Perspective....

Sometimes we need a little perspective - don't you think?  Like we need to see things from a different angle, through someone else's eyes, etc.  For instance, there was one of those crazy pictures on Facebook that had something in it that totally freaked everyone out but you had to kind of take a good long look to see it.  Once you saw the thing though, your view of the picture was NEVER the same!  It reminded me of how the Lord works.

Sometimes He gives us glimpses of situations or people just how He sees them.  Sometimes though, He has to shove our faces up close to the thing to get our attention - at least He does with me.  He only does it because He has something planned for me, something that will make me more like His Son.  THAT is the truth.

Lately, my perspective has been a little foggy.  The Lord has some areas in me that need some remodeling and the Great Designer has been busy moving things around, shaking them up, changing my perspective.  He's done it with the gentle pressure of a Master Craftsman, but the work is being done for sure!  The awesome thing about all this work is that my view....my attitude...my perspective will NEVER be the same! 

One perspective the Lord has blessed me with recently is how fleeting the time with my kids is becoming.  My oldest starts High school next year.  HIGH SCHOOL!!! Ugh!!  This hasn't been an exceptionally fun season - as I'm sure any parent of a teenager would agree - but the Lord reminded me to slow down, to lighten up a bit and to remember these babies that He has entrusted me with are not my own!  They were bought with a price!  They belong to Him!  So I'm doing my best to change THAT perspective as well - look at that thing from a different angle - and asking the Lord to remind me that they will NEVER be this way again!! (ok a little sniff on that one!)

Why do I linger?....

I am falling in love anew with the Word this year with our "Year of the Bible" at church.  Whenever I'm with someone from church we immediately start saying "Man, did you read...." it's great!  Last night my precious friends from One Voice came over to practice and as soon as we finish singing we immediately start talking about the Word of God.  "Aren't you glad we're out of Job?....but don't you love the truths of God's faithfulness...what about Sarah and Abraham?....I never got that Sarai laughed when God told Abe she was gonna have a baby!..."  these were some of the conversations!  All I could think about was Jer 31:3 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."  He is definitely writing His law on our hearts....LOVE it!!

So today I'm thinking about Lot.  Something that jumped out at me - it's kinda been jumping out with several people thru the Word - the fact that we settle, we linger.  Lot was in Sodom, God was coming to destroy it, Abraham had prayed for Lot's deliverance from the destruction, and the destruction was coming!  Lot had already seen the miracle of the three men blinding the men of the city who were trying to "know them" and their prediction of God's wrath on the city and His protection of Lot and his family was coming to fruition and what did Lot do?....."As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.”  But he lingered."  (Gen 19:15-16)  The city is under attack for it's sin and yet Lot lingered.  Don't you think he would want to run as fast as possible?  Get his family out of there?  And yet, he lingers, he waits around. 

I can relate.  How often do I feel the Lord calling me to something, something better, something bigger and yet I linger?  How often do I hear him say, 'Get away from this place, this PERSON, now and don't look back!' and still I linger, I delay.  Sometimes it's out of fear, or uncertainty, but sometimes it's because I LIKE where I am...who I'm with...what I'm doing.  Sometimes it's FUN, or I'm getting some attention from it.  But ultimately, if I don't go, destruction follows.

God is faithful...He is gentle...He is loving....and all too often, He needs to shake things up!  He's got some destroying to do in my life.  He's got some things in me that need to GO and I do not need to ever look at them again!  THAT's what I love about Him.  I heard this quote this year and it's the truth in my life right now...."God is the constant page-turner"....I'm anxious to see what page He turns in me!!

Consider it joy when you face trials.....REALLY?.....

So this past week we've been in Job.  Yeah, I know, right.  Not exactly the most uplifting and encouraging way to start the year.  I mean, it starts off well, but then again, if the Lord INVITES the enemy to take a look at one of His servants.....that certainly can't end well.  As I talked with my Sunday school class this past week one of the things that they loved (and I did too) was the thought that the Lord would think enough of me to say to the enemy...."Have you considered my servant Valarie?"....To think that the Creator of the Universe would think so highly of me as to know that whatever the enemy tried to sling my way, I would continue to honor Him through it all.  Wow.....

