Crossing the Finish Line

JEAN SAID:

It finally hit me, Lord. Smacked me right in the face--my exhaustion. I'm trying to observe Sunday as a day of rest, but it seems lately that I've needed for every day to be a day of rest. I'm tired, tired, tired.

Maybe my blood pressure is down again. Maybe my iron count is low. Maybe I'm staying up too late or getting up too early. Nothing like a little self-diagnosis...

Whatever the reason I'm really too tired to write, too tired to think, Lord.

There's a story I've heard several times about a young man in a long distance race. (It seems he was in some trials for Olympic events, I think.) His parents were in the stands cheering him on. Somewhere in that race he stumbled and fell. When he tried to stand it was obvious that he had injured one of his ankles. He couldn't put any weight on it at all. Yet he hobbled on toward the finish line. All the other runners passed him. Without a word his Dad left the stands and ran out onto the track. He wrapped his arm around his son's waist and lifted the weight off the bad ankle. Then his son wrapped his arm around Dad's neck and leaned on him. The crowd in the stands rose to their feet cheering. Eventually, they crossed the finish line together. Last, but victorious nonetheless.

I know You'll do the same for me, Lord. I'm leaning on your strength. I've several projects that are all due--yesterday! They are commitments I've made and You know how strongly I believe in keeping my commitments-in finishing the race. But I believe just as strongly that You are going to help me across that finish line.

GOD SAID:

That's right, Little One. Lean on Me. Put all your weight on Me and I'll carry you.

God Already Knows All About It

JEAN SAID:

Lord, I thank you for that small victory for Life n the House of Representatives Saturday. But we've so far to go. So many babies to save. Lord, give us wisdom to know how to go about it. Give us courage so that when we figure that out, we'll get up and do it.

Change the hearts, Lord, of the leaders of our country. Change them to love and protect the pre-born. When the leaders turn, millions will follow them, Lord. But You already know that, don't You?

GOD SAID:

Yes, Little One. I know it. I know all there is to know about every subject. I know each soul whose life was destroyed in the womb. I know all about you, too. I know the plans I have for you, Little One. My plans are to prosper you, and to do good for you. My plans are for you to succeed.

So, trust Me. Come to Me for direction, for answers on life's road. Come to Me and I'll give you all the info you'll need to live your life to please and honor me. Oh! And remember it will not only honor Me, it will benefit you. I'll set your feet on a straight path. I'll guide your choices so they bring you success and satisfaction, too.

Little Meme

JEAN SAID:

I'm a routine kind of person, Lord. My personality is such that I am comfortable when things are routine and predictable. I like for my mornings to go through the same routine: wake up, say "good morning" to You, eat a light breakfast, 15-30 minutes alone with You, 30 minutes of walk/jog/jumping with praise music, shower & dress, email, then on with the day.

I like having things under control. I hate disorder. I remember that You are an orderly God and that gives me a little sense of smuggness with my orderly habits.

But, You are also a God with a sense of humor. And You remind me of that all too often with the twists and turns You inject into my happy little routines. Our daughter, T., seems to be one of Your favorite chosen vessels for this purpose. I'm grateful, Lord, that she and her little family live nearby-- mere minutes from our front door. And I'm tremendously grateful that she is comfortable calling on me to help her out when she's in a pinch. Papa and I love her and her husband and boys hugely and enjoy every opporutnity to spend time with them.

I want to stop and deliberately thank You, Father, for allowing me to have some input into their growing years. Make that imput into those impressionable little hearts valuable, Lord. Remind me constantly that everything I do with them, around them, and to them is leaving a permanent impression on their souls.

The words I speak to them; the tone and volumn of my voice; the expression on my face when I'm near them all show them that I cherish them or that I find them a nuisance--an interruption into my adult day.

The way I touch them when I'm proud of them, when I'm irritated with them, when I'm disappointed with them, when I'm having fun with them--all those touches leave permanent marks on their delicate little souls.

Oh, God--Father, make my touch on their lives good. Make the marks I leave on their souls beautiful. When they are grown men and I am in Glory with You may they look back and remember two things about their Meme. I want them to remember that Meme loved YOU, Lord Jesus, more than life itself, and that Meme loved them more than anyone could possilby measure.

GOD SAID:

It's love, Little Meme. Every touch, every word, every correction, every play time, every meal, every car trip, every Little League game, every piano recital, every sick day from school, every bad grade, every award...the way you deal with every event must be about love. Love. LOVE. Selfless love.

That's what they'll remember with joy. That's what will bring a smile to their faces as they watch their own children play someday. They'll remember the love if you live it.

The Splendor of Autumn

JEAN SAID:

The splendor of autumn surrounds us, Lord. Deciduous trees are in their glory this time of year. If I'm still enough I can almost hear their scarlet songs of praise to You, God.

Their golden leaves dripping from sleepy branches remind me that someday You will rim my head with a golden crown. A crown that I will joyfully cast at Your feet with the exuberance that my eternal freedom will bring.

