Sixty

A couple weekends ago I went to Ohio for my dad's 60th birthday party. It was so great because of everyone that came to celebrate with him. My immediate family, my mom's brother, sister and spouses, and all of my dads siblings and their spouses, were there. What was so cute about my dad was that he really seemed moved for a birthday that "he didn't want us to make a big fuss about". It was so fun to watch him get to enjoy just being with everyone and spending time with them. All of his sisters and brother went around and told something they remembered about my dad when he was growing up. That was one of the sweetest moments I remember about the night because those are stories that we don't get to hear as his kids. We have memories of him as our dad, but to hear other people talk about the fun stuff he did growing up was very meaningful to me. It occurred to me that he was more than just my dad. He was a brother, son, friend and husband. He is so many things to so many people.

My dad works very hard, and way too much. I used to get mad about this (and sometimes still do) because I think his life has become his job a little too much. What I do admire about my dad doing this is that he is extremely responsible for what he has to do. He takes pride in doing a good job and does it well. He was raised to work and take care of his family and that is what he does. My dad is an amazing man and I can only hope to have a husband like him one day. I don't remember my dad talking too much, and that is probably because he had a house of full of five women. It is hard to get a word in when you have that many females together. But the older I get the more I respect my dad and what he has to say. We don't talk too often, but when we do we have great conversations and I cherish them. I love talking to him about life and of course, when was the last time I checked my oil.

There are two times I remember that I wish I would have listened to my dad. Both times were regarding someone I was dating. One was in High School when I was absolutely dating the wrong person, and dad told me he didn't like me dating him (boy, I wish I would have listened) and the second was someone I was dating a couple years ago. He was the only one who said he thought he wasn't the right person for me. Looking back, I know why he said it but at the time I thought no way...he was so wrong about it. So much hurt would have been avoided if I would have listened to him. Dad says these things because he loves me. He wants to protect me and lead me in the right direction. God is our heavenly father and my dad is my earthly father, but how powerful is the resemblence between the two.

I was thinking about this as I drove back from Ohio and wondered how often do we do that to God? How many times have you or I had that gentle nudging from the Holy Spirit and ignored it because we wanted to do what we wanted to do? God wants us to listen to Him and seek His wisdom everyday. We are all God's children and He loves us unconditionally. He will lead us if we rely on Him completely no matter what we are going through. Go to God with your request and trust in Him. Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Curves

One of the first things I noticed about Nashville is that people can not drive around curves. On my way to work in the morning, I drive up 65 and it usually begins around Exit 71. The first big curve comes and everyone basically comes to a stop before going around it. Then they speed up to go staight for a little bit...then stop again around the next curve. Then...you guessed it...at the next exit there is a "s" curve and guess what...they slow almost to a stop to drive around it too, but speed up to go straight in between them. It drives me crazy because if everyone would take their time, pay attention and coast around it, traffic would flow much smoother.

Last week I was thinking about this odd phenominum when I began thinking that this is a lot like life. When a curve in life comes, people get upset and almost slow to a stop causing multiple accidents to occur before getting through it and speeding up to get out of it, only to come upon another curve. So, what do you do when life throws you a curve? Do you worry that you won't get through it or do you rely on God to get you through it? Do you move in and out of the lanes trying to get out of it and avoid the problems that could happen, or do you stay in your lane knowing that you are going to come to the end of the curve? Whatever comes your way in life you need to rely on our Savior to get you through it. You need to know that God can take the curves and no matter what happens, He is going to drive you through it.

Shining Light

There was a song that I used to sing when I was little that was called This Little Light of Mine. We sang it with hand motions and it went: This little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine. The "light" that is shining is Jesus. It is a light you see through people's eyes when they love Jesus and belong to Him.

I had the honor to see this light through someone that I didn't know for very long. His name was Jody and he was 31 years old. He was someone that when you talked to him you could not help but see the light of Jesus in his eyes. He was always smiling and it was contagious. I met him for the first time last year as a new Rep in my office. He walked into my office and we had a conversation about God and the amazing things God was doing in his life and with his family. He talked about how blessed he was by having his wife and child and you could see the love of God through him. Even though he is from Alabama, I didn't hold that against him.... He wasn't there for very long, but I will never forget the love he had for God. The light that shown in his eyes. Soon after he started with us, he found out that he had stage 4 lung cancer. It obviously shocked everyone, including him. Through out the last year I saw him a few times, and each time he was the same. Completely positive, still talking about his love for God, and his eyes were still shining. With everything he was facing, he still allowed the light to shine through him.
Yesterday, the battle ended and Jody went home to be with the Lord.

