.....God is.

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body."  Psalm 139:15

It was a fear that someone would mistake her for a normal child and take her while I ran into the convenience store to pay for gas.  She was such a pretty little girl.  Then they would find out later that she was unable to understand or do anything.  She wouldn't understand what was happening.  What would they do with her?

It is a fear that she would stay in a place that did not give her enough attention.  She would just lay.  She would not understand why or what was happening.  She wouldn't know why she is alone, not standing, not going for a walk with the dog or going for a ride in her van.  What would she be feeling and thinking?

How do we battle these fears that threaten to overtake us as we care for our children?

The answer is found in peace...a peace that passes understanding.  He will guard our hearts and minds from fear so we can have this special kind of peace.  He can see and know all.  The dark is as light to Him.  He will care for every detail about them. 

This knowing helps us to not become overwhelmed with worry.  We can be safe, alert and provide as much protection as humanly possible.  However, we must come to an end and God must start.  To allow Him to be in ultimate control is our goal.

The innocent cannot fight for themselves, they cannot protect themselves, they cannot speak for themselves.  The thought of harm and evil hurting them is more than we can bear at times.  They are totally at the mercy of the One who loves them more than we will ever be able to.

God is the one who knew them when they were formed in the depths of the earth.  Where is that?  This is more than we can comprehend.  We must trust in His power to create, control and know everything.

How can we even think that we are their only hope and help?  How can we even think that their life depends on our provision and abilities as a parent?

He formed them before we knew they were.  He knew the plans He has for them before we knew of their coming.  They belong to Him.

He is the maker, protector and Father.  We must work to turn them over to Him daily.  Do your best to do all that God tells you to do as a parent, then let God care for His child.  He saw their unformed body and knew all their days before one of them came to be.  They belong to Him.

We must humble ourselves and internalize the truths of Him who created life.  We need to let go of that which was never really ours, our children.

Trust Him; He is a mighty Father to the weakest as well as to the strongest. 

Wherever they are....God is.



Hands In Our Lives

As I sat at the Christmas Ladies Banquet, I looked around the room at the many
women there. I had a thought about all of the hands I could see in that room.

The devotion was on 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter.  The speaker explained
that cooking a beautiful meal made you only a cook, not a homemaker, without love.
That creating beautiful matching Christmas decorations in your home makes you only
a decorator, not a wife, without love. That buying and wrapping presents to give to
your children makes you only a gift giver, not a mom, without love.

Each woman sitting at the tables has a heart full of love.  That love is given to all those
in her life, her family, her church, her community and her country.

It is said, "The hand that rocks the craddle rules the world."
I say, " The hand that works in love gives joy and strength to the world."

As I thought about this I prayed, "Jesus, pour your Spirit into the hearts of these women
so that they might touch lives with your love in their hands."

How you depend on women, Lord!  To comfort a broken heart or to help in times of need.
You know the strong passion a woman can have to stand up for those she loves.
You know how a woman would work to exhaustion to help the loved one who is sick.
And you know that sometimes only their hands can give the inspiration to live.

These hands I see have been through so much.  Some have seen more sorrow then
any could bear.  Some are working now in situations they don't know how long
they can endure.  Yet, some young hands don't know what the future holds.

You, Lord, know that the tired, old hands that I see have strength beyond
what they might lift.
             
             Strength to endure, to persevere, to see beauty in ashes.  They touch others
             with that strength and love; they lead others onward to the prize; they give
             out the power that Jesus pours down.

He counts on these hands.   These hands that belong to grandmas, mothers, aunts,
sisters and daughters.  These hands are your vessels to do the work only they can do.

May each pair of hands hear the heart as it listens to your gentle Spirit giving:
                                                                                                            
                            WISDOM, GUIDANCE, HOPE AND LOVE

May these hands be your hands to show
                                                                      your strength,
                                                                                                your joy and
                                                                                                                   your love.

Paving the Way

A kitchen that had dirt coming in at the window.
A potbelly stove that needed wood and ashes emptied.
An extra person living in your house with a bedroom wall that needed care.

Grandma cooked three meals a day with no running water or electricity.
The indoor work was not all, there were calves that wanted milk and
chickens that wanted fed.

No e-mail, cell phone, television, or web to relax and be entertained by.

This was her way of life.

As my life became hard in different ways I drew strength from her example of
perseverance.  I would think of how she lived with little material wealth or comfort.
And I thought, so can I.

She paved the way to a simple life.

She supported her husband as shown in God's word to be the helpmate that she should.
She could wait to have things done or fixed.  Her marriage meant more than screen doors.
Family was priority, making meals and giving care.  People were important.
To show a smile and listen to their cares.

An unselfish and joyful attitude was how she chose to go about her day.
Visiting at her house was so nice.  She served you food and rubbed your toes.

She paved the way to see, to know and to live out the value of family.

She paved the way by living with few material needs but still having a heart full of joy.

She paved the way by building up those she spoke to and making each one know their importance.

How she lived her life paved the way for me...
                                                                             to know it can be done.
                                                                             to know that it is a valuable life to live.
                                                                             to know how important laughing can be.
AND
                  to know that worth, acceptance and security can all be rolled up in one
                  approving, smiling face of love.
                                      

Eternal Value

The clutter...what means anything of sentemental value to her?
The stuffed bear wearing a stethescope and jacket from the hospital.
The Christmas gift from years past that sits on the shelf.

We struggle with what to keep to remember.
Does Sarah remember things?

She remembers a voice of kindness, a voice she has heard many times before.
She remembers a song and instument that she enjoys.
She remembers a gesture given in love or play.

But does she remember the bracelet given to her or the special toy brought from far away?
Does she value worldly things that we value, things that we can't seem to do without.

Moving "stuff" from one end of the house to the other year after year.
Some is given away, some thrown away but alot is kept to remember.

How much time do we spend on "stuff"?
Did I enjoy that "stuff" or has it become a burden?
What ties me to it now?  Memories of the past?

Each day new memories are made.
Each day allows valuable time to be spent in valuable ways.

If somethng is taking away my time from a relationship...
If something is causing me to be irritable and tired...
If something is draining the "good" I have inside...

Is it necessary? Is it needed? Why do I keep the "stuff"?

What thing do I have, what thing do I do that has eternal value.

What will make a difference when my life is done, when the new order of things has come?



Isaiah 65: 17-18
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will
create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.

Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."