Hold

"I wanna hold you!"

From the time a child can put it into words, she expresses her need to be held.  My own children both used this expression, which I thought was just precious.  Now they are 9 and 11, but when I hear other children say it, it takes me back to when they were little bitty.

Children aren't afraid to ask for what the want, are they?

Especially when it comes to meeting needs.  Often times they are so persistent.  As adults, I think many of us aren't afraid to ask for things either, but are they the things we truly want or need?

I think of how much I love for my husband to hold me.  When he just puts his arms around me and I feel close to him, it makes me feel safe and protected.

How many of us need to feel that love and protection?  How many don't have that special person that can fulfill that need?

We all have One who can do that for us.

One time, I heard a lady describing how she felt when she prayed.  She said she envisioned herself drawing close to the Savior as He put His arms around her and listened to her heart.

Being held is very much a physical act, but I believe it can be a feeling as well.

How many of us are being held by loved ones?  How many of us ask for it when we need it?  I ask my husband to hold me, but sometimes I need others to hold me in prayer or thoughts, but they won't know that if I don't ask.

We all have the One who can hold us.  And a lot of us have somebody in our life who can "hold" us.  Most of the time, all we have to do is ask.


I'm linking up!

What is going on?

I'm having a hard time dealing with all that is going on in our broken, screwed up world now.  Dave feels like we are really just on the brink, and I am terrified that he is right.

I don't understand all that is going on.  I don't understand how we have a president who can speak one minute about the journalist who was beheaded and the next minute go play golf and yuk it up with his buddies.  

I don't understand how one man's murder can cause such an uproar in our nation while other unjustified murders happen daily without any mention.  I'm trying so hard to understand this race issue.  Last night I stayed up late reading all different posts on the internet trying to gain insight and wisdom and I just came away more confused than ever.  Who is right?  I really, really don't know.  I do know God views everybody as equal in His eyes.  I do know he values every person's life.

I don't understand how everybody in this country seems to be more obsessed with pouring ice water over their heads than thinking about what's going on in Iraq and how people are being BEHEADED!!!!  Does the violence and injustice not scare anybody but me?  How are we so oblivious?

And why are we not talking about all of these issues and praying about them at church???

Satan is having a hey day with our nation (really with the world) right now.  And it's so easy to just want to crawl in bed and throw the covers over my head and try to ignore it all.

I can't ignore.  Instead I worry.  And wonder what I can do.

I know God is in control.  I know He has a plan.  I just wish he would send Jesus back and end it all.  The not knowing what is going to happen and the worrying about the even more horrible things that could possibly happen is excruciating.

And what breaks my heart more than anything is that we all, every single one of us have access to this awesome God who loves us more than anything and wants us to love him and turn to Him so he can show His abundant love to us.  And it seems like the majority of people have no use for that.  How have we become so self-involved and self-reliant that we don't see a need for a Savior?

I just don't understand.

So, I'm praying every second I can today.  Praying for peace.  Praying for understanding.  Praying for the right things to do and say.

I do know how the story ends.  Thank God for that!  Now if I can just keep reminding myself.

Sacred Scared

I love the Momastary blog.  I don't always agree with everything she has to say, but I so admire her courage, her honesty and her vulnerability.  She is currently doing a series she has entitled "Sacred Scared" and she has had various well-known bloggers share their biggest fear.

So, I got to thinking about my biggest fear.

I've had a hard time figuring out how to put it into words, but here goes...

My biggest fear is that I won't accomplish what God has put me on this earth to do.

Ever since I can remember, I have felt like I had a huge purpose in my life.  I've searched for it.  I've sought it out in places that were so clearly not it.

I love my life.  I adore my husband and kids (though, we have our days...trust me).  I work at a job that I still walk in the building and thank God for everyday because I love it so much and feel so blessed to be paid to do it.  I have awesome friends.  I do fun stuff.  My church is great.

Yet, I still feel a void.  Like I'm supposed to be doing something more.  Am I supposed to champion a cause?  Am I supposed to be a writer?  A speaker?  Am I supposed to start a non-profit?  Am I supposed to quietly lead my life and encourage in everyday ordinary ways?

Here's the thing...I do not want to be ordinary.  But I struggle with a little thing called my ego.  I like being told, "Good job."  So, when I aim to do something I really pray to not make it about myself.

I believe there is something out there waiting for me to grab hold of and be passionate about.  Something that will help other people and bring glory to my Lord.

So, what exactly is it that God has put me here to do?  Am I already doing it or is there more?  Frankly, I believe there is more.  I just pray that I don't miss it.

Just keepin' it real.