The Rest.

     I love inside, background information.  I used to make my father sit in the car and finish listening to Paul Harvey tell "The Rest of the Story."  The sweat and tears that went into the creation of things I knew about, made those things more precious to me.  Out of this curiosity a love of archeology and history sprang up.  Recently I read a history called "Devil in the White City."

     I picked up the book because it was part of Lafayette's "One Great Read" initiative.  The goal is to get as many people in the city reading and talking about the same book.  The topic was odd.  It is about the Chicago's Columbus Exposition and World Fair.  But that is not ALL it is about.  During the World Fair, an inscrutable serial murderer moved in and out using the fair as a cover for the disappearances of his victims.  It was an odd juxtaposition of light and dark.
  
     The book was packed with stories that Paul Harvey would have told.  I loved the lush details behind the first Ferris wheel and Shredded Wheat.  My favorite part were the descriptions of the city built in a year by a team of 20,000 laborers and a board of architects.  When I read that the mayor ordered it burned down, I sobbed.  During the entire book I harbored a hope I could run to some unexplored part of the city and see it.  The author leaves us in suspense until the end.

     As a final note he says that one building still stands.  It was one of the smaller ones and one the city thought it could maintain.  During the fair we came to know it as the Fine Arts building.  Now we all know it as The Museum of Science and Industry.  I could easily recall the familiar halls and was staggered to know that it was one of the smaller buildings.  I can't imagine the immensity of the fair.

     This is what the Bible is to me.  It is jammed packed, chock-a-block filled with insider, background information on the person that means the world to me.  Every page rings with His coming, His love, His grace, and His hope.  He is my Savior and my God.  He is Jesus Christ.  If you look deeply and drink in the lush details, you see that God is a part of this book and He never disappoints.

Fierce

Driving through the countryside on a warm fall day

I notice the beauty raising up through creation

The crisp leaves in a swirl spice color

Children climbing on rocks

A gathering to encourage souls

The blessings of this life are full

Yet, my heart needs a change

I want my heart to be more like His

To break for those He loves

To love the way He does

I was not called to be timid in my walk with The Lord

But to have a fierce faith

Lord, help me to be fierce

 

Too Small?

Years ago I read an excellent book by Henry Blackaby titled Experiencing God. The point he made that had the most influence on me was that we often pray man-sized, rather than God-sized prayers. We figure out what seems feasible, and then ask God for it. God is able to do "far beyond all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). I was a principal of a Christian school when I read that book, and it challenged me to try to have a God-sized vision for that ministry and think beyond what seemed possible from a merely human vantage point.

The Lord brought this to my mind again several days ago as I was contemplating the transfer of our last frozen embryo. I found myself praying that the Lord would allow me to carry this little one for another 7-8 months. That of course would be a miracle in and of itself as the success rate at this clinic for frozen embryo transfers is about 20%, and that's when a woman transfers more than one embryo. I had mixed emotions about the whole process because I was assuming that if I became pregnant again, the pregnancy would be as difficult as my last one, and the thought of spending another 10 weeks in the hospital is downright terrifying. I also assumed that if the Lord gave us a fourth child, that baby would again be born prematurely and involve another multiple week stay in the NICU, which also has been very difficult for me in the past. As I was reminded of Ephesians 3:20 last Sunday, I have been praying with more boldness (Ephesians 3:12) and asking the Lord that He would enable me to have a much smoother pregnancy that doesn't involve lengthy hospitalizations or a stay in the NICU. God might choose to take this little one up to Heaven in the next several days, or He might choose to sustain us through another difficult pregnancy, but I am trying to confidently pray a God-sized prayer for this baby. Nothing is impossible with God! What about you? Are your prayers man-sized or God-sized? Ask God to give you a God-sized vision for your life and have the confidence to make your requests known to Him in prayer, even if those requests seem very improbable.

This Glorious Adventure

Tomorrow my husband and I will have been on our marriage journey for a whopping 20 months, and we have found our love growing deeper and sweeter every day.  We have had two family weddings in the last two weeks.  Being the hope-filled romantic that I am, I wanted to share with you the beautiful and powerful charge that my uncle gave to his daughter and her "hero" (my uncle's word) as he officiated their wedding:  

There is a passage in God's word that says... women submit to your husband ... it also says men love your wife as Christ loves the church and gives His life for it...
Man's charge is stated 4 x to love ... women's charge is 1 x to submit..
God knows we men get easily distracted from our first adventure thinking it will maintain itself... so seems He solidifies His charge by reminding us of our covenant commitment 4 x to 1 x.
God placed inside the core of a woman's heart the former glory of a reflective beauty. Instilled in her heart is a response system that, when activated and maintained, will grant passageways into the depths of joy, pleasure and satisfaction... in all aspects of life.

