Day 262 - Days

Last week my son had a bad day. I'm sure his whole day wasn't bad, but once he got home from school it went down hill. There was frustration, tears, loud words, and definitely a seven-year-old temper tantrum. He lost it, I lost it, his dad lost it, and by bedtime it was just a sloppy mess.

As I was getting my kids ready for bed, I felt like I needed to pray with them. We vary our prayers from dinner to nighttime. That night I felt the need to speak to my son through prayer because I didn't know how else to reach him. He was a crying mess. I prayed for our family, for God to help us with bad days, and for reminders that we get to start all over in the morning. I told him that Jesus loves us no matter what and that everyone has not-so-good days. When I was done, my son said, "Mom, thank you for the prayer and for saying that we all have bad days. I love you." And he wiped his tears away and went to sleep, with his sniffles melting away.

While I hold a firm line between being naughty and good, some days are just simply bad ones. Some situations just need peace. When our tears are too many to see and we can't pull out of our feelings, we all deserve a reminder that we get a do-over and that Jesus loves us no matter what.

Sometimes as adults we need to pray and remind ourselves the same things.


 

Day 261 - Losses

We all suffer losses. Lost jobs, relationships, promises, loved ones, possessions, dreams, etc. etc. etc. I wrote these two notes and this verse on my sermon outlines.

Losses deepen me, but they don't define me. They are part of my maturity, not my identity. Do not let the losses in life define you, let them make you better. 

It's done, so let's get on with life...

We pray that you will be filled with his almighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens - always full of the joy of the Lord. - Colossians 1:11 (LB)


 

Day 260 - Sunday verse

Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer. -Lamentations 2:19 (NLT)

 

Day 259 - I can

Today I woke up anxious with a full run a head of me. A distance that I have only run twice before. It's not that I didn't think that I could do it, because I knew that I could. I just thought it would be hard. I wasn't sure that I was strong enough to finish without walking, needing my inhaler, or giving up. I have been training so hard, but when thinking about this run, I didn't believe I was a runner.

Last night I watched a documentary about an ultra marathon runner. I listened to his life and saw his achievements (which are more than I could ever imagine). And I was reminded of my own personal belief that l live by. I can do anything. Literally. I might not be able to do it as well, as fast, as far, or as much, but if someone else can do it so can I. This motto helped me in giving birth, getting my MBA, climbing the corporate ladder, taking leaps of faith, making big decisions, working from home, and trying new things. This motto is what got me running in the first place, and that was no easy task. I can do it. I am capable.

My run this morning was amazing. I was a sweaty mess, exhausted, and it was hot... but I rocked it. I didn't need anything to see me through it except for a reminder that if one man can run hundreds of miles, I could run too. And every weekend when I get ready for my long run I am going to remind myself that I can do anything. And I am going to pray for God to give me the strength to rock the new mileage ahead of me. Every week I will go a little further because God made me capable of finishing my journey. I just have to believe it.

We can all do more than we ever imagined for ourselves.

 

Day 258 - What is to come

When I figured out that this year would be about hope, God also whispered what next year should be. I've known it all along, but I can already feel God preparing me for it in small ways. While hope is still dramatically changing my life, I am already excited for what is to come. Just had to share.

 

Day 257 - A pretty amazing reminder

Yesterday's post was about feeling spiritually dry. I'm not even sure why I used the word "dry" but that's the only way I could explain how I felt with the busyness of life. When I went to write today's post I didn't know what to say, my eyes went to my prayer journal and I opened it up to this.

Feed the hungry,
   and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
   and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually,
   giving you water when you are dry
   and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like an ever-flowing spring.
-Isaiah 58:10-11 (NLT)

I have opened the Bible to random pages before, hoping God would talk to me that way. It doesn't usually work. But today was one of those lucky days when God needs you to know something. And you know what he needed me to know, that just opening my books isn't going to fill me up spiritually. That I need to feed the hungry and help those in trouble. I need to "do" not just read. It's no coincidence that just this morning, after reading an article that bothered me, I said to myself that I need to find what it is that stirs me. An issue, a group of people, a cause that I can stand up for. I want to find whatever that is and get moving. I just haven't figured it out yet.

After I started writing this post I felt compelled to see what came before this verse and so I went back to the beginning of the chapter. You can read it all here. God answered my post about being dry, but he is also speaking to my stirring soul. To the part of me that doesn't know what I should be doing. And He is telling me just to do anything. To free those wrongly imprisoned, listen to others burdens, share our food with the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, give clothes to those who need them, help family members, and stop pointing fingers and spreading rumors. He is telling me (and you) to just do something. Every single day.

So today I will be going to the store and filling up a grocery bag or two for the food bank that fed us when we were down. This week I will be doing all of the things I keep saying I am going to do, but never get to. I feel like God opened my eyes and is telling me that I can't just wait around trying to figure out my passion, there are so many thing I can be doing every day and that is how he gives you water when you are dry and restores your strength.

A pretty amazing reminder.

 

Day 256 - God's paperwork

I am having a hard time juggling life. School is back in session and I suddenly feel like a taxi driver (but the kind that is fun because your passengers have lots to tell you about their day). Some days are especially long with extracurricular activities and volunteer duties. By the time I take a breath it's bedtime for the kids and I spend my quiet hours doing whatever is the most pressing and that time goes by fast. I try to get to bed before midnight so I can get up early to run and then do it all over again.

I love all of the madness but I forget to pray, read, and have time dedicated to God. I have four books sitting by my computer begging me to read them, and yet they just sit. Books filled with God's promises and life stories of people's faith. And when I go to write my blogs, I feel a little dry. If I don't have time for God, how can my faith grow? How can hope seep in? How can I hear God's voice and direction?  How can I give proper thanks for all of the blessings showered on us? You just can't. Just going to church on Sunday is not enough to fill you up for a whole week.

It's easy to be overloaded. I have bills, papers, and to-dos piled on my desk. So many things need my attention, and yet I can't think of anything more important that spending time with God. His paperwork directs you through each and every day.