Yesterday I took a trip to our local health food store to purchase some Flax Seed Oil. I recently read an article about the health benefits so it seemed quite worth it to me. I was excited to open the bottle and try the so-called "nutty" flavor. Have you ever tried to eat a whole tablespoon of vegetable oil? That is what this tasted like. The only "nutty" thing was me trying to swallow it. My whole mouth and throat were warm and well lubed. Ugh. Let's hope this stuff really does boost serotonin levels!
So, I was well adjusted with the Flax in my system, now let's start the day. Read bible. Check. Pray...sort of check. Interrupted by a child screaming "MOMMY!!!!!!" at the top of their lungs. A quick prayer for patience as I head up the stairs. My day started with the oil, the yell and then the dreaded pink-eye. My daughter's eyes had looked a little funny the night before and now they looked really yucky!
I made a call to the doctor who simply called in a prescription. No problem. I need to return some library books and then I will pick up the drops. I gathered up my children, one from behind the couch and one from the floor who was, of course, spreading the library books all about. "I just hunted all of those down! Please don't mess up my pile!!" Ugh. The kids must have seen the frustration in my face because without me saying a word they both quickly hurried to the door and put on their own shoes. I didn't think I looked that scary without a shower, but then again....
We headed out the door and to the library. I returned the books, well almost all of the books. We had tears about a couple that I just threw back in the car to renew as my serotonin levels were starting to plummet after all of the yelling and screaming. We made it to the pharmacy. Now, every 2 seconds I told my daughter not to touch anything as pink-eye is very contagious. We get to the desk and of course the prescription is not ready. We went around and picked up a few items all with me saying, "Keep your hands to yourself. No, to yourself I said!" They need to make a mommy doll that says that when you squeeze her hands!
As I stood in line to pay for my things my daughter started to cry. "Mom, my brother got a toy stuck in my hair!" The clerk actually laughed out loud. I looked over to see my daughter with a toy helicopter stuck in an incredible rat's nest of hair. I told her to stand still while I finished paying. We stepped aside while I tried to get the airplane out. Under my breath I told my flax seed oil not to fail me now! I ended up breaking the helicopter and my daughter's hair was going to have to be cut to be fixed. I walked over to customer service to tell them what happened. The clerk was gracious and did not make me pay for the toy. We made it back to the pharmacy desk and picked up the drops. Then, we made it back to the car with a couple of $1 toys to keep the kids busy while I made lunch. "I have to go pee, pee," I hear from the back seat. Of course I couldn't have been told when we were 3 feet away from a restroom inside the store. Now we were a quarter of the way home. How convenient.
Starbucks to the rescue. I looked out the window and that was the closest store with easy access to the restroom. As a mom you are forced to know these things. We ran in to go potty of course (getting myself a coffee was an afterthought...don't believe me!). After my son went potty, I washed his hands and set him down with some paper towel to dry them. As I washed mine I glanced in the mirror and saw him digging, yes digging in the sanitary napkin waste basket. What is with my son and sanitary napkins???? "GROSS!" I yelled as I scooped him up. We washed hands again.
As we exited, the kind barista from behind the counter asks, "How are you today?" I quickly replied, "Fine thanks, and you?" As she started to answer I interrupted her and said, "Actually, I'm sorry, I just lied to you. I am not fine." She looked at me perplexed as if she had been hit with a stun gun. Starbucks must not train their employees to "handle the truth!" She kind of laughed and quickly said, "What can I get for you?" Now, I was very tempted to say, "Where do I begin? I could use a housekeeper and a nanny for the day. And while I am thinking about it, I would love Supernanny to stop by and help me with some sharing issues we have in our home. I desperately need a haircut and a style for that matter and I am running low on some of my cosmetics as you can tell." Instead, I chose the better option and smiled while saying, "One Grande Nonfat Mocha, please." I paid and the barista said, "There is a Chicago Bear signing autographs next door." Maybe she thought that would help.
