A little more everyday, I'm learning that life is about reflexes. How you respond to the surprises in life, the unplanned moments and the interuptions. Just when you think you have things figured out, there's a bump in the road or a fork in the road or maybe even a dead end.
Well, you can't just sit down in the middle of the road and cry about it. You have to do something about it.
I know I'm a magnet for chaos. It's a world I've grown accustomed to. But there are a few daily routines that fill my day, like my morning coffee. I can't imagine a day without the habit. The first of the morning catch up with the office staff. I love coming into the office in the mornings to find everyone eating breakfast or maybe even just filling out paperwork at their desks, but while they do, they're talking about what happened over the weekend or the night before. I truly enjoy hearing about what is going on in their lives each day. But for daily routines, that's about it for me.
I do try to plan. For instance, I'm going to New York this summer for a few days. I've made hotel reservations. I even bought tickets to a Broadway musical in advance. But at some point I recognize the best prepartion I can do is to be prepared for the unknown.
I think that's the way life is and the only true way to be prepared for the twists, turns, ups and downs, is to know how to bounce back or get up. So can you truly be prepared for the unknown? The answer is yes, and faith is the key!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
I am determined
Every morning, the first thing I do when I open my eyes is to roll over, grab my cell phone and check my email. This morning started out with an email from a good friend in Bangladesh. It was as if God were speaking to me already, preparing me for a morning of worship.
Like clockwork, the girls and CJ were running out the door to go to church and I was left with a few quiet moments to get ready myself while also cooking a dish to take for the lunch that would be served after the morning service.
I sat down with a cup of coffee to study my morning Bible devotion. More preparation for a coming worship service.
That worship service finally arrived and after a morning spent talking with God and His preparation of my heart for this service, I was excited to see and feel His presence there in our sanctuary.
I often wonder if others see God in our services as visibly as I do. But His presence this morning was undeniable. There was singing, fellowship and a time of honoring some men of our church for their years of dedication, then it was time for the choir to lead in a well-known version of "I Am Determined."
From the moment the music began, I could feel God swell in our sanctuary as if He filled the whole room to the four corners, then He breathed His breath into the soloist who brought forth the audible voice of God. My breathing became heavy and my soul was humbled from awesome display that was transpiring. Then the choir joined in singing "I am determined to be invincible til He has finished His purpose in me." And it dawned on me that all of this was for me. God was speaking to me. From the moment my eyes opened til this dramatic and emotional stirring in our worship service, God was telling me that He is with me always; He has a purpose for me still and He wants me to be unshakeable in following His will.
Wow! I could barely sing the song. The words were on my lips, but no voice was coming out. The song ended with a huge climax providing just a glimpse into what I think Heaven will look like and as the Minister of Music waved His arms to end the song, the lights went out in the building.
Woh...
As if I wasn't aware that Christ was there already, it was like He put His stamp on the final note. It still gives me chills just thinking about it.
All I could do was smile, to know that God cares so much to do all this for me. I wonder what He was doing for others this morning as well.
Like clockwork, the girls and CJ were running out the door to go to church and I was left with a few quiet moments to get ready myself while also cooking a dish to take for the lunch that would be served after the morning service.
I sat down with a cup of coffee to study my morning Bible devotion. More preparation for a coming worship service.
That worship service finally arrived and after a morning spent talking with God and His preparation of my heart for this service, I was excited to see and feel His presence there in our sanctuary.
I often wonder if others see God in our services as visibly as I do. But His presence this morning was undeniable. There was singing, fellowship and a time of honoring some men of our church for their years of dedication, then it was time for the choir to lead in a well-known version of "I Am Determined."
From the moment the music began, I could feel God swell in our sanctuary as if He filled the whole room to the four corners, then He breathed His breath into the soloist who brought forth the audible voice of God. My breathing became heavy and my soul was humbled from awesome display that was transpiring. Then the choir joined in singing "I am determined to be invincible til He has finished His purpose in me." And it dawned on me that all of this was for me. God was speaking to me. From the moment my eyes opened til this dramatic and emotional stirring in our worship service, God was telling me that He is with me always; He has a purpose for me still and He wants me to be unshakeable in following His will.
Wow! I could barely sing the song. The words were on my lips, but no voice was coming out. The song ended with a huge climax providing just a glimpse into what I think Heaven will look like and as the Minister of Music waved His arms to end the song, the lights went out in the building.
Woh...
As if I wasn't aware that Christ was there already, it was like He put His stamp on the final note. It still gives me chills just thinking about it.
All I could do was smile, to know that God cares so much to do all this for me. I wonder what He was doing for others this morning as well.
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