Growing

As I grow spiritually, I realize now all the growth I had missed out on when I wasn't walking with the Lord. How ignorant I was. Thankfully, He can meet us right where we are; ignorance and all! It's amazing how awesome God is in working so intricately in our lives. It's humbling to know that He cares about me...after all, who am I? To quote one of my favorite songs: "I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind...still, You hear me when I'm calling. Lord, You catch me when I'm falling and You told me who I am...I am Yours". Such annointing and powerful words from Casting Crowns. Their songs really minister to the spirit.

The last several weeks I've been challenged to study and read the book of Jeremiah. As I was reading I kept thinking...what does this have to do with me, Lord? Then I went to Women's Night at my church and bought the prophetic guest speaker's book about her prison experience. After finishing the book, our sermon that Sunday was on "Adversity". All three of these messages were on this very topic: Adversity. The Websters definition is: Great affliction or hardship. My spirit keeps wondering if the Lord is preparing me for something. I've learned so much these last weeks through prayer, reading and songs that adversity is not only character building, but a growing process that ultimately brings glory to God. Isn't that what a spirit-filled life entails? Growing stronger; growing closer; dying of one's self and letting Christ live in us?

A heroin of mine is a Christian woman by the name of Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983). In 1944, she and her family successfully hid many Jews from the Nazi's in their home in Holland. Once their secret was discovered, her family was taken to concentration camps in Holland and Germany but she emerged the sole survivor to tell her amazing story. Her incredible testimony of tremendous adversity reminds me that once again, God's purpose for us on this Earth isn't about us at all but about Him. Corrie witnessed to thousands the incredible strength, love, grace and power that the Holy Spirit gave she and her sister during their horrific years of imprisonment and she ultimately discovered, they were her best years. After all, she was given the most incredible gift...to realize that no pit is deep enough that you can't find God.

Of course, I'm in awe of women such as this because I'm not in a pit. I'm in a warm, comfortable home in Middle-class America. My family is healthy, my husband is employed, we have plenty of food and material things. So where is my adversity? Is God preparing me for times to come when only He can bring me through it? To quote another favorite song: "I pray: Bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free, bring me anything that brings You Glory. I know they'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You, please bring me rain." Whew! I am growing and I am thankful.

Uh-oh...Girls!

My oldest son, who is 7, has discovered girls. I thought the hormonal surge didn't happen until at least 5th grade, but I was wrong...trouble is starting to brew! He came home one day in December and proudly announced that he had two girlfriends. As he was telling me this, he casually added that he chased them down in recess and kissed them too. "Where?" I asked, trying not to sound too horrified. "On the hand" he stated proudly. My first thought was "whew", my second thought was "what's next?". I began to explain to him that it was definitely okay to kiss a girl on the hand, but only if she wants him too...and nowhere else, I quickly added! Apparently, the first girl said "yuck" and the second girl said "do it again!". I'm a little scared of the second one! I've met her several times and she's quite the sassy little looker...even I want to kiss her hand.

Several days later, he received his first love note from a brunette with glasses. Alex was not sure why this girl loves him since he claims they have never spoken. I asked him if he thanked her for the sweet heart-filled letter and he rolled his eyes and said, "No, mom, she's not one of my girlfriends. She just wants to be!" Oh, dear.

At Christmastime, as my boys were visiting with their much older teenage cousins, the conversation turned to dating and girls. One 17 year-old cousin stated he has been dating his girlfriend for 5 months now; the 15-year old cousin said he has had his for three months. Alex piped up, "I have 2 girlfriends...I got them 5 days ago," he exclaimed with glee. He had a puzzled look on his face when everyone started laughing.

As of today, he has broken up with the sassy looker and brooding red-head. Apparently, the girls in 1st grade are quite fickle! The drama has just begun....

The Pure Heart

The pure heart reveals her anguish
When tribulation comes to steal
The peaceful serenity inside her soul
And the intoxicating aroma of quiet bliss

Entangled in the web of deceit
Bitterness has not yet found
The calm voice inside has surrendered
To a place of solitude and rest

To feel the warmth of love
Among the wolves that devour
Joy cannot be squelched
Pain cannot be found

The pure heart finds the secret place
The armour is worn to guard the attack
Spirits move but do not harm
Love, truth and light win the battle within

Joy is found again....