In summer Your hills and fields are dressed in innumerable shades of green. But in the fall those same trees, shrubs and grasses slip into 1000 shades of brown. It makes me think of the people around me; we're wrapped in skins of so many beautiful shades. How did You come up with so many variations of each color, Lord?

GOD SAID:

I had such fun making the world you live in, Little One. I held nothing back as I expressed my own beauty and strength, order and creativity through the things you see around you. I made them for My pleasure and for yours, too.

Sit back and soak it all in, Little One. Inhale the beauty. Indulge in the diversity. Let the splendor of autumn point your heart straight to Me.

One Heart For Many

JEAN SAID:

I received a sweet email today, Lord, from a lady who reads our blog regularly. It's always a thrilling and humbling experience to hear or read that these words etched into cyberspace impact someone's life. Lord, help me, guide me, inspire me as I frame my thoughts and yours with these words.

I was beginning to think that our readers might be bored with reading about the issue of abortion every Monday. But my friend reminded me how important the issue is. And she thanked me for keeping the issue of the slaying of the innocents before our readers. Lord, this is such a small thing to do--typing words as they sail through my heart. Words that express my grief and dread over the lost lives.

God, stop this practice of killing our own babies as nonchalantly as buttering our morning toast. Touch the hearts of the mothers who are considering abortion. Grab the hearts of the fathers who sit back and allow it, encourage it, or demand it. Change the hearts of the grand parents who try to convince their daughters to get rid of their embarassing and inconvenient grandchild before it's first cry.

Lord God, put abortion mills out of business in America, please. Close the doors of the "clinics" that provide this "service."

And while I'm asking, would you put those people who are pushing for legalized abortion out of business, too? Would you remove them from office? Would you cause their constiuents to wake up and withdraw their support? Would you make the consciences of the good people of America rise up within us and force us to face the fact that we are eliminating the next generation? And that killing preborn babies is murder?

Father, about the White House and the people in power in Washington, DC. Would you break their hearts for the children? Would you stop them in their destructive tracks and turn them around? Would you change their hearts so that thousands of other hearts will change along with them?

For the children's sake? For righteousness' sake? For Your sake?

GOD SAID:

Righteousness exhalts a nation, Little One. Do you think that only means "national righteousness" or "corporate righteousness?" No. A nation is exhalted when the individual citizens of that nation live righteously. When the individual citizens do what is right and good. When they obey the laws of that land. When they treat others with dignity and respect. When they protect the innocent and provide for the unfortunate. When they consider others before they consider themselves.

Righteousness is revealed, Little One, by the way the individual people of a nation treat their weakest citizens. Their helpless citizens. Their needy citizens. Their elderly, their sick, their disabled, their "unproductive" citizens, their dying citizens, their preborn citizens.

Righteousness lifts a nation up, improves it, makes it a better place to live on this earth as people prepare for their eternal dwelling place. Pray for righteousness in the individuals you have mentioned here. Pray for righteousness in your own life, too.


This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:22)

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting

JEAN SAID:

I'm working on a writing project, Lord. Actually, several projects. But my goal is to get this proposal in the mail to several publishers this week. I don't think I'm going to make it. But I'm trying. I've been busy with other types of projects and haven't written a new manuscript in months. A few weeks ago I just pushed everything else aside, prayed for Your inspiration, and put my hands to the keys.

You heard me and You sent me a cute, bouncy little manuscript for a children's board book. I want to say, "Thank You." I've been polishing it. Getting input from other writers. Praying over every syllable (cause rhythm is very important to books for young children) and sound. I think it's almost ready.

At the same time I started working on a proposal for it. That's what I must mail off to various publishers-a well crafted proposal that lets them see exactly what this book is about and what kind of audience it can potentially reach.

Give me wisdom, Lord. Guide my thoughts. Give me the clear, intelligent, creative mind of Christ as I attempt to create this little story. Give me wisdom as I research and find just the right publishers who might consider such a book. It would thrill my heart to see it in print on shiny cardboard sheets tough enough for a two-year old to drag around the house.

Truth is, Lord, it would thrill me to see any of my children's manuscripts in print. But I'm at peace with the reality that such a thing is totally in Your capable hands. I work hard to craft the best manuscripts I can. I make every effort to polish them and present them as porfessionally as I can. I research publishing houses and try to find the perfect few who might fit this particular book.

But, the truth is, they are Your manuscripts and You are in charge of their destinies.

Do with them what You will, Lord. What You have planned. What will bring You honor and glory.

GOD SAID:

You're so transparent, Little One. And that's a good thing. I'm reading not only your manuscripts, but your heart as well. Publication will come. Someday. When you, not just your manuscripts, are ready for it. It will come.

Hold onto that dream of publication. Keep doing all you can to produce the best manuscripts you can. Keep searching for the just-right publishers. I'll take care of the rest. Cross My Heart.