His strength is made perfect...

This week God has had me studying through the circumstances surrounding David's prayer for forgiveness. As I've looked at the rewards of a broken and contrite heart, my own heart has been so encouraged. It seems I am most faithful in my time with the Lord when my time seems the most limited. Lord, grant me consistency in my spiritual walk!

Yesterday ended my husband's two weeks on what we call the 'night shift'. Really, he only works till 8:00 or 9:00 most evenings, but because this involves most of the kids' inter-active hours, it makes a real difference in the spirit of our home. When Dan left for his shift yesterday, two of the kids were heading out to various activities, but the one (of the teen boys) who would be staying with me had already been part of several discipline situations. I was dreading the prospect of constantly correcting him, which I suspected would culminate with my being accused of just being a 'wicked step-mom.'

Instead, God showed His strength through my weakness, and I had a wonderful afternoon and evening with M!  What a change from the way I had assumed the evening would go!  We laughed and teased each other, and he helped me to accomplish all the little 'necessary' things, while interacting sweetly with the younger girls, who were also home. It was such a sweet reminder to me of God's ability to shine through our weaknesses, at the end of a long work-week without my hubby, to change each of our behaviors just enough to truly enjoy our time together.

I hope you'll take with you today the reminder that God's strength comes in surprising ways sometimes. Instead of giving me the consistency I thought I would need to be a loving disciplinarian for the expected problems, God just granted me a fun evening with a son whom I dearly love!  What a joy!  Go in grace...

Rachel