A Beautiful Mosaic

She was standing in between the end table and I. On the end table was the baby monitor. On her other side was me with arms wide open. I had already told her firmly not to touch the baby monitor. I had even redirected her attention and tried to help her focus elsewhere, on me. So there I was kneeling beside her, saying her name, holding my arms open ready for an embrace...and she stood frozen rotating her gaze between the baby monitor and me every few seconds. She was Eve and there was a tree and there were apples and I never seen clearer evidence of the unseen tempter that exists to all human beings no matter their innocence or age. And then it hit me. Exactly how God feels...every single day with every single last one of us. Because He...He is the loving, safe parent who stands beckoning us with open arms yearning for this connection He's freely offering while drawing wise boundaries for us to live by. And we are little children standing there acting like there is a decision to be...

I've been thinking a lot about parenting styles lately and whether it is inherited, absorbed or learned through our own childhood and life experiences, developed from our own personality and intellect, or most likely, a combination of all of these. It doesn't help I've also been reading, training, and pretty much living and breathing the topic at work lately due to an exciting new venture we are undergoing there to match our homes' parenting strategies with our youth's needs.  Because Michael and I have known for a long time we are called to someday ( in God's timing ) grow our family by adoption from the foster care system, we know our natural born children's lives and any future children's lives will be different than ours were growing up and this will require a great amount of intentionality, flexibility, and transformation in the world of our parenting.  A lot of learning and assimilating the great heritages we were both given with the all of the pla...

Our church is kicking off 2015 with a journey through Proverbs, the book of Wisdom and therefore a never-ending challenge, and I've been chewing on a new one each day so far this year. Some themes are already coming to the surface in what God is speaking to my heart. I would like to put some words to it, so I will remember ... realize ...respond ... reconcile ... represent.  2015 Themes : Humility   Proverbs 1:7: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 3:34: The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. Proverbs 3:7: Dont be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Kindness & Giving Proverbs 3:27: Do not withhold good from this who deserve it when it's in your power to help them.  Proverbs 3:9: Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.  Discipline & Insight Proverbs 3:11-12: My child, don't reject the Lord...