Christmas: The Savior

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the lights, and songs, and seeing faces bright with joy.

Confession: While it has always been my favorite, I haven't always enjoyed it.

But this year, something is different. My heart is light and every song I hear makes me sing. I have had Christmas music playing at every chance I can get, whether it's Pandora on my phone or 103.7 in the car. We've been out looking at lights, and every time I see a house smothered in red, green, white, blue, and even rainbow colors it makes me smile.

All these things are not the reason for my joy, they are only temporary.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I have a Savior! He is my peace, my joy, my hope, and my salvation. This Christmas has been about Him. This year has been about Him. I have tried bringing my own peace, working my own salvation, healing my hurts, only to fail and continue to feel incomplete. In this last year, I was rescued! I was redeemed! My faith in Christ began at the age of 5, but somehow along the way, I lost sight of Jesus. Like Peter walking on water, I began to do it on my own and sink. Jesus reached out His had and caught me, He drew me up and saved me! This joy and peace and that I have is beyond anything I've ever known or understood. I want to share it! I want others to know the peace and joy that can only come when we stop healing ourselves, stop saving ourselves, stop working to be good. That will never happen, it will always only be temporary, like Christmas lights. There is only one Light that is eternal. Jesus came to us, to save us, to redeem us, to heal us, to free us! Faith, which is what Christmas is about, in Him, Jesus - fully man and fully God - is the only way to receive every good and perfect gift.

"Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth."

I Will Be Back

Okay, I'm taking a break from blogging. Just till the new year though. I'm not liking the direction I've been going in. Not that there is anything wrong with it, it just doesn't really feel like I'm writing what I want to, just trying to fill space. After looking over my blog for the last few months, I feel it is wanting. So, I'm going to take a break, and be back with some really good stuff in January!

Something that has been on my heart...writing some devotions.
Before I go, I want to talk about a few things God has been doing in me.

Stacy and I began visiting Providence Church earlier this year. We both felt that God was calling us somewhere else, but we weren't sure where, till we went here. And from the beginning, I have felt God working in my life in such a way that I am in awe everyday of it!

I was 5 when I first confessed my faith in Jesus. It was Baptist church in a small west Texas town, in a sunday school class taught my mother. I remember that we were learning about the fruits of the spirit, and that having Jesus in our lives meant that we would have those fruits. When we were ending class there was of course an opportunity for us to "accept Jesus into our hearts". And I knew that I wanted Jesus, I wanted those fruits, I wanted Jesus to help me.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when I was 5 years old, God called me. He put in my heart to believe in Jesus. I was drawn by the spirit to accept the salvation of my soul. I didn't know it then like it know it now. I knew like a 5 year old. Jesus was in my heart, and I was saved.

That is my conversion story. But, since God has led us to Providence Church, I have been given a revelation of God's grace. My life had been working, proving to everyone that I was truely righteous, making sure that people knew I was walking in the path of righteousness. Talk about getting tired!!

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If I was really walking in God's truth, why was I always so tired? God brought us to rest at Providence Church! And while I have been resting, I am awake! I more awake to the light of Christ than ever before.

I want to list all the verses that talk about the grace of God, and His work in our lives, and being built up into His holy temple.

Romans 5 is awesome!
But really all of Romans is good, there's a reason the baptist call it the Roman Road to salvation.

One of my favorites, and one that has become the cornerstone of my faith

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

I have found freedom in Christ. In the revelation that nothing I do can make me righteous, that my works are not what saves me or causes me to stay in a state of salvation, I have found freedom. I have found rest, I have found peace! Because of God's grace, I am changed. I am being changed. From glory to glory, till Christ's return when I will be made complete in Him.

People always want to know what your testimony is, and I have always struggled. I didn't know how to explain what Christ has done for me. I think it is because I was so consumed with working things out. Sunday, it hit me. No matter what your life was like, before God, you were dead in sin. My testimony is this, that I was dead in sin and transgressions, but Jesus Christ has saved me. He broke my chains and paid my debt and now I am set free.

