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Impossible!

You know I recently endured a situation that I thought there honestly wasn't a win situation to. I thought that either side would never be happy. It was totally out of my control, and I have to admit I hated every minute of it. Was it a horrible circumstance? No, but it did try my faith.

I had decided I would leave it in God's hands. He was bigger, and He could handle it. When I found that I couldn't sleep. I would pray about it, and leave it at his feet. I wanted to do what was right, not what I was being pressured into.

I am thankful that God heard my prayer. He is indeed bigger than any storm we face. He did calm the sea some 2000 years ago. He did talk out of a burning bush. He did heal the leaper. He made the blind to see. The lame man walked again. It's all because of a loving God.

I'm not going to lie about it. It was hard to leave it at the feet of Jesus. I had to say I'm sorry a few times. I found I was hashing out what I was going to do. I didn't want to do that, just human nature.

In closing I wanted to share a scripture that has been ringing in my mind.

">Luke 1:37

God is good, and He still does the impossible today. We just need to have the faith!

A Strong Tower?

You know, tonight I am humbled by a friends blog. She quotes Psalm 61, and I thought man I really messed up tonight!

God is our strong tower, and we can indeed still today, take shelter under His wings.

You know, a circumstance came up this evening, that I wasn't prepared for. I guess, it was coming I just always think the best of people, and always take people's word. In today's time, sadly, that isn't always the wisest.

So the situation came and the battle has begun, and instead of asking for God's help, little ole me can handle it. I soon found, that I should have prayed about this from the start! Honestly, I think it's human to forget to ask for God's guidance and direction ... but that doesn't make it right!

Now, things may not be easy, but I could have had God's strength to endure, and His peace that passes all understanding (instead of why am I doing this ..., is it really worth it attitude). His way

Taken from Psalm 61:

3 For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

My greatest desire is to have a deeper walk with Christ. Here's the start. Resting in the Shadow of the Almighty.

Thanks A Child of the King! For reminding me of this principle in God's word!

He's in the Midst

You know an old yet familiar scripture, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Matthew 18:19-21

This scripture has proven true time and time again. Today, once again, it proved to be true.

I'm so glad to be a part of a ministry to help people with whatever life deals them. Celebrate Recovery. It has something for everyone.

With all that being said:

Tonight I met with a group of 8 people. 8 people that love the Lord. 8 people that want to help people live their lives to the glory of God., and help them over come with God's grace whatever problems they are facing.

We worshipped together and had a little study, and the best part was God's presence was there. It filled the little room. The music minister sang a few songs, and we had a guest who played his guitar along with us. Just the presence that filled that room.

I, for one, needed to feel that comforting Holy Spirit say, "I'm here." You know, "Shh, be still."

The words of the songs stood out, and some of them we even sang this morning! I got absolutely nothing out of them then! The same song tonight and it seemed to speak novels to me.

I'm so thankful we serve a God who isn't dead. He is still in the healing business. He still comforts. He still brings peace. He still strengthens. He still is Love.

I just wanted to share, on an off note tonight about how thankful I am for God's love. He loved us enough to send His one and only Son to die on that cruel cross for us so that we will never be separated from Him.

Where two or three are gathered ...

He's here. He wants to speak to Your heart. Will you open the door? Let Him in and let Him do all of the wonderful things He has in store for you?

Thank you, Jesus.

Serenity

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen
Written by Reinhold Niebuhr

You know, I've heard this so many times. However, I've rarely heard it in its entirety. I am amazed at how it breaks it down for us, each one of us to live our lives in an easier way.

I so often and overwhelmed by life's events. I rarely think of getting through one thing on my list at a time. It's almost always an entire day's worth on my mind, or even worse a week!

I'm blown away by the vacuuming, cleaning, grocery shopping, taxi the kids here, coach the kids ball team, church things, and the personal things I'd like to accomplish like read a book?

"Living one day at a time", Sometimes that is even too much.

"enjoying one moment at a time", now there's the key.

Breaking life down into those smaller increments, and having a second or two (or longer) to reflect and allow those good feelings to take hold, are so key to enjoying life. Sometimes when we have the focus of "ALL" day in our minds we lose sight of the smaller things that are there to keep us content, and to keep us happy. Those little things sometimes bring more fulfillment than accomplishing a year's worth of work.

