Honesty

Father, as I sit down tonight I am amazed at Your goodness once again. Psalm 16 says that "I have no good apart from You." I want to attribute every good and perfect gift as from You, Jesus. The honest conversations that I can reflect on from the past several weeks are again a sign of Your presence, work, and faithfulness. To not see them as from Your mighty hand is to neglect Your glory and miss Your love and grace. Thank You for the eyes to see them as gifts from You!!
Even a simple, short ride to the grocery store with my mom over the holidays was significant for my heart. You provided even those few moments for us to connect in heart and for me to share things that she could be praying for me about. Thank You, Jesus, for her encouragement and care for me. There is something so refreshing about being real with someone you can trust.
Just a question of my hopes for the new year provided an opportunity for me to share my heart with Matt's sister. You were (and still are) stirring things in me from Your Word about living in my weakness this year and letting Your strength be made perfect in me as I completely depend on You. Thank You for the chance to share this raw truth and may You use it in mighty ways. I pray that Your truth illuminates!
Oh Father, to skype with my dear friend Kristi last week was more than a gift! A blessing, a challenge, an encouragement, and so rejuvenating to the deepest part of my soul. I couldn't go to sleep for hours after!! For a friendship to continue and grow deeper despite living on different sides of the globe is a genuine picture of Your faithfulness and, therefore, You are the only one that could hold it together. Thank You, Lord, for all the ways You show Yourself through her encouragement and the truth she is able to remind me of. The honesty during our conversation was nothing apart from Your doing! I was able to share things with her that I know she'll continue to intercede for on my behalf. Help me to approach Your throne of grace regularly and pray for her heart and pursuit of You.
It is always a work of You for December and I to actually work out times to get together despite our busy (opposite) schedules. Thank You for going before us and fighting for our friendship and accountability. You are faithful to help us "spur one another on toward love and good deeds." We ask each other hard questions, encourage one another through the difficulties, and share in the joys of how You're working and changing us. She continues to be very dear to me and ushering into Your presence with her is an awesome thing!
The ways that You have blessed mine and Rachel's friendship are endless. The honest and scripture sharing conversations that we have are unreal to me! Thank You, Father, for her genuine care for my soul and my family's. I absolutely love hearing from her heart and how You're growing her and challenging her faith. Thank You for how she's able to point me to Your presence and remind me of Your hand at work!
Some amazing conversations have been happening between the boys and I before bed. The "Jesus Calling" for kids devotional book is offering some really neat and practical truths from scripture for the boys to understand and apply to their 3rd and 1st grade worlds. You are helping me slow down and share things from my life or offer some additional explanations to help them see how near You are, how much You love them, and how much they can trust You! Help their little minds and hearts grasp how good You are and how real Your promises are!
Ultimately You are giving me such honesty (which is a reflection from You, not us) in my marriage. Matt and I are able to come to one another in such love and care for the other's heart in so many different circumstances. We rejoice with one another over scripture refreshing our hearts. We encourage one another when weariness is setting in. We point one another back to Your presence and remind one another of Your promises. We reconcile with one another when there is sin committed, offering confession and seeking forgiveness. We ask one another for help when the temptation to waiver in our pursuit of You is crouching at our door. We come before Your throne together asking You to reveal more of Yourself to us and our kids. All of this is done only by Your grace and with Your help. No, we are not perfect and sometimes we are very slow to show the things listed. BUT You have given us such a unique and amazing relationship filled with such honesty. May You use it for Your honor and glory.
The honesty that You have given me in these conversations would never be possible without Your work completed on the cross. Thank You, Lord, for the cross! The honesty that must be embraced to receive Your gift from the cross and then the honesty that is available because of the cross!!!