Yes, my day was a BLESSING!

Today I actually had to get out of bed and get ready to go to work!  This is something that I haven't had to do since last June.  Unfortunately, today was one of those days when it would have been so much better to just stay in bed.... it was -9 degrees and my car was covered with snow from our weekend weather event.  But I made it out of bed and got my car started and cleared off, and got to my new nanny job by 7:00am.  Not so bad!  After one day of this job, all I can say is that this is a dream job for me.  The sweet little 10 month old girl is just a pleasure to be with.  It certainly doesn't hurt that I have been taking care of Anna over the last months, and Elle is at just about the same developmental stage.  So I am very familiar with the in's and out's of this job.

This picture doesn't do her justice, she is really very cute.  But for privacy sake, you will have to take my word for it.  She is a cutie.  My arms can tell the difference between Anna and Elle since she out weighs Anna by at least 4 pounds.  And she is at least a head taller!  She is in the 97% for height and weight and Anna is in the 10%.  I had a great day that just seemed to fly by.  This one day a week gig is going to be just wonderful!  It is a blessing.

Well, on that note (the blessing thing) I need to comment on this article.  This evening I saw this article, The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying again! I have been seeing this over and over the last few days.  It is showing up on so many different pages and many people are posting it.  I think I actually first saw it on Saturday night.  You need to stop, and click on that title and read that post before you will understand my comments. So humor me, and do that.....

Okay, I totally agree with this article.  I know that I am guilty of using that "blessing" phrase, most likely more times than I could count.  In many cases, I should not have used that word to describe the event or thing that I was describing.  But, as far as my new job, I'm sticking with ITS A BLESSING!  The reason that I can say that with confidence after reading those words, is found in Matthew 5:4...

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.   Yes, this has been a heavy time of mourning for all of my family.  And we have been blessed by the comfort of Jesus.  This new job, this sweet little girl, is a great comfort to me.  And I believe, it is another way that I am being so blessed during this time of mourning.  Isn't it interesting how you grow to understand scripture BECAUSE of events going on in your own life?  Scripture is ALIVE and speaks, but when you realize that you really "get" the message from a verse, well..... it is just amazing.  So, this is another plug, once again, to encourage you all to READ THE BIBLE!  Let Jesus speak to you through those words on the page.  Let the Holy Spirit bring the message to life and really connect what you are reading to your current situation.  I am so thankful for all of the verses that I have memorized, for the passages I know because of many great praise songs, for the words that are brought into my mind by the Holy Spirit.  And tonight, I am so thankful for the comfort and the blessing of Jesus!

Jesus, thank you so much for the reminder today that I have been blessed during this time of loss.  Holy Spirit help us all take to heart the words of that article.  Keep us from over using the "Blessing" word.  Give us grace to understand when we ARE blessed and keep us thankful!  Amen

The blessing is in the pressing!

Okay.... that title has a couple of different "interpretations".  First, for me anyway, is in pressing in to get closer to Jesus.  Yes, there is a blessing as you just rest and stay in that place of quietness, so that Jesus can come closer to us.  I love to consider this!  What a blessing it is to draw into that deeper place of closeness through the Holy Spirit.   I love this picture above, however, because I need to be reminded that it is NOT about striving!  The pressing in is always about being quiet and resting so that Jesus can bring me closer.

And then there is another PRESSING.  You know, when the world seems to weigh you down.  Or even circumstances that feel crushing.  There have certainly been plenty of those times in my own life.  And my facebook feed seems to be filled with people who have really pressing situations going on right now.   So I love this reminder that there is BLESSING in that pressing time.  Notice it does not say blessing when you are out of the pressing stuff.  The blessing can be found IN the bad times.  That is hard for people who are in the midst of "stuff".  That is why I am declaring that blessing right now for all of them!  

Isn't it great that we can stand with our brothers and sisters who are in tough situations and remind them that Jesus is all about blessing them?  I don't know where I would be without the body of Christ standing with me.  Seriously, being alone is not good!

