“Total. God. Maniac.” That was Ember and I having fun out eating at our I Heart Fries yesterday and asking each other conversations questions. It was a day of celebration for us, with Ember officially working with us full time before she leaves to go off to college. You guys should have seen me at the office dancing to the song Who Dat by JT Money: “Aiy ya ya ya ya ya ya (who ‘dat?).” So, I can’t blame Ember for saying that three words to describe me were “Crazy. Ass. Mother.” I get that. (HUGE SMILE)
But I’m giving all the glory to God, who has beautifully guided our family. Staying close to him has been the game-changer, baby. In every decision, every relationship, every circumstance, I’m looking to Him for direction. Ember is constantly questioning my decisions, and yesterday I got to ask her, “See why I stick with God even when He asks difficult things of me? He gives me more than I can ever ask or imagine!” So when he asks me to continue carrying the cross from Jesus, I say, ‘God, may Your will be done in my life? Anything for You!’ To be honest, there are lots of hurts in that cross that I carry, but like my friend, Chris, reminded me yesterday, “That’s your cross which will bring you crowns.” What is the cross God asks you to carry? Let’s carry them joyfully for God’s glory! He will be our strength as we carry them.
This is where I want us all, sticking close to God in the 1,000 decisions we make every day asking what He would have us to do. I was talking to my friend in Nigeria yesterday next to the vehicle I crashed on a major highway recently. God wonderfully protected me! Not one scratch on my body when I could’ve easily lost my life when my car skids and turned in the complete opposite direction of incoming, speeding traffic. It was the perfect reminder that God is my protection no matter the challenges, stresses, and trials that come my way. It’s only for me to acknowledge Him IN ALL MY WAYS, seeking to do what pleases Him (even the hard stuff), knowing He is the guard rails of my life keeping me on track, despite all my failings, weaknesses, and mistakes. His UNCONDITIONAL love is just too much! (BIGGER SMILE!)
Are you staying close to Him? I pray you join me in saying this prayer, ‘God, I want to get closer to You!’ AMEN!!!
