Life Lessons

As I mentioned in the past post, life around here has been well...difficult. I have also posted a bit about God allowing us, at times to be crushed to produce a fragrance that is pleasing to Him.
Absolutely nothing has changed in my circumstances since I posted last, and yet everything has changed because God has been changing me within these painful circumstances. I am beginning to see the outcome from the process -the aroma from the crushing. I can see new growth as the Lord draws qualities out of me that I never knew were inside of me in the first place! There is a new strength and peace unlike I have ever known in the past!

The Lord has been speaking to me for months now, giving me deep insights that apply to my personal walk with Him. He has been using rhemas to navigate me through these 'situations' that have had the potential to tear my family apart and destroy me in the process. Because of His faithfulness to walk me through this confusing maze instead of just removing these crisis situations as they have arisen I have been able overcome a lot of the fearfulness and self-doubt that normally would have engulfed me.

I have been drawing on scripture and beginning to understand the power of God's word like NEVER before! Verses like Ephesians 3:20 have proved so powerful in keeping on top of the thought bombs the enemy has tried to drop on me.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

The ongoing theme through all of this has been "seasons" and Galations 6:6-10 was a rhema to me just the other day as I prayed on these things and asked God for affirmation for the more difficult things He has been speaking to my heart.

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

As I continue through this season I am looking forward to all God is going to do as he molds me into the woman of God I know he desires me to be!

Blessings,

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Ever been in one of those places in life where NOTHING makes any sense? I'm in one of those places, have been for weeks, like an emotional amusement park ride where centrifugal force presses you you hard against the wall and then the floor slowly drops away beneath you feet? Yeah, as a kid I loved that ride! In real life it's not much fun!
Spiritually the foundation I have built my life on has remained unmoved. And yet moment by moment these days I have to choose to obey. This is a season of faith for me. If I let my emotions have their head, they will destroy me. I am unsure at times if I can take the next step of faith the Lord sets before me other times it is a little easier.
I know so little right now. God keeps giving me small encouragements and I am tucking them away until their season comes to pass; that season seems so far away! For now I have this season to walk through. This season is a season of faith and faith alone.
I have never felt more humanly alone in my life. Everything has changed for me.
I often wonder how people navigate through life without the anchor of a relationship with the living God! I am thankful for the Holy Spirit that has been my constant companion and friend. I am thankful for the urging of His presence causing me to press on to higher things and into the character of Christ!
Blessings,

Happy New Year

I am not one for resolutions simply because it is a new year. I do believe in evaluating our lives occasionally and making changes as they are warranted. Life truly is seasonal and this is a season of change for me.

I haven't posted in a while because life has been, as i stated in my last post, a luge race. Every time I think I am on the last turn I seem to be instead wedged up against the wall of the course.

There are just times in our lives when we need to be broken, times when we must be willing to be broken, this has been one of those times for me. I didn't want to be the broken lamb that needed to be carried on the shoulders of the Savior but that is exactly where I found myself, riding on the neck of my LORD. I thought I was stronger, able to ramble after my Lord but that was not the case. God has broken down every wall I had been hiding behind. He exposed a gentle and vulnerable heart I didn't know existed. He stripped away years of hurt and abandonment and gave me a heart that could trust again. Then he tested that new heart.

Those of you that cook you know the crushing of certain spices brings out their fragrance. When you take an aromatic spice such as rosemary or oregano between your fingers then crush and roll them their pungent, musky smell wafts through the air. Cinnamon and cloves are spicy and sweet. At times in our walk with the Lord we need to know what is really in our hearts. These testings crush us and reveal the true fragrance of our character. It is an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

God is far more interested in my character, God is far more interested in the divine calling He has placed on my life than he is in my feelings. I know this opposes the bent of humanism that has infiltrated the church. This common misconception that God wants us to be happy. Happiness is a fleeting and abstract feeling, illusive to capture and keep.

God loves us and does not get pleasure from our pain. He does not toy with the affections of His children. He is a kind and loving Father and as such He wants us to be men and women of character and discipline. Lets face it developing discipline and character is very rarely fun but there is a joy and contentedness that comes from obedience. Does God want us happy? God offers us peace and contentment in our obedience not the happiness of the world that leaves us empty in the end. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

I am learning to run to God and my desire through all of this is that God will glorified and I will be able to walk as a woman of integrity, Seeking Diligence in all my ways!

Peace for the NewYear throught Christ Jesus!
Blessings,

Course of Life

Blessings Dear Friends and Readers,

Life has been rather like an Olympic luge race for me lately. I am on a course at break neck speed. I am thankful God has laid out the course before me; but it's taking all of my stamina to lean into the turns. My thinking is that for now is this blog needs to be very much on the back burner at least for this season of my life -as long as that may may be.

