Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day we should remember and honor each and every day.

I have been so blessed. I have an amazing husband, 4 beautiful children, wonderful extended family (some of which are not blood relatives), a great house, food on my table, cars in the garage, and so much more. But if that were all taken away I would still have a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. I am so thankful for His sovereignty, and His unending love and grace that He gives each moment.

I am truly thankful.

A thought...or two

If you were asked to describe God, how would you define Him?

(While there is technically a right and wrong answer here, I just want you to be honest even if it's not completely accurate.)

Do you believe in God? Have you accepted His salvation? Do you understand that the cross and His death on it were/are for you?

Now I want you to think about this picture of God and the power of His redemption. If you have accepted the gift and grace of His salvation, this God-the One True God (no matter how messed up your description) lives in you. His power that raised Jesus from the tomb is in you.

IN YOU!!!!

What are you going to do with that revelation or reminder? Are you going to continue to pray and then not expect an answer, are you going to live in defeat and fear, or are you going to live confidently in the power of God, knowing that He is sovereign? Will your life be changed by the Holy Spirit's power in your life? How will other's see that difference?

(We are not saved by works, but we are saved FOR works-so living a power-filled life should be evident to the world around you.)

Thankful for...

so much I don't know where to begin. This verse sums it up for me today.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

A thought...or two

I am not sure where to start. I have been overwhelmed during the last two days with a heaviness in my heart and spirit. I know that there are specific reasons for some of my feelings. However, on many levels there is a sense of unknown.

This I do know: "The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect [me] from the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) I also know that "God did not give [me] a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)

I believe that spiritual battles are very real. "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:11-12) I know that for whatever reason I am being brought to my knees. The enemy is trying hard to discourage me, but my God is so much bigger and His love for me is overwhelming: "the love of Christ...that surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:18-19)

So for this moment or space of time I will continue to go to God and be in His presence with His truths and promises. Won't you join me? There is truly no better place to be anyway, no matter the circumstances.

To end I want to share a quote with you (I have no idea who said it or where it came from):

"It is time to stop telling God how big our mountains are and instead tell our mountains how big our God is."

Where did the color go?

I am looking outside and wondering what on earth happened in the past few weeks. After a chilly summer (yes-I prefer 80-90's) and then an almost non-existent fall, it seems that it is now winter. We are back to cold, dreary, rainy, gray days. Yucky.

So for today I will look at pictures that I took within the past month. And I will remember, "unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it only remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24) The colors will be back. God is faithful and He makes all things beautiful, even on the gray and dreary days.

Thankful for...

my children

who are growing up way too fast.

A thought...or two

God has really been stirring in my heart when it comes to prayer. I have recently been reading an amazing book, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" which I think should be a must read for everyone. I also have been challenged in my personal devotional time as well as in group settings about prayer and what it should be in my life.

I recently read 1 Samuel 1-2:11 during my personal time with God. I have been coming back to this passage over the past few days. It is about the birth of Samuel. I am struck by his mother Hannah's passionate plea to God for a child. Even though she is the wife who is loved, even though the other wife has supplied children to her husband, she continues for years to cry out to God for a child of her own. She came to the point of "bitterness in her soul" and she wept and prayed to the LORD.

I am struck by the fact that she desired something so much she prayed for years. How often do I pray for something and when it doesn't happen within months, weeks or days I figure it just isn't supposed to be? Not only did she pray for years for a child, she did it under difficult circumstances. She even got to the point of "bitterness in spirit". I know I would have given up for sure by that point.

Her prayer becomes desperate, to the point where she makes a vow with God. You give me a son, I'll give him back to you. (my paraphrase) And isn't it interesting that when she gets to the point of saying "you can have back what I so badly want" that God remembered her and gave her a son.

As I have pondered this passage over the past few days there have been many aspects that I have thought about, but I am left wondering about this:

What do I so passionately want from God that I am willing to get on my knees and ask for it for as long as it takes?

and

Am I willing to surrender my desires back to Him if He decides to answer my prayer?

What are you praying for? Do you believe God is going to answer, or are you pryaing because it's the right thing to do? God wants us to seek Him, but not for personal gain and satisfaction, rather so that He can work through us and the desires and passions He has placed within us.

Please Pray

If you don't regularly follow any of the other blog links I have, please take a moment to check out the blog "My Charming Kids". While I do not personally know this family, I have followed their blog for quite a while. I would consider them friends. I pray that someday I will be able to meet this family, but until then I will follow their lives through the blog and continue to pray.

Please read up on their journey and join in praying for this family and their precious son, Stellan.

Thankful for...

a day at home with my kids. I didn't work yesterday due to our sitter taking the day off, though I probably would have taken the day off anyway as I didn't feel the greatest.

After the oldest two got on the bus, I cleaned for a while and then I had a blast with Stephen and Emma. We made a quick trip to Walmart. As we were preparing to leave I told Stephen to not let me forget to get peanut butter, to which he said, "Maybe you should make a list mom." So instead of me making the list he got to do it in the car on the way to the store. We didn't need a lot, and he was able to sound out everything and write it down. He was so proud. So was I. He carried that list through the store, making sure we didn't forget anything.

We then stopped by McDonald's for the kids lunch. They had cleaned the playroom earlier and wanted to eat lunch at the table in the playroom. It was great.

After taking Stephen to school it was time for Emma to lay down for a nap. But first we laid together and read a book and talked. It was so precious. I left her room and went to my bed to take a nap. But first listened to her talk and then sing.

It was a great day. I think I need to plan to take more days off just to be with my kiddos. They are growing up way to fast. I want to enjoy them now. God has richly blessed me with four amazing children.

A thought...or two

So much has happened in the past week. So much of it seemed to move in slow motion and yet pass in the blink of an eye.

Last Wednesday, my beloved Grandmother, Ruby Rapp, went to be with Jesus. Words cannot fully express all I have been feeling and continue to feel. God is good, I do know that without a doubt. Grandma truly knew the joy of her salvation and her life and death reflected that joy.

My Grandma has always been very special to me. I will continue to pursue life in such a way that her legacy lives on. It all hinges on my relationship with God. Grandma modeled such joyful hope, patience in affliction, and faithfulness in prayer (Romans 12:12). I love her very much. I thank God for such an amazing woman that taught so much just by being who she was created to be, a daughter of the King.