Nora is only 2!

Without a lot of confidence that my two granddaughters were going to understand me, I found myself involved in a  morning long conversation on the power of God to do what we are unable to do. They needed an explanation of what exactly the word 'power' meant. We discussed it for a bit and they liked the idea that it means, 'God has enough strength to do whatever it is He is going to do'. They were tracking for parts of it, and distracted at times by finding Archie at Trader Joe's or needing me to handle the scissors. But I persevered with application and illustration found in the morning's activities.

At one point Nora had been sent into a time out due to an infraction involving grabbing and tearing a temporarily treasured art work. As she came out smiling, she said, "God has enough power to change my heart!", which, if you think about it, is just plain brilliant.

Lash your heart to the ancient mast

There is a line in Andrew Peterson's latest cd, "lash your heart to the ancient mast". He is urging us to fix ourselves on the narrow and old road that leads us to God.

If you find yourself far from home, if you find yourself in heart numbing and soul dulling territory, if you are in a howling storm that has you blind and deafened to true north, then there is only one way back. There aren't choices that you can study like a menu. There aren't sophisticated options that can put a good spin on how much harm you have reaped for yourself. There is only one way back.

And that is to 'tie yourself to' what God has already said. He is good. He is strong. His ways lead to light and life. His ways also peel off our preferred image. And can cover our entire world with humility. And reveal to others (possibly before we understand this well) how desperately we have needed God to intervene.

My heart is beating a little faster. My mind is racing to keep up with my imagination. I find myself smiling kind of a lot. Why? There is a new little person out there who will call me Noni someday!

What could I do to....

Caveat: this is about marriage. And lately I've been thinking alot about what makes a strong marriage. Or a happy one, or a good one.

So how about we ask ourselves regularly this question: 'what could I do to make my marriage stronger.' This isn't a time to ponder what our spouse could do. Or how easier it would be if certain circumstances were different. But today, things being what they are, people being who they are, me being who I am right now, what could I do?

Could I realign myself with what I know I should do? (forgive much, speak with kindness, consider the other's interests are more important to me than my own, etc) Could I notice a trend that needs a Gospel application? Repentance is always the right thing to do. Or, could I see where my spouse needs to be righteously opposed in a way he has chosen?

A few months ago I was asked to speak at a friend's happy happy wedding shower. I came up with a top ten list of the bonuses of being married. Frankly some of them were silly, but the last one said,

"Best of all, to know the glory and joy and dazzle and death of giving happiness to an honorable man. For the rest of your life."

So today, the answer to myself, of what I could do is: To look for a way to give happiness to my honorable man.