One of those days...(and a cure)

Not sure what is in the air,

but it seems as though something is amiss.

Wrong side of the bed...

Got off on the wrong foot...

Murphy's Law...

Insert your phrase of choice here

for an all around crappy start to the day.

But then I heard this song

by Audio Adrenaline

while taking a drive around town

during my lunch break:

What an awesome reminder that

God's there to pick us up

every. single. time.

we get down.

hallelujah. amen.

Have a GOOD day, friend.

Discovering God: A Toddler's Story

We've been saying bed time prayers with Emma

for some time now. I wanted to share a sweet story

with you about our prayer time this week.

Usually it's just she and I because Eric works

most nights, but he's been home some lately.

The other night, as we got ready to pray, he said

"Remember, God listens when we talk to him."

As he said this, he pointed toward the ceiling

indicating God was up in heaven.

Well, clearly, Emma doesn't get the concept of

heaven. Instead, she apparently took this to mean

that God was actually up on the ceiling.

Coincidentally, Eric's shadow was cast above

Emma in the corner of her room.

With her hands folded sweetly as Eric and I

recited "Now I lay me down to sleep..."

I peeked at her and noticed her looking

over her shoulder at Eric's shadow.

We said "Amen." She said "Aaaaaaaameeeen."

Then without missing a beat, she looks back

to Eric's shadow, waves, and whispers,

"Nigh nigh, Gawd."

Be still my heart.

"Truly I say to you, unless you turn and

become like children, you will never enter

the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles

himself like this child is the greatest in

the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:3-4

Perks of the Workplace

Many places of employment are into offering

enticing perks for coming to work for them.

On-site gyms, tasty cafeterias, cushy break rooms,

rock climbing walls, massage therapists...you name it!

I work at my church as the director of media

and communications. To an outsider who works

in the corporate world, the only perk you might

recognize is a pretty decent benefits package.

However, I'm reminded this week of a unique

perk of working in such a wonderful place.

We've been hosting our annual summer

Vacation Bible School. Just look at these faces.

200+ kids.

200+ volunteers.

Yes, you read that right.

And we don't even have to beg people to volunteer.

They just come.

They take a week of vacation time to be here.

Because they have a heart for God

and a heart for the kids and each other.

Yes, it's noisier around here this week.

Yes, there are strange interruptions.

And yes, we've all worked hard to prepare.

But God is working here this week.

I feel it just sitting at my desk,

away from the hub-bub and excitement

down at the other end of the building.

To be present where God is at work.

That's the ultimate perk.

Oh, What a Good Day It Is...

I've been thinking a lot lately

about change...

and the future...

and possibilities.

Today I had lunch with someone I feel will

most certainly become one of those who can

be marked as a catalyst for change in my life.

I don't like change. It scares me.

Strange enough, possibility scares me.

It brings with it chance for both success AND failure.

And that gives me the heebie jeebies.

But I believe God works in and through people

to help us be who He wants us to be...

beyond our own self-assigned capabilities.

I'm certain God knows me better than I do,

and so He knows I need someone other than myself

to encourage me to embrace some possibilities

on the horizon.

This friend who I lunched with today offered to,

for lack of a better term, mentor me along

this winding road of potential change.

What a blessing and a gift!

Now, for those of you Curious Georges, this mostly

has to do with developing my graphic design business.

But that could, down the road, bring other life changes.

Which, again, are both exciting and scary.

Several Bible verses have been in my head lately,

I'm sure not at all by coincidence, and

have been great comforts to me as a reminder

that God knows what I'm going through!

This is the day that the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Do not fear, for I am with you.

Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

Isaiah 41:10

I can do ALL things through

Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Thy Will Be Done

We've got something big brewing over here. Things that have me feeling a bit introspective. My adorable, talented hubby just interviewed for a pretty big-deal job....and did well. We won't know for possibly two weeks whether or not he gets the job, so we're waiting.

I've been having mixed feelings. Most of the time I an thrilled and want to scream from the mountain tops how fabulously proud I am of my sweetie just for being considered for such an awesome job. (I promise there will be more to tell about the job once we know for sure.)

However, I'm also feeling apprehensive every now and then. You see, this job would take my husband away from home traveling the better part of a year or two. Wow, right? I'm so committed to helping Eric make this dream a reality - but it would mean so much change for our family. Would Emma do OK without her dad around for a while? Am I strong enough to be a single parent for that long? How would this effect our relationship? So many questions.

So while we wait for an answer, we've been praying fervently a very specific prayer. It's not long and complicated or even specific. But it IS what I believe to be the most profound and important prayer. "Thy will be done." At church, our pastor has recently referenced this prayer often. I think God's trying to tell me something - He's good at that, isn't He? If we're listening.

We don't have control over many things in life. We aren't the ones who ultimately decide whether Eric gets this job. But, I do have control over trusting God. By praying this prayer, I am trusting God to lead us in the direction He wants us to go. If we strive to align our actions with God's will for our lives, how can we possibly go wrong?

This is comforting. If it's God's will for my hubby to get this job, then I have to trust He'll give us the strength to survive it...maybe even thrive because of it.

So, while we wait, we pray for God's will be to clear to us. But I'm still going to smile a little bigger, squeeze my sweetie's hand a little tighter, and tell a friend here and there the exciting possibilities on our horizon.

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto (Ian Britton)

Dear God...

My full time job is doing media/publicity/design for

my church.  One benefit: uplifting spiritual stuff at my

fingertips.  Case in point is this beautiful prayer

someone left on my desk this morning.

You Were Made to Be Loved

Wanna know what made today GOOD for me?  While making a Chic-Fil-A run for lunch, Toby Mac reminded me how special I am to God.  He created me just so he could love me and let me love him in return.  Little old me.  With all my glaring imperfections.  And even though I sometimes neglect to set aside time for him.  He loves me. He loves YOU.

But I especially love the way Toby (we're on a first name basis ever since I played through two copies of DC Talk's Jesus Freak CD years ago) puts it in his song "Made to Love."

I was made to love you, I was made to find you

I was made just for you, made to adore you

I was made to love, and be loved by you

You were here before me

You were waiting on me

And you said you'd keep me

Never would you leave me

I was made to love, and be loved by you.