God's Schedule

Not too long ago I wrote about God's timing. I had realized we all need to give up out time to God. Let him fill in the day for us. It's amazing how things will fall into place. I'm learning-because I guess I'm just slow or something-it's the same with my schedule.
I try very hard to not over schedule. I hate when we run all day long. Or night for that matter. I love when I've figured out a schedule for the day and then I remember there's one more thing to do! That's when I really feel myself begin to simmer.
Let's face it, sometimes there are just things that have to be done. Like dental appointments. Or grocery shopping. Or laundry. Or forms that need to be filled out and signed. Or my new favorite, "Mom, my belt broke in two or three and I need a new one." Okay, yeah, I'll get right on that honey. Since I have nothing else to do.
So, like I've slowly learned about timing, I asked God for a little help. Actually, a lot of help. In his infinite wisdom, He guided me to make a general schedule. What days things really need to get done and what days are entirely nonnegotiable. It has really helped. I'm finding more pockets of time to write. This is a job. I often think if I was going to the office and had a boss what would happen? I see now God is my boss and I am responsible to Him. He gave me this talent and I need to schedule accordingly. He gave me a helpful husband and kids who don't whine too much about pitching in. I'm very grateful for that. Plus, His benefits package is pretty awesome!

Our Best Friend

I just heard an awesome speaker talk about friends. Today I read a post about friendship on Facebook and I quote, "A good friend will listen when you are angry. Your best friend will walk beside you swinging a baseball bat and sing along with you, 'Someone's gonna get it' ". Though it may sound cruel, I laughed out loud.
The speaker I mentioned talked about how Jesus should always be our best friend. If He indeed is, everyone can see that and your friendship with Him rubs off on your other friends. Wow. I had never thought of that. How very true.
I like to think of Jesus as my best friend but sometimes I feel the need to give Him advice after I pray. Because, you see, He really needs my help. Yeah, I'm serious. I actually give Him advice. What a riot. Even funnier, He never takes it. Likes to do things His way. Makes sense; it is the best way.
We all try to fix things and give advice to our friends. What if we just said to them, "I'll pray for you"? That could be the beginning of them seeing Jesus in us. Now there's an awesome friend.
There are alot of folks whom we can't force religion and Jesus down their throats. We don't think we're doing it, but we may in fact be doing that very thing. I think letting them know we're praying for them is a good first step to letting them know we're Christians. Who doesn't feel a tad bit special knowing someone prayed for them?
Friendship and Jesus go hand in hand. He wants to be our friend and our Heavenly Father. Who can beat that? So let's share that with our friends and be the model of love and friendship Jesus has shown us to be.

God's Time

Time, time time! Do we ever have enough of it? Of course we don't. I try so hard to be organized but it still seems I am racing to keep up and get everything accomplished. There is always one more thing to do! And, time for myself is nonexistent. Dating my husband? Once a month maybe. I work really hard to factor in family time. It doesn't help either that I am a perfectionist. Because then I have guilt about what there wasn't time for!
Another time that has gone by the wayside is friend time. My friends are as busy as me so when do we find time to spend that nonexistent time together? A lunch here and there but many get cancelled not too long after they are scheduled.
God time doesn't happen every day either. I try to pray and read my Bible but sometimes it just doesn't get done. Then, one day, I was so upset about not getting everything done I cried out to God. He didn't say a lot in return but he did give me instant peace. I found so many pockets of time that day to get things accomplished I was shocked. And, I found time for myself!
The Bible tells us God views time differently than we do. A thousand years are a minute to Him and vice versa. His wisdom in all things blows my mind. Then a thought occurred to me. Maybe we don't spend our time as wisely as we should. Taking the time to pray first and then following God's directives for our time is time wisely spent.

The Blessed Ones

As we mark the ninth anniversary of September 11th, I think all of us pause to remember. So many different memories. I was taking kids to school and headed to my Bible study. I didn't believe the secretary I overheard telling another parent what happened. I turned on the radio in my van and of course it was all over the news. I didn't know what to do or where to go. I pulled in at the cleaners and sat there listening to the report more than stunned. Should I take the kids home? Were we really under attack? Did I call my husband and demand he come home too?
By this time another plane had hit the other tower. I don't remember the drive to church. A friend of mine was getting out of her car and she said to me, "One of the towers just fell. My dad and stepmom work a few blocks from there." I wasn't stunned anymore. I went to her immediately. "Have you spoken to them? Are they okay?" "Yes, I finally got through." I then told her the towers couldn't fall. No way.
During Bible study we of course prayed. Many of the girls said they worried what we'd do in retaliation. I picked up my three year old from preschool. After naptime was accomplished I finally turned on the television. There were no words to describe that day. Horrible doesn't even come close. Nothing does.
People ask how could God let this happen? Where was He? The devil had his day was another comment I heard. I don't agree. The devil never has his day. Every day is God's. Every day is a gift from Him. He would never let the devil have that much power. The devil's day was defeated when Christ died and rose from the dead. However, sin and the devil did unfortunately guide the terrorists' decisions.
Where was He? The God I know was right there with the victims. He held the hands of every person on those planes. He gave some the courage to fight back. Some He gave the iniative to call their loved ones. He held the people close to Him caught in those towers. He made sure when the plane hit the Pentagon it was in an area under repair where less people would be working. He also made sure when the plane hit the ground in Pennsylvania that no one else was near that field. And, He was right there carrying all those folks to their Heavenly home when it was time. A perfect home with Him.
We talk about the lucky ones who missed work that day or changed a flight. Two of my cousins were suppose to be on the flight leaving Boston. They changed their travel plans to spend a bit more time with the friends they were visiting. Another cousin works across from the Pentagon and sometimes she and her husband have meetings there. They didn't that day though. A girl I know from college worked in one of the towers. She was about to get on the elevator when the first plane hit. A man off the street ran in, told them what had happened and not to get on. The story she relates of that day was beyond haunting.
I ponder on this. The "lucky ones" survived. The blessed ones are in Heaven with God happier than we can imagine. One day we will all share in that blessing.

