The Cleft of the Rock

Exodus 33

14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

20 But,"he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.

22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

It is not everyday that the very presence of the Lord greets us. But sometimes, just sometimes, we are witness to the very power of the Living God.

I have always loved the above passage. I love that Moses says, "Now show me your glory."

I love that in his relationship with the Lord, he felt like he could ask this of him. I love that it reminds me that I too, am valued by the Lord on High, and that asking things of the Lord is NOT boastful, haughty, or for self gain. But, rather, it is the very essence of the relationship we are given through his Son.

I love that Moses realizes that unless the Lord go with Him, he ought not even to go. Oh, that I would have that be my prayer each and every morning.

This week, life for our church family changed with one phone call. It came on the heals of one visit to the doctor, and in that one moment, everything was different.

I write today, not because our greatest and most fervent prayers were answered. But instead because regardless of the medical tests and observations, we SERVE a MIGHTY KING.

I write today because Emily is awaiting a diagnosis.

I write today because Jud was healed not in life, but in death.

I write today because Audrey Caroline is in heaven with the Lord, and Stellan is not.

I write today because Pam is now living a life she never foresaw, but is walking it none the less.

I write today because prayers are answered, and because they are not.

I write today because none of this surprises our Mighty King.

I write today because there is no "Plan B" in the journey of life.

I write today because someone fought the good fight, and won.

I write today because someone else fought just as good a fight, but lost.

I write because when you are in the cleft of the rock, it is because His hand is upon you, not because He has forsaken you.

I write because even though I have not seen His face, I have indeed seen His GLORY.

She's going to be a doctor...

The Beez just had the following conversation with her brothers:

Beez: I need some medicine because I am sick

Crack: How did you get sick?

Beez: Remember when Kannon was sick? She had hand, foot and mouth disease? Remember that? Do you remember?

Snake: Yeah, I remember that.

Beez: Well, I have the foot part.

Crack: What do you mean you have the foot part?

Beez: Well, mom always says that I am going to get sick if I don't put socks on in the winter. And it is winter right now, which means it's cold.

Snake: Okay????

Beez: Well, I took my socks off on Saturday and my feet got cold....that means that I got foot disease, cause now I am coughing and have a runny nose.

Sometimes NOT correcting your child is the best medicine.

100-0

Can a game that ends with the score of 100-0 really be considered a game?

I saw an article online today and it got me thinking. In a nutshell, two small school girls varsity teams in Texas met last week on the basketball court.

The winning team, Covenant, a small Christian school beat Dallas Academy 100-0. The halftime score was 59-0 and while Covenant did back off the scoring run once they reached 100 points, they were still taking and making 3 point shots and doing a full court press in the 4th quarter.

In an email to the local paper the winning coach said this,

"In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Web site, I do
not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls
basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed," Grimes wrote in the e-mail,
according to the newspaper. "We played the game as it was meant to be played. My
values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent,
and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls
played with honor and integrity."

I guess "running up the score" is a matter of opinion, not numbers. You can read the whole article here.

Having played high school ball for a small school, I can attest that 100 points is a run up, no matter the opponent. During my playing years, the now famous Lisa Leslie played for another Southern California team. I remember very clearly the hoopla that surrounded the now infamous game. According to school tradition, the senior star player broke the schools single game scoring record each year. The time came, and Lisa Leslie was one fire...she scored 101 points......in the first half. The half time score was 102-24. Their was never a second half because the opposing team refused to take the court again, and therefore the game was officially forfeited.

I wonder if records are worth it when they come at someone's demise and loss of dignity?

I also wonder what the players of Covenant Academy are thinking right now. I wonder what they would have thought if it never made the news?

Integrity matters.

It matters most when no one is looking.

In the aftermath, the coach of Covenant has been fired and the school is seeking to forfeit. As of this writing, the coach is showing no regrets. He stands by his decision to keep the pressure on the team and to push his players to 100 points.

Here is what I think...I think that school sports, and community sports should be about the sport itself. About how to play the game, and how to apply the game to life. While I do agree that much is learned by winning and losing, I believe that more is learned by how you play the game.

So what is your take?

I would rather be a player, than a winner any day.

****UPDATE*****
I thought an uplifting story about high school sports would be better to end with. If you really want to know the difference playing a game to win the game, and playing the game to win in life read this...but grab the tissue box.

