Press Toward the Mark

 

It’s funny how God works, these thoughts came to me tonight during the worship service… then my pastor got up and preached right along these same lines.

Sometimes I feel the Lord’s so close that I can almost talk with Him face to face… here lately it’s felt more like a long distance phone call.  I’m thankful for the times when my walk with God is a little more uphill, it makes me appreciate the comfortable times more. 

These are a few of the verses that came to my heart when I was talking with the Lord tonight…

Philippians 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Thanksgiving

 

Earlier today I sat in my living room looking at all the work needing to be done and feeling very discontent with my home…

Tonight the boys and I tagged along with the youth from church as they delivered food to a couple of families…

I came home very thankful for all that we have… it’s good to get an attitude adjustment.

Busy, Busy

 

I told a friend the other day that I felt like I was about to have a nervous breakdown… I was teasing… mostly.

I’m not that far gone, but these last few months are catching up with me.  We’ve been busy, busy, busy and that just doesn’t jive with my introverted personality. I’m letting things slide, forgetting things, dropping the ball… totally out of character for me.

Last Saturday morning I decided not to have class with the little ones so I could sit out and hear the preaching.  I was getting over a cold and didn’t feel 100% but really that was just a handy excuse. 

It was so good… he preached just to me!  One of the last things said was that we all need a time to get away by ourselves.  That’s what I’ve been missing… quiet time. Time just to think and be. My hour of prayer.

Wednesday I felt off kilter all day.  I don’t know if the boys were especially crazy or I was especially short-tempered but it was a hard day.  Starting about mid-afternoon the thought kept coming to me that I should just stay home from church that night… rest.  Put the kids to bed early and enjoy the quiet.

We did go… and I was so glad.  As soon as I walked in I felt that off feeling lifting from me.  The song service was great, I could feel the presence of God so strong.  And the preaching spoke right to my heart.

I’m so thankful for a place to worship with others, for anointed preaching that convicts, encourages and uplifts.  But mostly I’m thankful for that well of living water that’s in me.  That I don’t ever have to go without. 

Sometimes I have to be reminded that even when life’s crazy and rushed there is still peace in God.  I get busy and then get bogged down in my busyness… I’m so thankful for the reminder that His peace is always with me.  And it’s not being lazy or selfish to need to get away for a while everyday.

Boy Logic

 

I told this story to my friend Jennifer and she told me I needed to blog about it… so Jen this one’s for you!

The other day we were getting ready to go to science co-op so I called the boys in so I could inspect their hands and faces.  They are building a tree house in a cedar tree and the combination of sap and dirt is not good. 

Jake was clean so I sent him to the car.  I checked Cade… he looked clean, sent him to the car.  Then I called Travis and his hands were nasty so I sent him to clean up.  This was our conversation…

Me: Go wash your hands, they’re nasty.

Travis: Cade was touching a dead fish.

Me: Why was Cade touching a dead fish???

Travis: It was in the tree.

Me: Why is there a dead fish IN THE TREE??????

Travis: It was alive yesterday.

Me: Why was there a LIVE fish in the tree???

Travis: It was our pet.

That’s when I gave up.  I did find out later that the fish had been in a bucket of water in the tree. 

Oh, and if you read my facebook update the other day, this was a different fish from the one in the net!