Him He lives in our hearts as well. At this point he will sometimes look down toward his chest and say "Jesus, are You in there?" or "I love Jesus" One night after he had gone to bed I heard him talking to himself and peaked at him to see him and patting his arms, his legs, his stomach and saying "Jesus is in in here, and in here, and in here." Another time, while he was eating I heard him say "Jesus is in me, I'm feeding Jesus." And while this is cute and sweet and makes me smile indulgently I  realize that there is something I am learning from it as well. 

Because he is teaching me what it's like to truly seek to know and understand Jesus and to find Him and live in His Presence. While his is a very childlike searching, it is also a very real quest for him. And I believe that quest is being honored in his young life in ways that he sees and understands even if I don't. In Mark 10:14-15 Jesus  said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Jesus loved, and still loves the heart that searches for him with childlike faith, whether in a child or an adult. This is how I want to seek Him today and every day.

And I have to say I find it very comforting to think of Jesus walking through my yard on His way to Heaven. 

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So Glad to Go the House of the Lord

I rejoiced with those who said to me,

"Let us go to the house of the Lord."

Psalm 122:1

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

It is a beautiful thing to be able to go to the house of the Lord and worship Him with others. 

Not because everyone there is perfect. They're not. And if they were that would change the minute I walked in the door. 

Not because that is the only place God is. No, He can be found anywhere we seek Him. 

Not because those four walls make up the church. No, the church is made up of His people, whether inside a church building or not.

Not because the church I attend is the only church sharing truth and God's love. No, there are churches all across this country (and the world) that are doing the same.

Simply because it is a wonderful privilege to be able to come together and encourage each other in our worship of Him Who brings us all together with His love. It is an encouragement to hear the praises lifted to Him by those around us, knowing they too live in the day to day world each day and yet He is faithful to them as well as to us. It is a privilege to be able to encourage someone else through prayer, through praise, through sharing His Word, and to be encouraged ourselves through the same. 

Yes, I am glad this morning that I have the blessing of going to the house of the Lord.

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This Is the Day!

photo credit: Marcus

There's beauty in the morning routine. Sometimes I have to look for it. Eyes still longing for the sleep, remembering the warmth of the covers and the hazy dream lurking at the edges of my consciousness, I want to curl back under the covers and return to dream land.

But there is beauty here in this moment. Lighting a scented candle,  drinking a cup of the coffee brewed by my husband who was up and out before me, spending a few minutes in the Word - my anchor for the day. I open the curtains to greet the day, hear bird song. Start the tea for teenagers about to wake up. Open the chicken coop and laugh at their silly antics as the hens run out to see what treats I may have brought them this morning. Little feet hit the floor and pitter patter down the stairs, more little feet come through the door to spend the day with us.Baby smiles with a side of drool. Cereal bowls, banana peels, spilled juice, giggles and squeals. 

The day has begun and it's going to be a good one!

This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

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Resting

I slip out the door, barefoot, coffee cup in hand. It's nearly 9PM and still warm outside. There are a lot of things I should do but I'm craving a few minutes just to sit and think.  So I've slipped away while no one was looking to one of my favorite spots - the front porch with it's comfy chairs for moments when I need to press pause. I breath deep and feel myself relax a little. I imagine God smiled when He blessed me with this front porch with it's view of the mountains I love so much. 

I'm thinking of a few somewhat random things I've read today.

This facebook status from Walking Redeemed is on my mind.

There is a reason mothers often get to the end of the day and feel like they've accomplished nothing they had planned to do. It's because they spent the entire day accomplishing what everybody else *needed* them to. So sometimes our greatest accomplishments happen when we simply put down the to-do list!

And  I keep thinking about a passage from a book I'm reading with Austin and Amanda - The Gate of Heaven by Gilbert Morris . The story is set in Bible times and in this passage Jacob and Rachel are talking about the promises God made to Jacob as well as Rachel's desire for a child.

Rachel looked up at him. "Do you doubt the Lord?"

"No" Jacob said firmly. "But I know His time is not like ours. I don't think time concerns Him at all."

"How can that be?"

"I don't know" Jacob shrugged. "I don't think there ever was any beginning, and there never will be any end. But you and I and all humans, we're caught in time - like someone caught in a river. Yesterday is gone. We're sitting in the middle of today. Tomorrow may come if we live. We can't think any other way, but I don't believe the Almighty is like that. He just always is."

And finally I find my mind lingering again on this quote.

Think the thoughts you would think if you trusted God's promises completely. ~ Tommy Newberry

And I'm not sure how or why but I find my mind beginning to quiet. It's been a day filled with little ones, and work that needs to done, food to prepare, too many temper tantrums, the mom taxi to run, tears for Oklahoma, hugs and cuddles, lots of prayers, so many questions. 

I don't have all the answers. 

But I have the One Who does and that is where I am resting.

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