Rest

Have you noticed how hard it is to rest when you're sick? You lay down and just as your body sinks into some much needed sleep, one of the children comes banging into the room asking a question that could have waited an hour or so. You settle back down and then your husband asks where to find an item in the pantry that's sitting on the shelf right in front of him.

You could be snoozing when your nap is interrupted by a phone call that ends up being a recorded message wanting to know if you're ready to refinance. Perhaps the answering machine takes the call, but the automatic message alert keeps beeping every ten seconds. Maybe you're just too tired and feeling too lousy to get any sleep. It's so hard to get proper rest.

We will never get any true rest unless the Lord gives it to us. Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The word "rest" comes from the Greek word anapauo which means to refresh the soul. Jesus wants to refresh us. He wants us to collect our strength so we will have the energy and the peace of mind to accomplish the tasks He has planned for us.

Are you looking for true rest? Come to Jesus. Give your cares to Him, and He will renew you far beyond your imagination.

Dehydration

I don't like feeling dehydrated when I get a cold. No matter how much water or juice I drink, my mouth feels dry and parched. It even becomes difficult to swallow. To top it off, with all the quarts of liquid inside of me, my favorite room of the house becomes the bathroom.

Sometimes fruit will help quench my thirst a bit. Grapes or melon or even strawberries provide much needed moisture. But ultimately I have to keep drinking the liquids and wait for the dehydration to end.

There have been times in my life when I felt spiritually thirsty. My calls out to God seemed dusty and arid. There were no cool springs of water to drink from. My desire for God wasn't quenched. In those moments I knew I had to keep drinking in God's Word. Just like the quarts of liquid I drank when I had a cold, I had to keep consuming the life giving words of the Bible and pray for my drought to end.

Eventually, as with my colds, I do get refreshed. My dry and arid soul fills with the water of His Word. Isaiah 35:6a-7a says, "For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water..."

Are you parched? Are you longing for a true thirst quencher? Call out to God in prayer. Seek Him through His Word. The fulfilling springs of God's love will flow into you and revive you anew.

Out of the Blue

I have a sore throat. It started the other night and despite aspirin and teas and vitamins, it is still very persistent. The funny thing about this sore throat was that it caught me totally off guard. I hadn't been around any sick people. I had been keeping myself warm on the cool days and keeping myself cool on the hot days. Then all of a sudden...WHAM!

Sometimes life hits us with the unexpected. No matter how we try to protect ourselves or be diligent to do what is right, we suddenly find ourselves dealing with something that disrupts our days. The difficulty comes when we still have to function despite the pain or troubles the unforeseen brings.

Here are some suggestions on how to deal with the unexpected.

When I was working in management, we were taught to delegate, delegate, delegate. It was a smart lesson since we can't do everything on our own. We need the help of our team to get the work done. When the unexpected hits, we need to delegate amongst the family. Kids can sweep and fold laundry and even wash dishes (if they are old enough), so you can handle other duties. In my case, I needed some rest, so my oldest son was in charge until my husband came home.

Prioritizing is also important. Projects that aren't due until the following week can be delayed a day or two in order to get a handle on the current situation. If I don't get my rest and try to get control of my sore throat now, I will get worse and then all my projects and deadlines will be late. Waiting a few hours to take a nap and pamper myself will also help me be refreshed when it does come time to buckle down to my work.

Finally, prayer is key. God is not surprised by anything. He knows exactly what is happening to us and what is going to happen. Thankfully, we can call out to Him for wisdom and direction. We can ask Him for peace to deal with the added stress. When I am in need I find prayer helps me listen more earnestly for God's will.

There will always be something around the corner that we are not prepared for. Remember to delegate, prioritize, and most importantly, pray. The troubles may not go away immediately; but at least you can still have a bit of order and calm in your day.

On Their Behalf

While I was reading through the seventh chapter of Mark the other day, I came across a verse that stood out to me. In Mark 7:32 it says, "Then they brought to Him [Jesus] one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him."

What devotion! This group of people took the time and energy to take this man to Jesus. Then they pleaded with the Lord for healing. I was impressed by both their faith in Jesus' ability to heal, and by their eagerness to intercede on the sick man's behalf.

