Today I met Jesus for lunch. I had no plans and was thinking of what to do when I heard him suggest it to my heart. I gladly went to one of my favorite nearby eateries and sat down, imagining Him seated across from me. I sat quietly and prayed silently, “Here I am. I’m just going to be quiet so you can talk today.” I could almost see him smile at me. I smiled to myself and waited some more. He just kept smiling. I felt such peace and contentment. I thought about lunch yesterday, how I had met two girlfriends and how much fun it was to visit with them. We didn’t need to talk about church stuff or conflict or issues, we just wanted to be together and it was wonderful. As I thought about that, I heard Jesus say, “That’s how I feel. I’m just glad you wanted to be with me. I have no agenda today. I just want to spend time with you.” The love in His words overwhelmed me. What freedom! “You mean sometimes we can just be – I don’t need to pray anything. I can just sit here and enjoy You being here?” Jesus smiled again. Thinking about it now still moves me. How many times do I come to Him with a long list of prayer requests or guilt over the fact that I haven’t actually said the names of everyone on my list out loud so he can answer my prayers? How often do I feel He has a big agenda for our times together, that it’s always going to be a time to discipline me or train me?
Could it really be okay to just sit in his arms or across a table from Him and let Him love me? Continue reading
My friend graciously forgave me as we talked this afternoon. I’ve been thinking about it since and remembered that verse in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” As we walk our path alongside our friends we sometimes clash, sometimes accidentally bang into one another, sometimes get scraped. If we’re following Jesus, He can use these “incidents” to sharpen each of us, to mold us, to perfect us. This type of shaping is bound to hurt – sometimes a little, sometimes a lot – but the end result can be good.
I was privileged to walk in the Komen Race for the Cure this past Saturday with one of my daughters and four friends. What a great day! Here are some things I loved about that day:
I love the contagious sense of excitement as we made our way through the course set out for us. At one point someone started the wave way up front and it traveled all the way through the throng to the back as we all shouted and cheered.
Have you seen Fantasia 2000? I haven’t watched it for a while because we have it on VHS and need a new VHS player. It would be fun to get it on DVD and watch it on a big screen. Disney created animated sequences to interpret some well-known classical music. It’s imaginative and visually stunning at times! The last song/sequence is the very best in my opinion – breathtaking!
I’m so blessed to have both my parents living and that we have an open, loving relationship. It enriches my life and gives me so much support – just knowing they love me and are there for me. I hope I can do the same for them!
I just enjoyed a few days with my mom. She came over to visit since my girls are on spring break so I took two days off work. We saw a movie, shopped ’til we dropped (groceries and the mall), ate some M & M’s and ice cream, drank diet cokes & coffee, and just relaxed. My favorite part of the visit was when we had breakfast together at Bob Evans one morning, not because of the yummy omelet and pancake, but because of the heartfelt open conversation.
Last week I got to fly and see my sister in Phoenix for free! Free doesn’t always mean easy or super convenient however. It was totally worth it, but the trip home was arduous, boring, frustrating, and long. My sis and I looked at the flights on the Internet and saw they were all full, however sometimes people sleep through their alarms or miss flights so there’s hope of getting on as a standby, especially if you’re early to the gate. It’s spring break and there were teens, kids, families, and college kids everywhere. I signed in and didn’t get on, I went to the next gate for the next flight and didn’t get on, I walked quickly to the next gate and signed in but it looked bleak so I left and went to the 4th gate/flight and signed in. I sat for a moment eating my cinnamon roll (hey, might as well eat something yummy while I wait right?). I thought I’d better visit the restroom before it got too close to boarding time but when in the restroom heard my name over the loud speaker, “Michele Klotz come to gate C4 to board your flight.” That was the 3rd flight I thought I missed! And it’s clear on the other end of this concourse!! I grabbed my two bags and big diet coke and started all-out sprinting, down the moving sidewalks, past slow-movers and standers, “excuse me, pardon me” I said breathlessly while silently praying God would help me not collapse before I got there. I made it, and presented my boarding pass while grasping the counter and bending over – my heart pounding. “I’m on a flight!” I thought as I happily made my way to a seat between two large people. When you fly standby and are the last on full flights, you get the squished-in the-middle seats. “That’s okay” I thought, “at least I’m outta here.” The flight was smooth and uneventful. As I walked out of the jet way into the airport I looked up at the departure signs for some idea of where to race next and try for a flight. Uh oh. 
Along the Narrow Path 