A Light Bulb Flips On

Our children can feel like they are drowning in the assaults of the evil one.

A troubling thing has plagued us for years. Our three oldest children have told us at times during their teen years that they felt like, no matter what they did, they couldn't please us. We have rebuked this as a lie from the evil one each time. But, still we were baffled why they would feel this way. We have always encouraged them, cheered them on, picked them up and dusted them off when things got tough, and bragged on them to anyone who would listen. So how on earth could they all feel this way??? When we talked through it and got past the "emotion" of the situation that brought it to the surface, they recognized that we do always try to encourage and support them. Of course, there are times when they needed correction. But, why would they all listen to the lies of the evil one telling them that they could never be "good enough" for us. 

Then last night, it dawned on me!

Since one of the main ways the evil one attacks Believers is through their identity in Christ, even our kids, raised in a home striving to honor the Lord, can be sucked into that lie. Everything about the world's culture screams, "Unworthy! Not enough! Rejected!" at them. They are bombarded by messages filled with lies. It's hard for us, as parents, to really comprehend the intensity of the attack on their identity. Sure, the evil one used the same tactics on us as we were growing up, but just think how the advances in technology have made the delivery of his lies so much easier, more prolific. Our children can be under attack all day long. Every day. So then when we need to deal with a character issue, even if we do it in an appropriate manner, it can be the "straw that breaks the camel's back". It can cause them to view needed discipline as one more attack on their value, their worth.

But what if, instead of being just "encouraging, supportive" parents we actively spoke blessings over them, over their lives? On a regular basis? Isn't that the perfect weapon to wield against such lies from the pit? Wouldn't it equip them to stand? It just makes so much sense. We have grieved over this. Grieved their pain. Questioned our parenting. We have asked ourselves and the Lord what we did wrong? What did we miss? How could our children feel this way? 

But if we had, from their early years, actively spoken the Lord's Blessings over them, filling them with an understanding of what the Lord has already done and is doing in their lives, doesn't it seem that they would not so easily have listened to the lies? Sure, we prayed for them. We prayed with them. We tried to encourage them. But, in the face of the determined attacks of the enemy, we didn't actively cover them with His Blessings. We didn't know to.

They are all believing the Lord's definition of their worth and identify now. But, could they have been spared much pain had we known then what we are learning now? I believe it would have made a HUGE difference. And in His Mercy, it's not too late. We can still speak these blessings over them and the Lord can restore and repair any broken places in the walls of their hearts. He is the Healer. And, they can be equipped with this understanding so that, as they become parents, they can speak blessings over their children from the beginning. 

To think that our next four children can be spared much of that pain gives us so much Hope. I am excited to see the Lord at work through us being His conduit of spoken blessings to our children!

He is so Faithful! Thank You, Lord! 


Previous Posts about The Power of Spoken Blessings:
1. Spoken Blessings 
2. Spoken Blessings, Part II 
3. But How Do We Actually Speak Blessings? 
4. Unexpected Benefit 
5. Chapter 6: Blessing Our Children 

Chapter 6: Blessing Our Children

Our four youngest monkeys on "Door Knob" (one of our favorite trees)

Chapter 5 in The Power of Spoken Blessings takes the priestly blessing found in Numbers 6 and explains each of the six parts in detail. As important as this chapter is, I really want to move on to the next chapter for purposes of this discussion.

Chapter 6 is "Blessing our Children". Bill Gothard begins it this way: 
     "The home is the arena where giving blessings will most often touch our hearts and 
      lives with the greatest repercussion."  (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p.56)

This is the very reason I wanted to get to this chapter. 

If we, as parents are going to cultivate the habit of blessing our children we basically have to jump in and start. In this chapter, stories are told of a father sitting with his children and wife and praying for each one individually. He would pray specifically for the Lord to increase the character qualities he already saw, and then grow ones he knew lined up with the Lord's desires for his family. The daughters who were prayed over commented that after they received their father's blessings, they didn't fight and argue. They were much more loving toward each other.

Since we are creatures of free will, it is true that a child can reject the parental blessings. But that doesn't mean the parent should stop speaking it. Continually blessing a rebellious child can bear fruit at a later time. They may have to walk through a season of trials until the Lord brings them to a place where they can more clearly see the fruit of the choices they are making. But a parent who faithfully blesses, regardless of the reception, will be in a position to be of great help when the Lord softens the "prodigal's" heart. 

