God Takes the Time to Do Everything Right

Isaiah 30:15-18 (The Message)
15-17"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.

Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on me—

The very thing you've been unwilling to do.
You've said, 'Nothing doing! We'll rush off on horseback!'
You'll rush off, all right! Just not far enough!
You've said, 'We'll ride off on fast horses!'
Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?
Think again: . . .

18 But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.
He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right—everything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Lori Ann –When you’re stressed you often fall back into old patterns of self-reliance. You insist that you can do everything yourself – work, school, family, housework, meals, etc. Not only is that way of thinking prideful and arrogant, it fills me with sadness.

Just relax and trust me! I love to help you. Let me hold you in my arms, like the Good Shepherd does for his little lambs. Me, you know me. I’m your father. I love you more than anyone else. I take care of you every day and I promise to provide everything you need for today and the next 2 weeks. You lack for nothing!

You have a choice. You can be stressed out and bring that anxious presence into your daily circumstances and relationships OR you can wait for me, settle down and let me provide for you. I’m not going to lie to you. Most likely you will get all your work done either way you chose – My way or your way. The difference will be our relationship at the end of these 2 weeks. Will you have grown closer to me or pulled away from me?

Just like the daddy in Mark 9, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Help me choose You.

In the wwKiD’s art studio this month the kids painted pictures of how they imagined Jesus. Using water color paint and learning how to create shadows with dark and light tones, the kids came up with Jesus with a goatee; pierced ears; tattoos; bald; long hair; short hair; curly hair, etc.

When their images were done, the kids read Luke 23.26-24.12 and looked for clues that might help them understand that Jesus was who he said he was – the son of God. After looking at the Luke account, the kids were asked to answer the question from John 11.26 “Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die? Do you believe this?” Based on the kid’s answer they wrote their response under their Jesus drawing.

Last weekend after reading the Luke scripture several of the 3rd/4th graders said they didn’t know if they were ready to say “I believe.” Fortunately the studio teacher affirmed where the kids were spirituality. She did not try to convince them of the “right answer” nor make them uncomfortable. Rather she encouraged the kids to ask God to show them, trusting the Spirit to lead and guide our kids to the Truth.

I love that we – the leaders – are beginning to understand we are merely the “reeds of God” in which His Spirit flows through.

Being Allie's Mom

Seven themes of adoption:
Loss Rejection Guilt/shame Grief Control Identity Intimacy

Research shows that regardless of how old your child was when you adopted, these 7 themes will emerge at some time.

My friend Cindy (Dr. Cindy Koenigsknecht) shared different approaches of parenting adopted kids. The information was so helpful and insightful into my own parenting journey of Allie. Conversations that I need to initiate with Allie so she knows she can talk about her “China Momma.”

I left the meeting with several concrete ways I can be more aware of Allie’s “triggers.” I feel like I can better respond in ways that will touch some of her core needs. That’s pretty impressive, coming from an introverted processer that needs at least 2 hours to 5 days to sort through information!

For more info about parenting an adopted child, check out "Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections." If you are interested in networking with other families who have adopted, let me know.

I'm not the same

I am creating a second mandala (or piece of art) as part of my final project for my spiritual direction program. The five areas or themes in my mandala will represent the following. . .

1. Life experiences – identify 3 significant experiences that have shaped and formed who I am today
2. Emotional dynamics – how have I matured, grown and developed as a human
3. Images of God – how does my personal understanding of the image of God shape my spiritual life
4.Theological themes – how and in what areas has my theology changed and grown
5. Spiritual mentor -- how has Mother Teresa’s life and spirituality shaped me

I am not the same person I was 5 years ago.

How are you growing? How would answer these questions for yourself?