Wake up!

✔I lost a chicken the other day.

✔Our toddler found some old liquid foundation and painted our bedroom with it. And whilst cleaning up that mess, He snuck down broke into the fridge and dumped milk all over the carpet.

✔Our windows leaked horribly from a storm, leaving a mess of water all over our floors.

✔Our dog busted the kids swing set that the hubs managed to piece back together after another nasty storm had weasled its way in a couple weeks ago, then the damn thing tore up some landscaping and destroyed a couple of bushes, and parts of the house by gnawing the be-jeezzus out of them.

✔Yesterday, the smell similar to that of old rotten manure floated within the thick Kansas air that surrounds our home, and doused me after I decided to finally tackle cleaning our nasty kiddy pool that had been sitting for days maybe even a couple weeks, as it moved down the list of to-do's. 🤔😬🤦‍♀️.

The list, it goes on.

Everyday, a new check gets added by a line item on this list I could title:

"Unexpected, Stupid Chaos."

Every day it seems some new crazy, unexpected or ridiculous, sometimes just plain dumb occurrence comes in hot, keeping me so distracted, unplanned busy and unable to keep my focus tight on the one who brings light to this world. Truthfully, somedays it gets the absolute best of me as I try to find the patience and strength to clean it all up. Sometimes I manage to weed through and find a good lesson to learn from.

And sometimes, unavoidably, I just pop my top. 🤯

When I look back on this entire year and a half, that list is LONG. Lots of hits. Lots of exhaustion, and lots of down right blah.

My body, spirit and strength has really taken a place in the back seat, while I find myself in cruise (out of) control trying to just push through another whacky day.

And then, I get moments like this.

When He shows up, and says girl....

Wake up. I'm still here.

Today's readings remind me, in the eye of a storm, He's waiting for me to seek Him. To look up into the light from this dark pit of blah, and focus on Him.

There's NO DOUBT.

Somedays, I just have to live in it.

Somedays, I just can't seem to get caught up, catch my breath, get out of the pit of funk I feel so buried beneath.

Somedays, it's absolutely unavoidable.

But, when we get moments like this,

We have to hold on tight to them.

Power grip those suckers!

And remember, our God, He uses it all.

The beauty of all the checks on my list...

They were all eventually checked off. Maybe not so gracefully, but checked off nonetheless.

And more good news, that chicken: she came back. All the other stuff, just stuff. Repaired or not, resolved or not, it's all just a part of the journey. Life's little (or big) lessons that keep me learning and growing.

Life, it's messy. No doubt.

We win some days, and others we just loose. It's 100% ok to feel through it all. Our Heavenly Creator did not create us to robotically muster through life for a reason.

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In today's gospel,

A woman, afflicted with hemorrhages for 12 years, was healed.

Just by touching Jesus' cloak.

And then:

A little girl, brought back from the dead.

Even after those who surrounded her had lost all hope and were just absolutely distraught...

He brought her back. He healed her too.

His message:

"Why this commotion & weeping?

The little girl is not dead, she's just sleeping."

In the trials of life, when it feels like you can't escape the storm:

Jesus tells us:

Keep the Faith.

Just have Faith.

And sometimes He has to boldly remind us to just "Wake up!"

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Today I pray,

Thank you Dear Jesus. Thank you for allowing me to feel through all the trials in this life I have experienced. I know it's been messy, and sometimes maybe just flat out repulsive at times to see me work through it all. But Thank You. Thank you for your Grace and Mercy that continues to lead me right back to you in the midst of it all. You show me you are the light in the darkest of hours, you love and guide me the moment I seek you, or even just at the moment YOU know I need it. Through Your subtle, gentle voice to Your strong affirmative word, you continue to show me, You are there.

With praise and glory to Your name:

Thank you Jesus!

Amen.