Lessons learned...

Don't you love it when God teaches the whole family a lesson? Not the "shame on you" kind but the look how big I AM kind? It is so humbling and so sweet to watch. Especially when one of your children are the source of the lesson that blesses all.

We just recently got a front row seat to watch God go before us. And we all were reminded once again that God's ways are not our ways. That He will fight for us. That He can and will work all things together for good. And that what the enemy means for evil, He can turn to good. Those rich truths you can quote to your children but are best lived through experience.

We have several "God lessons" with our older two that we remind them of still. We use those moments to keep us in check as a family and to remind us of the power of praying first. Two of the most powerful lessons learned involved their adults of influence in their lives. Adults in charge but not necessarily of the same mind set as their family. In both situations the line of teaching your children respect and a work ethic were blurred with the lesson of adults aren't always right in their choices and actions. It is a very hard line to navigate with young children. Both times we chose to pray with each daughter and together as a family, and simply ask God what to do. We chose to let our girls use their voice instead of us fighting for them. Both times we were blown away by how God went before them and fought the battle for them. God actually brought one of the adults, a teacher, into our home and into my Bible Study. Week after week, one daughter got to watch her teacher discover the sweetness of the God who had fought the battle for her. This teacher that everyone loved to talk about and "hate". We watched this teacher that only lasted 1 year in the school learn an eternity of lessons. It was a priceless lesson for us all.

Recently we helped one daughter understand that perception can't always be controlled. How others perceive a situation may cause you to be judged or blamed. Sometimes only God knows the truth. But again, as we prayed over the situation and gave our daughter the tools she needed, God showed up. He went before her and smoothed the path. We watched her gain confidence in who we knew she was. We watched as a mentor helped her find her voice. As a young girl under her influence actually apologized for part of the situation. And as the adults in charge recognized and affirmed the efforts made by our sweet girl. Nothing earth shattering to anyone else, but life changing for us as we watched God work. And another story of God's goodness to add to the list.

We all have stories of how and when God shows up in our lives. Share them with your children. Discover them as a family. Give God the glory and remind yourselves of them often. Your family "history" is full of "His story". Don't let the lessons go unnoticed. Jesus taught in parables and stories. As parents, we can do the same. Share the stories. Share the grace. Share the lessons learned...

"Humble yourselves, therefore, 

under God's mighty hand, 

that He may lift you up in due time. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him 

because He cares for you." 

1 Peter 5:6-7

Because I can...

I scooted out of here yesterday at 2:30. I came rushing back in at 9:30 this morning. I made a quick trip to love on the married one. She called. I rearranged. And then I went.

Someone asked me why I was driving all that way just for a few hours. I answered before I realized it. I said, "Because I can." As I drove those now familiar roads, I thought about my answer. I am in a time and season of my life that for now I can go when I want to. I still had to rearrange the schedule and provide for the little one, but we are all in a season of life that allows for these last minute decisions.

As I thought about all of that as I drove, I called my wonderful husband. I said thank you for being a large part of why I can. Because of decisions and provisions made through the years by him, I can. Because of sacrifices by him to allow me to have a relationship with my daughter, she actually made that phone call. The one that asked. The one that I answered with I can.

As I pulled into her driveway, I received a phone call from my sweet son-in-law. He did not know that I was in his driveway. He called for another reason. But I got the chance to share with him too. I said thank you for loving my daughter so well. For providing for her and for caring for her. He thanked me for being there when he wasn't. I explained to him that the blessing was all mine. All girls need their moms throughout life. Whether mom is actually able to be there or not, there are times in every girls' life that she just needs her mom. And this time I was there. Because I can.

It won't always be this easy. I can't possibly be everywhere that my girls need or want me. But for today I can. And I am thankful. And grateful. And blessed. I sat in that driveway waiting for my daughter to arrive home from work and I thanked Jesus. For the blessings of being a mom. For the Grace given me through the years with all the wrong decisions made. The hurtful words spoken. The failures and the flaws. It is only through His mercy and forgiveness that I can be a mom. That I survived this long with my relationships with my daughters in tact. I didn't do a lot of it right or even well but because of Jesus, I can rest in the blessings. Because of Jesus, I can.

For I can do everything through Christ, 

who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13

Hands On...

We are working on a big book at work. It is for an organization that serves people. And families. We have printed it for years. And with all the technology out there, nothing can finish the job short of "hands on" collating. There are lots of options but there is no way to actually produce the final product without each book being touched by human hands and finished.

Now believe me, I have whined enough to know that there is no other option than to work book by book, tab by tab until the job is finished. Hands on. Each book. No exceptions. As I stood over the large task today, I started thinking... what if Jesus had whined about the "hands on" task at hand?

Instead, He became flesh and walked among us. Us. The sinners of the world that had no hope short of a "hands on" job. Hands that turned the water into wine. Hands that healed the lame. Hands that brushed the eyes of the blind and gave them sight. Hands that touched the leper when no one else would. Hands that drew a line in the sand. Hands that held the little children. Hands that lifted Peter from the water. Hands that washed the feet of His followers. Hands that carried His own cross.

Those Hands had options. But He chose to touch each life. Hands on. No exceptions. Every life given the choice of eternal life. Each life's experiences being filtered through the loving hands of the Father. Outstretched hands pierced for our transgressions. Hands touched by a doubter in His resurrected state. Reaching through walls to comfort His disciples. 

Those Hands can still lift your chin to see His face. They can still wrap around you in Peace that passes all understanding. They can comfort and they can protect. Reach out and grab hold... you are a "Hands on" job in progress...

Then he said to Thomas, 

“Put your finger here; see my hands. 

Reach out your hand and put it into my side. 

Stop doubting and believe.” 

 John 20:27

Listen...

