My Princess

This is my daughter.  My sweet girl. My first child - the oldest.

This girl brings joy everywhere she goes.  She laughs easily and encourages others to laugh.  She is so capable - able to learn and willing to try scary things.  She's expressive and talented.  I am so proud of her.  I'm proud to be her mom. It is an absolute privilege to have raised her!

She also has something I will never have.
This is her friend.

I have friends - a few absolutely great ones to be sure! But these two have been friends since they were babies - literally.  I sometimes wonder if my girl was even out of diapers when they had their first sleepover.  They understand one another.  They give each other the benefit of the doubt. It's like they have this silent understanding that they will always be friends with one another, no matter what.

I praise God for such a precious gift.  I pray that God will give her friends who love Him and that they will help each other stand for what is right.  Even Clark Kent had Lois Lane to encourage him - then there's Daniel; he had his gaggle of friends - and Naomi had Ruth.  It's a great truth that a strand of three chords is not easily broken. - and this is my heart's desire for all my kids.  Not only that, but that my children will be that kind of friend to someone else.  That they would be the one others can turn to in crisis, spiritual or otherwise.  That their voices would be the voice of reason, peace and integrity.  to have that! ~> There is a special gift!!

We are better people because this girl has entered our lives.  God is good to me and I love her with all my heart!!

Prayer

I heard a wonderful commentary on prayer today.  It was actually a sobering realization - that perhaps the American church is rather lukewarm - that perhaps we don't really believe that God can or will do what He says He can and will do.  I've always noticed that mid-week prayer meetings were some of the most poorly attended services at church, and many churches, including my own, do not have regular, organized prayer times any more.

But if we believe that prayer is our wonderful privilege and right as a child of God, what could keep us from Him?!  Charles Spurgeon said in his book Morning by Morning,  "Prayer is the struggling speech of the believing infant, the war cry of the fighting believer, and the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in the arms of Jesus. It is the breath, the password, the comfort, the strength, and the privilege of a Christian."
Isn't that beautiful? You know, many times, our situations are not changed by our petition. But at the same time and just as equally often, our situations are changed and wonderfully so! Prayer is actually about God, and every time we pray, we have the opportunity to see God move on our behalf and for His glory.  It's amazing!

This year, 2013, the Moody Church has started a prayer blog to direct purposeful prayer, in unity. It's called "Pray with Me".  Here is the link: http://www.moodychurch.org/news/category/pray-with-me/.

What would this world, this country, this community ... my home ... look like if we prayed together? prayed in unity? prayed with understanding?

I mentioned hearing a great sermon at the top of this blog post.  It was Erwin Lutzer speaking at last year's Founder's Week at Moody.  The theme for that week was "the Hope Within Us". Dr. Lutzer's message is specifically entitled "Jesus at the Door".  In the sermon he purports that the church of Laodecia was self-deceived. In verse 17 of chapter 3, God says they are "not realizing", which Lutzer says means they were "blind to their true reality". Jesus says, you "know not that you are wretched and beggarly and ... blind".  He concludes that Jesus' perception of the church is totally different than ours.  Take a little time to listen to this sermon.  Wouldn't it be horrible if Christ said of our church that He feels squeezed out of our church and is on the outside knocking? Oh! no!! let's be humble and sincere. Let's return to our first love.  Here is the link to January 30 Today in the Word: http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_programtoday.aspx?id=35654

New Bone

I love this commercial.  The first time I saw it - I thought it was the sweetest thing I'd seen.  And then I thought this dog has it right ~ this is exactly how I am supposed to behave.  How I'm supposed to look after my fellow man.




Isn't that great?! Admit it - you shed a tear, didn't you! Brought a smile to your lips? It gave you an "awwww" at the very least...


We say at my church "faith that unleashes love will change the world." Works with this commercial, right? (it's a pun; get it???) ~ but honestly, I've always struggled with the word "unleash".  I'm a connotation person.  "To unleash" connotes a bad thing ~ unleash the lions / unleash the bad girl / unleash the can of whoop (does that even work? ... well, you get the idea)  I think that's why the phrase has FINALLY started to resonate with me.  It is completely contrary to what we think.  Let love loose ~ let go of the reins ~ it's chomping at the bit...
My family has always said "be kind to everyone because everyone's having a hard time".  It's true that if we give people the benefit of the doubt - the proverbial "turn the other cheek" - that sort of kindness flies in the face of modern society.  We are too worried about our personal rights being trampled - I mean, that lady just crossed into my lane and cut me off! she didn't even use her blinker! how could she!!
But Jesus was right when he said "love your neighbor as yourself" and I hope that's how we are found ~ that we would love others as Christ loved us.
Oh my goodness! And there is the key - a reflection ~> to reflect Christ's love.  This is the only way.  We could not love like this without His love showered on us first.  That His love and mercy working inside me makes it possible for me to care for and love and forgive someone else - it's amazing!! I wish I was this shining light that was so bright people would see only Jesus Christ and it would be an astounding thing to see!!

In children's worship on Sunday mornings we sing this song - Your love is deep. Your love is high. Your love is long. Your love is wide. Your love is deeper than my view of grace; higher than this worldly place; longer than this road I travel; wider than the gap You filled. Your love is deep. Your love is high. Your love is long. Your love is wide.