a week of perspective

It's been the kind of week that gives me clear perspective on what's important and what's not.

I was honored to be part of several important things this week.  Things that mean way more then getting work done or keeping up at home.  Eternal things, people things.

We were hugely blessed to have the opportunity to prepare a very special meal and service for people we love who are experiencing a huge loss to their family.  The sudden death of a daughter.

I got to meet with ladies I love to look ahead at what we can provide for the women of Crossroads, we planned some events but most of all we just loved one another as we ate together.

We then got to minister to a family who is facing the loss of an amazing mother to cancer.  So hard to watch but so much rejoicing even in the certainty she will spend eternity with her Lord.  She speaks of seeing her beloved grandmother again, and that wish will soon become reality.

And then the awesome partnership I experienced with fellow staff as we dream of tomorrow and pray for Crossroads.

All of these things bring perspective.

They bring focus and renewed intention to my day.  The week has again reminded me not to take anything for granted but to look at it as the gift it is and to live fully engaged in it.

I don't know why it often takes difficult things to bring perspective, but my desire is to maintain it to keep a God perspective~

Time to think

We finally got all of our errands run today - just details we needed to take care of.  So I find myself back at the hotel with time to actually think before we eat yet again.

This trip is different from the other 3 because I'm super interested in spending time with my daughter Jocelyn and son-in-law Aaron while not wanting to miss anything else at the same time.  I LOVE our team - everyone has been a blessing to be with!  That has made it easy to enjoy our kids while leading at the same time.

I think what sticks out to me so far is how much I take those around me I desperately love - both friends and family for granted.  You never know when something will change or they no longer will be easily accessible.  

These rescued children I love in Cambodia are testimony to the fact that many people are alone or abandoned or helpless and I'm praising The Lord that I am surrounded by supportive, loving family and friends and know I have many brothers and sisters in Christ that care for me.

Today as we walked the trails that thousands of helpless people were marched on as the Khmer Rouge forced them toward the killing caves, we were reminded that entire families were killed together. People that lived a normal life one day were exterminated the next mostly by child soldiers.  It was a grim reminder of just how deprived we are without The Lord - capable of unimaginal things if not a child of God.  

The piles of skulls were all that remained of innocent people, an entire generation nearly wiped out only to satisfy the insane desires of a sinful ruler trying to gain control over an entire civilization.  How the heart of God must grieve over what His creation is capable of....

This trip has brought me perspective on what's truly important and makes me determined to remain in God's pace when I get back instead of the distractions that move me 100 mph past everything that really matters!  

Jocelyn encouraged us in our devotions today to release what we try to control - the image of a fist was used as the symbol for our selfish desire to control.  I want to live in His power only - releasing what only He should control and loving those He's blessed me with in my life.  Resting in Him...

The team down in the cave.

Precious innocent lives lost at the cruel hand of power hungry men.

what day is it?

Like many of you I'm sure, I have to keep looking at the calendar to even know what day it is!  I suspect that could mean we are all way too busy!

I have a very small space of calm this morning.  It will disappear the minute my foot lands outside my door.

I plan to use it wisely.

You may be thinking - she's about to get all spiritual on us and describe in detail her Jesus meeting of the morning.

Although I plan to move to that next, I've basically been standing here eating Chex and thinking and staring - just trying to grab a little perspective on the day and the balance of the week.

Perspective is allusive.  A loss of it throws everything out of balance and all becomes unobtainable.

Perspective:  the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one,

There are some facts only known to me right now, regarding the Christmas services, our families' plans and many, many undeveloped ideas.  The trick is to communicate my perspective on these areas so it can be moved to completion.  Therein lies the dilemma.  Ideas and dreams and plans are needed in order for anything to happen or change.  But, communicating what only you see or know, that takes work.

This is the best explanation I can think of this morning regarding where my head is right now.  Just trying to gain perspective, or at the very least - remember what day it is without looking at my phone.

only love compels to death

So....I decided to stay home this morning and try to put finishing touches on Easter.  My computers decided they did not want to connect to the network so I have spent over an hour just updating one stage layout...should take 15 minutes.  Frustrated I decided to lay everything down and go to the Word for some focus and to calm my blood pressure down!

I picked up a study I use from time to time and it took me to John 21:15 - 23 where Jesus asks Peter "Do you love me" and Peter asks Jesus, "what about him?" referring to John.

If you follow Christ you realize your life is totally in His hands, He created you and He knows the plans He has for you.  How much do you love Him?  really...

The commentary talked about love being the only thing powerful enough to compel us to death if that is what God's plan holds for you.

So I honestly ask myself, how much DO I love Him...really?  Am I too busy looking over my shoulder worrying about someone else who seems to have an easier way to look into His eyes and focus only on what His plans are for me?  I say "what about him" way too often!

Sitting here trying to drink in the message that this passage holds just for me I must thank Him for once again bringing me perspective.  Frustrations when things don't go my way, frustration with selfish people, frustration with the lack of instant productivity that I long for,  all these things can be managed, accepted and over looked if I just love Him... really.

So laying all these trivial things aside I examine my life against this question- is my love for Him strong enough that I would follow Him even to death?  Will I miss what my life can really be by worrying about everything around me?

Do you love Him?

my day off

• check up - while I was at doctors hubby had to get his car jumped - dead battery
  
• breakfast with hubby
  
• drove to Ashland to get tires from my parents - no one had the jack we needed - back home
• began to paint - nephews came - stopped painting
• dinner at mother-in-laws
• home - painted until now

Just a regular day. Nothing spectacular.

OR....

• good blood pressure - other tests looked good - thankful for good health
  
• excellent breakfast and saw 4 friends: Photographer from our wedding, old high school friend and Crossroads buddies
• even though we couldn't get the tires today, we had a fun visit with my parents
• got a base coat of paint on upstairs bathroom walls so it could dry while we went to dinner
• great porkchops! and watched my mother-in-law open her 80th birthday gifts
• got second base coat on walls before bed

Perspective: the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one

Everyday we have a choice... do we see our day through a God coated perspective no matter what happens? Or a negative selfish earthly perspective?? Don't waste even one day. Your choice.