Questions

For the past three years, I've been asking a lot of questions in my spiritual life. Freeing questions, questions like...

What does the Christian life look like?
What is kingdom living?
If I could see into God's heart, what would I find?
Does God care to make us comfortable?
Does comfort equal blessing?
Should the Christian life even be comfortable?
If we all serve the same God and listen to the same Holy Spirit, why all the disunity in the body of Christ?
Why are there starving, dying people in the world while the body of Christ sits in large, air conditioned buildings on Sunday mornings?
What does it mean to be a good steward of my time, money, and life?
What does giving looking like?
Does a big church mean that God is present there and bestowing big blessings?
Does a small church mean the opposite?
What does it mean to really love my neighbor?
Is God pleased with the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart?
Am I loving my 'enemies'?
Am I hearing His voice or are there too many distractions?

For some I have found answers, for others I'm still looking. Sometimes I like the answers, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I do what I'm supposed to, and sometimes I'm really selfish. Sometimes I know the answers before I ask them. Some I have to ask everyday.

By asking these questions, my Christian life has changed. I'm no longer doing things because some one else tells me I should. I am striving to hear and listen to the Spirit. Sometimes that listening leaves an unsettledness in my spirit, not a lack of peace, but a prodding. A prodding toward my purpose. A desire to freely say yes to whatever God has for me. A knowledge that even though God's yoke is easy, taking that yoke means getting rid of the one I still hold on to.

Over the next few weeks my blog will have some of what I've learned and some of what I'm still pondering, asking, and processing through. Feel free to comment, ignore, or disagree. All I ask is that you will think about it. Ask yourself questions. Ask God questions. Know why you do what you do.

Five for 50

If you get a chance, please check out this site.
Five for 50

My New Favorite Mug

Yea! I have a new favorite mug! My sweet friend Jennifer bought this happy mug for me. It makes me smile every morning, not just because it's the perfect mug (and it is), but also because it reminds me how blessed I am to have such a wonderful friend to share life with.

Thoughts...

In the cardio room at the YMCA there is a wall full of TVs to watch during workouts. Typically I pick the most interesting show and find an elliptical machine in front of it. Today nothing looked good, so I turned my mp3 player on to my music and starting moving.

Even though I was listening to music, I would glance occasionally at the TVs. The one in front of me was tuned to CNN. Each time I glanced up, there were horrible pictures of the Brazilian air crash, hostages, missing women, or some other form of bad news. Even without the sound, the images were overwhelming. When a clip of distraught family members from the plane crash came up I could feel their pain. I began praying for them when something came to my mind.

Every day God sees and feels those same disturbing images. He's there when they happen. There is no tear He doesn't see, no crime He doesn't witness, no broken heart He doesn't feel, and no good thing that doesn't come from Him. There is no person on this earth He didn't give His own Son to redeem. His love is so big, but bad things still happen right along with the good. We've all heard the "Sunday school" answers for those bad things, I have a hard time accepting them. There are lots of books that try to explain them, but I'm not sure anyone really can fully do that. So, here's the conclusion I've come to. I don't have the answers and I'm not supposed to. He is an amazing, perplexing, Almighty, Sovereign, impossible to fully comprehend God, but in His presence we can have a peace that passes all understanding even in the most difficult times.

All that on the elliptical machine.

Wrinkles

Since I turned 35 this year, I guess I am officially at "middle age." I believe that age is just a number, so it hasn't bothered me. But there is no denying that when those numbers get higher, no matter how young I feel on the inside, things change on the outside. I'm aware that the wrinkles are starting to show, but here's how I'm looking at them...

Wrinkles
by Diamond Rio

Gettin' out of the tub all drawn up like a raisin
Showed my fingers to my Daddy while he was shavin'
Said look at my toes Dad what's wrong with my skin
Will this go away, will I be normal again

Well, he picked me up and set me down on the hamper
Wiped off his face while he gave me the answer
For the first time I noticed the lines in his grin
As he dabbed a little foam on the end of my chin, he said

Those wrinkles ain't nothin' to be scared of
They're just a product of time and true love
Some are gonna come and go
Some are gonna come and stay
Son, you're still young, you're gonna be ok

Well, I walked down the hall, saw my Mom gettin ready
For a long over due date, dinner with Daddy
She was cussin' those crows feet, didn't know I was listenin'
Started talkin' ‘bout her younger years
And how much she missed them and I said

Those wrinkles ain't nothin' to be scared of
They're just a product of time and true love
Some are gonna come and go
Some are gonna come and stay
Mom you still look young, you're gonna be ok

As I get a little older, I'm startin' to get a few
And I'm sure I gave Mom and Dad at least one or two
We're all gonna have ‘em, there ain't no doubt
But those wrinkles in life ain't nothin' you can't iron out

Those wrinkles ain't nothin' to be scared of
They're just a product of time and true love
Some are gonna come and go
Some are gonna come and stay
I still feel young, I'm gonna be ok

My husband

Everyday I am aware of the gift I have in my husband. A gift for which I am so thankful. Here are some of the reasons why...
He is my best friend.
He is a man of integrity.
He spends time with Grant every night, playing cards, wrestling, reading, playing, talking.
After 13 years of marriage, he still makes me laugh.
His blue eyes sparkle when he is about to say something funny (or that he thinks is funny.)
His scrambled eggs are the best.
He says what he means and he means what he says.
He has a deep sense of justice.
He thinks carefully before making any decision.
He puts his dirty clothes away every day.
He makes me think when we have our deep conversations over a cup of coffee.
He likes adventure.
Telling him that something can't be done, is almost a guarantee that he'll find a way to do it.
He grew his beard back, just because I liked it.
He has a desire to study God's word, live by it, and share what he has learned with others.
He loves books and loves to read to learn.
He always clears his place at the table.
He seeks truth.
He's dependable.
He is a good communicator.
He is trustworthy.
He is a faithful friend.

I love that we are true partners in life and I can't think of anyone with whom I would rather share this journey.
Happy Birthday Todd!

Prayer for Rain

During the week of July 1-7, our Governor asked the people of Alabama to pray for the rain we desperately need in our state. The week of prayer ended on Saturday. The rain began on Saturday and has continued every day this week with the exception of Thursday.

The rain has brought more than just physical refreshment to me this week. Every shower has been a simple reminder of God's provision and faithfulness. He hears the prayers of His people. They change our world and they can change the world.