Anticipated Surprises

I found the toy for my son at a garage sale. It was something he had been drooling over for months. I knew the excitement that would follow after discovering it outside his bedroom door the next morning. The anticipation made me smile.

Then, while trying to figure out how it worked, I pressed a hidden button that made parts of it light up and play music. How long, I wondered, would it would take my son to find this extra surprise? I did not want to miss that moment.

As a parent, surprising my children with gifts ranks quite high in the "what brings me joy" department. I relish their simple delight and hugs of thanks.  

My Heavenly Father is the same way.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights... (James 1:17a NIV)

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:11 NLT)

He delights in my discovery of his gifts. He beams with pride when I stop to thank him for his generosity. He waits in anticipation for me to understand all the wonderful things that are yet to come.


Giver of all good and perfect gifts, open my eyes to see what is all around me waiting to be unwrapped. I love that you love surprises and created me to enjoy them as well. Help me to turn to you in gratitude and refrain from grumbling. Amen.

When God's Answer is "No"

While thinking of a new Bible verse for my kids to memorize this week, I turned first to "God is love." The short, but powerful, truth beckoned me to savor each word, read it over and over.

GOD is love.
God IS love.
God is LOVE. (1 John 4:8)

Each time I read the sentence, new meaning emerged and leaped right off the pages into my open heart.  Then doubt crept in.

What about the times God does not seem like love? What about when my prayers for healing seem to fall on deaf ears?  What about when his answer to my tears continues to be "no?"

Is he still love?


God cannot and will not act outside of love. It is his very nature. I have to stand on the truth that he says "no" because he loves me and knows way more about the situation, my heart, and my true needs, than I can imagine.

Because he loves, he is not healing my body right now. Because he loves, he allows situations into my life which cause me to grow. Because he loves, he places a longing for something deeper within my heart.

God does not cause sin or always prevent it. In his love, he gives everyone the freedom to choose good or evil, and lets consequences naturally occur. 

Does this mean I jump for joy while my tears are falling? Of course not. But I refuse to doubt that God is love when his answers to my prayers are not what I wish they were.

God has been, is, and will continue to be LOVE.

"Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns 


Yes, Jesus, you love me. I choose to believe you act and decide not to act because you are love. Either way, I want to bring glory to you. Amen.

Always Available to Help

I was trying to take a shower. My children were pounding on the door for assistance with one thing or another. I was obviously busy and tried to redirect them while rubbing soap out of my eyes. Not to be deterred, they kept knocking and yelling.

Here's the funny thing - my husband was in the next room. I insisted (in a very loud voice) that they ask their dad to help them with whatever pressing matter they had. What could I possibly do for them at the moment?

Finding the situation both annoying and humorous, I got to thinking: this is how I treat my pressing matters sometimes. I go to my family and friends for help, frustrated that they cannot fix things, when my Heavenly Father is nearby and always available.

I ask others for opinions when I should be turning to God first. His is the only opinion that truly matters. He is never too busy to provide counsel and direction.

As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. (Psalm 55:16 NIV)

Lord, I want to knock on your door for help first. You are always available no matter how large or small my concern. Give me the courage to release the hold that opinions of others has had on me. Amen.

Preapproved and Accepted

I keep receiving letters in the mail from financial institutions and other businesses that used to make me frustrated but now make me smile. The writing on the envelope usually says in big, bold letters, "You are Preapproved," or "Accepted, Regardless of Your History!"

While shredding the most recent note, something stirred inside me. I am preapproved; I am accepted, but not in the way they imply.

If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we’re given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. What we read in Scripture is, “Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own." (Romans 4:2-3 MSG)

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7 NIV)

I do not have to worry about my past because I am accepted regardless of my history. I am preapproved for the glorious eternity that awaits me. All I have to do is believe in the one who spread his arms wide on a cross to ensure I would never be rejected.

Now, those are wonderful reminders to receive in the mail - often!

Lord, judging by the frequency I receive these letters, you must enjoy reminding me of these facts over and over again. Help me to live fully from the acceptance you give freely and to share that with others around me. Amen.

Purposeful Prayer for My Husband

I have been saying it for over a decade now: I need to pray more for my husband. Not that I don't pray for him, I just know I could be more purposeful about it. Who else has the opportunity to intercede for him on such a deep, personal level?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

God tells me not to be anxious, but to bring everything (and everyone) before him in prayer. So, I decided to make a visual reminder of what requests I want to pray circles around for my best friend. Since I have been making a few necklaces for myself lately, I chose to use beads. I picked out beads that stand for different areas of my husband's life (past, work, relationship with God, purity, our marriage, etc...), strung them together, and hung them next to my kitchen sink. This way, I am not only praying for him more, I am dreading doing the dishes less.

 ... pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. (James 5:16b AMP)

I am excited to see what God will do in his life over the next (well prayed over) decade.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me a best friend to walk hand in hand with through this life. Help me to circle his life and our family in prayer often, so that we may experience your tremendous power at work first hand. Amen.

 .

Show Me Your Glory

Standing on a bridge, overlooking a picturesque pond and fountain, my conversation with God went something like this:

Me: "I want to see your glory, but I'll settle for seeing that huge orange striped goldfish up close. Would you please make him swim this way so I can have a better look?"

God:

Me: "He's not moving. I know you can do anything. Is it too much to ask to make him move his tail just a little and turn toward me?"

God:

Me: "Okay, I get it. You are in control of all, but sometimes the answer is no. I don't have to always understand why."

God: "Remember the hummingbird you saw at the feeder earlier and how you marveled at the speed of it's wings? That was a gift to you, a sneak peak of my glory. Remember the rainbows of light your son noticed on the wall this morning? That was for you as well. Look all around and you will see me and my glory."

Before leaving, I glanced at the faint shape of the fish in the distance one last time, and thought about the glory that will be revealed to all someday. Some of it is still out of reach, but one day all will be seen clearly. Turning to go, I came face to face with a large praying mantis bug clinging to the wall beside me, and laughed out loud.

Me: "Thank you, Lord, for making me laugh. I will try to appreciate the gifts you give me in your perfect timing."

God: "I love you!"

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1 NIV)

...We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. (Titus 2:13 NLT)

"Show Me Your Glory" by Jesus Culture 

THE Relationship

An argument to start to the day, an unexpected twist in the plan, a little behind in time, and I was tense. When I noticed my teeth were clenched it was too late. (Place hand over mouth here to keep the scream inside.)

I needed some chocolate. I needed to escape the chaos. I needed a friend to pour out my woes upon.

All my options felt somehow hollow. I knew they would not really fill the empty place at the moment.

Pause. Breathe. Repeat.

I needed... Jesus. I needed to lean fully into the relationship that has never let me down, or left me alone. In my mind I was drowning in a sea of "why me, why today's" and his hand was reaching out to pull me up and out of the storm.

Would I grab on or turn away to food, to fleeing, or to other relationships?

Breathe, a little slower this time.

I accepted the hand and grasped the love offered to me every moment of every day. The argument still happened, plans were still changed, and we were still late, but I remembered what was truly important in that moment: a relationship of pure love and forgiveness.

Then, and only then, could I go about my day at peace. 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deut. 31:8 NIV) 

I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:6-8 NIV)

"There is always sufficient reason for despair, but there is never sufficient purpose." ~Robert Brault

Jesus, I can breathe easily in our relationship. You are always beside me whispering love. Help me learn how to overflow with the same love onto those around me. Amen.