The next part that strikes me tonight is:

"trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will"

You know, the key is surrendering to HIS will. Asking for His forgiveness and having his Lordship over our lives. This allows him to freely move in our life. To bring that extra strength a day may require for us to get through, that comfort when we are lonely, or just sad and depressed, or even worse, and that healing when we are sick, that joy and peace that passes all understanding, in those hard circumstances. Just surrender.

Lord, I give my life to you! After all, He did send His son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for me and you. I'm choosing to surrender. I need that Almighty God to help me live this life out!

Thanks for reading.

"In the midst of it all"

Psalm 89:33 "but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness."

You know, I seem to be stuck on the faithfulness of God. It's amazing, but so true. I must not get it, yet :)

Daniel in the Lions den. Would you be faithful with a Lion about to kill you? Yet David returned unscathed. They didn't devour him, and I'm sorry but I get the feeling if I were down there ... I'd be a goner? Don't you get that feeling. But David prayed and God was faithful to save him.

David and Goliath. Ok, here's the little tiny wimpy guy in your class. You know the one everyone made fun of. He's tiny. He's not grown into his manly body yet. He will some day, but today he's still the small brother. He goes up against a giant, to many of normal size. What would that be to the runt? But David fought him, with just a sling and a stone. I can't fathom how on target he would have to be to kill Goliath with that rock. Yet David emerged victorious from that battle. God was with Him. His faith was in the God above, and he was saved. God was faithful.

How about, Moses crossing the red sea? It's like the preacher preached Sunday ... what would you think about crossing a sea with waves on each side of you (and you know full well water was there before). Will this last while "I" cross? The people's faith lied with the God of Moses and Aaron. They had seen his many works before. Surely, this is nuts. But they pursued, and God saved them from the enemy .... and the crashing waves? God was faithful.

Those situations, aren't enough are they. I mean, after all they happened 1000 and more years ago?

Let's get more personal, shall we?

Your down to your last few dollars, and in comes a bonus from work? A chance to fix something for someone and make a few bucks, or may be someone brought you that loaf of bread you need? Isn't that God, providing your needs.

Maybe it's that unseen feeling of love when you are faced with tragedy. Yet you know God is there, it's a comfort, a peace, that you cannot explain. It's God, He's there. He is faithful and true.

I don't understand why in the past 2-3 days my mind has been overwhelmed with the faithfulness of God, but evidently I needed to be reminded of these circumstances. God will be there. He will provide. His love will never end, EVEN when I mess up. It's awesome. I surely don't deserve it. But, He will be there.

Psalm 57:10"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies."

Thank God for his unfailing love, His faithfulness that goes beyond my imagination.

"God's still faithful, in the midst of it all, He's faithful!"

God's Still Faithful

I think if there is one thing that has resounded in my mind in the past 24 hours, I'd have to say it is that God's Still Faithful!

There is an older song, southern gospelish I believe, that goes something like this:
When the mountain looks so tall, your faith is so small, your backs against a wall.
There's a God above who's looking down in love, He's always been faithful and true.
He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother and He knows your pain like no other.
So don't be afraid, step out in faith, and call on His name.

God's still faithful, in the midst of it all, He's faithful.
When the earth beneath your feet, gives' way in defeat, He's still faithful
When it's just to much for you and you don't know what to do
God will carry you through, When hope is all gone and you no strength to hold on
God's still faithful.

You know this song has been in my mind over and over. The second verse, is just as good. I just haven't typed up.

It's amazing that He knows just what we need and when we need it. He will be faithful, despite what my mind tells me, to provide those things. He didn't promise me a Ferrari or anything, but He has promised a mansion. No tears. And a life that will never end. It's just over on the other side.

I heard testimony last night, just amazing. God was faithful to deliver a lady from alcoholism, drugs, sex, and beyond. He brought her out of that and has allowed her to use those horrid circumstances to help others. To show them God will see you through.

I heard another lady, one which was probably the most humbling. "The past don't hurt no more." God is awesome.

