"The Lord looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him..." Luke 22:61

This past year I've been part of a group going through the Beth Moore study "Jesus the One and Only". If you're not familiar with the study series, let me just say that they are as in depth as any Bible course.

Today my reading took me to the scene where Peter denied Jesus. It hit me hard how easy it is to deny Jesus, not just by what I say or do, but by what I don't say or do. That is where I fall the hardest; when no one is aware of my shortcuts or temptation to relax with a few more minutes of TV, one more chapter in the book I'm reading and so on.

During a baptism yesterday at church I was also reminded that as a parent, I am not the only one that is impacted by my relationship with God, my children and those that live with us are also impacted. Above all, it is my children that see what I do, or do not do. Above all they are the ones that hear my harsh words or are touched by the effects of the stress I encounter. It hits me hard when I consider the challenge to keep my relationship with God on track, but when I also see how it relates to the rest of my household and those I encounter throughout the day then it hits me even harder.

As a Christian I have to remember that, as Max Lucado writes, "It's not about me." In today's world, especially in the West, that is a very radical statement. Even from Nigeria, the belief that I "deserve" certain things in life, or the idea I might "deserve" an outcome, like a job promotion, to be in my favor are the norm.

Lent is nearly over and Easter is right around the corner so it is a good time to examine how we each deny the cross in a variety of ways. Let us not be guilty of putting ourselves before God or God's will. Let us not be guilty of giving anyone we meet during the day cause to wonder whether or not we are Christians or do assume that we support an idea or attitude that is not of God.

In the end, it is so reassuring that, just as Peter discovered, Jesus does not abandon us when we forsake him. He knows the limitations of our humanity and understands that we are often so hardheaded that we have to learn some lessons many times in the course of our lives. Thankfully, He is always waiting for us to call on His divine intervention and lean on Him even more; He will even carry us if only we ask!

May you too recognize that accepting our human limitations does not deny who we are, but opens up the possibility to become who God envisions us to be!

Have a blessed day!

Dorthea

SpringBreak

It's funny how we anticapate something like a holiday and then it comes and before we hardly realize it, it is over! Our break from school was only ten days, and now there are only three left. Since I'm a teacher, I'm already thinking about the marking I hope to make a bigger dent in, reading to do, a paper teachers are expected to submit, and lessons to think about.

It's a good thing I'm trying to give up on stressing out, or I'd be climbing a tree by now.

Last month I felt like I was still dealing with crisis issues, but then I finally got around to having a debriefing and realized how much God has guided my life over the years and, amazingly, a few people have noted how much more calm I am or to ask me for advice on living in Nigeria!

Now that I've reached my mid 40's, I feel like I am finally dealing with today, today (as we say here, that means, the here and now). Tomorrow is there waiting, and being prepared for things like retirement is a wise thing to aim for, but I'm finally at that stage where I am happy with where I am in life.

I don't have to stress about finishing school like my high school students, I don't have to worry about furthering my education like the young adults around me, I don't have to worry about finding a husband (God sent me a great man!), I don't have to worry about having babies (I trust that stage has past!), I enjoy guiding my own children through their stages, but don't want to rush them...I enjoy my career (any change there is up to God) and so on...

Oh, don't get me wrong, I still struggle with issues and students at school, I still shout at my kids sometimes and I still struggle with housekeeping, getting to school on time and meeting various deadlines, but seeing God's hand in my life is a great gift and is a great stress reducer!

I pray that God is revealing Himself to you too and that His hand is visible in your life. If you can't quite see it, try meeting him more often. Hearing God takes time, and the best way to hear him better is by taking more time to listen to His voice in His word, in prayer and in fellowship with other seeking Christians.

Take time to open your eyes and your ears!

Dorthea