SHOW AND TELL IT ALL

SHOW AND TELL IT ALL
Finding God's grace in normal life

Monday, December 12, 2011

I Have Decided

Last night was a great night!  Resonate Church...new place, new life!  Our church moved locations because we outgrew our old one, and we had our baptism service.  God uses these services to remind me of how much he is working in and around us!


25 people, changed forever.


They decided to follow Jesus.


I decided to follow Jesus a long time ago, I've never looked back or doubted (by the grace of God).  Though I do believe I have to decide everyday too.


Little K is watching.


Princess K is watching.


Am I deciding everyday to follow Jesus?


Some days I follow my own way, it's not so good in the end.  I am impatient.  I like control.  I like exact expectations.  I hate mess.  When following my own way, these things trip me up.


It's not pretty.


Little K is getting curious about deciding to follow Jesus.  He's been asking questions, real questions.  I want with all my heart for him to decide to follow Jesus too.  I want to live purposeful and for him to see that following Jesus is better than not.


He told me the other day, "I asked God for it to snow on our Christmas Mom."  I told him God knows what is best and sometimes he answers our prayers with No.  He said, "but I asked him anyway Mom."  I smiled to myself and said a prayer for snow too.  If for no other reason than to show how big God is to a little boy hoping for a white Christmas.  I told Little K again, sometimes God's answer is Yes and sometimes it's No.  Little K said, "I hope it's Yes!" 


So Saturday we have Christmas, but even if it's not white and God doesn't answer all my prayers just like I want Him too.  I will decide to follow Jesus, one day at a time.  Sometimes one minute at a time.


I pray you have decided to follow Jesus too.


You can pray for snow if you want, Jesus cares about the desires of our hearts.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

I'm finding out...

Here are some things I'm finding out, in no particular order...

I'm finding out that my parents probably knew most of their Christmas presents before they opened them.

I'm finding out that making time to be intentional takes being intentional with your time.

I'm finding out that living as an imitator of God doesn't come natural when a whiny 3 year old doesn't like the position of her blanket covering her feet. 

I'm finding out that 18 year old Paige didn't know quite as much about the world as she thought she did when she went to college.

I'm finding out that being a parent is the second hardest and best thing I've ever done.  (1st is marriage)

I'm finding out to pray simply...Princess K at dinner recently, "Thank you God for lipstick, letters, and underwear."

I'm finding out that I only thought life was busy and I didn't have "free time" in my 20s.

I'm finding out grown-up conversations can be hard...refinance?  buy a car?  is life fulfilling? am I living my life on purpose?  am I teaching and loving my kids well?...but the vulnerability of having these conversations with my best friend is worth it.

I'm finding out that dying to myself to live as Christ is more complex than just thinking nice thoughts about people and letting someone else go first at a 4-way stop.

I'm finding out that life really does fly by and kids really do grow so fast.

I'm finding out that my kids are always watching and listening.

I'm finding out that not knowing everything about everything is ok...we have the internet!

I'm finding out that I now know why I believed my mom when she said she had eyes in the back of her head...there's nothing new under the sun.

I'm finding out that time with friends when you have a family looks much different than it did before kids, but just as sweet when it happens.

I'm finding out that starting a church is like having another child.

I'm finding out that I have a really blessed life watching my kids grow every inch.

I'm finding out that my life is richer if I laugh alot.

I'm finding out that kids are horrible liars.

I'm finding out that going to the mailbox is more fun as a kid.

I'm finding out that life is really more than I ever imagined it to be...really.

I'm finding out that God's ways are not my ways.

Just some things I'm finding out...