Who Are You

"You either define yourself or be defined"-Erwin McMannus

How do you define yourself?
Or are defined by others?

(PS) Little Bear walks to the beat of his own drum. (Normally it is a drum that he is playing.) I love this picture because he doesn't care that he isn't supposed to dress up like a princess. He only cares that he was having fun, and he made people laugh. He definitely defines himself. Believe me.... I cannot TELL him who he is.

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Distraction

Tonight I had a meeting with staff wives about our "thing" in church. Remember my post on pride? Well I am still working at it. Fear still grips me when I think about doing ANYTHING in front of a group. But I am leaning (hard) on God. Because I know, it will NOT be of my own strength that I will be on stage.

But then I came across this quote when I got home....

"What we allow to distract us can often be the very thing that
eventually destroys us!" ~ Perry Noble

So it got me to thinking......

What does distract me???
FEAR!
Fear has distracted me from acknowledging the great ministry opportunity in front of me. Fear has kept me so busy that I have ignored what God is showing me. Fear has woven its way into many of my thoughts about many things. And if I am not careful.... FEAR will destroy me.

Tonight little Pey Pey said that she was scared of "something" in her room. I said," You know what is neat about being afraid? It gives us the chance to watch Jesus protect us."

Sometimes we are so distracted by life, that we miss God orchestrating LIFE.

What can a 4 year old teach you?

As Pey Pey walks into the kitchen (chocolate bunny in hand)

Me:" Aren't you going to eat your dinner first?"
(Before you comment..... I know that was a stupid question.)

Her: "Uh, well, no...... (long pause) ........ But thanks for cooking it for me."

Me: Dumbfounded at how cute and polite she is.
"Pey. How did you do it?"

Her: "Do what mom?"

Me: "Turn out so sweet."

Her: "Uh, God and Jesus" (in the DUH! voice)
__________________________
Later
__________________________

Her: "Mommy, I am willy willy cold. "

Me: " Well go put some warmer clothing on. " (Note: it is raining and cold here. She had insisted on shorts and a t-shirt)

Her: "Can't I just snuggle with you?"

Me: "Sure you can." (How in the world could I resist that? )

Her: "Mommy you are always hot! How did you get so hot?"

Me: "Uh, God and Jesus.." (in my best "Duh!" voice possible)


WOW! The things you can learn from a 4 year old. :-)

God of this city

Bailout stuff
"How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?" Obama questioned.

Sixty-one percent of Americans believe it is possible the United States government could end up bankrupt.

Obama's faith
“I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.” -- Obama

Civil Rights
Obama wants to expand federal hate-crimes laws, such as the Matthew Shepard Act which he introduced in the Senate as a freshman senator, a move Conservatives say threatens sermons on homosexuality and other "sins" mentioned in the Bible.

As I scroll the headlines I am so broken for our country. The junk in D.C. is almost to much for a heart to handle. I find comfort in His word. But the heartache remains. I hurt for the people who know of God but do not know Him. For our leaders who lead by their own strength and not by His strength. For a President who...... thinks he has wisdom, insight, and a plan.

Proverbs 21:30-31 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.

This past weekend we were in D.C. My favorite time of the year to be there. The Cherry Blossoms. But this year I have experienced it in a different way. The sights were much the same as they have always been. BEAUTIFUL! But my heart was heavy. In the midst of all of this beauty....is a sin driven city. And it is a little frightening (ok ALOT frightening) that this city runs our country.
As I looked at all of the beauty that surrounded me and the history that our country was built on, I was reminded. That His love endures forever.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Maybe God allows those Cherry trees to bloom every year just to remind us that He is still in control of that city, our country, our world. Just like He raises the sun every morning.

Thank you God for your reminders.