Good advice from David

⁵ After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. ¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

 ¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

 ¹⁹ David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
   “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

 ²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

 ²¹ His servants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

 ²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:19-22

I am going to get up, wash myself off, take of my sackcloth and worship God. I am going to worship Him in my attitude, in my heart, in the way I treat my family and the people around me.

I am going to worship Him!

but why?

Dear Heavenly Father,
First, I want to thank you for being the best dad ever. I know you truly love me and care about me. I can see it in the way you take care of me. You blessed me with such an amazing husband who loves you first and then a beautiful daughter. I can't believe how blessed I am. From the house I live in, to the way you stretch every dime...thank you. Being your daughter is such a blessing.
Abba, Father, I know you can see my broken heart. I know you are morning with us. He is your creation. You knitted him inside me. But sometimes, right now, I wish I knew why he is gone? Why did this happen?
But here is what I do know. I know you love me. I know that you want the best for me and I know that you will bless the desires of my heart. I will trust in you. I won't lean on my own understanding. I will lean on you.
I know you know but I just want you to know that I'm just sad and that I miss him.
Thank you so much for the peace you have blessed Dan and I with. We know it is coming from you and we truly  appreciate it. Please keep it coming.
I love you. Thank you so much for being with me every moment. Your love is truly amazing and unfailing.
Love forever,
V

PS Dad, will you do me a favor? Kiss him goodnight for me. Please let him know how much I love him and that I miss him.

Climbing...

My daughter Penny loves to climb the steps. Repeatedly. Hence the reason we have a gate. I think she would go up and up (cause she doesn't know how to go down yet!) the steps all day if she could. Tonight, as we were getting ready to go to bed,  something that she does every time she climbs up the stairs really jumped out at me. Half way up the steps she stops and looks down through the rails. She does this every single time.

It made me think. As we climb up the stairs in our lives, you know financial problems, marital issues, lack of self worth, etc..., there needs to be a time where we stop and marvel at the miracles God provides for us. His provision is amazing and we easily can forget it.

Take a cue from Joshua.

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan, he had twelve stones taken from the river bed. You see, just like with the Red Sea, God parted the river making it possible for them to cross. Then he said these words, 
"He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’" Joshua 4:21-22


We need to remember so that we don't get so lost in the daunting task of climbing the steps that we forget who is protecting us and helping us get up and take the next step.


Maybe its time for you to set up your own "twelve stones" in your home. Remember God's miracles in your life. I know that I need to!