Thinking...

As you may know, I've been at the beach house for a few days this week. It was sort of our last hurrah, since Big will be off to China, and we have only a couple of weeks until the perfect storm of activity hits. Got back late last night, and slept well until being awakened by "Mom, I threw up!" at 3:41 a.m. Bless her heart. She'll be okay. Oyster crackers, 7 up and jello are working their healing powers as I type. So is the movie Mamma Mia. Don't judge. We had the talk about "Sweetie, it's best not to sleep with 3 different men before you're married..." And out of my bleary eyed girl, "I know, Mom, I think I'm mature enough to see it." Anyway, as I was saying...granted, I'm planning on being purposeful and intentional in planning for each activity and the school which surrounds it, but the busyness of fall is soon upon us.

Not sure why I'm sharing my thoughts...maybe it's best not to...though that doesn't appear to be how I roll...I've been thinking and praying...praying and thinking...and sitting in the stillness.

• I'm excited for school to begin for my children. But I will miss them. And I will miss the quiet. Lord, help me to find a quiet place to be with You each day. And quiet my oft-anxious heart. Give us your peace as we go our separate ways, I pray.
• I'm thinking about working again. As a speech therapist or as anything. Lord, give me clarity of thought, that I may seek You to fill and to fulfill, and that if it be Your will for me to work, that You would provide the job and the circumstance which is where You would have me work--doing what You would have me do.
• I've recently started reading and more recently, sharing a book in a bible study with one close friend. The book is magnificent in pointing my heart back to God as my source of purpose and significance. But reading brings with it a painful reality of where I am, and where I want to be in recognizing my self worth and faith in the Living God. Lord, thank You for friends who walk shoulder to shoulder with us. Thank You for loving me extravagantly and for waiting for me to seek You and do Your will. Help me to obey You by acting upon those truths You give. Not just thinking that they're true for someone else...someone truly worthy and bright. Help me to remember that I am worthy and blameless in Your eyes, thanks to the death and resurrection of Your Son.
• I have a lot of ideas of how I'd like to arrange my home and spend my "free" time. But often, I give up before trying any of them because I'm afraid that they won't work out or that I won't like them. Lord, again, I seek you to quiet my heart, and help me to walk boldly and without fear. And when I am afraid, help me to take baby steps because of my safety in You. Whom shall I fear? No one. For You will never leave nor forsake me. Even.if.I.fail. Hallelujah, what a savior.
• Lord, thank You for the cycles and seasons in life. Help me to embrace all that is in Your will for me today and to not fret about tomorrow.

In Jesus' name. Amen.