Spring?

The birds are singing outside my window and it is raining instead of snowing. Spring is here! I hope. Ernie Banks got his long overdue statue at Wrigley and the Cubs are playing ball. It is a very good day. I had a long conversation with a friend of mine today about wanting to be perfect. He is caught up in wanting to be perfect for God and is forgetting that Jesus is the perfect one. We are to aim for perfection, but we also need to realize that we will not achieve it on earth. It is not a free pass to be a slacker. It is, however, a promise full of hope. I am listening to the Cubs play and Ernie is talking- what a man. He too has always been full of hope. He is a gracious man, and so humble. He is amazing. I can't wait to get to Wrigley and see the statue. I digress. I pray that my friend can be content in his brokenness and can see the beauty of what God has made in him. I pray that everyone can see God knows what He is doing, and that we have to stop pretending to be something we are not and let the potential that is in us out. We are like spring- there is beauty within and in the right time, we will burst forth and share our beauty with all those around us.

A whole lot of calling

I wonder sometimes what would happen if people followed their true calling. I mean all people. I am sure that there are people in the world who are doing what they were created to do, but I also know that there are many people who are just plodding along trying to get through each day without too much defeat. Maybe it is just overwhelming to do what we are called to do. Maybe we are doing what we are called to do but we have trouble seeing it as a calling. Maybe we just need to look at specifics instead of the general picture. There are those who are called to teach, to serve, to research, to heal, to nurture, to study, to disseminate information. Perhaps we need to remember that the sum of our parts is equal to the whole, and that is what makes us Holy. People spend a lot of time doing good things throughout the day and although they may seem insignificant on their own, when added together, a difference is being made. Stay at home moms are a perfect example. When you look at one day and the things that occur, it may not seem all that great. Wiping noses, washing dishes, playing Candyland over and over, doing laundry, driving kids here, there, and everywhere, recess duty, computer duty, lunch-room duty, art mom, cooking mom, bringing forgotten items to school so the field trip can be attended, the saxophone can be played, the test can be signed- all those things seem so insignificant in the grand scheme of life. Can one truly be called to do that? Not very glamorous. However- when you look deeper and really consider it a calling, then you are doing those things, but you are also instilling confidence (they know you will be there for anything), you are giving tangible evidence of love (you spend your time where they are instead of elsewhere), you are building relationships with your children, you are serving, you are setting examples, you are giving something that is much bigger than yourself. That is Holy. Obviously, I am biased toward stay at home moms since I am one, but I also fall into the trap that what I am doing is not important. It is so much more than being a mom. I am in the business of building disciples. Not just my own children, but all the children I come into contact with every day I spend at school. I don't often really take the time to consider that my calling. Here I am doing exactly what I always wanted to do, and I am taking it for granted. I am plodding along instead of greeting each day with praise and adoration for what God has done for me. He placed me in my sweet spot and I am letting it sour. Each day we fail to see the blessings God has placed in front of us, we are missing an opportunity to pour out thanksgivings to our Saviour for what He has done and for what He will do through us. Can you imagine the kind of world we could have if we all realized what our calling is and then lived it? Talk about Heaven on Earth!! I am blessed that I at least believe I know what my calling is. It has been placed in front of me- I just have to take it and run with it. Are you following your calling? If so- are you jumping for joy that you know what it is? If not- what are you going to do today to get a step closer to it? God tells us through His word that his plans for us are to prosper. If we are not prospering, then we need to take a close look at what we are getting wrong in our daily life. We need to ask for wisdom and discernment so we can find our calling. For once we do that, we can't help but prosper. We can all make a difference in this world; we were all created for something much bigger than we have planned for ourselves. Our dreams are so limited. It is such an amazing thing that our Creator is limitless and He is waiting for us to follow His call on our lives- follow it fully with joy and thanksgiving. When we follow our calling, that is when we truly start living. Do you hear Him? He is calling.....

Easter

This is an amazing day. I love Easter. I love the joy of the songs, the readings, the message, all of it. It is a day of hope and redemption and a fresh start. Normally it is a bright spring day with the flowers beginning to bloom, and we are surrounded with new life all around. Even the 8 inches of snow we received friday can't hamper the joy and feeling of new life. Jesus has given it all to us. We need for nothing. Our lives here on earth may be frustrating, agonizing, even downright dreary, but we can still be filled with hope. We have the greatest gift- we have life beyond this earth. I love that my kids aren't afraid to yell out HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLEUIA!! all day long. Now we just need to take this joy and excitement and hope and realize that we have it every day. yes, today is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, but the gift is given each and every day. There is not one day that goes by where we do not have the hope of Christ. The price he willingly paid on the cross covers it all- every bad thing, every foul mood, every injustice. It has all been paid for by the blood of Jesus. Every day is filled with hope. Every day is amazing. Every day here is a day closer to Heaven. ALLEUIA!!!

Blah

I am exhausted. Just simply tired and not sure if it will ever get better. I wonder why life gets so overwhelming and busy. I firmly believe that God wants us to enjoy life and showers us with blessing upon blessing. I think that life gets so busy that we don't see the blessing. I know that I bring it on myself, but it is a frustrating circle nonetheless. I have so much to be thankful for, and so much support and encouragement in my life. I still feel like I am floundering and there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. I know I am not alone in those feelings, but I wonder why so many people feel this way and yet we do nothing to change it. Life is all about relationships, yet the focus is often on things and activities. I was trying to think of ways to simplify and make life less stressful and I realized that with 4 children, it is just going to be a full life. There are 6 schedules in our house. 6 different sets of likes, dislikes, interests, hobbies, etc.. Even with one activity per person we would be doing something 6 times a week. God does have a sense of humor. I know that one of these decades when I finally give up control I will get the answer to my question. I will know how to live a life that is full of important relationships and not so many things on a "to do" list. I am waiting for that day and excited to see how God is going to bring me there. I know I can't do it myself- I have been trying that for far too long and not doing so well at it. I am just wondering how long I will continue to fight God and go to bed exhausted every night. I am waiting for the energy that submitting to Him brings. I know what I want to do- I just can't seem to let go of the reins and let the one who created me take over. One of these days.....