time for some thoughts

I feel like I must write a few thoughts down before they get lost in the whirlwind of my mind. Seriously. Things come and go in there and by the end of the day, I forget. We are NOT in Kansas any more!! Deeply spiritual thoughts, silly, witty thoughts, new resolves and funny quotes from my kids. Doesn't matter what it is, when all is said and done, and it's about 6:00 pm, all I can think about is, "How soon 'til bedtime?!" Focusing on writing anything down is gone. I do my best thinking in the morning. However, when I only get up in time to swig some coffee, zip through a Bible study lesson (NOT how I want to do things!), and then shower and start school, I don't take the time to blog. For some unknown reason, I've got a little extra time today. Maybe it's because it's Saturday and my girls are actually sleeping in for once. Praise the Living God!! Okay....lots of random comma usage and run on sentences and incomplete sentences here...but, oh well. Back to my list of thoughts!

1.) I need to slow down. My life is so great. These kiddos of mine are fantastic. My husband is awesome. My Mom, my sisters and their families all live relatively nearby and I want more time with them all!! (Okay, I spend all my time with my kids.) Jeff's family is in Oregon....It's been forever since we've been up there. My dad and Diane are in Florida....we've never been! Jodee and Mike are in Hawaii...let's go!!! Plus, I also want to see old friends more and just HANG OUT!!!
Anyway, I've just read in the Beth Moore Patriarchs Bible study about how in this day and age so many of us are turning into minimalists. Not in a good way. We do several things...more than we can actually really handle...but we don't do them excellently. I want to slow down, savor the moment, and LIVE my life. If I could pick how to spend each day (which we all can, somewhat) I would laugh more with my girls, rather than rush them and act obviously stressed and annoyed. I would read with them more, snuggle them more and look into their eyes. I want to listen more and bark orders less. I would slow down and be more present when I'm with Jeff. I would cut things from our daily schedule and GO and see my mom and sisters more often. Events and schedules are just things...they are my loves and I really want to make time with them (and friends) more of a priority.
All of this sounds like a New Year's resolution or something. But, it's not. It is just my heart and what is on my mind right now. These are things I am purposing to change! Okay, so a resolution of sorts...A March 14th resolution. =)

2.) My very good friend and I just spoke about something super profound! We talked about rain and how rain, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. I want to remember to blog about this more. Doesn't make sense here, but I promise it will. I just had to write it so that I'd be more likely to come back to it.

3.) George Muller. Wow! I mentioned him in another post a while ago. SUCH an amazing man of faith! He believed that God heard his prayers and answered them. There are so many little stories all within the YWAM biography of this man's life. They are life-changing and I really think every Christian should read that book! As I read it, it totally resonated with me. Like, "Oh yeah! I used to have more faith than I do now!" I recognized MY God in that book and longed for more faith! I think that as a mom, I have tried to figure things out more and prayed less. I have worried and brainstormed when really, all I needed to do is give it to God! *Blessed are the poor in spirit.* I am blessed when I realize that I can't do this life on my own. I NEED God!!

4.) God's presence. You know....I keep being reminded of this. It all started a few months ago when I was being especially grumpy. Who me?! I know, that must be what you're thinking. But, alas, it's true. I had some pretty hateful thoughts going through my head and out of the blue (or maybe black in this case), I felt God gently remind me that...uh...He's very aware of my thoughts. GULP! So, time and time again...usually in a way that startles me back into shape, I am aware of His presence. I am glad, though. I mean, what a jerk I'd be if I was only outwardly being nice. God knows my thoughts, my attitudes and my motives. I LOVE that about Him. I can be super mean, selfish and ugly....but, I sure am glad I can't get away with it!! I want to be changed. I want to be refined. When that happens, the heat is turned up and all the worst in me is brought up. I think God brings it up in order to get it out.

Okay....well, that's the thoughts for now.