Stopping to Listen

We have had a TON of rain lately.  I love rainy days when I get to be in comfy clothes, inside, watching a movie, and being lazy. I do NOT love rainy days on a Monday morning when I have to go to work.  I travel throughout the day as part of my job, and I am the dorky teacher that has multiple carts dragging behind her with all my supplies.  Getting in and out all day + dragging carts behind me + RAIN= fail.  I didn't even bother doing my hair today...I just went straight to the pony tail.

But I do love rainy days because it makes me feel very reflective...why is that?  I think its because it makes me slow down a little and not run around in such a chaotic state of mind.  You have to drive a little slower, pay closer attention to where you are walking, and the constant pitter patter just lulls your mind into a faraway place.  My head is in that faraway place today.

I think this time of reflection is so neccessary for me and yet I rarely stop long enough to have it.  I am to busy writing to do lists, running errands, making plans.  But all of that is just busyness cluttering my head....and my heart.  If I don't ever slow down enough to just stop and listen, how am I going to ever hear anything?  I often find myself wondering why I don't "hear" the Lord the way other people speak of and yet the answer is right in front of me.  I don't stop to listen.  I ask him for things all the time, yet how am I supposed to hear his response if I dont wait for it? 

In the last few weeks I have really had it revealed to me that I am my own worst enemy...I will write an entire blog post on that at another time....but I get in my own way so much when it comes to my pursuit of the Lord.  I fill my days with fruitless activities and things rather than stopping to spend time in his word and in prayer.  Why do I constantly fail at following Him? Because I am stubborn (and stupid) and am still trying to do it on my own each day.  If it is up to me, then I will continue to fail.  That is my prayer today, that I will remember that I can do NOTHING without Christ, even pursuing Him.

stirring of the heart

I can definitely feel the Lord stirring my heart....I just am not sure what for just yet.  Do you ever have times like that?  Where you know something is coming, a lesson or a change of some kind, but you aren't sure what yet?  That is where I am at.  It's been going on for a few weeks now and getting progressively stronger.  Honestly, it makes me nervous, but I am excited at the same time.  What could the Lord have in store for me? What is he preparing my heart for?  I am going to be doing a great deal of prayer in hopes of sorting through the mess of thoughts in my head and the feelings in my heart because right now its all a bit jumbled. 

On a different note, we added to our family yesterday!  No, I am not pregnant.  We sponsored a Compassion child!  He is 8 years old and lives in Ethiopia and I think my heart grew the moment I saw his sweet picture.  I am really excited about this relationship and the opportunity to show the love of Jesus to this boy across the world from me.  The husband and I have already starting brainstorming what we want to send him in his first letter/package.  One thing is a definite- he is going to be overloaded with pictures of the pups because I am a crazy mom with all my picture taking of them.  For example:

 Bo sporting his 3d glasses

 clearly this is old...Tallulah is now almost 4 years old! But is this not the sweetest picture? Precious.

 Bo at Halloween a few years ago....dont you think he loved his costume??

 best friends

This picture is here for two reasons: 1)Do your pets not sit on dining room chairs? No? Just ours? Bad dog.

2) I finally am figuring out photoshop so hopefully my pictures will improve.  We shall wait and see.

I look forward to updating you on our new family member in the months to come and how the Lord is using him to teach us!  If you are interested in sponsoring a child, I highly recommend visiting Compassion International's website.  They are an amazing organization that is sharing the love of Jesus to all the nations!

Have a blessed week!!