Just Ask

Lately I have taken to starting the morning by asking God to plan our day. With Bob up in Michigan at his new job, sometimes the weight of running the show here seems heavy. Occasionally I have several options open to me on the weekends, and I don't always know which path to take, but our Father does, and He works things out to the minute.

If I stand deliberating beside the temptingly lovely Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, I only get confused trying to determine which activity will be good and which evil or less good. However, if I turn around and step up to the the Tree of Life, I can let out a contented sigh, because the wind of God's breath gently moves the leaves of that tree. I stand waiting there for the Father, and He receives my day from my outstretched hands and weaves it into a tapestry that results in His glory...

After all day yesterday with our Messianic congregation, a young friend returned home with us for pizza and the movie, Apollo 13, and to spend the night. So I did not waken the boys in time for church in the morning, but rather let them sleep and have a leisurely breakfast.

At the breakfast table I read to them a true story from one of my Cleansing Stream texts, Bait of Satan, about a boy who wanted to serve God, but God had to test him sorely because he was too self confident. It was interesting to note the different reactions from the three guys. I have to smile because I know which one or ones may need some testing to purge out the pride and self reliance. I hope they are quick learners because none of us likes the pain of the test that replaces self love in our hearts and the conditional love we are born with with the love of God...

This evening I curled up in my fat armchair to read about the fearful young lady, Much Afraid, in the book Hinds Feet on High Places. I came to the passage describing how the Chief Shepherd places a seed of His love inside Much Afraid's chest. It pierced going in, since love is always accompanied by pain, but she felt so happy once it was lodged in her heart...

In the afternoon the guys went bowling with the synagogue kids, and I headed to Cleansing Stream, for one of 10 weekly sessions. So it seemed that it would be too much to plan on River of Life's Young People's group this evening. I do have a dear friend from Estonia who longs to go back home because there her family goes to church every day. But am I crazy going to two churches?

Well, watch God..

As I was driving home the boys phoned saying they also were on their way home, and would be ready for young people's when I pulled up the driveway. Sure enough, as God planned it to a tee, we grabbed the homemade Autumn Vegetable Soup that "for some reason" I'd left simmering on the stove, and headed out the door. Just as we drove up to the home group house, the youth were piling into their van to go to their meeting!

"Bye, Mom! See ya!"

I am so glad we have as much energy as we do, because God is cutting our cake thick and giving us the icing too these days. We notice it, Father, and thank you for Your sweetness.

We all returned home tonight mellow and content, yet fired up for a week of living for Him. He is good. He has His plan all worked out, and we just have to ask Him to work His plan. Just ask.

Jamming

James informed me that this time he was not going to pretend he was having a nice time just to be polite. Instead he'd be honest and show that he really did not like going to the Newcomers Fellowship supper.

Fine, darlin', I thought, we will see what God has arranged to make you smile tonight, so you won't have to pretend.

The evening was pleasant enough and there were a few teenagers there to chat with over lasagna, a couple girls his and Peter's age and two or three guys in their thirties who joked around and teased them.

Then the good part. After we all shared names and stories around the circle, the jam session began.

The hosts had recently purchased a drum set for one son to accompany him and his brother on their choice of guitars, a keyboard and a microphone! When I finished talking with friends in the living room and stepped into the family room, I was surprised to see James tapping on a set of bongos and Peter on an extra guitar, looking for chords.

The electric guitars were whining and Raymond's fingers were flying up and down the keyboard of the electric piano. A lady named Amy and I took the microphone and everyone else either danced and clapped as we sang our way through every favorite of Michael W Smith, Third Day, and real oldies like What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Long story short, we were among the last to leave and James and Peter sang and beat the car seats all the way home. We waved as we passed by the home of our good friends, whom we had invited tonight, and were at our house in all of eight minutes.

Not only did our Father give James a happy time despite his reservations, He also provided us with a sweet community of Believers very close by. Isn't He just the most thoughtful Person you have ever met?

"I know the thoughts I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil..."

Public School

Two weeks ago I took a look at these two boys standing next to me in the kitchen and noticed they were bigger than me...

We have been home schooling this year, and God has provided academics with an emphasis on English and sports for four days out of five, plus lots of other activities to keep them busy, busy, busy. Yet I still knew they were weary of too much time with mom. Boys need to grow apart from Mom, and homeschooling may not be the avenue to facilitate the normal growing apart. So I prayed and watched.

Driving home from the big all day home school basketball, it dawned on me that the tail end of the basketball season could be the perfect time for a change, and that the idea of public school was a very peaceful possibility.

I had visited the guys' old private school, but no velvety feeling there. Before I went I knew in my heart it was not God's plan, and sure enough, the principal felt it might be hard in mid stream. Not so with the public middle school. They are public: they have to provide for the public. So here we were.

The following scary Friday morning, James and Peter and I drove to the health dept in trepidation for whatever shots they lacked. That done I dropped them off at the barber's - a first for them, instructed them to walk on home, and said that I was going over to the school with the paperwork. The school was very happy and asked for the boys to come right along.

Long story short, they are very happy. We laugh and chat on the morning drive in, and they calmly share about their day on the drive home. What a change from the way they bristled with defense at any correction by a teacher just three years ago when they first came. Soon, I think I will send them on the bus, which zips down our street. Meanwhile I do like the extra minutes for a short morning Bible study and a chance for them to make their lunches and take out the garbage, etc.

More details as they unfold...but just one thing. James was grinning tonight because his coach and his class had taken note of his football skills.

Well, another challenge for God to handle.