Fa La La La La!

Good morning, ladies! It is 9:00am and I am feeling “ordinary”, which is wonderful. I don’t have any major drama and my loved ones around me are settling in to the security of much prayer. I have been blessed with some encouraging behaviors and decisions of my children – by birth and by unofficial adoption. God is good.

Today I want to sing praises to my Lord. I am not unlike some of you in that I tend to sing when times are good and cry/wail when in my distress. Today I choose to sing.

1. Robin W. I want to say that I loved the book the Shack. It is such a controversial book but if you have an open heart and a vivid Spirit filled imagination, the book will rock your world. God’s love is so real and so tangible…with OPEN eyes. My husband hated the book and didn’t finish it. I want to read it again. I am so envious that you and Jim are studying the 5 Languages of Love. Kevin bought us the book last February 2008. We had some teaching on it a few years back. We so need to learn it and teach it again.
2. Girlfriends, I need to tell you about my son, Jesus. Yes, my son, Cory played Jesus this past Sunday for a drama skit, during Youth Sunday. I will get my bragging out of the way and then tell you about the skit. My son personified a large, strong, masculine Jesus in body but did graceful, fluid movements that demonstrated the gentle protection and relationship with Jesus. He was perfectly aligned with his “sister” in Christ as they silently danced their parts. No words were used but the story was powerful and very clear. He was so handsome!

In the skit, Jesus is walking with a young girl giving her things to eat, bringing her rain for refreshment and they are enjoying a wonderful, close relationship. She is totally dependent on His provision and fellowship. She then encounters many temptations and trials as she endures her teen/young womanhood years. This is personified through several individuals who dance around her and pull her into their evil distractions. She is visited by drinking, drugs, violence, money, low self-image, and self-abuse. All the while, Jesus is calling and pulling for her in a tug of war with these worldly vices. In the end, when the girl is overwhelmed and at rock bottom, the world gathers around her and Jesus shows up with His arms outstretched, and with all His might holds back the worldly individuals and victoriously sets the girl free! The play was so powerful that there was hardly a dry eye in the church. Grown men were wiping tears back. This play spoke to all of us. We have a mighty God, who is our protector, provider and will pull us out of our own selfishness and compromises. Hallelujah!
3. I read two devotional type resources on a regular basis. Today both of them touched me. The first one I want to sing praises about is from Our Daily Bread. The little book we get from church. Today’s author quoted another author where she wrote “Most often the Word of the Lord comes to a soul in the ordinary duties of life.” He cites Zacharias, the priest, and shepherds who were watching flocks and they had angels appear to them. He quotes Oswald Chambers “Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits.” Ladies, my life is one of a homekeeper, wife, mother, friend and today a Bible study facilitator. It is a life I love. Today, dear Lord, open my eyes and let me see you in the ordinary!

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

4. The other devotional book, my friend, Tami, gave me for Christmas. It is a Daily Guidepost devotional book. Today’s entry was so “cute” for lack of a better word. This guy is describing how he is telling his children that they are about to experience a historical moment. His van was turning over 200,000 miles. His point was to celebrate the mundane, the “ordinary”. I was tickled at this entry because I have an old van and Cory announced last night, as he was putting in gas for me and checking the oil, that my van is getting ready to turn over 220,000 miles. For that I say Praise the Lord! My old faithful van, has traveled cross country TWICE. It has carried my children back and forth to church, school and other worthy events. I recently had to fall back in love with it. Cory has taken over my Cadi. It has actually been a blessing. My van sits me higher and more able to see well. I have had more room to transport the kids I occasionally baby-sit. It is being held together with a song and a prayer but it still looks good. It still has more high tech electronics and gizmos and gadgets than my other car. It has comfortable leather seats and it is PAID for! So today I celebrate my old faithful van. It is ordinary and carries me to do extraordinary things for God. Yahoo! PS: the devotion ended like this…”Lord keep me from overlooking the daily, unspectacular blessings all around me. Now about that new car….”. Love it!
5. Last night I was able to spend time with a young divorced couple who are looking to reunite and put back their marriage. We had a great time playing and celebrating their son’s birthday. This is huge because as this self-assigned mother of this woman, I had such hurt and anger with her ex-husband. I recently told him that I wanted him to work hard on winning this girl back and work on a marriage and family to benefit their children. He has agreed. They are going to make it with lots of prayer. She is actively going to church and he is willing to go and recommit his life to Jesus. It will take time and I have faith. The biggest praise for me is not only their restored family, and his coming back to church, is the change in my heart that only God could do. Glory!

This has been a fun blog for me because it is putting a genuine smile on my face. I see God at work. I need to etch these blessings in my heart. Thank you for letting me share..sing "fa la la la".
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