Finally! My word for the year is... Listen. I have been praying all week about it. Thinking about it for the last few weeks. Yesterday I thought that I had heard that word but just wasn't sure. But that is what kept coming to my mind. LISTEN.

So, yesterday as I was talking with a friend about seasons and change and prayer, it just hit me. The answer to the questions we were asking was to listen. To listen to Him. To listen to those around us. To listen to our husbands. To listen to our children. To listen to our friends. Really listen. But to learn to distinguish between the voices. Those of the world and that still small one.

I was alone in our church auditorium for a little while yesterday morning. The only sound was the audio of the Bible being read continuously. The reading was from Deuteronomy, chapters 3 and 4. As I sat and listened to the words being read, I realized that over and over God was giving specific instructions. Go into this land. Don't go in to that land. Possess these people. Don't possess those people. On and on it goes as He instructs Moses about particular routes and enemies.

Hearing the inspired Word of God read out loud and in entire chapters and books is powerful. At first I just filtered the noise into the silence of the room. Not really listening to what was being read. Then the words began to come into focus. These few chapters are written in the first person. Moses is saying, "then God spoke to me". And the details of the journey are specific. There are direct instructions and specific tasks. God says do it this way.

Over and over again, the Word talked about taking on their enemies. And over and over again, the Lord assured them that He would give the enemies over to them if they obeyed His commands. At the end of Chapter 3, Moses is telling Joshua: "You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.".

What better words of wisdom could you bestow to others? To your children. To encourage your spouse. To minister to your friends. They were God's words spoken through Moses to Joshua. Sharing experience with knowledge to the next generation. Moses listened to God. Joshua listened to Moses. The people listened to them both. The children listened to the fathers. Moses was very clear with God's command to: "Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

If we aren't listening, how do we know what to teach? Where to go? What to do? How to love or to help or to serve? How do we share wisdom with our children and our families if we are not listening and learning? So that is what I am going to do this year... Listen.

God's Word is alive and active and able. He still speaks. We just need to learn to listen. Care to join me?

"Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!

Hear, O earth, the words that I say!

Let my teaching fall on you like rain;

let my speech settle like dew.

Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,

like gentle showers on young plants.

Deuteronomy 32:1-2 NLT

Immeasurably More...

The house is quiet this morning. The newlyweds packed up the dog and their stuff on Monday. They headed back to their home. The middle one headed off to Passion 2013 with her best friend from high school to spend 4 days of worship and the word. And the little one left early for school this morning to start a new semester.

I spent last night and this morning at our church for Watch Week. It is a time of 24/7 prayer. I met with some sweet ladies both times that are a part of my Bible Studies. Such a sweet time of prayer for and with my sisters in Christ. We laughed and we prayed and we shared stories. There is something so healing about a time of pure transparency before the Lord with our friends. Good for the soul.

I had an opportunity to pray for each of my children during this time too. There is a mission grid on one of the walls with the names of those serving here and abroad. As I was looking over the wall, I was caught off guard by my sweet daughter's new name! And I got to read the notes left for them there. And then I got to pray for my daughter and my son-in-law's ministry and marriage. It overwhelmed me.

Then I moved to a station where you prayed for someone and then lit a candle representing your prayer and the person. As I prayed for the middle one and all the other students who are hearing from God this week in downtown Atlanta, God reminded me of His hand on her life. I lit the candle and watched the flame. The flame flickered and blew to the side several times. I thought it was going to go out but then it just stood straight up and shined brightly against the darkness of the room. God whispered in my ear: "Nothing can extinguish the flame that I lit." My heart was blessed and overwhelmed.

This morning some of the sweet ladies that I was praying with not only attend my Bible Study but they are leaders in our student ministry. They prayed for the little one. They prayed for her heart. For her leadership. For protection. For her witness and her testimony. They covered her with a sweet aroma and lifted her to the Throne Room of Grace. Again. Overwhelmed.

One of the themes at Passion this week is that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or even imagine. And He can. It is in His Word and it is a promise. And today I choose to let that promise seek in to my very being as a mother. He will do immeasurably more in their lives than I can even put words to or imagine in my own finite mind. Jesus loves them. This I know. For the Bible tells me so. And I am still overwhelmed...

Now to him who is able to do 

immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us... 

Ephesians 3:20

He Sees You...

I was dog sitting the week between Christmas and New Year's. I have an adorable "grand-dog" named Jolene. She is tiny and she followed me everywhere I went in the house. Just like a toddler, she demanded attention. I found myself looking at her constantly and saying "I see you!". She seemed to respond to the fact that I looked at her and acknowledged that she was there.

After she left, I started thinking about how often I said that phrase to her. I see you. Do I say that enough to my girls? To my husband? To my friends? Do I say to them: "I see that you are struggling" or "I see what a great job you did with that" or "I see your effort and your heart"?

We all have that human need to be acknowledged. That wife that needs her husband to really see her. That boy that needs his parents to acknowledge him. That teenage girl that needs her father to love her so that she doesn't beg for that attention from a boy. That mother that needs her children to appreciate her.

Jesus really saw people. He told Zacchaeus: "I see you! Come down and take me to your house.". He told the woman at the well: "I see you and your sins. But I love you and forgive you so go and sin no more." He told Peter: "I see your zeal and your passion but I know that you will deny me. Never the less, I will build my church on you.". He told the thief hanging on the cross next to him: "I see your heart and today I will see you in heaven".

El Roi. The Hebrew word for "the God who sees me". Jesus sees you... believe that today. Know that He sees you and your heart and your struggles and your pain. He sees you! And He knows. Rest in that today, sweet friends.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 

“You are the God who sees me,” 

for she said, 

“I have now seen the One who sees me.” 

 Genesis 16:13