A Lesson from Cinderella...

I will just forewarn you that if you ever pray for God to show you areas of weakness that need surrendering...HE WILL DO IT! This past week I got schooled by some weeds...yeah, talk about humble pie and a lesson with my pride! So anyways, I didn't have much graphic designing to do, so I got swallowed by the gardens at my boss' house. I don't really know what the whole big issue with me was (I mean, work is work and I'm getting paid for this, right?!) but I was having definite attitude issues. Maybe it was a mix between baking in the sun, PMS'ing and a chocolate deficiency, but whatever it was, I was having a BA convo in my head (um...that's Bad Attitude) that went something like this...
Me: "I don't get this God...I'm almost 27 and I'm pulling weeds for a living. None of my friends do this - they all are established in their jobs and know what they're doing with their future...while I'm becoming fast friends with Mr. Dandelion and this jungle terrain!"(I can hear a sniffle - maybe you're even shedding a tear for my poor wretched state. Save your pity - it gets better!)
God: "I know of some persecuted Christians around the world who would do ANYTHING to be outside their dingy dark cells...or how about a terminally ill patient restricted to their bed and living in constant pain?..." (Why does God always have to bring those points up and ruin my self-pity party?!!!)
Me: "I know! I know! But I know this isn't where my future lies (I'm really hoping anyway!) I just want to get on with the rest of my life - this is just a stepping stone to whatever door you have for me in the future...why do I feel so stuck in a rut? Unsuccessful? Besides...wasn't the man the one who was cursed with having to pull weeds? I thought we got child bearing?!!"
God: "Like Joseph - you need to be faithful in the little things so I can entrust bigger things to your care (and by bigger things I am referring to anything beyond our human possibility to be spiritually achievable - not necessarily being famous or important or changing the whole planet - although that would be cool!!!). When you can show a good attitude and proper motivation in your heart doing the mundane, I know you will have the right heart in the bigger tasks I am equipping you for. It is not WHAT you do, but HOW you do it that marks success. Besides, look at Cinderella...she mopped and cleaned and worked as a servant for a loooong time, but ended up getting a prince and a palace in the end."
I dunno about a prince right now, but a palace would be nice!

In the Face of a Full Moon...

I cried tonite...it wasn't much - one big crocodile tear. But I cried (which, if you know me, is a huge step!) I was driving home from a SUPER looooong day, and as I turned the corner on the home stretch, there she was before me...the most beautiful moon I had ever seen. A golden eye, rising in the heavens in a glowing halo. For the first time of the day all seemed at peace and still...and my weary head and heart slowed to a thought. How awesome my God is! Switchfoot was playing - and one phrase caught my ear..."You're raising the dead in me..."
And I cried...maybe it was from the fact of sheer exhaustion - of letting the day carry away my emotion. Or maybe, just maybe, God was speaking to my heart. Speaking to me of something beautiful He was raising in the darkness of my night sky. Speaking promise and rest into a weary heart that has been searching for the glory of His presence.
I am always amazed at how He romances a human heart. So tender is His love, so delicate are His advances...and yet so focused are His affections. He knows the desires of our hearts, He understands our weaknesses...but He also sees our needs before we can even understand what we are lacking. And all the while, filling us with His presence until we no longer desire to look away - but stand mesmerized by the beauty of a Love that understands every fibre of our being, and still loves us!
I am watching the moon rising as a beacon of reflected light in the darkness, a reminder of the promises of my Saviour and Friend to bring hope, love and peace. He is raising the dead in me, and giving me new life. May you experience the same!

3 years, 3 months, 3 days...

I just had a random thought as I was sitting here...thought I'd blog it just for fun (lucky you!) And for those of you who don't know what's happening 3 years, 3 months and 3 days from now - well, I'm going to be celebrating the very momentous birthday of turning 30! Yep! The big freakin' 3-0! Gosh...where does the time go?!! I can't say I'm afraid of the number itself (I mean, 30 is a spit in the bucket when I look at turning infinity in eternity!) I guess I've just been caught up with trying to be forever young (yes, I still sleep with a stuffed animal...looooooooooooong story!) that I forget how much time I've actually had to breathe in and out on this planet.
At moments like this, one can pause and look back on all the "firsts" life has brought...first day of school, first pair of glasses (hello Urkle!), first job, first time on a plane, first time being an aunt, first time out of the house...first car (yeah Casper!). But in looking back, you can't help but anticipate the "firsts" yet to happen...first home I can call my own, first trip to Africa (working on it!), first kiss (yeah...I'm still waiting on that!), first book to be published...Life is full of firsts - no matter what the digits are! From the first heartbeat to the first face to face with God, our lives are continually blessed with new mercies every day. Awesome, isn't it?
And yet before you get caught up thinking of all the super cool things you have experienced or have yet to live...a couple verses come to mind that I want to share with you (yeah...as usual there is a point!)
"...so then each of us shall give account of himself to God..." (Romans 14:12)
Think of your life lived so far...all the things you are accountable for...all the time that you've spent. Looking back at the seeming vastness of the time God has granted me with so far, I feel so inadequate in my feeble attempts to be faithful to the only thing that has truly been worth anything on this planet.
"...for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment..." (Matthew 12:36)
This verse alone is convicting enough! For those of you who know my gift of gab firsthand, you know the HEAP of words that I have spoken. And in looking at the content of those words in light of Christ and His timeless sacrifice on the cross - I see a lack of precision and direction. I see a squandered use of time and breath. And don't get me wrong - there is a lot to be said for small talk! But how purposeful are we in our words? And what about the account we will have to make on words that we missed the opportunity to speak...to a lost or hurting soul? Our time here is a gift...may we never grow weary with being intentional with the words that come out of our mouth - to build up and encourage, to bless, to speak the truth of God!
And as the newness of life continues to unfurl before us, may it never be said of us that we have forgotten our first love...JESUS CHRIST!