Oh, To Be Gifted

I was gifted today.

No, not gifted in the sense that I can calculate huge strings of numbers instantly or play Mendelssohn without practicing.  I'm definitely not gifted that way.

But I was gifted.  Blessed. Humbled.  Touched.  Given something amazing by someone who is definitely gifted.

Did that last sentence confuse you?

She is definitely gifted-- at giving.  I think it's one of her gifts-- her spiritual gifts, I mean.  She's given me meals.  She's given me phone calls to check up on how I'm doing.  She's given me huge bottles of my favorite detergent.  For many years she's given me her friendship, and most importantly, she gives me Scripture when I need to hear it.

And the way she gifted me today?

Today, she gave me the gift of a lovely new haircut and highlights.  

Did she know that I had secretly talked to the Lord about needing a haircut?  Is her gift in perceiving the needs people have, or is it just simply in listening when the Lord prompts her to do something?  Oh, that the Lord would open my eyes wider to perceive when there are ways that I can use my gifts.  Oh, that the Lord would build up in me the gift of giving.

I don't get to spend time with this gifted friend very often, but she I know she is there, using her gifts, loving the Lord, and inspiring me to give too.

So I sit here tonight praying that the Lord would give her His many good gifts in return.

Monday Morning

For all those who care for homes, husbands, and families on this Monday morning:

Monday morning, coffee brewing,

House is quiet, mind is stewing.

Lord, I have so much to do,

I knew I had to come to You.

My week is full, the tension high,

All that can wait-- it seems that I

Have come to know, have come to see

This time with You- necessity.

The tasks bear down, the piles call,

Temporary, transient, earthly--all.

Time spent with You to know Your heart

Turns piles into works of art.

As You teach me, this earthly home

Becomes a place to do Your will.

The highest calling, the noblest task,

With lives to love and hearts to fill.

Your sweetness, Lord. Your mercy, Lord.

Your goodness, Lord.  Your grace--

Please fill me up on this full day.

With grateful heart, I seek Your face.

If George Muller Had a Credit Card

I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the way that God provides for His children and the way we often try to meet our own needs before we pray about them.

Through the fall, Paul's health difficulties took a huge toll on his law practice, and then he was unable to work for about six weeks because of the surgery.  We have been forced to cry out to the Lord for His provision for our family.  We couldn't even wrangle things around.  The money to pay bills simply wasn't there unless the Lord provided it miraculously.

It has been amazing to watch.  The situation seemed impossible, but nothing is impossible with God.  We have had checks come out of the blue, grocery gift cards left at the church office for us, and a number of other gifts-- from meals to shoes to clothes to a fuel card.  I find myself absolutely amazed and humbled at the way God continues to meet us in our time of need.  We have been brought to tears numerous times at the love poured out on us by God through His children.  I confess that I cry a lot these days, but they are mostly tears of joy at the way God has shown Himself to be so near and active in our lives-- both by healing Paul and providing for us while he has been out of commission.  I am truly in awe.  Each provision- no matter how big or small- increases my faith.

I think it is commonplace in our culture to just go and plunk down a credit card for the things we need.  I recently needed a pair of shoes, and I could have easily purchased them that way.  In fact, I'm so ashamed to think of all the times that I have done exactly that instead of praying for the thing I needed-- as if the God of all creation couldn't supply a pair of shoes or groceries or money for bills.  I prayed specifically for the shoes, and the Lord gave me money through a friend who said, "I know you are the kind of mom that takes care of everyone else first, but please take this money and get something YOU need."

My kids have a book called The Bandit of Ashley Downs that was written by Dave and Neta Jackson.  It tells the story of the great hero of the faith, George Muller.  The introduction says the following:

"George Muller founded an orphanage in Bristol, England, that at first cared for thirty children.  By faith, and without going into debt or revealing his financial needs to anyone but God, the orphanage grew until Muller had cared for more than ten thousand children during his lifetime."

Here is my question:  If George Muller had owned a credit card, would he be known for his great faith?

I'm going to be pondering this one for a long time...

Sunshine

I absolutely LOVE sunshine.

One of the things I have always missed about Colorado is the way the sun shines all the time, even in winter.  Normally it is cold, gray, and dreary here this time of year, but we've had an unusual (and I mean unusual!) amount of sunshine this winter.  Last spring I realized that I have a definite physical issue that arises from too little sun, so I knew that I was going to have to be proactive about getting even small bits of sun when I could through the winter.  I was dreading the long gray winter, but God has given more sunshine than I could have imagined possible.  What a gift of grace to my weary heart during a really difficult time!

The last few days I've had a cold, so I stayed home from church on Sunday.  I was sitting on a stool in our sunny little alcove with my long sleeves pulled up and my face turned toward the sun when Paul and the kids got home after church.  Sarah walked in and said, "Mommy, are you sun-basking?"

Yes, sweet girl.  I was basking.  I admit it.  I do love this sunny winter.

As thankful as I have been for the sunshine, I know that the gray days will surely come too.  On those days, I need to remember to bask in another Light-- with my face turned toward the Son.

Getting Back to Normal

Paul saw the surgeon yesterday and doesn't have to go back again!  The surgeon was pleased with his progress and said that Paul's prognosis was good to have a complete recovery.  Paul will still have appointments with the infectious disease specialist for the recent infection, but as for the initial surgery, Paul is recovering well.  We are extremely grateful for this blessing from the Lord.

Paul has started back to work and has even been to court a couple of times this week.  The other day I was unloading the dishwasher when he returned from court and walked into the house in his suit and overcoat.  The kids ran to him in their usual exuberance-- "Daddy!!!"

I thought to myself, "This feels so normal."

It felt so good for something to be "normal".  Nothing exciting, out of the ordinary, unusual, or surprising.  Just normal!

Just normal.  I wonder how often I have complained at the normal and ordinary?

Today I am praising God for the process of getting back to a regular, normal pattern of living, all the while praying that we would glorify and cling to God in the normal and the ordinary moments just as we must during the exciting, stressful, and eventful ones.  He is the God who carries us through both.  I continue to pray for a complete recovery for Paul and the Lord's direction with Paul's practice, but I am also very thankful for the process of "getting back to normal".