Journaling...

I have been reading through my journal recently, and have been making a conscious effort to journal more consistently as I used to do. I love to journal, it is a way to pour my heart out to my Lord, and I really enjoy looking back over what I have written and seeing how the Lord has answered prayers, addressed concerns, and ministered to my needs and hurts. It is a great reminder of the faithfulness of my Lord and of His concern and love for me...

While reading back through my journal this week I came upon this entry and felt led of the Lord to share it here... it is a bit of a devotion from Streams in the Desert that really spoke to me. It led me to ask myself these questions...

Am I:

1. Willing to be nothing so Christ may be everything?
2. Fully accepting God's purposes as my own?
3. Receiving Christ's humility, faith, love and power yet never hindering God's plan but always allowing Him to continue His miraculous work?

"God, and He alone, became my all in all. In Him I found everything I needed, and I desired nothing else. By God's grace, my understanding of His sufficiency has remained to this day, making me an exceedingly happy man. It has led me to care only about the things of God." George Mueller (from Streams in the Desert, July 18)

Can you say as George Mueller said, that "in Him I found everything I needed, and I desired nothing else"? That is my current pursuit... I want to desire nothing but my Lord... nothing else will satisfy me like He will...

Thankful Thursday

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

Psalm 118:1

Every week lately I have the intentions of doing this Thankful Thursday post, yet life has been busy, and computer "stuff" gets pushed to the bottom of my to do list. When I do have time to do computer "stuff" I am too tired to even look at the computer! However, for today I really did want to share what we are doing with the boys as we approach Thanksgiving.

We have started our Thankful Box! We did this a couple of years ago... we all really liked it, and it gave more meaning to our Thanksgiving holiday. Every evening after dinner we all share one thing from our day that we are thankful for, I write them on a notecard and stick them in our Thankful Box. Then on Thanksgiving Day we will get them all out and read them. It is a great way to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness in our family.

We just use an empty kleenex box that we have decorated and have put the verse above on, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good." Psalm 118:1

So today I thought I would share what we have all been thankful for so far this week:

James

grocery stores
that my Chick-Fil-A cup did not get thrown away
sunshine

Tricia
rest time in the afternoon
the opportunity to go to Bible study today
that through Jesus Christ I am an overcomer

Paul
that God gave me my cat and for grandfather and grandmother
thankful to have a Mommy & a Daddy
thankful that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins

David
I am thankful for Jesus and God
for my brother and all the things God gave me, and my mommy & daddy
I am thankful for Tommy Moon

Do you have any neat ways of cultivating an attitude of thankfulness in your family? What are you thankful for today? For more TT posts go here.

Word-Filled Wednesday

I love this verse! I love the fact that He chose me... just think about that! The Creator of this universe, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings chose me, and He chose you. Why did He choose us? He chose us and appointed us that we may go and bear fruit for Him... that is a big calling. Are you bearing fruit for Him? If not, pray and ask Him to make you fruitful for Him... that is a prayer He will definitely answer!

For more WFW posts visit 160acrewoods.

Wordless Wednesday

Word-Filled Wednesday

Two are better than one... isn't this so true? I am so thankful my boys have each other... they have so much fun together and really do love each other lots. It is a joy to watch their relationship and see the precious bond they have because they are twins...

I am also so thankful for my husband, without him life would just not be the same. I am thankful God did not intend for us to go through this life alone... He gave me a husband to love me as Christ loves the church, to be with me on this journey of parenthood, and to have fun with! How true it is that two are better than one! And it is even better when those two allow God to enter in and make it three... without Him life would be just plain hard and frustrating, but with Him life is abundant and joyful! Have you allowed Him to enter into your life?

For more WFW posts visit critty joy.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Complaining....

Welcome to Tuesday's Together in the Word, we are a group of women reading through the Word and sharing what the Lord is teaching us... head over to DeeDee's to join us and to read what others are learning!


God is currently sending me the same message through several different avenues...

1. I am studying the gospel of John with a group of ladies on Tuesday mornings, and the boys are studying John also in their children's class...
2. I am doing Priscilla Shirer's study, One in a Million, about our journey into the Promise Land...
3. And in homeschooling my children, we are reading through the Old Testament, and are currently reading about Moses leading the children through the wilderness to the Promised Land...

