Debt, Stress and Being Faithful

February 6, 2012 in Anxiety, Attitude, Faith, Provision, Purpose, Worry with 0 Comments

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) 

Yesterday at church God really spoke to me. It’s amazing how there might be several different points in a sermon but God makes sure that the one you need to hear is clear to you. I wrote last week about being still, letting God work and for me to stop giving him my suggestions. Well that was more than made clear yesterday at church. Our pastor was talking about as Christians we have access to God’s power all we need to do is ask Him, believe and to stop saying/feeling like things are impossible. Wow did that feel like I was being talked directly to! We are trying so hard to get out of debt, get our finances exactly where we believe God wants them and every time something starts to unfold that we think is what we need to have this happen it all falls a part. I have actually found myself praying saying to God how I feel like it is impossible (and of course I give my suggestions that He doesn’t need).

Last night my husband Chase and I had such a great talk. I shared my heart with him and he did the same and we had both found ourselves struggling with the same feelings. I honestly don’t know why we allow ourselves to feel this way because as God’s children we know that our lives are in His hands and He sees what we can not. This morning my friend sent me a text with a passage she had read that made her think of me and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It talked about how the circumstances you are in are for a reason, we are on His chosen path and that we can’t give up, we just have to remain faithful and attentive to Him and listen for His direction. It was another wow moment all over again. I love those moments when God lies on a friend’s heart a message for you that you really need to hear! It is always at the perfect time.

So today I am making a point to believe, trust and know that the circumstances of today are a part of God’s path for me and that they will come together for a better reason than I could imagine because as long as I stay faithful He will guide my every step!

Photo Credit: Michael Mulvey

Purposefully Listening

February 2, 2012 in Attitude, Faith, Patience, Prayer, Purpose with 0 Comments

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV) 

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 (NIV) 

These two verses really say so much. God has plans for us, we may not know them but He has them. The hard part though is that it is easy to let the world, our own thoughts and opinions distract us from what God wants. The first verse really hits homes for me, we have to take the time to be still. If we are constantly moving, constantly giving God our “suggestions” how will we ever expect to hear His voice, we aren’t leaving any room for Him to talk. I know that I have been guilty of having the one-sided conversation with God. It’s a challenge for me since I am already such a talker to begin with, but it is something that I am continually striving to get better at. I know that God has plans for me, and I want to always be in His will, but one of the best ways for me to be sure that I am following His path is to trust His work and to do a little less “suggesting” and a lot more listening.

Photo Credit: Ky Olsen

Raising Children: The Word “No”

January 31, 2012 in Blessed, Fun For Mom, Joy, Raising Children with 0 Comments

“Children learn to smile from their parents.” Shinichi Suzuki 

Isn’t it amazing how we sit forever trying to teach our babies to say “mama” or “dada” and the fun of trying so hard to get them to learn to crawl which then leads to teaching them to walk and yet we never get tired of those moments, they are precious! Who knows how much time we really do spend trying to teach them these things. On the flip side, isn’t it funny how quickly they pick up on something that you were never trying to teach them?!? For example, this morning Eli was sitting in the middle of the living room playing with his toys happily saying “no, no, no.” As soon as I heard that I couldn’t help but to laugh. I have never sat down with him and tried to teach him the word “no” but I have had to tell him no and he has obviously learned this word. I know that this is usually every child’s favorite word for a while but I just never expected to hear him saying that this morning while playing with his toys. It’s a great reminder that our children really do pick up on things more than we realize!

Photo Credit: Paul Reynolds

Worship Song Friday: Drifting by Plumb

January 27, 2012 in Love, Worship with 0 Comments

If you haven’t heard of Plumb then you will really enjoy this! The song I picked today is Drifting by Plumb and she has such a great voice, it is so pure and beautiful and the lyrics are always deep. I could write a long paragraph saying how great this song is but I have actually found a trailer for the song, which is the first video you see. The trailer talks a little about what the song is about and how we are all not alone. Hope you enjoy!

Drifting by Plumb 

There’s a sea of lonely,
Swimming sad,
Looking just for
An arm to grab.
I don’t need to
Understand.
I’m just lending you
The two that I have.

[Chorus:]
You might be drifting
And can’t find the shore,
So Hopeless
And all alone.
The waves are crashing
All around you.
Just when you’ve lost the will to live
You see the sun.

[Verse 2:]
Can we make a searchlight
From all the bridges that we burn?
Do you see a rescue
Or a deeper kind of hurt?
Who could love you?
Who could hold you?
I’d swim across the sea.
You don’t have to be alone
Where the shallow gets so deep.

[Chorus:]

[Bridge:]
I am hurt and nearly drown.
Open up your eyes.
I cry for help. You turn around.
Open up your eyes.
Farther from the shore,
Or you’ll be farther from the shore.
I am hurt and nearly drown.
You’re not alone.
I cry for help. You turn around.
I’m not letting go.
Farther from the shore,
So you’re not
Farther from the shore.

[Chorus:]

Strength: Saying No to Dessert

January 24, 2012 in Faith, Patience, Provision, Strength with 0 Comments

“I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” Daniel 10:3 (NIV) 

The other day I finished a 21 day fast from sugar. Many people including staff from my church, LifeChurch.tv were doing a Daniel fast. Since I am already vegetarian that particular fast is relatively close to how I already eat besides the dairy, grains and sugar. So I decided to cut out the most challenging thing for me… sweets and that included sugar in drinks. I have always loved my desserts, especially ice cream (a major weakness for me!). This past month I had fresh fruit smoothies for breakfast or dessert if I was really craving something sweet and they were SO delicious and healthy too! The fast really helped me to see how much we truly do not need yet think that we do. I don’t need to eat sweets, especially every day but our minds can think otherwise and easily talk ourselves into having more than needed. And this is true in areas beyond just dessert, our minds can easily fool us into believing that we need more than we ever really do in so many areas… cars, types of houses, clothes, etc. My church starts every year in January with this fast (or a modified version) to start your year off fresh, cleansed and renewed physically and spiritually. It is such a great way to start each year off, the new things God teaches me or even just reminds me of are worth each day of the fast! If you haven’t ever done a fast consider starting with the Daniel fast, God truly does speak when we are depriving ourselves of things that are precious to us!

Photo Credit: Shimelle Laine
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