Following the chickens

I made a quick dash today to Mexia. It was a beautiful morning. I had on some peaceful music playing and my coffee was hot. The drive there was just what I needed, blissful. On the way home the view changed drastically when I got behind an eighteen wheeler hauling chickens. No, not like chickens ready to boil, but live, white feather wearing, pooping chickens. I laughed and thought... Now isn't that a picture of life and how within just a few minutes the scenery can change. Even when we have been living on a somewhat mountaintop, there is always a little something clouding our view or throwing some MESS our way. I remembered a verse that I love from Psalms 17:6: I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. That is the remedy for days when life looks more messy than marvelous! He will answer you, so stop, look up, and pray.

Sibling day

Banner informed me last night that it was SIBLING DAY. When I pulled out my 4 notecards this morning to pray for my kids, the part on her card about UNITY really jumped out at me. The verse is from Psalms 133:1. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.". As a mother of four and a teacher who desires unity with my students at school, this verse could easily inspire a tattoo if I was in the market for one! Unity does make life pleasant! Laundry, dishes, and boring projects become family fun with unity. My unity prayer was answered this morning when Banner asked me to get a $100 out of her lamb check from the county fair to give to Brazos because he helped her when she was on the road playing ball last spring. My jaw dropped, my hands nearly slipped off of the wheel, and my heart rejoiced! A prayer answered from just this morning, the desire of my heart was unity and the Lord heard my prayer. Stand in the gap today for a loved one and pray the Word for them. Maybe someone you know is too sick, too proud, too lost, too busy, or just too blind to pray. You can connect them to the Lord and He will hear your prayer! A simple visual has helped me see my role in this. It's pretty amazing because the Lord could do it all Himself but He chooses to involve us. Would u ever let go of someone you loved and let them fall? I doubt it, so don't ever stop praying. Maybe you are the only one the Lord has in the gap for them.

Something has to go

Our lab, Belle, frequently visits the indoors in the winter months but usually stays outside in the warm weather. I looked at her sweet face this morning, reflected on how she follows Brazos in the woods everywhere he goes, and decided to let her in this morning for a treat! She brought her old, blue frisbee in with her and excitedly followed me to the laundry room where we stash her treats. She had a problem when I passed her the bone because it belonged in her mouth and the frisbee was still positioned there as well. She paused, dropped the frisbee, and accepted the treat! What a smart girl she is! It made me think... How often do we hold onto something old and miss the treat that the Lord is trying to give us? Maybe it's an old wound, an old habit, a worry, a regret, even an old view of someone or a situation that simply needs to be put down! Today break free, let go, and you might just have room in your life for a new blessing! If you are exhausted from carrying a heavy load, try this: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. Jesus may want to do a new work in you today, do your part and allow Him to take away some of the old junk you have been carrying.

The day the peas fell

I have been reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It is a life strategy to give thanks daily for everything and to keep your mind in the moment by recognizing life's blessings. This is the kind of book that is so amazing that I am intentionally reading it slowly. It is like a piece of chocolate and I have to savor each page. The idea in the book is to make a list of 1000 gifts. Mine today include having fun with homework, great coffee, Bible study, the fact that lunches are packed, my job, and the list goes on and on. Maybe at the top of my list is wrestling with Bosque on the trampoline! We love it! It makes me think of an incident a few days ago. I spilled the bowl of peas and Bosque was so excited because he hates them! If he was participating in my 1000 gifts experiment, I am sure he would have listed... The peas falling! Count blessings today! Recognizing gifts from God ushers you into a spirit of thanksgiving and JOY follows!

30 days

It dawned on me early yesterday morning that my family has mastered the basics of the 2012 school year. We have all adjusted well. The Lord impressed upon my heart that the routines were down and it was time for me to do a little more. (as if that is even humanly possible). The MORE was simple: a notecard for each of my kids with one need on it and a scripture to apply to this need. This type of prayer is intentional! This type of prayer does not mean praying just when the thought pops up or when the issue comes up. It is an every morning, out loud thing!! The Lord wants us to use His word and apply it to every aspect of our lives! Join me and give it 30 days. Trust the Lord to work based on His word. It does not return void!

Random in the routine

When I was a kid, and especially a young teen, one of our favorite ways to "cut-up" in town was to perform a Chinese Fire drill.  We used to pile out of Linda Emmon's van or anyone else that would tote us around town, make a circle around our parked vehicle as fast as we could and then jump back in.  It was great fun and always made us laugh!  I don't even know if really "this" was a proper Chinese Fire drill, but we called it one and we so enjoyed it!

I have been telling my kids that they should try a Chinese Fire drill in the morning after we drop of Banner at the Jr. High just for fun.  Banner is way too on task and wants to be at school too early, so she would not want to be an active participant in our morning silliness. 

Today Brazos and Blaise took me up on the offer.  Bosque would have, but his shoes were not on yet as usual!  We were on a little side street over by the high school.  I stopped, threw the car in park, and they jumped out.  They made their lap around the car in about six seconds and jumped back in.  We giggled and were off again on our way to school. 

Watching them have some random fun was fun to me!  Yes, it does not take much to excite me.  I am labeling this type of activity "RANDOM in the ROUTINE."  I think we all need more of it! Our backpacks are always laid out in the floor, shoes in the right baskets, and lunches are typically made on time; therefore, I have taught my kids how to live an organized and routine life.  Maybe now we need to add in some random. 

My morning made me think of my favorite verse in Psalms 16:11 "You will fill me with joy in your presence."  Ask the Lord to fill you with JOY!  Hang out with Him, read your Bible, spend some time in prayer, open your eyes to your many blessings, and prepare to giggle, laugh, and have some fun.  He is the author of JOY.   JOY is all over us when we follow JESUS and live in His presence.  JOY is contagious.  I want more of it.  What about you?

Today I found JOY while watching my kiddos in a total random activity.  We put some random in the routine and this busy Mom needed it.  Thank you, Lord!