Look up!

I was thinking a lot about storms today,
 and fear because for me the two often go hand in hand.
 I enjoy a good thunderstorm now and then..
 but only if it is not too big
 and the winds don't blow too hard
 and I am inside and not outside
 or in a tent or in a car... 
and the list of conditions goes on. 

You see I like control. 

But the reality I have none. Not now, not yesterday, not tomorrow, not ever. And thank the Lord for that. 

And I thought of Peter. Peter, who was so excited to see the Lord that he forgot that he couldn't swim, and jumped out of the boat and miraculously walked toward his Lord.

But then he saw the waves and started to sink.

Isn't that what happens to us. In the storms of life, the things that we fear, whether it be death, or sickness, suffering or sorrow, pain or loss... the waves of fear overwhelm us and we take our eyes off Christ. 

We fail to see the miracle in the midst of the storm. The very trial that we are facing is really for His glory and our sanctification. But instead we see the waves of fear and we start to sink. 

May we instead see Christ and Him glorified and give Thanks in all things. May we see the miracle in the trials and may His name be praised. 

Everything is sacred

Maybe you know the song,  "Everything is Sacred" by Caedmon's Call? If you don't check it out and keep the tissues handy. 

I love that song--it honors the role of moms and that is something we cannot do enough. 

But the song is hard for me too, because I am not a mom and I don't have those same moments to call sacred in my life. I am not cleaning up after small children, or cooking for them, or weaving gospel truths into their lives in ways that they can understand. 

Nope, instead 5 days a week I wrench myself out of bed at the last possible minute, rush around--making coffee, making lunch, and doing my make-up in the car as I drive the 30 minute commute to work. 

I am a nurse and I love my job. But it is a job--complete with the good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, the hard and the easy. 

But it struck me as I listened to that song the other day--that the idea that everything is sacred is not exclusive to this beautiful vocation called motherhood. 

Colossians 3:23-24 says,  ^"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

The Lord Himself sanctifies all our work as service to Him. Not just the beautiful moments when we get to witness for Him or pray with someone, but all the moments He claims as His. Our days, our lives are sacred because He is Lord of them all. Do we realize this daily?  Do we work with our true Master in mind or as "men-pleasers?"

I ask these questions of myself and I am cut to the heart--because so often I do not realize these things--I serve myself instead of Christ and do not allow Him to sanctify my life. 

I am reminded of another song by Jason Gray that says "Nothing is wasted, nothing is wasted, in the hands of our Redeemer, nothing is wasted." He wants to redeem our days for eternity--whether we are cleaning up puke, or mucking out stalls, or creating works of art--May He be glorfied in our service!

When God made a mother

God made a farmer, to plant and to sow. 

God made a farmer to help green things grow

When God made a mother He had something similar in mind, 

but the plants she would grow were of a different kind.

Little hearts, and little minds would be grown

By her words and her deeds, truths would be sown

Into the soil of their lives God's seed would she sow

With the water of tears,& the sunshine of joy,they would grow. 

By the tender care of the mum & the dad, 

they grew in His grace, which made Him quite glad

The Lord, you know, is the First Farmer ever, 

His seed is His word and our hearts are His treasure.

He uses us each, whosoever will, 

As His farmers on earth, His good seed to spill. 

I am so thankful for my good mum & dad

Who are His farmers too, seeking hearts to His garden to add. 

Teaching, and loving and pointing the way, 

Thank you so much! On this Mother's Day!