His Will

Galatians 6: 4-5, 9

4 Everyone should look at himself and see how he does his own work. Then he can be happy in what he has done. He should not compare himself with his neighbor. 5 Everyone must do his own work.

9 Do not let yourselves get tired of doing good. If we do not give up, we will get what is coming to us at the right time.

Ephesians 1:18 

I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him.

Psalm 84:10-12

10 For a day in Your house is better than a thousand outside. I would rather be the one who opens the door of the house of my God, than to live in the tents of the sinful. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and a safe-covering. The Lord gives favor and honor. He holds back nothing goodfrom those who walk in the way that is right. 12 O Lord of all, how happy is the man who trusts in You!

Putting the pieces of what He is telling me this week has been very clear and very cloudy at the same time.  There are so many days that we can go to bed dizzy from all that we have done that day.  Sometimes we feel we have had a successful day, and others we wish we had different outcomes.  

I feel like so many times I get “sideways” vision.  Looking at someone else’s success or rewards, wondering what I’m doing wrong, and what I can do to have the same outcome.  Distracted by all of what everyone else is doing.  I have to remind myself daily to put on my blinders and do my work that HE puts in front of me.  If I am doing HIS will, and doing good works, good things will come.  

Things may not necessarily mean “things” of this world, but in eternity.  For me, at the moment, it involves the rollercoaster ride of selling/buying a home.  Regardless of where I lay my head on this earth, an eternity in HIS house will be a thousand times greater.  I need to rest in knowing that HE is my safety, He is the sun that warms my heart, and HE is the promise keeper.  So let “Thy Will Be Done”.  

This song speaks perfectly to what my heart is wanting to say.  

Hillary Scott "Thy Will"

Be Blessed!

Skeletons in the Closet

Nehemiah 9:17New Life Version (NLV)

17 They would not listen, and did not remember Your powerful works which You had done among them. So they became strong-willed and chose a leader to return to their hard work in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God. You are kind and loving, slow to anger, and full of loving-kindness. You did not leave them.

Psalm 51:3, 7 New Life Version (NLV)

3 For I know my wrong-doing, and my sin is always in front of me.

7 Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Several years ago, I had a conversation with a friend.  We were discussing something that was upsetting and really needed to be lifted up in prayer.  I invited her to come with me to church that Sunday and her response was, “He won’t listen to me.  I haven’t prayed in so long and have done so much wrong in my life.  You pray for me.  He’ll listen to you.”  That conversation burned a whole in my heart because she didn’t know about God’s grace.  No one is perfect and everyone has skeletons in the closet.  

In fact, this past weekend Adam and I were able to hang out with some of our closest friends.  We got to talking about our college days.  As the stories unrolled, skeletons were drug out of the closet.  These are skeletons that make my stomach churn as I type.  I had strayed away from my faith during that time of my life.  Do I have regrets?  Yes.  Do I wish I could take back some of those moments?  Yes.  However, it was in those moments God held me closest to His heart.  He was molding me to be the woman I am today.  God was always there even though I felt alone.  Thank goodness for His grace and the fact that he buries those skeletons for us.  

So whatever you skeletons are, hand them over to Him, let him take that burden away, and be the light He intends you to be for Him.  Share God’s grace with others because I pray frequently that I will come upon that conversation with that friend again.  Because I want to make sure she hears about God’s grace.  

Enjoy Matthew West

https://youtu.be/PQqZltmA0eM

Unplugged

John 15:5New Life Version (NLV)

5 I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me.

Psalm 16:8New Life Version (NLV)

8 I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved.

Electronics have taken a whole new role in our world.  Kids on devices, whether iPads, tablets, or phones.  Parents texting, calling, emailing, and checking social media.  Teens…do I even need to go into that one?  It amazes me to think back to 16 years ago at the turn of the century.  So much has changed in such a short amount of time.  

