My favorite birthday greeting =)

"If you believe that each of us was designed by God for a specific reason, then you know there's no such thing as an ordinary person. So happy birthday, extraordinary person.

Don't ever forget how truly unique, how essential, how important you are. I know I won't."

I am learning that it is ok to be me, that it is good to be me... with all my passion (thanks RF) and craziness and drama and failings (thanks JT).

I want to live with this view of others as well. This is how I want to live my life, by considering others as truly unique, essential, important... extraordinary. And the really challenging part?? Intentionally remembering that this is true of my children and husband as well.

God, please help me to intentionally love my children, especially when they are struggling to make good choices, and especially I am weary with parenting. And thank you for making me... me.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

My secret New Year's Resolutions

I just read a suggestion to not share your resolutions... because sometimes people only share them to feel like they are doing something.... but then never do them. So, most of mine will remain a secret this year... maybe I will reveal them to you at the end of the year??? Who knows!!!

I have been reading some fantastic books, and i wanted to share a few quotes to inspire you today!!

From Nehemiah: a great way to start each morning!!

"...stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you."

From my new favorite book: Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

"If you don't love somebody, it gets annoying when they tell you what to do or what to feel. When you love them you get pleasure from their pleasure, and it makes it easy to serve. I didn't love God because I didn't know God."

Also... he tells a beautiful story on p. 33-34... maybe i will post it tomorrow.

And finally... from Harry Potter Book 2 (I know this is an unusual combination... =) )

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

oh... one more... along the theme of choices, from Blue Like Jazz

"I believe the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time."

A challenge for us all: How are you using your time... how are you choosing to use your time?

Happy New Year!!!!

God Hears

I heard three sad stories yesterday... I don't know what to do about it. How do I still live and enjoy my life with such pain present... touching me. I am glad I am here, glad to have provided a listening and sympathetic ear. Yet I go home, interact with my children... in my happy life where my biggest struggle is my children not doing their homework, cleaning their room, or trying to keep my house clean and my family fed. I think about their stories... the neglect in her childhood that haunts and touches her present, the irresponsible biological mom she must share a step child with, the judgmental and non supportive husband she tries to love.... and I once again claim faith. A faith that God alone can heal these wounds, and faith that my prayers and theirs will touch the heart of God... that God hears... and loves.

"And God heard their groaning,

and God remembered his covenant ...

God saw the people of Israel—and God knew."

Exodus 2:24 & 25

A reason to celebrate!!

Happy Birthday Anna!!

It is my precious daughter's birthday. My daughter who is impulsive and creative and fills my heart with joy!!

Thank you Lord, for this precious gift!!

Psalm 26-32: what inspires me

Here they are, I can't keep them to myself!!

"O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

and the place where your glory dwells."

26:8

"One thing I have asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple."

27:4

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him."

28:7

"Ascribe to the Lord,

O heavenly beings,

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

29:1-2

"O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me."

30:2

"Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God."

31:5

"I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,'

and you forgave the impurity of my sin."

32:5

I am amazed and awed just by going back through and writing these words. Wow!! God is so full of love, and I am in such need of His forgiveness.

Thank you, My Lord and Savior. You truly have saved me.

I love this book!!

The Jesus I Never Knew

Phillip Yancy

"A political movement by nature draws lines, makes distinctions, pronounces judgment; in contrast, Jesus' love cuts across lines, transcends distinctions, and dispenses grace. Regardless of the merits of a given issue--whether a pro-life lobby out of the Right or a peace-and justice lobby out of the Left--political movements risk pulling onto themselves the mantle of power that smothers love. From Jesus I learn that, whatever activism I get involved in, it must not drive out love and humility, or otherwise I betray the kingdom of heaven."

"If a century from now all that historians can say about evangelicals of the 1990s is that they stood for family values, then we will have failed the mission Jesus gave us to accomplish; to communicate God's reconciling love to sinners."

"A society that welcomes people of all races and social classes, that is characterized by love and not polarization, that cares most for its weakest members, that stands for justice and righteousness in a world enamored with selfishness and decadence, a society in which members compete for the privilege of serving one another--this is what Jesus meant by the kingdom of God."

Beautiful!!!

A brief intermission from the Psalms...

I blinked, and now it is May!!! Yikes!!! My son is 7, my daughter is just 2 months away from being 9... did you read that?? 9!!! How did that happen?? I am not old enough, or wise enough, to have a 9 year old. God please help me!!!

I know this is not Psalms, but please read and meditate on this verse our pastor shared yesterday.

Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with his love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Isn't that beautiful?? God wasn't talking to perfect people either, these are the Israelites. The ones who sin over and over and over again.

Our pastor challenged us to think about how God views us... do we think of God as taking great delight in us? Do we think of God as rejoicing over us??

He gave his son for us... to save us... knowing what sinners we all are. That is how valuable God considers us.

Know that you are cherished and loved today by a Great and Mighty God!!!