^"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

 

I was trying to get Titus to bed the other night, and like most babies, when I said "Time for sleep sleep!" or "You gotta go sleepy." He responded with a close-to-tears "No." "Are you sleepy?", "No." "Wanna go in the crib?", "No." His eyes were red, he was a bit tipsy when he walked, and cranky besides. Sure signs of a very tired baby. But he refused to go to sleep. There were toys to play with, piano keys to bang on, a carpet to toddle across. Nothing could convince him of what I could see. He was tired and cranky and needed a good night's rest.
I pondered that for a while shortly after he fell asleep (finally ;-) ). Aren't we just like grumpy little babies? We are so busy running around trying to "play", trying to accomplish things, trying to get all of our work done, bear all our burdens. But God can see we are tired. he sees we need rest. He calls us to come and rest. To cast our cares upon Him. But we insist that we're not tired. We can do it. Red eyes and cranky attitudes even a tipsy walk, we insist that we can keep going. Until we totally run out of steam and crash. Instead of getting the sweet rest that He desires to give us, we fall asleep on a chair (or a bookcase =)  ) somewhere. We break down, we get frazzled. We snap. But that's not His plan for us.
We need to give it all to Jesus. Let Him bear our burdens, take our cares. Not that we should be free of responsibility, by all means no. But that we should be free of the worry, the stress. That we should find peace in leaving all in His hands. So that we can have a smile, not a long look of wear and care. =) ( compare the above photos) =D

Just A Little Pressure

All happy, merry, bounding life, so full of little joys
Of baking, working, smiles, people, baby girls and boys.
I do my job, I go to church, I pray to You every night
Then cast a thought to others too, as I shut out the light.

I read my bible 'most everyday, (skip a time or two)
I hand out tracks, I council friends, I try to talk of You.
I go to bible study, wear nice modest clothes.
Keep my prayers skyward, not a haughty nose.

Then God...why this burdening trial? Why this burning pain?
I've gone through enough now Lord. Why try me again?
I'm close enough, I've turned to You, what else do I say?
But You know the distractions that are luring me away.

So You press a gentle hand, "No daughter don't go there."
You send a little pain, to remind me that You care.
When you sense my heart go wandering, just a little tad,
You place a little trial to send me running back.

When I cry out in frustration as I whimper through my downs,
You remind me to look up at You, stop looking  at the ground.
When I run off along the shore, remove my hand from Thine,
You send a little wave of trouble to remind me I am Thine.

So Lord, I'll not complain, for I know You know my heart
You only seek to keep me close, stop wanderings at the start.
You know how much that I can bear, You bear it all for me,
So Lord, I'll stop complaining and I'll give it all to Thee.

We are so small and mortal that how can we even try to understand the workings of God? Why did He let that child die while their friends live on? Why did that murderer get away scot-free? Why are millions around the world dying and suffering? I can't answer that. No one but God can. But I  can offer hope. That if you put your trust in an all knowing all powerful God, and you realize that in the end, although it may seem horrible, anguishing now, He has a plan, He has a greater picture in mind. Like the little boy who can't understand why his daddy will let him touch the window on the door but not the window on stove, so we are sometimes. Clueless as to God's reasoning and insisting that we know best when we can't see the whole picture; can't see the outcome.
If we keep looking around at the world, at the sin, at the problems that Satan causes, and God permits for a purpose, we take our eyes off of God and quickly sink beneath the waves as Peter did in (Matt.  14:22-33). Maybe if we remember that we were created to glorify our maker, we would look at things differently. That our purpose is to please Him. To be molded into His image. Maybe He took that father home, removed your family because He wanted you to realize that He is all you really need. Or maybe He removed your job so that He could test how loyal you are to Him, get you to realize how much more important that job had become. All of those millions of children dying, are going home to be with Him. Maybe He took that child, because that would be the only time you would think about Him or yearn for comfort. I don't know.  God has all in His mighty hands. He does as He sees best. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil..." (Jer. 29:11) I don't want to judge anyone. I don't know what you're going through. I just want to let you know that although we only see one side of our circumstances, one day, it will all be clear, and if we persevere to the end, we shall come forth as gold through the fire. Easy to say, harder to go through. I don't know why He does what He does, but for each individual, He has a plan and purpose. One day, we will know.

Todays bible study focus. "The renewing of your mind". What are you putting in your mind? Is it pure? Is it focused on God? That book that you were reading...would it be okay if Jesus peeked over your shoulder and read that last chapter? Would it be okay if He could borrow your ipod for a minute and scroll through the music? What if He undid the 'deleted history' on your laptop? Would you invite Him to the theatre with you to catch that movie? Would you let Him in on your private imaginations and thoughts? What are you feeding your mind? Is it just, honest, true, pure, or lovely? Be careful what you put in because it will come out; in your words, your actions, your character. Put in God's Word, and let Him shape your character. =)

Just thought I'd share a few more family photos. :) It struck me as funny that Titus is the only jolly face in this set of pictures!

Titus posing unknowingly beside 'his' ball.

Tom caught at a very serious moment.

Ellen caught at a very serious moment. :)

Laura in deep thought.

Joe, helping me test lighting conditions for my camera.

There were some funny ones, but  don't think he'd

 appreciate me blogging them. :D

Refocus-a random prayerful poem

Sometimes life just gets too hard,
And God I just can't go that far!
I can't bear another burden or pain,
I just want to be free again!

Free from the tears that dim my eyes,
That rise from a heart that cries,
From lashing pain that tares the soul,
God I just want to be made whole!

But selfish heart of mortal flesh,
How swift to forget my life is blest!
That You, my Savior, chose to bear,
On your shoulders every care!

You suffered sorrow, pain, and loss,
You were lashed and beaten, nailed to a cross.
All for a sinful, selfish soul,
Yet I cry, 'Lord make me whole?' !

But You, in Your love, reach down to me,
And in Your mercy, set me free.
You cleanse me, fill me, and give me life,
Lord how can I always be so blind?

So let me forget this passing sorrow,
And with joy look forward to the morrow,
And think that one day, if I press on,
'Tis Thy blessed face I'll look upon!