Partners

I had to take a car into the shop yesterday and knew Blake, my 4 year old had an open day....so I asked him to spend it with me. And he "graciously" accepted the invitation....by saying uhh - huhhh when mom asked him if that is what he would like to do. So off we went...we forget that the things that are so everyday to us manufacture a sense of wonder in kids. When we got to the dealership, I talked to service, they sent me to collision who has done work previously...and then as Bruce my guy in collision was driving the car around trying to figure out where the rattle was coming from...we walked back across the parking lot to the showroom. And those cars are shiny....red ones, blue ones, little ones and big ones and ones and trucks too..

We opened every door and every trunk and sat in every drivers seat and Blake climbed in every truck bed...and we had to talk about all the names of all the Toyotas. Then it was said that they would have to keep our car for further service...so we waited just a few minutes and watched soccer until the shuttle driver was ready...we originally were going to let the shuttle driver let us out at the bus stop nearby but the timing was off...and the location was kind of remote and it was hot so we opted to be taken directly home...we were his only riders...and even that was an adventure for Blake....for the explanation upon arriveing home was " Sassy that was really fun"....it takes so little....The rest of the day we ran errands, and swam and ended our day playing bingo....what a joyful day we both had. But it wasn't so much what we did it was about being together.

I tell you this little story as a reminder that each day we are invited to join God in his day..he doesn't tell us what he has planned....but just extends an invitation to join him. And we have to make the choice as to whether or not to accept. For it is not so much about what you are doing in life but who you are doing it with.
And if you ARE WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE AND SOMEONE WHO LOVES YOU BACK...each day will be an adventure...no matter what the circumstances are that unfold. When I am with my grandchildren...I try like crazy to find something in the mundane that will make whatever we are doing fun or interresting or something that I can incorporate a little lesson of life in. That is what God does with me each time I accept his invitation to join him for the day. I see things that might have gone unnoticed, experience adventures that might have otherwise seemed like drudgery, and have had conversations that have casued me to think through things a little differently and alter my perspective.

We were careful when we were checking out all the cars on the showroom floor...but what was so neat was to watch as his little curiosity was fulfilled. Kids have great imaginations...and you could just see the dreams filtering through his little mind as he steered to far away places. God too gives us opportunities to
explore new horizons...but oh so many times we are too afraid to investigate them....to dream about them ...and to explore them. Blake was confident becasue I was encouraging him to check things out...well God continues to encourage us each day to check out His way of doing things....to trust Him to show us things that we have not seen and to do things that we have not done. He stands beside us as he guides us....we just have to be willing to accept his challenges of life.

It is kind of like God has a plate of His daily offerings sitting on His table...we are His children...and as we pass by His table we are to know that that plate is out there for us to choose from. His offerings vary...and each one is specifically designed to intrigue us, to encourage us, to grow us, to teach us trust and faith and
to be ultimately enjoyed. God knows our hearts and he knows which daily offering will be best suited for us...and which one we will choose. They are not always one of the same. But if we give God the chance to walk with us...and accept confidence through faith in Him...to approach this day....His way... we too will find that we have gotten the most out of it. For it is not so much what we do....but who we do it with..that makes life rich with love and adventure....and JOY!

John 8:12
[ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


Dear Lord, Thank you for the blessing of your everyday, every moment presence in our lives. May we look forward to the adventures that you have offered before us no matter how tiresome or complicated or menial they may seem to be at the time. Give us grace to embrace them and faith to sustain through them. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

website:
www.cathyjodeit.com
email address: cjodeit@gmail.com
The blog link below has all devotionals from the beginning of the year:

http://simplygod-cathy.blogspot.com/