HE DIDN'T KNOW

He didn't know that I spent over $100 this month on lice treatment

He didn't know that I spent over $200 this month on my van

He didn't know that I had unexpected doctor's visits this month

He didn't know that I am so broken it hurts

He didn't know anything about me, but...

HE did! Tonight a stranger gave me $20 and simply said, "Be blessed" and I wept because I felt HIM all around me, reminding me that HE sees it all. The stranger didn't know that his simple, kind gesture would envelope me in the Father's Love.

Something deep inside me resists the gift because it makes me feel unclean that men who are not my husband are loving me and caring for me in tangible ways. God is using His body to love the widow and her orphans and something deep in me is touched and wounded all at the same time.

That man, that man that I will probably never see again had a thought and he acted on it. Is he a believer? Filled with the Holy Spirit? It doesn't matter because God used him.

WHO AM I, REALLY?

God has really been teaching me about my identity. Throughout my life I guess I could say I’ve never known who I really am. Recently I realized that my identity came from the various titles I’ve had over the course of my life. Over the last several months many of my titles have been stripped away. I’m no longer a business owner, I’m no longer a homeschool mom and I’m no longer a wife. I didn’t realize how much of my identity was in my “titles.” The truth is I am a DAUGHTER, not just a DAUGHTER, but the DAUGHTER OF THE MOST HIGH GOD and that is enough.

This is a brand new revelation and I’m learning how to just be a daughter (of course I’m still a mommy), but truly resting in the fact that being a daughter is enough. I’m accepted and loved based on that alone! That is still sinking in.

What does it look like to be a DAUGHTER OF THE MOST HIGH GOD? I’m not sure yet and honestly it still makes me squirm and twitch a bit. I’m learning to let people love me, just me, a girl who doesn’t have it all figured out.

I’m blessed to be a part of a church body where no one has “arrived” and we are given opportunities every service to share our struggles and our victories. It is through this that I have been able to grow and learn that being a daughter is a high and holy calling and that I AM GOING TO MESS UP AND IT’S OKAY. Did you catch that? It is okay to mess up! THAT REALLY MESSES ME UP!

Who are you? Where do you get your identity? Have you asked your Daddy who you are? If not, read His Word and He will reveal it to you.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

GODLY PERSPECTIVE

Photo credit

This morning I walked into church with a lady and I asked her how she was doing. She said, “I’m learning what it means to take care of myself.” I said, “Me too!” I told her that yesterday I went into Pine Mountain and had tea with friends and spent the whole day there and had a wonderful time of fellowship (practicing taking care of myself with time off).

As I sat down in church something was bubbling up inside of me and I said to another friend that “I was so excited I could scream.”

Midway through the service all these pieces came together in my head and gave me a beautiful revelation. The Lord showed me the reason I have trouble “taking care of myself” is because I don’t value you myself or see myself as beautiful, the way He sees me. He brought to mind the rusted enamel basin and pot I bought yesterday at an antique store. I saw them sitting outside and immediately I saw them as beautiful planters (they had value to me). That’s how He sees me with my rust spots, I’m beautiful and have purpose and value! You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Solomon 4:7

When I got home with my treasures I went to a friends to borrow her husband’s drill to make drainage holes in the planters. As soon as she saw them she said, “Oh, no…I don’t like those.” I said, “I love them.” Her opinion of my treasures did not change my opinion at all, the same way that the enemy’s accusation of me does not change God’s opinion of me nor should other’s opinons of me change my own.

This morning before church I planted flowers in those pots and they were even more beautiful and He showed me as He plants His word in me I become more beautiful too.

It all comes down to understanding deep in my spirit who He says I am. This is not a new revelation just with a new tangible reference point. The planters sit on my front and back porches as constant reminders of the beauty He is planting in me and that I have great purpose too!

On a side note, when I planted the flowers in the pail I knew it needed a stand and thought an old wooden highchair would be perfect. Guess what I found in the trash on the way to church? Yes, an old highchair. I knocked on the women’s door to make sure she was getting rid of it, she said I could have it. Isn’t He just the best daddy EVER?