Can you imagine the patience it must have taken to ask the Lord for a healing? Jesus was usually thronged by huge crowds. The lines to see Him were probably very long. Yet these friends made a special effort to bring this man to Jesus and wait for a cure.

How are you at intercession? Do you lift up the names of your friends, family members, and acquaintances to the Most High God? Do you plead for the healing of someone sick? Do you introduce people to the saving power of Jesus?

If you haven't interceded on the behalf of others, it's never to late to begin. Try praying for someone you know. Ask the Lord to touch their hearts and their lives. Prayer is a powerful tool. Use it to bless those around you.

Elephant Faith

Are you an elephant in your faith? I’m not talking about some big, bulky pachyderm that forces his views upon others on threat of crushing them. I’m talking about someone who, like an elephant, never forgets.

It's very easy in the midst of life’s busy-ness to forget God’s promises. It’s easy to forget that Jesus said He’d never leave us or forsake us. When stress builds up, it’s hard enough to remember our names let alone that we are to cast our cares on Him who created everything.

As Christians we aren’t promised an easy ride. Jesus told us there would be trials and persecutions. We need to make prayer such a priority and permanent practice in our lives that the moment something happens, whether good or bad, we will automatically shoot up a prayer to the Most High God. We must seek Him who is our refuge.

Daily Bible reading helps ingrain the Truth into our hearts and minds. Such immersion into God’s word brings continual comfort, a peace beyond understanding, and instant access to the wisdom of God. It is hard to forget something that is constantly before you.

Elephants are voracious eaters, spending most of their day foraging for food. They drink large quantities of water, and have been known to dig holes for water lying below the surface. How much more would we be prepared for life’s difficulties and challenges if we spent more time foraging for God’s direction and promises and digging for and drinking in His living water?

Remembering God’s word helps us to stand firm in the days of trouble and to give thanks in the periods of calm. Be like the elephant. Never forget all that God has done and will do in your life.

Weekend Reflection

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

Facts and Figures

It's tax time again. Time to find myself surrounded by stacks of receipts, piles of adding machine tape, and large manila envelopes. I try to be pretty meticulous with my figures. I want to make sure I note everything so I'm prepared when we see our accountant.

As you have probably determined by now, I handle the finances in our household. I've always been good at math, so it was easy for my husband to hand the checkbook over to me. I know exactly to the penny how much money we have. It drives me nuts if my figures don't match the statements, and I will research the situation until a solution is found.

Numbers are logical. They can only work a certain way, and if things don't match up, then there is something wrong with the process. Maybe the reason I'm so diligent when it comes to our finances is that the outcome is tangible. The numbers are real and cannot be changed.

So why does a logical numbers person believe in a God that I cannot see or feel or touch? I believe because of God's Word. It is tangible. It is real. It has been proven over and over again. The Bible is a compilation of 66 books by over 40 authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to deliver a message of repentance, forgiveness, love and salvation. I take it to heart because it is a personal love letter to each one of us. I don't know any other god (note the lowercase) who has given so much, even his own life, like God did for us with His Son Jesus.

The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Let God show you that He is real. Let Him change your life for the better. Open His Word. Seek Him with a whole heart. You will be blessed when He reveals Himself to you.

A Heavenly Declaration II

Did you see the lunar eclipse last night? The shadow of the earth slowly covered the moon, causing our silent satellite to blacken out for about an hour. It was a spectacular sight that won't be repeated for another two years.

It's fun looking at the stars. Living in the suburbs we don't get great glimpses of the night skies, but I like the enormity I've felt out in the desert or up in the mountains when I can gaze up and see millions of stars. It's hard not to feel a little insignificant when you seem to be only a speck in the universe.

Thankfully, I am significant to God. He knows me by name. He knows how many hairs I have on my head. As a believer I am one of His children. Knowing that I am not just a bit of dust makes me feel that I have worth. The Creator of this universe loves me and He loves you, too!

Next time you look up into the night sky think about the God who made it and all it contains. He created those constellations and solar systems so you could see how real He is. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." The Lord has left plenty of evidence. Shouldn't you start evaluating the data?

Stretching Out

In the comic books I used to collect there were usually two stories: the main story about the hero on the cover; and a secondary story starring a not-so-famous superhero. One of the sub-heroes I remember most was the Elongated Man. He had the ability to stretch his body any way he wanted. He could even stretch his finger out the window and around the house!