Even though it can be awkward to begin blessing your children, the power of the blessing is worth it. The awkwardness will pass as it becomes more familiar. 


I love the story in this chapter about a family who had cultivated this habit:
          "Our children will come to us and report that one of their siblings needs a  
           blessing because he or she has a bad attitude or is being naughty.  All of 
           us then gather around and bless the 'offender.'  This act demonstrates 
           great love toward him or her.  No need for the children to be telling tales
           or taking matters into their own hands, as they now have a practical 
           solution to the situation."

          "Whenever my husband and I notice a wrong attitude in a child, that child
           receives a blessing, and I am continually amazed how attitudes change
           immediately.  Sometimes a little talk is required, but the spoken blessing
           is the transformer . . ."       (The Power of Spoken Blessings, pp. 59, 60 )

That same family reports that their children now often come to their parents to ask for a blessing when they know they will be facing a challenge. They have recognized the power of the spoken blessing in their lives and eagerly seek it on their own.

Now, I know that may sound like life on another planet when we honestly take a look at the "culture" of our homes. But, we can get there from here! The Lord's blessings are as readily available to us for our homes as they are to the family that is already walking in such fullness of blessing. 

Take the first step: Pray for wisdom. 

Ask specifically for eyes to see your children as He sees them. What does He desire to develop in them? If they have trouble with honesty, you know He wants us "to desire Truth in the innermost places." Do they struggle with controlling their tongue because of a hot temper? The Lord desires us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." We can take any number of verses from His Word and, in His Name, speak them as a blessing over our child. 


Another story is told in this chapter about a little boy who became gloomy and sulky:


          "Every attempt we made to correct the problem failed.  We had reached
           the point of exasperation." Then they learned about the power of the 
           spoken blessing, which revealed to them their son's need for a blessing.

          "I gathered the other children around and blessed Samuel. I asked the Lord
           to bless him with a radiant countenance, joy in his heart, and a beautiful
           smile that ministered into the life of others. As I was speaking his little
           face lit up, his chest puffed out, and he just kept smiling. I spoke that 
           same blessing to him once more that same week."

          "It has been around six months now, and I am very happy to report that
           the change in Samuel has been miraculous. He keeps smiling, he has a 
           radiant joy about him . . ."    (The Power of Spoken Blessings , pp. 62, 63)

I love the point that Gothard makes about the use of blessings while administering discipline. He says that when we speak a blessing over our child while we are disciplining them, the blessing should emphasize God's Love and His great Purposes for that child.  He makes the point that by using a blessing during the process of discipline, a spirit of patience and love is encouraged in the parent. And this quote is one I underlined and put stars beside to make sure I would see it again:

          "It helps to remember that the primary goal of discipline is not to bring
           the child under the parents' authority, but under God's authority."

That is such an important principle. It may seem subtle, but the shift it makes in the heart of the parent is easily discernible by the child. When they know that we are simply the Lord's instrument of discipline and training, it changes their attitude toward the message we are delivering from the Lord. And it keeps our hearts in the proper posture of humility.    

Blessings need to be spoken over our children, even when they don't need correction or discipline. We should speak over them things we believe the Lord has for them. Maybe your child is a natural leader. Then speak that blessing over them that they will lead others in a way that helps bring God glory, or that draws those being led closer to the Lord. Maybe your child has specific talents and abilities. Speak a blessing over them that they will use those gifts to bring the Lord great glory. Also pray His protection over them that they will not be tempted to keep any of the glory offered them for themselves, but that they will deflect it all and offer it to the Lord. 

From pages 56 and 57:  . . . to leave our children a heritage of many spoken blessings is one of the wisest and most loving things we can do for them.

I am going to end this post with this paragraph from the book:

          When children came to Jesus, "He took them up in His arms, laid His hands
          on them, and blessed them."  Blessing our children is like putting them into
          Jesus' arms to lift up and to have Him embrace them and bless them Himself.
                                                                (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p.65)


Lord,
We ask you to teach us Your Ways and Your Will. We cannot parent these children without You. You alone have the Wisdom to grow them up in Your Image. We must have Your help. Please gives us an abundant measure of Your Grace. Help us to actively cultivate spoken blessings in our homes. May we never usurp Your authority in their lives, but instead model proper submission to You before our children. May all the words from our mouths and the tone used to speak them bring You glory and point our children to You. Bless us, Oh Lord. Bless our precious children. Help us to hunger and thirst for You more than anything else. May we not be distracted by things that bear no fruit. May we fill our minds with Your Word so that we are ready to speak those Words into the lives of our children. Change us, Lord, to more clearly reflect Your Son. May we do everything in Love. May we speak everything in Love. May our children receive all the blessings You have for them. Please use us to help them be open, hearts and minds. 
In the Name of our Precious Savior,
Amen


