Email from God and Other Wandering Thoughts in the Wilderness

I just received another email from a well-intended friend. Its the kind of email that doesn't really DRAW me into the arms of God. It's a wishy-washy "let's feel good about God" email. It asks me if I'm struggling and then tells me God will make the struggling go away. Well, maybe God doesn't want the struggling to go away just yet. Maybe I LIKE to struggle and remain in God's arms for a little while longer. Maybe my struggling is intended to be a blessing to others and just needs to be.
The other piece missing for me in these types of emails is scripture. That is why they are wishy-washy to me. At LEAST back up the encouragement with His Word. Without it, I'm inclined to hit delete. So if you send me an email, and the email is "from God", don't forgot to include His Word. Then I might pray and consider that "yes, God is emailing me".

Ok - off that soap box and on to another. I'm sitting here looking out my front picture window and watching a mini-bike race up and down the street. The guy driving it is too big for the bike and is not wearing a helmet. Sometimes I feel like this as a parent. My thoughts and desires are too big for what my children are trying to accomplish and I should have put on a helmet. ha! That was a stupid analogy, but I like it. If I try hard enough, I may find a scripture that goes with this...hmmmmm....
Did you know the "armor of light" is talked about in Romans (13:12) and in Ephesians (6:11 and 6:13), the "armor of God". I had only thought Ephesians. But both refer to the Word of God. I love the dictionary/concordance area of my bible. God just taught me something new. So as a parent I need to put on the "helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God". (Eph. 6:17)

Last thoughts. It's been awhile since I've written and my soul misses the connection I receive with God. For me, this is more of a prayer and telling Him my thoughts. Though He knows them, getting them out and written connects me closer to Him. This gives me a chance to reflect on the love He showers me with during my days. Saturday night was one of those moments with Him that amaze me. I was sitting with 500 other people at a convention dinner. Who does God sit next to me? A woman whose husband had died last summer and was being remembered that night. My first thought as we spoke and she shared about why she was there was...thank you Lord for the extra kleenex you prompted me to put in my pocket. At first she was hesitant to tell me about him, but as she relayed the story hope, courage, and bravery entered her eyes and her speech. She had never been to this convention, nor had shared this part of his life. She encouraged her son to have this with his Dad, but she stayed and managed their home. This coming year, she decided to go on a trip with her son that he was to take with his Dad this last October in 2007. They obviously did not make that trip. She is fearful and scared but is visibly excited to go. It's to South Africa on a photography safari. So far from home. But she feels she needs to for her son and for her husband's memory. I told her I looked up to her for her bravery and courage. Her response was "but I'm scared, but I know I need to do it."
"May God be with you" Is all I could say after that. What an incredible woman. To find courage in the midst of her loss. She reminded me of a quote I read in "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul",
"Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin

So here I go this Spring, risking to blossom in two areas I've wanted to explore - hunting and kayaking.
So, may God by with you as you "blossom".
- DIG