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecc 3:11

HOPING FOR SPRING

Hope can be defined as "joyous expectancy" and that is where I am at in the midst of a winter season, I am "hoping" for spring. If you have been here a while, you know all the Lord is teaching me about seasons (here, here, here and here) and I can happily report I am overcoming the fear and resting in the current season and not going back or forward. I was blessed to find this on Cheri Keaggy's site:

He said) ‘See, I am doing a new thing – do you not perceive (it)?’ Making a way in the desert - filling up wasteland with streams Yours is a story of Winter – but, child, you have believed That I am the Author of your life – and now I am writing your Spring

There are buds all around me and I can't wait to see them bloom (and unto Him be all the Glory)!

THE TRUTH ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING

This post is strictly my opinion and my experience.

The truth is I never wanted to homeschool. It was never something I thought about, not even once. When people would ask me if I was going to homeschool I would ALWAYS say I don’t plan to, but if God calls me to I will. Did I realize what I was saying at the time? No! Maybe I NEVER really thought He would call me, that is until He told me I was already called.

I’ve shared my story here

We are wrapping up our fourth year of homeschool. I don’t have a long-term plan for this and MANY people ask how long I plan to do this? This? Like it is some sort of phase I’m going through. Some in the homeschool world say you HAVE TO be committed to this for the long haul and I’m not there yet. I still take this year by year and honestly lately I want to put my kids in school EVERYDAY. Why, you ask? It is hard. Not the homeschooling part, but everything else.

Judah has been sick with ear infections for six months and wants and needs more from me than I have to give in any given day. Kaira is dealing with some issues right now, that I do not feel equipped to deal with. The atmosphere in the house because of marital issues is less than pleasant and that affects everyone. Sometimes I feel I do not have anything left to give to the two I'm supposed to be teaching. We are working on getting along with siblings, but my husband and I don't get along...I feel a little hypocritical.

I am with my kids 24 hours a day seven days a week. My house is used as a primary residence, it houses a small business and triples as a one room schoolhouse, so you can imagine the activity here. Sometimes ALL the activity becomes overwhelming and I just want a break, but there is no where to run (so to speak) and no where to hide. This is my life. I’m not unhappy with it, just overwhelmed. There are no mornings to clean the house or grocery shop. I wipe a counter while I wait for toast to pop-up or throw a load of laundry in when everyone is sitting at the table for lunch. Then my husband will ask days later how long ago did you start the washer and the answer is always the same, “I don’t know.” When my husband gets home it’s dinner time and then I usually work if I don’t pass out before I hit the computer.

Homeschooling is hard! It is not hard to teach the kids they WANT to learn and LOVE to learn. It is not hard to teach different ages at the same time. It is hard because it stretches me in ways I never imagined. It brings my character flaws, imperfections, personality idiosyncrasies and all that other stuff to light EVERY SINGLE DAY. Even writing this I want to cry and probably will before I’m done.

I am aware how much easier I have it than the homeschool moms before me and I am not minimizing their sacrifice in any way. I am just being honest. These are MY struggles right now. With four kids eight and under I am in a constant state of motion and sometimes I just want to be still. Even when I can get away for the occasional few hours by myself I am still doing something for my family or working. It is like being on a merry-go-round and not being able to stop.

My husband does not understand my inner struggle. He either thinks I’m double minded or just plain crazy. He thinks homeschooling is the best for the kids, but that is where his involvement ends. My kids thrive on being at home and have excelled in ways at early ages I never thought possible. I do not run a rigid homeschool and we are not work, work, work - they have a natural love for learning and an environment in which to do so. I have also been able to see so many milestones reached that I would have missed if they were not here.

The TRUTH is I love it, not every minute of it, but for the most part. I love to teach, I get to use my creativity and be productive. Just last week we made corn syrup paintings, they were AWESOME until Kaira put hers upside down on the carpet and stepped on them, on purpose. The fun was OVER at that point and I unraveled quickly.

I’m considering preschool in the fall for the two littlest ones (I hear the gasps from the homeschool community), good thing I’m not out to win a homeschool mom of the year award. Right now I basically just want to make it through another homeschool day. If Mother’s Morning Out helps me do that with a little less stress than so be it.

