Friday, November 30, 2007

Days like these!

There are days that I wake up with a song in my heart and it is as if the angels were singing over me, kind of like the cartoons. I can almost feel God smiling down upon me. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. I know those days are going to be good no matter what because God loves me.

And then there are those days (like today) that I wake up and want to just crawl back into bed. Nothing bad has happened, it is just blah. The alarm clock is incredibly oppressive. The sky is overcast. The boys are complaining that they don't want to go to school. Summer has woke up crying. But I drag myself up out of bed and hug my boys and tell them to have a good day at school.

What is really amazing to me is that God is still smiling down upon me even on days like these. His love doesn't wane with the circumstances of the clouds. These days are still going to be good no matter what because God is with me always.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Striking the Ground!

"Take the arrows...Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times." (2 Kings 13:18-19). These words have really made me think. He could have received more of God's blessing if he had struck the ground more. How often do we limit God because we are not willing to ask him for more. He wants to bless us in abundance but yet we don't ask him. I do not want to limit him in any way in my life, yet I do.

This idea blows me away. Oh how we limit the power that God has given us. We tend to cower when crises come our way( James 1). We would rather fear evil than stand up to it Romans 16:18-20). When will we understand the limitless power of our God. He has given us the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and we have tied it on a shoestring hanging around our neck. Use it!!!!!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Adopting Summer

I have not been able to write because I have been preparing for our celebration in the adoption of our daughter. I can not tell you the joy I have felt for the past week. We officially adopted her yesterday November 17, 2007. She is ours and no one can take her away from us!

As we went to the ceremony there was a caravan of cars that included my parents, Robbie's parents and his brother's family. I was reminded of the scripture that says the angels in heaven rejoice when one person accepts Jesus. If our joy is only a whisper of the joy of heaven, then Heaven's joy is overwhelming!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

God's Version

"We cannot earn what we have always had. What we can do is trust that what God keeps insisting is true about us is actually true." This quote is from Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. I read it this morning and it captured me. There are a lot of things that God says about his people in the bible. He says that we are loved, forgiven, sons and daughters of the King, and I could go on and on about all of these fabulous thngs. Then, why is it we choose to believe all of the negative things about us. "Our choice becomes this: We can trust his retelling of the story, or we can trust our telling of the story. It is a choice we make every day about the reality we are going to live in." I want my children to live in the reality of God's love, so I know that God wants the same for me. We tend to focus our energy on the negative instead of basking in the absolute beauty of His love for us. What good comes out of not accepting his love? What good do we gain from not accepting the grace in abundance that He so gently offers to us? Today I will believe what God is saying about his people.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Grateful Choices

I think there are a lot of churched people who have a problem with this whole paradise thing. They would say something about "This not being our true home" or "This is a fallen world we live in". But God has really been working on me about how truly blessed we are in America. Like many people, I here this said and it really doesn't sink in. I become so immune to this American lifestyle and litany of complaints that I am not fully aware of the beauty we live in.

Well, God showed me something this week that has made an impact. I watched a movie titled "Born in the Brothels". It is about the children of the "sex workers" in Calcutta, India. These children are scorned by society because of who they are. They are byproducts of their parents industry. And more than likely will end up in the same occupation. And yet they have hope that they will escape the sex trade.

So today I am grateful that my biggest choice will be what to buy at the grocery store. Instead of, should I sell my eleven year old daughter to the brothel in order to feed my family.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Seasons Change

Well it happened. It happens every year about this time. And every year I am surprised when it does. We woke up yesterday morning and it was cold outside. Now when I say cold I am saying cold from the perspective of a Florida native. It was cold enough that my children had to wear a jacket. I now there are plenty of you who are laughing at me because I really don't know what cold is (especially those of you from Philadelphia!!) I really do not like the cold weather (that is why I live in Florida!) Of course when my children come home from school it will be around 75 degrees. I am already looking forward to April!!!

Friday, November 2, 2007

Mother Guilt

Last week my youngest son Riley, 6, complained of a toothache. I dutifully scheduled an appointment that afternoon. When we got there I was horrified to find out how many cavities he had. I am not telling how many he had because then you would know what a horrible mom I am. He also had to have the tooth extracted. Unfortunately this is not the worst part of the story. When he went to bed that night he put it under the pillow for the tooth fairy. When he awoke the next morning he brought the tooth to me!!!! Yes, I had forgotten to do the quick exchange while he was sleeping. I explained to him that the tooth fairy was probably very busy and she would come by tonight. Unfortunately this is not the worst part of the story. I am sad to say that this same scenario played out the next morning... and the next morning... and, yes, the next morning. Until finally on the FIFTH day I told him. "I called the tooth fairy and she told me to give you this $5 and I will just take the tooth from you." I can not believe I failed him! I am sure he doesn't believe in the tooth fairy which makes it worse. He might be OK if a mythological creature forgot about him, but his own mother!!!! He would be better off if he did believe in the tooth fairy. Yes, Robbie and I are already saving up for our children's therapy!! I just hope we have enough!!!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

"Welcome to Paradise" Part II

My title blog was a bit sentimental. And my title is a bit of tongue in cheek as well. Because I understand that Hurricanes hit Paradise also. I am not that sappy, but I am still incredibly grateful.