Wednesday, March 28, 2007

How Great Is Our God

I admit, I am a problem solver. If someone has a problem, I want to fix it. If I think someone is making a decision that I think may not be the best, I tell them how I think they should fix it.
I was sitting in church on Sunday morning...telling a friend how I think she should change things in her life, giving examples of other couples that have made choices that haven't always turned out for the best. I thought I was doing a great job, but I am worrying that my words are falling on deaf ears.
Worship started and I was singing along, thinking about all of the "things" going on in my life...my dad is waiting for biopsy results, I have two friends in relationships that I am worried about, we are still not pregnant, even if we were pregnant we would be broke, we need a fence, we need a new couch, ....insert your favorite worry here.
Then, we started singing the song, "How Great Is Our God." It was familiar, we sang it at our previous church.
As I sing the words, the Lord starts impressing upon me just how great He is. The chorus reads:

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

We sing this over and over and the Lord kept reminding me over and over that all of the "things" I was worrying about will be taken care of so that all will truly see what an incredible God He is.
I don't need to try to solve all of the problems of the world, God is great enough to take care of them all. I do not need to worry about the decisions of my friends, God is great enough to take care of them. I don't need to worry about our finances, God is great enough to take care of them, I don't need to worry about the health of loved ones, God is great enough to take care of them.

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." Matthew 6:34

Monday, March 12, 2007

Dirty Paws


Yesterday we forgot about the time change. We just didn't forget, we really forgot and missed church. I told myself that this was the Lord's plan for us so that we could have the day to rest. Dixie, our dog, had other plans. The weather has finally warmed up a little here in Missouri and she wanted to spend time outside. When I let her back inside I checked her paws. They weren't just dirty, they were packed with mud.

As Mark warmed the water in the tub and covered the floors with towels I carried Dixie into the bathroom. She cowered, she tried to hide, she wouldn't look at me, but instead, hid her head under my arm. She knew she had done something wrong and was wanting to let us know she was sorry.
Even with her muddy paws, Mark and I still loved Dixie...and she is only a dog. We used gentle voices, we affirmed our love for her, we tenderly bathed her and dried her, and then rewarded her with a treat.
How much more is God's love for us.

For God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8