Friday, July 29, 2011

summer... :)































Sometimes, we have to lay out all the cards (in this case, the pictures) to see how good it is :)  In the midst of a crazy summer, working full time, changing plans, places, God gently reminds, He is right there in all of it...and we breathe, inhale, and smile...oh, yes, You've been here the whole time sweet Lord... (insert heart)



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. ~Jeremiah 29:11


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34



May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. ~Psalm 20:4

...now onto homeschooling :)  He is so, so good!



Thursday, July 14, 2011

children (linked post)



Our children are a precious gift from God :)
Excellent article here.
Praying you see your little ones (or older ones) through His eyes.


 "Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.


   Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.” Genesis 33:5


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

He will...


 22 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.

   “‘I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’”
Ezekiel 17:22-24

He can and will, let us trust in Him, for His goodness is holy, just and mercy filled.  It is about Him and not about us.  We take the focus off of ourselves and place it on our Heavenly Father and by His grace, we see all that matters is Him and our relationship with Him, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  God became a man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, facing all of the temptations of man, His creation, was nailed to a cross and died.  And the earth became black.  But the story doesn't end there.  3 days later, Jesus rose from the grave, defeated death fulfilling the prophecy of a savior for mankind, for all those who would believe and accept Him.  And our hope today is found in Him.  God became a man, that there would be a perfect sacrifice for His children.  Not the blood of a lamb or bull was shed at Calvary but the perfect holy blood of our Creator in a man's body for men stained by sin.  The one and only perfect sacrifice that would cover the sin permanently for those who believe.  There is nothing that can make one worthy enough or righteous enough to deserve this gift of eternal life with the Creator.  Simply put, it is a gift from a Father to His sons and daughters, whom He loves and extends grace to.  He desires a relationship with us.  He desires to love us and bring us a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Can we believe we are anything but sinful people in need of a savior, even the best of us?  Can we be so prideful that we believe we can do this thing called life on our own?  Can we believe that we don't have a Creator who loves us unconditionally, who knit us together in our mother's womb and knows every hair on our head?  Can we harden our hearts so much that we deny the awesome creation around us and the amazing intricate details of the human body, mind and personality and believe that there was anything but a Creator?  Can we believe we are not deserving of the love of our Creator, the One who knows our innermost thoughts, desires, fears, hurts, joys?  Could you step out with just the smallest mustard seed of faith and believe that He is there, waiting at the door, waiting to be let in and be reconciled back to His child, you?  He will help.

 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 
...
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance...


 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
~2 Peter 3:3-5, 8-9, 11-13



5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

If you confess with your mouth you are a sinner and believe Jesus died on the cross to bear your sins and rose again and is alive and you want Him to save you, He is just and might to forgive your sins and all unrighteousness that you might begin to live a life with Him.  He will save you and you will have the promise of eternity with your Creator.  You will have new life, be reborn spiritually, as you were once dead in sin.  Will you trust Him?  


I have...and I would never turn back.  His love heals, His love endures, His love grows, His love promises a hope and a future.  It doesn't promise a perfect, pain-free, trouble free life, but it does promise a helper, His Holy Spirit to guide and lead you, to comfort you, to strengthen you and to bring you peace in the calm and in the storms.


God loves you, no matter what!  (A great lesson from Vacation Bible School we shouted out all week!)  



Praying for you, 

Sunday, July 3, 2011

In His Word Sunday- contentment

Contentment...

contentment: (noun) the state of being contented;  satisfaction; ease of mind. (dictionary.com)

From Our Daily Bread Devotional,

"A poet once wrote: “As a rule, man’s a fool. When it’s hot, he wants it cool. And when it’s cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not.”
What an insightful observation on human nature! So when we read in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” we wonder, Can this be possible?
For Paul it was. Philippians 4:12-13 describes Paul’s response to life: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (NIV). Paul’s relationship with God superseded whatever he did or did not have. His contentment was not based on his circumstances, but on his relationship with Christ."

If there is something I struggle with greatly, it is this.  The Lord has done a mighty work in my heart and continues to as He gently shows me my heart attitude, convicts my thoughts and my words and shows me the mirror through my little ones.  Growth happens when, at least speaking for myself, when we are able to humble our selves and listen to the words being spoken by a loved one (in love); to take these words and learn and not harden our hearts is through the strength and wisdom of God and the laying down of our sinful selves.  Peace is found in Him, contentment is peace found in our precious Jesus with the renewing of our minds in and by Him.

I recently read a blog post by a homeschooling mama (not sure where now!) and she wrote about falling into the trap of comparing herself to other homeschoolers.  In her journey of hearing the Lord in her home and schooling, she said she had to put the blinders on, as a horse would have, that she wouldn't be distracted by everything else, even the good.  She had to find what the Lord was calling HER to do and not everyone else.

I think of this often, not just in homeschooling but in the other areas-put the blinders on- His yoke upon me, His will and not mine, be content in all things...and a huge amen- His love endures forever :)  The many times I stumble and regress, He is there, to gently lead me back, to forgive, to love, to extend grace and mercy when not deserved.  He is our loving Creator.

Finding peace in being content with where we are at, for His plans are so much greater than mine could ever be and I have to trust that.  Let go and let God :)

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:12-13



He strengthens me...




Saturday, July 2, 2011

hello, summer :)

birthday boys-oldest and youngest -cheesecake and a whoopie pie! :)


missing some legs?

summer days

engineer

characters!

future Yankee ;)

bike riding days

little league


lupines

mama on the porch

season in full swing

planting (I'm proud to say-they're STILL alive!!!)

my sweet ones

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

-Galatians 5:25 NLT

2021 today...

And here we are two years later. We had a vile presidential election in 2020, are still having a worldwide pandemic (Covid-19), and the voic...

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