Be Still and Know

Every Thursday, my non-college-aged kids go to homeschool tutorials---which means I have no children at home on Thursdays. I typically use this time to do chores around the house, uninterrupted. (On the agenda for today is laundry, coupon-clipping & grocery list, and possibly finishing the Thanksgiving decorating.... we'll see if all that happens!)

But I've started noticing something that happens on the drive home from dropping Meileah off. The rushing around of the morning is over, and I start to decompress. I love to drive anyway, so I typically take the time to really enjoy my drive home. And in this time of slowing down--not just my car, but my thoughts and actions--I hear God most clearly. More so than when I have a quiet time at home. When I'm in the car by myself, Mount Washmore is not calling my name. No unfinished tasks assault my eyes. Just drive....

I didn't notice this pattern for a while, but today I did. It can be a song on the Christian radio station that I needed to hear, or Scripture brought to mind, or typically both. Most times, if God uses a song, it's one that's kinda old--but I know all the words to it--so I can really belt it out or I can really LISTEN and hear something new in it. Today's selection was "Amazing Love" by Newsboys:

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken; I'm accepted You were condemned 

I'm alive and well, your Spirit lives within me, because You died and rose again

Chorus:
Amazing Love, how can it be that You my king should die for me 

Amazing Love, I know its true! And it's my joy to honor You 

In all I do to honor You.

It repeats a lot after that, but those are all the words. Pretty old praise song, but one of my favorites, to sing AND to sign. I needed to hear these words today. I needed to marvel anew at what exactly God has done for man. And I needed to be grateful. 

One of my favorite verses throughout my life has been, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10). I'm going to try to post each Thursday what God has chosen to teach me on the drive home. So look for the "Be Still and Know" post each week. And if I don't do it, please hold me accountable to not only notice, but to truly contemplate in words the Amazing Love that's been given to me. 

Re: Oct. 31st: Happy Belated Birthday, Jennifer & Uncle Ralph!

Jennifer, I never forgot it was your birthday on the 31st---I thought of you often, but the day was so packed I didn't get around to wishing you a wonderful, blessed day! (It was also my uncle's 80th birthday.) Happy Birthday to both of you! =)

By the way, All went well with the package on Saturday. The dresses, bonnets, & aprons were a big hit at "Little House on the Prairie" and at trick-or-treating later.... Still not sure how we started finally doing the trick-or-treating thing....I believe it started after we moved to this neighborhood, and it just seemed like the good, relationship-building side of things. At least, that's the way it turns out. Still don't agree with doing witches, goblins, vampires, etc. but we are able to still avoid all that and enjoy our neighbors. I believe we will forever keep October 31st as a Family Day!

Regarding "Little House" (http://littlehousethemusical.com/): I don't want to spoil it for those who are headed to see it soon, so I'll "simply" say that we loved it. It was a simple time, in a wheat-filled (or not) prairie, with simple people, who had simple things---yet they were rich in love---therefore the sets are seemingly simplistic. They are not lavish or flashy, and we felt that was appropriate. Yet, how they USED those sets was at times amazingly creative! How someone figured out a way to convey galloping & racing horses...with NO horses...is pretty awesome. The play relied a lot on your imagination, and the strength of the people (at least, the actors), creating an "authentic" feel that I truly appreciated. I think Laura Wilder would be proud.