Right now I could use his abilities. I feel I am being stretched, but not in the physical sense of the word. God is asking me to stretch spiritually, and I don't like the discomfort it's causing.

It's not easy to change, particularly when you have to leave your comfort zones. What comes as a surprise to me, though, is that I didn't think I needed to change in these areas. The Lord, of course, thinks otherwise.

But the one cool thing I have come to realize is that God is the one who will lift me up and allow me to attain the goal He has set for me. He will help me stretch out and reach much further than I could on my own. I just have to be willing to accept His help and then take that step forward to begin what He is asking me to do.

It all comes down to a matter of trust. If I trust the Creator of the Universe, then I know that the steps He has for me are for the best. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Is God asking you to stretch beyond your limits? Trust His purposes and join me in stretching out.

Cloaked With Christianity

Let’s face it. We all begin our Christian walk with excess baggage: all the garbage and negativity from our old, worldly life. Unfortunately, many believers never take the time to shed the baggage. They cloak or cover themselves with their Christianity, almost challenging others, especially fellow believers, to accept them just as they are without a thought of changing their ways. In fact, in some cases, a person is so blind to the affects of their behavior that they pin any conflicts on the others involved instead of taking any responsibility themselves.

Maybe you had a problem with rudeness; maybe it was bad language. Perhaps it was a short temper, or a tendency to evade the truth. Whatever the glitch, the Bible tells us to “…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJ

We need to ask the Lord to reveal our faults to us. We need to accept those faults honestly, because we all have them. Jesus was so wise when He asked “…why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from you own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5

We are a work in progress. We are not to use our Christianity as an excuse to stay the way we are. We are to be improving ourselves, working with the Lord’s help, to become more Christ-like each and everyday.

A Man of Character

I loved reading biographies when I was in grade school. I remember going to the school library and pulling out book after book about Helen Keller, George Pullman, The Wright Brothers, Allan Pinkerton, and many other famous Americans. My favorite was George Washington.

I found George Washington fascinating. He was brave, courageous, a man of integrity, and a leader. He was honest and hard working, and he was willing to give his life to stand up for what was right and true despite the threat of the establishment. He was a true American hero.

It wasn't until much later that I learned he was also a man of faith, though it shouldn't have surprised me because the very characteristics I admired in him are all qualities that every Christian should follow. How else could a rag tag army of untrained soldiers defeat the best military units in the world if it wasn't through Divine intervention? God's hand was definitely upon George Washington.

Of course, like all people, he was far from perfect. We all have our flaws. But a man of character realizes that he cannot be who he is without God in his life. It would do well for the leaders of today to study those godly leaders that shaped this land so many years ago. Maybe they would find that their true source of wisdom and strength won't come from prestige or position or how much money or secret service agents you have. True strength and wisdom can only come from God Almighty. We would all do well to remember that.

Weekend Reflection

"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry."

Psalm 34:15

A Rose is But a Rose?

My husband surprised me with a dozen roses on Valentines' Day. Those red beauties are sitting in a glass vase on my dining room table. I can smell their wonderful fragrance as I am writing this post. Such a work of art can never be recreated successfully.

People do try, however, to make fake flowers look real. Back in December I went to a local street fair, and I came across a booth that sold very realistic rose buds. If you were standing at a distance, you couldn't tell that the flowers weren't real. But once you got closer and leaned over to smell them, you could tell right away that they were artificial. In fact, my daughter ended up buying a few, and they had to add a scent to the roses so they could appear life-like.

God doesn't make sloppy substitutes. He masterfully crafted the flowers, the trees, and the animals. He left His handprint upon the fish and the birds and even the tiniest of insects. He even put his stamp of approval on humans. When His sixth day of creation ended, He "...saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good." Genesis 1:31b

People try to make phony gods, but the true God can never be substituted. He is genuine. He is real. No matter how small of a box we try to squeeze the Lord into, He will never fit. He wasn't meant to.

Next time you see a real rose, remember that it was made by our one and only Lord and Savior. And the cool thing is, He made it so we can enjoy His marvelous creation.

The Perfect Valentine

I have fun memories of Valentines' Day: filling out the cards, figuring out which card to give to that special someone, handing them out in their white envelopes, and then counting to see how many you got. Some cards were funny. Some were cute. All had hearts. I liked the ones with candy the best.

