Broken Heart

There is so much I could share about this weekend.....it was unreal.

I was blessed by the beauty of God's creation as our family made a 10km bike

  ride around a lake, and how wonderful it is that God has set us in families.

So many encouraging moments with God were brought through other people's lives.

I was encouraged by a young man, who has chosen to go against the grain;

 He is not willing to compromise....and will speak out, and challenge what you think.

 He is taking the bible seriously and literally as he seeks to honor God with his life.

I was encouraged by a family who honors God with their possessions and shares what 

 God has blessed them with, to invest in the lives of other families and teens as well.

I was blessed by my pastor's teaching on prayer and a heart of worship.

I was blessed by the message of forgiveness displayed in the life of a young woman 

  held captive in Somalia for 15 and a half months.

My heart is broken for the things that breaks God's heart....and I am encouraged to see 

  it throughout my church.  In the lives of fathers, mothers, grandparents and teens.

 

If you want to see how God touched me in one way this weekend please watch the service 

  from yesterday online....it will be worth your time!  

http://www.livestream.com/crossroadsreddeer/video?clipId=pla_3501d7fd-d2ec-4345-a3a8-c07a661fcc81

Thank you Daddy for all the people you have placed in my life....for the God appointments!
I pray that You would continue to break our hearts for the things that break yours.
That we may live lives that glorify and honor you.....move us into action;
  to be Your hands and feet to a broken world, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

Refreshing

I have been reading the book of Jeremiah the last while.
Don't know if you have ever just camped out in a certain area of the bible or not.
But I have found it fantastic in this time.
Especially since my hearts desire is personal increase in maturity, character and holiness.
I stumbled upon this verse the other day when I was camping.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
  whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
  that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
  its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
  and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8

In all truth, I do not believe in coincidences....that I ended up here was not an accident.
I was needing encouragement that morning, because my son was up all night coughing and I was exhausted.
We had a full day ahead of us and this verse put my mind to God.
It reminded me to trust Him with the day ahead!
Sometimes in the business of life we think;
....I will get to God's Word later
....I know where to find Him
....He is always there for me

The truth is that He will sustain us and give us what we need when we go to Him.
Another is that we invest time in the things that are important to us.
If I want to be be fruitful and fulfill all the plans God has purposed for my life,
 I need to make my relationship with Him an utmost priority.

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
   call on him while he is near. 
Isaiah 55:6

Food for Thought:
Reading this verse made me think that if I am called to seek the Lord while he may be found,
that there will be a time when He will not be.

Daddy, as I wake up each day expecting to hear Your voice and see You throughout the day,
please increase my desire for the things of You and make me aware and sensitive to notice
Your fingerprints on the small and big things of this day.  

Family

As I woke up this morning, I pondered....
   how is it possible to be exhausted and refreshed at the same time?
I  just came back from what I would say is markedly the best part of my summer thus far.
My cousin and I planned our first family reunion and it was located on their farm.
What a perfect setting it was...I'll give you a few of my favorite highlights!

• tipping the tent trailer with Teresa during set-up
• Laura biting it on the scooter
• late campfires
• watching the kids playing in the woodpile (it looked like life-sized lego blocks)
• Playing with my sweet Jackey-bum
• long-legs the sheep and the phantom baa-ing
• California Cows
• Impromptu "Melo's Barber Shop" in the morning
• Emily's awesome scavenger hunt
• literally screaming as Chris took me four-bying on his gator
• hearing Chris re-tell me that Caleb was  "up for anything" when it was his turn
• Epic water fights
• Mayson swimming nudy in the pool (he's only one)!
• Megan's tattoos 
• Watching my cousin's kids lovin' on my kids 
• Talent show!!! Teresa's MMA moves and Eva's Classic Rewind rocked my world.
• So many other hilarious skits...i.e. Lochlin's Old McDonald had a jazzy farm rendition!
• Chris's stories....any/all of them!
• Andre' playing electric guitar
• One on one time with  my cousin Teresa
• Riding to the pool in the big yellow bus and the wild ride home!
• Hanging out with my Aunty Mel, I especially loved watching her dancing with Kaitlyn, it reminded me of when she and I use to do the same thing!
• I love her girls...they will try anything!
• Kaitlyn "getting me"....she is a savage shark in the pool you know and way too cute!
• The girls picking on Andrew....he had it coming....don't feel too sorry for him!
• Horse back riding with Jerome...almost falling off my horse Nelly at a full gallop.
• Writing our names in the abandoned house
• Watching Jerome, Eric and James run and jump on Harley (Jerome's horse) like the lone-ranger.
• .....and of course Matthew's attempt.....hey, at least he tried.
• Quading with Aunty Anna
• Raymond's hoola-hooping skills and yelling "your the best cousin ever" when I soaked him on the gator!

.....so many more things I could go on and on!
I absolutely adore my family.....almost everyone got to come for at least part of it!
I loved watching my dad enjoying all the kids....
   I loved that we got to make so many great memories together!
I'm so glad my grandma got to come, and loved the video of my grandpa....
   just the way I remember him.


There, in the presence of the LORD your God, 
  you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything 
  you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:17 

Thank you Daddy for blessing the time we spent together as family, making memories together!