joy

enjoyed lunch at a friend's house today..kids in the back yard playing in the wet sand box...while me and my friend gave thanks for the blessings of life and lamented about how we so often miss out on the reality of the abundance of grace that is ours in Christ...

i told her about something that happened to me today while i was in the car..jackson saw my face in the rear-view mirror and said, "mommy, why is your face like that?" me: like what? j: like this (makes a mad face) me: what do you want me to look like? like this? (i smiled)

smiling felt weird...out of place...that disturbed me.

reading for my women's bible study in acts something struck me..acts 7:  54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

when my son isn't obeying, when my bible study doesn't seem to be changing me, when i don't seem to be having any real impact in this world...when i can't remember back to a conversation that i didn't pick apart and feel guilt about..my prayer is that my verse 55 will be "But Heather, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

my prayer is that the Lord will give me joy..a smile in the rear-view mirror.