Origin of Nicknames 101

Carol asked about our nicknames and I thought I would clarify. When I started blogging I used everyones real names, but I tried to keep specifics about our life vague. I didn't post our last name, our city, our church, or anything else that would be a give-a-way as to our actual location and everyday lives. While I realized that someone, who had gads and gads of time could probably reasearch every corner of my posts and decifer something that I might have overlooked, I never really stressed about it.

Until the "anonymous" comment.

Back in

That comment kind of jadded me and made me realize that some people do have gads and gads of time and choose to spend it making random, full of lies statements.

Playing House in the White House

This is a slide show presentation of a letter written by the Bush girls on the occasion of the Obama girls taking up residence in the White House. This is only part of the letter, to read it in its entirety click here.

I am so impressed by the grace that is given and the wisdom that is imparted.

Before you watch it, make sure you scroll down and pause the music that is playing on the blog.

Enjoy, it gave me hope that politics doesn't jade everything.

You can read my own letter to President Obama here.

The Passing of the Torch

About Last Night 1/23/09

Last night we celebrated Crack's birthday with family dinner here at home. The Outlaws were here, and the birthday boy choose the menu. I made Grilled Chicken with Fettuccine Alfredo, garlic bread, and blue cheese wedge salad with bacon bits and balsamic vinegar.

As we sat down to eat, The Beez asked if she could say the blessing. This is how it went.

Me: "Go ahead Beez, we are ready to eat."

Beez: "Is everybody ready? I am going to pray now."

Me: "We're ready."

Beez: "Reeeeaaadyyyyyyyy? OooooooKaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!! Dear Jesus............"

The poor child is so excited about being a cheerleader, that it has overtaken everything, even her prayer life!!!

He's 12

He is 12 today.

My firstborn.

My likeness.

My heart.

My love.

My son.

My joy, and occasionally a pain in the rear.

But, he will always be mine.

I thought I would share a few pics with you on this the occasion of his 12th birthday.

Cheap Grace

I just read ICorinthians 6:19 &20 to my kids for their Bible lesson. This is what it says:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

How often I live in the shadow of "cheap grace". Because redemption is free to me, I live like it was free to Him who redeemed me. Instead of living like one who was "bought for a price", I live like I am His only by way of some cheap scam where you buy one and get a hundred...for free.

Oh, that I would remember daily to honor Him with all I do...the simple and mundane, like homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, paying bills. May I also honor Him with the Holy, like in prayer, repentance, worship and grace.

Just reading over those words reminds me, not only that I was bought for the ultimate price, but that He willing paid it. Oh, that I would think of my GOD with the reverence that such great sacrifice deserves.

In a "me" world, I would be well served to remind myself how valuable I am...not in my own or others eyes, but instead, in the eyes of the Lord.

And the Golden Measuring Tape goes to...

ME!!!!!!

Yeah for the Bloggy Awards!!!

Bridget over at Don't Blink gave a little blog love to me and now it is my turn to share it. First let me say that Bridget is who I want to be when I grow up. She is hilarious, beautiful, a little wacky, and a lot in love with Jesus. She home schools her kids, loves her husband, and doesn't take herself too seriously. Oh, and she lives in my home state of California, which makes it even better.

Now, on the the specifics. I have to do three things with this award.

First, I have to say something nice about my main man....okay, he is my ONLY man, but he is pretty great, so this is not hard. For a longer diatribe on husbands in general, read this from last week.

Here goes: Big Daddy, is all that. He is madly in love with me. He adores our children, and he is vested in the people they will one day become. He is the picture of hard work...but knows how to relax and enjoy things.

But my number one accolade is this: He loves my body. He loves it exactly the way it is. He has never suggested I diet, lose weight, work out, color my hair, do my makeup differently, nothing but "Babe, you look hot!!!" and he has even has gone the extra mile by telling me I am beautiful with NO MAKEUP and my hair pulled on top of my head, with pj's and baby spit up on the shirt that I thought was clean.

Now for those of you who do not "know" me in the flesh, but only thorough this blog, here are the facts. I am just shy of six foot. My skinny is a 14 long and an XL shirt. I am broad in every way. I not only have hips, but I have a butt and a gut. Yet some how, waking up with him next to me, reminds me that I make 200 pounds look good!!!

