Sunrise, Sunset

From the rising of the sun...

... to the going down of the same...

...the Lord's name is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3

Returning from a Journey

Light of the full moon

reflected off the tops of clouds

creates a sea of silver mist

And I sail across this ocean

of floating water far above terra

hardly knowing up from down

I'm somewhere between adventure and home

wishing they would collide

This journey has taken me

from the inner depths of canyons

to the heights of planet's orb

from the dryness of a parched soul

to the saturation of grace overflowing

It has left me in awe of Creator Savior

and I have found rest

The Orange Dish

"I want some dry cereal for breakfast while I watch some cartoons," Max said.

As usual I went to the closet to get the orange bowl for him. I was about to pour the cereal when I heard his voice calling out from the living room, "I want the orange bowl, Mom!"

For a second I was a little annoyed. The same thing happens every morning. If he eats cereal, he wants the orange bowl. If he eats eggs, he wants the orange plate. In my mind I thought, "Why doesn't he get that I know what he wants. He doesn't have to ask for the orange dish. I already know he wants it."

As soon as I thought the words "I already know," my mind went to Jesus' words.

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." (Mt. 6:30-32)

I don't think Jesus is saying that we shouldn't ask. I think he is saying don't frantically try to acquire what we need (even want). Don't worry about it. We don't have to try to remind God. God knows.

And instead of God being annoyed with me asking him over and over again for the things we need, he gently reminds me that he loves me so much more than the birds and the flowers. (I know for a fact that the birds are well taken care of because they are becoming rather plump in my back yard as they eat seeds and fallen pecans.)

Just like I know Max desires the orange dish, God often provides what I need even before I ask him for it. He is a good parent.

I don't know what you need today.

But don't forget:

God knows.

Silent Tears

This Saturday, Max's soccer game was canceled because of weather. We did not find out this was the case until we arrived at the soccer field and it was deserted. We explained to Max what was going on, and he did not understand why a thunderstorm in the morning is reason to cancel the best sport ever. I can't blame him because it wasn't raining anymore. It was also very clear that he was very disappointed. He became quiet after that and after about 5 minutes Joey and I looked in the backseat to see our dear Max with huge, hot and silent tears streaming down his face.

Today I received an email saying that the school I was potentially going to be teaching at, did not receive the grant it needed to offer the class I was probably going to teach. It feels like I have huge hot silent tears streaming down my heart. This job seemed ideal. It would have been in the evenings, it would have paid well, and it would have been a nice outlet for me. With Joey's job situation the way it is, an extra income would have been very helpful.

So now we are back to square one. I am disappointed, but there has been something I have learned during this economic recession. And that is, God is God regardless of the economy. I have seen God provide over and above for us in the last few months.

Ann Voskamp (blogger at aholyexperience.com) said not too long ago, that instead of worrying we should wonder at how God is going to provide.

The teaching job did not work out. So now I wonder what God has in store for us.

I'll let you know.



(Btw, the baby seen in the picture is William and the cry was not silent.)

The Rainbow Promise

The first thing Noah did was to thank God for rescuing them, just as he had promised.
And the first thing God did was make another promise. "I won't ever destroy the world again."
And like a warrior who puts away his bow and arrow at the end of a great battle, God said, "See, I have hung my bow in the clouds."
And there, in the clouds - just where the storm meets the sun - was a beautiful bow made of light.
It was a new beginning in God's world. It wasn't long before everything went wrong again but God wasn't surprised, he knew this would happen. That's why, before the beginning of time, he had another plan - a better plan. A plan not to destroy the world, but to rescue it - a plan to one day send his own Son, the Rescuer.
God's strong anger against hate and sadness and death would come down once more - but not on his people, or his world. No, God's war bow was not pointing down at his people.
It was pointing up, into the heart of Heaven.

(taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones)


It stormed this evening, and Max found the rainbow pictured above outside our front door. This is the first one he has discovered on his own. He was really excited.

3-year-old Max at the Beach

kung fu

learning to body surf.


is it just me, or is max just a really cool kid?

Grateful

This morning I am grateful for a new day.
Yesterday was not a good day. Parenting was difficult. I didn't feel good. The weather was weird. An egg was dropped on the kitchen floor. The boys fought. Laundry mounted. Joey had to work late. It was a rough day.
Yet in the end of that hard day, God gave a beautiful sunset that set the sky on fire. Endless shades of oranges, pinks, purples and blues illuminated the sky. Thinking back on it, it seems like God was saying, "See, even in the midst of hard day, I give beauty."
So here I am at the dawn of a new day, with the chance to see beauty in what seems like might be another hard day. But I know that grace will be new again today just as surely as the sun came up again this morning. I hope I take time to see it, receive it, and love through it.
Open my eyes, Lord!
Amen.