Lent almost over

So, Lent is more than halfway over and how am I doing on what I gave up...erhhhhhhh....
much better than I thought!  I gave up for Lent bashing Mark.

I have to laugh...It just hit me the other night...I don't have to because God is doing it for me!!!

Scripture we've been studying in Disciple class has been very explicit about adultery and unfaithfulness...as we study the prophets and their condemnation of the Israel people for doing both.  As we studied Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer.  This week we are studying Isaiah who talks about the sin the chosen people are committing...Adultery is high on all of the lists.  The prophets talk about how evil folks are that do these things...of which I yell...YES! There are comments about how the people excuse their own behavior, they reason it out to be OK and try to convince others it is OK to do these things! 

So I haven't had to say anything...God speaks loudly for us both...

Yea God! You go!

Wait...God also talks in all of these instances about forgiveness and redemption....shucks...I guess there is more to the story.

butterflies fly away

As many of you know my family is changing with the departure of my son, Nick to the west coast.  I am excited for this new adventure for him and his family... while sad because I won't have the daily contact that I have now with he, Jenn and the kids.

It seems like every day there is a pang of growth...never a growth spurt just a pang of change...over the past few weeks I've realized I am not stuck here.  That came as a jolt.

Once Nick and his family leave there is nothing holding me to Winfield WV...the house is my dream house...the house I always wanted...but it is just that...a house...four walls...it is what fills the house that I don't want to loose.  I love Zack being there racing his bike up and down the drive way...Taylor playing with the dogs...that is what makes it a home...I want Lilah to be inside my four walls...learning to walk and falling down.  I don't want to miss her growing up.

The time is coming and I can physically feel it...the decision is looming... I need to decide where I am going and what I will be doing...this is like a metamorphosis...that cocoon I've been in the past year and a half is getting tight and I am ready to poke out a wing real soon. 

Lent is about looking inside yourself but the season of Easter is all about blossoming...that butterfly awakening...that butterfly fly away, nodding my head like, moving my hips...ooops got carried away there...I think that is a song I've heard over and over and over..Easter is about renewal and rebirth...

There is no better time for me to be reborn than during this time...keep me in your prayers as I make these major life decisions...

Someone made the comment last night...we need to pray fully consider...and I need to pray fully consider this life calling.  Prayer is a powerful thing. One time a friend told me when I asked him to pray for something specifically he said...maybe we need to pray that God's will be done...and that is what I pray today...God's will be done.

he knows my smell

My dogs get up in the middle of the night all of the time...around 1:30...they want to go out...so I get up and it takes a good 15-20 minutes for them to calm down and get back to sleep...then they are back up around 5:30 for the morning...I am sure when I go to work they are back on couches and beds passed out.

Last night I put pillows over my head at the 1:30a.m. in response to their "lets go"...and realized I can still smell Mark in my bed...I have never noticed before...Each of us has that unique smell that is us...I am always afraid mine has a little dog mixed with it...Taylor sometimes will say to me "You smell like the dog...I am hoping she is confusing Mexican food and dogs!"

I know Mark still hangs around in my heart...it is hard to tear him out of there after all of this time...but I didn't realize his smell still lingers...Maybe I needed that reminder...I don't know but it can send me to new depths when things like that happen...

Today is Mardi Gras, a day of celebration before the season of Lent...Lent for me and the Easter season is a very special time...it is a reminder of all that God has done for me ...Kim McHenry...for ME...it reminds me he knows ME...I am reading "When God Whispers Your Name" by Max Lucado...(book sale find) and it starts by saying "God has your name written on his hand"...wow think about that...he won't forget me...he knows my smell and knows if it's dog or Mexican....and he doesn't care...God loves me and of that I have no doubt and this upcoming season reminds me of that powerful love.  It also is a time for me to look inside myself to what separates me from God.  I evaluate me and my walk with him.

So today Celebrate because tomorrow the work of Lent begins!

lent is around the corner

Ash Wednesday is this week...the start of the lenten season in the church year...I am giving up something this year...no more bad mouthing Mark McHenry within these pages...you all hold me to it...and make sure I give it up for Lent!

Today Greg preached on the transfiguration...and his message was once again for me...he talked about having patience...wait in faith and God's purpose for our life will become clear...after time passes then we understand why it happened how it did...Hard times require patience to see and understand why...

My reading for the day from daily reflections in Alive Now...As Jesus starts into this season we will see him in the desert, betrayed and bearing sorrow...

My patience is just about shot...so I needed that reminder.
Lora reminds me constantly to be still and listen...and I don't have the patience...I want to know NOW...what do you want me to do Lord? Where am I to go Lord...

God of fire and cloud, keep me close when I travel through wildernesses of sadness and sorrow.
Amen.