She is the beautiful bearer of life... the radiant recipient of love... She takes that received love and becomes a catalyst and the overflow of her heart produces the abundant life that we all so aggressively seek.
Her connection with the grace and beauty of God is astounding and glorious.

A wise man can see this as he gazes into the beautiful eyes of his lover and experiences the soft passionate kiss.
When he acquires this revelation he can then make a proclamation of covenant obligation that goes something like this;
"Only God holds the place of total fulfillment of your dreams, but I vow to the best of my ability to be used of God to help fulfill as many of those dreams as I possibly can and to remind you that your beauty will never tarnish in my eyes."

In the core of a man's heart, instilled by God Himself, is the former glory of a warrior, , a hero.. created to save the day, to rescue the beautiful damsel, to conquer the dragon, to find and live adventures, to maintain protection and prosperity within his kingdom.

A wise woman knows, as she observes the man's clumsy attempt at winning the heart of his beauty, the core drive of his search to be that hero to her.
When she acquires this revelation she can then make a proclamation of covenant obligation that goes something like this;

"Only God holds the place of total fulfillment of your masculine heart, but I vow to the best of my ability to be used of God to help remind you that you are the knight in shining armor to me. I vow to be your helper in your quest to walk out this glorious adventure we call life.

If one genuinely makes this declaration out of a selfless attitude, The response, ...when received, ... produces a trust and commitment that explodes into mutual submission, respect and then into magnanimous oneness of purpose.

Who wouldn't want to submit to a person who has their best interests at heart?

Hold each other accountable to these vows.

Listen to the Lord as He speaks softly when He reminds you that the adventure is just beginning and there will be new ones that will come along both challenging and rewarding. They are as close as your heart, as clear as your vision into the unseen and as powerful as your words.

Prayer, Praying, Just pray

Prayer; The act of speaking to another.

Praying; Speaking to another, as in conversation.

Just pray; speaking to, or with God. Not just when you are having a bad day.

Converse on a level of, this is who I am, the real me, take part in me God.

It's not like God doesn't know what we are thinking at all times, it's the intimate closeness that you can only have with your Father God that knows you better then you know yourself.

So pray with out ceasing. In other words, be with God in thought, don't let Him far from you, ever.

I am so gratefully that the, four foot thick vale, from the Holy of Hollies to the outer court, was ripped from top to bottom, into two pieces by God Himself, when Jesus died on the cross for us.

God said, now, come to Me and speak with Me, face to face, as your are.

Pray!

Over the Rainbow

 
  I attended my cousin's wedding this past weekend. It was set to take place outside in a field near her home. All week leading up to the wedding, the weather was gorgeous. However, as the wedding day started, it was pretty certain that the weather was going to be uncooperative.
  I debated whether I should drag the kids out in the rain for the event. I finally decided that she was going to get married regardless of who was there....and I wanted to be there. So with umbrella in hand, off we went.
  The wedding party lined up with their umbrellas, and then realized they had left the rings back at the house. The bride's dad (who was performing the ceremony) was soaking wet. When the bride finally came down the aisle dragging her dress through the mud, someone stepped on her headpiece and it came out. The ceremonial roses for the mothers of the bride and groom went missing, the sand ceremony was skipped (I'm still unsure what happened with that one), the flower girl cried, and the rings (now found) were tied so tightly to the pillow that it took quite some time to get them loose.
   Moments after the bride was kissed....the sun broke through the sky to display a beautiful double rainbow right over the wedding site. In spite of all of the obstacles, the wedding still took place. The end result still came about regardless of the surrounding circumstances. And it was beautiful!!!
   The bride posted on her facebook page the next day "You can't have a rainbow without a little rain".