Through all of these different avenues, God is speaking to me about complaining... or rather about not complaining.

Complaining is a sign of a discontented heart... it shows that we are not content with how God has provided for and blessed us. And a discontented heart is usually not a thankful heart...


Complaining, over and over and over again, kept many of the Israelites from ever entering the Promised Land. The Lord became so fed up with the Israelites complaining that He chose to punish them by not allowing them to enter the Promised Land... I do not want the Lord to become so fed up with my complaining that He does not allow me into the Promised Land.


In pursuing "no complaining", our eyes have to shift off of ourselves and onto the Lord. We are to focus solely on the purpose for which God has us here on earth, and that is to be a light and a witness for Him, just as John the Baptist was. John did not focus on himself, he focused on Jesus, talked about Jesus, and He pointed others to Jesus... By focusing on Jesus and what He has called me to do, I take the focus off of myself, which spurs me to brag and praise on my Jesus rather than complaining about petty things.

I am asking my Lord to quicken my heart and mind to any complaining in my spirit, whether I verbalize it or just think it... and I am asking Him to help me to have a contented heart, to give thanks for all the many provisions and blessings He has given me... I want to focus on serving Him and sharing Him. I do not want my time here to be wasted in complaining... I want to make it to my Promise Land!

Playing a bit...

I've been playing a bit today... experimenting with some stuff on the computer that I have been wanting to try for a while. It has been a wonderfully quiet afternoon and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself! Just thought I would share the fun!

A Fun 5K - Race for the Cure

I ran another 5K today! With my friend Lori and hundreds of other people!
It was a slight drizzly rain, but it actually felt wonderful...

And my men came out to cheer me on! It was such a joy to see them when I got to the 1 mile mark! And I was very proud to complete the run in 29 minutes and 25 seconds, my best time ever!!


As I was posting this David came and sat beside me and asked what I was doing. I told him I was thinking of something to write and he said I should write this:

"Great is our Lord, and mighty in power!"
Psalm 147:5

And that He is! So tonight, may this be a reminder to you that our Lord is great and mighty in power! I praise Him for giving me the strength, energy, and endurance to run today... for I run in the path of His commands, for He has set my heart free! Psalm 119:32

Word-Filled Wednesday

"For God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."
1 Corinthians 7:10

This picture makes me think of digging deep into the things of God... Are you spending time daily in His Word, digging deeper and deeper to get to know Him more intimately? I encourage you to do so... The Word of God holds mysteries that His Holy Spirit will reveal to you as you study His Word. Dig deep and discover those mysteries for yourself!

For more WFW posts visit 160acres.

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 136:1-4

Today I am giving thanks for:

• The unfailing love of my Lord... I can always find a place of refuge in Him!
• For a friend calling to make plans to do something with me... such a simple thing can really make a lonely heart sing...
• The joy of seeing my children learn new things and actually enjoying the process of learning... what a blessing homeschooling my children is...
• The quickness of my children to pray for me when I tell them I am not feeling well... I am so thankful they know how to pray and are not hesitant to do so.
• For my family... they are such a blessing to me and are becoming more and more dear to me every day!

What are you thankful for today? I have missed doing my TT posts lately, but hopefully I can get back in some sort of a routine and can begin to blog more regularly again... take some time to stop and give thanks!

Word-Filled Wednesday

By His Word our Lord created this whole world and everything in it! Can you wrap your mind around that, just by His Word... have you spent time in His Word today? If His Word can create this magnificent world, just think of all the things His Word could do in your life! Carve some time out of your day to spend in His Word...


For more WFW posts visit Susan...

Wordless Wednesday

Friends along the journey...

I have started a couple of new Bible studies in the past couple of weeks...

In one we are doing an in-depth study on the book of John from now until May. I am really looking forward to digging into one of my favorite books of the Bible. I also am looking forward to the new friendships that will be formed as this is a new group of women for me to be doing Bible study with. Just today I met a lady who has a son the same age as mine, and another lady who has twin boys who are 11. I was so excited that the Lord has placed these ladies in my life at this time... mom's with "kid stuff" in common who also love the Lord and are passionate about Him and His Word, this is an answer to prayers that I have been praying for some time!

