where do you stand?

My dear friend posted this to her blog (the post is written after the intro to the blog)...how sad for our society is all I can say. I'm so thankful she addressed this and shared with us...

God bless,

another perspective...

So our sweet boy (youngest) is resting on the couch (in between throwing up into the small trash can next to him)---good times. Needless to say, I'm sitting here for a few minutes.

Last night I attended a waterbirth class. My precious hubby stayed home with our boys (plus they had a martial arts class at the same time as my class) so I figured I'd share with him about the class when I got home. Can I just give a good chuckle...here I am sitting with 8 other COUPLES, all having their first, and then there's me, by myself being looked at quite strangely. Being an only child, I've never much minded going places alone (movies, to eat...) in fact it is part of my time of unwinding-just being alone. BUT, last night it took lots of prayer for me not to jump up and run out of that room. I ran through scenarios of how I could get hubby there (even though he was 30 minutes away), get childcare, show my hand with the wedding ring, mention "husband" a few times...panic, panic! Our gracious Lord, calmed me down, showed me how silly I was being and got me through a great class.

I must say, I'm glad it happened that way though. It is good to get perspective from another person's situation. I am above and beyond grateful that yes, I am married, my husband loves the Lord, we have healthy children, we are both healthy, we have a home, vehicles, food to eat, jobs, blankets and clothes to keep us warm, a bit of extra cash here and there for "extras". These are all things I take for granted. I don't thank the Lord nearly enough for His above and beyond blessings to me/us.

A group from our church travels to Uganda, and the children sleep under rugs...rugs that were compared to something we wouldn't give our dogs here. I might think this is the least of their worries as AIDS is rampant there, leaving many young children orphans, mothers or fathers widowed, older siblings (possibly as young as 7 or 8, probably younger) to take on the responsibility of caring for younger siblings. Food is eaten out of necessity, if even available, not out of luxury; water is gathered from a well, not in your kitchen, but from a place you have to travel to and pray there is enough for you to carry back home. You have to walk for miles, possibly days to receive meager medical treatment, if even possible because you may not have the option as you have no income, and no hopes of it. The list goes on...

I've never been on a missions trip to see these things up close and personal. But the people who come back from these trips are changed. They are humbled and broken by the Lord. Their hearts are squeezed out of the old and molded into the new...

But as I sat there in that class, the Lord gently reminded me of those close to us here. The single parent, the couple struggling to save a marriage, the spouse broken by the infidelity of their spouse, the wife or husband praying for the salvation of their spouse or a child, the parent/spouse widowed, the neighbor in foreclosure, the person living with a terminal disease or the parent of a dying child, the man/woman/child on the street asking (or not asking) for help to have just a meal, the thought of a warm bed or home not even conceivable. Or that "bad" child down the road, that you hope your kids avoid, that goes home to verbal/physical abuse or maybe no one at all..so far away from the love God created that they don't know the way back to peace or hope....

We are the body of Christ. We are not here for us but for HIM. How hard it is to live beyond ourselves, our own struggles, outside of our "box". This is not meant as a guilt wrencher, for God is mighty and gracious and He does bless us immensely! We each have our own walks, our own struggles, our own fires, for He loves us and is refining us, bringing us closer to Him even though we are in a fallen world. All of these things are part of our testimonies. My past, He is using and will use to glorify Him (praying I allow Him to). Situations I chose, He didn't put me in, but He will use to His glory and is bringing me peace and healing in the process...because He loves me, not because I deserve it. Grace and mercy truly are gifts from the LORD. Job was a man who loved and adored our most precious GOD, and he lost everything. But the Lord never left him, and when all was said and done, Job knew his most precious Father loved him, not hated him or desired to punish him. And today, Job's testimony still speaks to us, and will continue to.

For the Lord's ways are not our own, we have to trust with our faith (even that mustard seed worth) for He truly is a loving Father who has heart for us, this is why we accept Jesus as our Lord and saviour, confessing our sins and believing He rose and beat death and as has beat it forever, that we might have everlasting life when we ask Jesus into our hearts and commit to live a life FOR Him, not a perfect life, but a life we try our hardest to live by His example and He'll provide the strength and endurance to do His work and show His love to others-both the lost and the saved...and to have hope or each new day, BUT the promise of a life with HIM. How precious...

...so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5 (New International Version)

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. Romans 7:4

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (Read all of chapter 5 here)

Dear heavenly Father, I pray you would forgive me for living this life you've granted me solely for my self and giving you just an ounce of it. Father please help me to live for you and show me how I can serve you that I might be part of the body of Christ as you've called us. Thank you for your grace and mercy and your abundant blessings. Thank you for my family and I pray for your blessings and covering over them. I pray for Your spirit of wisdom and discernment that I may know you better and serve you faithfully. Thank you for you love and sending Jesus Christ to be my savior and calling me to you, never leaving me. In Jesus name I ask this, Amen.

praying...