Context

Take a good look at this picture and tell me what Bible story it came from or stories, if you wish.  A few years ago I would have said Noah and Daniel, but now I know they are Utnapishtim and Gilgamesh.  I've begun reading ancient (and medieval) literature, and I am relishing the much desired context it is providing my knowledge of the Bible.  In my early days my reading was severely censored, in some cases quite wisely, in others out of foolish fears.  In any case, the Bible was the only book I could read to exhaustion.  I have read it cover to cover twelve times, and the more popular bits many times more.  My permitted reading didn't provide much comparison/contrast.  I turned to Alice in Wonderland in desperation, but now I know the Bible wasn't a one of wonder.  It was born in contexts spanning centuries.  These stories and laws have close relatives in other ancient books.  I suppose my early shepherds were trying to preserve the Bible's uniqueness, but that is so unnecessary.  The Bible's uniqueness is so obvious.  There is more genuine mercy in a page of Leviticus than there is in the whole of The Code of Hammurabi, and I like The Code of Hammurabi, progress is progress.  Maybe a trip through the ancients isn't necessary for everyone, but everyone should be free to do so if they'd like.  Projects like that are how people grow, not the least in appreciation of the Word.

Lead On!

http://tau0.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/oklahoma_morning_road_hdr.jpg

God leads Invisible

But Clear as Crystal

The painful part is

What we need to let Go

To Leave Behind something

Even to part Company

With the familiar

To move Onward

Where You beckon

I cannot see the Future

Only the Promise

And I must realize

That Trust does not destroy Love

Those who we hold Dear

Can touch our hearts still

True friends make short work of Distance

And, looking into Your Eyes of Love Eternal

I can step Forward with Confidence

Not in me, not in others, not even in the destination,

But into the Neverending Circle of Your Arms

Wherever You Want

Is the place I need to be

And my trust is in You

Serendipity

     I love to have my friends over.  I love to plan parties. I remember when I was young and my parents would have people over for dinner and games.  We'd clean the whole house, plan menus, and wait in anticipation.

     When I became a family of my own, I couldn't wait to have my friends over and make fun plans, but it wouldn't seem to ever pan out.  The busy-ness of life would prevent them from coming or if they came, they were obviously worn and tired.

       Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of running out the door at the last minute with friends who had no plans.  Out of one text, we had a lovely adventure.  Pedicures and a picnic were the highlights of a day unplanned at first.

     It seems in this world of sports, meetings, jobs, and overtime, ninja  planning a free form afternoon when things work out at the last minute, is the best route.  Call your friends, throw food in a box, and go play.

    The world around us is best tackled with friends.

Tough to Transition

His name is Elijah.  He was born in the midst of one of the hottest summers I have ever experienced.  Shortly after 4:00 pm that day, Elijah experienced life for the very first time.  He drew his first breath...he was born.  He did fine for a while, though he did not cry as much as we would have liked him to, but as time went on he began to struggle.  He began by moaning occasionally, and at times his tummy would pump up and down while breathing, and by the time he was three hours old he was grunting loudly, and his stomach would push out and cave in with every breath he took.  It was a sad and alarming sight.  There he was, born completely healthy, and yet he was now struggling just to breath.  The nurses quickly took him to the nursery where he was placed in an oxygen dome where they could make sure he was getting the right level of oxygen that he needed.  You see in the womb, he was used to one way of breathing, however after his birth he had a tough time transitioning into the new way to take in a breath.  His respiratory rate was too high, and he was working too hard to keep himself going, and they were afraid he would just tire out...After several agonizing hours of not being able to even hold my little baby boy he was able to come off the oxygen gradually and began once again breathing on his own. While praying and asking God to show me something through  this difficult time, he reminded me of a friend of mine.  A new believer.  They had experienced a rebirth, drawn freely the breath of new life, and yet they were still struggling with some things that seemed so obviously against God's will to me.  They may have even known what to do, but not sure how or even why.  They needed a little more help,  some assistance in continuously living out God's will for their lives.  Someone to come along side and encourage, love and sometimes even explain.  This also is a tough transition.  I was also reminded of myself at this stage in my walk with God.  I had my old ways of living imbedded in me so deep, that I would easily revert back without even realizing it at times. This can also be a sad and alarming sight.  After a while it would even get hard to breath, knowing what I should do, but not knowing how to do it, or why I even should.  It is so important to take the time to walk along side one another and be that support system that we so often need.  To love one another and to be an encouragement and even saying to one another "It's time to cry out" .  To give the appropriate level of "oxygen"  so that we don't tire out.....and in time it will  gradually get easier to breath the breath of new life.

