Right Here, Right Now

     It was a dreary day in Walmart.  Crowded isles, pushy people and kids(mine) that would rather be anywhere but there.  For that matter, I was experiencing similar emotions -- there were a lot of other places I would rather be than at Walmart; buying the right size of underwear for my five year-old and checking out the price of deodorant for my twelve year-old.

     Then, I heard it; lyrics being sung from a song I hadn't heard in years...
     Right here, right now, 
     There is no other place I'd rather be...

     And I felt like God spoke to my heart through that secular song that was drifting through the overhead speakers.  In the "right here, right now", I had a choice:  feel sorry for myself as I wandered through Walmart OR look for the blessings in the moment and be choose to be thankful!

     I chose the thankful option.


     How often do we, as moms, wander through the "isles of daily life" and wish we were anywhere but here?  


     Maybe it's a cranky toddler or a vomiting preschooler.  Maybe it's a lack of funds and an abundance of bills to be paid.  Or maybe it's just a routine trip to the local department store.  Whatever it is, know that God is very present in every moment we experience.  God knows how we're feeling and He's able to carry us through those hard times.

     One of my favourite songs to hum and sing along with, when I was a little girl, was "He's Able"...
     He's able, He's able, I know He is able,
     I know my Lord is able to carry me through.

     So whether you walk away from your computer screen, whistling "He's Able" or "Right Here, Right Now", I hope that these thoughts linger long in the days ahead.  I hope that the take-away from this blog is that God is fully able to help us right where we are, so that regardless of the circumstances our hearts will be able to say that this is right where we want to be!

"Oh, look!  God's RIGHT HERE

helping!  God's on my side."

Psalm 54:4

   

A Furious Squall

     Dollhouses were spread across the living room rug like a sprawling town -- dinky cars were arranged in rows and ready to race at high speeds.  Voices chattered happily while sharing plans of what should happen next in their game, when suddenly an argument erupted in the midst of their pretend town.

     "Give it back!  It's mine."

     "No, it's not, it's mine."

     "I only let you borrow it!"

     My heart fell in sadness.  It's so hard to listen to the ones you love tear each other apart.  And I don't enjoy the energy it requires to rectify the situation either. 

     A verse flashed back from my morning's time in the Word . . . in Mark 4 where we hear the story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples.  Verse 37 sounded like our house, "A furious squall came up."  That's us, I thought, that describes these moments with my children.  But even better, it reminded me of the solution too.

     Only two verses later, we find Jesus standing up, saying, "Quiet! Be still!"  And we're told it became completely calm!

     How do we get that power flowing in our homes and with our children?  To go from furious squalls to complete calm?

     We learn to invite Jesus into the midst of our storms.

     I'll be honest ~  I'm sharing more from failure than success here, but over and over, when He's been invited, I've seen Jesus move in the midst of our stormy seas at home. 

     I need that picture in my mind: Jesus speaking to our tossed boat (house) and watching those waves (arguments) become as calm and quiet as a still night.  Jesus can be that real in our moments of tension and frustration but He MUST BE INVITED!  Come Lord Jesus, into our homes and calm squalls of life.

"Now may the Lord of Peace

Himself give you peace at

ALL times and in EVERY way."

II Thessalonians 3:16