Wonderful Blessings

We all know that God blesses us everyday with wonderful blessings whither it be smiles from our kids or a great hug from a friend or someone who listens to you. Sometimes God blesses us in big ways too. This week God blessed our family with a beautiful dining room table. We wanted one for our "nothing room" as we called it for the last two years, but there never seemed to be one that we loved for the price. So I began to pray and I asked people to pray too. God gave me a number- $500. God did this once before with our couch=) So I prayed and saw beautiful tables for $1000 or $750 or $600. Not the $500 that God had given me and what I had been praying for. This week I looked on Craig's List, which is a huge garage sale on steroids in my opinion, and found the table of my dreams for $600. Not $500. I am no negotiator so I called my grandparents who are amazing wheel and deal people. Grandma came with me to look at the table and worked her blessed skills and got me the table for $500 with matching curtains! Praise God! Lots of love to grandma too! I am so blessed by other people's talents! Reminds me of the doxology:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly Host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

My Everything!

Wow! I forget sometimes how easily sidetracked I get. Just a few days ago I think I had a brain cloud that fogged the truth from my thoughts. I am just so grateful that David and my mother were the only witnesses to the amazing outbreak of weirdo thoughts from Diane. I really try to spare people, but sometimes David and my sweet mom get the brunt of my crazies=) So glad they both love me so much! Anyway, the fog lifted and today I was praying and asking God if any fogs are forcast for the near future that they could be put off just for bit while I'm in recovery. Then I came across one of my favorite songs of all time that just brings the beauty of God to mind and that He truly is my EVERYTHING! Even in fogs or misunderstandings or whatever ailment we have. He covers it all and fills us with His love and goodness and forgives us all our sins. I am so glad that he brings us back to Himself even if we just take one step away into the fog away from the light. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUTt8XINPY&feature=related

Revelation 4: 8b "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"

Be still

Today has been a crazy, busy day! Cleaning, email, 8 loads of laundry, boys running and falling down, etc...In the midst of all of it I realized I had to go to the bathroom- BAD. Then somebody did something and I forgot and then something else happened and I forgot...needless to say I was running around my house and forgot to listen to my body which was screaming, "I have to pee!!!!" Finally, I did go. Sorry if this is so awful, but it is so true. This incident made me think, "Be still." Sometimes we get so busy that we forgot to be still and listen to ourselves, our kids, our friends, our husbands, our God! Take 5 and be still for a moment and ask God what he wants to say to you today or pray for somebody you know that is hurting. I did and I am so thankful that God meets us in our day just like a good friend to help us be still.

Psalm 46:10 " Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHlbnNUHQGI

I love this song!

Answer to prayer

So if you know me or I talk to you sometimes you might understand that I pray about almost everything. Really...one time I prayed about what size egg carton to buy at the grocery store because I really could not figure it out in that moment by myself. (it was college, I was tired...) God is so good! Anyway, yesterday I was praying about a particular circumstance that has avoided an answer for some time. NO, not my head yet, I will keep you all updated if a miracle occurs, trust me! This was one on those "keep stubbing your toe all day problem" that I couldn't figure it out for the life of me and it was becoming annoying! I did TRY to figure it out because it's me and I like to figure everything out. (I really enjoy math by the way.) SO I was praying around 8ish am and my answer came at 10ish am! How wonderful is our God!? He just fixed it. It was broken and He fixed it. Like a snap! The key to this mystery is I simply stated in my prayer, "God, you know I can't worry about this anymore. I am done trying to figure this out and I can't stand to think about it one more minute." Two hours later He fixes it! I am blown away! 

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I am so amazed when I lay things before my Heavenly Father and give whatever it is over to Him completely, He always answers me and takes my burden and gives me peace. 

Trusting God

There are so many things that happen in our daily lives that we want to control ourselves. The way our house is run, children, husbands, friendships, finances, cars, and more. Last week I had a little "freak out" moment about one of the above and my sweet husband asked if I was okay. I responded with a "no" and then decided a talk with God was in need. Jesus is so direct with me sometimes and in this instance the response was immediate. "Trust me." Period. That's it! I love the way He speaks to me. It reminds me of me when I am talking with my children. "Trust me." I can't count the times I say that to little Thomas who isn't sure that mommy knows best all the time. The wonderful thing about Jesus is that He does know best all the time and He remains patient with me when I forget and have my "freak out" moments. I am so blessed not to be in control of everything and so glad that He reminds me to trust Him always. All of Psalm 65 is good and I encourage you to read it. Here is a taste=)

Psalm 65: 5-7 "By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and the far-off seas; Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples."

I am glad God can calm my tumults (aka "freat out" moments) and give me peace!

Holy is Lord!

Today God seemed to be telling me something...He is Holy! I was reading the Bible and verse after verse I was drawn to was about the Holiness of God. AND how I am to be an imitator of Christ. It amazed me to think of how great God is and how holy He is and how much He LOVES me in spite of myself. It makes me laugh with joy that He loves me so much! How I hope to one day be just a bit like my Saviour. In the meantime...I will have to be satisfied in His mercy and forgiveness and trust that He will continue to refine me and shape me into who He created me to be.

1 Peter 1:13-16

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (Lev 11:44)

Freedom

On this Memorial Weekend I have been reading some articles about the sacrifices made by others to keep our country free. My grandfather served in WWII and I am so glad that he came home to be husband to my grandmother and father to my mother. My love and compassion goes out to those whose family members did not come home. I am so grateful to all of those that served not just out of duty to their country, but for me personally because I live here. I can't imagine living anywhere else. I just watched a documentary about India and the conditions in which people live there and my heart breaks.
On the thought of freedom...I also think about God and the freedom He has given us from sin through His son Jesus. I am forgiven and live free! I am not perfect of course, but free and live in God's grace and mercy! My dearest hope is that everyone can live in freedom, not just from tyranny or poverty, but from the chains that sin uses to bind and keep us from moving forward in the plan God has for us.
John 8:36 "Therefore, if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."