Just like Mary

When I think of the birth of Christ, I sometimes wonder what it was about Mary that caused the God of the universe to choose her to carry His Son in her womb. Gabriel referred to Mary as "highly favored." I learned recently that the Greek word translated "highly favored" in that verse is only used one other time in the New Testament - in Ephesians 1:6. In the verse "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved" the word "accepted" is the same Greek word translated "highly favored" in Luke 1:28. God's grace has made us highly favored in Christ. Just as Mary could rejoice because of God's favor, so can you and I. Mary was a very special woman, blessed to be the mother of Jesus. What made her special was something every believer shares - the incredible privilege of carrying Christ. Many times it is far easier for us to believe someone else, especially someone like the mother of Jesus, is highly favored, but the incredible truth is that in Christ we are all highly favored.

Wedding Days

Wedding days are always remembered when true love has been found.

~from the song, Wedding Days by Ben Pasley

Last weekend I was privileged to take part in the wedding celebration of my step-daughter, Bryana.  My husband baked the cupcakes for the cupcake towers and also made cream puff swans (I still wonder if there is anything he can't do!), and although it meant a lot of late nights and hard work, it was such a joy to be able to make the cake table look so elegant, and to see her expression when she saw it.  I also noted the love that my husband put into every detail as he created a work of art for his beloved daughter.  When we went to the wedding, I watched his face as he walked her down the aisle and how joyfully he embraced our new son-in-law.  He told me many times how he had prayed for each of his children's future spouses as they were growing up, and how it blesses him to know that each of them have found their perfect match.  How much more does our Father love us and want the absolute best for us?  Here is true love in its purest form. 

Heaven, Who Will Be There??

When I think of heaven, I think of streets of gold, sea of crystal, streaming light from everywhere, perfection in every way. When I hear someone being mean to another person, I think, will they be in heaven?

There are people of every race, tribe & nation in heaven.

God made us all and he doesn't care about financial status. He can change that at any moment.

God doesn't care about skin color. He made everyone the color they are.

God doesn’t care about social status. He placed each person in the area they are & gave them, or didn't give them, opportunities within their reach. God looks at the heart. Oh, if only all of us could do the same.

There would be no news about one person killing another. We wouldn’t have to wonder if it was race related or self defense. There would be no need for a trial that has the power to split our country in two.

No one would be bombing embassies, so no embassy officials would be on trial for negligence There would be no need for people in office to pick sides on the immigration issue. The haves & the have-nots would not be dealing with entitlement problems or jealousy issues. Those placed in office would be concerned about their fellow man & solving problems, rather then reelection.

I am so glad God is making me see others more & more through His eyes, rather than the worlds. It saddens me when people are harmful to their fellow man because of differences. If everyone were the same, this world would be utterly boring. Think of all the wonderful food we would miss, from each and every culture.

Oh my dear father. You who created all and everyone. Please give me your eyes to see others. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us all our daily bread (enough that we are not in want but not too much so we become haughty), and forgive us our wrong & wretched actions, and may You give us the desire & power to forgive others for the harmful things they have done against us. Please lead us away from temptation and deliver us from out of the traps of our enemy, who is evil incarnate. For everything is Your kingdom, and You only have all power, and may Your glory shine, for ever and ever, so be it.

Prognosis

   I have had some pretty in depth conversations with some friends over the past few weeks. The topic always seems to have come back around to our recognition of our imperfections and the expectations that we place on ourselves and on others. When we have experienced life events that have caused damage, we expect that we should be able to bounce back....unscathed...as if it never happened.
 
   I think about our physical bodies. I wonder what it would be like if we treated physical wounds the same as we treat soul wounds. True, there are some injuries that are superficial and may only be skin deep. These quickly heal in minimal time. Some of them don't even require a bandaid and are forgettable. But what about wounds that are deeper than the surface? That were more traumatic? That maybe damaged joints, muscles, organs, or bone?

  My husband had a severe accident nearly seven years ago. The damage was deep. He could have lost a limb. Surgeries, radiation, and physical therapy were performed to save his arm. However, based on the severity of his injuries, it would be ludicrous to expect that his body would not have some lingering effects.