And while I may dream of a 12 long, it is my dream and not his. And that is a blessing that I never thought about when I dreamed of my dream guy, but boy is it a fringe benefit that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Off that soapbox and on to number two.

Second, list six ways in which I measure success.

6. Stewardship - Not how much money you have made, but what you have done with it.

5. Humor - Any level of success, comes with some degree of failure first. Most people do not share their failures, and worse yet, they have not learned for them. If we take ourselves too seriously, than we are missing the point. Laugh at yourself. Out loud if possible.

4. Goals - I find wisdom in planning. Everyone might have have different goals, but just having them means that you are trying to succeed at SOMETHING. And to me, that matters.

3. Journey - I am not interested in people who "have arrived" I am interested in those who are on their way, knowing that growth and character comes from the journey, not the destination.

2. Empathy - When I had kids, I was immediately burdened by raising empathic children, who would grow into empathetic adults. It does not matter where you are in your own life, if you can NOT understand where someone else is in theirs.

1. Love - Loving God and loving others is what it all boils down to. If you have all the other things, but lack love, than you lack the ability to reach people and to make a difference.

Third, I need to pass this on to someone else.

Brandi and Pete
Carol
Bridget (in OK not Cali)
and lastly to my Mom, who while new to blogging, will be wildly successful once she gets going.

Dear Mr. President....

Dear Mr. President,

This election mattered. You now have the awesome responsibility to not only walk in the footsteps of our history but to also forge you own as you lead this great country.

I pray for one thing as you undertake this, the greatest task asked of a countryman.

That you are Honorable.

That you act not on your own behalf, but on the behalf of us all.

That you will fight for the future of our country, always mindful of the foundation that was laid by our forefathers.

That you will remain faithful as a husband and father, remembering your true legacy will be with them.

That you will act, not as a politician, but as a man bound by the honor of this great nation.

This election mattered.

Lead on.

Sincerely,

Not Me Monday

It's that time again...Not Me Monday





I did not spend the last week on Facebook reuniting with friends from elementary school...because that would mean that I would have to admit that elementary school was more than 20 years ago for me...and who wants to admit that???? Not Me!!!

I did not try to explain math to my oldest son by saying, " you can not add those together...it's like apples, pears and oranges....they are different." Only to hear my little girl say, " you can add those together Mommy, you can make 'p-o-r-n-g-e-l-s juice...that would be yummy." To which I then had to explain that that was not a good made up word...not one we should be sharing with others. Not me.

You're Gonna Miss This...

I know...two posts in ONE day...it's like Christmas all over again.

For my first installment of Pam's You're Gonna Miss This I thought I fill you in on a little something, and hit two birds with one stone.

If you have been reading this blog for more than a few months, then you might remember this post about my little sister KC moving 100 miles away...which is a really BIG deal because she lived practically in my backyard...technically, she(and her husband and little girl) live next door to my backyard...but you get the point....from a 100 feet to 100 miles is a really BIG deal.

Well, it was horrible. Really horrible. The pain of not seeing her and the Beast daily almost killed me. But, on some level it was never as bad as we had imagined it in our heads. We did have to detox from daily coffee together and daily interaction of our kids, but the hardest part was that the day after they moved...she found out she was expecting. Talk about kicking you when you are down...I then had to grieve all over again it took me weeks to realize that once again it was probably worse in my head...I seem to always end up in the deep end in my head.

Anyway, we were all doing our best. The first few days we did a lot of texting. That's what we do when all we would do on the phone is cry and therefore make everything worse. They, as a family were miserable. Between the apartment living, no family around, and pregnancy hormones...it was really hard.

Call them crazy, or call me the luckiest girl around...tomorrow they will be back in the "Blue House" as the Beast calls it. Yep, my backyard will once again have a worn pathway from my back door to hers...actually since its winter...the path never went away.

This morning the Beast is here with us while KC is at work... in all fairness she is so NOT as Beastly as she use to be...but the name stuck. So my pictures are of what I DID miss...and what I am glad to miss no more.

Here is Kannon...in all her glory...some of my favorite shots...

