Moving Boldly Forward

Y'all, this is straight out of my journal -- just keeping it REALLY real here -- and I share it with you in hopes that you will rejoice as I did that no matter what choices you've made, or what troubles you've encountered, God can use you for His purposes...

Recently, during my morning quiet time, I read the following (from the book Blessed and Highly Favored):

"He gently nudges us into the right spot by allowing failure and the passage of time to bring us to our knees at the place where He waits, ready and willing to meet us and guide us back onto the right track."

Seriously, I cried at reading this. I really cried and, at the same time, realized what I'd known all along but had failed to acknowledge: I got in the way of God's desire to use me in His kingdom work. I let the love of self, the love of pleasure, the love of many things, take my focus off what was really important.

But just as suddenly as I acknowledged these things I realized that He could still use me. And though my prayer to Him was still full of self-doubt (What is there about me that would draw others to You? How am I gifted in a way that You can use me? What is there about me that can push through my own insecurities and join the work You have begun right here, right now?), I understood that God doesn't create junk. He has planned for each of us to contribute to Kingdom building; we are the ones who make choices that are contrary to His plan for our lives.

And so my prayer became: Father, use that which I don't even yet know exists inside me to accomplish Your plans. Show me the plans You have for me and plant desire in my heart to move boldly forward!

Gifts of the Season

i love to shop the last few days before Christmas. call me crazy, but i enjoy the excitement of knowing that my gifts are all purchased and i can browse for a few special extras.

none of the gifts matter much, though, in the grand scheme of things. the most precious gift of all was given thousands of years ago in a stable that smelled not of gingerbread or pine, but rather of hay and manure. what a gift!

pause for a moment in the hectic details of the season and ponder some other magnificent gifts of Christmas:

the purity of Mary: a humble, virgin girl highly favored by God, with a heart for serving Him (Luke 1:28).

the obedience of Joseph: facing public humiliation for a betrothed who was pregnant, he chose to obey God's instruction and continue the engagement (Matthew 1:24)

the worship of the shepherds: first they hurried to see the Baby and then couldn't wait to share the news with others (Luke 2: 15, 17, 20).

the joy of the angels: imagine the joy in proclaiming the birth of the Savior of the world (Luke 2:14).

the gifts of the Magi: they knew that although Christ was born to poor parents He deserved the best they had to offer (Matthew 2:11).

A humble, obedient spirit, a life marked by worhsip of and sharing about Christ, and a willingness to put Christ first and give Him our best are the best gifts we can offer Him.

Merry Christmas!

(i wish i could remember where i first heard these devotional thoughts. they are recorded in my study notebook dated 2002.)

won't you blow your horn

the Sound of the South kicked off Troy's first home game of the season in style. His Royal Highness was in top form as he got his first taste of marching with the big boys. lots of people were on hand to see him strut his stuff and we couldn't have been more proud.

pray for your freshman

all you parents of freshmen out there, raise your hands -- woot woot! what a different time in our lives, right? our role in our child's life changed the minute that dorm room door closed behind us on move-in day. what didn't change is our responsibility to pray for that child as he/she adjusts to life with a bit more freedom.

there is a well worn list in my infamous red folder -- the list is actually dated August 1996 -- that I copied from a magazine article about being a praying parent. I wrote 'college years' across the top knowing that one day, just as my relationship with my child would change, so would the nature of my prayers.

i'm praying for....

safety. on campus, in the dorm, on the practice field, on the road as he travels to/from home.

godly friends. to encourage him, to pray with him, to hold him accountable, to show him good, clean fun.

ability to be all God made him to be. whatever he does, do it with all God gave him.

using God-giving talents. use them to make a difference in the lives of others. leave a good mark on the world.

sexual purity. save it for the spouse - God designed it that way. then you don't have to worry about all the other concerns that come with promiscuity.

wisdom. for making choices, for knowing what to do in all situations, for discerning the best use of his time.

there's no right or wrong way to pray for your freshman -- like Nike says -- just do it!

big man on campus

His Royal Highness headed off to college Tuesday. It wasn't easy for his mom, you know, but at least I got the tears out before the big day. I didn't check in with him at the housing office, I didn't stand in line at the band registration table with him, and I didn't tell him which cubby to put his underwear in, either. I just threw him to the wolves, I think. And he figured things out quite nicely.

I did make his bed, though, because what guy really knows that the proper order for bedding is a zippered, antimicrobial, anti-bed bug mattress protector first, followed by the quilted mattress pad, a five-zone egg crate pad, then the moisture-wicking down-filled mattress topper, a fitted sheet, a contrasting print flat sheet and then the comforter. I don't think I've ever slept on such luxury in all my years.

teach him gently world

Many years ago, the words of Abraham Lincoln were more than perfect for a mom sending her firstborn off to 'big boy' school for the first time. Fast forward and they are just as appropriate today as that firstborn headed off to college:

"World, take my son by the hand - he starts to school today.

It's all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You, see, up to now, he's been king of the roost. He's been the boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds and I've always been handy to soothe his feelings.

But now...things are going to be different. This morning he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on a great adventure that probably will include wars and tragedy and sorrow.

To live in this world will require faith and love and courage. So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by the hand and teach him the things he will have to know.

Teach him, but gently if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just - that all men are not true. Teach him for that every scoundrel , there is a hero; that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest to lick...

Teach him that it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone else tells him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and to take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears on a howling mob - and to stand up and fight if he thinks he's right.

Teach him gently, World, but don't soothe him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He's such a nice little fellow...