A Robe & Some Bling…

Tonight I had the opportunity to talk with some amazing young people.  I absolutely love being around young people with a passion for God.  Nothing more excites me than hearing their enthusiasm and seeking for the truth.  I wish I had what they have when I was their age.  Such opportunity and promise.

The topic of prodigals is still burning within my prodigal heart.  I believe my favorite part of the prodigal son story has to be the dad waiting on the drive way with open arms for the son coming home.  There’s something about a father’s love.  The son, after going through the mud for a season, came home to see if he might possibly have a place with the servants in his fathers house.  Instead, the father opened his arms up to welcome his son right back into the family.  This father had every right to be angry with him or to shun him from the family, however, he does the complete opposite.  He embraces him, clothes him with a robe and some bling before he’s even cleaned up, and throws the ultimate party.

What an image of God!  My own life is one example.  My Father in Heaven opened His arms to embrace me as His own.  He could have written me off.  He could have viewed “Connie the prodigal daughter” as stained, less than worthy, unforgivable, but He didn’t.  He simply poured His unconditional love on me for who I am, put people in my life to encourage me and has blessed me in ways I certainly do not deserve.  For this, I am ever grateful.  I’m in debt to Him for a price He paid for me….a price I can never repay.

Bugs & Mud

Yesterday, I caught ”the” bug.  This stomach virus has been passed around like a prized possession from our granddaughter to everyone in the family…with the exception of my husband.  What’s up with that?  The big question is “will he catch the bug?”

With a little sick time on my hands, I’ve had lots of time to ponder.  Thoughts of many things have crossed my mind: It’s time to start Christmas shopping.  I wonder how the review of the manuscript is going.  I have such a great job (seriously).  Prodigals.  I love this mattress and comforter (nothing special, but soooo comfortable especially when I’m sick).  Hold up a minute…prodigals?  What?

I cannot seem to shake the thought of prodigals.  Being a prodigal myself, I’ve walked the hard road.  I recall the day I turned back to God.  I was pouring my heart out, and this man told me the story of the prodigal son.  He said I was ready to come back home.  Not really understanding the gold he had just shared with me, I began my journey back to Jesus.  Being a mom of 2 daughters, I vowed to teach my girls how NOT to take this road.  Fast forward about 15+ yrs, low and behold, my daughter ended up on the same street!

Lately, every where I go, I feel like a magnet attracting families with hurting parents.  Parents concerned about the path their wayward son or daughter recently embraced.  A friend asked for prayer regarding her prodigal last Sunday.  The request brought me right back to my own journey.  I pulled out my journals from the season when my own daughter had made some decisions we were not very excited about and didn’t support.  I was completely amazed and filled with excitement of God’s faithfulness.  I saw just how involved He was in the situation.  He spoke so much over us, put encouragement in our paths, and just held our hands.  The very wise Robert Douglas told me “Sometimes your kids just have to go through the mud.”  Nothing fancy, but very profound.  It’s something I’ve never forgotten.  Although this may sound weird, I am truly grateful for the mud in my own life.  Without that mud, I wouldn’t be who and where I am today.

Now, the big question for me is “what am I going to do with this?”  Am I willing to begin writing another book when the one I’m still working on isn’t finished?  Am I willing to be encouragement to those now in their own journey through the mud?  Am I willing to put myself out there for God’s faithfulness to shine into the lives of others?  Am I willing?