Greetings!

Greetings, dear God!  Today's daily reading from Your word comes from Romans 16, where Paul shares about a dozen greetings.  (I didn't count, but I am estimating.  :)  ) 

"to address with expressions of goodwill, respect, etc.; greet.

 

to express respect or praise for; honor; commend"

I'm not sure what my agenda today includes (who does, really?) but I hope to "greet" at least one or two of my friends in an unusual way today.  Would You help me with that?

But on to different things, Lord...It has been a little while since I have sat down to spend some time with You.  My bad.  It isn't that I haven't been in constant prayer communication with You, and that is good.  Sometimes I feel that trying to "study" every day from Your word confuses the message.  I need time to ponder, meditate, absorb the content.  I really love to reflect on what You say over the course of a day or two or sometimes three, and then to figure out how to act upon it.

Well, enough excuses.  :)  I just cruised over to see whether Beth Moore has any online Bible studies that could help me get into studying the Word on a regular basis.  Boy, is my life topsy-turvy right now.  The daughters will be coming home next Sunday, and then Julie will have only 10 days at home before returning to college.  Amy will have about a month before going to Esperanza.  Interspersed with these joyful challenges is Bill's ongoing chemotherapy and the family support that it demands.  Whew!  Of course, that is in the arena of family.  I didn't even touch on the Christian Education ministry at HBC!  Yes, I am tired, but fulfilled.  I am (usually) operating out of my comfort zone.  Sometimes I wish for a week off to address all the small and large details of organizing my home and my life...maybe that will come with the surgery in October?

God, the book Crazy Love is challenging me.  In a good way.  This chapter (only chapter 2; I'm slow) highlights our selfish focus on ourselves rather than the appropriate focus on You, since all of history and all of life is all about YOU.  I really am amazingly blessed that my husband and my daughters get this.  In fact, just Wednesday Julie chose to spend her day off from camp with her grandmother and grandfather at chemo.  I tended (and may still tend?) to worry a little more about her spiritual health since she attends a non-overtly-Christian college, but I forget myself that You are not limited.  She's pretty good!  So I will keep surrendering her and her spiritual growth and feeding to You.  You are doing a great job!  ;)

I have only 10 minutes left here, and I would like to capture Bill's story in the other blog.  For now, Lord, good-bye!  I love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength!