Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Life Lesson #1....Talking to God!

Having a child has been an overwhelming experience. There are so many things I want to teach Samuel. I don't want him to make the same mistakes I did. I think back and wonder how things would have been different if I knew then, what I know now!?!

The first thing I want to teach Samuel is how to have a relationship with God!

When I was a child....actually, for the first 30 years of my life....I felt like prayer was just a boring routine to a figure that I could never really reach, let alone ever really hear from. I tried to reach out to Him, but I never felt Him touching me. However, when I was trying to touch Him, I wanted things the way I wanted them and didn't see that His way was ultimately better....if only I had listened! I can look back now and see so many instances where He was right there with me, I just wasn't listening and I was too selfish to hear Him.

I first started really hearing Him during my divorce about 10 years ago. I can't explain why it happened then, but I was finally at the end of my rope. He got me through the divorce, bankruptcy and depression.

I learned to "talk" with Him. I yelled at him when I was mad, cried when I was sad and laughed when I was happy. I felt Him speaking to me though all the people in my life and all the situations that presented themselves. 

I want Samuel to know he can talk to God about anything: all his problems, successes, dreams and fears. God will always be there for him, even when Mommy and Daddy can't be. God will ALWAYS have Samuel's best interests at heart.

The book, THE SHACK, has changed how I relate and communicate with God. This book showed me that He wants to hear about our day. He wants to be our friend. He wants to hear about our hopes, dreams, fears and anxieties. He has the answers and He will show them to you, but you have to be open to His plans and answers, not the plans and answers you want, but the plans and answers He has. This isn't to say that you can't plan your own life, but just be open to Him taking you in a different direction or reaching your dreams in a different way. 

God has brought this little man into my life for a purpose and I want to bring God into his life to give it a purpose.

5 comments:

Amy said...

The Shack was a blessing to my life too. Thank you for sharing it with me.:)

I pray that Samuel walks his life in total peace with God.

God Bless,
Amy:)

Becky said...

This is a beautiful testimony Tracey and so true!!!
I'm sure your son will learn and follow in your example.

LL said...

I want to read this book! i have heard so many awesome things about it.

You and your husband will be such a wonderful testament of God's love. I love my quiet time with God, I find myself talking with him throughout the day and I love it when I hear His voice.

Anonymous said...

I read "The Shack" too and I loved it.

Patti said...

Your post reminded me - I had "The Shack" on my Christmas wish list- but I didn't get it! I just may be off to the bookstore tomorrow. :-)

Happy New Year, Tracey and Thank your keeping me on your prayer list.

Be Blessed - Patti