Snuggle With Jesus

I can't recall what prompted my (almost) 3 year-old to say this, but the other day as I was changing him he said, "Can I have my Bible? I want to snuggle with Jesus." My heart just about stopped. Not only was his statement incredibly sweet, but profound as well. It struck me.

In his little child's heart, to read the Bible or even just to hold it is to SNUGGLE WITH JESUS. He asks me all the time, "Is Jesus in my room right now?" and "Will Jesus hold me one day?" Or he'll just look up at the sky and say, "Hi Jesus, I love you." His connection with Jesus has nothing to do with religion or doctrine or anything man has taught him. No, he is just aware of his presence, feels safe and warm in his presence and loves his presence. He somehow knows that Jesus is someone so loving, so open, so unconditional, that the natural response is a snuggle. I love it! His sweet little statement really made me check my heart: Do I view time with God as a snuggle or an obligation? Am I comforted or stressed? Do I rest in Jesus and pour out my love or am I too preoccupied with myself?

I truly want to have my son's heart and so does Jesus. In Mark 10:15 Jesus himself says, "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Wow. So, my son is my best teacher as to what pleases God: humility, innocence, honesty, love, blind faith...I guess it's time to imitate my son for awhile. But hey, God's not asking me to be anything I don't already want to be!

The Security of No Security

With God, I have no place to hang my hat. I have nothing to believe in, nothing to depend on. I have nothing to take confidence in, nothing to rely on, EXCEPT HIM, that is. That might sound perilous, scary and unpredictable but it actually has the opposite effect. Knowing there is nothing in the world I can absolutely rely on helps me let go and cling more tightly to God.

I want to break this down so that it means a little more. I lost my father at 19, which taught me early on that every life ends. People die. I can't cling to a person for security. Jobs end, or sometimes we become disabled or aged and are disqualified for employment. Beauty fades, health is dependent on so many factors, disease is commonplace. Then there is the fact that we live among other beings who are making choices, good and bad, that affect us or even hurt us. Possessions can be stolen or broken or destroyed. Like I said, I have no place to hang my hat. I can't even be pleased when I compare myself to others, because there is always someone more beautiful, intelligent, capable, kind....

What an insecure place I'm in when I try to place my security in myself, my spouse or my achievements. This is what God says in Jeremiah 17:

⁵ This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
⁶ That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

⁷ “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

I envision a strong, unbreakable, faithful woman in verses 7-8. But I see a needy, lonely, negative, weak woman in the preceding verses. The difference? The first one put her confidence in what she sees while the second put her confidence in what she does not see. It's a powerful, daily decision to put one's trust in God, one that requires dedication to studying and applying his awesome word.

I love this promise as well, in Isaiah 40:

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

These are not just nice, religious powerless words. No, these are incredible truths, words to live by. I dare you! Go ahead and put your full confidence in God and see the miracles that come. Not only will you be more confident than ever before, but you will be amazed at how he will change your life.

A Mother's Special Blessing

"Blessings, like dollars, are usually counted more when times are tough."

Isn't it true? I know I can become so involved in the day's events that I don't spend enough time truly counting my blessings, UNTIL I HAVE TO!! Isn't there something wrong with that picture?
So, here I am, on Mother's Day, with a few moments with which to steep in my blessings like a good cup of tea.

As a mother, I must admit, God has offered me some "special" blessings that I want to share on this amazing day.

1. I was given the opportunity to be pregnant, give birth and nurse two wonderful little boys. I GAVE THEM LIFE!
2. I get at least 10 hugs per day.
3. I am responsible to these little beings for everything - food, clothing, life lessons...it motivates me to be the best I can be (and watch what I do and say!).
4. Each day I spend at least an hour laughing.
5. Someone calls me "mommy".
6. My lap is the only lap in town that gives the best snuggles.
7. I am magical! A kiss from my lips can cure anything!
8. I have someone to sing with, skip with, tickle, be silly with and laugh with.
9. I have the best life teachers around, constantly reminding me to be like Jesus: apologize quickly, hug often, be gentle, share, help, give....
10.Right now, everything I do is super cool and amazing (I know that will change in a few years)!

I am actually tearing up as I write this because those are only the tangibles. There are countless others, such as watching them sleep so angelically, or the way they search my face so wide-eyed for the answers. The adorable way they respond to discipline, being so earnest to change, and their thousand questions per day because the world is so brand-new.

Yes, being a mother has its unique blessings. I praise God that he chose that path for me. I couldn't imagine my life without my sons. I also have come to understand my own parents and especially my Heavenly Father so much better. Thank you, Lord, for this indescribable gift!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Royal Wedding

I was drawn to the Royal Wedding. It is one of those rare events in which the elements of glory, majesty, luxury and spirituality come together in a magical way. It is a modern-day fairy tale. It reminds us that there is more to life than the "daily grind." It is the closest visual we might have to the ultimate wedding day, when Jesus comes to claim his bride. The music was heavenly and majestic and, to be quite honest, it was just great eye candy! The hats, the dresses, the jewels...the preparations took months and thousands toiled night and day. It was perfection. It transported me to a different place for a moment.

I expected certain elements to be there, but I never expected such a moving and unforgettable address by Reverend Dr. Richard Chartres, Bishop of London. I wanted to remember certain things he said, and I wanted to share them with you as well, including the scripture read by Kate's brother, James Middleton.

James read from Romans 12:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

And these are the quotes which moved me from the Royal Wedding Address:

"Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be: their deepest and their truest selves.
In a sense, every wedding is a royal wedding...

And in the Spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each other. And spiritual life grows as love finds its center beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this: the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul. The more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed.

In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life. It is, of course, very hard to wean ourselves away from self-centeredness. And people can dream of doing such a thing, but that the hope should be fulfilled, it is necessary that a solemn decision is made: that whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love.

Marriage should transform as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform, so long as we don’t harbor ambitions to reform our partners. There must be no coercion if the Spirit is to flow. Each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase: “When mastery cometh, the god of love, anon, beateth his wings and farewell, he is gone.”

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the west, there's been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure rather than oppressive. We need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move toward our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light."

Words to remember, words to live by.