Blogging

I have considered blogging for over 2 years now. There were various reasons for doing so. I have a whole bunch of kiddos and my brain seems to be occupied quite often with the here and now. But someday when I'm old(er), I want to remember. Great reason to blog. I am not sure whether I am a great story-teller, but I do know I love to tell them. When I start to see someone's eyes glazing over as I've waxed way too long, I think...perhaps a blog. In our most recent adoption there were times I needed an outlet, a way to express and it didn't matter if anyone understood it or read it, just a place to pour it out. Oh and the final reason, I read so many great blogs, I want to play, too!!

So as I have pondered, I've tried to think of a fabulous name that isn't already taken. It's taken all of two years and we arrived at surprises abound. Here is the short story. ;-) I love God because of the way he surprises me in this life He has given to me. If you know me and the way in which God has expanded our family you would remember some of those surprises. He surprises me daily with glimpses of Him scattered through the sometimes craziness of managing my life and all the fringe benefits I've been blessed to receive. Somedays, I am sure I've seen it all, but God manages to slip in a sweet surprise just for me. Case in point. Will our baby of the family, was praying at lunch and thanking God for each person in our family by name, sometimes twice. (There are a lot of us.) At the close of his prayer he spoke in his sweet,expressive,  4 year old voice. "Thank you Jesus, you love us too much!" We all giggled because it was funny, Will was giggling too! But as I pondered his statement, wow I really loved it. It really ministered to me. God surprised me in a day where I was feeling overwhelmed, inadequate, like the shoes I was trying to fill were 4 times too big for me. God clearly chose the wrong girl for this assignment. But God's surprise came through a little prophet named Will, who said "Jesus You love us too much." For me what it meant was I will never be able to grasp His love for me. Never. It's too much.  Ephesians 3 supports Will's declaration. "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.

At a recent conference I was challenged in a time of reflection to write down the ways God has already equipped me for the tasks to which He has called me. As I was journaling and realizing how many ways He has done this. The speaker was circulating around the room, she laid her hand on my shoulder and prayed silently over me. When she finished she whispered in my ear, "I prayed that you would be surprised by what is on your list."  I was. It's not the first time. You see Jesus said in John 10:10 I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. Thank you Jesus, for surprising me with your abundant love that I will never fully know. You love me too much!