Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

Wow, this week has been another crazy and exciting week. It started off with a fever of 102.3 and finished with a town car ride.

Sunday, Thomas ended up with a one of those weird fevers that come and go for no apparent reason. As a result, I missed Bible Babes this week. I was a little depressed as we were starting Beth Moore's, David:: Seeking a Heart Like His . I had to watch the introduction by myself, so no one was there to hear me laugh and shout out (maybe that was a good thing).

Tuesday was a great day as I spent the morning with some friends over coffee and taco dip.  Don't let anyone tell you different, this was a great breakfast. We had a lot of fun talking about Christmas, men and kids.

Wednesday was C-R-A-Z-Y! I had Big Cook, speech therapy, and was helper mom at gymnastics. By the end of the day my feet hurt. I was wiped out emotionally and physically and had no capacity to do anything. I did however wash the floors as I couldn't stand to look at them any longer.

Thursday started off with Sam head butting me in the face. If he had hit me any harder, he would have broke my nose. He's been teething his 2 year old molars and they have been causing all of us nothing but grief. Poor little guy!

Have I mentioned that Thursday was also my 10 year anniversary! My husband and I have an on going "joke" that our anniversaries are jinxed. Something invertibly goes wrong - snowstorm, kids sick, we're sick, etc... This year we had originally thought about going away but couldn't find childcare. However, my wonderful hubby did tell me that we would be going to dinner at my favourite restaurant earlier this week. We arranged for a babysitter to arrive at 5:45 pm, as my husband said we needed to leave by 6 pm. When he came home, he came baring a dozen red roses. The babysitter arrived and I gave her all the instructions she needed. My husband then said we had to get going. I was expecting to drive into the city in our little car and grabbed my gloves for the cold drive in. To my surprise, there was a town car waiting for us with the driver opening the door for us. I felt so metropolitan and very New York Housewifish. We had an amazing dinner at my favourite restaurant (Mussels, Lamb and Butter Tart Flambe).  It was a great evening. My husband definitely deserves a lot of brownie points for that one.   I'm still excited about my dinner as I'm writing this.  

Now the Christmas part of this random blog.  Next week we will be starting Advent.  I'm planning on blogging around the themes of Advent - Hope, Love, Joy and Peace respectively.  I'm hoping to blog about what they mean to each of us and what they mean to me personally.  I'm also going to be Christmasfying Caffeinated Randomness during this season.  I'm hoping that you will all join me in the following themes.

I can't wait to start and hopefully this season we will focus on the reason that we celebrate Christmas together. 

PS: In the spirit of Christmas, there may be a giveaway.  Stay tuned!

On November 7, Asia Bibi, a Christian woman imprisoned in June 2009 on charges of blasphemy was sentenced to death. Asia, a mother of two from Punjab province, Pakistan, was also ordered to pay a hefty fine -- the amount of which is equivalent to an average laborer’s two-and-a-half years' salary in Pakistan. Asia is the first Pakistani woman ever to receive a death sentence for blasphemy.

Pray that this court ruling will be reversed and that Asia will be released

Pray that Asia will rely on God to sustain and encourage her as she suffers and for God's comfort and peace for Asia's husband and two daughters.

Pray that other suffering believers in Pakistan will remain steadfast in faith, serving God with joy and perseverance in the midst of opposition.

The Babes and I have started a new study, Beth Moore's, David:  Seeking a Heart Like His.  I've read some of her work, but I've never done a Beth Moore study.  I've heard lots about them and so, I'm excited and apprehensive about this journey I'm taking.  I know that this study is going to push me to places I don't know if I want to go, but I know that I need to go.  Ok, to be open and honest with you, I have to inform you that I'm only on day 1 while I'm writing this.  I've already laughed and questioned my own walk all within 55 minutes.

This evening (Monday night), I've been reflecting on the question Beth poses in Day 1 regarding my relationship with God - How often would you describe yourself as being with God heart and soul? Before I go there, you need to read 1 Samuel 14 v 6-7.  This is where Jonathan and his armour bearer are going to go fight the Philistines "single handedly."  Jonathan lets his armour bearer know what they're going to do (v. 6).  The response of the armour bearer shows his complete trust - not just with Jonathan, but with God.  "Do all you have in mind.....Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

Heart and Soul - reflect on that for a minute.  We are called to love God with all our heart and soul (Deuteronomy 6:5).  Notice the ALL.  That's where my answer to the aforementioned question comes to play.  How would I describe myself as being with God heart and soul.  Often - Not likely.  If you could all see my prayer journal and see how often I've given my "all" to God, you may be shocked.  There are a lot of holes in that calendar.  After reading this, rarely is not an answer as I have maintained somewhat of a regular dialogue with God.  Occasionally - BINGO!

Occasionally - I put God in a pretty box that I keep at arms reach and sometimes I give Him my heart and soul.  Unfortunately, more often than not, I give Him only a part of me.  Not the complete me: the broken, hurt, lonely, shamed, messy me.  I give Him what I like to refer to as the "face."  The image of me that I want to be:  the quiet, meek, humble, compassionate me.  In giving only this part of me though, I'm only hurting me. I'm not opening myself up to ALL that God has for me.  I'm not allowing Him to complete me the only way He can (think Jerry Maguire but on a spiritual level).

God wants each of us to give our all to Him so he can give His ALL to us.  If we can't do this than we will miss out on so many of the blessings that He has for us.  Starting today and through this study, I am going to give God the messy, broken, hurt, lonely, and shamed Michelle in all her brutal glory for He is the only one who can fix her and put the pieces back together.  He will complete me in His time and His way and in that I'm excited.