  Even after his arm has healed...it functions differently than it did prior to the trauma. He recognizes this, adjusts, and accommodates for the limitations trying to function as best as he can. He rarely asks for help. What do we do when we see him falter??? We do not roll our eyes and sigh.  We do not point out the possibility that if he would have double checked his ladder maybe he wouldn't have brought this on himself. We move in to support. We do not remind him of what he used to be capable of. We assist him in achieving the highest level of functionality despite the disability.

  So why do we treat soul wounds and injuries differently? Why do we pretend as if they are all superficial and forgettable. Some wounds are deeper than the surface. Some were more traumatic. Some maybe damaged our faith, our trust, our sense of safety, our values, our relationships....

   I absolutely believe in the healing power of God. I have observed it. I have experienced it. I continue to experience it. I believe that God can miraculously resolve body and soul wounds. I also know that there can be complications. Variables. Changes in function. My hope is that I will be open to accept His healing to the degree that I am capable of....that I will recognize the root cause of any disfunction....that I will lean on His mercy during times when the ugliness surfaces....and that I will embrace the struggle as a part of my story.

  You see, if there was no struggle.....grace would be unnecessary.

You Don't Have To Be Catholic...

To appreciate Pope Francis' instructions for prayer.  I think I will be teaching this to my chlidren.  I love praying.  I've adopted numerous strategies, and I've learned from each one.  Prayer is a can't lose business.  Even if everything you asked for is denied, you still feel heard.  You still grow.  You are still acknowledging the only true source of help.  Never say no to prayer, even if all you can do is pray "Lord, help!"  Pray it.  He loves to hear from us and from our children.

Letting Go

Weary Child

Tired of the Struggle

Come to Me

I Will put My Arms around you

No one can touch you when I AM here

Let Me take over now

I CAN handle it all

You just rest close to Me

You don’t have to keep fighting any more

Give it up! To Me

And enjoy My Company

It’s going to be so much better than OK

And we will look back and laugh

Together, filled with Joy

Weary no more

My Child  Beloved

Rest

Mercy.

            There he was awkward and screaming.  He would not be silenced or shushed.  The crowd tried to go around but there was no stopping him once he heard that Jesus was walking by.  He screamed out all the more, “SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!”  How could Jesus not see, not hear the man? 

            Moved by his passion and persistence, Jesus called for the man.  Vaguely irritated and tired Jesus says, “What is it that you want?”  “Lord, let me recover my sight.  I’ve been blind for life.”  “Son, your faith has healed you, go recover your sight.”

            Then there was the time that Jesus was trying to have a quiet meal.  This unknown Gentile woman kept hassling Him about her son.  Would He please heal him?  “Woman, I have come for the Jews.  Would I take the meat out of the mouths of the family and give it to the dogs?”  “But, Lord, even the dogs get the scraps that fall from the table.”  “Such faith I have not seen in all of Israel.  Your faith has saved him.  Go in peace.”

            I love these stories.  The stories where it seems that Jesus is reluctant to do what is asked of him.  He had healed other Gentiles at this point.  Why did he answer her that way?  What was His reasoning and purpose?  I can only think that Jesus wants to meet us where we are.  He wants to help us, but first He wants to change our thinking. 

            I come crying out loudly of my needs, I come accepting of what is given out of His hand, I walk away changed forever.

I want to eat!

One of my sons  has had many struggles with eating over the past three years. Thanks to countless prayers, two years of weekly occupational therapy, and four weeks at a feeding clinic at Hershey Medical, he has made significant improvements. One of the things we have been working on with him lately is to finish a meal in a reasonable time frame. Left to his own devices, he will easily sit at the kitchen table for more than two hours before he finishes eating a small meal, even if it is something he likes to eat. Many times when I remind him that he needs to keep eating, he will loudly exclaim, "I want to eat!". Those words don't mean much to me because his actions don't support that assertion. Although his declarations seem almost ridiculous to me, if I am honest, I do the same thing in other situations. For example, I often set a goal of being more faithful in my daily Bible reading. I need to just do it! Nourishing my soul each day is just as important as feeding my body. I pray that some day my desire to read the Word will be so strong that going a day without spending time in the Bible would be as painful as going a day without eating any food.

"Every generation has its scars."

That's what I told someone this morning as we were remembering 9/11/2001.

Most adults living can remember where they were and what they did that fateful day.  Just as other generations remember the Challenger explosion, the fall of Saigon, the assassination of JFK or Martin Luther King, Jr., or the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  

How do we live with those scars?  