I pray you all have amazing Christmas, celebrating the greatest gift given to men.
Luke 2:11-14
¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

This and That....Thursday?: You Can Get With This or You Can Get With That

I missed my regular This and That Tuesday! So, by now I'm sure you have noticed two recurring themes, Worship Sundays and This and That Tuesdays (or in this case, Thursdays). I think if I have a format I will be more likely to keep up with blogging!

Without further ado...

The year before the Kia Soul came onto the scene, I had stumbled across a website with pictures of it, and thought to myself, this is a pretty cool car, I like it.

In anticipation, I waited for the arrival of the Soul.

And then, I saw the commercials....
I'm sure you have to.

No commercial has made me dislike a car, more than these...



Really? Like rapping rats are supposed to make me want a vehicle? Why would I want a car that only a rat can seem to enjoy?

IMHO,
This was a lame marketing tool, but everywhere I look, I see the new Kia Soul. Maybe everyone else wants to join the rat race...

Worship Sunday: If God is For Us

This was one of the songs for worship this morning at church, and God was really hitting me hard.

Last month was a test for me. Stacy (my husband - for those who may have stumbled on to here), is a car salesman. Which in a nutshell, is by God's design. I may blog about that someday, but it's a long story!

So, as most of us know, it is mostly commission, and if he doesn't sale cars, he doesn't make money. From the very beginning, I have struggled with and against his job, nagging and complaining every time things don't go my way, i.e. working late, no days off, and the list could on.

So, October was one of those months.
It started slow, so slow I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to get started. And about middle of the month, things were still at a stand still. I began to think of our finances, our bills, our lease payment, our car payment, I thought till all these things began to look larger than Mount Everest! I started looking for work from home jobs, other jobs for Stacy, loans, and credit cards.
I was going to solve this!
What did God show me?
The last week and half of the month, the sales came in! And they weren't just car sales, they were sales that made the money and then some!!!
Is God faithful or what?
Did I deserve His faithfulness?

NO!

I was so much like the Hebrew children in the wilderness;
"God brought us here to let us die",
"Let's go back to Egypt (credit cards and debt)".

Needless to say, I spent some time repenting for this. But He loves me so much, His reminder this morning was a blessing. I can't worry about jobs or money or tomorrow, I have to have faith that God is on my side, He is for me. If God is for me, what stand against me? Slow sales, poor management, and picky customers don't stand a chance against what God has for me.

2Kings 6:16
¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Psalm 118:6
⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

1 John 4:4
⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Romans 8:31
³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

This and That Tuesday: Homeschool, Worksheets, and Making Education Fun

education.com

So, today I was looking for some worksheets that Caeli and Alyvia can do on those days that we just can't get to our actual school work. And I ran across this website with free printables and a lot of other resources!

I also looked at these websites with affordable workbooks:

School Zone

Beaver Books

I am always on the lookout for additional resources so that the girls don't get bored with doing the same things all the time.

With it being a rainy day, and being stuck indoors, I am reminded that winter is just around the corner, and we will soon be feeling the effects of cabin fever! So, now I'm on to look for creative ways to exercise and get moving inside the house...

Worship Sunday: Jesus Paid It All

Ephesians 2:8-9
⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 3:21-25a
²¹But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²²This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

Thank You for bringing me from death into life
All my works led only to more chains
Your love sought me
Your love redeemed me
You fought for me that day on the cross
When the blood and water flowed
I was then set free
I am free
It is only by Your grace and mercy
I am set free
I am free
Dead in my works
Bound and a slave to this world
You showed me Your truth
You led me in Your light
You brought me to the foot of Your cross
I am set free
I am free!

This and That Tuesday: Arachnophobia

Have I mentioned that I don't like spiders?

Here are a few reasons why!





And I hate walking into these!



