The Shack

Hello there!
I need to get ready for work here very shortly; however, Dear Jesus, I just wanted to verbalize with words my love for You and my thanks for the work You have done ~ You are amazing!!!
Ryan & I finished reading The Shack, by Willam P Young. Wow! What an amazing book. I love so many things the author brings out/portrays. Some are hard for my mind to wrap around them, but boy do I love how the words put such thoughts & expressions together. I love to think that you, Jesus, are "especially fond of me!" I love the conversation You had with Mack about forgiveness and what forgiveness is and what it is not. I love Your redemption given to Mack and to all people who ask. I love that You did Your part once for all to be reconciled to us; now it is our choosing. I love that You love me!

Lord, I pray right now for Carmen Friesen Cutting and her family with the passing of her mom, Ellen. I pray for my Aunt Vickie to whom Ellen was a dear, dear friend. Lord please help them in their sorrow and their hurt and help them to see beyond this pain. Lord, I also pray for Your guidance regarding service. Help me to follow where You lead.

And, Lord, I pray to adore people like You do! "Because . . . if anything matters, than everything matters!" (the Shack)

Amen.

Is Green so Good?

You know, I think so often we act the way we do and others act the way they do is because of the green-headed monster called Jealousy! Man - why is it so hard for some to compliment, encourage, empower others? I love making people feel good; but, alas, I must be the first to admit that I struggle to compliment, encourage, engage those who are ugly to me; who have hurt me; those to whom the only relationship between us is based on more negative than positive. I am so often--daily--reminded of Eph. 4:1 - 5 which says to "walk worthy of the calling to which we were called. Be completely humble & gentle; patient, endeavoring with one another to work for unity in the bond of peace. There is one spirit; one baptism; one body; one Father of all who is in all and through all." Okay - that was from memory and I know I missed some. But, what I remembered is pretty darn convicting. Today Lord, help me to walk worthy of the calling to which I was called. Help me to display Your splendor. Help me to guide my girls to see & long for the calling You are purposing for their lives. Help me Lord to better because of who You are in me. Much love,m.

Pick Up Day

Saturday morning! Light Rain, a good cup of coffee right next to me, leaving in 10 minutes to get Ellen - I can't wait!
God - You are so good. Thank you for completely gracing me when I am so awful. Thank you for loving my heart even when it feels so unlovable.
Dear God - please tell my baby sister hello and that I miss her just terribly and that I wish so much she were here with me.
Extended family get together last night at Harvey County Park (Norm & Nadine's kids were all home & around). I met some really neat people and learned more about others. There family seems to just love each other - its really neat. They just seem to enjoy being around one another--not to brag about themselves or their lives, but to just build relationship. That is what it seems (totally could not be that way). I pray for my girls a love like that - one that enjoys each other because they are God's creatures and nothing more. Ellen - I can't wait to see you!

Wow - Ellen is going to camp for the 1st time in her life and for the 1st time in her life she will be in someone else's care other than family. Lord Jesus, I pray your protection over her. Guide Your angels to make straight her path and keep her safe. Lord, I pray also that her eyes may be opened and her heart enlightened and her spirit be more aligned with Yours. Thank you for the willing volunteers who will care for her these next few days.

99 Balloons, A Tribute to Eliot. What a touching memorial to a little boy with Trisome 18. Thank you God for revealing yourself through him and for parents that loved him and love You! What a blessing.

b/t/w - it was my birthday on Tuesday - 38 years young! I miss my sister soooooo much! I miss having a girlfriend that just loves me for me. Thank you God for allowing her in my life - because, truly, it is better. Thank you for allowing my girls to be plural. I pray they learn to cherish each other so completely and in doing so, they honor each other and You! Thank you Lord Jesus for being my Savior - not because You had too, but because You chose too. You are Amazing. Thanks.