What a great idea! I took my coffee and headed next door to Kinkos. I got in line and felt kind of funny as we are Broncos fans and I had no idea whose autograph I was standing in line for. I politely asked the employee as she handed me, my son and my daughter a free football for the autograph. "Mark Bradly," she said. "Oh yes, of course," I replied. So there we stood. A little girl with pink-eye and a rat's nest, a little boy who was sucking on the zipper to his coat and who just finished digging through the sanitary napkin bin next door and me, the clueless mother who needed a shower. I began to panic as our turn got closer. I realized that the Kinkos employee was snapping photos! Yep, this will be one to put on the Christmas card. I tried to politely step out of the picture so just my kids would enjoy the moment but the employee insisted on me squeezing in there next to old Mark Bradly. Poor handsome fellow had to endure pictures with crazy people like me for an hour!
We were excited as we left, because we were sure that Daddy would be jealous. We immediately called him on his cell phone. "Guess what?" I said. "What?" he replied. "We just got our picture taken with Mark Bradly." "Who?" my husband asked. "You know, Mark Bradly, the Chicago Bear!" I shrieked like I had known who he was. "Hmmm, I don't know who that is," my husband replied. Good grief. We thought that this would be exciting. Don't you know that we stood in line with bad hair, gross eyes, coffee breath and germy mitts to get these footballs!
We got back in the car and headed home. At least I got a Mocha out of it. Just another day in my life as a mom. Starbucks and Flax Seed Oil may help a crazy mom like me, but we all know that my only true help in found in Christ. He can lift my spirits and His holy oil doesn't gag me. He energizes me with His love that doesn't cost me $3.95. He says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9. His grace is all we need. He gives us strength in our weakness. I am so thankful for that because most days I feel pretty weak. Today I am powerful because of His strength in my weakness! I have the power through Christ to handle whatever this day holds. "His grace is sufficient!" I need to remind myself of that. Say it out loud with me, "HIS grace is sufficient!" Thank you Lord that you are not surprised by my weakness but you have a plan to fill and use me despite it. I love you today, Lord. Amen!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Making Sense of it All
I don't know about you, but I have found myself contemplating God and the things that happen in this world more often these days. I have been challenged and liberated while digging into God's word. He is so amazing and so faithful when we seek Him!
I have been struggling with a couple of issues that I will just lay out on the table. I welcome your comments and responses! We had some acquaintances who just lost a 2 year old to cancer. Their faith was securely in God. They both thought and even believed that God would heal their son this side of heaven. The healing would most certainly result in an amazing testimony to the doctors and nurses who walked this road with this family for several long months. Every day, it seemed like I would read the words of this mother that her son "was healed in Jesus name." Her hope was secure in a God who still heals today. Her son went to be with Jesus a few days ago. But God? These parents sensed a healing here on earth? The answer could not be found in a lack of faith, because all evidence pointed to a stronger faith than I could certainly muster given the same set of circumstances.
I read through Psalm 91 the last couple of days. I was perplexed as I read through it in light of this recent occurrence,
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease...His faithful promises are your armor and protection...Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you...If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home...The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name" (NLT).
Okay, was it just me, or did some of those statements perplex you too?? Did this little boy's parents live in the shelter of the Most High? You bet. Did they trust him? Yep. Did he rescue their son from deadly disease? Not exactly how they desired. Did evil conquer their son's body? Well, his earthly one, yes. Ugh. Tough stuff. I always seem to find myself asking tough questions when situations like this arise. Where were you God? Did I have hidden sin in my life? Did I not pray enough? Did they misinterpret your promises?
I began to pray that God would help me understand. I know that my puny little mind cannot understand the deep things of the Almighty, but I asked for a little clarity. As I thought and prayed I came to the following conclusion found at the end of Psalm 91, "The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me, I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them" (verse 14-15). He WILL rescue us. He will BE WITH US in trouble. I don't know how he will rescue but He says that He will. We may feel completely shaken but He will keep us from completely crumbling if we put every little bit of faith we can muster in Him. More importantly, He will be with us in trouble. I have been reading about Moses and His intimacy with God. He knew what it was to dwell WITH God. He experienced deep friendship with his creator. Oh to look at the face of the one who speaks His peace to our hearts during trouble.
