Yesterday I was stuck inside the house all day with my two little girls while my son was at school. For the first part of the day I played puppets, colored, and did whatever else they wanted to do. The cold weather kept us inside and we were unable to explore outside like I really wanted to so I could get some fresh air and get out of the house for a while. I am one of those people that really can't stand to be inside all day!
Also, looking around the house made me realize I had a lot of little things to tackle, like that mounding pile of laundry. (after all, Friday is one of my official "laundry" days) The stress of that took over but right before I stopped playing with the girls a phrase popped in my head and I thought, well, "that had to be from God" and not me.
I often ask God to give me inspirations for writing and in His timing He does. As I was sitting on the bed looking at my daughter, my heart, this came to me:
"Real love in its most basic, organic form is sacrificial. Our human, "flesh" nature pulls us away to our own agenda but real agape love like that of Christ always pulls us back."
Sometimes it is not the natural thing for me to get down on the floor and play with my kids but I do it anyway. Sometimes, like my grandmother tells me I have to just "let the house go" and put my children first.
I think God smiled on us yesterday. And today. He is showing me a thing or two about love. And I'm ready to listen.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Turning Over a New Leaf
Ecclesiastes 3:1: " There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." (NIV)
This fall I've stumbled into a new hobby: Running. Now, if you had asked me a year ago if I'd ever consider running, or anything close to it, I would have laughed in your face but- I actually run now. Or jog, or struggle along like I'm running, or something like that.
I'm loving it. I really am. This is a new adventure for me. I have so much more energy now. That is one thing I love about life. If you stick around long enough, the monotonous will change and something exciting will come around the corner, something new to ponder, or explore or try.
And on those days when I want to throw in the towel and give up, I recall a favorite scripture of mine from Hebrews 12:1-2- "Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (NIV)
I thank you, Lord, for the strength, abilities, and renewed energy you are giving me and for working so evidently in my life.
My prayer is God strengthens you too.
This fall I've stumbled into a new hobby: Running. Now, if you had asked me a year ago if I'd ever consider running, or anything close to it, I would have laughed in your face but- I actually run now. Or jog, or struggle along like I'm running, or something like that.
I'm loving it. I really am. This is a new adventure for me. I have so much more energy now. That is one thing I love about life. If you stick around long enough, the monotonous will change and something exciting will come around the corner, something new to ponder, or explore or try.
And on those days when I want to throw in the towel and give up, I recall a favorite scripture of mine from Hebrews 12:1-2- "Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (NIV)
I thank you, Lord, for the strength, abilities, and renewed energy you are giving me and for working so evidently in my life.
My prayer is God strengthens you too.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Just Showed Up For My Own Life
This past weekend, God laid it on my heart to share part of my testimony to my Sunday School Class at our marriage retreat in Lake Junaluska, NC. I am so glad I did. It is my hope to share my entire testimony in the future and I think this was a great starting place. This is such a feeling of freedom I have now, knowing I can just be real and honest when I feel led by the Holy Spirit to share.
I am listening to this song by Sarah Groves in my car lately and it explains how I feel exactly with my life right now. The name of the song is "Just Showed Up For My Own Life." Here are some of the lyrics:
Spending my time sleep walking
Moving my mouth but not saying a thing
Hoping the changes would take by working their way from the outside in
I was in love with an idea
Preoccupied with how a life should appear
Spending my time at the surface repairing holes in the shiny veneer
There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real
And I just showed up
for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright
I'm going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel what is honest and real
until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until its finally clear
and it changes our lives
Wow, this is how I feel.....like I just showed up and I'm loving this journey I'm on. God is revealing so many things to me. He has taken a broken life like mine and restored it full circle with the wonderful life I have now. I thank God for all He has done in my life.
I am listening to this song by Sarah Groves in my car lately and it explains how I feel exactly with my life right now. The name of the song is "Just Showed Up For My Own Life." Here are some of the lyrics:
Spending my time sleep walking
Moving my mouth but not saying a thing
Hoping the changes would take by working their way from the outside in
I was in love with an idea
Preoccupied with how a life should appear
Spending my time at the surface repairing holes in the shiny veneer
There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real
And I just showed up
for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright
I'm going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel what is honest and real
until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until its finally clear
and it changes our lives
Wow, this is how I feel.....like I just showed up and I'm loving this journey I'm on. God is revealing so many things to me. He has taken a broken life like mine and restored it full circle with the wonderful life I have now. I thank God for all He has done in my life.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
For My Friend
This blog entry is a tribute to my best friend, Rebekah. I don't really have any other friends left from high school anymore. I don't know where they all went or if I really ever had any. There are a few aquaintances and that is all.