She is always a "knockout"



This one we affectionately call "Baby on a Wall"



First steps



Rocking out with the big girls on Beez's 5th Birthday

When your child quotes the Bible...to your other child

So, I was just sitting here, working on my 200th post when I overhead the following conversation from the kitchen...

Crack (who is almost 12 to Beez who is 5): "you need to stop messing around, it's time for lunch." Beez: "I am just playing with Snake"
Crack: "I know you are just playing, but you are being disobedient. Mom said for us to get our lunch made and not to waste time. The BIBLE says that you should obey your mother and father, and you are not doing that are you?"
Beez: "No, I am not. I will be obedient and get my lunch ready like Mom said"

Me, to myself, "is that a good thing or a bad thing??? Part of me is thinking, 'way to go Crack!!!'...the other part is thinking, 'take your own advice'.....mostly I am thinking, "he ALREADY sounds like his mother!!!! (poor thing)"

New Year + New Budget = New Stress

I am really not a New Year's resolution kind of person. With the exception of taking a personal inventory(and spiritual one too) I really don't make a list of things to do or accomplish just cause it New Years.
This year, though, I really have felt the urging of the Lord to get our finances in order. This past year we had record expenditures due to the fact that we made a top to bottom remodel in our kitchen, replaced the floors through 75% of the house and also gutted and remodeled the kids bathroom. Add to that some hefty auto repair bills(no car payments though) and any one would have their head spinning. But unfortunately, while we were in full demo mode the economy was in total meltdown mode. Not a good mix.

So, for the New Year, I have some new goals:

• Start using http://www.pearbudget.com/ I found this over on Brand & Boys page. I hope it is all that I am dreaming it will be...I hate most online budget guides, but so far this one is right up my alley.
• Give up the Debit card....too much mindless spending on my part...I can turn a quick trip for milk and eggs into 4o bucks without blinking.
• Give up the check book too...except for bill paying that I can not do online. I am a sucker for kids coming up to me asking me to sponsor them or order something from them for a fundraiser...and then just whip out a check...mindless spending again.
• Stick to my grocery budget...not my list..just my budget. I have this thing about groceries...it is kind of freaky, but ask anyone, my pantry IS ALWAYS stocked. In my defense, I also cook a full hot meal EVERY night and during the colder months, I usually cook a hot breakfast a few times a week too. We only eat out maybe twice a month at our fave Mexican place.
• Do my VERY BEST to not purchase any "wants". I am a bargain shopper, so I do a lot of what I would call preemptive sale shopping. I am always on the lookout for my kids next size athletic shoe, end-of-season-for-next-season bargain clothes shopping, and just in general...if it is on sale, than I am tempted to buy it.
• And, lastly I really need to keep on eye on our tithing. While we do tithe regularly, I have kind of gotten into a giving rut. I am praying that the Lord will help me be mindful of others needs, and to give freely, without preconceived amounts and then trust the Lord to meet our needs.

So, if you find yourself in these same shoes, or maybe your own pair with different goals and changes on your horizon, leave a comment I will pray for your journey, as I pray for my own.

Ants in my pants...or something like it.

Last night, in order to watch 24 uninterrupted, I gave the kiddos permission to finish the cupcakes that I had made earlier by icing them and decorating them. I know, what was I thinking????

But actually, they did a very good job. What I did NOT tell them was how many they could eat AFTER they finished with the decorating. BIG MISTAKE!!! I should first mention, these were no measly cupcakes...these were my highly sought after JUMBO Celebration Cupcakes.

So this morning, while I was cleaning up the mess(don't miss the fact that it was this morning...not last night) I realized that there was only 5 left. After some quick addition(or subtraction) and searching, just in case I missed them and they were hiding, I realized that between the four of us who ate them last night(Beez was full from our yummy homemade soup and cornbread..which she said "rocked") we consumed 7 cupcakes...remembering that they were of the jumbo variety should bring a look of shock across your face.

But I KNEW that Big Daddy and I only ate one a piece....which left the culprits Crack and Snake eating two each.

That, my friends, is the equivalent to 4 PIECES of CAKE EACH!!!!!!

Just trying to make a point...

Sometimes, when homeschooling your children, you have to go to the end of the world to get one of them to understand a new concept or even just a simple project.

Crack, who is in 6th grade, loves to do reports on figures he is learning about, especially if he gets to role play. Tell him to imagine he is actually walking around the walls of Jericho, and watch out, he will blow your socks off with vivid imagery and relate able feelings.

