Friday, January 18, 2013

Do I "Know"?

"We don't 'know' anything unless it changes the way we live." Bob Johnston

 Knowing means to understand which should lead to action! I "know" I am supposed to pray regularly and read God's Word but if I don't do it nothing changes. If I really "know" God's love and the sacrifice of Christ's death, then shouldn't that change my life in some way. Shouldn't the WAY I live change?

James  2:17 says, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead."

I don't live my faith because I HAVE to. I live it because I want to. My relationship with God, as I walk close with Him causes me to desire Him more and to love the way He loves. As I "know" Him, my life is changed. I hope that this is evidence that would convict me of being a follower of Christ.

Continuing to give thanks:
71. (missed from many months ago) tiny precious heartbeats of our unborn child.
72. home-canned peaches
73. sales + coupons = $.49 cereal! stretching my grocery budget even further
74. a tiny bottom lip that sticks out when he cries - makes me giggle
75. a toddler snuggling on his teenage brother's shoulder.
76. homemade soup for lunch delivered with love by my mom ♥

Thursday, January 17, 2013

A Letter to My Daughter - Words every girl needs to hear

 
Beautiful girl -
 
 
If you hear nothing else from me today - know this. I think that you are incredible and beautiful and smart. You have a compassion and love for people that is rare in a young woman your age. Your joy is infectious and your smile lights up a room. You bring peace to the rooms you enter. You have a self confidence that is not demonstrated by you being proud but sure of yourself. THIS is the work of the Holy Spirit evidenced in your life. 
 
I look back at who I was at your age and you are everything I had hoped to be. I am proud of who you are today and the woman that you are becoming.
 
Do not listen to the lies of the enemy - he is a deceiver and will do anything to get you to believe him. His plan is for your destruction. He wins if he can discourage you just enough to be ineffective and to question God and His plans for you life.
 
God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. EVERYTHING that happens in your life is filtered through His will for you. Even your mistakes. Don't dwell on them -learn from them and move on. Mistakes are moments not people. YOU are not a mistake - your mistakes do not define you.
 
Be blessed today my darling daughter. I love you more than I could ever express in words. I hope that for the rest of my days, I can live out my love for you in tangible ways so you never doubt that you are incredible and perfectly enough.
 
Mom

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Out with the Old....In with the NEW!


I read these words today:

"But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t struggle with my blog. I struggle with the comparison trap – comparing my blog to others with thousands of followers. Comparing myself to those who have gorgeous, professional photos. Comparing myself to those who are gifted writers, who tell a beautiful story with their words. I’m there."
 Oh my goodness!!! Those are my exact words - my exact thoughts. I had searched for this online store and found her blog. Without meaning to, I just happened onto these words. (I know there are no accidents, no coincidence...)

This is similar to where I am. God "told" me to blog two years ago - I haven't even been sporadic at it - just down right disobedient.

So starting today, I am picking up my mess and starting fresh. Walking in obedience no matter where it takes me regardless if anyone else reads my words.
Maybe it isn't about me encouraging or inspiring others. Maybe it's about me walking in obedience even if I don't understand. Like Noah building the Ark....or Gideon going to war with 300 soldiers....or Peter walking on water...
Hello 2013!
Each year through the inspiration first from Ali Edwards and then from Ann Voskamp , I choose a word for my upcoming year. I pray about it and think about it. Sometimes it comes to me in a whisper other times through a song.
My journey of "the years"  started with Intentional - I don't feel that year was successful, at least not what I envisioned when I chose that word.
Follow, came loudly and furiously after Christmas as we travelled to yet another holiday celebration. We turned up the volume of Chris Tomlin and as I sang along, my heart connected with the words and I just knew THIS was the word. I "followed" right into a pregnancy at 43 years old and the early birth of our fifth child and the challenges of four weeks in the NICU.
Abide was the call to rest and peace. I quickly discovered that abiding is not the passive place I thought it was. I had to actively choose to stay there. Choose to abide when the walls were crumbling. When the tears were streaming. When nothing went as I had planned and everything was falling apart, to calmly abide. This has been a challenging year but one of wonder as I waited and prayed. It wasn't all calm. I lost it on occasion, but I think I was more successful than not.
and now......2013!
the year of PURSUE. The call to pursue my husband, my children and my God.
The challenge to name your year and live it out. what will it teach you and how will you grow? 

Followers

About Me

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I am the very blessed wife of my best friend. The humble mother of five precious children. Walking a life-road that is more amazing than I could ever imagine.