Praying for the Lord's wisdom and discernment for us as believers...

Something to pray about...here...

God bless~

Happy Easter...

Oh, it has been a while....I have all these wonderful things I'd like to write about but when it comes to putting them on here, I can't seem to.

Well, just an update will do I suppose :) God is gracious and mighty first and foremost! I am feeling well and growing by the minute! Our sweet boy will be arriving anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks (our other 3 were two and three weeks early...yes, dear ladies I can't imagine going to 4o weeks and plus-oh my!) I've entered into the nesting stage-lovely! But it is combined with the, "I want to just sit here" stage as well...much prayer I say!

Our youngest will be 5 next weekend, it is hard to believe that he will be that big already and that it has been that long since we've had a baby in the house! I'm one to admit I've been a bit nervous lately of the impending delivery, like it's my first time, except I know (for the most part) what to expect. Oh, but again I bring this to our precious Lord and ask for grace and peace...as He tells us not to be anxious or to worry :)

Church is going well. We're growing which is an amazing thing to see. I believe it is happening slowly and cautiously, as it should. Please be in prayer for our little church as we are the process of searching for our next pastor. Our interim pastor and his wife are a precious family and they have been a blessing in this time of in between. Continued prayer for our last pastor and his precious family, for good health, peace and the joy of the Lord upon them and His leading as to the new season they've entered. Finally, for reconciliation and forgiveness between those who the Lord needs there to be (isn't that all of us I might say, in one way or another)...that there might be a release from the things of the past...thank you dear friends....:)

The Lord has been continuing to work on my heart-praise Him! As hormonal as I am, He still continues to show me my heart (wow, and I'm actually asking Him to show me-that's probably half the battle!) and His grace allows me the chance to ask for forgiveness and to hopefully grow closer to Him. I am currently part of a bible study at church that is based on the book, "You Can Be the Wife of a Happy Husband" by Darien Cooper (I think this is the author, but I'm truly too lazy to get up and check-sorry!) It is a lovely book and I'm only on chapter 4 but it is speaking greatly to my heart simply as a woman and a child of God. Her words are gentle...should I say she shares God's words to us through the scriptures, which are gentle to us, reminding us of the love of Jesus. His love is what we should receive and give freely, without expectations or reserves, without guilt, without hesitation. We are to look to the Lord to fill our needs, not to our husbands or children, parents, friends. Remembering we are all fallen and dealing with our own insecurities and "bagagge" and prayerfully seeking the Lord's will and healing, should help put into perspective that we shouldn't put others up on any sort of pedestal. No one can fill a void only meant to be filled by our heavenly Father and Creator, through the love of Jesus. It is only by asking Him to come into our hearts, admitting our sins and asking for forgiveness (He truly does love and care for you and really will help you), that healing and the filling of "that void" can begin.

As I've said before...if He can forgive me, He can forgive anyone...what a precious gift, with the resurrection of the body of Jesus and His words, "it is done," that me and you can have HOPE. All of the "things" that are such "big problems" in the world's terms are truly not to God when you can release it to the Lord and say, "God you are in control" and then let Him, by allowing Him to work and guide you, with His everlasting peace. God is not a band aid for not paying a bill or mortgage, for a desperate plea in sickness or sadness or worry. He is an everlasting Father who can give you calm in the storm, peace in the midst of the valleys, and hope for the days to come, that He will work everything out to His glory...and by His grace and mercy, give you joy, when you never thought possible.

God is good, always. I thank you, Lord for sending us a saviour, Jesus Christ. I thank you for your love and fulfilling of a promise you gave to those so many years ago...

And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT) Romans 1:4-5

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV) John 11:25-26

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)
Matthew 28:1-10

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV) 1 Peter 1:3

Amen! Happy Easter!!!

to think about...to pray...

A great post to read...here

God bless:)

He is great!...

Hi all!

I was blessed to attend my first homeschooling convention this past weekend! I will post more about it but can I just say-it was Amazing to be in such a precious and wonderfully encouraging place! The conference welcomes and encourages everyone to come...and it is Christian and proud to say it! Oh, how I've missed having books upon books at my fingertips that focus on the Lord and encouragement on motherhood, raising boys as 'knights for the Lord', marriage and loving your husband, and how we as women are precious in God's eyes...and His grace and forgiveness through Jesus are bountiful and endless!

Coming from the "bible belt" to a more liberal area, I'd forgotten how available all of these "things" were. However, just showing the Lord's awesomeness (is that even a word?!-WELL IT IS FOR MY GOD!) our move up North has brought us closer to Him and each other more than I could even say-I'm humbled!