Some kids received tons of Valentines'. Their bags would be overflowing. A few kids received hardly any at all. It must have been tough for those who weren't the most popular or had few friends. Everyone wants to be liked. Everyone wants acceptance. Everyone needs to feel loved.

Nowadays that problem is solved by requiring cards for all the kids. No one is to be left out. But yet there are those who know that they are not fully accepted by their peers. They know deep down that those cards are just tokens and not true indications of how others really feel about them.

There is only One person who accepts us for who we are and loves us unconditionally. That person is Jesus. He is the Perfect Valentine. He gave up His life here on earth so that we can have eternal life when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. He has the power to fill any heart with love.

Are you feeling a lack of love this Valentines' Day? Jesus is waiting for you with open arms and the biggest heart of all.

A Lesson from the Ice Cream Man

My daughter has had an ice cream craving for the last few days. We have been out of ice cream for about two weeks, and I had no current plans to buy any (I've been trying to cut down). So my daughter decided she was going to do the next best thing; she was going to wait for the ice cream man.

In our neighborhood we see more push cart ice cream vendors than the ice cream trucks that I grew up with as a kid. It had been unusually warm these last few days, so both the kids and I thought it would be just a matter of time before a vendor came down the street. Were we wrong.

My daughter waited all day Sunday, listening diligently for the tinkle of the bells from the cart. She waited all day on Monday, Lincoln's birthday and a day off from school, but to no avail. When she came home from school on Tuesday, I don't think she was as hopeful of his coming, but she still waited a bit outside, choosing to do her reading on a bench in the backyard.

My oldest son decided he would play a little trick by ringing a small school bell I have. It wasn't a very nice thing to do, particularly since his sister had been trying to wait patiently. I think the deception only made her long to hear the bells even more.

Finally, in the distance, a jingling was heard. The real ice cream man was here! My daughter's diligence was rewarded.

It's not easy to wait, especially when we are waiting for answers from the Lord. We can get discouraged despite trying to fill our time with other things to do. We can be deceived by false answers. We can feel as if our answers have passed us by. But if we stay the course, keep in God's Word, and not give up, our reward will be refreshingly sweet.

A Solid Fortress

Once a mighty fortress that overlooked the vast Dead Sea region of Israel from a height of 1500 feet, Masada now sits in ruins. Herod the Great built this citadel as a retreat and stronghold from possible enemies. Storehouses, officer’s quarters, a bathhouse that included a steam room, lookout towers, and two palaces, one which is divided into three terraces on a cliff, are among the many identifiable buildings on this isolated mountain. Water was saved during the rainy season by an unique collection system that included huge cisterns carved into the mountain, and there was even a swimming pool to be enjoyed.

Masada was so well built and self-contained that when Jewish rebels captured the area from soldiers stationed there in 66 AD, it was used as a refuge from the Romans for several years. In 72 AD, Flavius Silva started a siege against the insurgents that took three months to breach the walls.

No fortress built by man will ever be totally impregnable. There will always be some way to break through with enough persistence and will. No matter what walls we put up before our enemy, the devil, he will always find some way to break into our thoughts and plant seeds of doubt and fear. There is only One who we can turn to who will be that solid fortress for us, whose very support will help drive away the enemy.

Psalm 18:2 says, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Philippians 4:7 tells us that “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The enemy will keep trying to break through our walls; but as long as we seek the Lord and ask for His shield, we will not be conquered.

Attentive Listening

It was summertime. The kids and I had met with my friend and her kids at a nearby fast food place. The kids were having fun in the playland, while my friend and I were sitting nearby, immersed in some good conversation. It wasn't too long before we were interrupted by our eldest daughters who were complaining about one another. Almost as if we were in sync, my friend and I turned to our respective girls, had a good 30 second discussion to resolve the issue, and then turned back to continue our conversation as if we had never been interrupted.

I laugh to myself when I think about that incident because our actions were so precise that it probably looked rehearsed to any passing observer. But to the two of us, it was our way to not let any outside influence ruin the flow of fellowship. We wanted to be attentive listeners to one another.

Have you noticed how you respond when you want to hear someone speaking? If it's the TV, you raise the volume. When it's your children all talking at once, you designate one child to be heard first. If you are in a crowd, you try to either move closer to the person talking, or you isolate that voice in your mind so you can concentrate on each word.

