Like a Child

"'Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. ~~Mark 10:15-16 NIV

Years have passed since my husband and I purchased new bedroom furniture. When I described the furniture which I discarded due to water damage to a friend, she told me "it was so '80's." With the old set, I could sit on the bed to put on my shoes.

We had grown accustomed to our bedroom furniture and felt that other priorities took our financial commitments. Bedroom furniture didn’t seem significant in the larger scheme of things--after all we're raising two boys.

But our priorities shifted back to our needs after our pipes busted and the water poured over our furniture. While furniture shopping, I noticed a difference in the mattresses--they're much thicker than the old standard nine inches. We ended up with a 15-inch mattress.

With the deep mattress on the pedestal, the bed is about counter height. My oldest son commented that I'll need a step-stool to climb into it. Not yet buddy! I'm not that old. It is nice to dump a load of clothes from the dryer on it and fold them without having to bend over.

Having this new bed brings back childhood memories. I know the beds were not this big way back in the. . .eehm. . . well, long time ago. But I recall having to climb up into bed back then, like I do now. I can't just sit and turn in on this bed; I must climb in like a little child.

The past few nights as I felt like I child, I imagined the Lord tucking me in and praying over me. It brought comfort to me as I released the fears of the pipes in the ceiling above my head busting while sleeping. I trust the Lord to watch over me like my earthly Daddy protected me.

Children trust their parents to take care of all their basic needs. Children wake up knowing they will be fed and have clean clothes to wear. They do not fret about how their day is going to go. They simply trust.

I think that's how God wants us to feel with Him--simply trust that He will meet all our needs like a child trusts his parents. The Lord showed me how I can trust Him even though I fretted after the damage occurred. I felt anxious about the finances and the insurance company. But in spite of my worries, God provided for it all.

Now each night as I climb into my new bed like a child, I say, "Thank You, Abba, Father!"

Dealing with Cancer

My friend, Cynthia Siegfried, wrote a book that I believe is important to share with you.

This book can change your life. Whether you are facing cancer or some other crisis, Cancer Journey: A Caregiver’s View from the Passenger Seat shows you how one woman managed to replace fear and depression with peace and joy during her husband’s eight year battle with stage IV lung cancer.

Purchase one or more copies of Cynthia’s book from Amazon on February 22 and receive bonus gifts and discounts from many of today’s teachers and experts on health and well being. Your Amazon purchase on February 22 will also help the author become an Amazon Bestseller and provide hope and encouragement to the millions of people living with a life threatening disease.

How it Works:

1. On Feb 22 go to http://www.caregivercancerjourney.com/special.asp
2. On this page you can view the bonus gifts.
3. Click the Amazon link to place your order.
4. Type in your Amazon receipt #.
5. You will receive a reply email with coupon codes and access to free gifts.

Although you can purchase the book at any time you MUST order today -- Feb 22 to receive your coupon codes and bonus gifts.

Please share this link with anyone who might benefit. http://www.caregivercancerjourney.com/special.asp

P.S. Even if you don’t want the bonus gifts (unlikely), the book alone is well worth the price.

A Beautiful Mess

On the very day Punxsutawny Phil predicted an early spring, our city experienced the lowest recorded temperatures in history. The temps dipped as low as two degrees with wind chills in the minus zeros.

This weather anomaly caused a chain reaction with the services of the utility companies. In order to keep the power supply, the electric company enacted rolling blackouts. The rolling blackouts caused thermostats in some people's homes to go out and they lost gas pressure. The demands for gas to supply warmth were so great that some residents lost gas service leaving them in the cold. The water company could not run the pumps without power and the water froze in large pipes.

Then a few days later the weather warmed up causing water pipes to bust all across the city. I experienced the same problem in my master bedroom.

What a mess! Water gushed through the ceiling fan like a waterfall. Sheetrock flung from the ceiling. The mattress, box springs, furniture, and carpet soaked up the water like a sponge.

When the pipes froze, I searched for the pipes to do all I could to warm them up and thaw them out to prevent the inevitable. But only having moved into this home two months prior, I'm still figuring things out. Well this mystery was solved sooner than I hoped.

As I stated before, we have only lived in this home for two months. With one primary income, we felt blessed to purchase this size of house. And it was built only four years ago in a new development. This house was not what I considered a "fixer-upper" like other homes we've lived in prior to this one.

I settled it in my mind that I was ready to move into this home without any construction projects for a while. Well, the Lord had other plans for us.

Every day I ask the Lord to guide my steps. I confess, I struggled with this scenario. I am grateful for things not being worse. I am thankful the damage is limited to one room. I'm thankful that I'm still able to live in the home in spite of not having my own bed to sleep in. I'm thankful we have insurance. But still, this experience did not line up with my expectations.

I wanted to set up house and be very comfortable. But, no I have a mess. As I type this, I'm listening to hammers pounding below me. I'm thankful we found a contractor to work with so many businesses and homes damaged.

In this mess, I've discovered there is beauty. Due to my human nature, oftentimes I fail to see God's glory when everything is going right for me. I must struggle to see God's goodness. The Lord desires that I see HIM at work in this mess. He alone does more for me than I can see.

Looking back over my life, I do not regret my painful experiences, but am grateful for them as they have brought me closer to the Lord. This mess I'm in now is not any different. I'm seeing God provide for us in ways I could not fathom. Physically, financially, and emotionally God is remodeling my mess turning it into something beautiful.

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." ~~Isaiah 61:3

True Love

What is true love? I found the answer and I'll share it with you.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. ~~1 John 4:7-12

True love comes from God because God is love. Only by knowing Jesus, the Son of God, can we experience this love. God's Son sacrificed for our sins out of love for us. Therefore, we can love one another allowing His love to be made complete in us.

I received this image in an email and I want to share it with you as it sums up true love.