Obedience, meekness, humility, and most importantly faith and trust to our precious Father is the path to peace, contentment and joy...even if it leads through valleys and storms...for His righteous hand is there upon us, holding us, shielding us, guiding us...for we are His precious children that He never abandons!

God bless you and have a beautiful and yes, JOYFUL day, for you are loved when you give your heart over to Jesus! Amen!

don't let your guard down...

From the sidebar, Motivation for Moms:

Pray for purity in the hearts of your children, and the renewing of their spirit as the Psalmist wrote, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

My friends, put nothing to the side, letting your guard down on "just kid stuff." The enemy has plans to steal the purity and innocence of our precious children, be it through fashion trends, television shows, internet, video games, music...my goodness it is absolutely endless...and a lot of it is discreet, that even myself have overlooked. But these are the tiny things that are sewn and do not produce a fruitful crop, but instead poor self image, anger, violence, disrepect, vanity, selfishness, lack of faith...just to name a few.

The Lord tells us to fill our minds, hearts, our homes, our lives with things that are pleasing to Him. That great saying, "you are what you eat" goes for our spiritual and mental health as well.

Don't let your guard down to the attacks of the enemy. If one door is closed, he looks for another way in. Praise the Lord, when our hearts are set on Jesus, the Lord gives us that wisdom and discernment to pick and choose what is "lovely" and what is not (and to keep closing "those doors" to the enemy!) Jesus came and conquered, for us! The Lord is our rock, our fortress, our protection, and we never have to question His Word to us-Amen!

Praying all is well, and you're praying for your children, family, home...and thanking our most precious God for His mercy and grace, through the love of Jesus Christ. You are precious to Him and so are His "little ones"!

Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

-Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works

and glorify you Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

-James 1:27

I'm so proud...

Can I say how thankful I am for my husband! Honey, this is a shout out to you!

Last night, as we sat eating dinner he spoke to our boys on the importance of never giving up, persevering and not being fearful-fearful to lose, fearful to fail, fearful to try. Our precious Lord I believe just anointed that conversation last night because hubby not only had a peace and wisdom to his words, but the boys all understood his words and questions (ages 8,6 and 4). I was inspired-inside I wanted to yell "YES, I CAN DO IT!"-it was like having a life coach at the table, my own infomercial!!!

Of course mama had to reiterate that this is what God wants from us and yes, we may not succeed at first because the Lord wants us to persevere (they are used to this!) :)

Not only did this conversation bless my heart because of its content but also because this is a hard area for our oldest. He is so very much like his papa-loves the Lord, seeks justice, likes to be the best at something and has a hard time accepting losing. However, as opposed to his daddy, he hasn't yet learned to continue on, the gift of perseverance, the excitement of the challenge and the joy in the conquer or mastering of a skill! He becomes sullen, angry and gives up. This conversation daddy had was more then just a pep talk, it was a "love note" from the Lord to His boys that He has entrusted to our care, and even to me, His daughter. I saw a gleam in our oldest eye that blessed my soul, as I'm sure it did to hubby.

God is good!

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy

name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good

things

so that your youth is renewed like

the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

-Psalm 103:1-6

"I am the Lord your God,

who teaches you what is best for

you,

who directs you in the way you

should go..."

-Isaiah 48:17

join together..LIVE FOR HIM!

**Note-fixed the link to the post-sorry!

A wonderful, encouraging post (January 26 post), reminding us, God is not religion. God is ALIVE AND ACTIVE! He requires from us faith, love, dedication, perserverance, belief in His mighty works and love, prayer, humility, repentance...and trust...His grace is sufficient. Live free, fight for His Word!

God bless you prayer warriors! Lift up our Lord! Lift up your families, friends, neighbors, His children...to Him! In Jesus most precious name, amen!

peace...

Our day to day life brings with it joys, tears, fears, anger, guilt, sorrow, forgiveness, peace, healing, acceptance, denial, love, worry, revelation, irritations, simple pleasures...the list can go on...

But when all is said and done, we can and should bring it all to the feet of our Heavenly Father. He is the creator of all and knows the whys, how's, who's and what's that we are trying so hard to figure out. Letting ourselves fall into the worries of our own minds, or the world is something the enemy uses to steal our peace that God gives to us.

Leviticus 26:6" 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.

Numbers 6:26the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Ezekiel 37:26I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.

Haggai 2:9'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."

Malachi 2:5"My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.

Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Mark 5:34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Luke 7:50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Luke 10:5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.'

