Last weekend I watched a video that a friend of mine sent me called "Depraved Indifference." It is very powerful on so many levels; for so many reasons it compelled me to take the next day to fast. The more I prayed and sought the Lord that day, the more things kept coming to my mind to lift up to Him. The verse in Matthew chapter 4 was playing through my mind the whole day: "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" The Lord is really doing great work in my life, and one of the things that I asked the Lord for was to give me difficult situations so that I could really learn patience and learn to trust, to fully trust in peace, because I know that is one of the areas in my life that I need to work on. Well, you know it's been said to be careful what you pray for.
The very next day started out not how I had planned at all- it was just a bad start and I didn't take it well. From there it only got worse because every chance I got to have patience, I blew it. It ended with my four younger siblings be out of control and driving me up a wall- just exactly when my parents went out to dinner with some friends and left me home with my four younger siblings (and my bro Jon who always tries to help, but in this case I wanted nothing). I was so frustrated and wanted to get out of the house, so I packed sandwiches and snacks for the kids and we went to the Bear Creek Lake for dinner. The evening started to take a turn for the better as the we ate and the kids climbed a big tree and swung on the swings. When I was reviewing my day and wondering why in the world I acted so badly and gave my younger siblings a bad example, God so clearly spoke to my heart "Isn't this what you asked for? Didn't you want this so you could rely on MY strength and have joy even in frustrating situations?" Oh. Right. How easily I forget! I became very thankful for this "bad" day because if God didn't give it to me, I would've failed to see how much I really need to have patience, that by my own strength I am capable of nothing fruitful.
Just as it was getting dark, I told Abby, Mariah, Katie, and Nathan that we should take Ace for a little walk before we go home. My intention was that this would be a time of confession to them and to share with them the lesson I learned that day. WELL, does God have a sense of humor or what- literally as soon as we started walking, we saw rain coming pouring down in the distance over the lake, slowing (so we thought) moving it's way towards us. It was an amazing view, and I thought that we were good to keep walking, thinking we'd only get sprinkled at the worst. Well, not thirty seconds later, the rain came pouring in buckets down over us, and during the 10 seconds it took us to run to the car, we were all thoroughly soaked and dripping. The little walk didn't turn out as planned, but it turned out even better because we were laughing so hard at this whole situation...
So after that, I had four (well five including Ace and six including myself) very wet but happy kids full of laughs.
After we got dry in our PJs we were able to sit in our warm family room and I had my confession time that was previously rained out. It ended so beautifully because I was able to encourage them to also have patience and seek what the Lord is desiring that we learn during "bad" days. One of my favorite little books that I have is about the power of love, and I ended reading to them the following quotes:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.
-1 Corinthians 13:4 NCV
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-John 13:35
"Love is not in getting, but in giving....
It is goodness and honor and peace and pure living. Yes, love is that and it is the best thing in the world and the thing that lives the longest."
-Henry Van Dyke
"Love isn't a pretty feeling that floats around the world. It's tough and practical and active. Love is washing the kitchen floor over and over and over. It's scrubbing the toilet and doing the laundry. Love is taking out the garbage and cleaning the refrigerator. It's smiling when you're tired and finding reasons to laugh even when you're angry. Love is taking the dirty job, lightening the other's load, lending a hand.
Love goes out of its way to be kind. Love takes a stand. Love works hard and makes the world a better place."
"Love... puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies.
-1 Corinthians 13:4, 7-8 MSG
Now, to make that a reality when the hard times hit! Remember they don't come for no reason or by accident; God has a purpose in them. Don't forget to look for that purpose.
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In other news, today was the last day of Swim Pals summer camp! We had a great day at Francis Slocum State Park, playing bocce ball, swimming, playing freeze tag, marco polo, shooting down the water slides, boating, eating hot dogs, watermelon, and freeze pops. It was a great way to end camp, I just can't believe how fast summer went by, and I can't believe that I won't be seeing these fun kids until next summer! :( I was so blessed to be a part of this program. Please continue to pray for these awesome kids, that they would see their potential, that they would choose to be good examples and to lead well, that they would see how great the love the Father has for them.
I came home from camp to join my sister Katie's 11th birthday celebration!
l-r: Tristan, Hallie, Cole, friend Erin, Maya, (behind her) Jess, friend Katie, (in front of her) birthday girl Katie, (behind her) Mariah, and Will
It was a great afternoon of fun at the lake celebrating our creative, sweet Katie whom God has so generously blessed us with!
Other summer birthdays include:
My nephew Will who turned 8 on July 5th! The firstborn of my nieces and nephews... what a blessing he's been from day one! I am so blessed by his sincere spirit and the friendship he has with his little "uncle" Nathan :)
On August 9th my brother Andrew turned twenty-...... seven! Wow, you can tell we're all getting older now that I'm having a harder time keeping track of everyone's ages! I'm so grateful to have Anj as my brother- what a godly example of a husband, dad, brother, and good friend to have in my life, who also happens to share my same taste in almost everything including clothes and music, so that's just a huge perk on top of it all!
I have so many oldies but goodies of me and Anj... love you bro, you're the best!
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