Mercy

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet as without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  Hebrews 4:15-16

Mercy comes in funny forms sometimes.  Like on Wednesday this week when Zachary threw up in my newly cleaned van.  Miraculously and mercifully it all landed on the floor mat, which was easy to take out and clean off.  Does the great Lord in heaven have much larger, pressing issues to deal with than the direction of a 4-year-old's throw up?  Probably so.  But it was 6:30 in the evening, everyone was tired, everyone was hungry, Zachary felt awful.  Whatever my need was in that moment, God's mercy met it.  He who counts every sparrow also knows every hair on my head, and how much more valuable am I than a sparrow?  (Luke 12:6-7).  Nothing is overlooked in God's mercy.

And as such, this was one occasion where this tired mother of four did not have to pull the car over to scream and cry.  This week..... 

XOXO...Kelly

Hang on for the whisper....

I prayed a lot before I started up this blog.  I wanted it to be inspirational.  I wanted it to be honest.  I wanted, most of all, for it to be to God's glory.  And so each time I come to the computer to write I ask for His blessing and His guidance in my words.  I am very careful to avoid a soapbox, which is VERY hard.  I want my words to come from a good place, not a spirited rant brought on by whoever cut me off in the Walmart parking lot this morning. 

But this has not been one of those weeks.  It's like every thought in my head has bloomed out of irritation.  It all started with the license plate frame on the BMW in front of me in traffic Monday.  "I'm not spoiled....I'm blessed."  Oh, please.  I hope it was custom-made and there's not in fact someone out there producing those in mass quantities so that more than one doofus can proudly display that message.  Then there were pictures for swim team (no, I do not need a mock trophy with their pictures on it), someone wants money to monogram my son's YMCA shirt (NO!!), the book fair is selling toys (don't we have enough novelty erasers already?), a dozen ridiculous Facebook posts. Oh, great.  Now there's something in my eye...

With hardly any effort, any one of these annoyances could have easily been turned into a preachy, judgmental excerpt on righteous living.  But that's not why I'm here. 

So, I take a deep breath.  I visualize my sharp edges softening.  I turn my heart once more to God and ask Him to enter in.  He's more than willing to fight my battles for me, but not if I don't hand them over first. 

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written; 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'  No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Don't let the license plate frame on the car in front of you take you away from God's glory today.  It may seem like the devil is shouting for your attention and God's voice is only a whisper.  Take a deep breath.  A shout is not near as endurable as a whisper and certainly no where near as pleasant.  Something to think about when you're getting ready to mount your own soapbox...

Ask Him to enter in.  There's no other place He'd rather be.

XOXO...Kelly