When God Speaks

God talks to me all the time. It's rarely about anything earth-shattering. In fact, it's usually about mundane things like which socks to wear today.

Over the course of time I've noticed that the little things are what matters and that He doesn't edit me because He can, but because He's looking out for me or for someone else through me. Let me illustrate:

Near the end of May there is a Scholastic warehouse book sale that is open to educators in the area. Everything is 50% off--huge delight to my homeschooling soul! This May, my friend and I decided to swap babysitting so that we could alternately attend.

The morning of the sale I woke up and got ready, but God told me (no, not audibly)not to go. I argued and reasoned that I had not heard right. I packed up my kids.

As I drove to preschool to pick up Popcorn, the Lord finally gave in and I had a release to go. With a smile and peace in my heart, I dropped off my troop at my friend's house and drove to the sale, all the while listening to a sermon CD on obedience.

When I got there the parking lot was almost empty--I was a week early.

Today:

I have been making plans for a field trip for our homeschool group to a local observatory. Tonight was the night. I got up this morning and realized that I had not sent out a reminder this week to all the families. As the thought crossed my mind so did God's "No".

But did that stop me? -- No. I sent out the reminder and then received an email from the director of our program soon afterward saying that I had the wrong date.


Sometimes I listen and obey, and have delightful outcomes.

Regardless of whether I obey or not, sometimes I see the results and sometimes I don't. But from all of the times that I have seen the results, it's convinced me that I have an incredibly loving Heavenly Father and that He's very interested in even the tiniest detail of my life. He parents me faithfully.

I hope that I will grow up to be a mature child, faithful in small things so that He can entrust me with more. That's where my heart is. That's what fuels passion in my life and fulfills me completely.

Jesus is the love of my life--no, He is my life and there is no life outside of Him for me. My wonderful Hubby and beautiful kids are amazing, but His love outstrips that love by leaps and bounds. Nothing can compare to Him.

I pray that every person could know this wonderful savior and learn to hear the quiet, yet unmistakable voice of this shepherd, father, king, intimate friend. What a love affair.

Little Red

When the Air Force moved my family from Ohio to Oklahoma, one of the things in our caravan was a little red, '82 Toyota Starlet. It was a 4-seater manual that ran like a dream. There were plenty of miles on it, but it wasn't done chugging along--a Toyota.

One day Dad came home from work and gathered all the family together for one of those solemn, the-family-has-something-big-to-talk-about meetings. At first I thought that maybe they were considering adopting or something really big, but it was just about Little Red (our name for the car).

Dad explained that on his way to work he came across a woman stranded on the side of the road. Her car was done for. Dad gave her a lift to work (which was conveniently on base) and came home with a decision to make. He and mom had talked and they wanted to give the woman Little Red. They asked what we thought and we were all in favor of it.

So, Little Red moved on and blessed another person.

Now I'm 31 (at least until the 27th) and have my own family to call together for one of those the-family-has-something-big-to-talk-about meetings. Nope, I'm not expecting.

On Saturday, I was on my way to meet Jon at a restaurant and was first in line at a light. From a truck next to me, a man jumped out of the passenger side and ran in front of my car, waving his arms wildly and shouting toward a car in another lane. I looked in that direction and saw a smoking car and fire underneath. The woman heard the man and she and a boy bailed out of the car safely.

About that time the light changed and I went on, praying, "Lord, what can I do to help that woman?" My only thought at the time was that she might need a ride somewhere. Later that evening as I was lying in bed I thought about Little Red. Maybe our van could bless a woman who no longer has a car.

People are so much more important than money in my pocket. I don't know if I will even be able to track that woman down, but I'm so glad that my parents demonstrated what it is to bless others. And I'm thankful to have the Holy Spirit quicken my mind to remember Little Red and to move my heart with compassion.

Left in the Dust, or Not

Last Tuesday I packed up my kids and sent them to a friend's house for the entire afternoon. Why,you ask? Did I want to kick back in a hammock, sipping slushies and eating bon bons? Did I use the wonderfully quiet time to nap or read a book while my newly painted toenails dried? Not on your life. Mama Jo, Mom and my sister were due the next afternoon:I was cleaning.

My friend at church thought I was a bit panicked about the whole situation and encouraged me to take it easy. But you see, on my mom's side of the family they really do believe that cleanliness is next to godliness. My Aunt Pam's house would always pass a white glove inspection. My Mom constantly spring cleans because then she doesn't have to. My husband teases her about the countless times she sweeps her kitchen floor in a given day. Her mother,(my Mama Jo) has a plaque next to her back door that states, "I clean my house every other day. Today is the other day." Mama Jo's nickname is "the white tornado" cleaning everything in her path. Making my house immaculate for the arrival of this storm was imperative.

I cleaned everything in four hours. Not a smudge on a window, not a spot on the floor (unless it was permanent). Even the playroom had nothing out of place. Then I picked up my kids, fed them, bathed them and put them to bed. I went to bed exhausted but happy, then couldn't sleep the whole night because my mind was still racing from the cleaning list I was ticking off in my head.

When Mama Jo, Mom and my sister arrived, the house was perfect and I was exhausted. With all the effort I had left myself in the dust--tired, worn, frayed. Thankfully, though, I had a babysitter and could take a nap.

Four Generations Picture

Did I learn my lesson? I'm happy to report that for the remainder of the week I only cleaned a little and didn't stress about it at all. I spent time on the back porch, rocking in the new porch swing that Mom bought me and talking with my family. I played euchre, went out with my husband for two dates and went shopping with my sister then my mom, without the kids. I kicked back and was glad that I had prepared and frozen meals ahead of time. I'm glad that I cleaned my house ahead of time too, but maybe I won't be as extreme next time.

They are still at it.