Happy Birthday, Taylor!

     Today Taylor turned 11!  Today was awesome in so many ways.  I got to hang out with the Birthday Girl for much of the day, teaching art in her class and having lunch together.  After school, we went to Lauren's softball game which also happens to be one of Taylor's favorite things to do. She kept saying, "This is the greatest birthday ever!" throughout the day.  What joyous words to hear for a mom.
     One of Taylor's latest talents is being able to call balls and strikes, high and low pitches, pitches in the dirt and over the catcher's head strictly from listening to where the ball is caught (or not).  It's incredible...and she's nearly always right.  Tonight was no exception, and it got me thinking.  What if I was that in tune with the Lord's voice?  What if I could decipher His voice that clearly?  What am I doing to be more in tune with Him all day long?  Tonight was a great lesson for me.
     After the game, Taylor got to experience the catcher's gear first hand.  She couldn't get over how heavy it was and how much work it was to get it on and off all game long.  She asked questions about why it was needed and what each piece was for.   This got me thinking too.  I have to get my equipment and gear ready for the fast balls, curve balls, and change-ups of life.  That would come in the form of putting on the whole armor of God in Ephesians.  Now I'll definitely think of His armor as our catcher comes out prepared for each inning.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:11-17