Immeasurably More

"Um.  Babe.  We just got an early Christmas present." 

Huh? 

"Are you kidding me?"   That's all I could muster out as I aimlessly wandered around JcPenney.  I was finishing up the last of my Christmas shopping when I got the call from my husband that we had just qualified for an all-expense-paid trip to the West Indies.  Phone in hand, I quickly googled something like "where in the world are the West Indies" as soon as I ended his call.  I really didn't care where they were. My children soon reminded me that we had just studied them earlier in the year.  Oh yes, that's the place where Christopher Columbus first discovered and named, thinking he was West of India.  Instead, he was in the CARIBBEAN - and that's where I'm going!!!!!  Today!!!

It's been a whirlwind of getting updated passports and finding a few new summer shirts in the dead of winter.  But it's here.  Today we leave for a week of island hopping in the French and British Virgin Islands.  Some of the places, I cannot even pronounce.  And I don't really care.  They all translate to "beautiful beach with 85 degree weather in February". 

I cannot begin to describe how overwhelmed I am with this trip.  It's something that we would never had planned for ourselves.  We will leave three children behind in the care of grandparents and friends for eight days.  I would never have done that on my own.  Even now it seems unnecessary and frivolous.  And yet exciting at the same time.

Even though our children will be in wonderful hands and will most likely enjoy the break in our routine, it is hard to leave them.  I'm a homeschooling mom that spends every day, all day with them.  Eight days away has never happened since having the first one over thirteen years ago.  Last night I couldn't sleep thinking of the nights away and having a million thoughts run through my wide-eyed head.  Nope, I would never have planned this.

As I have pondered all this over the last few weeks, I stand in awe of my Lord.  Not only is this a wonderful opportunity that we would never have planned ourselves, it also happens to fall on our 20th anniversary year.  We had flippantly talked of taking a long weekend somewhere to celebrate, but nothing like this.  It's totally a blessing.  I can't help but be reminded that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

This morning as I sat before the Lord in thankfulness for so many things, my mind went to Ephesians 5:20.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever.  Amen."

Yes, this trip is "immeasurably more" than I could have imagined.  But more than that, we can count on our Lord to be this in our everyday lives.  As I look back through seasons of life, through trials, through difficulties, and through good times, His Word is true.  He IS immeasurably more.  He can DO immeasurably more.  And He SHOWS me immeasurably more of Himself each and every year.  I stand in awe of that.  He exists to blow us away with Himself. 

So, how does this relate to 'water on the rock'?  Because my life season right now is immersed in child-raising, I cannot help but see the parallel.  I pray my heart out to God for the lives of my children.  I pour myself into them.  I mess up. I scold.  I discipline inappropriately. ....and often I live in guilt.  However, I am reminded today that God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" with our children, as well.  Leading them and instructing them in righteousness is often wearisome and fruitless in the day-to-day.  Many days, by 10:00 in the morning, I long for a do-over.  Yet, no matter how imperfect we parent, and no matter how inefficient we seem at leading them, I am certain that God sees our efforts and our trust in Him.  With that, He molds together our faith and His perfect plan.  We can trust Him to do "immeasurably more" with our/His children.  He longs to blow us away with Himself. 

This week I look forward to basking in the beauty of new places.  I anticipate laying my eyes on wonders that I don't normally see in southeast Missouri.  I long to be blown away by the Creator.  And when we return in a week, I want that longing to continue in the everyday.