The Cleaner

I cleaned the bathroom mirror the other day, which had been clouded with water and toothpaste spots.   When I was finished I stopped and just took in the view. Not of myself, mind you…just ‘the view’ in general.  The clean, clear, unobstructed view. Then it struck me:  My spirit felt like the dirty mirror.  In the midst of my busyness & preoccupation with my son starting Kindergarten and new schedule, I had slipped away from time in the Word and prayer, out of communion with God.  Plus, this particular day was a challenge, having gotten behind in said new schedule, throwing off the rest of the day, along with some other issues.  So I was tired, frustrated, feeling defeated and inadequate. One of those things we women - especially moms - tend to do…trying to be that ever-elusive and basically *imaginary* Superwoman.  I even cried out to God at one point (literally), asking, “Lord, why can’t I do anything RIGHT?!”

Then, standing there in front of that newly-clean mirror, it became CLEAR. (Pun intended!)  I had let my spirit become cloudy with muck and yuck, having neglected that time with God and in the Word.  He is ‘The Cleaner’ who can wash away the water spots, and the dirt and muck from my soul.  But I have to ask for His services.  And He’s always available – 24 hours a day, in fact – if only I’d make myself available!  And I suspect He’ll remind me that His mercy and grace are included in that cleaning package, along with His love and forgiveness. And then He might offer this:

“WANTED:
A woman who is imperfect, in need of grace, gloriously gifted, flawed and beautiful who dares to believe she's loved through it all by a God who has an amazing purpose for her life. No need to apply. You're already known. You've already been chosen. The Lord looks at the heart. “ (Based on 1 SAMUEL 16:7)         ~Holley Gerth

I’m gonna go buy stock in The Cleaner…

THINGS I LOVE THURSDAY!

Today I'm participating in a new series:  Things I Love Thursday, hosted over at The Diaper Diaries.   So come along for the ride as each week I feature something I love...  

I must say, today - I really love blogging.  Fellow bloggers.  The 'blogosphere'.  I'm coming up on my own one-year blogging anniversary, and while I am still pretty green at this, I'm starting to find my way.  I've been so blessed by all of the different blogs I've come across, one usually leading me to another, to another, and so on.  (It's very easy to lose track of where you started!)  I've found lots of helpful tips, inspiration, and words of encouragement on lots of different topics ranging from blogging to motherhood to cooking to faith and more.  And I'm developing new friendships, albeit virtual!  Perhaps virtual in person, that is, but very present and real in spirit.  While it can sometimes be a distraction and source of social disconnection, this technology/internet/blogosphere can also really make this big world a smaller place and lend unexpected blessings every once and awhile.  And I'm just thankful for the opportunity to share my own thoughts and encouragements here with others as they have shared and blessed me!   

"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it. The way He wants you to live."  1 Thessalonians 5: 11, MSG

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

Happy Thursday to ya!  Today I'm thankful for:

• Boy Scout (hubby) FINALLY making it home from Jamboree after a nearly-24-hour plight!
• Seeing my kids enjoy their Daddy after him being gone for 13 days!  
• My 5yr-old folding up all of his pj laundry and putting them away, without me asking! 
• That I remembered today that our library videos were due *yesterday*, before they were forgotten any longer!
• That my 5yr-old brushed his teeth before bed without having to be told!

"Little" stuff, I know, but...isn't that where the joy really is?  ;-)

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I thought I'd give Thankful Thursday a whirl since it's been awhile since I've done one.  And just feeling the need to lift up an attitude of grattitude today!

Today, I'm thankful:

• For medical advances that are helping support and sustain the lives of our friends' twin baby boys, born 10 weeks premature.
• For and blessed  by the countless prayers, gestures of love and support, and offers help going out from friends and family for those babies and their parents.
• To my Dad for driving my hubby to the airport at 4a.m. this morning so I wouldn't have to get myself and the kids up to do so!
• For realizing that even though we have a large, daunting air conditioning repair to make, that it could still be worse!
• For the plethera of sweet kisses and squeezy hugs from my 2yr-old daughter the last couple of days.  (They've been really needed, and have tried to really soak up those moments!)

Just a few of my grateful thoughts today!  I am blessed!

MORE

"More" is a running theme in my life lately.  We need more money.  We need more of (or replacement of) this and that.  My 2-yr-old is always wanting "maw" to eat...and becoming very stealth in her acquisition of it when she decides Mommy or Daddy's "no" is unacceptable.  My 5-yr-old son wants more toys and more of his own way.  I could use more exercise in my life.  More desire for exercise in my life!  I want more time - to get more done, to do more things I want to do.  And so much more...

But there's been another "more" theme floating in the air over the last week or two that's caused me to finally stop and take notice:  God's whispering, "More of ME."  He wants to be the "more" of my life.  The other stuff is just 'stuff'.  It has no eternal significance.  He is the Author and Creator of this world, this life. The Alpha and the Omega.  And He asks to be first above all else. 

The choruses of two songs have kept popping in my mind that drive it home:

  Enough (Jeremy Camp version): 

"For all of You, is more than enough for all of me...For every thirst and every need...You satisfy me with Your love...And all I have in You, is MORE THAN ENOUGH

I Need You More:

"I need You more, More than yesterday...I need You Lord, More than words can say...I need You more, Than ever before...I need You Lord, I need You Lord. 

More than the air I breathe...More than the song I sing...More than the next heartbeat...More than anything.

I need You more..."

 He wants me to love and seek Him more than anything or anyone else.  So He's drawing me close.  And I want to snuggle up beside Him, and tell Him how much I love Him.  And listen intently as He tells me, "I love you, child. It's going to be okay.  More than okay.  Trust Me.  Remember what I told you:

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the unbelievers run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
(Matthew 6: 25-34, The Message)

Here's to MORE of Him and MORE of what He has in store!