Michelle’s Thoughts

When I think of you

I think of a husband and a dad

I think of a computer technician

Who works at a non-profit corporation

Because he believes in what they do

I think of someone who loves being around people

And can strike up a conversation with just about anybody

I think of someone who doesn’t care all that much about

Being on time, what the house looks like, having everything planned out

Which is refreshing, sometimes frustrating

But part of what makes you you

I see someone who looks at me with love in his eyes

I’m yours and you watch out for me, listen to me, encourage me

Let me ramble

You’re someone who knows me and sees my silliness, my faults

And at times my pettiness, and loves me anyway

I see someone who laughs with me

Someone who makes me laugh and who thinks I’m funny

I see someone with quick wit, ready with an answer

I see someone who loves to learn

Someone who seeks out godly advice and counsel

Someone honorable, who strives to do what’s right

Looking out for that person stuck alongside the road, looking away from that ad, being honest with taxes, even picking up the piece of trash someone could hit with their car

I see someone aware of his surroundings, careful and watchful

Making me feel safe and protected

I see a Dad who treasures his little boy

Who wants to raise him to be a godly man

Who isn’t afraid to discipline when it’s needed

And who showers him with hugs and kisses making sure he knows he’s loved

Who plays and tickles and tosses

Delighting in giggles and smiles and new things learned

Who makes a decisive effort to put down his laptop – though having so much to do -

And spend time with little Ethan and with me each day

When I look at you I see a man

Of integrity and genuine care for others

Who is firm but gentle

Who loves his family and lives to serve God

Who is fun and quirky and flamboyant

When I look at you I see my husband – Christopher Philip Coryell -

And I am glad

I love you, Honey.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Eternity spent with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  Wow, what an opportunity.  But I don’t make all that much money.  I don’t know if I could scrape up enough to go.  I could sell my house, my car, work really hard…  Hmmm.  I’m not from a well-known family or anything.  He probably wouldn’t even know who I was, and if He did, I’m not that important.  Why would He invite me?  Poor, not from any special family, I don’t know if I have any chance of making it – ever.  I really want to, but is there any hope for me?

“You are invited to spend eternity with the King.  It will be a glorious experience.  Filled with more than you can ever imagine.”

Wow, I’m invited.  Wow!  But still, there’s the whole thing of paying for this.  It’s a little more than a dream vacation.  Where am I going to live?  I bet the rent’s crazy up there…  Wait, what’s this at the bottom?

“Paid in full.  Love, Your Father in Heaven.”

Paid in full?  No way!  This is better than anything I could have ever hoped for.  I need to respond as soon as I can.

“Thank you!  I would be absolutely delighted to attend and stay … well, forever.  This gift is … priceless.”

This morning, I woke up to a scratching noise coming from somewhere in our little cabin. My alarm had gone off once, but like most mornings, I had fallen back asleep for a bit. Having experienced this type of thing before, I knew right away that, “Honey, there’s a chipmunk in our house.” My husband Chris, who had been up late working on homework,  didn’t really respond. So I decided to go and check this noise out for myself.

I know that chipmunks aren’t really dangerous, but I hate the thought of them scurrying around by my feet, with the possibility of them scampering over my feet… It gives me the heeby-jeebys.

Well, I pinpointed the noise to the bathroom and after not seeing anything, I was about to blame the sound as coming from the wall… but then I saw it. A little tail sticking out from under our shower curtain. The little guy was stuck in our bathtub! He was trying to hide, but seemed to have forgotten to tuck in his tail. Now I get Chris since this obviously needed his immediate attention. “Chris, there’s a chipmunk in our bathtub!” He opened both eyes and looked at me, then got up, trapped the lively, wet chipmunk under a bucket and put Him outside. It was quite the adventuresome morning.

The funny thing about this whole ordeal is that last night Chris and I were having a prayer time. I was sharing how I had been frustrated with myself lately because it just seemed like I couldn’t get out of bed in the mornings to spend time with God and start the day how I would like to. Chris said something to the effect of, “Instead of just being frustrated and saying I can’t do it, why don’t you dialogue with God about what’s going on and ask Him to help you.” So I told God then how I was doing and asked Him to help me. Well, He did.  After the morning chipmunk, I had a morning quiet time.

So, what I learned this morning is that chipmunks are not very good at hide-and-seek, that instead of struggling on my own to do things I should try asking God for help, and that God loves me so much that He would send a chipmunk to get me up to spend a little time with Him.

What is it that you need God to help you with?  He knows what it is you need.

I pray God sends you a chipmunk soon…

“True worship comes from the heart that recognizes its desperate need for God’s mercy.”

-Thoughts On Worship

When I can see that I am nothing in myself,

When I know that I can’t do it on my own and I stop trying to,

When I see that I can’t be perfect -

that I mess up and sin, I fail, I hurt people, I’m forgetful and careless sometimes,

I can praise God more then than when I’m striving to be good in and of myself

When I look at myself and say, “I’m doing pretty good.”

Because when I see the truth – that I am being renewed but still broken; forgiven and washed clean, but still sinning; filled with the love of God but not to the full measure and still struggling to love selflessly… I can praise God because of His total love encompassing me; because of His patience as He shapes me and molds me day by day; because of the delight He takes in me though I am weak and broken, unlovely at times, imperfect.  Amazing God.  Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.

So when I see my slip-ups and tumbles, my attitudes that stink, my unloving heart and stubborness at times,  I can repent and ask God to fill me and be my strength because I can’t do it on my own.  I can rejoice in a God who loves me unconditionally and who won’t give up on me but who will “complete the good work He has started in me.” (Philippians 1:6)

Last Sunday night I was driving home from Menomonie thinking. I was struggling a little because my husband of seven months had just left on a week long business trip. First time apart : (.  As I prayed about that and was coming close to God for comfort and peace, the verse came to mind from Isaiah (26:3-4): He will keep him in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in Him. Then I thought of the verse that comes after that: Trust in the Lord forever, for the LORD the LORD is the Rock Eternal. Trust. How many, many verses, especially in the Psalm tell us to trust God? It’s mentioned over and over and over again. And that must mean it’s important and that it’s something we need to hear over and over and over again. I know I need to continually be reminded of it. I start to worry… no, trust God. Money issues come up – we’re a little tight – Uh-oh what will we do…no trust God. How many times has He come through in the past? 100% of the time. Or trusting God with people I love. Trusting God with me – my future and all of that. Driving home I was afraid. What if something happens to my husband while he’s gone? I love him so much, what if I were to lose him somehow? But then I stopped myself: Wait a minute. What has God said? And I started quoting it. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). God has plans to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:30-31) He has good in store for me. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) and God has perfect love for me.

Trust. It’s a hard one sometimes. To do it we have to let go of our control and have faith that God is indeed good. And that He is strong enough and capable enough and loving enough. That He’s wiser than us and that He has us in His hands where He will take care of us just like He’s promised.

Teach us to trust you more, God. Your children who worry and fret and try to fix and figure out where we don’t need to. Calm us with Your Father hand as You say, “It’s okay, trust Me.”