In this world it is easier to be attentive to our friends and family than to God. They are right there in front of us or easy to reach by phone. To be attentive to God involves a different investment of time. In order to have a deeper relationship, I need to do some work. I need to spend time in worship so I can get my heart in the right place to meet Him. I need to read His Word, because it is His Love Letter to us. I need to pray, telling Him my fears, frustrations, dreams and desires. Then I need to be still so I can hear Him.

We cannot hear the Lord properly if we are distracted and our world is too noisy. He wants our undivided attention, and lately, I have been desiring that more and more. It is not always easy to make that time to be still and listen. But the time I invest getting closer to God will be a blessing first to me, and then to all those around me as I respond to His directions for my life.

Weekend Reflection

Oh, taste and see that the

Lord is good;

Blessed is the man

Who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34:8

A Gentle Stirring

I was reading in my car Thursday afternoon, waiting for the kids to get out of school, when I heard a very familiar and welcoming sound. It was the wind rustling the leaves in a tree across the street. There hadn't been any noticeable wind all day, so it came as a surprise when the wind began to blow.

The sound of the leaves brought to mind an incident from my youth. I was in my early teens, going through the normal moodswings, and I had just finished watching a movie with a sad, yet happy ending (the name of the movie has long escaped my memory). I remember I felt like crying, so I walked out into our backyard to get some air.

It was late afternoon on a Saturday. There were no loud noises. Everything was pretty still. I was fighting the sadness in my mind, when all of a sudden the wind began to blow ever so gently. Then the leaves in the trees began to stir.It was such a small sound, but it spoke to my heart. It was as if God was reaching out to me through His wonderful nature and telling me: "It's going to be okay. You're significant to me."

That gentle stirring lifted up my spirits. I returned to the house with a smile and a joyful heart.

I still smile when I hear the wind rustling leaves or pine needles in the trees. It reminds me that God is watching over me. He is there when I need Him. He is bigger than my problems.

Let God stir your heart today and bring you hope and joy.

To Encourage

Are you an encourager or a discourager? Do you build up or tear down? I know I have been guilty of the negative, although my goal is to be positive and bring the best out of people. But it's hard to be that amazing motivator when you're going through your own struggles.

Several years ago God called me to account for hurting someone I knew. Because of the personal nature of the incident, I won't go into details, but I was left feeling very rebuked. I cried out to the Lord in repentenance, then looked to Him for healing. No one but the Lord truly knew the pain in my heart. I was in no mood to be an encourager; yet God still wanted me to have a positive affect on my family and friends.

How does one become an encourager when you feel discouraged? First of all, we must ask God for help. He is the enabler. He is the ultimate encourager. He will give us the strength we need to handle the situation.

Secondly, we need to keep our eyes off of our problems and turn our attention to those God has brought to us. (Yes, God is the one who brings the people we are to minister to.)

Thirdly, we need to point that person to the Lord. God is the ultimate problem solver. He gave us wisdom, but people need to see that they must turn to the Lord for the answers. We can give them counsel from God's Word, but only He can effectively heal the situation.

And finally, we need to see that as the Lord brings healing and comfort to others, He will work out the pain and troubles in our own heart, allowing us to be encouraged once again.

Hearing Loss

Last week I heard a report about an eleven year old boy from Wales who suddenly regained the hearing in his right ear after nine years of partial deafness. Apparently, while playing pool with his friends, he felt a pop in his ear. Upon investigation, he found a piece of cotton that had been lodged in his ear canal for all those years.

The family thinks the boy had been playing with a cotton swab when he was two. The cotton wad broke off and stayed in his ear for almost a decade, despite the seeking of medical treatment for his hearing loss. No one had been able to detect the cotton. The hearing problem was blamed on wax build up that would come out on its own in time.

I couldn't help relating the clogged ear with a life of unconfessed sin. When we keep sinning, especially when we know what the Lord expects of us, our prayers are not heard. Proverbs 28:9 says, "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." The lines of communication are severed. We can't get any messages through, and we can't hear our directions clearly.

Sometimes people will say, "God's Word doesn't match up with the times. The Bible is old fashioned." What a lie from the devil! God's righteousness does not change. The expectations of a Holy God still stand. The world changes, but God does not.

