The good, the bad and the downright ugly....

    You wake up early, get a good quiet time in, get lunches made and a healthy breakfast and everyone is out the door on time.  You don't hit any red lights getting them to school, your coffee is the perfect temperature, you get most of your checklist done, you pick the kid's up from school and have a rather quiet evening....it's been a rather good day.
    You wake up late, no time to make even a bowl of cereal for the kid's, they're in a bad mood and not willing to get dressed; they're complaining about the uniform they've had to wear all year; but this morning it's just not what they're wanting to wear.  You trip over the cat and stump your toe - you've had no time to spend with God, let alone do your hair; so the ball cap goes on.  Your coffee is mocha instead of white mocha; therefore you've wasted $3; you hit every red light there is, the kid's are still fussing in the back seat that they hate school and it's stupid and the line to get into the school is the longest it's been all year.  You get back home only to realize you were supposed to make 2 stops to drop off mail and dry cleaning and once you get back home you just wish the day could start over.
    Does any of this sound familiar to you?  Welcome to my crazy world of 4 kid's, a cat and a very new family member; the dog.  All this craziness, believe it or not, comes from the Lord.

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this:  God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:14 - NIV

You see, when we choose to follow Christ, he gives us what we need to handle the good with the bad; he clothes us with righteousness and patience and strength.  His word teaches us how to be humble in the midst of whatever circumstance we face; whether it's the car not starting or a diagnosis of cancer.  We were faced with the downright ugly about 9 months ago when our oldest daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  My close relationship with Christ made us able to get through it with complete faith that His will was already at work and that we just had to lean on Him to get through each day, one at a time.

    God was in the midst of that just like he was in the midst of my coffee spilling on me last Sunday at church.  It's how we handle our situations that reflect our relationship with Him.  So as you start your day today and things go good or crazy; remember that Christ allowed all of it and just give Him thanks that you are alive another day to experience what He has in store for you!  You were made for a higher purpose and He is using you in all He brings you to. -CiCi