life beyond the well…

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The Things We Discard

I love watching my little one eat.  As with most things, she’s very particular about her food- not just the food that she’s eating, but it’s also important to her that it LOOKS a certain way.  We’ve gotten into a groove with feeding her food that she likes and getting her to gradually try new things.  It’s been a process, but we’ve seen growth and improvement.

Yesterday she was eating her dinner, and as normal, she saved her vegetables for last.  I watched as she methodically ate her peas and corn with her spoon, but I also noticed that there were some that were removed and placed on a napkin.  As I looked closer at those that were placed on a napkin, I noticed that they were the peas and corn that looked “different”.  Perhaps the pea wasn’t perfectly round or the kernel of corn was broken.  Although the taste was the same, and it was still the same on the inside, she had discarded these and deemed them “not good enough” because of how they looked.

I knew better to engage her 4 and  a half year old logic, and it wasn’t that big of a deal to me to try to force her to eat them (what’s 4 or 5 pieces of veggies in the scheme of a half-cup serving?).  But what it really made me do was think and reflect on how often I have discarded something (or someone) because of how they look.  It really tugged at my heart and made me realize that being a true member of God’s family means focusing on a person’s inner appearance more than their outer appearance.  If I can’t get past outer appearance, am I really concerned about their heart condition?  Our vision for people has to be greater than our sight of them.

I’m praying for the Lord to give me new eyes to see people, opportunities, and circumstances in the way that He would have me to.  As a person who has been overlooked, I don’t want to overlook others because they don’t look the way I think they should.  Lord, help me to see your people and care for your people in the way that you would.

Be encouraged!  Peace and Blessings!

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height…. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)


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2013- Second Quarter/First Half-Year Review

And just like that, it’s July! I can’t believe that we are in the second half of 2013.  It seriously seems like we were just celebrating the new year.  Preacherman and I are doing well, continuing to learn and grow together and becoming increasingly excited about the plans that God has for us.  At the beginning of the year, we committed some things to the Lord, and it’s been so wonderful to see how faithful He has been to us.

I’ve seen progress on both my dissertation and my exercise routine. I also wanted to focus on healthy eating and honoring God with my body and what I consume.  Though it’s been challenging (I love all the wrong foods just a little too much), the discipline of eating and exercising has paid off.  Since our wedding, I’ve lost about 10 pounds and I successfully completed my first 5K.  God has truly been faithful in these pursuits, and for that I am so grateful.

While it’s easy to just rest on what has happened so far, I’m challenged to believe God for more.  The faithfulness that God has demonstrated to me and Preacherman during the first half of the year is encouraging and empowering.  I’m looking forward to see what can happen next if I continue to exercise my faith and believe.  This is important for me, because it’s so easy to become complacent with what God has done, and adopt a “business as usual” mindset.  I don’t want to be on auto-pilot or cruise-control with God.  I want to be fully engaged, pressing for more, believing for more, trusting for more- in every area of my life.

So that’s what the second half of 2013 is like for me.  More. Lots more.

More of God.

More belief.

More worship.

More faith.

More faith in action.

More trust.

More love.

More love in action.

 

I’m excited to see what God has in store for the remainder of 2013, and I hope you are as well.  I know that there are many people who have struggled through the first part of this year, and I’m praying that you will continue to see and believe God for the things to come.  If what you’ve been believing God for in 2013, know that there is STILL time.  Trust that God will keep His promises.  Be encouraged that His ways are not our ways and His time not our time.  What takes us years can take God seconds.  Your waiting is not in vain!

Be encouraged!  Peace and Blessings!

 

“I am persuaded, Lord to love you.  I have been changed, to bless your name.  I am constrained by this great gospel, forever to worship you.”

“Lord your love for me gives me everything I need, and it keeps me wanting more…You are my delight and with you I’m satisfied. Your love keeps me wanting more…”