waiting...for YOUR will to be done?

I don't like to wait.

I don't like to wait for people who are late (although I am some times one of those people.)
I don't like to wait in line too long (whatever my definition of "too long" is at that moment!)
And I don't like to wait if the "waiting period" should be over.

Case in point: I am due with our second child. I have been "overdue" for several days now. I am DONE waiting! There is nothing I can do about it. Yet, I have convinced myself that this waiting period should be OVER! I told my husband today that our little girl should be here already, and his reply, "If she was supposed to be here, she WOULD be here. It's not time yet."

And he's right.

For whatever reason, I have not gone into labor yet. And although there may be a physical reason for the postponement of this birth, I think the greater reason is the refinement of my character and surrendering to the sovereignty of God. You see, this is usually the way things work between me and God. I get an idea stuck in my head about the way I think something "should be" and He totally unravels that theory until it is clear that He has a completely different plan in mind. A plan that goes above and beyond my my short-sightedness and reaches to the depths of the real issue at hand. In this case...waiting.

So I ask myself, "Who's will do you want to be done?"

Ultimately, the Lord's will. He knows the perfect timing for this child to be born. He knows the possible complications that might prevent her from being born right now. He knows that this is a teachable moment for me, and will not shorten it until His perfect work is finished. He knows all these things and more...so I will wait.

"But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength..." Isaiah 40:31a

the greatest thing since sliced bread...

...or whatever other culinary invention fills you with delight. Okay, maybe that's taking it too far.

HOWEVER, I recently came across this site: www.e-mealz.com (thanks to a friend) that provides complete dinner plans for each day of the week for $5 a month! Hooray! No more staring blankly into the freezer or cupboard at 5pm, wondering "WHAT in the world am I going to make tonight!" The best part is that they utilize the sales at your local Wal-Mart, Publix, Kroger, ALDI, or Ralph's grocery stores to save you cash as well. If you do not have one of these stores in your area you can still utilize the meal plans. The plans are diet specific as well: vegetarian, low-carb, point system, meals for 2, or meals for 4-6. What could be better?!?

Well, except, maybe sliced bread.

be thou my vision

Hi All! Since music is such a large part of my life, I thought it would be appropriate to start my blog off with the lyrics to one of my favorite songs (and the prayer of my heart!):

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

That pretty much sums it up for me! The Lord is my vision and the center of my life. I am many things, but above all I'm a child of grace; filling my vision with Jesus and trying to keep Him first in my heart.