What I will remember most about him is the light that shown in his eyes. The love he had for God. When you look back on your life will people say that you had a love for God that shined through you? Will you remember that life is too short and you should live it for God to the fullest? Allow God's light to shine through you to show his love to everyone you see.

Still Here Waiting

How is it that you can get far away from the Lord? I believe it begins with closing the line of communication. Like all relationships, if you aren't talking to a person, then you aren't going to have a close relationship with them. Same thing with God. If you stop seeking Him, then your relationship will suffer. You get busy with life, friends, work etc...and you are so busy that you don't have time to spend reading God's word or praying.

I was thinking about that tonight during my walk, when a song by Todd Agnew came on my iPod called Still Here Waiting. This song struck me in a powerful way and it reminded me that no matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, He is always there. I can't say that I had ever really listened to the words, but these are the lyrics.

It's cold outside / Or is that just the chill I feel inside from standing here / Steeping in my shame
I can't deny / I'm surrounded by the very thing You freed me from / That's why I can't come home

I don't know where I turned around / From chasing what I always found completed me / More than I could dream / I don't know why I can't remain / Safe here where I always came to meet with you / And You always met with me / And You're still here waiting

I fail to see / Why You'd still be waiting to forgive me / After all that I have done / But I cannot say / That one time I returned and You had turned away / Your love never fails

I don't know where I turned around / From chasing what I always found completed me / More than I could dream / I don't know why I can't remain / Safe here where I always came to meet with you / And You always met with me / And You're still here waiting

You say, "Come home" and You'll be there / I can run into Your arms

I don't know where I turned around / From chasing what I always found completed me / More than I could dream / I don't know why I can't remain / Safe here where I always came to meet with you / And You always met with me / And You're still here waiting

Satan is so coniving and will sneak into your life and slowly begin to pull you away from God. I know the last couple months I was struggling with that. But even when you think you are so far from Him you can't hear Him anymore...God is always right where He has always been. Waiting for you. He is the rock that never fails or moves. He does not leave us or forsake us. He is waiting for you to run into His arms with whatever it is you are facing and allow Him to take care of you. There is nothing too big for God to handle and He will always be waiting with open arms.

Give It All

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I know I have not written anything in a long time, but those of you that are close to me know that I have not had the time! Today however, I have been struck with the awesome wonder of God. I had to pause for a second (eventhough you didn't know I stopped typing), and it actually just happened again! God never ceases to amaze me with His grace. On Sunday I was praying for God to heal my heart and honestly praised Him for the trial I was dealing with. I thanked Him for taking me through the hard time because I knew He was going to teach me through it. This is when the process started. There was a phone call...then patience...another call...more patience...emails...more and more patience...then God's peace took over this morning.

What happened was I have been struggling with something that has been eating away at me for a while. When I say struggling, I don't mean the kind of struggling that is just a nagging feeling...I mean the type of struggling that you can't stop thinking of the problem, you struggle to go to sleep, you struggle not to say anything to the problem that is the cause of your struggle, and the type that you think of a million ways to "fix" the problem so you can stop struggling... So this morning after my quiet time I was praying and my thoughts began to wonder to the "struggle" I was dealing with and a million differect scenarios of how it could play out. Then I got so annoyed at myself for thinking about it and it occurred to me that I had not given it to God. So right then I said God, I am putting this in your hands to deal with and I know that You are going to take care of it. I am giving this to you. I didn't know how He was going to resolve it, but it was resolved for me this morning by one simple phone call. I laughed afterwards and thanked God for just being amazing and always taking care of me even when I am at my worst.

We never know what God is up to and it is so hard to give up control and just wait for what He has for us. It is against my nature to give things up like that. The important thing is to remember that God always has your best interest at heart. He will always love you and teach you through your struggles. Let Him take care of it for you even if it is scary to let go and praise Him for allowing you to go through what you are. What He will teach you if you allow Him will grow you spiritually and God will use that to bring glory to Him.