Previous posts about this book: 
1. Spoken Blessings
2. Spoken Blessings, Part II
3. But How Do We Actually Speak Blessings?
4. Unexpected Benefit

Next post about Spoken Blessings:
6. A Light Bulb Flips On

You Just Never Know

Beside Rebekah's spot on our school table

I have written about Rebekah before.

As our last born, and still youngest after the adoption of Josh and Ben, she holds the unique position as the caboose. Number 7.

But that is not her only distinction among her siblings. Her mind has a way of looking at things differently than our other children. And because of that, you just never know what she will come up with next.

Yesterday, to help celebrate it being cold enough to actually have a fire, she decided to make a torch. She retrieved a piece of wood from Dad's scrap pile and a long strip of fabric from Mom's scrap pile. After examining it, she was concerned it wouldn't burn long enough, so she decided on a new and improved plan. She unwrapped the fabric strip and gathered pieces of bark from the wood pile to add to the layers of fabric. Of course, the lobbying began immediately to try it out. After spending the previous evening in the ER with Joshua after his attempt to sharpen his knife (that was already sharp enough to perform surgery) went terribly wrong, I was a little concerned about my 10 year old lighting a torch in my dining room. You can call me a scaredy-cat, and I won't flinch. But, since the fire extinguisher is under the sink, I told her to go ahead. She was not impressed with the duration of the flame and has plans for future improvements.

The fire is going again today, and so she decided to heat the lunch meat for her sandwich over the fire on the shovel out of the fireplace tools. Of course, slapping the meat directly on the ash-covered shovel would offend her culinary sensibilities so she fashioned a box for the meat out of foil. 

She has discovered a new skill in the past few days: box-making.  She saw it in a craft book and has been making boxes ever since. 

More crafting supplies beside her "school" chair

A box becomes a dollhouse for her cousins, complete with a "tiled" bathroom floor. She saw the box and instantly the completed dollhouse was visible in her mind. And all the supplies she used for the furniture and bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances appeared the same way. She new when she looked at a piece of styrofoam that came in a package what it would look like as a leather covered chair. 

The scope of her interests is quite diverse. She will have a stack of books out on everything from the weather to a specific animal species to biographies to science experiments.  She has an entrepreneurial bent, and is always wanting to find ways to earn money. Breeding her tropical fish has provided many interesting conversation starters. She just came in and announced that when she is finished with her tank of tropical fish, she would like to move on to raising Alligator or Longnose Gar. Sure, no problem.

Elizabeth with her Longnose Gar

She thinks they are available on Ebay for purchase. Who knew?

She has an extensive collection of fishing tackle and then another of pipe cleaners. Her vast interests tend to end up making multiple large messes. It's always "on to the next idea" with her. She definitely thinks it's a waste of time to clean up the former project before beginning the new one. 

Okay she just came in with a large piece of firewood. She said the shape made her think of a giant hand. So now she wants to carve a hand, with the help of Kregg's power tools, and then buy "one of those globes that doesn't have a stand" and put it in the palm of the hand. Then she wants to add a sign that says, "The world is in God's hand." I'm telling you, it is like this every waking moment.


Her creativity is not limited to projects. She is also very creative when it comes to avoiding culpability for her actions. She can make the most circuitous arguments concerning her innocence, that if you don't mark the starting point, it is easy to lose your bearings as the disciplinarian. I have often said that the Lord in His infinite Mercy, saved her for last because we would need every single thing we have ever learned about parenting to raise this one. 


And in the Lord's omnipotence, He knew that she would help to refine me in ways the other six haven't. She pushes buttons I didn't know I had before she arrived on the "Conderosa". And isn't that another of the Lord's blessings? He knew there were things I would learn from being Rebekah's mother that I would probably never learn another way. 


Thank You, Lord! (I think . . . ;)

Online Teaching on Blessings Tonight

 

This is interesting! Since this has been so much on my heart, I thought it the Lord's perfect timing that I saw the information about this today:

Homeschool Legal Defense Association is offering a web-based seminar tonight on Blessing our Children!

