Repost from my myspace blog, 12-22-07
Last night I was at my friends' house, and a group of us were all standing there, just making small talk. One of my friends winked at the people in the room and said, "Someone in here is the most beautiful girl in the world. I wonder who that could be?" He looked around the room, then repeated his question as his little five-year-old daughter looked up at him and tugged his sleeve.
"It's me," she whispered into his ear.
He looked at her in surprise. "It's you?" he asked. "Well how did you know?"
She looked up at him with her sparkling blue eyes and said, "I just know."
As I watched this exchange, I couldn't help but tear up a little. What an amazing gift to give your daughter - the knowledge that she is simply the most precious creation in the world. There was no question in this little girl's mind, no wonder... it was settled. The love, adoration, and acceptance that her father gives to her makes her sure of the fact that, among all others, she is the most beautiful, the most prized, and the most exquisite. She just knew.
The world hasn't yet had the opportunity to steal that knowledge from her - she hasn't been faced with the assault on self-worth that hurting people and the media bring. But something tells me that, even when the world lies to her and tries to tell her that what she is is not enough, she'll refuse to believe. What her daddy thinks of her is the only truth.
She's secure in her Father's love
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Waiting
repost from my myspace blog, 8-13-07
Today was the first day for teachers at school today, and as I prepared to go in this morning, I must admit I wasn't feeling as enthusiastic about entering the coming school year as I probably should. I love kids, and I'm good at teaching, but I know that it's not my final destination. So every time a new year starts, there's always this question- "When, Lord?" Or this one - "ANOTHER year, Lord?"
This morning in worship I was thinking about the discomfort of the waiting period; the time before one is fully launched into what she's called to do. And then it occurred to me that Jesus had a waiting period too. Here was a man, the Son of God, who had come to earth to change the very course of humanity, a man whose life would serve the greatest purpose ever known... and he was a carpenter. A laborer. A blue collar worker.
Prior to the start of His ministry, throughout the course of his twenties, did Jesus feel completely fulfilled, sanding boards and sawing planks? Probably not. He knew there was more for him. His purpose wasn't to come to earth to sand- it was to save.
Did he get impatient, knowing that carpentry wasn't all He was supposed to do? Absolutely not. At the wedding of Cana, he could have jumped up and volunteered His miraculous power, but His mom was the one who prompted him. He had to remind his mother that his time hadn't come yet. He wasn't about to jump the gun and launch himself into his ministry prematurely. He knew that there was an appointed time.
Did Jesus lose sight of the fact his time hadn't come yet, that this was just a part of the waiting required before the perfect time arrived? Certainly not. While Jesus was working, he increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). And I'm positive he knew the value of the work he was doing, not because making a bench would change the world, but the life lessons learned WHILE making the bench would develop Him, and then He would change the world.
So that's where I'm at. Maybe putting up a bulletin board or grading a paper doesn't give me an amazing feeling of purpose fulfillment. But the things that Jesus is teaching me while I grade a year's worth of papers are preparation for the launch into the next phase. So this year, I determine to eke out every drop of whatever it is that God has to show me; to find value in the waiting.
Today was the first day for teachers at school today, and as I prepared to go in this morning, I must admit I wasn't feeling as enthusiastic about entering the coming school year as I probably should. I love kids, and I'm good at teaching, but I know that it's not my final destination. So every time a new year starts, there's always this question- "When, Lord?" Or this one - "ANOTHER year, Lord?"
This morning in worship I was thinking about the discomfort of the waiting period; the time before one is fully launched into what she's called to do. And then it occurred to me that Jesus had a waiting period too. Here was a man, the Son of God, who had come to earth to change the very course of humanity, a man whose life would serve the greatest purpose ever known... and he was a carpenter. A laborer. A blue collar worker.
Prior to the start of His ministry, throughout the course of his twenties, did Jesus feel completely fulfilled, sanding boards and sawing planks? Probably not. He knew there was more for him. His purpose wasn't to come to earth to sand- it was to save.
Did he get impatient, knowing that carpentry wasn't all He was supposed to do? Absolutely not. At the wedding of Cana, he could have jumped up and volunteered His miraculous power, but His mom was the one who prompted him. He had to remind his mother that his time hadn't come yet. He wasn't about to jump the gun and launch himself into his ministry prematurely. He knew that there was an appointed time.
Did Jesus lose sight of the fact his time hadn't come yet, that this was just a part of the waiting required before the perfect time arrived? Certainly not. While Jesus was working, he increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). And I'm positive he knew the value of the work he was doing, not because making a bench would change the world, but the life lessons learned WHILE making the bench would develop Him, and then He would change the world.
So that's where I'm at. Maybe putting up a bulletin board or grading a paper doesn't give me an amazing feeling of purpose fulfillment. But the things that Jesus is teaching me while I grade a year's worth of papers are preparation for the launch into the next phase. So this year, I determine to eke out every drop of whatever it is that God has to show me; to find value in the waiting.
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