May God Bless You...

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

- A Franciscan Benediction

Every time I read this benediction my heart is touched.  This is the kind of blessing from God I pray for myself and my children.  I pray we never forget the ones less fortunate than ourselves. That we are uncomfortable with being too comfortable.  That we never think our "small" contribution is not worth giving.  That we are never content to remain ignorant so that we do not feel responsible.  That we each do what we can when we can where we can.  We can all do something!

‘I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matt. 25:40

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Matt. 10:42

Mercy Demonstrated

Yesterday morning Eliana was not handling things well.  We often have no idea what triggers it, but some days she is just clingy and sad.  These are the days when she wants to be treated like a baby, she sucks her fingers, she cries, and she calls herself Xing Yao.

We were getting ready for church and, as terrible as it sounds, it really wasn't a good time to deal with it.  I needed everyone to just get ready to go so that I could get myself and the girls ready. 

Keith and I were back in the bedroom and we heard our sweet baby crying up in the living room.  Now Keith was just getting ready to do a little reading and studying on the mercy of God before going to church.  I know he enjoys doing this and it is fine with me, so I really wasn't serious when I answered his comment, "I should really bring her back and hold her (while studying)", with "What she really needs is a Daddy to read her a story and make her feel all special and happy." 

But you know what?  He did it.  He put aside what he was planning to do and told her to get a book.  He cuddled her, read to her, and talked about the pictures with her and very soon it was both little girls cuddling with him.  He did this until I was ready to dress her.

It didn't immediately turn her day around, but by the time we got to church she was much more happy and relaxed. 

So my dear husband never got a chance to study about God's mercy yesterday, but he did take the opportunity that was right at home to demonstrate God's mercy to his little daughter.

Be Still and ~Know~ That I Am God...

Last week we had a potential opportunity come up that had me excited and scared all at the same time.  The possibilities and ramifications were enormous.  Keith and I spoke and my heart was in turmoil.  I didn't want to think or pray, I just wanted to jump!  Keith said to give him a little time to pray about it and I spent the time in prayer too.  As I was praying that God would speak clearly to Keith, the Lord spoke this verse to me, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

I still don't know exactly what will come of the situation I mentioned. But I have spent a lot of time thinking about simply knowing that God is God. 
 

We Christians tend to think a lot about being Christians and doing what we are called to do as Christians, and rightly so. Those things are important. But maybe, just maybe, if we spent more time in stillness and knowing that God is God and knowing that He will be exalted, being and doing would become a more natural outworking of that knowledge.

So this week I want to be intentional about surrendering to the reality of God and the fact that He is in control and will be exalted in all the earth!

Note:  These photos were taken at Swatara Falls where we went hiking last evening.