I'm sharing this tonight to keep my chin up, and my eyes focused on Him. That is where my mind needs to remain.

God's faithful. He'll see me through.

All Bugged Out

All Bugged Out

About a week and a half ago I woke up in the middle of the night and heard this crackly, clicking noise in my left ear. It was pretty loud, and very annoying.

It reminded me of a story:
A few months ago I read about a small child who complained to his parents that he heard a clicking noise in his ears. They went to the doctor, and the dr. found nothing wrong with the lad. They went to a specialist, and still nothing. They went here and there, but nothing could be found wrong with the little guy.

Well one morning the boy woke up and there lay on his pillow 2 tiny black spiders that had fallen out of his ear during his sleep. He is now fine.

Needless to say, I was worried I had a bug in my ear. This was the only explanation I could think of. I went back to sleep, and when I got up I still had the noise.

That evening I had my dh put a few drops of rubbing alcohol into my ear. It made the noise, and it burned ... but it didn't clear this up.

I went for a week more, and on Sunday when I work and need to focus I found myself very distracted by the noise in my ear. I came home thinking, this is going to go on the rest of my life. I need to make an appointment with the ears, nose, and throat doctors.

I prayed about it. Then it hit me to do the alcohol one last time. I came out and asked my dh to please put a few more drops of alcohol in my ear. Well, he did. And he put just a little too much in there. My ear was full of alcohol. I almost freaked, but let it stay there for probably 5 minutes or so.

The clicking noise is now gone. Today has been great, nice and quiet just like I like it.

I am sure I had something living in my ear, and I just can't find what it was!

Next time you hear noises, it might be spiders dancing in your ears.

The Most Influence

Who Had The Most Influence In Your Life?

I was thinking today about who, of all the people I have come into contact with, has had the most influence in my life.

I thought on this, last night, and picked up where I left of this morning. I'm going to say this is one of the hardest questions to answer. I don't have a clue why I thought this one up.

Just who has had the most influence?

Honestly, it would be hard to narrow it down to a single person. I think it would be easier to narrow it down to periods in my life. As a child, by far my grandmother. She taught me love, and nurture. She taught me faith, she taught me trust through her actions. I could always count on her. There are days, even as old as I am, that I would love to sit in her lap and have a word or two with her. I always knew everything would be ok.

As a teenager, who had the most influence? TOUGH!
I'm going to say two ladies, Terri and Susan. They always cared enough to read between the lines. They put up with the insaneness of being a teenager, and the always believed in me. The helped me to believe in me.

Early Adulthood, who had the most influence?
Mike, my dear therapist. There aren't enough words of praise for this gentleman. I think I could write a book on our journey to freedom, and peace. He was slow to label, but always willing to seek out the possibilities. He was the kind who, on his time even, would call at 10, 11, and 12 at night because he was truely worried about his clients. He didn't mind, it was what he did, and he loved every minute of it. He was the kind that knew all sorts of tricks to help you calm down, remember, and all the things you need to do to go on in life. He knew the tricks all of them. He was indeed the best there is.

Who in the latter of the early, has had the most influence?

Since, I'm venturing there now I must say there are three people. My dear spouse, who loves me no matter what crazy thing in conjour up. Then there are two sisters, that have absolutely made me want to do better in life. They are not perfect, but they are genuine. They shine light and they aren't even aware of it. They work good into so many people's lives, and they love doing it. They are my role models today, I'd have to say. I learn an incredible amount from them.
They are blessings in disguise.

In all the people I know, and will meet, and will be my big influences of tomorrow I will never forget these people here. I didn't name them all, but they all have had a tremendous impact on my life. They are why I am here, and they make my life liveable, happy, and fun.

This is probably an odd entry, but I wanted to write about them. Mike, I want to write personally and send him a winning lottery ticket. When life crumbles, I alwys want to go back to that dear soul. I just live too far away now. I owe him, he was just excellent. My two friends, if they stumbled on this and knew I was talking about them, I'd probably deny it. But, it will still ring true they are making a diffence in the here and now. I hope everyone has a big infuence in their life.

So who has had the biggest influence in your life? I'd love to hear.