Snake, on the other hand, loathes role playing, at least in school. Don't get me wrong, the kid actually has a more vivid imagination than his older brother, but somehow when asked to use it scholastically, and he clams up.

Today, Snake had to write a short report based on the story of the King Belshazzar in Daniel. Specifically on the writing on the wall story. His instructions are simple, read the passage, and then describe the account in your own words including the translation of the words written on the wall. In addition, he needs to IMAGINE that he is at the kings table when it all takes place and describe his feelings in relation to the nights strange and powerful encounter with the Holy God.

After he retells the event as laid out in the scripture...he hits a wall. Blank stares and absolutely no desire to "go there" in his imagination he calls for me.
I read his completed portion, which was fine and then ask him to IMAGINE he was at the table when it actually happened.

Again, a blank stare. Not even a hint of imagination in his eyes. At this point, in my frustration I look down and try to keep my composure(and my hands to myself). When I look back up, I spot Snakes newest pride and joy, a Lego robot, complete with guns and fighter guys to help protect him. I then remembered his explanation of all of his parts the previous night. You see, the Lego robot had something that NO OTHER Lego Robot in the history of Lego Robots has ever been privy to have....a goober gun, two actually.

So, I grab the Lego Robot, goober gun and all and explain to Snake that his IMAGINATION thought up the goober gun...that no one else on the planet would have had the IMAGINATION to do that. So just like he used his imagination to think up that, he needed to use it to think of being at the kings table.(sans the goober guns)

When all else fails, just use the goober guns to get the job done.

24 is BACK!!!!

Jack is back!!! Which means that Big Daddy and I will be planted in front of the TV for two hours straight tonight!!!

I am not sure if I should be jealous or not...cause I think Big Daddy might love Jack even more than I do. But then again, who doesn't love Jack!!!

Meet the Family Part 1

I am nearing my 200th post and I can hardly believe it. I have to say that blogging has kept me sane this past year, and in a way has really calmed me...or at least helped me with processing my life and all that in entails.

I have been a little neglectful these past few weeks, but even after the holidays, we still had/have family staying with us, so instead of processing via blogging I have been doing it in real time with them.

Speaking of family, I don't think I have ever given anything more than just general stats when it comes to our extended family so I thought I would highlight one or more of them over the next week so that you can get to know me a little better by getting to know the gallery of laughter that I come from.

No faves or anything, but since I would like to included pics of who I am talking about I will start with the grandparents and make my way down.



First up, my grandparents, who go lovingly by Grammy and Pops. They live here in Small Town MS, only a mile from us and we see them regularly. Grammy is retired, but you would never know it. She is a great cook, and my go-to-gal when it comes to southern cooking. She is also an amazing pianist and has been playing at her church for more than 30 years. Pops is retired X2 from both the Navy and from a civilian job. On top of that, the man can not sit still (or Grammy won't let him) and has been at his current place of employment for 13 years. He loves to hunt, and often takes my boys to go along. He makes no bones about the fact that he loves the nap he gets as much as the possibility of taking down a buck.

They have four kids, my mom being the oldest. The youngest we lovingly call, "the Chosen One" but I have to admit, if I found myself sick at forty and thought it was menopause only to find out I was pregnant, I would probably have some "choice" feelings as well. We all love "the Chosen One", and we let him know it...often. I should give full disclosure, that while my title is not as wide spread as his, I am pretty much the chosen one when it comes to grandchildren. Mainly in my youth, since I was the first and only for many years...did I mention that "the Chosen One" and I are only 4 years apart? Yeah, so I think that the glory of "the Chosen One" rubbed off on me a little. (or at least that is what I tell all the other grand kids as to not hurt their feelings.)

Anyway, my favorite thing about my grandparents is this...when it comes down to it, it is all about family. And family means love and laughter, and Grammy's famous taco's if we're lucky.

I actually met my hubby, Big Daddy, while I lived with them for a semester during my college years(that's a whole nuther...I live in the south remember...story) Big Daddy said that if either of my parents had had an issue with us getting married(since they didn't get to know him before we got engaged) that he would ask Pops for my hand in marriage, and that if we got His blessing, than we would be okay.