A Servant Heart

John 13:1 - It was just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. [vs. 3] - Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him [vs. 12] ...Do you understand what I have done for you?...You call me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater that his master nor is a messenger greater that the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I am in the process of looking for a new church to attend, and if you have ever attempted this, it is not an easy task. It is like looking for a new family to be a part of. Today I went to a church that I really enjoyed. They are a very service oriented church and that is what I loved about it. Giving and serving others is one of the most rewarding things you can do. My mom taught me about giving to others when I was growing up. I am sure she did this a lot, but when you are in high school, sometimes you don't pay attention to everything your mom says. I don't remember exactly the whole situation but I did not want to give a gift to someone. I don't remember why or the context of the situation, but I do remember my mom saying to me there is nothing more rewarding than giving to others even when you get nothing in return. She said it so matter of fact. So, I had a choice. I could give with a pure heart with no intentions, or give in expectation of something. If you give and expect something in return, then the spirit of giving is about you and you won't get any reward from it. I remember giving my gift and I did it with the intention of not getting anything in return. It was incredible.

Having a heart of service is where God is going to bless you the most. Put others and their needs before you own and serve with a servants heart. Jesus did and we should follow His example. Jesus, knowing that He was about to be taken and hung to die on a cross, stopped to wash the feet of his disciples. Can you imagine having Jesus wash your feet? He didn't have to do this. He could have spent the last moments in other ways, but he chose to be an example of a servant to the disciples. Think about the people you encounter everyday. Is there a way you can serve them and show Christ's love to them? Allowing God to use you will make a difference in your life and theirs.

Completion

I find it very funny when people first meet someone and find out they are not married. It is like the judgement has already been passed and they are quickly trying to figure out what is wrong with you as to why you are not married. Being single, I run into this often. I have also had people say to me "I just can't figure out why you aren't married...You are the complete package and an amazing person so I can't figure out why someone hasn't 'snatched' you up already"..... Well, first of all I don't know about being 'snatched'. Sounds to me like you are being taken against your will, but you get the point.

Last week I went to a new church and for the most part it was just like my old one, except I didn't know everyone. Since it was Father's Day, the pastor was talking about what the bible had to say about marriage, men and what a man values as a husband. It was a good sermon, and I am not one to get worked up about sermons like that because I need those if I ever do get married. Well, in the sermon, he made a statistics comment about how there are more single women in the US than there are married women. Saying that there are less and less women getting married, and more and more women that are 'single again'. This honestly had nothing to do with what he was preaching about, and of course there were no statistics given on how many men were single or married (or why they won't commit, or stay committed). It was only about the women. After church I began thinking about this comment and it honesly flew all over me. I usually don't think too much about the comments people make because it is usually out of ignorance, or just simply now knowing what to say. He was saying it like it was our fault that we are not getting married. Well, I have a few words about that. I am an independent woman but still old fashioned in some things. I will not ask a man out on a date. I was not raised that way, and I don't think God intends it that way. I am not out on the prowl trying to find someone who finally completes me.

Don't get me wrong because I would love to be married if it was God's will for me at this time. God created us for one another and not to be alone. So of course it is my nature to want to have a husband. But, my life is not defined by a man. Being married does not all of a sudden make me more of a woman. Period. Whether I am married or single, I belong to God alone. My life is lead by Him and if one day God allows me to meet someone and start a family, my life will still belong to God. My desire is to serve God and if He wants me to do that alone or with a husband, then I leave that up to Him. God is the only one who completes me. I do believe that the man is the head of the household and should be the spiritual leader, and one day God will send me a husband who will lead me spiritually as well and that will be the foundation of our realtionship. Now, this was a hard thing for me to learn. In prior relationships my life revolved around the man I was dating. I would put God on the back burner because I was too busy doing other things in the relationships I was in. Until one day I realized that when those relationships ended, God was the only one who was there for me. I had to hit rock bottom and the only thing I had to cling to was God. God is using me where I am now and will continue to use me for His will. I will continue to pray for my husband that God brings him to me in His time and we will serve God together. So, this week, if you are single, be content where God has you. If you are married, cherish your spouse and tell them you love them every time you talk to them. Life is short and every moment counts.