Skip to main content

Some things I don't mind doing over and over again...






































Have you ever read the Pooh Bear story where Pooh gets lots in the woods? He keeps walking and walking, trying his best to go in a straight line... hoping to find his way. He starts to realize that he keeps passing the same spot over and over- going in circles! I felt that way in church today, and I often feel that way when I sit down to write a blog entry. The sermon today was about the "circle of spiritual formation", about how we stay in a cycle of conviction, growth, allowing the Spirit room in our hearts, and around again, deeper and deeper toward God. Sometimes I feel like Pooh, revisiting the same spot in the woods without intending to-- walking in circles. However, while the circle of growth often gets exhausting and sometimes discouraging, there are some things I don't mind doing over and over again.

Most of you know that Josh and I are awaiting the birth of our 3rd child (T-29 weeks)- and carrying, birthing, and raising a child are things I am VERY excited to do again! At the top of this post I included some pictures of the first two- "before" and "after". Pregnancy can be tiring and uncomfortable, but the reward is so great that it's worth it! The moments captured in the "after" pictures make up for the discomfort and swelling in the "before" pictures.

I suppose the same is true about the Circle of Spiritual Formation. If I only focus on the current discomfort, I begin to lose sight of the reward to come when it's all over. Right now I'm near the end of a season of great discomfort (not talking about pregnancy here), and I've been very much focusing on the discomfort, feeling like Pooh (heehee, pun intended :) ). However, it is my intention to strive to focus on the coming rewards: soon, a growing business; soon, a remodeled house to live in; and finally, soon, my Creator/Savior will come for me.

**note to self: remember your eternal identity& your eternal purpose, remember that God often grows us the most through seasons of discomfort, remember that He is on your team and that Jesus would do over and over again what He did to rescue you.

***above pictures are in order: preg with Jonathan, preg with Henry; baby Jonathan, baby Henry

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beautiful Redemption

This weekend I tasted sweet, sweet intentional redemption from our Father... Last year I went to Women of Faith with my mom and her church. I went expecting to release the last of my sorrow over losing Evelyn. The band Selah was there, and they represent a lot of what happened in my heart while I carried Evelyn. Last year I sat in the front row of our suite with empty arms, bracing myself for the wave of pain I knew I would feel when Selah came onto the stage. The wave came crashing, and my mom wept silently with me over the daughter I will not see again on earth. It tasted bitter, but as I drank in the music, my heart healed a little more. This year as Women of Faith started, the very first song was embellished by petite ballerinas, dancing sweetly and elegantly for their Father. I sat in the front row again, this time with my arms warm with a beautiful little girl that God has loaned to me. This year the wave that hit me was actually more like a whisper (isn't it incredible h...
7 comments
Read more

Small Victory

I have a small victory to share with you:  Let me give some context... I blogged about the loss of children recently, verbally stomping my feet and telling the enemy that I will have no more of it- and that I have chosen my side and refuse to budge. The children God has given me "on loan" are all so different... Jonathan was an easy baby, and is currently a whirl-wind 3 1/2 yr old- he is FULL of energy, curiosity, music, rythm, he is friendly, relational, deep (yes, deep!), always thinking, processing, talking... He knows about God and that Jesus is real, and he knows that his baby sister Evelyn is safe with Jesus. Henry was a difficult baby, and is an easy 2 yr-old!  He adores his  brother and wants to be where he is, he gives AMAZING hugs, likes to be held, likes books, connects quickly with people, is caring, noisy, talkative, fast... and still has his innocence. He likes to pray. Evelyn has changed my life more than anything. Her body was tiny, but her exis...
11 comments
Read more

V formation

I'm sure you've seen birds fly in "V" formation.  Know why? The bird in front breaks the wind, and the flapping of it's wings generates an updraft for the birds behind, making it easier for them to fly. Birds rotate being the front-bird so that each can have a turn working to lead the pack, and have time to rest in the updraft of another.  Birds also have to be positioned strategically in order to gain the updraft rather than the accompanying down-draft. Their wings have to be in sync with each other, and close together. Read about it here, if you like... http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25736049 This week my man was a front-bird. He and I have the joy of leading worship together often, and in the days proceeding his turn leading, we feel the resistance. There is so much joy in what we do together, him as the front-bird in worship, and me close behind him- surveying the open sky before us, feeling the support and resonance of the rest of the fl...
1 comment
Read more