New Day!

Recently I've been sensing God speaking to my heart that I'm entering a new day or a new season.  I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about what that means.  In a lot of ways it doesn't seem to fit with where I see myself.  It has not been the easiest season for my family and for me and when I look at my present circumstances, nothing seems to really be changing.  When I pray, however I still have this strong sense that a new day has begun.   It was during one of my "discussions" with God about this that He showed me that a new day doesn't start at dawn.  A new day starts at midnight.  Some of the darkest hours of the day take place at the very beginning of a new day.  It takes faith to believe that dawn is coming and that things are being made new.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 11:1

No Escape Plan Necessary

When I was a kid I used to pray once and then confidently go about my business (of playing with dolls, of course). I never felt the need to beg or plead with God to try and move his heart. I knew that God answered prayers and that He loved me. That was all I needed.

Looking back, I have to say that I am amazed at how He always came through for me. From providing sunshine for the water park to providing wonderful, long awaited siblings.

Somewhere along the line, I grew up. I got a job. I started paying bills. I moved out on my own and I started to believe that I could handle it. Yeah, sure, of course I still prayed, but I recognized that I started to provide God with an escape plan. I mean, come on, I didn't want to be a bother. He's got more important things to do. Perhaps He has a bigger plan... and so on and so forth... and before I knew it, I had rationalized myself out of truly believing that God answers my prayers. Yes, He answers prayers, but mine.. hmmm... well... ummm...

Recently, it hit me. God is a BIG God. He created the universe, created me, controls my life... ummm... who am I to map out an escape plan for Him? I can still believe Him with a childlike confidence. I don't need to add a footnote to my prayer that says I won't hold Him liable for not answering my prayer. I can pray for big things, because He's a big God.

There's nothing that God can not do. period.

Happy Monday!

One of the other reasons that I started this blog was to force myself to recognize the beauty around me on a daily basis. I find that I am far too apt to go through my day with an "eeyore" mentality. Oh boy, it's Monday! Nothing good can happen on a Monday?

Ok... I feel silly typing that out loud (I'm a loud typer)... but it's true.. I think a lot of times I believe that.

I once heard faith defined as expecting the unexpected around every corner. What a difference if we actually faced our days that way. Instead of expecting normal, how about we start expecting God to show up in our daily lives? How about we start expecting the miraculous to take place? How about we start expecting God to lavish us with His love? I mean, that's the kind of God He is...right?