Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Eyes to See



I posted the other day about God Sightings, and the practice of watching for God in our lives.  I believe it's a habit that can be developed--to look for God.  But first, the belief that God is active in our daily lives needs to be fostered, and the expectation of His involvement needs to be nurtured.


During Aidan's life, one of the ways God took care of us was that He gave us eyes to see His presence and His involvement in the whole situation.  This reassured us that He was aware of what was going on, and in control.  We could trust Him, because He was there.  And although He didn't answer our prayers how we wanted Him to, we could rest knowing that He was intimately involved in each aspect of our experience.  He had not forgotten us.


Since that time, when I hear of other's struggles, I have made a point to pray that they would have "eyes to see" God active in their circumstances.  This last week I have been praying that God would give my dear friends Jeff and Karyn eyes to see His work.  {Jeff and I used to work together in IL, and he was also the youth pastor at our church here in CO.}  


You see, Jeff is a pastor now, and a week ago Sunday, right before he was to preach, Jeff suffered a grand mal seizure.  {ummmmm...that's one way to get out of preaching, huh?}  Tests later revealed he had a brain tumor on his right frontal lobe--cause still unknown.  Thursday morning, Jeff had brain surgery, and is currently recovering at a rehab hospital.  Oh, how I pray that in the midst of so much uncertainty their eyes see God's presence.

I popped over to Jeff's blog to grab a link for you all if you are interested--and guess what?  God has already been answering my prayers!  I believe this post is Karyn's account of a God Sighting!  God is just SO cool,  isn't he?

Have you had any God Sightings lately?  I pray, dear bloggies, that whatever you might be facing right now...that God would give you eyes to see Him.  He's there.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

the good kind of tired


me at VBX

I tell my Vacation Bible eXperience team every year that at the end of VBX week you will be the "good kind of tired".  It is the kind of tired that comes from knowing that your energy was well-spent.  Well-spent on something worthwhile, something that made a difference--rather than spent on frivolity or fretting.

That's me today.  The good kind of tired.  We finished our High Seas Expedition on Friday, and had it all cleaned up within a few hours.  Yet Saturday held a six-hour push to get a video recap done (my brother-in -law actually did it--I just sat by his side and chose clips and pictures.) for church this morning.  Today was an early morning--two different lessons to prepare, hair to color (I know...Sunday morning??), and speak at both services about VBX before the kids sang.

So, it wasn't really until this afternoon that I felt it.  The adrenaline eased up.  The yawns came.  The weight of responsibility lifted.  The tired was allowed to come.

You know, it does feel good to be this kind of tired.  It feels good to allow myself rest.  I am spent.  But well-spent.

And I'm realizing the good kind of tired is a gift to be felt fully and enjoyed.  I'm going to relish it.

I'm sharing this Sunday-post with emily at Chatting at the Sky, cause it's still the gift I'm unwrapping on Tuesday.  

tuesdays unwrapped at cats

Thursday, June 24, 2010

God Sightings

At VBX, one of the practices we are teaching the kids is to "watch for God".  Each day the kids report their "God Sightings" to their leaders.   Today I heard one tell of a sunset God made, one said God led him to a good VBX, and another talked about the money God provided at his popsicle stand for the missions project.

Yesterday, my son said "tetherball" as his God Sighting.  I wondered about it for a second ( in that "seriously? that's what you said? kind of way) and realized that he is learning to give God the credit for everything--including a good time he had playing with his friends.  The kiddos are learning to look for God and expecting to see Him!

Here are some of my God Sightings this week:
* three sweet ladies who have provided supper for us this week to lighten the load of a busy week.
*  A little girl who I don't know brought me a rose today to say thank you for VBX--and she had tears in her eyes as she gave me two big hugs.
*  Many instances of things working out, just in the nick of time. :)
*  The opportunity to sit for an hour with a visitor's mom who really needed prayer and encouragement.
*  a VBX staff that truly loves God and kids and that bring energy and enthusiasm each day!
*  God giving me the words to say today as I talked to the kids about the gospel.
*   A diet-coke-bearing friend. (thanks Bethie!).
*  The mom who thanked us because on Monday night, while she sat in the ER for a scary allergic reaction, was encouraged by her daughter with what she learned just that morning at VBX.

Do you watch for God?  Do you expect to see Him at work?  He's there...

More on this soon...

Monday, June 21, 2010

We've set sail!

Our High Seas Vacation Bible Experience began this morning!  Whew!  It's always good to get to the first day and always good to get through it!

It was great fun--and I'm looking forward to the rest of the voyage.

Thought I'd share with you some pics of the way we left things last night.  Finally ready to go...




















Don't I have the coolest job ever??  I'm the good-kind-of-tired tonight.  Can't ask for more than that.
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