{Five Minute Friday: Willing}

It's Friday.  So, I will write. It's been a while.  But, that's ok. Five minutes. No starting and stopping. No editing. Just writing. You want to join me?  I'd thought you'd never ask! Here's where you can find out how to join me (and lots of others). And, go.

Willing.  That’s the word.

Being willing, in my mind, has everything to do with surrender.  It’s submission. It’s letting go. It means being willing to lose my life for Him so that I can find it in Him. It means living with open hands and an open heart.

Willing.

Willing to be bold. Willing to be courageous. Willing to be obedient. Willing to love extravagantly. Willing to be generous. Willing to believe. Willing to trust. Willing to be His. All His.

The good news: If I am willing, then so is He.  He’s more than willing. He never asked anything more of me than for me to be willing. 

And, I am. I am willing to lay my heart and my life wide open in His hands so that He can  do with me what He will.

Stop.

{I Didn't See THAT coming . . .}

This week I met a woman who was brokenhearted. I knew that she lost her husband a few months ago after a 14 year battle with cancer. I knew that she had recently endured surgery and her recovery was estimated to take up to a year. So, before I arrived, I knew.

Even still, I was not prepared for what happened next.

I was there to walk through her home and provide and estimate for residential house cleaning services. She opened her door and greeted us.  "Hi Mrs. X., I'm Valerie. It's nice to meet you. Thank you so much for having us." She responded kindly, thanking us for coming. Then I asked, "How are you today?" {Sidebar: I cannot tell you how often I have been guilty of asking that question already anticipating that the answer is "Fine, thanks."} I do not know why I asked the question.  It simply rolled out of my mouth before I could stop it.  "How are you today?" 

And, then there were tears. She responded, "I'm not so good today." And, more tears.

Suddenly it dawned on me. (Duh!) This was about much more than an estimate for residential house cleaning service. This was a God-moment. I was there because that sweet woman needed to be reminded that God loves her, he sees her, he is very near and promises to bind up her wounds and heal her broken heart. So, I reminded her.

I walked away from there being reminded myself that God is always working. He is ordering my steps. He is putting people in my path, on purpose. So, I have to remember to slow down. To see. To listen. To be obedient. When I rush through my day with my head down, refusing to see people, I miss opportunities to see God answer a prayer that I've been praying: God, use me. Holy Spirit, work through me so that people see Jesus. 

Let them see Jesus. Always. JESUS. 

{Pink or Blue? Phoebe or Phoebo?}

Finally! We know the answer to the million dollar question. The topic has been debated in our house from day 1. William wanted a baby brother. Madeleine wanted a baby sister. Brian had a "hunch" it was a boy. I had a feeling it was a girl. In reality, it didn't really matter! Today as we walked across the parking lot heading toward the doctor's office William made an announcement: If his prediction was correct, we should pay him $700. If Madeleine's prediction was correct, then she should be paid. She tried to explain why this was an unreasonable bet and offered an alternative: If it was a boy, William would have the honor of naming him. If it was a girl, she would have the honor! Of course, we agreed to neither! :) We kept walking.

It was a painfully long walk from the car to the door. With every step a new wave of emotion swept over me. Excitement. Joy. Anticipation. Then, apprehension and anxiety. I was more anxious than I realized, and by the time the elevator doors closed I couldn't breathe. Before we reached the fourth floor a vivid memory smacked me in the face. I remembered walking into the same kind of appointment 15 years ago completely oblivious to the fact that something might be wrong. I also remembered walking out of that appointment knowing something was terribly wrong.

Jesus, I need You.

Then, calm. Peace.

Nothing is wrong. Baby looks great. And I am thankful. That is what matters.

Baby Girl Jones!

So, here's a 20-week photo of Baby GIRL! It's a profile shot. If you look closely, you can see a little arm and hand covering her precious little face. She weighs in at about 12 oz.!

The next order of business is naming her! We already have a list going. We thought it'd be fun to hear what you think. What's your favorite Baby Girl name?

[polldaddy poll=5536224]