good morning

After preparing the husband's lunch this morning I brewed myself some "pregnancy" iced tea and sat down to read Ruth.  The morning sunshine peeked through the blinds as I drank up my good tea and the good word.

I will leave you with a sentence to savor today:

"The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but God sees that they get there." 

(John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence)

(extra)ordinary

It is easy to see God in the midst of miracles (an unexplainable case of cancer cured, walking away from a disaster without a scratch, etc..).  Last Monday the Hope staff reflected upon the seemingly ordinary daily provisions of God in our lives.  We began to recall God's goodness and faithfulness to us throughout our days.  I have been pondering these very provisions this week.  It has made me stand in awe of a God who not only cares about the "big" things in our lives, but His hands are in every detail too.

Here are just a few (extra)ordinary ways God cares me for in a day:
1. Every morning I wake up (in a warm bed, in a warm house and I've gotten a good night's sleep!).
2. When I open the refrigerator to search for breakfast I have a plethora of options before me that will keep me nourished and strengthen my body.
3. Josh drives me to work and we both arrive to our jobs safely(even though he drives 60 mph on the icy highways along with the rest of the morning traffic).
4. Teachers, staff and students smile at me in the hallways, share words of encouragement and pray for me.
5. God again provides food for me and baby at lunch; I also get to eat lunch with some pretty adorable kiddos.
6. I am driven home safely (yet again).
7. I have an amazing, loving husband to cook dinner with and a wonderful Jemimah who sings as she sets the table.
8. Our family can eat together and share stories from our day.
9. I am able to fall asleep snuggled up to my best friend.
10. Not only has God provided all of these daily necessities for me but He also has been knitting together a little life inside of me and providing for our baby!

Throughout the day my heart has beat an average of 100,000 times a day; I have taken an average of 20,000 breaths a day and all without stopping or having to remember to do this to function!

"nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything."  
-Acts 17:25

Knowing these things and remembering them are quite different.  I want to recall God's love for me in the mundane details of every day.  It's easy to complain when I've had a "hard day"; but really, how can I when He's done so much for me and continues to lavish His love and grace on me?  Remembering these things has the ability to shut my mouth pretty quickly.  I'm thankful God forgives my grumbling and helps me to understand His love in new refreshing ways.  Oh how He loves us! 

Sailing through the Work Week

"A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."

                                           -William Shedd

Hello friends.  Happy Tuesday to you.  Our principal shared this Shedd quote with our staff on Monday morning.  He lead us in a devotion about living counter-cultural lives.  I so often want to stay in the "harbor"; don't you?  If I am honest with myself I want to live a safe, cozy existence free from pain, stress, or trials of any sort.  I want my life to be easy.  The Bible speaks of a different kind of life. 

Romans 12:2 says:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:39:

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

So, how do these verses apply to me practically day in and day out?  First, I have to remember that God tells me my life will not be easy; in fact, He says I should be joyful when I meet "trials of various kinds" (James 1:2).  Trials produce steadfastness.  Let's take a look at how these verses fleshed themselves out today:

The alarm went off at 6:00, 6:10, and finally 6:20  I was about to grumble about how tired I was and how I didn't want to go to work when I thought of Monday's devotion.  I had to do a bit of "self talk".  I had to tell myself that even though school is sometimes (most of the time) challenging it is worth it.  Jesus will be my help, my strength, and my song.  And then after being at school for one hour and the kids are poking me in my lower back saying "teacher! teacher!" instead of raising their hands patiently at their desks I have to do some more "self talk" about Jesus loving these children and I should too (even when they are not obedient).

  When I'm not doing well at the whole self-talk business I'm thankful for a husband who will spoon feed me the gospel, and for the friends and co-workers who encourage me with God's good news.  So cheer up brothers and sisters!  If you are facing trials praise Him; if you are joyfully content praise Him.  I will leave you with the verse I am teaching the kindergartners this week:

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

                                                     -1 Thessalonians 5:18