I do not know what next year holds for us, let alone tomorrow. We have less than a month and a half before we finish this year and I am counting the days. I’m praying God will give me insight and wisdom on how to proceed with this High and Holy calling.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY OR MAYBE...

the rest of my life.

I read this quote today:

"We need to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives." Pastor Pete Wilson

and you can read the article where it was quoted here

This is very timely! I have been out of commission for a week and a half with kidney stones.

It was a week ago last Wednesday that I woke my husband up and said I have a pain in my back that feels like a pulled muscle, but it is not and I need to get this checked right now...it was 11:35 p.m. We called a friend to come and stay with the kids and we headed to the ER. We were there all night. I left with lots of pain killers in me and lots of paperwork and the two kidney stones I arrived with.

In my mind our only choice was to get these little suckers blasted as soon as possible because we have four kids, homeschool, business...you know HURRY, HURRY! So, on to the urologist. Well, he said they would not do anything till the next week, so here is another prescription for pain killers and I will see you on Monday. If they are still there we can blast on Tuesday. Tuesday? That was four whole days away. He was in no hurry.

We scrambled. My kids were shuffled all over the place. Friends, neighbors, even strangers came to watch the kids at my house. The kids loved it (although I think they did start missing Mommy). I missed my life and I had no clue even after the blasting when I would feel better. I still have the stones. They are persistent and they are in NO HURRY!

Through this, at least when I have been awake, everything I have been struggling with has been amplified. When you are not feeling well things tend to look worse than they actually are or things that you did not even know were wrong come up.

Today a friend prayed that the Lord would help me find my mustard seed and as I close tonight that is my prayer too. I need that mustard seed to see me through tomorrow...when I try to slow down.

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20

CONTEMPLATING

Many of you know that I run a tea business and it is a blessing and I love every minute of it. Although I must say recently it has been getting harder and harder to keep up with the business due to other demands - homeschooling, having an infant and life happening. It was almost two years ago to the date that this happened:

A local tea shop in announced it was closing and I was devastated. A few days later the Lord began to speak to me and give me what appeared to be a business plan for an internet based tea store. I spoke to the owner the next day and here I am!

Because of things the Lord led me to do a couple of years prior I was positioned to make this transition fairly smoothly complete with access to wonderful free resources at the local college including an attorney and business coach.

Last night as I packed tea and listened to my children play in the den I could not help but wonder will I regret missing this time with them.

The business has never been a burden on us financially, but it also has not added a penny to our household income. Every month it has produced enough to pay its own bills and the loan we took out to purchase it. I do have a significant balance on a credit card that I hope to have paid off soon. I do not want money to be a deciding factor for me.

My dilemma:

I love tea and I love the tea business. I love the people I have met and the opportunities it has afforded me, but I love my family more.

The bigger dilemma:

I do not feel released to give it up. More than anything I want to be obedient, so I must trust God’s timiring as I did two years ago when He called me to this. Everyone asked me repeatedly how I was going to do this and I continually replied I don’t know, but God does. He has been faithful and He is STILL DOING IT.

God’s faithfulness has been interwoven in every aspect of this business and contiues to be. I want Him to be glorified in this and I want to represent Him to the best of my ability, which I feel is lacking in every area of my life right now.

He called me to be a wife, mother, homeschooler and business owner in that order and I do not want to get that confused.

When you think of me please pray and if you have been in this situation and God spoke to you, please share. Any scripture for encouragement or words of Godly wisdom are welcome.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. HEBREWS 13:20-21

TRUST

Tonight we were about to make an impromptu run to the Dollar Store to snag a blow up pool for a $1. When I tried to start the van it would not start, so my husband charged the battery while Isabella and I waited in the car. She was obviously afraid, so I began asking her questions. She was afraid to be in the car while he was charging it because she was afraid it would roll down the hill, so I explained to her that the "park" feature still worked. Then she began crying as we backed down the driveway because if we got stuck at the store "Daddy would leave the little ones alone while he came to get us" and I assured her that would not happen. Daddy would not leave the little ones at home, he would bring them with him or someone there would help start our van. I said we need to trust God Isabella...I knew this was a "teachable" moment. It was important she go with me and face her fear and trust her Father.