I have a real fear of spiders! I do my best to avoid them at all costs, I won't even get close enough to kill them! I can't imagine why anyone would! And the fact that they have thousands of babies is all the more reason to fear them!

DISCLAIMER:(this is a very scary video of baby spiders)


And what gets me, is that spiders can even float on the air! Today at the park we were doing some school work, when all of a sudden Caeli looks up and says there is a spider hanging in mid air! It just doesn't seem fair that unsuspecting people can be bombarded by free floating spiders! I mean, I can understand seeing a spider in the corner of my house by the front and back door. I mean everytime the door opens, it seems a fly makes his way inside. The spider is just thinking free food! And crawling in grass in my backyard, I can even understand and deal with. But floating through the air? How am I supposed to prepare myself for such an aerial assault such as this? I can't! And that is why my two children watched in confusion as their mother did the freak out dance today! Needless to say, our outdoor schooling was cut short.

Sunday Worship: Before the Throne of God Above

Before the Throne of God Above



Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can big me there depart
No tongue can bid me there depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The Kind of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!


Hebrews 7:25-28
²⁵Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.²⁶Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. ²⁸For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Experiments

What I love most about Caeli's science this year, is the experiments! There are several small easy ones, and a few more in depth ones. In the first lesson, Caeli was learning the importance of experiments; to test theories. She peeled two apples (with my help of course) and then put one in a preserving mixture of salt and baking soda, and the other she left out.






I think some air still got to the apple in the mixture, it still turned a dark brown, but at least there was no mold.

Today we finished up the project that Caeli has been wanting to do since we started school. Edible Cell! This week we have been learning about the parts that make up a cell, she is doing so good, and the book (Apologia Science), explains it so well! She drew her own cell in her science journal, but today, using candy and jello we made our own cell!

The Ingredients: Candy
Jello
Gelatin
Jelly Beans
Skittles
Twizzlers
Cake Sprinkles
Fruit Roll Ups
Smarties
Chocolate Truffles
They all sorts of options, but I let Caeli choose what she wanted to use.

Can anyone say sugar rush?

The Jello mold!

And the final result:

Okay, so they didn't exactly turn out looking like cells, but Caeli knew what each piece of candy represented, and we had fun doing it! Alylvia even did her own. Now, they are begging to eat them!

The School at Home

This was Caeli on her first day! It was an adjustment those first few days, trying to find a good rhythm. Now that we are in our second week, we are finally smoothing out!



Alyvia has been eager to get started from the beginning. She has enjoyed her workbooks, but doesn't like having to wait her turn to learn.



This is my small corner. I have the desk so I can take the laptop and work if I want or need to. So far, I haven't found anytime to do that!



The keyboard was added to the room, my plan is to add some music lessons to the day. But I have decided to wait to till we get a little more accustomed to our new routine. Too many adjustments at once can overwhelm me, much less the girls



I didn't want to make the classroom too boring. I want to encourage the girls to play and learn at the same time. In the closet is all of the toys and games.



This was Caeli's first science experiment. Nothing too indepth, but she was so excited to be doing it! So far she loves her science book.



Caeli's books. I decided to not stick with one set unit, but to get different books from different styles. Most of the books follow either a classical or Charlotte Mason style of teaching. I love it! It is more reading and less workbook. It requires more thinking and narration.



Alyvia's books! Rod and Staff pre-k curriculum. These are simple workbooks, but she is learning so much from them, mostly to slow down!

Beautiful

You're Beautiful by Phil Wickham



Isaiah 52:7
⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Isaiah 61:1-3
¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Broken Keys

If You Want Me To
Ginny Owens




The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

ya oh oh no

So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley If You want me to

Sometimes I feel like the piano in that picture. Broken, beyond repair, and that I can't be used any more. I feel like I'm in a valley, and I'm low and unreachable. But God reminds me that He is always with me. No it may not be comfortable or fun or a mountain top experience, but like the Hebrews roaming around in the wilderness, God provides for me all that I need, and there may even be a river at the bottom of the valley, where I can be refreshed and renewed.