Here is the description:

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Although they may not realize it, parents often inflict deep scars on their children, not only by using negative, condemning words, but by withholding praise and affirmation. HSLDA President Mike Smith wants to help you overcome poor communication habits so that your children can experience your words as a blessing, not rejection. Using James 3:1–10 as a model, Mike will explain how we can use words to edify and build each other up, rather than having them hurt and tear others down. Join us to discover how to use your tongue as an instrument of blessing and develop a positive relationship with your child that lasts for the rest of your lives!

$11.99 Non-Member Price
$6.99 Member Price

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms.


Coincidence? I think not. The Lord is serious about me learning this lesson well. I am so grateful! 

Here's the link, if anyone else might be interested.
Web based Seminar on Blessing our Children 
 

Jeremiah 17: 7, 8

Unexpected Benefit

As the Spirit is teaching me about speaking blessings, I didn't anticipate what is happening to me. With my newly developing focus, the starkest of contrasts is being revealed between the standard I have previously had for so many of my words. 

When did I allow innocent teasing to become mocking?

When did I slip into criticizing instead of simply correcting?

How could I have allowed such tones to underlie seemingly "appropriate mother statements"?

   The wise woman builds her house,
   but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.  Proverbs 14:1


In all my "wisdom" I have spoken in such harshness, to make sure they understood how serious the issue was.


In all my "wisdom" I have spoken such criticism, disguised in my mind as correction.


When the standard for my words is held up against the Lord's Spoken Blessings, I am convicted to the depths of my soul. I have used my words too often to wound and curse. 


I am so incredibly thankful for the Lord's Mercy in teaching me about how to redeem all of my words from here on. But He doesn't stop there. He allows the redemption of the words I have already spoken. All of them. I can, through the Lord's Blessings, be a conduit of healing many of the wounds I have inflicted. 


This is changing everything! May I never return to the Egypt of careless, thoughtless, damaging words.


He makes all things new!


How Glorious is my God!


Previous posts about Spoken Blessings:
1. Spoken Blessings
2. Spoken Blessings, Part II
3. But How Do We Actually Speak Blessings? 


The next post about Spoken Blessings:
5. Chapter 6: Blessing Our Children
6.  A Light Bulb Flips On

But How Do We Actually Speak Blessings?

This is my precious father praying a blessing over our son, Ben.

As I am going back through The Power of Spoken Blessings, I think it would be best in this place to briefly go over Chapters 2 and 3 and then focus most of this post on Chapter 4 because that is where a lot of the "practical", "how-to" stuff starts. And as a sweet commenter requested specifics, I would love to jump over to that.

In Chapter 2, "The Power of a Name", Bill Gothard says this:

" . . . our strongest blessings for others will come when we invoke the mighty name of God, for that name designates His personality, His character, his will, and His heart for blessing all creation.  The most powerful blessings begin, then, by simply speaking His name: 'The Lord bless you . . . '" (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p. 19)

He explains in this chapter more about the blessedness of the Lord and how the overflowing blessings He possesses are actually the Source for all the blessings we receive, embodied especially in Christ Jesus. 

Chapter 3 is called "The Overlooked Power of Our Words". In this chapter several stories are told to illustrate just how powerful our words are for blessing and cursing. But why are our words so powerful? 

Gothard says it this way: "Like it or not, our words represent who we really are. They're the living expression of a person's heart, in the same way that Jesus Christ is the living expression of God the Father and is called 'the Word'." (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p. 26)


Chapter 4, "The Power of God's Words", starts off by explaining that the strongest form of verbal blessing will include three things: God's name, our words, and the Lord's words. As we learn to use this tool, the Lord teaches us to see the person we desire to bless the way He sees them. What are their spiritual needs? What character do you see in that person that could be encouraged? What character qualities are lacking that the Lord desires to grow in them? What needs do they have? All of these give insight into potential blessings that can be spoken.


"When we bless others, we can speak forth the biblical goals and biblical answers God has for them.  In this way, we begin to impart to them the desire and power to truly live those words out--empowered by the active work of Christ in their lives and the strong help of the indwelling Holy Spirit." (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p. 33) So speaking a blessing that seeks to encourage the growth of what God sees or has planned for that person can actually help them grow into that vision. It can stir up the desire to become what God wants them to become.


As we seek to see others through His eyes, we need to pray for wisdom and discernment. He will show us through His Word and through the Spirit the true needs of the person we desire to bless. As we read Scripture, He will give us specific "words, phrases, and concepts" that He wants us to pray for someone.


