"Put me in Coach!"

John the Baptist was an interesting person.

His mom and dad were OLD and yet God saw fit to bless them with a child after years of prayers.  Zachariah's response?  "And, NOW you come?"  So God shut him up for a while.  Elizabeth just said a HUGE "Thank you".   Smart woman.

Even while in Elizabeth's belly, John was filled with the Holy Spirit and leaped for joy when Elizabeth saw Mary coming.  John REALLY knew what was coming.

While growing up, John lived by himself in the wilderness and listened to God's voice guiding him and giving him tips on how to recognize Jesus.

Finally when John started his public showings, he paved the way to alter people's ideals of a prophet, to focus on the truth and told people to look deep in their hearts to change and follow Jesus.

John was very clear with the Pharisees.  They were clearly expecting another "more worthy" person to save the world.  They could not see past their rules and regulations and self made importance to open their hearts to see the truth and the light standing in front of them.

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." Luke 3:7-9

Just seeing Jesus, John recognized the honor and glory that was with Jesus and was happy to "decrease".

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3: 27-30

Even with all this, while John was in jail after pissing Herod off, he sent word via the disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one, or should I wait for another."

Jesus promptly did miraculous things and sent word to John about the power given to him from heaven.

 “Tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” 

And then said, "And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me " Luke 7:23

I was amazed at this.....John the Baptist who was compared to Elijah, has his doubts.  I recently had my own John the Baptist moment.  I felt like a pawn in God's kingdom.  I had my own expectations on what God should do and where I belong in this world.  After a couple of days wallowing in my own pity pot and sour emotions, I started listening and was told gently but firmly to wait.  God came with HIS GLORY and HIS GRACE and reminded me He has everything under control.  

He doesn't need our approval, God has been around since the beginning of time and He will do things all for our good and prosperity.....IN HIS OWN TIME.

So chillax and bask in His Glories and Wonders.

But....

I want a cheeseburger and fries and a coke and....

Who Am I???

Casting Crowns "Who Am I"

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are 

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/casting_crowns/who_am_i.html ]
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are 

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are 

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Times like this..

My plan failed.

I was going to relish in the silence.  I was going to exclaim my 2.5 hours of independence.  I was going to act irresponsible and do absolutely nothing.

I felt exactly like I did a month after I had my first baby and my husband and I went on a date.  I thought about my little bundle back at home and wanted it safely inside me again so I would never have to worry about her ever again.

The 2.5 hours after dropping Cooper off, I sat in front of the computer and looked for a job because I wasn't going to mope.  Just like grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you shouldn't look for jobs when you are feeling antsy.  Receptionist at a massage place.... looked really good.....my paycheck would suffer, that's out.     Working from home placing ads... I would hate myself.  Working at my husband's former workplace... they're desperate... and they need women.   Nope, I don't need the harassment and I'm not fond of court rooms.  Nothing and everything looked good... I wasn't getting anywhere....

So, I closed up shop and picked up my little bear..... and that running monkey hug never felt so good.   He said school was fun, he loved snack but he got in trouble for not sitting still.... yep... that's my bear.  

Beginnings are rough.

The world is an oyster...

... then comes the baby in the ba-by carriage.

This is a discussion I had with my littlest bear this morning:



"Mom, there is something in my dinosaur."   

I pick it up and shake it.  "There must be some sand in there."

"No.  It's not sand."

"What is it?"

"A Lego... can you get it out?"

"It sounds like sand.  How do you know it's a Lego?'

"I put it in there.  Can you get it out?"

"How did you get it in there?  Where did you put the Lego?" (The only hole I knew about was a drain hole where tub water can drain out)

"In it's mouth.  It was hungry.  I need to get it out."

"Dinosaur's eat Legos?   Well, you may need to wait until he poops it out."

Cooper thinks about this while shaking his dinosaur.  "He can't poop it out......... Let's cut it out!!"

"You can't cut it out, Cooper!  We have no bandaids for dinosaurs and he's going to cry!"

"But we NEED to GET IT OUT!"

"Then don't stick things where they don't belong!"



....And there I realized, I had Stage1 talk with my little boy about the birds and the bees....

Breathe!

As I sit here on a semi-warm, semi-quiet morning after the big kids have gone to school and Cooper has made a village of dinosaurs take over my kitchen and dining room, I am thinking about what I will do before I find a job and go back to work.

My first thought was of an episode with Rachel in "Friends", after finding she was all alone in her apartment for the whole night, takes full advantage of "sing like no one is watching"..... in the nude.

Rachel dances

My other thought was to crawl back in bed...but WHY???
Because of the school budget, the kids are going to school an hour later!!  My prayer has been answered!!  Nice leisurely wake up at 7, find the kids under their covers at 7:30, eat and dress by 8:15 and out the door by 8:25.  The littlest bear then off to school by 9, and  for 2 hours......what to do, what to do...

I still got nothing...  No... strike that...

For the first day, I will.....


....just sit.  

On my swing.   Drinking coffee.  No swiffers, no laundry, no going to parks, no voices.

It will be my Sunday... for

 2. 

whole.

hours.  


Bliss.

Labor Day

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne,
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless King
through all eternity.

Those who labor and are heavy burdened....click on this link.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

²³ May God himself, the God of peace, 

sanctify you through and through. 

May your whole spirit, soul and body 

be kept blameless at the coming 

of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

²⁴ The one who calls you 

is faithful,

 and he will do it.