God's Homecoming

It has been Homecoming week here and three days beforehand my daughter announced she would be going. No date-thank God-but with friends. I slowly realized that that meant taking her favorite dress to the cleaners. Plus checking on her shoes that went with the dress. During an excruciatingly painful early morning anxiety attack it also meant a corsage. Of which I had a horrible feeling there were none left.
So, after dress cleaning and shoe checking and corsage begging we seemed to be okay. Then, I learned her friends were all going out to eat. Lovely. Another mom and I will be accompanying the dining festivities. Just a precaution...
I have overheard many a frenzied mother these past few weeks talking about matching sons shirts with girlfriends dresses and finding the right shoe for their daughters lovelies. Fun times, fun times.
It made me think about Homecoming when I was younger. Dresses and shoes and flowers. The big dance and the big game. Who would be crowned Homecoming Queen...And a lot of other things I'm glad my daughter doesn't do. And hopefully there's no "yet" in that sentence.
These memories made me ponder God's Homecoming. How will He find our clothes? In our house, scattered everywhere. What about our hair? I have perpetual bad hair days so there's a zero on that score card. What about the big game? God seems to shoot pretty much from the hip so I don't think He plays many games. The final score, however, will be of interest to Him.
When God comes to your home, how will He find it? It is my fervent hope and prayer everyone's final score will be a win-win situation for both home and guests.

God's Driving Lessons

The countdown has begun...Our oldest will be eligible for their driving license at the end of the month. Yikes!
Said driver is pretty cautious behind the wheel. However, said driver doesn't listen as well as they did when first starting out. Rolling of eyes has ensued. Not good.
Despite all they have learned, they still need coaching and coaxing from Mom and Dad. To my great surprise, Dad is more nervous and yells more than Mom. I guess Mr. Phlegmatic does indeed have some buttons to be pushed. Very interesting.
Through it all, we have prayed. Let's face it, even the best drivers who have driven for decades have their moments. And accidents. Add in a little road rage and it can be a scary place out there.
The other day while driving amist the yelling from Dad and the white knuckle moments-only a few-I had a thought. What would God's driving lessons be like? He'd yell less and compliment more. We'd listen loads better. No eye rolling. There's be no accidents because, well, He's God. He's in the driver's seat whether we think we're steering the car or not.
What if, just for fun, we admitted God is always in the driver's seat. Not just when we drive but for life in general. Hmmm...Lo, I am with you always. Sound familiar? Jesus told the disciples that before He ascended into Heaven. And of course, we know He is always with us too. Nice. Makes you rethink an awfully lot of things. Including driving lessons.

God's Tough Love

I just returned from helping out my parents after my Mom's knee replacement surgery. It was...interesting. It was...overwhelming in a way I didn't expect. Once I got into a routine though it was fairly good. Sorta kinda.
I noticed my Mom started doing less after I'd been there. My Dad has Parkinson's and he mostly sat in his chair. Sleeping. Again, interesting. My brother, who is a paramedic/life safer came to check on things alot and finally told me...Mom's taking advantage of you. Hmmmmm... True, there are things my parents do need help with; however, not near as much as I'd thought. Her pain meds weren't "helping" and she wasn't eating. A quick phone call to the doctor should have remedied that. As for the eating, I realize she had no appetite but getting weaker from not eating or only eating a little isn't going to help in the old energy department.
I began to feel like Alice-Curiouser and Curiouser. So, I kicked in the prayers and began the tough love. Didn't work too well; however, God did open my eyes to what really needed to happen. The toughest love of all. I needed to leave. Helping themselves was the best medicine. It got them up and moving.
I stayed as long as I'd planned and then came home. I called after my Mom's appointment and guess what? New pain meds and she was eating. She sounded like a new person. Yes, I could repeat my mantra of "curiouser and curiouser". Instead, I'd like to just thank God for once again leading me in the direction I needed to go. I guess God tough loved me into seeing what I needed to do just like I was trying to do with my Mom. He's pretty cool that way.