Thank God

I hear that phrase a lot: Thank God! 

I mean, a lot. So much, that the "Thank" and the "God" are merely shadow words. They are there, but are they really there? Am I honestly thanking God when I say:

• Thank God I packed another outfit in the car for my almost-potty-trained child.
• Thank God I drank a mocha latte this morning. It's going to be one of those days.
• Thank God the season finale of Glee is still on Hulu.
• Thank God the Gap Outlet had one pair of $4 jeans in my size. (Four dollars, people!)

Probably, not. Well, okay, I did actually praise God for that last one. Finding a great-fitting pair of jeans on a Goodwill budget can be nothing short of miraculous. Regardless of budget, a great pair of jeans is almost as elusive as a great bathing suit. You might read about them in magazines or on blogs but you seldom encounter them in real life.

Everything God does is worthy of praise. Everything. He gave me life. He gave my children life. I want to reclaim those words: Thank God. Starting today.

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart." (Psalm 9:1)

A Little Sunday Grace

"He replied, 'You give them something to eat.' " (Luke 9:13)

God challenges us to think bigger - not only about what He can do but also what you can do in His name.  Whose angel can you be today?

A Little Sunday Grace

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Monkey See, Monkey Do

God calls Christian parents to a higher purpose. As "imitators of God," our children learn how to be Christians by watching us and modeling our behavior. Our parenting should aim to provide a safe, loving, God-centered, developmentally-appropriate environment for our children where they can grow up to contribute to society and live the life God intended for them to live as a Christ-follower.

No pressure there.

I think I do okay imitating God in some aspects. And by God, I mean the Wrath of God. You should see my evil eye. When wielded correctly, it can stop disobedience faster than saying "Stop calling your sister Mrs. Poopy Head."

Imitating God's grace, on the other hand, needs some help. I recognize my shortcomings each time I speak to my girls from a place of anger instead a place of love.

Thank God He is more patient and more loving and full of more grace than I am. He is the type of parent I want to be. And even though I fall short, I know that He will forgive me...and one day my children will, too.

A Little Sunday Grace

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2)

A Little Sunday Grace

Dear God,

Thank you for loving us forever. We are thankful because we know that must be hard work. Amen.

--Emmy

I Need to Christ Up

Yeah, I admit it. I sometimes fall short of God's expectations for my life and relationships.

As in way short.

As in every day.

Yes, even on Sundays and sometimes even during the service. Yikes! Thank goodness no one can hear my inner dialogue when someone comes in late looking for a seat while I'm trying to get my worship on.

Wait a minute, God can hear my thoughts. Holy Yikes!

Forget about needing to Man Up or ("Cowgirl Up" for you Texans), I need to Christ Up.

I'm in good company though.

Even Paul admits his struggles. He confesses in Romans 7:18-20: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I can not carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Somehow I feel better knowing that a member of God's All Star Team falls short, too. So even in my bench-warmer status, God's grace is sufficient to cover my daily occurrences of needing to Christ Up.

Thank God. Literally. For I know, I will stumble again and again.

A Little Sunday Grace

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)

Sending God to Voicemail

God keeps sending my calls to voicemail. I mean, come on, I know that He is home. Pick up or at least text me to say You got my message.

Okay, I admit that I don't always answer when He calls either. I'm busy. He knows I can't talk when I am at home with my 4-year-old and 2-year-old. I'm lucky to go to the bathroom by myself on some days! Plus, when I do answer God's calls, He asks me do stuff like quit my fancy job, become a stay-at-home mom, and move from North Carolina to North Atlanta. That wasn't exactly on my To Do list last year or any year for that matter.

So, yes, sometimes I don't take His calls. But shouldn't he always answer my calls?

I continue to re-learn that sometimes God doesn't answer because He already has. I know I tell my children to stop asking me the same question over and over again because I have already answered it. As future members of a Senate-hearing committee, my girls inevitably ask a follow-up question: But why? (The pitch of the whine is directly proportional to the length of nap time.)

God works that way in my life, too. I ask a question. He answers. If I don't like the answer or I wasn't listening (Top Chef is on!), I ask again. And again. And again. When I finally hear His answer, I ask the same follow-up question as my preschoolers...But why?

You see. I prefer for God to reveal His entire plan for my life. Right now. As in pronto. Then I could, you know, plan around it add it to the family schedule.

• Kindermusik on Monday.
• Grocery store on Tuesday
• Ballet on Thursday.
• God's plan on Friday.

Unfortunately, God prefers me to follow the plan for my life that He has already revealed. Apparently, He has a lot of moving parts and plans could change.

So for today, I will answer His call. And maybe next time, God won't send me straight to voicemail.

After all, I only have one question..."but why?"