step on and up firmly

"These last few weeks have been the submerging before the consciousness of rescue.  Go forward now and conquer.  Go forward unafraid." -God Calling, July 14


"Many of My disciples have had to stay in the dark, alone and friendless.  They struggled on, singing as they went.  For you, too, there must be songs on the way.  Should I place your feet on an insecure ladder?  Its supports may be out of sight, hidden in the secret Place of the Most High, but if I have asked you to step on and up firmly--then surely have I secured the ladder." -God Calling, July 15


I have lots to write about but will soon be off to swim lessons for the Bundles this morning.  I am thankful for the friends in my life who share godly counsel when He leads them and for the times they wait quietly for the Holy Spirit to speak the words to me.  He has been talking and I have been processing.  Stay tuned...

what am i waiting for?

"Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting." -Dr. Seuss


What am I waiting for?  This is the moment God has called me to live today.  Why do I think serving him in any other capacity than what this moment holds is more worth while?  I choose not to wait.  I choose to live for him today.  To be present with the Holy Spirit in the now and be used however best brings him glory.  Whatever I am waiting for may never come and then what?  What kind of life would this be?  One that stood in line waiting for my life to start?  I choose to live for Christ.  I choose to wait on him daily.  Not for some super spiritual calling but for whatever he has planned for me on this day.


"As I prompt you--act.  When you have no clear guidance, then go forward quietly along the path of duty I have set before you.  No fear, no panic, quietly doing your daily duty.  This attitude of faith will receive its reward, as surely as the acting upon My direct Guidance.  Rejoice in the sense of security that is yours." -God Calling

bum, bum, underwear

I have been thinking upon the Holy Spirit lately.  Trying to wrap my mind around his omnipresence and omniscience.  I have heard a particular passage of scripture three times recently.  It wasn't until Sunday morning when it was referenced in our pastor's sermon that I took notice and thought maybe there is something in there that applies to me.

Psalm 121:3-4 ESV

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

There is something so reassuring about realizing that God the Spirit is always with you.  You are never alone.  He NEVER sleeps.  He is with you wherever you are.  Not just on Sunday mornings.  Not just during a storm or trial or crisis.  Not just in the miracle of birth or adoption or healing.  He is with you every moment of every day and longs to be in dialogue with you.  If only we thought about his presence more.  Not only would it alter our behavior and words ("how would you act if Jesus were sitting there in the dark with you?") but it would radically alter our relationship with him.

The other day Bundle Boy asked me an interesting question.  

Him: Mom, is "bum, bum, underwear" pleasing to God?  

Me: (puzzled look on my face)  

Him:  It is the song [my friend] made up and sang the other day.  Do you think it pleases God if I sing it too?

Me:  What do you think?

Him: (shrugging his shoulders) I dunno.

That is when it hit me.  (insert "duh" moment from everyone else wondering why it took me so long)  My son looks to me to tell him how to live his life in a way that pleases God.  He sees me as the interpreter of all things that bring God glory.  Somehow he lost (or never developed) the concept that he could seek God directly if he ever wanted to know anything.  Apparently I was the judge of all things holy in his mind.

It got me thinking.  The only way that our children are going to learn at a young age to seek God's face is if we are doing it all the time.  If I am in dialogue with the Father in the little things.  Do I live in a way that acknowledges that God is always with me?  Am I telling my son "You can talk to God anytime" and then just praying with him at set times of day (ie. before meals, at bedtime, when there is a physical need)?  I want my kids to understand that God is omnipresent.  That He is just waiting to hear us talk to him at any moment.  Oh how I have neglected the Spirit in my life!  I have decided to change that and become a Babbling Prayer Mama.  What's that?  There isn't such a thing?  Well I have created one.  I am going to try talking to God out loud more often.  I want my kids to hear me singing praise and speaking thanks.  I want them to know that I seek God for strength and focus and discipline.  That I need help from the Holy Spirit on a minute by minute basis to be self-controlled and live in a way that pleases God and brings him glory.  Heck, I have no idea if "bum, bum, underwear" makes God smile.  But if Brother learns to ask him before saying and doing anything in this life, the Holy Spirit will give him a clearer answer.  God is the one our children should be living for anyway.  

I couldn't help but notice the two verses that came before the ones I shared above.

Psalm 121:1-2

 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
²  My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Isn't God amazing?!?!