I'll never let ANYTHING happen to you...

Yesterday, we decided to watch "Finding Nemo," one of the best movies!  It has so many great messages.  One line in particular stood out.  As Marlin and Dory (my favorite) are looking desperately for Nemo, Marlin says, "I promised I would never let anything happen to him."  Dory replies something like- well that was sort of an odd promise. 

Imagine living a life where NOTHING happened.  I realized I am guilty of the "Marlin parenting syndrome" for sure and I have definitely lived a "safe" life myself.  I like safety and certainty.  But God promises in Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

If I live a life of faith, then I already have my guarantee.  I don't have to live life worrying about every little thing that "happens," I know it is all for my own good, in His plan. 

I am strong because I am weak.  I am beautiful because of my flaws.  I am a lover because I am a fighter.  I am fearless because I have been afraid.  I am wise because I have been foolish.  I can laugh because I have known sadness. 

God uses our greatest weaknesses and turns those into our greatest strengths.  As I look at my past, the things that have hurt the most are the things I am most passionate about.  They have molded and shaped me the most.  On the other side of it, you see God's plan revealed! 

There's always a rainbow after a storm~

(And I *think* I'm going to break out of my "safe" bubble this week if the opportunity arises- details to follow)

My kind of Crazy Love...

"..give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me my daily bread." Proverbs 30:8 NIV

This verse was included in one of several of the daily devotional/ inspirational emails/blogs, etc that I read. It struck me, I certainly do not consider myself by American standards to be "wealthy." In fact, I am right now, tying to figure out how to make ends meet; how to pay a new student loan that is due, facing rising gas prices, furlough days are killing me.... You are quite aware. Times are different.

However, compared to most in the world, I am quite wealthy. I have a roof over my head, a nice car, stocked cabinets with food that we waste, a nice iPhone, etc. (You get the point.)

I can choose to focus on what I want (more stuff) or all the things I have that are true blessings. The thing is: God has called me give. I do not have to give to the point of putting myself or my children in poverty (by whose standards, anyway?) but there is so much I CAN give... I can give my time, I can give my service, I can give forgiveness. And yes, even though I am not "wealthy" I can give financially because I know that all my needs are beyond met! I am SO incredibly blessed! 


Another blog that I read several days ago mentioned these verses from Mark12: 41- 44

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." 

It takes little to no faith and goodness to give something.  It takes genuine love and compassion to go beyond ourselves to truly see the need and help others.  What are the needs of the people in your life?  It may not cost a thing-  except your time... or maybe some forgiveness.  

 The less we have, the more we have to give. What is it that we are being "selfish" with?  That's probably the area that we need to learn to be more generous with.  All we need is enough for today. 

Spring Cleaning

Forget "Spring" Cleaning... I have bypassed that.. I have moved on to summer, fall, and winter. Problem is- it will not last that long! And boy, do I get mad when I spend all this time cleaning and my kids come right back behind me and mess it all up. It takes so long to get everything looking so nice and how quickly it gets messed up again.

I mean my house looks GREAT! I have thrown out all the JUNK (and there was lots of it), steam cleaned carpets, cleaned windows- everything looks sparkly and clean. Addison says our house looks new... what a great accomplishment. =)

So this gets me to thinking: Is this how God feels- we get all clean and new- "Sparkly" (And it takes us FOREVER) and then we go mess it all up with our sin and it takes us FOREVER (with our stubborn ways) to clean up our messes again and get sparkly clean.

It's such a great thing that He is so forgiving. He doesn't get mad at my messes and He even helps me clean them up even though I keep making them over and over again. The cleaning will never stop- it is an ongoing process. But I'll take clean over dirty ANY DAY!!!