Blessings,

Learning Videos

As a homeschooling mom I have learned something about myself something that escaped me in school...I like to learn. I am dominantly a visual learner so I am jazzed about the whole idea of learning videos on the web.
I like to knit but am limited in my ability to knit. I have always wanted to knit socks, more specifically Christmas stockings, so I went on a hunt for a video to teach me how to knit socks. It was great! I found step by step lessons. I can't wait to drag my needles in here and get started. Guess what you're getting for Christmas? ;D
I thought I would look into a few other areas of learning. Here are just a few I thought were interesting. A word of warning when searching for videos~check out all videos first before you let you kiddos watch them the Internet can be a frightening place.
How to knit~ basic knitting instruction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uw-nUvGrBY
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJXDbEVtNPY
How to Dissect a Frog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmkpk5EKLhg
Math Videos
http://www.mathtv.com/
Fast math tricks, this one was fun. I didn't do well :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9t-gYnPNaw
Auto Math
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVqB_tB5VbY
MIT Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNX7_NZn9fA
Happy Surfing!
Blessings,

What a Difference a Day Makes.

What a difference a day can make. What a difference even a few hours can make sometimes.
This morning I woke early and had convinced myself that the only way to right my upside down world was to crawl back in bed and start over.
About that time my phone rang. My friend called me to let me know her brother had died. Her brother had been very ill for a long time, to hear he had died would not have been shocking, the fact that he took his own life was.
I am so deeply sorry for his family. This brother knew and loved the Lord but I fear his ongoing illness drug him down in to a pit of despair. In his right mind he would have done anything to protect his family from the pain of this type of loss causes.
Chronic and terminal illnesses are so hard on families and often they become cut of from church fellowship and friendships. They can easily become the "forgotten". Please pray for this family and if you know of someone that is going through a difficult time, get off the computer right now and give them a call, send them a card, or better yet VISIT! It will only take a minute of your time but will bless them more than you will ever know! You may be the lifeline they need.
Blessings,

More Free Time Please!

Wow...science has come a long way! They're telling us kids need more free time...duh! I guess the black eye I got playing baseball in the street with my brothers means my mom was on to something. Thanks Mom!
See the MSN video here.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/%2021134540/vp/26421059#26421059

Blessings,

Preachin' to the Choir

As I was sorting through files and trying to get ready for school (we begin on Tuesday) I ran across a teaching I had done a couple of summers ago.
I had been asked to be part of a panel discussion at our church. Each of the four panel members was given a question to address that had been previously collected from the congregation.
The question I got was in reference to knowing when to give up on something or to keep believing in faith. I am using part of that teaching here today because I need to be reminded of these things myself so I suppose in this post ( really in all of my posts) I’m just preachin’ to the choir!
If you have determined that the situation is within the scope of God’s will for your life ( By this time I had gone through how to determine if you are in God’s will.) then scripture is clear, you need to persevere in prayer and in faith until God releases you! When God reveals His will we need to be faithful to obey.
Here are a few more things to remember. God will at times allow a desire or dream to die within us so He can bring new life to it. God wants to be first above all else! He’ll settle for nothing less than our whole heart! Have you completely surrendered this situation to God?
Difficult situation and difficult people are the refining fire that God uses to burn up the impurities in our character. Are you willing to let God change you and not the situation?
God is never late! Remember, God sees all of the player all of the time, and loves us all equally. His timing is always the best timing for all of his children at any given time.
Knowing these things, offer God the sacrifice of praise, thank Him for this situation He has allowed into your life, trusting that no matter what happens God is on His throne, He is in control, and He has a plan for your life!
Blessings,

Prayer

These days my life seems to change daily as God hones and shapes me into
the woman he wants me to be. One area God has been actively working on for years is my prayer life and I would like to share more of my heart on that here as time allows.
Prayer for our children is one area we need to be especially diligent in! The enemy of their souls does not rest and neither can we. If praying for your children is new to you this prayer calendar might be a good place to start. It has a prayer for each day of the month!
http://www.renewnetwork.org/Resources%20Pages/Praying%20For%20Our%20Children.htm I also found the writings of E.M. Bounds online!
http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/E.M.Bounds.html
Blessings,

More Places to visit

I was blog surfing today and stopped by the sweetest blog. I didn't read a word but got lost in the pictures that reminded me of a bygone time.
http://eyesofwonder.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Take a vacation and visit eyes of wonder.
Blessings,