Of Birthdays......

Well, it is my first-born's 29th birthday today.  It sounds so cliche-ish to say that the years have flown, but it really is true.  They have.

What incredible blessing this child has brought me.  What lessons.  Frustrations. Tears.  Laughter. Incredible joy.  I would not trade a minute of it.  Though at times, I think I might have wanted to!  Such is the path of parenthood.

Probably many of  us have thought this: "It's my job as a parent to raise up this child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, teaching and training toward righteousness" (which it is, of course), and then have the realization somewhere along the road, "Whoa. Well, I guess I'm the one who's being raised, taught and trained!"

The Lord has used this precious child to teach me through the years, maturing me in ways I didn't know I needed.  When I was young, it was weeding out the immaturity & selfishiness in me (well, yes, it still happens now, too).   In following years it was honing patience.  And now it is as iron sharpening iron as she has matured in the Lord and become a sister and friend as well as daughter.

Thank You, Lord, for the privilege and blessing of being her mother.  Thank You.

Happy Birthday, Dear Jessie-Girl!  I love you.

Seasons

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Well, I changed my header picture to the Mountain in Spring.  I have to laugh a little.  It just doesn't feel like spring has really arrived, what with frost last week, snow the week before, and the rare appearance of the sky these days.  It is the 10th of May, after all!

So, though there is still the emotion of winter out there, I succumbed to aligning my blog with the season my calendar is currently declaring.  :-)  Oh, and the tulips are declaring it, too, when they aren't weighed down with torrents of rain!

Yield and be at peace......

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This morning was another Spurgeon-encouraged journey into reflections on pain and suffering in my life.  It was good.......

Job 22:21 in a variety of translations:

'Yield now  (Become one with Him; Acquaint yourself with Him; Submit to God)  and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.'

Yield.  Become one with.  Acquaint.  Submit.

I yield to You.  Whatever You want, I will yield.  Whatever You ask, I will do.

I don't want to be in pain.  But I am.  Please use it to acquaint me with You.

I want to be able to "do." But I can't. Please use it to bring submission to You.

I struggle with independence, self-sufficiency.  Please use this in the journey of becoming one with You.  Conformed to Your image.

I struggle with rebelling against what I know You would have me do.  Please use this to bring submission.  

And if my infirmities never change, oh how hard, but if they don't, that I would receive Your Father-love and bask in Your faithfulness and grace.  That I would know better the deity and humanity of you, Jesus --Your friendship, Brotherhood and Husbanding.  And that I would come to know You, Holy Spirit -- and Your order, illumination, instruction, comfort and sanctifying -- in deeper ways.

Oh, 3-in-1, I yield.  I submit.  I wait on You.  I sit before You and seek to acquaint myself with You, become one with You, and being at peace, watch for the good that will come to me.  Good of Your choosing.