I am excited, it's a new day....I feel encouraged and energized!
Taking steps in the the right direction can be so challenging.
This time I am taking advice that I've heard over and over again;
enlist the help of buddies....have a support system.
Friends to pray for me, I can be accountable to and love me along the way.
God can work when our issues are brought out into the light!
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:21-23
Thank you Daddy for faithful and loving friends, Your hands and feet in my life.
And thank you that Your mercies are new each day.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Do the Hard Things
Sometimes I get very overwhelmed with the things that need to be done,
especially the Hard Things....things I don't really want to do, but know I need to.
I really feel God calling me to stop looking at the big and overwhelming picture of life.
He has that covered!
I also feel God calling me to stop looking to people and things to meet my needs.
He has that covered too!
I feel Him calling me to take things one day at a time.
His grace is enough!
Some things I need to do are going to be hard, but the victory that lies on the
other side will be worth this time of sacrifice and momentary dicomfort.
I will trust in Him!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Thank you Daddy that Your Word says that You will meet me where I am at. As I draw near to You, you will draw near to me. You hear my prayers, You give me grace and strength for any and every situation and circumstance I encounter.
especially the Hard Things....things I don't really want to do, but know I need to.
I really feel God calling me to stop looking at the big and overwhelming picture of life.
He has that covered!
I also feel God calling me to stop looking to people and things to meet my needs.
He has that covered too!
I feel Him calling me to take things one day at a time.
His grace is enough!
Some things I need to do are going to be hard, but the victory that lies on the
other side will be worth this time of sacrifice and momentary dicomfort.
I will trust in Him!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Thank you Daddy that Your Word says that You will meet me where I am at. As I draw near to You, you will draw near to me. You hear my prayers, You give me grace and strength for any and every situation and circumstance I encounter.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Realistic Expectations
Well, I've gotten a good dose of time to reflect on my expectations.
It all started with a conversation with a friend and our struggles with this issue.
And it ended last night. It was our 10th Anniversary.
I planned to make a nice dinner, set a nice table and enjoy a lovely meal ending with a delightful dessert accompanied by some sparkling apple juice so that our boys could celebrate with us.
Did I say I planned? .....oh yes, I sure did.....
Well it ended up being hurt feelings, cereal for supper and us not talking...awesome!
I'm sharing this not to complain, not to bad-mouth my husband....but to process what God would have wanted me to do with this situation. What could I have done differently?
I really think I need to spend less time:
- fantasizing over how I think conversations will go.
- hoping others will receive things the way I hope they will.
- wondering why? Why things don't turn out the way I hoped...
I need to spend more time:
- blessing people, just to bless them.
- remembering that when I'm apart from my hubby,
I have no idea what struggles he has encountered.
- giving the benefit of the doubt.....
- asking God to enter into my time with others!
Trusting God to work it out!
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.
Romans 12:17-19
The end of all things is near.
Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1Peter 4:7-9
Daddy, I thank you that You love me.....even when I struggle to know if I am doing things right, and when I mess it up royally. Please help me to love others the way You love me, to give the benefit of the doubt, and not to waste my time fantasizing and worrying about the "what-ifs".
It all started with a conversation with a friend and our struggles with this issue.
And it ended last night. It was our 10th Anniversary.
I planned to make a nice dinner, set a nice table and enjoy a lovely meal ending with a delightful dessert accompanied by some sparkling apple juice so that our boys could celebrate with us.
Did I say I planned? .....oh yes, I sure did.....
Well it ended up being hurt feelings, cereal for supper and us not talking...awesome!
I'm sharing this not to complain, not to bad-mouth my husband....but to process what God would have wanted me to do with this situation. What could I have done differently?
I really think I need to spend less time:
- fantasizing over how I think conversations will go.
- hoping others will receive things the way I hope they will.
- wondering why? Why things don't turn out the way I hoped...
I need to spend more time:
- blessing people, just to bless them.
