Emphasis on the right syllable.

When I wake up in the morning, I'm already thinking of the schedule for the day.
As I have my morning coffee, I'm planning the grocery list for the weekend.
On my drive to my office, I'm thinking of the phone calls I need to make that afternoon.
Around 2:00 pm I mentally start to list the chores I want to finish that night.
Going home from work, I am making plans, lists, calls, etc.
Fixing dinner, I am pondering if I should blog that night or not.
During dinner, I am hoping it will be a smooth bath time.
While rocking my little girl to sleep, I am calculating the bills I need to sit down and pay.
Vegging in front of the TV I am thinking of who I need to see tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~

When the alarm goes off, I'm going to snooze for a few last minute snuggles with my husband.
I'm going to slowly savor my cup of, enjoying it's rich flavor.
I'll take time to pray for my neighborhood & community on my AM commute.
I will properly appreciate the blessing that is my job.
Driving home I plan on rocking out to some really good music.
I'll have fun cooking a meal for my family.
I know I will share some good conversation with the ones I love most around the dinner table.
I'm going to hold my baby as close as I can, for as long as I can while she falls asleep.
I won't turn on the TV, instead I'll take a bubble bath & find a good book.

Does not play well with others.

Every single day of my life, God gives me grace.
Before I even ask; without explanation; no strings attached.
It's beautiful. It's amazing. It's a gift.
He lavishly pours His strength, forgiveness, peace, joy, power and presence into my life.
It never runs out.
I do not have to beg for it, in fact, He's told me that He loves to give it to me.
He really likes it when I share with the world around me and promises me to give me new, fresh grace when I do just that.

And so, every single day of my life I have moments when I can pour this grace into others lives.

But I don't. I'm stingy. I hoard it.

I snap my frustrations at my husband.
I yell at my kids.
I loose patience with the driver in front of me.
I expect perfection from my co-workers.
My neighbors irritate me.
The dog drives me crazy.
The phone call in the middle of dinner sends me over the edge.
The drive thru takes too long.
I sigh heavily when someone wants to talk to me about their problems.
I roll my eyes with sarcasm any opportunity I can find.

This may be what my God report card looks like.

Growing Pains

Personally, deep in the dark places of my heart where no one else knows me:
God is showing me some stuff that I don't exactly know what to do with.
Areas where I need to grow, to change, to improve.
Things that need to be pruned out of my attitudes.
Gaping holes that need to be filled with His grace & abundance.
Discplines that need to be cultivated.

While I won't go into specifics, nor will I share any more than just that, I will say that God has been amazingly good during this time. I began 2009 with a sincere quest to know HIM better, more intimately and He has been faithful.

This has been a good place for me, even if I have been silent here in this space. I never want to stop growing in my journey with this God who I continually fall in love with.

Springtime Prayer

I look at out my kitchen window and see a hill that is vibrant green.
The mountains all around me are filled with fresh, bright, brand new leaves.
Recent rains have left a cleansing aroma in the air.
Fat robins feast on juicy worms buried within the warm earth.

And I am renewed.
My cup is overflowing with blessings.
Jesus, my husband, my children, my family, my friends.
I have a full, rich life.
The coldness of winter has been erased.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
PSALM 121Amen. and Amen.