The other study is a class the ladies are doing at church by Priscilla Shirer, One in a Million. This quote below from her introduction has really stuck with me. It has caused me to think about several of you, my blogging friends, and my local touchable, huggable, flesh and blood friends, whom the Lord has used to bring me great encouragement along this sometimes lonely journey in my walk of faith... I am thankful for each of you, and you know who you are!

God's call from mundane Christianity to a radical experience of Him has taken me down roads that, honestly, have been quite narrow.

On occasion, I've had to whisper a prayer for help when loneliness knocks on my front door and comes in to stay a while. When I've met other travelers willing to brave these winding roads, our eyes have met and an instant heart connection made. Without having much to say, we've encouraged each other to continue. Priscilla Shirer, One in a Million, page 5.

I am so very thankful for my true friends in the faith. You know the kind... those who you have a stronger bond and connection with because you share in the things of the Spirit. I thank God for each and every one of you. I am thankful for the bond we share through His Spirit. And I am so very thankful He has placed you in my life and for the encouragement that He brings me through your friendship and your words...

Wordfilled Wednesday

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills
From whence comes my help
My help comes from the Lord
Who made Heaven and earth

He will not allow your foot to be moved
He who keeps you will not slumber
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep

The Lord is your keeper
The Lord is your shade at your right hand

The sun shall not smite you by day
Nor the moon by night

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil
He shall preserve your soul
The Lord shall preserve your going out and coming in
From this time forth and even forevermore.

Psalm 121 is precious to our family. My husband's grandmother used to pray it over her family before leaving each other after times of fellowship, and we had it read at our wedding. It touches my heart that my children (both have it memorized) already know it by heart and have it hidden away in their hearts. I have even heard Paul comment to someone that he gets his help from the Lord. Are you hiding the Word of God in your heart?

We've Been Away...

We spent a week here...

Hanging out and relaxing together...

Having "loads" of fun...

Playing really hard...

We had a wonderful vacation, and are ready to go back again!!

Thankful Thursday

Today, for Thankful Thursday, I thought I would share a conversation I had with my Lord on Monday evening...

It all started out with me having a grumpy and complaining attitude... I was grumpy because I wanted my family to help me clean up after dinner. I didn't want to ask for help, I just wanted them to know that I wanted help and to get up and help me. I had cooked dinner, cleaned up all the dishes after dinner, and we were all having a brownie and some ice cream. I was the last one at the table eating my brownie... every one else had finished and left their dirty dishes sitting on the table.

Now our boys have been trained to take their dishes to the sink, and my husband has also been trained :) However, as I sat there by myself, looking at all the dirty dishes left on the table (while the dishwasher was open and conveniently waiting for more dishes to be put in), I couldn't help but feel a bit angry and slightly resentful. They had gone off to do something fun and I was left in the kitchen to CLEAN!

So I cleaned up the dishes, started the dishwasher, and disappeared to soak in a bubble bath. Well, as I was soaking and trying to relax, I heard that still, small voice:

"You need to have a thankful heart."

"You need to focus on me and not on yourself or on others."

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ."

So... I chose obedience to the voice of God, and I began to tell Him the things I was thankful for.

Here are some of them:

• I am thankful that I have a family to cook for and to clean up after...
• I am thankful that we have money to buy food to eat,... good food, healthy food...
• I am thankful for my children... there are those who desperately want children and yet for some reason have not been blessed with them yet...
• I am thankful for modern conveniences, like my dishwasher, my garbage disposal, my trash can with the foot pedal so I can open it with my foot...
• I am thankful for my big bathtub so that at times I can break away and relax...
• And I am so thankful for the still, small voice of God... thankful that He chooses to speak to me, thankful that I hear His voice, and thankful for the God-given desire to respond in obedience to His voice...

So, since Monday evening I have been very conscious of my attitude and whether or not it has been the same as that of Jesus Christ. I am consciously trying to have a thankful attitude in all that I do, even the everyday mundane things that often do not evoke thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for that really there should be no room for grumbling in my heart. May God help me to always chose thanksgiving over grumbling...

For more TT posts visit Laurie at Women Taking a Stand.