But how do we actually form a blessing?


The first specific example of a blessing framework that Gothard uses to help illustrate these things is the one at the end of Numbers 6. You already know this:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

and give you peace."

Using this as a framework, and adding the insights the Lord has given you from Scripture and through the Spirit, we can combine all into a powerful blessing. He gives an example. Say you know someone who struggles with fear and anxiety. By combining insights from Scripture with the framework from Numbers 6, this is the blessing he gives:

"May the Lord God bless you and keep you from the torment of fear and anxiety.  May He cause His face to shine upon you with power, love, and a sound mind and give you grace to cast out fear through perfect love. May He lift up His countenance upon you with freedom as you tell Him every detail of your need in earnest, thankful prayer, and give you the peace that surpasses all understanding as he keeps your heart and mind safe through Jesus Christ."

You recognize the Scriptures he uses here:

II Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power of love and of a sound mind." 

I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Philippians 4:6, 7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Bill Gothard gives several other examples of combining God's Name, Scripture, and our words into blessings in this chapter. I will give one more here, since this post is growing so long. I really cannot do justice to this amazing little book in a few posts and I just think everyone needs to read it for themselves. It's that important. 

The other example I want to share here is for someone going through trials. By using the verse from I Peter 5:10, he wrote this blessing:

"May the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, bless you and keep you strong during this time of testing.  May He cause His face to shine upon you and give you grace to endure suffering for His sake. May He lift up His countenance upon you to make you perfect, and after your sufferings are over, may He establish, strengthen, and settle you with His peace."

Now, I know I would feel blessed indeed to have these words prayed over me if I were going through difficult situations. 

More specifics to come. 

Holy Father,

In Your Mighty Name I ask that you help each one seeking to learn to speak Your blessings over those they love. May Your Words and Insights be revealed so that we may see through Your eyes those we desire to bless. May Your Grace stir up in us a desire to help accomplish Your Purposes in others as we speak blessings into their lives. Spirit, please open our eyes to see the words that would be the greatest encouragement. May we learn to speak Light into the darkness. May we be a steady conduit of Your Blessings to the world. May we never allow another unwholesome word to come out of our mouths. Please forgive me for all the times I have spoken a curse instead of a blessing. I have no right to ever curse another, made in Your Image. May we refuse to be offended and never speak another word in anger that would tear down or curse. May Your Name be blessed in all the earth and may it begin with me. Today. Thank You for Your unfailing, abundant Love. Thank You that You seek to bless us all the days of our lives. We praise Your Holy Name.

Previous Posts about Spoken Blessings:
1. Spoken Blessings 
2. Spoken Blessings, Part II 

Next Posts about Spoken Blessings:
4. Unexpected Benefit 
5. Chapter 6: Blessing our Children
6. A Light Bulb Flips On 

Spoken Blessings, Part 2

 

A sweet comment left on the first post about Spoken Blessings caused me to realize that I was pretty ambiguous in my description. So this is a follow-up. In fact, it may turn into a chapter by chapter series of posts. It is that profound for me. You have been warned!

There is a belief among some that "positive thinking" or "name it, and claim it" is one of the "perks" for believers. That is not at all what I am speaking of when I refer to speaking blessings. 

In the book I mentioned in Part I, Bill Gothard gives example after example of how the Lord uses specific words spoken for the purpose of blessing to accomplish His will in the lives of those blessed. 

Foundational to understanding the power of this tool given to us by the Lord is the recognition of Him as the Source of all Blessing. He then allows us to channel His Blessings to those around us in His Name. And that is an important point.


This little book (only about 4" x 6" with 85 pages of text) is so full of important principles that it is going to take me a while to learn how to truly put all of them into daily practice. 


There are, among others, chapters on blessing our children, blessing our enemies, and blessing God. 

The first chapter is called "The Evidence of Power". In it Bill Gothard tells a powerful story about a grandfather who spoke horrible words to his granddaughter. She lived with those words festering in her spirit for years. The abusive words spoken over her as a young girl caused problems in many of her relationships as she grew up. It affected her marriage and her children and she didn't even understand the source. But when she learned about the principles of spoken blessings and that we are to bless those who curse us, she decided to obey in faith. She spoke a blessing over that grandfather and the Lord set her heart free. She then began applying this to other people who had spoken unkind words to her over the years, and as she obeyed in faith Peace flooded her heart. 