The thing that really got me as I sat listening to these, not even 18 year old, girls say this was, Lord how different would my life have been had I understood this concept at their age?  How many choices would've been made differently?  How many situations I got myself into would've turned out differently?  I could spend ALOT of time beating myself up (because I'm certainly good at that) over the should have's...the could have's....but right in the middle of it all I felt the Lord gently say..."You're right where I want you girl, the past is just that - the past - I wrote it that way for a reason.  You just keep doing what you're doing.  I'll take care of all that - in fact, I already have."

He's ever so gentle with me, ever so patient.  I certainly don't deserve that.  I certainly have brought Him pain, disappointment, even shame.  BUT GOD....my two favorite words ever....in His love and compassion and patience with me still welcomes me home, still takes me in His arms, still holds me up when I stumble and picks me up when I fall.  That's His specialty.  I love that about Him!  So, when I feel the enemy shaking things around me, tugging at what I love and hold dear, trying to steal my joy, I will remember, he's only done so because my Abba Daddy has said "Have you considered Valarie?  There's are some things in her I need to work on.  You can't have her.  You can't destroy her, but why don't you shake things up a bit.  I've got some work to do to make her more like my Son."  and I can rest, I can trust, I can face whatever he brings because my God - He's a big G God and HE has got this thing!!!

Whew....time flies when you're having fun.....

At least that's the story I'm going with! 

I can't believe another year has flown by.  I remember when I was little my parents talking about how time seemed to just fly by and I would think, "Are you kidding me?  This is the LONGEST school year ever!"  Lol....little did I know how right they were.  I watch my now 14 year old walk into the room and he's as tall as me (taller he would argue) and it seems like just last week I was rocking him in my arms.  CRAZY! 

Well, I've been on a bit of a wild ride since I last posted.  Nothing too major, but just life, but through it all the Lord has continued to sustain, to provide, to bless and to take me places I didn't expect to be.  Sometimes to places I didn't WANT to be but just like always, it's to place HE knows best!  Fortunately after (ahem) years of walking with the Lord I've finally gotten it thru this thick head of mine that His ways are NOT my ways....and it's a good thing they're not!!! 

We've started on a journey at church of reading chronologically thru the Bible in a year, as a body, so I hope to get back to blogging a bit more regularly....no promises for the 2 of you reading this...;-) but we shall see.  My prayer for this year is that the Lord will continue to stretch me, to KICK me out of comfort zone and to take me on the WILDEST ride of my life.....I've got my seat belt locked and Lord, I'M READY!!! 

Here we go........... 

God has brought me from a Mighty Long Way...

Boy will that title preach or what? Can't believe it's been a year since I've blogged, but in this instant world of Facebook, Twitter, and the like, blogging seems like a relic sometimes doesn't it? I started this process knowing only a few close friends - and hopefully one day my kids would be able to know my heart and I've fallen short on staying faithful to them this past year. For that I'm sorry. So much has gone on. Job change (or loss of said job), kids growing up, middle school started for my middle son, broken bones, broken relationships....broken.....so many changes....but like the lyrics of that Geron Davis song says "God has brought me from a mighty long way"!!! He's the ONE constant in my life, in this world!! For THAT, I am thankful.
So, today I'm coming off a whirlwind week. My boys went to Camp Paradise - first time for my middle child - and my baby girl went to hang out with Aunt Regina while I worked at the LifeWay You Lead conference and then had the honor of attending the Living Proof Live event with Beth Moore this weekend. Every time I've gone to one of her events the Lord has been faithful to give me a WORD and He did NOT disappoint again this weekend! Only this time, I got a BUNCH of them!! My intention is to try to blog about some of those this coming week and to continue to try to blog at least weekly. Again, knowing that only a few who care and hopefully one day my kids will likely be the only ones who read it. My hope is that someone will benefit from my words, not because they are MY words - as if I have anything to offer - but that the Word of the Lord will speak to them as He did to me! He is all I have to offer anyone! He is my life!!
So, this weekend one thing He clearly spoke to me about came from Deut 6:23. "But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers." The Lord brought me out....that He might bring me in....that was my Word from early Friday night! When I look back at what the Lord has brought me thru - make a timeline of my life -I can see His hand so clearly - so faithful. Sometimes He brought me out of BIG things, drugs, alcohol, etc...sometimes it was not so BIG things...but sin none the less. SIDENOTE: Isn't it just like our nature to "classify" sin as BIG sins and not so BIG sins. Sin is sin! Murder = gossip. Stealing = overeating. Rape = prayerlessness. He sees it as the same, only we put it in categories.
Ok, back on topic. God brought me out....to bring me in. He is constantly changing me. Constantly making me more like His Son. Constantly cleaning me up and cleaning me out so that He can use me. THAT's the bottom line! He'll continue this work til He takes me home and the older I'm getting the quicker this process is becoming. Not less painful, but thankfully I'm not quite as stubborn as I was...not quite...;-)
So I'll wrap this blog up with this line from Sheila West - speaker at You Lead. "God loves you too much to leave you where you are." Do it Lord.....