Isn't it interesting how irrational her fears were, but aren't all fears irrational? Fear is not based on Truth.

Ever seen the acrostic FEAR? False Evidence Appearing Real

As we left the parking lot I explained to her that we can always trust God. I told her I was glad she trusted me and the words that escaped her lips left me speechless, "Me too, if not my life would be a disaster." Wow! That was a loaded statement.

Remember my struggle with retreating to old seasons? Well, here is my revelation. Plain and simple it is FEAR. A spirit of fear that the bible tells me DID NOT come from my Father. I am struggling with trusting Him right now and my life some days is a "disaster" - I am going to remember what Isabella said. So much wisdom for such a little girl. A girl who knows her Father and trusts Him and believes He is a good Daddy. On days like today I learn much more from my kids than they learn from me.

Trusting our parents is important, but trusting God it is VITAL!

DO YOU EVER GET SO EXCITED...

when you know the Lord has called you to do something? I DO!

Several people have called me to speak at events in the next couple of months (after I said I was not going to do ANY events in the near future). Good thing God orders my steps even when my plans (flesh) attempt to get in the way.

I asked my hubby to pray about all these opportunities because I want to be careful and do only those things that I know the Lord has planned and not because it is "good for business" or "advertising". My business is a business second and a ministry FIRST and it is easy to lose sight of that if I am not "checking in" with the Lord about every opportunity that comes my way.

Of all the calls I have gotten I am only speaking at one event at a local church as a fundraiser for their bridal department. I will be speaking about tea of course, but my main focus will be hospitality and our biblical call to be hospitable. It is one of my favorite topics. I will encourage the women to extend hospitality using tea because it is a simple and elegant way to fellowship with lots of women at one time. Tea tends to open up conversation as we must slow to make and drink it and the Lord does the rest. Opening our homes is more about preparing our hearts for those coming than preparing our homes.

I am extremely excited about this opportunity because I know the Lord has called me to do it. He has already begun preparing me, I know He will show up big as He always does. When I speak at churches or wherever He calls me I am always blown away by His Mighty presence and blessing. It is not for another two months and I know He will have a lot to teach me until then...

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Seems like this verse keeps popping up...He must be trying to tell me something!

TSMSS - EVERY SEASON

I have always loved this song by Nicole Nordeman, but it takes on an even greater significance in light of my recent revelations about seasons - here, here and here. This song ministers to the deep recesses of my heart in this “season”.

Read the lyrics (below all at once or follow in the video), they are powerful!

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

The Lord is so gracious to be gently leading me on this journey of discovery to expose the lies and bring me to His truth and closer to Him and His will for my life.



For more Then Sings My Soul Saturday visit Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders

FALL COMES FULL CIRCLE

Ironically I wrote this 14 years ago when I first moved to Delaware and saw my first fall and was overwhelmed by the beauty. It was a time of great struggle for me as I was at the height of my battle against depression. Praise God by His love and mercy I was Gloriously healed and no longer have to live in bondage in that area.

After all the revelation I have been having in the area of “seasons” I thought this fitting to share. Keep in mind that I was not following the Lord when I wrote this. Now I know that I do not lose my way because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and the lifter of my head.

FALL COMES FULL CIRCLE

Leaves fall from the tress around me
Symbols of life

People will admire the magnificent sight
Wonders of nature

Leaves of radiant colors…reds, greens and golds
Brittle and broken

Leaves fall as they must
I have fallen too

Winter is dark and dreary
I have lost my way

Tress before me naked and bare
I am feeling helpless and unprotected

The sun hangs lower
I cannot hold up my head

Spring is here and with it an abundance of new life
The cloudiness I felt is gone

Amazing the sight before me
I pick myself up

Brilliant new flowers…leaves sprouting on the trees
I smile

Sunshine on the trees stimulating its growth
I have grown

The leaves are green…the trees are full
I feel whole again

Leaves fall from the trees around me
Symbols of life

RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME

There are costs associated with being in the wrong season - for example - last year during an extremely difficult time I went back to a season God called me out of and the results were devastating. I was deeply wounded as a result of MY disobedience. I went to someone in authority over me (in the previous season) and asked for help, when the help did not come I was hurt, confused and angry. I had to repent and ask for forgiveness a lot over that situation. Do you see the problem? I got angry at someone for NOT doing what I thought they should do when I was the one who was sinning against God. Wow, that is a startling revelation!

