"I am slow of speech and tongue."

I finally had the chance to watch “The King’s Speech” this weekend.  Excellent movie!  Probably not one I’d watch more than once or twice, but I thought it was very well done, and an insightful look into that particular royal family. 

After having read this article {link} awhile ago, I was even more intrigued to see the film.  I thought Colin Firth’s portrayal of the King was excellent, and I truly felt my heart go out to him as he struggled with his speech impediment.  As somebody who doesn’t like public speaking to begin with, I can’t imagine the personal humiliation of the problem being compounded with stuttering and stammering. 

The movie also created a lovely picture of his wife & children and the unconditional love and support they gave him as he struggled to overcome this impairment.

There was a scene that particularly stuck out to me, where he was so distraught over the pressure and his inadequacy that he shook with tears and yelled: “I am not a king; I am not a king!!!”  

It reminded me of Moses in Exodus 3 & 4 where God told him to go to Pharaoh and ask for the release of the Israelites.  God gave Moses everything he would need, and what was the response? 

Exodus 4:10 –  Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

I can just hear him saying “I am not a king; I am not a king!”  (perhaps “ambassador” would be a better word in this case.)

Exodus 4:11&12 - The LORD said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths?  Who makes them deaf or mute?  Who gives them sight or makes them blind?  Is it not I the LORD?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

God will equip those He has called.

Exodus 4:13-14a - But Moses said, "Pardon your servant, Lord.  Please send someone else."  Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses...

Ouch.  I think this was a long lesson for Moses to learn.  But isn’t it for all of us?  How many times have I felt prompted to do something and yet shirked away from it because of my own feeling of inadequacy?  Probably more times than I would like to recall. 

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

God never promised us that life would be easy, but He did promise that He would never leave or forsake us, and that He would give us the strength to do whatever He has asked of us. 

It’s been my experience in life that God doesn’t often just plop us into a vat full of grace and call it a day.  It’s usually more like droplets of grace sprinkled through each day, just enough to get us through, but not so much that we forget where our abilities and strength come from or our need to depend completely on Him. 

Have you felt those drops of grace in the midst of inadequacy lately?

What I'm Loving

Good morning, friends!

Today I'm linking up with Jamie for :

"What I'm Loving Wednesday"

1.) My husband recently got me hooked on Peace Tea and my tastebuds are pretty happy about it.  It's glorified ice tea in a can with some carbonation.  The Razzleberry is my favorite! 
Have you ever tried it? 

via

2.)  Toe spreaders.  I always chuckled at the images of fancy ladies at spas with their toes all spread apart with those foam spacers...until I decided to give it a try myself.  Wow, what a difference!  Seriously, who knew that they could be so helpful when you're trying to paint your own toes!

3.) You want to wake up to liquid sunshine brewing in your coffee pot?  How about Dunkin Donuts Strawberry Shortcake coffee?  Oh yes, this is dessert in your coffee mug. 
Go buy some....you know you want to.
(Target carries it!)

4.)  I'm definitely loving all the gorgeous flowers blooming right now, specifically the huge peony bush outside my kitchen window.  The smell is lush and the blooms are so big and fluffy.  They make beautiful bouquets on our kitchen table, and a vase of them came into the office with my as well.

There are so many things to love about this time of year! 

What are you lovin' on today? 

Making My World Go-Round

It’s Monday morning and all is right with the world.

Not because it’s Monday mind you, but because my dear husband is back home safe. 

He was gone eight days at a training seminar for work, and let me tell you, I’m not use to him being so far away!  (yes, I'm spoiled...and in love.) We have never gone more than a couple days without seeing each other since we were engaged so this was a new experience for me.  (and not one I was completely fond of either. Ahem.)

{Made me think of all your military wives out there who do that for months on end.  Hats off to you girls!} 

In the midst of his trip, I was reminded how important it is to cherish the little moments in life.  I was surprised to realize it was the little things that I missed the most… hearing his car pull in the driveway, or hearing his key in the door.  How he sneaks up behind me while I’m doing dishes just to put his arms around me and kiss my cheek, or when he randomly bursts into song. 

The little moments in life that are so easy to take for granted but are truly what makes the world go-round. 

via

At least my world.   

“Home” is wherever we’re together.  Simple concept, but definitely reinforced to me this past week.  Without him in it, the house felt like just a house.  But yesterday, it was home again. 

Sure, I might have gotten to sleep in the middle of the bed and had four pillows all to myself, but it’s lonely in the middle without my other half.   We were able to video-chat every night, but it just isn’t the same.  I was thankful for it, don’t get me wrong, but it was almost a taunt at the same time.  Being so close and yet so far at the same time is a strange feeling. 

Saturday night I went to the airport to pick him up, and seeing his face come through the gate suddenly made the past several days feel like a blur.  He was home.  My best friend, my husband…

In honor of my dearly-beloved’s homecoming, I made Cinnamon Roll Pancakes for breakfast Sunday morning.   You can view the recipe Here.   Although the pancakes turned out good, I was still slightly disappointed with the results.  Hubby thought it was the icing on top that needed a little work (maybe a thinner milk & powdered sugar drizzle would have been better?)  and I was just expecting perhaps something a little more dense overall.  All that aside however, they were quite tasty and we definitely enjoyed them!   

I loved the way they looked with the cinnamon swirl in the middle!!

Can’t believe I didn’t get a picture of the finished product, but you can check it out at the link above.

Happy Monday, ya’ll!  Hope all is well in your world!