Daily rescued...

I was just watching a TV segment on a family who adopted two little boys from Uganda. At one point, the mom said, "People have said, 'Oh, aren't they lucky? You rescued them from whatever' and I think 'Are you kidding? I am the lucky one. I get to be their mom and I get to be daily rescued from my selfishness and my impatience and things that are just as disease-ridden in my soul. I guess I'm the lucky one."

So true.

A Rainy Day...

An unexpected day off work.
A fresh pot of coffee.
Good music - Enter the Worship Circle, John Mark McMillan, Gungor, Josh Garrels, David Crowder, Hillsong.
This is good. These are the small things in life that are worth celebrating.

*****
And time to reflect back on the last month or so...
God is moving in Grand Rapids.

On April 25, over 2,000 Jesus-followers gathered together downtown. It was a mix of all different denominations, races, styles, and ages. But, we were all gathered for one reason: to seek God for our city. We prayed over Grand Rapids...for the economy, for families, for schools, for life, for hope. Now is the time to run passionately after him and it is so sweet to run alongside so many other people in my city. In the last few years, God has sparked a new love and appreciation for the city of Grand Rapids. I still love international things and traveling and adventures. And I always will. But, I also want to join where God is already moving. And he is definitely moving in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I have also been learning through all of this that I am not very devoted at praying. I always want to do something visible. But, God moves in response to our prayers. It is a clear way to show that it is nothing that we can do. When we pray we are saying, "I can't do this on my own. And I need you."

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.
He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work,
and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom,
but trembles when we pray..." - Samuel Chadwick

Just some random thoughts. Now time to enjoy some quiet (and much-needed) reading and sitting and writing and listening time. Oh man, I love rainy days without obligations.