Keep Walking

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3


I am cyclical in learning things. I don’t mind coming back around to things to get to the next step. When I think about my journeys in cooking and parenting, I can see how skills are built over time. As I was praying the other day, I realized that I was hesitating in taking the next step
in my spiritual walk, because I wasn’t sure I could commit to it. I wasn’t sure I was ready. In fact, I was allowing my own fear of failure stop me from stepping closer. Then, I realized that God was not asking me to take an impressive leap. He wanted me to keep taking steps, keep listening, keep looking toward Jesus. Would I rather stand still or keep walking? It’s okay to take small steps. It’s okay to find ourselves growing in an area that we’ve already covered. It’s okay for our discipleship path to by cyclical, building on the relationship that is most central to who we are and where we are going. Be patient with yourself as you do your best to stick by the Shepherd. Be there when that familiar voice calls your name and take a drink in the still water He’s offering you.

Prayer:

Jesus, You are generous in blessing. Please strengthen me for the next steps in my journey with You. Remove my fear and excuses and guide me to where You want me to be. You are my Shepherd and I am content in Your care. Amen

He'll never know

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31

Friendship is so simple and yet so complex. It is a crucial ingredient in a fulfilling life and is always changing. I am currently in a production of “A Year with Frog and Toad” based on the books by Arnold Lobel. The musical portrays a beautiful friendship that spans the seasons. There are many adorable exchanges between these two characters. One of my favorites is when they each decide to rake each other’s leaves secretly. They get so much joy out of their anonymous act of service. The squirrels mess up the leaves before either of them get to see their own yards. The powerful thing for me is that although neither of them received the “gift” intended for them, their friendship is strengthened by their own efforts.

As you think about a friend in your life, I’d like to challenge you to think of a way to brighten their day anonymously. Now, what “gift” can you give to our friend Jesus today? The things we do as expressions of love for Him also change us and feed our relationship with God. Take joy in the small things you can do to in the name of friendship.

Dear Jesus, I am humbled to be called Your friend. I am eager to grow closer to You and want You to know how much I love You. Thank you for the people You have put in my life that encourage me and care for me. Help me to model healthy, strong friendships for my children. Surround them with good friends as they grow and shape them into the kind of person that loves to secretly “do unto others…”. Amen.

two sons and a Father

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

Revisiting the prodigal son story recently, I realized I did not know what the word “prodigal” meant. I thought it referred to the son coming back, but instead it means “characterized by wasteful expenditure”. As parents, we don’t want to find ourselves estranged from our children. We yearn for closeness and a strong relationship of trust as they grow. It may even be something you pray about regularly. What I find fascinating about this story is how it ends, or doesn’t end. The father is outside trying to convince the older son to come and welcome the prodigal back into the circle of trust. We don’t find out what he decided to do.

While I know we don’t want to raise a prodigal child, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to avoid raising a hard-hearted, judgmental child. The older son had a right to be upset and all of his arguments were founded, but the bottom line is that the Father chose to show mercy. It was a forgiveness that was expensive and undeserved, but that was the Father’s call. After all those years together, the older son somehow missed the nature of the Father.

May God’s kind of love and His unmatched forgiveness dominate our understanding of who we are to be on this earth. May our hearts resonate with His insistence on extravagant mercy in a way that our children also love to show mercy. Blessings as you parent each of your children to extend their arms to one another.

Prayer:
Jesus, You paid price for our prodigal behavior. You made it possible for us to be welcomed home again. Thank you for this powerful parable and the image of God that it offers us. Empower us as parents to help our children understand how to be merciful, just as you are merciful. Amen

come what may

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." John 17:24

My five year old broke her arm yesterday. It was a day for strong mommy muscle, intuition, and lots of sitting. I would rather that she not have broken her arm and I wish that she could go to kindergarten tomorrow with her winter coat and backpack on as usual. But she will be bundled in a blanket with a bright pink cast in a sling instead. Her resilience has been amazing to me. She is delighted with trying to write with her “wrong” hand and practices only the treble clef on the piano. She cries when it hurts and asks for help when she needs it. Could I ask for God to be any more merciful?

The season of fresh starts and resolutions is here. We’ve made lists and reflected. We’ve prayerfully presented an optimistic outlook on the New Year. The ironic part is that I wanted to show the Lord my own determination to set aside vices this week and instead I am being schooled in determination by my daughter. I wanted to be more intentional about patience and humility in my parenting, and He is displaying those virtues in my house by another.

