obedience, spinach & gunny sack shirts

The decisions, conversations and actions of today are the framework for what is to come, whether in your own life, your children's lives or events that won't unfold for countless generations.  God is orchestrating every detail of every single life.  He sees the big picture, of which you and I are just one tiny piece.  I can not begin to perceive what God is doing or how He works; I constantly underestimate the importance of 'today'.  He can see from beginning to end and yet, in consideration for our minuscule brain capacity and His incredible desire for us to TRUST Him, He may only allow us to see that which lies directly in front of us.  I know this.  And yet, I regularly ask to be able to 'zoom out'; I constantly crave the broader view of life.

[Kai, at one of his favorite swimming holes!]

This week I read Acts 10 and had a genuine 'lightbulb moment'.  The events of this chapter changed history forever.  An angel appears to a man named Cornelius and tells him to send for a man named Peter, so he does.  Obedience, even though it didn't make any sense.  The next day Peter is on the roof, praying, and sees an unbelievable vision of 'unclean' animals that he is told to kill and eat.  Long story short, God is teaching him not to call anything 'unclean that God has made clean', a 180* turn from everything he's ever known.  While he's still pondering this revelation, the men from Cornelius arrive at the house and the Spirit tells Peter to go with them, so he does!  Obedience, even when it goes against everything he's ever known.  He arrives at Cornelius' house to find a crowd of Gentiles that, according to Jewish law, it would be illegal for him to associate with.  But, because of his vision and God's words, he begins to share with them the incredible news about Jesus!
There's so much more to this beautiful story but I needed to read it for a specific reason this week.  I realized that these men had no advance warning, they simply responded to God's instructions and acted in obedience even when it seemed completely insane.  And the world was transformed because of that obedience.  This was God's plan to extend salvation to ALL people, and yet He waited till the last minute to spring this on Peter.  How do I justify my demand for a plan or some direction when I realize that God didn't even provide an itinerary to some of the most influential people in history.  He told them when it was time and they acted, even when that meant abandoning 'common sense' or setting themselves up for ridicule.  This isn't to say that He didn't have it all mapped out, that He wasn't opening doors and preparing hearts long before this went into play.  But those He used didn't have a clue until it was time.  Until it was time.  That's where I struggle.  I must accept that when it is time, He'll show me.  And until then, enjoy where He has me right NOW!

[Best pancakes EVER!]

Once I grasped this truth my eyes were opened to the fact that God actually HAS answered a prayer.  Derek has work!  Not just random, odd-jobs but an 8-5 landscaping job both last week and this week!  We are so thankful!  I'll say it again and again, God provides.  Jesus is involved in every detail; big things like work or a place to live and 'little' things like an unexpected box of pancake mix just in time for National Pancake Day!  My days are flying by as well and include things like cleaning at home and, on occasion, at a Bed&Breakfast.  I've had time for laundry, cooking, reading books, going running or walking with Kai and tackling a list of odd-jobs at the church.  I'm so grateful for this time and Derek's a pretty big fan of coming home to a hot dinner and freshly baked cupcakes.  I do have a few house -wife confessions, however.  When I'm home alone I like to eat cereal for lunch and I often find myself talking out loud or spontaneously bursting out in song.  I drink orange juice right out of the carton and if I've crossed everything off my list, I might even watch a movie that make me cry!  I'm not ashamed, though...and if I was, I could easily blame the pregnancy!
Speaking of pregnancy!!  This is week number 19 and 'Peanut' is testing out his/her new abilities now that cartilage is turning to bone and neurons between the brain and muscles are connected.  Knowing about all the incredible developments going on inside me is truly astonishing.  Sometimes I read the weekly update and just say 'Wow, God!!  Wow!'  The strange symptom for the week is nightly leg cramps.  AND, while shopping this week, I ventured into the maternity section for the first time in my life.  Unfortunately, the experience was slightly depressing.  Hawaii doesn't have an amazing selection for pregos and even the extra small shirts still felt like a gunny sack.  Thankfully, my regular clothes still fit, minus the occasional unbuttoning of pants before sitting down for a long drive :)  Our Colorado trip is rapidly approaching, though, and I'm hoping to invest in a few purchases out there.
One last snippet from our week.  I finally got my VitaMix!  Saving all my Christmas money finally paid off when these incredible blenders went on sale at Costco last week.  Basically, I can grind ANYTHING, make homemade nut butters, turn soy beans into soy MILK, etc.  It can make homemade ice cream and it can make hot soup.  This is not a commercial, it's just that amazing! And, the most practical use is the smoothies, which we've had on a daily basis.  These aren't your average smoothies, though.  I can pulverize any and all vegetables, mix them with fruits and juice and, apart from the tell-tale, green color, we don't even know we're drinking all that healthy goodness.  Derek and I have consumed more spinach in the last three days then we would have in months, and we've actually enjoyed it!  So, that's all I've got for now.  I'm off to find new recipes to try out in our super sonic blender!  And I'm resting in the fact that God sees the whole plan.. beginning to end.  I'm content with where He has us and excited for whatever He will tell us next.

[yes, that's spinach!]