Life's Little Bumps ...

Well, we've finally got the new computer up and running. There were a few hitches - but all seems to be ok, so far. I was supposed to teach a Group Lesson this morning - and I spent all afternoon creating this wonderful lesson plan with stations to do different activities around the house ... but low and behold - when I went to print out all the handouts - nothing... I couldn't get the computer to work.

We'd had a very busy week this week - on top of doctor's appointments, dentist appointments, the flu and Tony working mostly night shifts . . . we were tired (to say the least . . . ) So, as you can imagine - when the printer wasn't working, the night before my Group - I was so calm and patient it was amazing! Just kidding . . . :0) I was a wreck and took out all my exhaustion and frustration out on Tony. Usually, he's fairly reasonable and forgiving about my state of mental un-wellness . . . but he was tired too . . . so . . .

He's working today - but we did remind each other that we still love each and we're ok. I know he likes Superman - but sometimes I forget that he's NOT Superman (he just wears that shirt all the time!) I expect him to save me from all life's hardships and crazy circumstances - but guess what? He doesn't own a cape (really) . . . just kidding . . . :0) But, seriously - I end up putting on him what I need to take to God. Why do I forget that? I pray I would remember it faster next time around . . . and I thank the Good Lord for His patience, mercy and grace.

So - this blog is for my hubby. I love you! And I'm thankful that you are who you are. You're not perfect - neither am I (don't roll your eyes, please :0) But, I know you love me (faults and all) just the way I love you (even when you're tired and don't want to be the one who fixes everything for everyone around here . . . it's really ok). God intended us for each other and I'm glad I said "yes" (you asked, remember? :0)


I thought the devotional for today's date from "My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers" was very fitting today. What was that saying about "living sacrifices" (Romans) that keep trying to crawl off the altar? Weird Christian humour . . . anyway . . . here's the entry for September 30th.

"We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him, He brushes all this asside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment, we see His purpose, and we say 'Here am I! Send me!' (Is. 6:8)

This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, 'If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn't object!' But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit to, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed - you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.

I wonder what finger and thumb God has beeing using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God HAD squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children."

Read it again . . . and again . . . and again . . . until we hear God's loving voice calling us to a higher Way, Truth and Life. We need not fear the transformation process He has in mind - we need not fear the things He will prune out of our lives in order to bear real, spiritual fruit. We need only to dig our root down deep into Him and receive.