Here is Hannah’s Grumpy (from Snow White) imitation:

Since Danny has writers block I am going to try to pick up some slack for him. Maybe  he has writers block because God wants me to share this story with you. It may seem little to you but this is big for me. About a month ago I noticed these cute brown sandals that I knew Hannah would have to have. (Any mother who has a daughter can understand this kind of thing.) So when I would see them in the stores I would look for the size she needed, which was a 7. After much searching (for at least a month) nobody had a size 7! No where! For the past month I have searched in stores all over Northwest Arkansas but no 7. There were plenty of 6’s and 8’s but no 7. I finally then decided I could surely find them somewhere on the internet. Would you believe, I still could not find them! But these were the sandals Hannah needed! I had to have them for all her cute outfits with brown in them. In much desperation I then included my Mother-n-Law in on the search for these brown sandals. After looking in stores all over Houston, TX she did not prevail either. Thankfully my mother-n-law understands these things. But I still came up empty handed or I should say footed! Now let me tell you the exciting part. We were out shopping the other day at Kohl’s in Fayetteville when at the last minute I decided before going out the store to check the shoe Department one more time. I had already been there lots of times in the past month but I thought you know maybe somehow they would be on the shelf.

Danny was a trooper and ventured with me. While standing there not seeing a pair of them sandals in her size this lady and her daughter come up to look at the sandals. I was sooo disappointed! No brown sandals in a size 7 so I was sharing my frustration with Danny when the lady beside me over heard my concerns. She says, “ are you looking for these sandals in a size 7?” If she only knew how much I had searched for them! She continued, “ Well I have a size 7 right here in this bag that I am returning because my daughter needs an 8.” I had to try to control my happiness and excitement so she would not think I was a loon! I told her I would be right behind her to buy them! I was so happy. What were the chances of that happening! That, a lady would be bringing back a pair of those brown sandals in Hannah’s size 7! And that we would be there at the same exact time! She told me, “I almost did not even come to Kohls. But for some reason at the last minute I decided to go ahead and exchange them.”

Well, It was no mystery to me, I knew who made her pull into Kohl’s. It was God! He knew I wanted them brown sandals for Hannah. Maybe only I can understand my feelings about all this but it says to me God cares about all the small things in our lives. Now I would never have prayed and asked God to help me find them sandals. There are many more matters that are worth far more to pray for, like all the lost souls going to hell and real needs people have. But to me it was God’s way of saying I know what your desires are and I know where you are at and I care about the smallest things in your life! It’s those moments that are sweet in our walk with the Lord. Now I can rest! Hannah’s brown outfits will be complete.

I am not a clutter bug, meaning I do not like clutter nor do I have a tendency to collect such.  I like a clean office.  I like a desk that is not piled high but organized.  I am not afraid to throw things away to keep the paper from piling up.  If it hasn’t been used in 6 months throw it away.  That is my philosophy.  I have always believed that the computer saved us from the trap of clutter.  In fact, it is my dream tool!  Keep it on the computer and throw away the papers.

That is a good philosophy, right?  If you look at my computer you will see alot of documents.  I have them organized on there.  I have files that I have collected for years, ever since Windows 3.1.  It is amazing how much we can hold on a 250gb hard drive.  Files and more files. Clutter and more clutter!

Is there is a difference between clutter on the computer and clutter on the desk?  One is seen, the other unseen!  One is seen by everyone, the other only by the person who has access to the hard drive.  Sounds alot like the heart!

Often in life, we have all of our ducks in a row.  Our desks are clean.  We look neat and well put together.  No clutter going on in our lives.  But what happens if we look within our hearts; is there any clutter there?  We have a tendency to look the part but inside our hearts are cluttered with all kinds of things.  Things that are only seen by us and God.  Sin, pride, anger, bitterness, hurts, pain, issues that have yet to be dealt with.  We try to keep the outside looking good because on the inside we are cluttered up.

God wants to work in our hearts and remove the clutter.  He wants to do some spring cleaning in our spiritual lives.  There are things we keep hidden in our hearts that have been there for many years.  Isn’t it time that we throw away some “stuff”?  What is it that is cluttering your life?

Many people have been wondering why I haven’t been blogging as much the last couple of weeks.  No need to worry, I have been pretty busy with alot of other things.  We have some projects we are working on at the church and the house.  But one of the main reasons I haven’t been writing as much is because I have been suffering from writer’s block.  When I sit down to write it just does not seem to “flow”.  I don’t like to write unless it can “flow”, so I have been struggling with my creativity.  I believe that is changing and hope to be back in the swing of writing this week.  Pray that I will overcome the writer’s block.

I have an honest and curious question this morning if anyone can help answer it.  You know I often write “tongue in cheek”, but this is an real question for a serious problem. 

I heard this morning that we are not to call the swine flu, swine flu anymore because it is not caused by pigs.  This revelation comes after Egypt ordered 300,000 pigs slaughtered. Hence my question, “If swine flu is not caused by pigs, then why was it called swine flu in the first place?”

Somebody please help my understanding. If you have an answer, please leave it in the comments.

Today is Josh’s 15th birthday.  It is hard to believe that he is that old.  It seems like yesterday that he was born. 

I am proud of Josh and the man that he is becoming.  I am thankful for the way he is and the characteristics that God has given him.  He is a headstrong boy that is not easily swayed.  He stands for what he believes and does not waver from it.  He is a kind-hearted young man that gets along well with others.  He is well-behaved and respectful of his elders.  He serves in church any way he can and is willing to be my “pastoral assistant” (aka grunt labor). 

I am also thankful that Josh would rather read a book than do other things.  He would rather communicate with his parents than hang out in his room and listen to his ipod (which he refuses to own).  He would rather sit down and play board games as a family than to hide in his room and play video games.  He is a much different kid than I was at 15.  Josh is a gift from God and I look forward to what the future holds for him.

Happy Birthday Josh!  Your mom and I are proud of you!

"The exuberant joy of the early Christians was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity."

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression, page 5.   HT: Ray Ortlund