Thursday, April 23, 2009

Imaginary Friend

Hello Friends,

We have a new addition to the family! No, it is not the baby we have been waiting:) His name is Buster the dog. Buster eats with us, plays with us, rides in the car with us, and does about everything with us. He is the perfect family pet, however, we have never seen him because Buster is the imaginary friend of our 4 year old son, Cale.

We love watching the imagination of our little boy run wild and I have found out that imaginary friends run in the family. My husband had an imaginary friend named Mickey growing up that would play baseball and football with him. I love hearing stories from my mother-in-law about Chris and Mickey.

I can honestly say there have been times that I have felt like God is more like my imaginary friend rather than the creator of the universe. There are those times where you just don't feel Him, see Him, or hear Him. Every person goes though those times. The great thing is that God is the same whether I feel Him or not. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:13 that God is faithful even when we are faithless. Praise God!

There is an Indian legend that says when an Indian boy wants to make the transition to a man he must sit in the woods on a tree stump for an entire night without opening his eyes. No matter what he hears or how scared he might get, he can not open his eyes. For those who pass the test, they open their eyes to find that their father was sitting right next to them, protecting them the entire night. Although they did not feel their father-he was there. Although they did not hear their father-he was there. Although they did not see their father- he was there.

You may not feel, hear, or see God, but I promise you He is not imaginary-He is there!

P.S. I now have a follower list where you can add your name at the bottom of this page. I would love for you to sign up so that I know my husband is not the only one who reads this blog:)

Friday, April 17, 2009

Finishing Strong

Hello Friends!

Finish Strong-Isn't that a saying that every sports team has used at one point or another? A saying that represents not giving up-playing with your whole heart until the last play of the last game. I am finding that right now I need this saying posted in my house, in my car, in my office, and any other place that I might see it. I am in the stage of pregnancy that I am having those days that it is extremely hard to finish strong. Hard to finish this pregnancy strong without breaking down daily because I am so uncomfortable and getting impatient to meet our little boy. Hard to finish out my work with FCA on a daily basis because all I think about is getting to my maternity leave and spending time with not only the baby, but watching my other two children interact and welcome Case into the family.

I was reminded this last week at Easter services of the last words Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished." If there was ever anyone that we could use as the ultimate example of Finishing Strong it is none other than Christ himself. We sometimes forget that because He was both God and man that He didn't want to go through what He did any more than you and I would. In the Garden of Gethsemane he fell to his knees and ask God "if there is any other way, please take this cup from me. Not as I will, but as you will." He could have quit right there, but He didn't. He could have quit when He went before Pilate, but he didn't. He could have quit when they were beating him beyond recognition, but he didn't. No! He went all the way to the cross and Finished Strong! And Praise the Lord He did!

There has been no other words that have changed the course of history more than these three words-It is finished! So once again, my Savior comes to my rescue and I am reminded that the same spirit that made Him finish strong is the same Spirit that will help me and you finish strong in our everyday lives. Whether it be a pregnancy, an end to another school year, a struggling marriage, a battle with an illness or whatever you may be facing, let these same words resonate with you, challenge you and encourage you to Finish Strong!