Luke 19:38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

As women, the Lord has blessed us with the gift of nurturing, peacemaking, serving, friendships, mothering, mentoring and the role of wife. However, with that, our sinful nature can take on the evils of selfishness, temptations, provocativeness, guilt, shame, anger, denials, persuasiveness, coniving hearts, stubborness, desires of perfection and failure to submit when He requires us to. That is much to struggle and deal with, without the loving help, guidance of our Heavenly Father.

God created us in His image. He created our children, our husbands, our families, neighbors, strangers..in His image. He created us with His love and beautiful characteristics and placed those traits in us. However, we are not perfect. (Praise the Lord!) If we were, we would be here on this earth, without our Savior, Jesus Christ, left to fend for ourselves, to die hopeless lives, not seeking Him or His strength.

God's Word is our guide, our comfort, our strength, our rock to stand on, and our shelter from the storms. We are precious and lovely to Him, not because we deserve to be, filthy sinful cloths, hearts and all, but because He, in His grace and mercy called us back to Him and paid the ultimate price for our sinful souls. He died on the cross and shed His blood to cover us, to shield us, to love us, to protect us...to bring His children back to Him, and some day home. He does not desire for us to live in the darkness of our souls and of the lies of the enemy.

He has ALREADY paid the price that we DO NOT have to live in that oppresion. WE ARE HIS, HE HAS POURED OUT HIS SPIRIT UPON US, and we do not need to live in fear or shame. We need only to cling to Him, rest in His care, call upon His name and give Him all we have, just that tiny bit of a mustard seed, that He will grow, nurture and cultivate into the precious child He knit in your mother's womb, whom He knew even before the days of time, you.

We are to live freely in Him...and every moment we stumble, we fall, we sink into those recesses of darkness, He is there to help us out, save us, give us hope, strengthen and encourage us and love the child He created.

Live freely in Him, for, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
(John 14:27)

His word is truth and His promises He gives us are solid as the rock of His house, which can never be destroyed. May you find the comfort in the peace He gives you in the storms and in the calm. REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN HIM! Amen!

God bless you and praying for you,

a sinner, saved only by His grace...

the false race...

I've had a good chuckle the past few days as it seems something the Lord has put on my heart, He confirms to me in a post done by one of my dear friends in her blog-don't ya love the way the Lord works!

So again this has happened, the Lord has revealed to me in the past couple days to enjoy the moment! I'm constantly trying to hurry (because I'm generally running late), to get this done, get in the car, get to school, get out of the car, get the laundry done, cook the meal, finish the dishes, pick up, cook another meal, do the dishes, clean up, baths (hopefully!), hurry get a story, get kiddos to bed, time with hubby, check the bank, bills, what did I forget, think about the undending list that I haven't even gotten to...sit and zone out for a minute, bed...and then start again, ALL of it, over again. The Lord showed me this race, this rush for a finish line that doesn't exist. I'm rushing through the book and not enjoying what it's about, trying to get to another book so I can get through the entire bookcase of books and when I finally get through all the books, what will I have to say about all the books...well, I read them all quickly so I could finish them but I didn't really enjoy any of them, maybe a few pages here and there, but that's it and all I have to show for it...an empty bookcase. Is this what I want to tell the Lord on the precious day I meet Him? I made it through all the days you gave me but I didn't really enjoy all that you had for me because I was rushing to the next day...and I missed your blessings in between.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:34

I am missing my days. I am running a race that doesn't exist. I am letting the enemy steal my joy in the little things, yes, even including the laundry, the meals, the dishes, oh, and the precious times of stories, bath time, tickle-time, prayers, tucking in...the filling of "love banks" with the love of Jesus (for all of us).

So today I say, no more! I shall enjoy every day You have given me, Lord (at least try my best ;0) ) I want to find joy in the little things, to treasure the days You have given me, for You have told me they are numbered. Lord, I want to be able to say, yes, through the trials and joys I saw you, Lord, and I tried my hardest to show Your love to others and to glorify you, Lord. For you are my strength, my rock and my everlasting, loving, precious Father and You pour out your grace upon me, not because I deserve it but simply because you love me. Father, please help to see you in the moments...and enjoy all you've blessed us with. I love you, Lord:)

Praying my friends, you too are enjoying the moments, finding joy in the things that aren't the most pleasant (like cleaning stinky potties-because, Praise the Lord, we have potties to clean and family to make them stinky!) May He be first in your life, make the time and commitment to Him, He surely does for us (I am so guilty of not doing this).

He gently reminds us that He is in control and how small we are when those things happen in life that completely knock our day out of whack. Thus the importance, He is teaching me, of putting Him first in my life, enjoying every moment, doing what needs to be done (for He has alloted the time to do it) and treasuring and storing up His Word in my heart, upon my lips and in my mind.

Yes, He is good ALL THE TIME...

God bless you and praying with you, as I pray you will with me also :)