Now for the truth telling.   My notes from Saturday night begin like this.....
"I am feeling very lonely here tonight.  It seems like everyone is in a group or there are lots of couples around me.  Does this mean that I shouldn't have come tonight?  How can I feel so alone and so lonely when I am surround by a large crowd of people?"
Isn't it interesting to read that after you have seen my last two blogs.  Remember I said that Saturday was amazing and changed so much for me?  Yes, that's right.  I started the night feeling like I shouldn't have bothered going to this event.   You see, Satan will do whatever he can to try to keep us out of the blessing.   But the joke is on him.  Because in the uncertainty and pressure, that is where the blessing is.  So, when those feelings were hitting me and I started to feel overwhelmed, I just stopped and took a deep breath and cried out to Jesus.  The worship began and then everything was okay.  Surely there was a blessing in the pressing.

Jesus, thank you, again for Saturday night.  Thank you for the reminder that you will draw close to us when we seek to draw close to you.  Thank you for giving me a very real example of feeling "pressed" and then knowing I had been very blessed.   Holy Spirit, reach out to us tonight and bring that measure of quiet peace that will help us to feel that blessing - where ever we are and no matter what our circumstance say.  Thank you for the body of Christ - our sisters and brothers - that stand with us and believe and hope FOR us.  Amen

Day 18 - Thankful for Goodwill!

Today I am thankful for Goodwill!  We have a pretty small house and several years ago we realized that it was much more comfortable when it didn't have so much junk in it!  Over the last years we have been making trips to Goodwill about 4 times a year.  We have made it our practice to get rid of something whenever we bring something new into the house.  This has helped to keep our closets more clear and our house less cramped. 

So since we need to use our spare room over Thanksgiving, I decided today was the day to clean it out.  That room tends to be the dumping ground for anything that will eventually be taken to Goodwill.  So I gathered everything and made another search around the house before driving to our local Goodwill.  Since our Goodwill is in a rather upscale area, it is always crowded.  It doesn't seem to matter when you go, there is usually a line to drop off items.  And the parking lot is usually full for the store.  Today was no exception.  So after waiting my turn, a nice young man came to my car and emptied my trunk.  With a big smile and a pleasant "have a nice day!", he then said "God bless you for your support of Goodwill!"

I was stunned! This was so unexpected!  I should have been thanking him for taking all of my junk!  But, he was so gracious - and he spoke a blessing over me.  It was one of those times when I knew that he really was sincere.  So I gladly accepted that blessing and returned one with "God bless you, also!"  No question, today I was very thankful for Goodwill. 

I love these unexpected "Jesus" moments.  I went through the rest of my day with a smile on my face.  What a great reminder to just share a simple "God bless you" with people that we meet on the street, at work, in the grocery store, or in our neighborhood.  I was reminded today that these small words can change your day and put a smile on your face.   Yep, I am going to be speaking these words much more often.

Jesus, thank you for that special worker at Goodwill today.  Please pour out your blessings on him and his family.  Holy Spirit, remind me to bless people that I meet each day.  And Jesus, please help us all to remember to be open to share a blessing!  Thank you for the Goodwill organization.  Amen

Day 15 - Thankful for Facebook!

Okay, I am sure many of you are thinking, "you have got to be kidding me!"  But seriously, I am so thankful for Facebook!  Let me just say that I am really kind of new to Facebook.  It really been all that long, but it would be a sad day for me to not have Facebook.  Why you ask?  Here goes......

1.  I love that I can follow my friends - near and far.  I can stay in touch, keep updated on important events and best of all - see pictures.

2.  I love that I feel much closer to all of my family - even distant relatives - because I am friends with them on Facebook.  Again, news and photos is wonderful.

3.  I love that I feel that instant connection to lots and lots of praying people when I post a Facebook prayer request.  There is nothing better than knowing that almost instantly you can have people all over the world praying for you. 