This is for my friend. Like the bible says in Proverbs 17:17 "A Friend Loves at all times....." (NIV) And this is so true of Rebekah. She knows absolutely everything about me, the good, bad, and the ugly and loves me just the same.
Our lives are very different. She has a career and is single. I am a married, stay-at-home mom. But one thing remains- we are best friends. She called me just this week out of the blue to see how I was doing. And she does not know it but it really made my day!
To know someone else is out there thinking of you, how comforting. Hearing from her makes life a little more worthwhile in this hectic life of mine.
I thank God for giving me our friendship. I never had a sister growing up and always wanted one. God is so good, he gave me a special kind of sister in Rebekah.
One final verse: Ecclesiastes 4:12- Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themseles. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)
This is for my friend. Like the bible says in Proverbs 17:17 "A Friend Loves at all times....." (NIV) And this is so true of Rebekah. She knows absolutely everything about me, the good, bad, and the ugly and loves me just the same.
Our lives are very different. She has a career and is single. I am a married, stay-at-home mom. But one thing remains- we are best friends. She called me just this week out of the blue to see how I was doing. And she does not know it but it really made my day!
To know someone else is out there thinking of you, how comforting. Hearing from her makes life a little more worthwhile in this hectic life of mine.
I thank God for giving me our friendship. I never had a sister growing up and always wanted one. God is so good, he gave me a special kind of sister in Rebekah.
One final verse: Ecclesiastes 4:12- Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themseles. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)
Monday, September 1, 2008
A Special Calling
How do we know when God is calling us to do something specific in our lives?
I really want to know the answer to this. So, if any of my bloggy friends out there want to reply feel free to do so!
Obviously, I have to pray specifically for God to show me what to do and when to do it.....but of course there is also the part of me actually knocking on doors too, but which doors and when?
It all comes back to my basic faith and trust. I must learn to trust in God for every breath I take and every step I make. Afterall, my life verses are: Proverbs 3:5-6- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)
I feel like God may call me to share my testimony and be a writer/speaker in the future. I am just going to pray about it. Why? Because there is so much more to it than I am saying in this blog entry that's why!
I turn to His Word tonight for comfort in these thoughts. Psalm 100:5 tells me "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (NIV) He will give me the answers I need in His timing.
So until then like it says in Psalm 4:3- " In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."(NIV) I will learn to wait for His voice, His calling for me, in His timing, not mine.
My journey continues.
I really want to know the answer to this. So, if any of my bloggy friends out there want to reply feel free to do so!
Obviously, I have to pray specifically for God to show me what to do and when to do it.....but of course there is also the part of me actually knocking on doors too, but which doors and when?
It all comes back to my basic faith and trust. I must learn to trust in God for every breath I take and every step I make. Afterall, my life verses are: Proverbs 3:5-6- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)
I feel like God may call me to share my testimony and be a writer/speaker in the future. I am just going to pray about it. Why? Because there is so much more to it than I am saying in this blog entry that's why!
I turn to His Word tonight for comfort in these thoughts. Psalm 100:5 tells me "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (NIV) He will give me the answers I need in His timing.
So until then like it says in Psalm 4:3- " In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."(NIV) I will learn to wait for His voice, His calling for me, in His timing, not mine.
My journey continues.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
You Get What You Ask For!
Okay so I'm learning more and more to be careful about "what" exactly you pray for. Case and point. Our family just finished passing around a nasty stomach bug. Ironically (or not?) I just prayed to God last week to "please help me lose this last little bit of post baby belly jiggle."
God has a sense of humor doesn't He? That is ok. We are all much better now. (And I think I actually did lose a pound or so, who knows??) I certainly haven't "felt" like eating for the last several days.
And here is another example of how I need to be careful what I ask for. I stumbled across this verse recently. It is Psalm 19:14- "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (NIV) So, why is it so hard to speak so nicely since reading those verses?
Well because the devil does not like it when we cry out to God for help. This is when he gets a foothold and tempts us at our weakest. But, I've realized this over and over: My God is greater than all my doubts, fears, pains, and weaknesses. And I know He will see me through it all.
Did I mention I stumped my toe too? (Call the "toe truck" please!:) How silly of me. And I think I broke it. I guess I just needed a little sympathy. God hears my needs for that too. Isn't it great we have a "Daddy" who loves us through all we go through, no matter how insignificant or unimportant it may seem to others? He hears and He cares.
About our little Motley Crew: My son loves his new school, our middle child and daughter is doing well, and our baby is just as precious as ever. She smiles all the time and is so easy-going. God knew my 3rd (and final as far as we know) child needed to be pretty easy. He knows what we can handle and he is so good!