That says a lot, since on our first date, Pops met Big Daddy in the yard and told him he was at the wrong house...and something about goin' inside to get his gun. They would have to tell it, but just picture it if you can.

More later...but since I have a big family, we might hit 250 by the time were done.

Stay tuned. If you have a crazy family you will feel right at home, and if you have a normal, boring family you will be enlightened.

We got a new dog....

Since nothing else needs my attention, as I sit and eat Bon Bons all day and watch Soap Operas, my DH decided that we needed to take in a dog that someone needed to find a new home for. She is totally precious, and full of love, but HELLO, now my kid to dog ratio is even...which in turn means that we ARE TOTALLY out numbered on ALL FRONTS.

Here are the details, and I will post a pic soon.

Her name is Maxie, she is a Reverse Brindle Boxer, and she is about 16 months old.

Our other dogs are adjusting, but Bruno is being very protective of Beauty, which makes for a tussle every now and again. (I used "tussle" to remind you how out numbered we are...and that all the involved parties are NOT ALWAYS getting along.)

Her best characteristic is that she is very loving, and very attentive. She looks you in the eye when you give her love, and sits down right at your side with a little lean into you, just to make sure you know she needs you. Our others are loving, but in a hyper way. I wonder who will influence who.

Lord help me.

About Last Night 1/02/09

So last night my husband and I snuck out to the deck for a few moments to play with our new cell phones...he got a new Pantech Slate and I finally activated my anniversary present, a new iPhone. We were not outside for 2 minutes when the boys come out and start bugging us about playing the Wii before bed. We oblige, as to gain a few more minutes of play time for ourselves, and they head into the living room to play Guitar Hero.
I kid you not, 30 SECONDS later they are in a full knock down drag out, about to hit the living room floor in a tussle. I come storming in and of course they are both blaming each other, claiming innocence for themselves. I had had enough, so I sent them to bed...no questions asked. My explicit instructions were these:

1. Don't look at each other
2. Don't talk to each other
3. Brush your teeth
4. Get in bed
5. Not a word, not anything.

Crack brushes his teeth first, while Snake gets the bunks ready(they are rooming together since we have company). About 5 seconds after Crack enters the room, he comes running up front mad that Snake is aggravating him and messing with him...he is so mad that he pleads for me to give him the go ahead to lay him out....with my blessing...I was cracking up...but tried to keep my cool and a straight face. I send Crack to bed and call Snake up front for an explanation.

My first words were a recounting of the above rules....loudly. Then I asked him why he broke them, especially when he was already in so much trouble. He replies, "I didn't Mom." I am flabbergasted and told him not to mess with me. I gave him the rules AGAIN and then asked again why he went back there and aggravated his brother. He said, "I didn't break the rules Mom!" To which I met my eventual downfall by replying, "How did you aggravate him without breaking the rules?"

With a straight face he replied, "I took my little dog and waved it in his face...but I DID NOT TALK OR LOOK AT HIM!!!!"

Please tell me I am not alone...please weigh in that you too completely loose face when trying to tow the line with your kids.

I was a goner...their was no point of return...if a kid can find a way to make a way without breaking the rules....I am all in...as in all in the middle of the floor, falling out!!!!

Washed by the Water

Christmas has come and gone, the New Year is upon us, and the rain is falling hard with frigid temps right behind it. I have sat down so many times to try and catch up...but something just wasn't right.

I am pretty much an open book, I share everything with everyone...hence this blog, but lately I have sensed that some things need to be kept close at heart and that, in and of itself, is a challenge. I love the journey of life, I love my family, I love connecting with people, but sometimes I just need to to process things within my own mind and heart....especially when it happens to be matters of the heart. Not as in love, but as in matters of my heart and where it is laying its treasure. The Lord is doing things, I would love to say mighty things, but when the process is painful and long sometimes the minuscule becomes trivial.

Right now my lifesong is Needtobreathe's "Washed by the Water". The chorus is powerful it says,

Even when the rain falls

Even when the flood starts rising

Even when the storm comes I am washed by the water

That is how I feel right now..that even though the process is rough, the cleansing power of the rain is worth it. So rain on, Lord, reign on Lord, over me and all that I have. Over my mind, Lord, cleanse it and keep it meditating on your word. Be the Inn Keeper of my heart Lord. Rain on.