Thankful

As I lay here, my son sleeping beside me, occasionally nursing or snuggling into my side, my second inside me, beating a rhythm with little kicks and bumps, I have a moment of gratefulness sweep over me. 

I barely slept last night. My son decided playtime was going to happen in the middle of the night. I was so cranky and irritable when I woke and I wondered how I would get through the day ahead. And yet I always do. We always do...

I remember now that I am actually one of the lucky ones. I know of women who's hearts and arms ache for their own little one. They've tried for year on year with no success. 

I just read an article on prostitution in North Kolkata, India (http://www.upworthy.com/he-took-his-camera-to-a-village-where-prostitution-is-a-way-of-life-heres-what-he-found). These women live hell on earth, day in, day out. 

I think that gratefulness really is the key- to joy, happiness, contentment and to living the 'dream' life. There will always be more that we want and need. However, it's always a good idea to stop and recognise the 'so much' that we already have...

Devotions

Source: http://www.amazon.com/The-Jesus-Storybook-Bible-Whispers/dp/0310708257

I was reading to my son the other night, from 'The Jesus Storybook Bible'. We were reading the story when Jesus was in the boat with his friends, and he calmed the storm.

'The wind and the waves recognised Jesus' voice. (They had heard it before, of course - it was the same voice that made them, in the very beginning). They listened to Jesus and they did what he said... 

...Then Jesus turned to his wind-worn friends. "Why were you scared?" he asked. "Did you forget who I Am? Did you believe your fears, instead of me?" 

Jesus' friends were quiet. As quiet as the wind and the waves. And into their hearts came a different kind of storm. (pg: 242)

Wow. I read this to my son and started crying. I could hear the Spirit speaking so strongly to my heart, whispering of the dreams that He has placed there, and daring me to have the courage to trust Him.

Unity

Genesis 11:1 - 9
1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. ² And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. ³ And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” ⁵ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” ⁸ So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.⁹ Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

I started reading through Genesis yesterday, 'In the beginning...' (Hahah, A Christianese joke). By today, I had reached Genesis 11, and this story about the tower of Babel that has so often fascinated me.

Two things stood out to me this morning. First of all, all mankind was seeking to make a name for themselves. I think that is where the trouble began. Mankind is designed and created to praise and lift up the name of the Lord. When we purpose to lift up anyone or anything other than Him, we are going against our original design. 

Secondly, I was struck again by the power of unity. When we humans come together in absolute unity, even if working against God's plan and design, we can achieve anything! There is a power here. And I think that is why we the church today are so powerless. We have gotten lost in the our internal arguments. We fight about doctrine, and who is greater (check out Matthew 18 for what Jesus thinks about that) and whether or not homosexuals are damned to hell. I think that there is a time and a place for doctrine, and we need to come to a place of just agreeing with God's Word and what He says, but that should never overtake our efforts at unity. After all, we are ONE body, ONE kingdom. And a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

Imagine what earth would be like if we the church would only be united? Imagine if our sole focus and purpose was to love our neighbours and to love God the Father with all our hearts and souls and minds?? There is NOTHING that could stand in the way of such overwhelming love. I wonder how soon the whole world would hear the good news and then Jesus could return?

But as I think about these things, the challenge hits very close to home. Honestly, I do not love my fellow Christians like that, and I do not fight for unity within the Body of Christ. I find non-Christians, generally speaking, nicer to be with and easier to love and like. 

Oh God! I need You here. I need You in my heart and mind to give me Your love for us, this fallen bride of Yours.