my confession....

Well, summer is almost over and how did I spend the last day before school starts?????
Watching Katrina!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, that's right, I was up at 4:30 to see my husband off to work and to see her hit land.
I didn't even leave the house....I'm still in my pjs and it's 7:00 at night!!!!!
It's good school is starting......

my children.....

Have you seen the "pics" on Con's blog?????
GO directly there and check out my beautiful, Lacey.
I can't believe she is so grown up......
Yesterday we went to an open casting call for a Coke commercial and she did GREAT!!!!!!
The casting director told her that she has a natural beauty that is very appealing to sell products.....we'll see.
I told Lace that if she got some commercials, maybe a national campaign(I'm not getting crazy), that she could save money for a horse or a mission trip or college or whatever....
Whatever happens, this will be learning/life experience.
Meanwhile, my Vada is going into middle school and will be part of the youth program at church.
I am the mother of 2 middle-schoolers!!!!!!!!
I can't breathe.......
Really, Vada will be great. She has a big sister to show her the ropes and look out for her.
I do have this sense that they are slipping just a little out of my reach and it makes me sad, just a little, but I know that they are going to be successful in whatever they do and I am proud to be their mom and I'm proud of the young ladies they've become.
Sigh......
I remember being their age and not feeling accepted and loved by my parents and I remember the pain in that, which is what drives me to be a parent that is involved with their kids and, more than that, I believe they know how crazy I am about them and I hope that fills them with a sense of belonging and acceptance.

I've been...sloth-like....

I have read 3 books in the last 4 days......yummy!!!!
They were all great books.....I love it when you can't put a book down...or 3 books down....cup a joe by my side....pillows all around....sigh.....
Back to reality....
Now is it too much to ask that those who love me can see that I am otherwise engaged and keep up on the chores??????
GOSH!!!!
IDIOTS!!!!!
What are you...children????
Why, when I was your age.......nevermind....

things I've learned......

OK,
What's goin' on in that brain of mine?????
Well, me tell ya.
I have been priveledged to be part of MANY areas of ministry this summer and God has taught me many things.
He has shown me that He is in charge of all things.
He has shown me that I am to love all people, even mean people.
He has shown me that he uses mean people!!
Cool stuff.
But, the biggest thing that God has shown me is that His grace is sufficient.
Over and over, this summer I have counseled with young people who had questions about thier salvation and their spiritual walk.
Over and over I heard disheartening things from these precious children about what they think of God and His salvation.
The common thread was this:

these children of God have been taught, to a fault, that their salvation has to look a certain way or, they are taught, to question that salvation.

They are not even keenly aware of God's grace in these matters.
We are teaching our children to have a works-based walk with their Lord.
We are sending the message to them that If they do their quiet time in the morning and Pray and Act a certain way, then, God will love them and keep them.
Somehow, those things take precedent over His grace, which meets us where we are at and these children are missing out on that Grace.!!!!
I understand there is a balance here, and it starts in the heart.
The heart issues are missing in these children.
It's the miracle of transformation that is missing, especially, in churched kids.
Because they are immersed in Godly material and Godly education, they can get lost in that and feel it is enough, and they are missing the mark.
What can we do????
I think about the times I felt closest to God and the times I was lending my ear to God was in times of suffering.
Think about it.
It's probably true for you, as well, because it is in that time that we relinquish control and let Him guide us through.
How do we let our children suffer??
Jesus said, "Suffer not the little children to come unto me...."
That is the answer, let them come unto Him.
Let them stumble and fall and let them be brought into His presence, His Throne of Grace.
Let them minister to the poor, the down-hearted, let them do the hard things that will teach them to lean on their Heavenly Father for wisdom and guidance.
As I sit and write these things, I am weeping for my own children who fall into this same category.
I want them to grow and be strong in the knowledge of God and His word and I want to protect them from suffering, but God is saying to my heart, "let them come unto Me."
Suffer not the little children.....