A Smile

I think it's quite amazing that when God created humans, He gave us the ability to smile. So much can be communicated with one smile. When my son Caeleb was just nine months old, we were shopping at a mall, just a couple of weeks before Christmas. That time of year, people hustle around, quite harried and stressed. We sat on a bench together and watched individuals rush around, annoyed at the crowds, the lines, the noise... Everyone looked so unhappy. Caeleb, sitting in his stroller, big blue eyes looking all around, began flashing pudgy faced baby grins at anyone who came near. And the effect was amazing! Most everyone who caught his smile, slowed, softened and smiled in return. His smile was a gift to them. In the craziness of life, as we all wander to and fro, doing all the things we have to do, I try and remember how easy it is to make even a small effort at brightening someone's day...with a smile.

7 Days!!!!

I picked up the new Jodi Piccoult book at the library on Monday. It's only available on a 7 day loan, today is Friday, and I'm only 1/3 of the way through it!!! I know I can do it, but am not sure I have the time....arg! Seriously, don't they realize people have lives and cannot spend all their time reading?

John 11

I find it interesting that when Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, when Mary & Martha sent word to Him, He stayed where He was for two more days.
I am sure that when M & M sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick," they weren't saying, "bring Nyquil, Lazarus has a cold" - no he was seriously ill, on his death bed. M & M believed that Jesus would come & heal Lazarus.
But there was a greater plan. Instead of rushing to heal Laz., Jesus waited, therefore allowing Lazarus to die! Jesus knew that through the death of Laz., He would be glorified vs.4. It is in His Timing. It is His Plan.
Because of Mary & Martha's faith, they believed that Jesus could've saved their brother from death, that had Jesus been there He would've performed a miracle & healed Laz. from the grips of a deadly illness. Jesus had done it before. Oh, how sad and disappointed M & M must have been when Jesus didn't come and their brother died. After Jesus arrived, Mary said to Him, " if you had been here, my brother would not have died vs 32." She had faith, but it wasn't big enough - she didn't grasp that even then, after Laz. had passed, that Jesus could do great things.
Oh, we are so like that! how often do we have a goal - a prayer - something BIG that we believe God will answer by _____. And when the request isn't answered, we feel disappointed and we think, "it's not His time. it's not part of His plan.", when all along, God wants to answer it in a different way - maybe bigger, grander - more amazing -to build greater faith & belief.
In this we can learn to not let our hearts be troubled. God works in all things for the good of those who love Him.

Thinking About Praying

Honestly...I think I spend more time thinking about what I should pray about than actually praying.
Throughout the day, I pray at various times, but in retrospect I also see myself making a mental to-pray list: "I need to make sure I pray for so-and-so, and about such-and-such, and thank God for this-and-that..."
Why do I do this rather than just pray? Why do I feel the need to organize my prayers before talking to God? He doesn't care what my prayers sound like, or if they are in a specific order, or if I use lots of fancy, Christian prayer lingo. And maybe that's it for me. Gulp. Maybe there's a part of me that is selfish about prayer. I need to focus on just talking to God and having a conversation with Him. This is the relationship that Jesus wants with us. He wants to know us and us to know Him...how awesome is that? we have a God who desires to be in relationship with us...