If I simply would have trusted God in the new season and used the resources He had already provided I could have avoided all that. Not being sensitive to the season that God has us in opens us up for sin.

God is revealing to me the root of my disobedience and I am excited to share all He is teaching me in that area…soon.

It is possible to be at the right place at the wrong time and I am learning the benefits of obeying God and being sensitive to His timing for my life. It comes down to Faith!

GOD KNEW...

Amanda did not know that purple is my favorite color, but God did! Amanda did not know how much I could use a bouquet of flowers today, but God did! Our hearts ache, our marriages fail, we fail, our kids disobey...BUT GOD!

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Delighting in Him,

GREAT QUOTE

I love quotes...always have! When a friend shared this one with me a little over a month ago neither of us knew she would be moving to Texas at the beginning of July:

Having nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. William Morris

I know God has an awesome plan for my friend and her family and when I start to get sad the excitment of what God is doing takes over.

For a long time I feel as if I have been in a season where people, places and things are being "stripped away". It makes me think of this song...



Lyrics:

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than just a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus

Its all about you
Jesus

It really is all about HIM and what He is doing in and through me...I pray I shine for Him.

A FATHER'S DAY TO REMEMBER

Father’s day this year was awesome! We made the journey to church and had planned to spend the day at the river afterwards. Little did we know service would last four hours. Usually when service is long we head out about 1:00 p.m. or when the kids get fidgety. Well, they didn’t and we didn’t. It was so awesome we just could not leave. Our church services are not traditional by any means and Father’s Day was no different! The service has an open mic format according to Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. The service quickly develops a “flow” of the Spirit.

There is a section up front called the earnest section where anyone who wants to be saved can go up anytime during the service and the service will stop and they will receive prayer, it is also for anyone that is struggling with something and needs to repent or needs prayer. There were several people in the earnest section on Father’s day. It was a precious time of healing, I think for everyone. For me it was healing to hear a daughter repent to her father, her father forgive her and him pray for her. When the daughter got up and spoke some of her words about herself were derogatory, so her father disallowed her vow (Numbers 30:6-8). Now the enemy has no right to use those words against her and the Lord will forgive her…the beauty of Truth.

There is also a section up front for the open mic where people get up and share just like Colossians 3:16 says. I am so encouraged in my faith when I hear how others have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony.

The pastor also had everyone share “popcorn” testimonies. He had someone walk around with a microphone and people gave brief declarations of the Lord’s doings…people had been healed of many sicknesses and diseases, restored marriages, broken hearts healed...it lasted about 15 minutes.

It was a precious day with a lot of wonderful reminders of who our Heavenly Father is and what He has called men to be as daddies. A wonderful reminder of His great love for us and what WAS accomplished on the cross because of LOVE.

We did go to the river after our lunch in town and had a wonderful time. It was almost as much fun as last Father’s Day adventure. The river was low, but that did not stop us from cruising down the river using our bodies with children on our laps causing us to bump every rock in sight…there were a lot of ooooohs and ouches, but it was a blast. We all had a memorable day.

DON'T JUDGE ME!

Yesterday after a wild trip to the grocery store we headed straight to Babies R' Us to purchase this:

A child harness (the nice way to say it) or a leash (it is what it is)

I was one of those people who thought these were awful and how could anyone put this on their child...yada, yada, yada. Well, now I am that person with a highly curious, adventurous and FAST little girl. Juggling four kids at home is challenging enough, but the grocery store, parking lot or even the museum - well, that's just dangerous. Kaira can disappear in .3 seconds leaving no trace of her whereabouts.

Hopefully, after some professional leash (harness) training and time she will get used to it and stop throwing herself on the floor and writhing as though she were in excruciating pain. We got many looks at the baby store yesterday and none were nice or sympathetic, but I understand, remember I WAS one of THOSE people. Fortunately, with age I got some wisdom and feel no need to explain myself to strangers who disapprovingly look at me in public while I lovingly try to convince Kaira this is a "good" thing. None of those people had four kids with them!

