Before getting married and having kids perfection meant something entirely different than it does now. Once upon a time it meant that everything was done just so, looked just so and worked just so.
Now it means that someone, something is exactly as they are.....just as God made them. Photos aren't perfect, people aren't perfect, things aren't perfect.....well, not in the everyday sense of the word. But things, people and circumstances are perfectly okay.
Take this strand of hair for example.....
I pondered this photo for a long time wondering if I wanted to put the effort into removing it. Finally I decided I'd rather adjust my idea of perfect and remember the warm windy day, my baby girl's bed head and PJ's just as they were yesterday... perfectly designed. So here's my baby girl.....in a perfectly imperfect photo!
(If you want to view my Freaky Friday Foto I posted it yesterday. Just keep scrolling down)
The Deeper Still Conference was wonderful! Click on the aforementioned link and check out the last photo of the arena! Wow is that a lot of women or what??? Boo Mama was there, although I didn't see her. Beth Moore blogs about the conference here. There were over 19,000 people there. More women than I've ever seen in one place. It was just a little overwhelming for an introvert like me. The Word was fresh and timely and just overall awesome!! I was so emotionally spent by the end of the conference, wow!
We stayed in the Hilton downtown and learned that valet parking is 24.00 per night. GULP. We stayed two nights.
We also learned that big suitcases with rollers is the way to go. Not the shoulder bags we carried.
We had a great time. It was awesome and as we were praising I wondered what Atlanta looked like to God ... was there a huge shiney spot right in the middle?
Well today I'm off again. This time it's with my sister to the Deeper Still conference in Atlanta. I can't wait to tell you all about it. Beth Moore, Kay Arthur and Priscilla Shirer will be there. Most of the Bible Studies I've been doing in the past several years have been Beth Moore studies and the first one I ever did was Kay Arthur.
My sister and I haven't done anything alone together since about 10 years ago when we went to a Mary Kay Seminar by ourselves. Yep, time for some girl time.
Here is a photo from the beach of my sister, me and baby girl.
More from Atlanta!
I don't know how many of you guys that read my blog have ever heard me speak of my oldest son's birth. He was born on Christmas Day 9 years ago. I was admitted into the hospital at midnight Christmas Eve.
Fast forward to today. Our oldest son has been our hardest son to raise. He's very emotional, strong-willed and just down right pig headed (I'm sure he gets it all from his dad - NOT!) We have days that both my husband and I are ready to throw up our hands, throw in the towel with certainty that we have NO IDEA what we are doing as parents.
Yesterday was one of those days.....a rough one.
So I pray and I pray hard for this son of mine. I pray that God would chase him down with all that He is and grab a hold of his heart and make it His own. I pray for a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and to others. I pray for a child who loves the Lord with all that he is.
And I fall back on the words the Lord spoke to me that night in the hospital when he was born. I knew God had chosen Christmas Day for a purpose. I was 11 or so days late and had such a peace that he would come when God wanted him to. The night after he was born I was awake, trying to figure out the nursing thing, and asking over and over, "Why Christmas Day Lord? I know you chose it for a reason". I had praise and worship music playing, it was dark, my first born was in my arms and I felt God's answer to my question as if He was standing beside my chair......"Because he is my gift to you. I never want you to forget that He is MY gift."
I began to cry. Wow. For God to speak to me so clearly, choose a night so holy, and orchestrate it all for me to know......
Indescribable....
God knew that 9 years later I'd still be relying on those words from Him. Our first-born has been our most difficult child since day one. He had colic as a baby and didn't sleep for almost 3 months. We prayed, the church prayed, we cried, begged my mom to quit her job and come stay with us and had lots of help. Friends helped with him for most of the first year of his life. It was a blessing.
Still today I remember the Lord's words to me as I struggle with parenting my first born. When I'm in the aftermath of a hard day of parenting knowing I have no idea what I'm doing I remember the words...
"He is MY gift to you."
And I'm encouraged to keep fighting the fight and doing battle on behalf of my son because I know there is one out there who wants his heart and hates him with all that he is. And I know the one I serve is bigger, stronger, mightier, holier and is all about changing me, my husband and our family as we raise one of "His gifts to us".
I remember liking that song...don't ever remember who sang it. I'm horrible with all that who sang what stuff.
But today I've been thinking about God's call on our lives. What do we do when he begins to close doors in our comfortable little lives? Do we panic? Do we get worried over what's next? Sure we do. Our flesh panics doesn't it?
I wonder what God thinks about those doors He is indeed closing. I imagine a father patting a diapered bottom scooting me along to the next step, maybe away from danger, maybe toward something really yummy like "peaches". Oh yum, yum! Food! (I mean He knows I'm all about the food!)
God's never really happy with less than the best, you know? So when I settle comfortably in good but not best what does He do? Oh yea, you know! He moves me. My question is what is my (our) reaction?
"Oh yippee, Dad's moving again! You know it's always a great adventure with Him. He's got the best surprises!! AND He loves more than I could ever know so this is gotta be great!!!!" or
"What are you doing God? I like it here. Why do you want me to move from where I am? Do you know what's out there? I mean, I like my life. God? God? Do you hear me? I don't like change. Hello?"
Oh for me to come to Him with the eagerness my kids come to me with when I even hint at a trip. "Where are we going mom? What are we going to get? How long will it take? Will it be fun? Who else is going? Is there a playground? Hey, someone get the football and let's go!"
Oh Father turn my heart so towards you that I know the moment your thoughts shift towards me. Make me eager to follow you for you love me more than I can imagine. Protect me and my family and make us God Chasers!!!
God is unpredictable but consistent. You may not be able to tell what he is doing or why but you can always trust in WHO HE IS. He has your very best interests at heart. He is good. He is God.