- remembering that when I'm apart from my hubby,
I have no idea what struggles he has encountered.
- giving the benefit of the doubt.....
- asking God to enter into my time with others!
Trusting God to work it out!
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.
Romans 12:17-19
The end of all things is near.
Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1Peter 4:7-9
Daddy, I thank you that You love me.....even when I struggle to know if I am doing things right, and when I mess it up royally. Please help me to love others the way You love me, to give the benefit of the doubt, and not to waste my time fantasizing and worrying about the "what-ifs".
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Confessions of a Praise Junky
Yes I will admit it.....I am a praise junky!
Just ask Shauna. After spending a weekend scrapbooking with me, she is a reliable witness.
I don't know why, but I love when someone loves something I love, something I've made,
or something I've done. You may be just like me, or you may think I'm off my rocker! Hahaha!
I realized that I also love hearing that something I have written or said has in some way
blessed someone else.
I mean we all love to feel loved and appreciated to some degree.
The other thing is that I want to be a person who walks in humility and love toward others.
To flip the coin though; I love to praise others!
There is nothing more fulfilling to me, than to see someone else's face light up
when they receive encouragement.
And, I love praising God for all the good things He does for me each and every day!
I guess like anything else there needs to be BALANCE.
The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will extol Him.
Exodus 15:2
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
1Chronicles 16:8-10
Thank you Daddy for all You do for me. Your blessing are exceedingly, abundantly far greater than I can ask or imagine. I praise You for Your are good, and You are God.
It is right to give You thanks and praise.
Just ask Shauna. After spending a weekend scrapbooking with me, she is a reliable witness.
I don't know why, but I love when someone loves something I love, something I've made,
or something I've done. You may be just like me, or you may think I'm off my rocker! Hahaha!
I realized that I also love hearing that something I have written or said has in some way
blessed someone else.
(So, thank you to everyone who has ever left a comment on this blog.)
I haven't decided if this is a problem or not;I mean we all love to feel loved and appreciated to some degree.
The other thing is that I want to be a person who walks in humility and love toward others.
To flip the coin though; I love to praise others!
There is nothing more fulfilling to me, than to see someone else's face light up
when they receive encouragement.
And, I love praising God for all the good things He does for me each and every day!
I guess like anything else there needs to be BALANCE.
The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will extol Him.
Exodus 15:2
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
1Chronicles 16:8-10
Thank you Daddy for all You do for me. Your blessing are exceedingly, abundantly far greater than I can ask or imagine. I praise You for Your are good, and You are God.
It is right to give You thanks and praise.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Beauty in the Morning
This morning I had the most amazing walk, I love spring!
I listened to the chickadees chirping their "cheeseburger" song.
I don't mean the Veggi-tales one...Hahaha.
(my son went to a nature pre-school and that was what he was taught....listen carefully next time....it really sounds like they are saying cheeseburger)
The sky was full of brilliant shades of purple and pink brightening up the clouds.
And the icing on the cake for me was seeing a robin, it's funny how I miss them.
It is like longing for a visit from a relative you haven't seen in far too long.
He swooped down past me so close, as if to say, "I'm home!"
What came to my mind amidst all this beauty was how much I long to be with God.
We are only here on this earth for a short time, and we are wired with a longing for things eternal!
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Thank you Daddy that You have set eternity in the hearts of men (and Your daughters too!).
Thank you for all the beauties in a spring morning that bring my mind back to You, and the fact that You are Indescribable!
I listened to the chickadees chirping their "cheeseburger" song.
I don't mean the Veggi-tales one...Hahaha.
(my son went to a nature pre-school and that was what he was taught....listen carefully next time....it really sounds like they are saying cheeseburger)
The sky was full of brilliant shades of purple and pink brightening up the clouds.
And the icing on the cake for me was seeing a robin, it's funny how I miss them.
It is like longing for a visit from a relative you haven't seen in far too long.
He swooped down past me so close, as if to say, "I'm home!"
What came to my mind amidst all this beauty was how much I long to be with God.
