So incredibly thankful...

Fireproof

If you haven't seen it yet, GO!!! I am still processing my thoughts from the movie. I honestly didn't expect the reaction I had. And until this morning, I wasn't really sure why. There was a song in the movie that really spoke to me called "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller. I was listening to it again this morning for my quiet time and it hit me. I think God wanted me to see Fireproof for a reason other than to work on my marriage. Yes, he wants that, too. But I think He was telling me that I need to fireproof my relationship with Him.

One of the main lines in the movie is that fireproof doesn't mean the flames won't get to you, but that when they do, you will be able to withstand them. While Stephen and I have been under tremendous stress these last several months, we still have been confident that our marriage would be able to withstand the stress. We both come from divorced families, and we have always said that we would be willing to do whatever it takes to not let that happen to us. Even during those times where we don't like each other very much, we just know that we will make it.

But honestly, my relationship with God has suffered over these recent months. I haven't taken time to spend with Him. I have basically neglected Him. I have prayed, but I don't think I believed He was really listening or that He really cared. I haven't worked on our relationship at all. Yesterday, I was telling a friend that I was definitely in a valley with God. I wanted to feel Him, but I didn't. How do you think my marriage would work if I went for weeks, months and didn't talk to Stephen? Didn't take time to listen to Him? Probably not very well. But that is what I have done with God. So is it any wonder that I am in this valley? Anyway, this is why I think God wanted me to see this movie and why my reaction was so much stronger and deeper than I thought it would be. Here are the lyrics to the song. The video is on Youtube.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Excellence

I saw this quote from Aristotle on my brother-in-law's refridgerator and something about it hit me. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

So, how do we form a habit of excellence? I would love thoughts on this.

PRAISE GOD!!!

They get to keep the girls!!!! It took a little longer than expected because the biological father wanted to sign his rights over instead of them being terminated so he could get visitation rights. But they get to keep the girls!!!!! Pray that everything gets finalized today so they can put all this behind them.

Pray for the Malugins!!!

If you read this before 10:00 a.m., please lift up Keith and Lydia Malugin. They are friends of mine that I have mentioned before. They have been in a LONG process of finalizing their adoption of their twin baby girls. Today is the day that they find out whether or not they get to keep the babies or give them to the father. I know this may sound confusing, but it has been a heart-wrenching 11 months and we are all ready for this to be over. PLEASE pray the judge leaves the girls with Keith and Lydia. Please, please, please pray.

True or false...

I got this from a friend today and thought it was too good not to share. The first part wasn't true for me, as far as being afraid if Obama won the election. But I thought the rest of the e-mail was good.

Dear Friends,

For months now my email Inbox has been besieged by nearly hysterical warnings about what will happen if Barack Obama becomes President. I have been encouraged to be worried, afraid, concerned, prepared for disaster, and a whole host of other maladies if this happens. I do not deny the importance of this election, but it seems to me that we need a dose of perspective. So here, on the eve of the election, I would like to start my own email concerning this election. It's a "True/False" test. I'd like for all of us to take it. Feel free to email it on to whomever:

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.


How did you score?

Remember who you are and who He is.