Have you praised God today?

Thank you, Lord for the Holy Spirit that overflows my cup!

This got stuck in draft mode from October....

Today my cup overflows and God gave me a big mouth to share it. :) 

There are times in our lives when we are in the valleys and every day is difficult, we are just trying to keep our heads above water.  Then there are times when we've gotten our heads just above that water and we see God's glory so amazingly...

Today my head is up and I can only see Him and His mighty works.  Over a year ago, we found this wonderful little place about 45 minutes from our home and I felt God calling us to it.  We needed our long term home where we could get out of the busyness of so many people and just too much 'stuff.'  God told me so strongly this is where we were to go.  We took a trip and my husband agreed this would be our haven.  We wanted a smaller community for both us and our daughter. 

I remember running down the hill through one of the pastures with my arms raised seeing God's beauty overflowing in nature.  He was showing off his handywork! 

Many thought we were crazy for moving so far out, but God was drawing so sweetly.  We've been here six months and the blessings are crazy wonderful!  Every day I look out and see his beautiful creations all around me.  He has surrounded us with a family of christians that live life for Him.  He has also blessed our family.  It feels as though my husband and I are just marrying again as we create our life here. 

This weekend we go to our first local festival.  We are so excited and many from the 'city' might find it boring but I see the fellowship and appreciation of small town living.

Hang in there, kiddo...it won't last long...

Yesterday was so very odd.  The morning was calm and normal, until I starting chatting with a friend.  I was told of some horrific news that broke my heart. 

After dealing with that, I unknowingly unlocked a storm....of emails at my office.  We have forums and this particular forum I needed to post on has an email address in order to post.  Turns out there are thousands of subscribers who didn't know they were subscribed.  So of course they had to reply all and let everyone know they wanted off the list.  My thoughts on their actions is another story.  However, I had many respond to me, telling me what a good laugh they got out of it and to let it roll off my back.

One particular guy told me "hang in there, kiddo... it won't last long...".  Hmmm... sounds a little like "this too shall pass" which is actually not in a bible verse.

Thank you, Lord, for the humor or others that reminds us pain or embarassment does not last forever.  Amen.

"Never doubt in the dark what God said in the light"

Going through a particularly bad week, I emailed a lady on a forum, encouraging her in how she is handling her bad year.  She took the time, over a week or so, to email me back a very thoughtful, touching, and introspective response.  In it, she said a friend told her "never doubt in the dark what God said in the light."

Sometimes we forget the truths we know when times are really tough.  We second guess our path and what we originally heard from God.  She reminded me of God's promises which did not include an easy carefree road.  That one little phrase did so much to pick me up and dust me off. 

Thank you, Lord, for this new friend.  Please watch over her and her household, showing them your light and love.  Thank you for working through her and providing us both comfort.  Amen.

My posts are getting farther between.  Sometimes that is due to not paying attention to what God is showing me, and at others, it's because I'm in awe at how much He is showing me.

This morning, I read an article on CNN.com about a pro football player who is speaking out against Same Sex Marriage.  And he spoke against other 'notables' not speaking out.  He spoke from the heart, but still people commented and picked apart what he said.  The comments were quite disturbing, ranging from how stupid he is to Jesus is to blame for this.  Absolutely unreal. 

But if you step back, you see this guy is doing what he should be doing and of course, Satan is on his back.  That keeps so many of us from speaking out.  We don't want the backlash.  However, he gave me some hope that not everyone in the spotlight is running away from God. 

Be someone's hope and share what God lays on your heart.  Last night, the preacher asked what we were doing with God's call on our life.  Are we doing what He wants us to do?  I took this to mean in the broad spectrum, but also on a day to day basis.  He gives us opportunites, are we taking them?

And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, "Follow Me!"  And he rose, and followed Him. --Matthew 9:9, NASB

Matthew was a tax collector, noone liked him.  Jesus asked him to follow him, even though people still would hate him.  But Matthew left his old life behind and followed. 

Lord, please give us the understanding and the heart to follow you in every part of our lives.  Let us follow the abundant life you have for us.  Amen.

Friday night I was on my usual run to the nearest 'city' to get groceries, take daughter to karate, etc.  We were in Wal-Mart to get more paint for the house.  The Friday before Memorial Day and noone was working in the paint department.  In my mind, I complained that Wal-Mart understaffs to make more money.  And yet again, I'll be getting home at 10 on Friday after an hour's drive.  I tried to keep a patient attitude and went to another dept to have someone paged.  After another 5 - 10 minutes, I asked a different worker to page someone.  Another 5 minutes and I asked a third worker to page a manager, surely they could mix paint.  The lady was older and gave a funny look saying she wasn't so sure.  She spotted the lady that knew how to do it, giving someone else a break in another dept.

Martha came over and you could tell she was tired but still getting her duties done.  Her phone rang - her husband was just out of ICU.  I was floored.  Not wanting to be nosey, but wanting to make up for my earlier impatience, I asked if he was feeling better.  No.

She went on to tell me about the last 2 years of their life, since his motorcycle accident in which he was thrown 60 feet.  He'd broken 57 bones, his spine and pelvis breaking in 2.  There's now a very long screw holding the pelvis together and a metal cage around his spine.  She lost count of the procedures and surgeries the doctors said he wouldn't live through.  He already had heart problems and diabetes.  Now liver and kidney issues are added.  The doctors said he would never walk again, but the two of them worked together and he is walking and driving short distances. 

I asked if his spirits were up.  Honestly, I expected her to say he was depressed from the daily shots, 19 medicines, and continual hospital stays.  But she said his spirits are up.  He told her there are 2 things that keep him going - 1 - the good Lord wasn't done with him yet, 2 - he wasn't done loving her yet. 

She works as much as she can because they need the money and through Christmas Wal-Mart needed her, so she had to let someone else take care of him.  I felt so small for every time I've been upset there aren't enough cashiers or floor workers.  Instead, I should be praying for those not able to get to work.

God blessed me with Martha and her husband.  They are working through a very difficult time, but still loving each other and leaning on each other. 

Thank you, Lord, for those you put in our paths to show us your love and hope in action.  Please bless Martha and her husband this week, giving them laughter and a break from the turmoil.  Amen.

What is God's destination for you? 

The message last night cut to the heart of life.  You are on a road, is it the right one?  Will God change your direction? 

4 years ago, my husband and I were trying to figure out if we were supposed to remain in our state or move somewhere else.  I was searching for a job change and told God I was willing to go anywhere, absolutely anywhere but where I was.  Hmmmm....putting limits on God because of what I wanted.  Before long, I realized I had to learn to be content in my job and wait on God.  Then a new job came up when I was content so I could make a rational decision and not just jump at it.  God was preparing me for the next adventures in life - bringing a child into our home and moving even further into the country to a small town. 

This small town has been an amazing blessing in less than 2 months.  When others could not understand our move, I knew the Holy Spirit was telling me to go.  I didn't entirely know why, but knew we needed to go and it would be just what we needed.  And God is blessing that over and over.

Pray and ask God about your destination.  Much more than your job or your hobbies, what is the destination of your heart?

Thank you, Lord, for your purpose for each person's life.  Please reveal a piece of it to those I love today.  Amen.

Come and see!

"Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men."  - Psalm 66:5 (NASV)

"Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!"
~ Psalm 66:5, NLT


Look for God's miracles today and be in awe.
Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness and your awesomeness!  Amen.