We are only here on this earth for a short time, and we are wired with a longing for things eternal!
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Thank you Daddy that You have set eternity in the hearts of men (and Your daughters too!).
Thank you for all the beauties in a spring morning that bring my mind back to You, and the fact that You are Indescribable!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Enough!
Have you ever been confronted with the same situation time and time again?
Does your reaction change each time or do you keep reacting the same old way?
Someone told me that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over,
and expecting different results.
I have a tendency to be reactive!
There I said it....maybe you know this about me, maybe you don't.
But I am honestly sick and tired of it!
Dang it, I do not want to go around this mountain again!
As I spilled this out to a friend yesterday, he told me exactly what I needed to hear.
I will share it with you, in case you need it too......
Be good to the person who is not being good to you,
and don't get upset if they do not recieve it the way you are hoping they will.
I believe that the Holy Spirit will convict that person of their wrong in due time.
In the meantime, I can only work on me and my attitude!
I will allow God the space and time to do the work only He can do in each of us.
You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north!
Deuteronomy 2:3
(exclamation mark added by me...I think I need it :D )
Thank you Daddy that You love each of Your children so much. Thank you that You have given each of us Your Holy Spirit and therefore I am released from doing that job for anyone else. Please give me the grace I need to continue to do good, as I wait on You and trust You to work in both of us.
Does your reaction change each time or do you keep reacting the same old way?
Someone told me that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over,
and expecting different results.
I have a tendency to be reactive!
There I said it....maybe you know this about me, maybe you don't.
But I am honestly sick and tired of it!
Dang it, I do not want to go around this mountain again!
As I spilled this out to a friend yesterday, he told me exactly what I needed to hear.
I will share it with you, in case you need it too......
Be good to the person who is not being good to you,
and don't get upset if they do not recieve it the way you are hoping they will.
I believe that the Holy Spirit will convict that person of their wrong in due time.
In the meantime, I can only work on me and my attitude!
I will allow God the space and time to do the work only He can do in each of us.
You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north!
Deuteronomy 2:3
(exclamation mark added by me...I think I need it :D )
Thank you Daddy that You love each of Your children so much. Thank you that You have given each of us Your Holy Spirit and therefore I am released from doing that job for anyone else. Please give me the grace I need to continue to do good, as I wait on You and trust You to work in both of us.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Bible Study
I had a lovely time with my bible study pals last night!
It's hard to believe that a year ago, when I felt God call me to do this thing I was terrified.
Like, "God what are you thinking? Me? Really? I'm terrified of women!"
Well He had other plans, He always does!
And you know what they are good! I love these ladies!
They are sweet, authentic, teachable and just plain fun to spend time with.
I am amazed, yet again, how God can take something that terrifies me and turn it into
something that brings me so much joy and life!
Who knew? Well of course....He did!
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting for the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3
Thank you Daddy for taking me out of my comfort zone! It has taught me to see the beauty in other women, that my perceptions from past experience were totally shattered....and that is such a good thing! I also learned that as I trust you, and follow your direction, that you will not embarrass me or make a fool of me. If I truly trust You, Your power and anointing will be there to make it all work out for Your glory.
It's hard to believe that a year ago, when I felt God call me to do this thing I was terrified.
Like, "God what are you thinking? Me? Really? I'm terrified of women!"
Well He had other plans, He always does!
And you know what they are good! I love these ladies!
They are sweet, authentic, teachable and just plain fun to spend time with.
I am amazed, yet again, how God can take something that terrifies me and turn it into
something that brings me so much joy and life!
Who knew? Well of course....He did!
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting for the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3
Thank you Daddy for taking me out of my comfort zone! It has taught me to see the beauty in other women, that my perceptions from past experience were totally shattered....and that is such a good thing! I also learned that as I trust you, and follow your direction, that you will not embarrass me or make a fool of me. If I truly trust You, Your power and anointing will be there to make it all work out for Your glory.
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