I'm not all that girly of a girl in a lot of ways. Days like today, Valentines Day, don't really do a lot for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm human...I love a little extra attention and I'll take any excuse for a present. But I'm not sentimental about the day. It can come and go without any acknowledgement and I wouldn't bat an eye. But that's because I'm married to someone who doesn't wait for one day a year to make me feel special. On almost a daily basis he says things, does things, shows me that he loves me. He makes me feel special. He shows me that I'm his one and only. In small ways all throughout the year (and a few big ones, too!) he invests in me, in us through the way he loves me.
I'd much rather feel the love everyday just because he wants to show it than to only really have it expressed on a few days a year, when it's an expectation or obligation.
I wonder how many of us treat our relationship with God the way we treat Valentines Day. Do we have one day a year (maybe for you it's Christmas, Easter or Mother's Day...or the day after a crisis strikes) where we go all in? Where we go above a beyond to make up for a year's worth of neglect. Where we do all of the things we should have been doing all along and promise that we'll do better this next year.
I can't help but think that God would like us to realize that, while he loves our affections, our grand gestures once or twice a year aren't what he's after. Just like my husband invests daily in our relationship, God desires that daily investment from us. Just as the daily investment from my husband grows our relationship, so our daily investment in our relationship with God grows our relationship with him. With any relationship, the strength comes in the day to day investment, not the once a year big things.
Imagine how our marriages, our relationships would grow if we made daily investments in them. Imagine what God could do in us and through us if we made daily investments in Him. Make the daily investments. Not just in your marriage and other relationships, but in your relationship with God.
Welcome to my blog, My Sacred Hideaway. The words you'll read here come from sacred times with my Father. I pray you're blessed.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
What's Your Manna?
Have you ever had manna? Probably not in the literal form, as the children of Israel did on the journey to the Promised Land. That was food sent from Heaven to the Israelites as they traveled through the wilderness after fleeing Pharaoh & the tyranny of Egypt. It was a gift from God to nourish them in that wilderness place. And it sustained them for the entire 40 years that they wandered in the wilderness.
So, I'll ask again...have you ever had manna? Maybe this will make it easier to answer. Have you ever felt like you were wandering in a wilderness place in life? Like you're in a place where God seems distant? Like you've been left in a dry and desolate place for a purpose that isn't yet clear? But you have manna.
You have blessings that, when God first sent them to you, you cherished them, appreciated them, were thankful for them. But as you wander in the wilderness, the realization of blessing wears off. Like the children of Israel, what was once clear evidence of God's provision, care and blessing has now become normal, everyday and mundane. But it's still manna.
It's still heaven sent blessing to nourish your body, your spirit, your emotions, your soul. It hasn't changed. But your view of it has. What it has the potential to provide you hasn't changed, but what you allow it to provide you isn't the same anymore.
So, one more time...have you ever had manna? Have you been blessed with a spouse who walks unfailingly with you through your wilderness? Do you have children who bring new life to your home daily? Do you have friends, or even just one friend, who stand by your side regardless of the wilderness you face? Do you have a roof over your head? Food on your table? A God who never leaves your side?
If you can answer yes to even one of these (although I'm betting you can answer yes to several...and come up with some of your own!) then you've had manna. No, you have manna.
As you journey through your own personal wilderness, take notice of the manna. Make a list of your own personal manna. Cherish your manna. Fix your eyes on your manna, not on your wilderness. As you journey through your wilderness, with full awareness of the blessing of your manna, know that, just as God did for the children of Israel, He will sustain you with manna through your entire journey to your Promised Land.
So, I'll ask again...have you ever had manna? Maybe this will make it easier to answer. Have you ever felt like you were wandering in a wilderness place in life? Like you're in a place where God seems distant? Like you've been left in a dry and desolate place for a purpose that isn't yet clear? But you have manna.
You have blessings that, when God first sent them to you, you cherished them, appreciated them, were thankful for them. But as you wander in the wilderness, the realization of blessing wears off. Like the children of Israel, what was once clear evidence of God's provision, care and blessing has now become normal, everyday and mundane. But it's still manna.
It's still heaven sent blessing to nourish your body, your spirit, your emotions, your soul. It hasn't changed. But your view of it has. What it has the potential to provide you hasn't changed, but what you allow it to provide you isn't the same anymore.
So, one more time...have you ever had manna? Have you been blessed with a spouse who walks unfailingly with you through your wilderness? Do you have children who bring new life to your home daily? Do you have friends, or even just one friend, who stand by your side regardless of the wilderness you face? Do you have a roof over your head? Food on your table? A God who never leaves your side?
If you can answer yes to even one of these (although I'm betting you can answer yes to several...and come up with some of your own!) then you've had manna. No, you have manna.
As you journey through your own personal wilderness, take notice of the manna. Make a list of your own personal manna. Cherish your manna. Fix your eyes on your manna, not on your wilderness. As you journey through your wilderness, with full awareness of the blessing of your manna, know that, just as God did for the children of Israel, He will sustain you with manna through your entire journey to your Promised Land.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Four
February 1, 2008. It's a day that changed my life forever. It's the day my princess, Addison Lynn Bates, entered the world. The day should have told us much about her personality...she didn't come when everyone was there and ready, she took her sweet time and waited until everyone went to get some much needed dinner. And then commanded everyone's return by her presence.
Over these last 4 years, she has blessed our family tremendously. And she has changed me (and continues to change me) almost daily. She has not only tested the limits of my patience, but stretched my capacity for patience. She has taught me that not all battles are worth fighting. She has helped me put structure in our lives. She has taught me to not take life quite so seriously. She drives me to do better, to be better. She's been a mirror for my bad habits and personality flaws and the inspiration to change them.
Her faith in God to answer a prayer immediately convicts me to the core and strengthens my prayer life. Her fascination with the details in the seemingly mundane and everyday things has taught me to slow down and really see what's around me.
She always has a plan. She always has a story. And she always has some sass. Ok, she always has a LOT of sass! She has a quick wit and she knows how to use it. She doesn't open up to everyone, but those she does open up to, she opens up to completely and with her whole heart.
She challenges me to grow as a mom, a wife, a person, a woman of God. Her very existence causes me to want to elevate my standard of living. At 4 years old, she's already taught me a lifetime of lessons. And brought more laughter (and a few gray hairs) than a lot of people have in a lifetime.
Sweet Addi Lynn, you are an amazing blessing to this family. Happy birthday, Baby Girl!
Over these last 4 years, she has blessed our family tremendously. And she has changed me (and continues to change me) almost daily. She has not only tested the limits of my patience, but stretched my capacity for patience. She has taught me that not all battles are worth fighting. She has helped me put structure in our lives. She has taught me to not take life quite so seriously. She drives me to do better, to be better. She's been a mirror for my bad habits and personality flaws and the inspiration to change them.
Her faith in God to answer a prayer immediately convicts me to the core and strengthens my prayer life. Her fascination with the details in the seemingly mundane and everyday things has taught me to slow down and really see what's around me.
She always has a plan. She always has a story. And she always has some sass. Ok, she always has a LOT of sass! She has a quick wit and she knows how to use it. She doesn't open up to everyone, but those she does open up to, she opens up to completely and with her whole heart.
She challenges me to grow as a mom, a wife, a person, a woman of God. Her very existence causes me to want to elevate my standard of living. At 4 years old, she's already taught me a lifetime of lessons. And brought more laughter (and a few gray hairs) than a lot of people have in a lifetime.
Sweet Addi Lynn, you are an amazing blessing to this family. Happy birthday, Baby Girl!
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