Having access at the tips of our fingers at all times can be a good thing, but also something that can wear and tear at us over time.  I am reading an article with some of my kids in class about texting.  I asked the kids today if their parents use their cell phones to text and/or email.  Almost every one of them said that they have a hard time getting their parents attention due to the cell phone.  I’m just as guilty as the next person, but am making a conscious effort to turn it off at certain times.  

This past weekend I was able to truly experience being “unplugged”.  My phone caught a virus as it upgraded.  I was traveling to TN at 5:50 am and a babysitter was taking our kids to school.  As I boarded the plan, it hit me.  I did not have our babysitter’s phone number, not being able to call Adam to let him know of the situation, and not having a connection to anyone I knew.  I had a very sick feeling for a while until I was able to connect with everyone on my mom’s phone when she picked me up in Nashville.  It was then that I realized I was truly dependent on that device.  My desperation drew me into a small panic attack.  Then it hit me, am I that dependent on the Lord?  Do I reach for him the moment I have a question, concern, or just need someone to listen?  If He was taken out of my life, would I be as gut wrenched as I was in that moment?  I took some time to really marinate in that idea.  So “unplug”, reach for the book and flip through those thin, lightweight, opaque pages.  

Be Blessed!

Large and In Charge

Psalm 37:4-5New Life Version (NLV)

4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it.

Glaciers are very large in person.  Many of us have not been able to experience a glacier first hand.  I pray that one day, everyone reading this, gets to experience one up close and personal.  (Side note: Disney did NOT exaggerate the color of Elsa’s castle when it comes to ice in cold climates.)  

We can look at life situations, events, and/or problems as glaciers.  We CAN’T control the uncontrollables, but He does.  He gives us what we need to take that situation and do with it what He wants.  We can tell our heads, “God has got this,” but do we truly believe it in our hearts?

My sister, who is an amazing woman, has had a vision to help families that have special needs kids.  Why?  Because she is that family.  Colin is 12 years old, an angel from above, who requires a lot of extra love.  Looking back over the past 12 years, life has NOT been easy for her.  She continues to put a smile on her face and tells her head, “God has got this.”  It wasn’t until recently her heart started to truly believe that.  She has a vision to help these families, and this weekend it is coming to fruition.  

God puts people in our lives at the right time.  He puts opportunities in our lives when He sees we are ready. “Focus on HIS strength, not yours.  Occupy yourself with the nature of God, not your biceps.”  He provides…He provides the strength we need.  

So what does this have to do with glaciers?  Glaciers are large, but God’s plan and answers are larger.  

Be Blessed!

Your "Escape"

Psalm 107:29-30New Life Version (NLV)

29 He stopped the storm, and the waves of the sea became quiet. 30 Then they were glad because the sea became quiet. And He led them to the safe place they wanted.

Isaiah 26:3New Life Version (NLV)

3 You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.

Psalm 4:8New Life Version (NLV)

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe.

Stop for a moment and close your eyes to think about what your “escape” vacation would be…your oasis.  Mine, and probably most of yours, involves water.  A lake house in the middle of the mountains, a beach house on one of the most luxurious beaches, on a boat riding the waves and enjoying a breeze, or in a ski lodge enjoying the looks of snow (may be frozen, but still water).  

The sound of water tends to relax us.  In fact, the other day during my planning, I cracked my door open a bit just to listen to the sound of the rain pouring outside of my classroom.  

The look of water soothes our soul, whether it be snow drifting across the mountains, the trickling of the creek as we walk, rain on the tin roof of a cabin, or just the sound of waves hitting the shore.  

The feeling of water can refresh us, cools us, warms us, and make us feel clean.  

Water is all around us, in the wind, clouds, fog, mist, rain, and in the air we breathe.  Do we notice the water that surrounds us daily?  Do we appreciate the water that we drink daily?  Could we live without it?  

God surrounds us daily.  We just have to stop to take notice.  We can’t live without Him.  One way God speaks to us is through nature.  Take a moment, it may be brief, but at least take it.  Breathe, and know that His sound, look, and feeling is an escape we have daily.  So “escape” with Him. ​

Be Blessed!