I love to paint. Not with brushes that bristle and break but with words on creased pages that fold and stain with coffee. Because life bumps into me and spills the black coffee onto pages and instead of crumpling the paper and tossing it into the can of trash I let it dry. I accept the stain as beauty because it has collided with paper in one sweeping moment and left its mark.

And so it is with your life. Don’t crumple the pages of your day as the Father is gently trying to write His love story upon your moments. The beauty of sanctification is not in the denial process but the accepting of God’s hand in it all. In it all.

And so, today… as loads of laundry are passed from dryer, to basket, to rooms filled with the warmth of little people, commune with your Heavenly Father.

When dishes are scrubbed and water beads and you wipe them dry all over again, thank your Heavenly Father for the food you consumed upon those dishes. Commune with Him.

When your body aches with the pangs of personal health struggles, thank Him for the body He gave you and that His Spirit lives within you to make you strong in your weakness. Commune with Him.

When your son climbs upon your lap with his green tractor and wraps his arm around your neck and kisses your cheek and snuggles… linger long and thank God for the blessing of the child upon your lap. Commune with Him.

We are meant to abide in Him. Fellowship with Him. Meet with Him. Commune with Him. Your Heavenly Father desires to meet with you… all throughout your day… not just during your quiet time, but in the quiet, in the noise, in the hurt, in the joys of your whole day.

-Words written in 2012. . . that I needed to read today.