I love the song “Blessings” by Laura Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ about how struggling is a blessing if it is what draws us to Jesus. I doubt many have resolved to struggle more in the New Year or hope for a personal trial, but it is true that those moments can reveal things about God that we may never understand otherwise. Those moments might even be the canvas for God to display His goodness and mercy to a world of unmet New Year hopes. As we continue our walk with our Savior, I pray that we would welcome whatever each day brings as a chance to be blessed and transformed. Even…or especially… when something is broken.

Prayer: Jesus, Healer and Transformer, You are the Lord of my life. Your goodness and blessing are beyond my comprehension or desires. I lay my life before You and thank You for Your care. Transform me each day through all circumstances to eagerly serve You with joy no matter what. Amen

marvelous gifts

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Being employed by our city’s Children’s Theatre Company to perform in their December production has changed our Advent this year. I started looking at the calendar wondering when we’d all be at home to put up our decorations together. There wouldn’t be time. After pulling all the boxes out, I sadly left for rehearsal on Saturday. When I returned, my 10 year old daughter had almost single-handedly decorated the house. “I listened to Christmas music the whole time” she reported, which is a must by my standards. It was a warm, tearful moment as I realized she did it because she wanted to have the Christmas stuff out, but she also did it for me.

At times, I look at what I do for Jesus and think it isn’t enough. Obviously, it never will be, but it is exactly what He desires. He loves each chore and effort that we offer to His glory. God’s delight might be similar to the feeling I have over my daughter’s careful labor. It has inspired me to look at my own daily tasks and work at them with a similar intent: this is my gift, this is what I can offer to my Lord right now, and He loves to marvel at my work because I did it for Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank you for loving us in such a complete way. May our effort and gifts be delightful to You. Help us to acknowledge You in all that we do. Amen

again I say rejoice

The grass is always greener. There will always be someone within earshot or view that somehow has what you’d like. As a parent, you may notice their kids are brighter, more polite, and well rounded. Then we get a better look.



When talking to a family member who is going through a painful divorce, I had to admit that my parenting struggles are small. When talking with a church friend whose child is recovering from brain surgery, I had to admit my mothering burden is light. When watching footage on the families affected by famine in Somalia, I had to admit that our needs are fully met.

I would like to rejoice over all things in a way that demonstrates to my children that our God is good no matter what. We can rejoice in good health and in plenty because our God has supplied us with these. We can rejoice when things are difficult, when we are challenged, when we are hurting, because Jesus gives us the power to do it. It should not matter how we compare to those around us, we should find ourselves in a posture of worship and thanksgiving in all circumstances. Rejoice today in our Savior and His love. Rejoice without comparing. Rejoice in what He’s done for you. “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say it: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

Prayer
Jesus, You are my Provider and my Savior. I will rejoice in You today. Give me a grateful and generous heart, eager to praise and serve you no matter what. Through your grace, may my children learn to rejoice in You always. Amen

The Weavers

My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

My husband found a discarded bird’s nest in our yard recently. It is always fascinating how well made
and cozy a nest is when you see it up close. There are so many pieces woven together, sticks and bits
of yarn. As I looked closer, I noticed that there was a thorny stem threaded in with the rest. Why would
the nest weaver have chosen a thorny piece? How could she have included it without bringing harm to
herself and her little ones? Did she have little choice when constructing in the Spring or did she know
that she could position it in a safe way for her vulnerable babies?

As we parent our kids and tend to our own nest, it occurred to me that we also have carried thorns.
The temptations that consistently nag us, the things we intend to address about our own shortcomings,
our past hurts, and our human limitations are all a part of our home. At times we have brought thorns
knowingly and at times we have been caught off guard. Sin cannot be avoided; it is a part of who we are
while on this earth. However, we know forgiveness through Jesus. With God’s mercy, we find a way to
create a cozy spot for our kids to grow up. It is a testament to His grace that we are equipped to do this
task.

Blessings on your nest today.

Lord, Give us wisdom as we weave our nest. Help us to recognize the thorns that we carry, seeking
forgiveness for our own part and patience for things outside of our control. Bless our children as they
grow. May they learn the full extent of your forgiveness and love and the joy of walking humbly with
You. Amen