What is your Journey?

Life is full of journey's.

Some journeys we really wish we hadn't taken.  We came to a crossroads in our life and we had a choice to make.  Those foolish journey's are the ones that we regret.  For myself, I took some wrong paths, knowing the right path to choose, but I had to learn the hard way.  I was curious and wanted to see what would happen if I took it anyway.  Foolish journey!

Others are much more worthwhile.  We might not even know the greatness that awaits at the end of that journey until it is over.  We can look back on our path and realize the changes we see in our lives because we chose wisely.  Those are the fun journeys! The ones we enjoyed!

There are hard journeys too.  Ones that are hard not because of our choosing - loss, pain, grief all come with those journeys.  Those are kinda like a free fall.  We don't have as much control over those journeys, as we might have over those we choose. 

But the journey's don't end.  We have to keep growing.  We will have to keep choosing.  We have to keep moving through them.  We still have some maturing to do (as much as we might think we don't).  Some days, I wish the journey was over and I could just live a comfortable life from now on!  Easy. Comfortable. Soft. Light.  No bumps. No pain. No hurt.  I know I will not always want to choose the hardest journey.  I pray by God's grace I choose which path He has for me.

I am thankful for all the paths my life has taken which bring me to this very place in my life.  Yes, I'm even grateful for the hard journeys, the unwise journeys.  They brought me maturity and growth too.  Maybe not in a good way, but a harder way!  God made those journey's work for my good.  He used those wrong decisions and hard walks to show me His grace, His mercy and His forgiveness. 

And that is the point of our lives.  That is definitely the point of my life.  God makes it work for me!  Just as He always has, drawing me into His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  He is the author and perfector!  He sent His son because I can't do it!

So I will continue to walk, to choose, and to accept Him as my Savior, as my author, and as my perfector.

Francis Chan

This really spoke to my heart this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=fHvDQQnRva4&feature=endscreen

Mama Mia!

Goodness! Parenting is the hardest job that I have ever had ...... and it doesn't pay a penny!  I know what I'm supposed to type next is, but it pays in many other more rewarding ways - right?  Lately, it hasn't felt that way.  Lately, it's felt like a never ending exhausting uphill run.  And it leaves me exhausted and wanting to just crash into bed at night with HGTV on and relax!

Isn't it ironic that the very thing I need God MOST for (being a good Mom), I can push him aside the most when it's exhausting and tiring.  When I need Him to fill me with patience, grace, mercy, and never ending Love, those are the times that I don't turn to Him for it.  Thank goodness He's not the same parent I am :)

Seeking God today!

Awakenings

I have gone thru a season in my life that's been dull. Every morning feels like a cloudy, rainy day instead of warm sunshiney day. I have been trudging along, just surviving life trying to be a support to my husband and EVERYTHING to my 4 kids. No passion, no emotion (except anger, man why can't I shake that one?), no joy.

It's been lonely at times.  My hubby and I haven't really connected in some time.  My friends have been sick or schedules within our own families does not allow us to get together. 

But this past week, I feel an awakening in my soul!  For whatever reason (maybe because I don't listen well or because the stage of life I'm in keeps me busy constantly), God usually speaks to me thru others words - blogs, podcasts, books, etc.  I'll hear a podcast, or read a blog and feel God's presence, drawing me in, telling me, "I've missed you, come back to ME! Spend time with ME!"  And I'll remember what an amazing God I serve.  I'll remember that time with HIM is priceless.  It's life-giving! How quickly I forget how much I need HIM. 

I'm glad He's reminding me this week that He's still there.  That He still loves me.  He's reminding me how desperately I need HIM.

It sure makes life a lot more meaningful :)

Peace

We have the most amazing backyard.  It is full of life - deer, turkeys, hawks, owls, every kind of bird you can imagine.  A cat wonders thru occasionally.  It is just what I need after a busy day - to sit outside on our back deck and just be at peace.

 It is where I hear from God.  He is always there.  It is me who does not always slow down enough to feel His Prescence and listen to Him.

At church this morning, my husband read Matthew 6:6 (Message version) -  Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

I'm so grateful that I have that space in the back yard where I can do this.  It's so true, I sense His grace every time I slow down, find that quiet place and just be there as honestly as I can.  Sometimes it feels really heavy, burdened with the days events.  Sometimes it feels sad, sometimes elated, sometimes angry. 

Last night, it just WAS.  There were no words, but He was there.  There were no overwhelming feelings (except peace), just Him.  It was as if we just sat and watched the evening activities of all the wildlife in the backyard. It was amazing!

I am so grateful for that peace today!

Check out this blog

Sam Hepner:

This is my amazing husband's blog!

http://samhepner.wordpress.com/

Clutch

This morning, I went for a run.  Running is a stress reliever for me and a rarity b/c I can only go when all the kids are in school, 2 days per week. I went out to the park where my son played soccer. And it was a beautiful morning, not too cold and the scenery was just cool! At first I was the only one there. Then another woman came and started to walk the same track I was, only going the opposite way as me. So we’d pass each other quite a few times.

One of the last times I passed by her, I saw she was holding something. Maybe it was something about her body language or demeanor, because it seemed to me that she was clutching pepper spray or something like that! As I got closer, I could see it was a pack of cigarettes. She wasn’t smoking, just holding the pack; but there was something about the way she held onto it, like it would protect her somehow.

I

t caught me off guard. For some reason, my mind went to, what am I holding that might protect me? I had my iPod, that’s it. The next place my mind went was…. what things do I clutch so tightly for my security?

So many times, I clutch things that I think will give me security. I wish I could say that every time I feel insecure, I grab my Bible, or some Godly thing like that. Truth be told, I don’t. There are times, I’m just grasping at the air, hoping to grab onto something that might provide temporary security. Most days, the things I clutch are those things I can tangibly see – people, things, money. Those are the easiest things to hold onto for security.

This morning, God used “a clutch” to reminded me that only He can provide me with security. He also reminded me that I hold on too tight. I’ll have to work on that one :)

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