Wow......

I'm sure no one will even be reading this blog, but hopefully one day my kids will pop on here and be able to find comfort in knowing that their Momma loved Jesus, loved their Daddy and ADORED them! So, for that reason, I will try to get back to bloggy world.

Let's see if I can sum up the last 5 months in a just a few sentences. Still working part time, though my boss was gracious enough to let me work from home!! YAY GOD and thanks Roy! We have moved and I'll make the story of our move another blog entry....WAY too amazing not to share it. God was so faithful and he TOTALLY showed off with our new home!! We have a pool for crying out loud!!!!! Hubby got a new work van that we are allowed to use for our family - again God showing off! Kids have been doing GREAT - though they're kinda 'bored' since Momma has to work M - Th. We are blessed. I mean, I can't even begin to explain to you how blessed we are!!! God has been so faithful to me and to my family - despite our shortcomings and He has just blown me away this summer!!!

So, it's getting late on this pre-Lord's day evening and I will get back to blogging soon but for now all I can tell you is that God is good!!! He provides, He sustains, He blesses, He loves!!! If you don't believe that.....well you're just looking at the wrong thing!!! "Seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Mth 6:33 Jesus' words, NOT mine! Just sayin.......

OH NO HE DI'INT!!

It's been a while since I've taken the time to sit down and blog, but after my morning I knew I was gonna share this story! I'm going to warn you that if you think I've got it together you are going to be sadly disappointed in me, but if you're willing to hear this as one who messes up like the rest of us then read on....just tryin' to keep it real!
Alot has changed since I was last on here. We're fixing to move....still don't know where, but we are...and I started a part-time job. The Lord was faithful to provide it for me - though it wasn't something I really WANTED, it was something I really NEEDED to do during this time for my family! He was gracious enough to give me a Christian office and not just one of those feel good Christian offices, but I know the owner and he's a real, talk it and walk it Christian...fruit EVERYWHERE if you know what I mean. The in God's loving generosity to me He gave me a job that allows me to take my kids to school every day and pick them up - basically I work while they're in school. They're home...I'm home! God is good!
So back to this morning. My #2 child's grade level left today for their DC trip and we were just not in a financial place to let him go. When I woke him this am he went straight to the clock, looked at it and goes "Well mom, they're loading the bus for DC right now!" He was then very quiet on the way to school and asked if we could go visit my stepson this summer who lives very close to DC. By the time we got to school I was about to explode into tears, but I waited until he was out of the car.
As I drove home to get ready for work I proceeded to have myself quite the little hissy fit with God. I told Him how tired I was of this and of that, how I understood why people walk away from Him when it feels like He's not doing anything to help us. (AS IF!..ugh) Just sat in that car and pitched myself a good one. No response. No special little song on the radio to cheer me up. No Scripture brought to my mind to remind me who I am...who He is. NOTHING. Until....
I leave the house with #1 to take him to school (he goes later than #2 and #3). We're driving by this sweet little church with one of those electronic signs out front and they always have the best verses or sayings on there so I was sure to look as we drove by. What was there....."In your anger do not sin" Ps 4:4!!! OH YES IT WAS!!! I immediately start cracking up and apologizing to God for my behavior. Doesn't He just kill you?! Then I got to work and started making my calls and don't you know that for well over an hour EVERY call that placed me on hold either had Christian music playing or even a Pastor teaching!!!! I just sat there cracking up at how patient He is, how kind and loving He is, and yet how gentle - even in correction - He is!!!
Anyway, it ended up being a great day and when I picked up #2 today he goes "Mom I had a blast at school today and guess what....NO HOMEWORK this week!" So even if he's still a little sad about missing this trip, he's just as happy here with us AND he doesn't have to miss his guitar lesson! That's right, my little man is seeing that glass half full! Makes my heart skip a beat!