So, again I say, "Don't judge me!" To those I judged - I'm sorry! I was ignorant.

If you have any tips on helping Curious Kaira adjust to her new boundaries I wanna hear it!

I'VE SEEN PEACE

Last year when I found this scripture (Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Psalm 34:14) I was blown away. I could not understand how to "seek peace" much less "pursue it", which led me to this post. Strong's Concordance defines pursue in this context: to run after (usually with hostile intent), chase, follow, hunt. Well, that is not how it happened for me...I learned to REST and PEACE came. Maybe I did run after peace with hostile intent because the Lord said to and as I did I learned to rest and then peace came. Maybe I was so desperate to escape the chaos of my circumstances my intentions in the pursuit of PEACE did become hostile. I do not know and the details are not important...I have it (most of the time as I am still learning and growing in this area). Remember my new favorite verse:

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14

Circumstances during my pregnancy with Judah were anything but peaceful, yet I always felt a sense of peace and could feel that sense of peace in him. During previous pregnancies during times of great stress I could feel the baby tense up, sometimes so much it hurt. Not this time, I had sought peace, pursued it and it was there. It was the peace that surpasses understanding! Now the precious part of this pursuit is I see it in Judah's face at least a hundred times a day...PEACE. Here are a couple of pictures that I feel capture it well, but can PEACE be photographed? I do not know...what do you think?

I CAN DO ALL THINGS...

Baby number four is on the way and I am ecstatic, but my excitement has not been met with the same enthusiasm. The responses so far:

• Are you crazy?
• Another one?
• Ohhhhh
• Four?
• Your gonna have your hands full
• How old are you?

There have been positive responses too, that have far outweighed those mentioned above, but the negative ones really surprised me and led to this post. Thank you to those who have blessed us and this baby and have shared in our joy and excitement for the new life we are expecting.

The bible says, “Children are a gift and a blessing from the Lord” and I do not admit to having revelation of all that meant after my first child, but as my three have grown, wow…it is life-giving! So, if they are a gift and a blessing from the Lord, why would I not be thrilled? In nine months I get to unwrap a present from my Daddy - a Daddy who loves me with an everlasting love and gives perfect gifts!

My youngest daughter's name is Kaira, which means "God’s opportune time for something to happen" (from the Greek kairos). Maybe that is when it clicked for me, when I got pregnant with her, that it was God’s timing - not mine. It is the same now.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is used by Christians everywhere for weight loss, recovery and a host of other issues, why don’t we use it for pregnancy and childrearing? I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!

IT REALLY IS ALL ABOUT ME

Have you seen this shirt, or purse or notebook? It seems to be everywhere targeting our kids. I must admit I cringe a little every time I see it, wondering what are we teaching this generation? Well, that was until the Lord spoke to me and said, “It really is all about you!”

Your…

• Choices
• Actions
• Behaviors
• Attitudes
• Motives

Now that puts a whole different spin on “it’s all about me.” I have choices to make everyday and in every situation – bottom line – my choices reflect my heart.

The bible is clear, we have choices to make:

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Proverbs 8:10
CHOOSE my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold…

James 4:4
…Anyone who CHOOSES to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE life, so that you and your children may live

GOD MADE HIS CHOICE:

John 15:16
You did not CHOOSE me, but I CHOSE you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

HOW DO THEY GET HERE?

I saw this on Life in the Parsonage and thought it was great, so here is my version.

From referrals on Sitemeter I can tell that most people get to my blog searching for the following (in the most to least requested order):

1. “Sleep number bed replacement parts” or “my sleep number is 25” and they get this. I have often thanked the Lord for bringing so many to my blog this way and pray they will read the story and hear of His faithfulness. The post has also been picked up by Sleep Conversations by Select Comfort makers of the Sleep Number Bed…interesting, huh? God has no limits!


2. “Your love is like water washing over me lyrics” and they get this. This is an awesome song, click on the link to listen if you have never heard it. You will feel His love flow like water washing over you.


3. “God only helps those that help themselves” and they get this. That was a lie I believed for longer than I would care to admit and I hope people find truth and freedom in my words.

The blogosphere - a mighty new weapon!

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him). 1 Corinthians 1:21