Gothard also tells the story of a single mother who had a very troubled son. She knew the Lord intended to bless him, but she honestly could not see any character qualities in him that she could praise. So she spoke words of blessing over her son for the qualities the Lord desired to develop in him. His attitude began to change. It was awkward at first. But she continued to bless him, as well as her other children, and the entire spirit of their home changed. The qualities she blessed him with began to grow in his heart through the power of the Lord. 

"The Evidence of Power" is in changed lives. In hearts, once burdened by feelings of inadequacy and bitterness, set free and filled with Joy and Peace. There is so much power when we use God's Principles to speak His Words as a channel of His Blessings to those around us.


Each chapter ends with a section called "Make the Decision" where the reader is challenged to apply the principles covered in the chapter. At the end of the first chapter, the question is asked about the expectations attached to reading this book. You are then challenged to lay those expectations before the Lord and allow His Holy Spirit to take charge and accomplish His Purpose in you as you read the following chapters. 


So, even though I finished reading the book today, I need to take a long look at these things and really allow the Lord to engraft them into my heart. I don't want to come away from this unchanged. After all, for me this year is a year of Blessing for me. I have so much to learn!


Chapter 2 of The Power of Spoken Blessings is called "The Power of a Name" and I will be chewing on it over the next few days.


To be continued . . .



(FYI: This little book is also available at Amazon, $9.99, and even as a Kindle version, $7.99. And, no, Amazon has no idea who I am.)


Previous Post about Spoken Blessings:
1. Spoken Blessings


Next Posts about Spoken Blessings:
3. But How Do We Actually Speak Blessings?
4. Unexpected Benefit
5. Chapter 6: Blessing Our Children
6. A Light Bulb Flips On

She's Back!! Now It's David and Goliath

Waiting

This is me right now!

All through our celebration of Advent, our focus was on waiting. Anticipating.

As we have moved into the New Year, our family is still waiting. But this is a different kind of waiting. I got really sick on Christmas Eve and I am still waiting to be well. This is very unusual for our family because I am rarely sick (for which I am grateful). I have an appointment at the doctor tomorrow because the fever just won't go away. Weird. 

The dryer Kregg ordered still hasn't come in. Supposedly, it will be in tonight so maybe we will get it tomorrow. The dirty clothes pile is waiting. And growing. It's getting scary!

We were planning to start school today, but I just was not up to it. Our semester start date is up in the air for now. Very unusual for us.

I am waiting on an appliance repairman because the washing machine which was clacking is still clacking. He came last week and found a dime under the drum. He tested it and it seemed to be fine. Very next load? Clacking. Maybe it's another dime?

Last night, while I was sequestered in our bedroom with another fever of 101 Kregg came through in a hurry because there was water running out from under my kitchen sink. The disposal had a two inch crack and chose that moment to begin gushing. Poor husband. Still waiting for his to-do list to shorten instead of multiply.

I had already put in a call to the repairman to make sure I was on the list for today. It's a good thing. Now my dishwasher won't drain. So I can get a two-for-one service call. yipee.


Normally, every vestige of Christmas decoration would have vanished from sight by now. But we are waiting to finish the packing up and the moving out because my poor husband can only do so much. And since mama "ain't up to snuff", it'll just have to wait.


What I am not waiting on is the Lord's Sufficiency for what concerns me today. He has already made a way. As long as I don't define success for the day by claiming control over things I really can't control, we're good. I can't make all these things fix themselves. I can't even make someone else fix them. Today I can't do all the things that I would normally do. But I can choose to be okay with that. I can choose to believe that everything will work out. I can still focus on my two words for 2011: Being and Blessing. 


And I can keep quoting this verse from Isaiah 40 when my fevered brain starts to freak out over the laundry:

²⁸ Have you not known?
      Have you not heard?
      The everlasting God, the LORD,
      The Creator of the ends of the earth,
      Neither faints nor is weary.
      His understanding is unsearchable.
       ²⁹ He gives power to the weak, (boy that's me)
      And to those who have no might He increases strength. (me, again)
       ³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, (not just us "old folks", I am 48 after all)
      And the young men shall utterly fall,
       ³¹ But those who wait on the LORD
      Shall renew their strength;
      They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
      They shall run and not be weary,
      They shall walk and not faint.

So, Lord, I am waiting. And You are Enough! And that is a really good thing because I think I need to go back to bed now.