4.  Which brings me to the the International aspect of Facebook.  Just a few years ago it would have seemed silly to imagine having so much contact with people all over the world.  I LOVE THIS! 

Isn't this just how Jesus would work?  I love that Jesus' plan for us all included all the new fangled things like the Internet!  And the cell phone, and computers and, AND, AND!  We are so blessed!  And tonight I am thankful for all of these things - but focused on Facebook.  Think about it.  The plan was that EVERYONE - all over the world would hear the good news about Jesus and our salvation through the cross.  And now, even in the most remote places in the world, people have cell phones with internet and computers.  They are able to see and hear all about God's amazing plan for them!  And they are able to read the Bible.   What an incredible, out of this world, plan to spread the Gospel.

Jesus, thank you for reminding me of the much bigger purpose for Facebook.  Thank you for all that Facebook brings into my life.  Holy Spirit, remind us all to appreciate and see your purpose in all the amazing things that we take for granted.  Thank you for all of my Facebook friends.  Amen

An unexpected, out of control day!

So you know how you think that you might have things figured out and/or under control?  Well once again I have learned that - guess what? - I am not in control of anything!  While I am upset about the current "snag" in my plans, I remember well, my lesson from yesterday.   I GET IT!   Jesus is in charge and I am convinced that He has plans in place for me and more importantly, he wants to bless me.  Knowing that, I can sit back, take a deep breath and let things play out.  My part is just to keep listening to Him.  I am sure that there will be lots of days ahead when I forget this, or slip back into wanting to have everything neatly lined up.  So I am trusting that all of my friends and family out there, will remind me that I GET IT!

And what I have been thinking about today is when Ken lost his job in 2002.  Let me tell you, that was an unexpected, out of control moment.  We were NOT prepared for this, in so many ways.  We circled the wagons (so to speak) and prepared for the worst.  Fortunately, Ken got a job in less than 4 months.  Nearly unheard of given his age.  Now we knew that this job wasn't the greatest - but HEY - it was a job.  He was very overqualified and the job only lasted 6 months.  But, once again, after an unbelievably short 2 months off, he found another job.  This job had a killer commute, but once again, we were feeling blessed that he had a job. Then, he lost this job after only 8 months.   This was much harder to take.  But we tried to stay positive and he faithfully sent out those applications.  Well, somehow, God was definitely in charge.  Ken got hired at a company that NEVER hires direct and only hires from temporary.  IT IS THE PERFECT JOB FOR HIM!  The original job that he lost in 2002 was stressful and not much fun.  This job that he has had for 10 1/2 years is simply amazing for him.   He never brings work home, rarely travels, has an easy commute and most of all - HE LOVES IT and IT IS FUN!  Several years ago, he was talking with his boss and asked him how he got his resume.  His boss couldn't even remember!  But I know that when Jesus is in charge, things happen.  And the things that happen are a blessing.  So we weathered that storm, we weathered the storm when I lost my long time job in 2009 and we will get through this job change for me now. And I will continue to seek to rest in contentment. 

Tonight I am so thankful for Ken and the rest of my family tonight.  They are affirmed for me, that this is a GOOD thing and that there is something so much better for me out there.  Actually when Ken and I were talking, I realized that there is a conference coming up in two weeks that I felt SOOOO called to be at.  Yet with working, I really didn't feel like I could do it.  Now, I will be able to attend!  Isn't that amazing.  And the best part is Ken really wants me to be able to do this.

Yesterday I received an email from the ministry hosting that conference... this was the tag line of that email.....
 "The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him." Galatians 3 Message

So, tonight I will be embracing what God has arranged for me! 

Thank you Jesus for your love and care.  You are an amazing and wonderful God that is arranging things for me.  Holy Spirit, remind me to embrace all the changes that are happening in this time.  Thank you for the blessing of my family and friends during this time.  Yahweh, would you please hold a place for me at that conference?   Thank you, thank you, thank you.   Amen