The Ultimate ESPRESSO

Had a startling realization yesterday.  For the last week, I have found myself to be VERY grumpy and irritable.  Things that normally roll right off my back, really hurt me and things that are normally ignorable have driven me up a wall!  Major grumpy mode.
Yesterday, I was sitting in church and had this sudden thought....for the past two weeks, things have been so hectic..actually, scratch that..since the first day of school this school year, things have been NUTS...Getting three up, dressed, fed, teeth brushed, driven to school, then home to chase a one year old, who amazingly enough, can wreak more destruction than the other two combined, has made me have this undesirable urge to SLEEP!  Whenever I sit still for too long, I am out.  Eyes close, head bobbing..the whole kit n caboodle!  This new love and desire for sleep, has caused me to do one thing and I believe that this could be the cause for is my extremely grumpy mood (no comments hubby, please)..This new schedule (as opposed to the laid back philosophy we adopted over the summer) has caused me to oversleep and miss my daily quiet time.  That wonderful time that this summer, I spent on my deck or in my chair reading, talking and listening to Him hasn't been happening.  That precious time where I enjoy his presence....I've been missing it.  No time in His word...no journal writing...Insert grump-ola here!   
It is just like when I haven't seen my kids or my husband for a substantial period of time. I have noticed that if I have to go more than 24-48 hours away from my kids, I am always so eager to have them back with me...to see their smiling face...hear their raucous giggles.  And, if by some chance, I am not able to see them for longer than 48 hours, I get a wee bit grumpy (as Aidan would say).  And, now, I notice, the same holds true for my Abba...I haven't gotten to speak to him (my fault) or sit and enjoy his presence (my fault again) consistently since school started...and man is my attitude showing it!  Grouchy McGroucherson party of one!

(did I mention I've been grouchy?)

The problem that I have, and as a fellow momma, you may suffer from this too..is HOW...how do we do it? How do we get up...when we are dying to sleep for 30 more mins before we hit the ground running...(literally, remember I have a 1 year old!).  How do we keep our bodies from crashing...or nodding off during our quiet time? When life is all about schedules right now...how?!  And while I would like to say, "well, let me tell you", I cannot.  I, like all you other momma's, am going to just have to figure this one out myself.  But one thing is for sure...in order for me to be a happy momma, I am going to have to meet my Abba..every morning...without fail.  Perhaps, we aren't all that much UNLIKE the desciples in the garden...we too, wanna sleep, instead of conversing with Him.  hmmmm...However, he has told us...through David, that My(our) soul finds rest in God alone; my(our) salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my(our) rock and my(our) salvation; he is my(our) fortress, I(we) will never be shaken....though coffee is, huh, well, AWESOME...HE is my rock...I only truly find rest and feel rejuvenated when I am with Him...He is, in coffee terms, my quad venti whatever-ochino!
So, tomorrow morning...join me...you in your spot, me in mine...and in spirit we will join Him...and thank Him for the energy to get through the day.  Whether your day involves corporate mergers, driving a tractor, serving food or chasing a one year old...we can do it...while we may get tired...one whispered prayer and he will rejuvenate us...

O God, you are my God 

earnestly I seek you;

My soul thirsts for you,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.  

And in meeting him...we will be rejuvenating...re hydrating.
Let's keep our souls hydrated...

My "spot"

A Moment of Glory

Princess Kate

As I'm sure you've noticed by now, I am quite taken with the idea of momma's sticking together...and in doing so, we will end the Momma-wars that have been occurring since the beginning of time...Sarah/Hagar, Rachel/Leah... I firmly believe, that if we join together not only as believers but as honest women, momma's, we will be a force to be reckoned with.  A force for Him.
So, today, I come to you as a Momma..and ask all you momma's & future momma's to join with me in lifting up a little girl named Kate.  You see, Kate was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Kate's Momma and daddy were given 4 options: abortion, compassionate care only, a series of 3 corrective surgeries or a heart transplant.
Kate is almost 3 and today, she is having another heart surgery.  Kate is a bubbly little girl who believes in princesses and fairy tales but most importantly she believes in Jesus.
Several weeks ago, Kate started showing some distress over having this surgery...she's a smart one, she knew what was coming..and her momma started lifting her up and asking God to give Kate a peace about what was to take place in the coming weeks.  Not too long after, Kate began talking and playing with an imaginary friend named Jeffie.  Kate was adament that the friends name was Jeffie and not Jessie or any other name that she might have heard on tv or in a storybook.  Not sure where Kate heard the name, the family was a bit baffled.  However, as time went on, Jeffie became a "member" of their family, as Kate had him with her at all times.  A couple of weeks ago, Kate's Momma shared with those following Kate's story that a friend of Momma had looked up the meaning of the name Jeffie...it means peace.  *gulp* While writing this I am still speechless over this revelation...this display of God's great love for us...his love for Kate.   My hubs asked me, as I shared the meaning of Jeffie with him, do you think it's an angel? And I have no doubt that God sent an angel...an angel of peace...an angel named Jeffie.
Now, as I've shared in previous posts, God is teaching me a lot about doing things for HIS glory.  How, things occur in our lives and when they do..we should seek His glory in them...if we can't find it, ASK Him to reveal it to us...You see these things that are occurring to Kate are not punishment or a curse, if you will...no..they are just more evidence to the fact that we are humans.  We are flesh & bone...however, we are blessed by a God who loves us, an Abba who will hold us, console us...send angels to give us peace.  And, through Kate's experiences, we are seeing His glory.  These trials that Kate's Momma and daddy and even brothers are experiencing are showing His glory to the world, to those of us who are blessed to hear it...or blessed to witness it with our own eyes.  
John 17:1 (Jesus speaking to God and I have added Kate's name in...)
Father, the time has come.  Glorify your Kate (Son), that your Kate (Son) may glorify you.
The nurses, doctors...all will see His Glory today...

Oh, but it is not enough for us to SEE His glory and do nothing...we could see it, hear the story of Kate & Jeffie and say ooh that gave me chills, maybe wipe a tear or two....and then go on with life as a busy Momma.  No, you see that would be the equivalent of a singer whose voice is straight from the heavens, singing in an empty building...we need to not only see God's glory...but to also praise him for it.  To see it for what it is.  An example of the way He loves us.  John Piper said, "God is glorified not ONLY by his glories being seen, but by it's being rejoiced in." Rejoice...rejoice that God's glory has been revealed in Kate...rejoice that it will continue to be revealed in Kate...through her surgery, her family's willingness to share their walk through this experience, through her friend Jeffie, through her Peace...an example that God exists.
So, if you're reading this..take a moment to spend time with your Abba, your daddy.  And praise him for the love he has for you...your kids...and all other Momma's kids out there.  And as Momma's, join with me and let's lift up a fellow Momma...Kate's Momma...that Jeffie sits with her and holds her hand while her baby is in surgery and while her baby heals and through it all, the WORLD may see His glory!

Psalms 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre (a stringed instrument) I shall praise you, O God, My God.  

amen.