I was so Tired...and God was there...

I was so very tired today. You see I have a seven month old baby boy that is cutting his front teeth. It's quite the experience you know! Well, no we don't know because we can't remember what it is like to have teeth cutting through our gums. I know...way too much information. So, what comes with cutting teeth? Slobber, more slobber, possibly a runny nose and in my case; a child that has woken me up for three nights in a row. He has slept right beside me with his sweet little head on my pillow. I can't wait until his teeth pop through.

What happens when you haven't had enough sleep? Well, in my case anything. I went to Wally World this evening to pick up some nighttime supplies. All with hopes of helping my sweet n slobbery baby to sleep through the night. I pay, put the groceries in the car, drive home, and discover that I don't have my purse. Note: My purse not only contained my visa check card but, Trailhead Church's visa check card as well. I had forgotten to give it back to my husband after buying a few children church supplies the day before. I call Joshua and I tell him that I have to head back to the store, I left my purse in a buggy, outside, in the parking lot, at ten thirty at night. Awesome!

I am thankful that God is there right when you need Him. As I pulled away from my home, I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry hard. I decided that crying would get me nowhere but, prayer would get my purse back. So, I prayed. I pulled into the parking lot and like a crazy person asked every random stranger putting their groceries into their car if they have seen a brown patch work purse. And of course they hadn't . I ran into the store and asked the sweet older gentleman greeting at the door and he too did not have my purse. They just had to have it at the information desk, and they did! Thank You Jesus! This may not seem like a big deal to some of you. But, to a tired mom that has had snot and slobber rubbed on her clothes for the last three days, it's nothing short of a miracle.

I called my Mom and Dad to have them rejoice with me over my great blessing. My Dad had to add to the blessing that God even blesses Ding Dongs. Thanks Dad....

God was and is always there for us right when we need Him. It is amazing how He hears our prayers and answers them even when we are in Ding Dong mode. I just love the Lord!

Walking in l <3 ve

Have you ever tried walking down a gravel road with out your shoes and socks on? Or how about walking with wet socks in wet shoes after riding a water ride at Kings Island at 11 o'clock in the morning and you weren't going to leave the park until 8 o'clock that night. That was the worst! Oh the blisters...and your feet smell so bad by the end of the day.

There are times when walking in love seems the same as walking up a volcano wearing flip flops. The Bible didn't say that it would be easy. Look at Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. So God's Word tells us that it is a sacrifice to walk in love. What is a sacrifice? It's giving up something for sake of the cause. What would happen if we would choose to sacrifice our feelings and decide to walk in love when we really don't feel like it? For one, I believe the divorce rate would be down. I also believe there would be more salvation's and more people staying hooked in to church. Instead we choose to take the easy road, we choose to say rude things and to act out in a hateful manner to our spouses, our co-workers, our friends. We simply give in.

At the end of Ephesians 5:2 He says that if we walk in love that we will smell really good to God. I believe we will smell really good to everyone when we walk the love walk. Don't you just hate how you feel after you've showed yourself in front of someone? Oh, I despise the way I feel when I say hurtful words to my husband in the midst of a disagreement. If I would've chosen to sacrifice my feelings, my initial thoughts; then I would've caused the situation to have a better outcome.

I have always had to watch my words. It seems like crazy comments would slip out of my mouth before I would even realize it! I once told a boy in the fifth grade that when he grew up that he would end up big and bald just like his father. What a terrible thing to say to someone. I know what your are thinking, that kids say crazy things all of the time. This is true. But, adults say crazy words as well, and most of the time it's been thought out. We do it and then we do nothing about it.

Christ walked the ultimate love walk, he was bruised, beaten and scorned. He was nailed on a cross to die for all man-kind. And the most amazing thing about it was he forgave us all. He chose to sacrifice his flesh and to walk in love. He gave His life for ours. (The ultimate love walk!)

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."