Show Your Excitement!!

Her smile says it all. :)

     Kylia just turned eight, and this year we chose to have a small party for her.  She invited three girls and chose a spa theme for her special day.  Prior to her party she was acting a little sad and I inquired as to why.  Her response, "My friend doesn't seem excited about my party."  Without really thinking I replied that I was sure she was excited but just hadn't shown it.  With sadness in her voice Kylia said, "If she is excited, mom, she should show it." 

     That comment got me thinking, a lot.  How much has the Lord done for us that we just accept as commonplace?  How much sadness have we brought to Him because of our lack of enthusiasm over a blessing bestowed, a miracle given, or beauty being brought from the ashes?  How often do we forget the greatest gift ever given, and instead choose to wallow in the woes of today?  (I shared my own wallowing a few posts back.)

     It's time to show our excitement!  It's time to stand up and cheer because of the greatness of our God!  It's time to be an excited follower of Jesus Christ!  Let's shine like stars.  (Phillipians 2:14-16)

     Will you join me?

     

Keeping the Flame Alive

    Seth and I attended a marriage conference that stated healthy couples dated once a week.  Up to that point, we may have been dating once a quarter, maybe.  So, we found a great program for our kiddos (Awanas, it's amazing!) and decided while the girls were being filled up with Jesus, we would be filled up with each other.  And that is how Wednesday night date night began.  Many a night we would be dressed casually, just excited to get out for a bit, but this night I decided to look nice for my man.  So, I brushed my teeth and hair, freshened up my make-up, and got a little dressy.  As I walked out of the bedroom, Seth's mouth dropped open and with awe in his voice he stated, "You look like an angel!"  All I could do was giggle.

    Five words.  Five simple words. But they meant more to me than Seth will ever know.  That night I felt beautiful.  I felt loved.  And I knew that I was cherished.  The flame that had been lit so long ago was fanned ever brighter, our marriage strengthened by a word.  
    Can I challenge you-Speak the word.  Whatever it needs to be.  "I love you."  "I'm sorry."  "You are beautiful."  "I need you."  Keep your flame alive. 

Living in the Moment

     Walking down the street with our church clothes still on, Zoie did not want to be walking.  She was lagging behind, dragging her feet, wishing there was a short-cut home.  Her sister tried to encourage her by reminding her of the park at the end, and the chocolate cake awaiting her back at home.
     Isn't this the mindset of so many of us.  Focus on the goal!  Just wait till you get to the end.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  But what I know, after having the same mindset at times, is that it's not about the goal, but the journey.  If we are always focused on the goal, we will miss out on life.  We will miss out on joy.  But, if we can focus on today, what God is doing in this moment, we will KNOW how blessed we are, we will see Him all around, and we will experience a joy that is amazing!

     I paraphrased this to Zoie by asking her what she could find to be happy about in this moment, and a few cracks in the sidewalk later she turned around and said, "I'm with my family!"  The park and the cake were still ahead, but now there was skipping, laughter, holding hands, and smiles.  Zoie chose to see the joy in the now.

"Glorious Things"

I woke up grumpy.
I had a choice to make.
Then a song rang through my mind.
"This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!"
(Oh, Sunday School, you keep ringing in my ears.)

If this was true, and I knew it was, the choice was simple (not easy, but simple).
I must rejoice!
Called my girls.
We read the Bible.
And then we began a list:
"Glorious Things"
1. Our Home
2. Big Turkey Dinners
3. Toys . . .

We got to #30 and the paper ended.
Maybe tomorrow we will flip it over and keep going. :)

We remembered the goodness of the Lord.
My grumpiness disappeared. 

Perseverance

     Adalie was at the dining room table engrossed in a math test.  She was struggling with a particularly difficult division problem.  With each check, she realized the problem was wrong and had to start again.  She completed her test after much chagrin.
     The Lord instantly showed me a moment of teaching.  I took her in my arms and praised her for her perseverance.  I shared Romans 5:3-4 with her about perseverance producing character.  And told her that God was pleased with her.  I told her she was like her daddy, a man who has persevered since the day I met him, to accomplish that which the Lord has called him to.  Just like her, daddy has experienced times of frustration and discouragement, but he hasn't given up, and because of that the Lord has blessed him.
     Well done Adalie!  Your perseverance is a blessing to the Lord and to me.

The Search is On!

Zoie and Joy the Bunny

     My girls were playing Hide-and-Seek with their stuffed animals.  They hid Spots the dog, Joy the bunny, and a number of other much loved "pets".  Then they began searching.  What I heard made me stop and think.  It went like this, "Joy!  Where are you?  Joy, where did you go?"  
     I began to wonder.  Are there days that I have chosen to search for joy?  Or, do I simply choose to live in my sadness?  I remember one such day, that I chose to stay in my mood.  God revealed my attitude to me early on, but instead of searching out joy, I wallowed.  It wasn't until late in the afternoon that I finally chose to ask the Lord for forgiveness and then began the search.  He poured out His joy quickly and I wondered to myself, "Why did I wait so long?"  
     So, on those days that sadness seems to reign, I have remembered the girls game and I too begin to search for joy.
     
     Nehemiah 8: 9&10, "This day is holy to the Lord your God.  Do not mourn or weep. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
     Psalm 65:8, "The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy."

A Daddy's Love

While kneading pizza dough in the middle of the day, Kylia ran in with a request. "Momma, can you text daddy and ask him to come home so he can help us fly kites?"  The question made me smile and the answer of course was, "Sure."

I believe that is what God meant when He asked us to come to Him having faith like a child.  The girls' daddy was in the middle of his work day, and things are getting busy, but instead of wondering if he could come home, instead of worrying if they would bother him, or simply not asking, they decided help was needed and dad was the man to call.

God wants us to bring our desires to Him, great or small, they are all important to Him.  We are important to Him.  He's our Daddy.