As a Christian I am called to be Holy because God is Holy. When I sin, I must confess it before the Lord so I can be washed clean. If I don't, I can find myself compromising the values that I once held dear. It becomes easier to do things I never would have done before.

It is not easy to live a Holy life. That is why God sent Jesus - to save us from our sins. When Jesus returned to heaven, the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to call us to account and help us to be Holy.

Is there something that is blocking your access to the Lord? Remove the sin from your life, repent the trespass to the Lord, and you will soon hear the sweet sound of God's love.

Casting a Ballot

It's voting day for California and a few other states. It's interesting and kind of sad to see how many people are not registered. It's even worse to discover that for those who are, few will exert their right to cast their ballot.

I think it is the obligation of all eligible citizens to vote. Our country has fought long and hard to give this priviledge to all its citizens over eighteen years of age, regardless of color or gender. Our votes do count. Our voices can be heard. We just need to step out of the attitude of complacency and take a stand for what is right and what is true.

As a Christian, I think it is even more crucial to take a stand for moral issues. We need to seek the Lord for His choice, even when the ads and interviews tell us otherwise. If we follow God's will, then we need to trust Him for the outcome. Our obedience could lead to life changes in this land; changes that could bring healing to the crushing brokenness that surrounds us.

Who is your trust in? Man or God? I choose God. I cast my ballot for Him years ago. I want to continue to trust Him, because when I do, I am blessed through His response.

Growing Up

Last month I wrote how I wake up and start my day reading God's Word. I mentioned that my kids will join me to have a devotional time together. In the past week and a half, something has changed. My oldest son has decided he needs to take his Bible reading seriously. He will awaken when I do and have his own quiet time with God.

My son is starting to grow up. Little by little I see him maturing and trying to be more responsible. I see him wanting to succeed in junior high because he knows his grades and how he learns will affect his chances for a better education in the future. I see him sticking to things he doesn't like (although with some complaints) out of obedience. I see him trying to understand the role God has for him, and I see the zeal he has for things that are right and true.

I have mixed emotions about all this. I know a day will come when he will be out on his own, facing major decisions regarding his life. Will he follow the principles we have taught him? Will he follow God? Will he compromise instead of seeking what God would have him do ? It's a bit scary. The world can be a very crazy place.

On the other hand, I know that my kids aren't truly mine. God has given them temporarily to us to train and to love. My kids are really His kids. I can't hold on to them forever. I can only pray for wisdom to continue their training, for patience when their growing pains cause friction among us, for understanding as they struggle to develop their individuality, and for love that as the Bible says, "...covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)

Thankfully, God doesn't leave us alone as we train up our children. He is eager to give us comfort, support, and advice. We just need to seek Him and to trust Him.

Weekend Reflection

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven
and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,
And You are exalted as head
over all."

1 Chronicles 29:12

Productive Sleeplessness

(I wrote this back in early 2005. It still applies today.)

Have you ever had those nights when you wake up in the wee hours of the morning and can’t get back to sleep? I get those every so often, and I used to toss and turn as I tried to unsuccessfully return to my slumber.

I wondered if there was a reason I was not sleeping. Was I eating the right foods? Was I going to bed at a decent hour? Was something bothering me? I decided to fight back against the restlessness by doing something productive: I began to pray.

I started praying for my husband and children, for my relatives and friends, for people I hadn’t seen in some time, and for situations I knew people were going through. I also prayed for my children’s developing character so God could mold and shape them into what He wanted them to be. By the time I had been praying for awhile, I finally found myself drifting off to sleep.

My attitude towards my interrupted sleep started to change. Instead of being frustrated by my wakefulness, I started seeing it as a way to intercede for others. When I would awaken, I began asking the Lord, “Who would You like me to pray for?” Sometimes a person would come to mind. Other times I would pray through my list of family and friends.

It felt good to be able to entreat the Lord on their behalf, particularly during this period of quietness when the rest of my household was sleeping. Maybe that was the reason I would wake up at those times. Maybe I was being called upon to pray when I was the least preoccupied. Whatever the cause, I have now joyfully accepted my sleeplessness as an opportunity to bless someone else through intercession.

The next time you find yourself waking up at odd hours, try praying. You might find yourself sleeping better for your efforts.