I really feel like God spoke to my heart that nothing is impossible with Him. He could have healed our friend's son. He can. He is able. It wasn't that He did not heal. He accomplished His plans in the lives of our friends. There is no doubt that their son is running around in a place that far surpasses this world. He is being cared for by a Daddy whose strong arms are impenetrable. As for our friends, the only thing I can figure is that God needed them to trust Him. God wanted them to see His glory revealed, His light illuminate, His love overwhelm, His peace overshadow.
God is reliable. He is the forever God. His protection doesn't always mean that we won't be struck. I just think His protection means our most important part - our spirits, won't be destroyed by hardship when we trust in Him. There is a song by Natalie Grant called 'Held' that has ministered to my heart during these questions. She sings that even though we feel a sense of entitlement because we belong to God, being held means that when things are stripped from our lives we survive because of God. Oh God, help me to see things with eternal eyes. Help me to allow you to hold me. Only then will we survive. Help us to know you intimately, Lord. Draw near to us in our troubles. We will rise victorious in You as long as we cling to you instead of shaking a fist at You. Reveal your purposes in us, reach people through us. I love you precious Lord.
I have been struggling with a couple of issues that I will just lay out on the table. I welcome your comments and responses! We had some acquaintances who just lost a 2 year old to cancer. Their faith was securely in God. They both thought and even believed that God would heal their son this side of heaven. The healing would most certainly result in an amazing testimony to the doctors and nurses who walked this road with this family for several long months. Every day, it seemed like I would read the words of this mother that her son "was healed in Jesus name." Her hope was secure in a God who still heals today. Her son went to be with Jesus a few days ago. But God? These parents sensed a healing here on earth? The answer could not be found in a lack of faith, because all evidence pointed to a stronger faith than I could certainly muster given the same set of circumstances.
I read through Psalm 91 the last couple of days. I was perplexed as I read through it in light of this recent occurrence,
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease...His faithful promises are your armor and protection...Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you...If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home...The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name" (NLT).
Okay, was it just me, or did some of those statements perplex you too?? Did this little boy's parents live in the shelter of the Most High? You bet. Did they trust him? Yep. Did he rescue their son from deadly disease? Not exactly how they desired. Did evil conquer their son's body? Well, his earthly one, yes. Ugh. Tough stuff. I always seem to find myself asking tough questions when situations like this arise. Where were you God? Did I have hidden sin in my life? Did I not pray enough? Did they misinterpret your promises?
I began to pray that God would help me understand. I know that my puny little mind cannot understand the deep things of the Almighty, but I asked for a little clarity. As I thought and prayed I came to the following conclusion found at the end of Psalm 91, "The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me, I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them" (verse 14-15). He WILL rescue us. He will BE WITH US in trouble. I don't know how he will rescue but He says that He will. We may feel completely shaken but He will keep us from completely crumbling if we put every little bit of faith we can muster in Him. More importantly, He will be with us in trouble. I have been reading about Moses and His intimacy with God. He knew what it was to dwell WITH God. He experienced deep friendship with his creator. Oh to look at the face of the one who speaks His peace to our hearts during trouble.
I really feel like God spoke to my heart that nothing is impossible with Him. He could have healed our friend's son. He can. He is able. It wasn't that He did not heal. He accomplished His plans in the lives of our friends. There is no doubt that their son is running around in a place that far surpasses this world. He is being cared for by a Daddy whose strong arms are impenetrable. As for our friends, the only thing I can figure is that God needed them to trust Him. God wanted them to see His glory revealed, His light illuminate, His love overwhelm, His peace overshadow.
God is reliable. He is the forever God. His protection doesn't always mean that we won't be struck. I just think His protection means our most important part - our spirits, won't be destroyed by hardship when we trust in Him. There is a song by Natalie Grant called 'Held' that has ministered to my heart during these questions. She sings that even though we feel a sense of entitlement because we belong to God, being held means that when things are stripped from our lives we survive because of God. Oh God, help me to see things with eternal eyes. Help me to allow you to hold me. Only then will we survive. Help us to know you intimately, Lord. Draw near to us in our troubles. We will rise victorious in You as long as we cling to you instead of shaking a fist at You. Reveal your purposes in us, reach people through us. I love you precious Lord.
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