Out of Control?

As we look around this world in which we exist, those of us who know God on a very personal level know that we will not truly 'live' until we see Him face-to-face. Until that day, we are forced to 'live' in a world where very unfortunate things happen. Not necessarily for any particular reason or purpose, but just because we live in a fallen world. Hurricanes come and bring destruction, loved ones die, and life changes into a shape we didn't expect. What a morbid way to start a blog, huh? The unique and wonderful thing is that's not the end. Life doesn't end there. That's not the end of the rainbow.

God is in control. We have to remember that as life swirls around us. Nothing in His mighty hand goes unnoticed. What awesome hope to know that this life is not all that there is. This is not as good as it gets.

This week has brought a series of events that have happened, not to me personally, but to others around me. If I were without hope and not grounded by my relationship with Christ, I would think that the world was coming to an end...TODAY! This week I learned that one of my friends lost her mom. Another friend lost her dad. My dog of 13 years who still lives at home with my parents is not long for this world. This is the one-year anniversary of my friend's sister's death. My friend who is 6 months pregnant is now house-bound, except for work. And all of that is what is happening inside my little world. Looking outside, there is death and destruction in all four corners of the world. All of this while tropical storm Alberto works its way up the coast, bringing rain and floods.

Still it rings true...God is in control.

I can see His mighty and sovereign hand at work in people's lives. He takes the bad and harsh circumstances of this world and uses them for our good, ultimately working them for His good. My friend who lost her mom said that this is a turning point for her and she really wants her life to stand for something. My friend who lost her dad has been able to find some peace through meeting people who knew her father and seeing that, despite his troubled life, he was well liked, loved even. And he loved her very much. My friend who is mourning the anniversary of her sister's death is now able to help others who are going through what she went through. She is able to be there, quietly listening to others talk about their loved ones, knowing what it feels like to think if they continue to talk about them that they won't really be gone. No one understands that better that her. My dog, Roxanne, has suffered with a heart problem for several years and has finally been diagnosed with cancerous tumors. I don't know that you can find the silver lining around that cloud, other than to know that she will soon be in a special place and will be able to run and play forever. And my friend who is pregnant...well, even though she will be limited to resting and won't be able to do all that she feels she needs to do to get ready for her baby, she can no longer cook, clean, be out in the heat or any other strenuous thing. Hallelujah (If you've never been pregnant, especially in the summer, you won't understand this one)!

All of that to say that God's work is alive and well and even in the storms, literal and figurative, He is nuturing us and allowing us to grow. Hopefully you, too, will be able to see the places in your own lives where the circumstance was harsh, but God was there, compassionate and strong...positively in control!

Beautifying for God?

I'm getting ready to leave to go on a Prayer and Pampering retreat just for women. It's something I probably wouldn't ordinarily do. The prayer part, yeah, I need it. But, I have never been one for pampering myself. Why? Well, pampering to me always seemed very self-indulgent. Why should I spend the money on 'pampering' myself, getting a massage, getting my eyebrows waxed, etc. when there are so many other 'wise' uses for my time and money? The one luxury I allowed myself was to have my nails done, and even then I didn't get them done as often as I should. I always felt guilty. But, I thought, "well, if everything else looks bad, it won't matter 'cause at least my nails look good."

That reasoning seemed to resonate in my spiritual life, as well. I have always spent just enough time 'beautifying' my heart for God so that at least one area of my life looked good. Sure, I've had retreats alone with God, where I've spent hours in the mountains or on the beach, praying and reading. But, I don't think I have done that strictly for the purpose of beautifying myself for God. It's always been about me. My time with God. Getting my life in order, and so on. I am learning that it's not about my time with God, but about His time with me. That's the key! He is the orchestrator of this whole relationship...yeah, He gave me the freewill to chose to follow Him, but when I gave Him my heart, I also (supposedly) gave Him the keys to my life, as well. He is now in control and that certainly takes the pressure off of me. So, why shouldn't I spend time "beautifying" my whole self for God? Is He worth that?

I guess I was right when I said that pampering can be self-indulgent when you look at it the way I did. But, when we switch our focus from ourselves to others that we love, it becomes an act of service. It can become an act of worship. At least that's what I hope will happen this weekend.

So, bring on the massage, the pedicure and whatever else is going to take place. I'll suffer through in the name of Jesus :).

Well, it has finally happened! I've finally gone and done it. I have joined the millions who have begun to use that odd term that has become popular of late. I've started my own BLOG! I know, another blog to read...everyone has one...what the heck is she talking about...
This blog isn't really for me to post information that is viable to society...it isn't that I have something to say and I want to be heard...it is for my own therapy, really. I used to write, I used to love to write. I was pretty good. And then, life changed. I am now the mother of two small children and my mind is filled with songs from The Wiggles, Little Einsteins (although that is a fantastic cartoon) and other preschool shows and information. It's not that this stuff isn't important. It's just that I miss being able to write down my thoughts and sharpen my abilities. That is what I hope to accomplish here on My Venting Space. I plan to work out situations, put down my thoughts on matters and topics that I experience or see, and to just vent. That's all! If you happen to fall onto this page, and were expecting some philosophical prose on politics, religion or society, then I apologize. I am sometimes simple minded about things and often deep thinking is a luxury. What you will find is honesty and humble opinions. 'Nough said?