God has a sense of humor doesn't He? That is ok. We are all much better now. (And I think I actually did lose a pound or so, who knows??) I certainly haven't "felt" like eating for the last several days.
And here is another example of how I need to be careful what I ask for. I stumbled across this verse recently. It is Psalm 19:14- "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (NIV) So, why is it so hard to speak so nicely since reading those verses?
Well because the devil does not like it when we cry out to God for help. This is when he gets a foothold and tempts us at our weakest. But, I've realized this over and over: My God is greater than all my doubts, fears, pains, and weaknesses. And I know He will see me through it all.
Did I mention I stumped my toe too? (Call the "toe truck" please!:) How silly of me. And I think I broke it. I guess I just needed a little sympathy. God hears my needs for that too. Isn't it great we have a "Daddy" who loves us through all we go through, no matter how insignificant or unimportant it may seem to others? He hears and He cares.
About our little Motley Crew: My son loves his new school, our middle child and daughter is doing well, and our baby is just as precious as ever. She smiles all the time and is so easy-going. God knew my 3rd (and final as far as we know) child needed to be pretty easy. He knows what we can handle and he is so good!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Y'all are going to laugh when you hear what happened to me this week. The other day I was making my daughter's bed like I do every day and all of a sudden this big, black, enormous, scary spider jumped out at me. Okay, so he wasn't that big I don't guess and maybe he didn't really jump at me but it was very scary and dramatic! At least that part was true.
Why? Because I am absolutely terrified of spiders. Especially ones this big, even if he was mostly legs. My mom was over helping me around the house and she said she knew when she heard that scream, the one I only make when I see a spider she chuckled to herself and then strolled down the hallway to see what the damage was.
The only damage done was my heart beating 200 beats a minute and I had sweaty palms going on as I sat on the floor pointing to "him" under the bed. Mom grabbed something to swat at the spider and then we captured him (okay she did the capturing) and put it in a small container. I wanted to save him to show my husband when he got home from work. So I can say, "See honey, we really do have a spider problem." "Please spray for these guys."
And he did spray this week. And I'm over the drama. We went online and researched and this is a simple grass spider. And probably a wondering male looking for new territory. (He should have stayed in the grass.)
As crazy as it sounds, this little silly incident made me think of a few scriptures I've read on darkness. (You know because spiders like darkness, and its creepy and well, you get the point.) Some of my closest friends know that since 2006 I have stumbled across so many verses in the bible on light and darkness and for some unknown reason these type of verses absolutely fascinate me. I almost feel as if God wants me to use these verses concerning my testimony (which I will eventually share on here later.)
Anyway, here is one I've known for a while from Daniel 2:22- "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." So beautiful and here is another that I more recently read in a devotional from Isaiah 45:3- "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
What are you afraid of today? Maybe you don't go nuts when you see a spider like I do but I know most people are afraid of something. And I know God is aware of this too. He will give you strength in those areas where there is darkness in your life. Just ask him. He is only a prayer away.
Why? Because I am absolutely terrified of spiders. Especially ones this big, even if he was mostly legs. My mom was over helping me around the house and she said she knew when she heard that scream, the one I only make when I see a spider she chuckled to herself and then strolled down the hallway to see what the damage was.
The only damage done was my heart beating 200 beats a minute and I had sweaty palms going on as I sat on the floor pointing to "him" under the bed. Mom grabbed something to swat at the spider and then we captured him (okay she did the capturing) and put it in a small container. I wanted to save him to show my husband when he got home from work. So I can say, "See honey, we really do have a spider problem." "Please spray for these guys."
And he did spray this week. And I'm over the drama. We went online and researched and this is a simple grass spider. And probably a wondering male looking for new territory. (He should have stayed in the grass.)
As crazy as it sounds, this little silly incident made me think of a few scriptures I've read on darkness. (You know because spiders like darkness, and its creepy and well, you get the point.) Some of my closest friends know that since 2006 I have stumbled across so many verses in the bible on light and darkness and for some unknown reason these type of verses absolutely fascinate me. I almost feel as if God wants me to use these verses concerning my testimony (which I will eventually share on here later.)
Anyway, here is one I've known for a while from Daniel 2:22- "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." So beautiful and here is another that I more recently read in a devotional from Isaiah 45:3- "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
What are you afraid of today? Maybe you don't go nuts when you see a spider like I do but I know most people are afraid of something. And I know God is aware of this too. He will give you strength in those areas where there is darkness in your life. Just ask him. He is only a prayer away.
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