       This is my Father's world.  
 O let me ne'er forget 
 that though the wrong seems oft so strong, 
 God is the ruler yet.*

Often it is hard to see God in the mist of suffering, pain, injustice, worry, and other of life's scars.  Yet, the Psalmist calls us to remember that the LORD is our stronghold and our savior.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid? 
When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident. 
I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord   
 in the land of the living.**  

I can't explain why God allows scar-inducing events - both national and personal - to happen.  But I know that, even though the wrong seems so strong, our God - Father, Jesus,  Holy Spirit - is still with us.  And, hopefully, I - and you - will remain confident so that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

On this 9/11/13 we remember the scars inflicted.

But we also remember the God who calls us to trust him and to receive his grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, and healing through Jesus Christ.  

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.***

Amen.

* "This Is My Father's World" by Maltbie D. Babcock 

**Ps. 27:1-3, 13

*** Ps. 27:5

Lord Help!

Lord, help!
That is the most effective prayer I have ever prayed.
Now is one of the most busy times in my life. I am working between 10 and 13 & 1/2 hours a day, 4 days a week. I am trying to keep the lawn trimmed, because my husband can no longer endure much physical labor. He has two torn shoulders and something that does not belong in his back on an MRI. I am trying to keep the dog washed, house & dishes clean. Thankfully, my husband can help with the house work & homework.
Our daughter is growing up so fast and I feel like I am missing it. I can't wait till my co-worker is back from her hip surgery. I can then, go back to my 2 days and a few hours of at home billing, work week, yay! I am simply too busy to even pray long prayers. So, now is when I am praying, that most effective prayer.
Lord Help!

Storm Chasers

 

Life for me lately has been a bit of a whirlwind. OK...really it has been more like a category 5 hurricane followed by a massive flood. I say hurricane because this particular storm is a slow moving one. It builds up momentum way out in the distance and then moves in with the relentless power to destroy everything around you. Finally, there is a calm. But then you realize that it is just the eye of the storm moving over you, and you pray as you brace yourself for the grand finale.
  In the midst of my storm there have been moments of reprieve.... moments of peace.... moments of laughter.....glimpses of hope. However, when the winds pick up again I find myself running around trying to regain a sense of control....a feeling of stability...a reason to sing. And even though I may attempt to keep everything bundled up in a nice package with a pretty bow, in reality it is more like trying to lasso a tornado.
  When we give our lives over to Christ we automatically think that He will simply dispel the storm and rescue us from having to deal with the aftermath. What I have come to discover in my own life is that sometimes the storm has a greater purpose than destruction. Maybe, just maybe the storm is intended to change the landscape for the better.

Stairway to God

When I was young I had a list of names for my kids and big plans for how I'd raise them.  All the media I'd been exposed to in my TV free life painted a powerful picture of how the family of faith would relate to God and to each other.  Kurt and I would share Jesus all day long in every way possible.  The kids would learn instant, unquestioning obedience.  The whole world would be amazed at our little ducklings devotedly following us around in their matching outfits I had sewn myself.  There is one electron microscopically small problem.  No one in our family had follower DNA--not me, not Kurt, not one of my kids.  Even the one girl who will do what's she's told has her, let's call them "spunky" moments, that's how we know she's ours.

I've felt like a failure since I pulled Mea out of her infant tub and she pulled a fit I was powerless to still.  My kids aren't bad kids.  They are very good kids, but they think for themselves.  As embarrassing as it is some days, I wouldn't have it any other way.  How are they supposed to find God if they are continually satisfied with me?

Treasures among the Rubble

Image from: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5342216142_945e5cf416.jpg

When a mountain in your life comes crashing down

And once the dust settles, you open your eyes,

Still there, still Standing,

Amazed at the Catastrophe,

At the invisible wall between you and Disaster Inside

Look around!  Rubble is more than it seems

It can contain Hope, Relief, and over in that crumbled mess,

A clear glint of Clarity sparkles among the waste

Truth is not stripped away,

Love says, “It’s going to be ok.”

Joy comes back, regardless of life’s falling stones as it flies

It may look as if your world is ruined

But if your life is built on the Rock,

He will not be moved

And takes the fragile pieces of our shattered lives from the wasteland

To make something New, something Better

For He is the Expert Craftsman,

Turning broken dreams into a Priceless New Future

To Him, we are Treasures among the Rubble