The Free Gift

2 Corinthians 3:17-18
¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I feel that a veil has been removed in my life, in regards to the freedom that Christ offers.

I grew up thinking that forgiveness was not something given, but something earned. At some point I began applying this to my relationship with God.
Even though...

Romans 6:22-23
²²But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Within the last couple months, God has been showing me over and over again that I cannot earn forgiveness. My works will not make righteous nor keep me on a path of righteousness. By thinking this way, I am negating the power of God in my life, and rejecting His grace.

The work that God has been doing on my heart.
It is much like...

Isaiah 61:1-3
¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

I was recently asked why I worship God, am I Lemming, or is there really purpose to my worship. I worship because of the freedom that Christ has bestowed on me. I worship because of the love that God has shown me. I worship because of the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Keeping It Simple

Okay, well after reading a couple comments (cause there were only a couple to read, :)), I have decided to consolidate. Yes, I am going to be homeschooling, and it would make a lot of sense to keep everything as simple as possible. Don't want to get overwhelmed, and that is so easy for me to do! ;)

Sadly I will be saying goodbye to The Shallow End and All Shapes and Sizes. But it will be for the best. So, expect a variety of stuff here!

Beauty From Ashes

I was blessed recently to spend time with a very dear friend. It is really a funny story about how I finally gave in to the blessing!

On Monday, I was presented with an opportunity to take a road trip. I really didn't pray about it, but was just excited that I was getting out of the house, and I was going to spend time with my husband, even if it was in the car for 4 hours!

But as the trip wore on, things didn't go as I had planned. We didn't leave when I wanted, and the traffic was terrible. Because of this and what seemed to a growing pile of obstacles, I wasn't going to be able to spend time with friends or family. I began to get discouraged and felt as though I hadn't thought entirely through my road trip, and maybe it would have been better for me to stay home. I was really beating myself up.

Stacy was so wonderful, I love that God has blessed me with him. He saw it differently. He saw that God's hand had provided an escape, an opportunity, and I should not allow the circumstances to rob me of what God was doing.

So, long story short I arrived at my friends, and almost immediately she says to me, "I'm so glad you came, it is God's will for you to be here..." I was floored! Stacy had been saying it, and now she had said it. And I hadn't even mentioned to her how I was feeling.

The point of me telling this, is that I realized how great my God is. He loves me so much, that He would reassure me of something so simple. But also, He restored to me this friendship, in such a way, that He has filled a need in my life. I have a mentor, and counselor, and a friend and sister in Christ.

Years before, the friendship was dead. It had been brought to ashes, and I had no hopes of ever being friends again. There was so much hurt (on both sides), so much pain, anger, disappointment, it had been utterly destroyed.

Isaiah 61:3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,

By God's provision, what was dead was brought to life, and it was so that He would be glorified.

In pondering and thinking on this, I realize that in all my relationships, I have to trust God. I can't be afraid to let go of those that need to be let go of. If a friendship seems to be dying, I can only trust God, and that He will either bring it to life again, or replace it with new life, but all of it is for His glory.

I have seen a miracle in my friendship, and because of this, I can hope in God. I can hope in God in my relationships, in finances, in decisions, in all areas of my life. And if there is a part that seems to be dying, in God's time according to His will it can be resurrected.

Hello Again

Wow!

I'm back!

I know it has been awhile. There has been so much going on. But I certainly have lots to share. I am rethinking my blogging style. I would appreciate your input.

Right now, I have 4 blogs, make that 5, I have one on Wordpress that never gets used! I think I need to combine some of them. Maybe combine the blog where I am counting God's blessings with this one, completely nix "The Shallow End", and forget the Wordpress blog all together.

My dilemma is this. I don't want to monitize this or the blessing blogs, they are really meant to speak and share what God is showing me, and maybe it will bless others, too. But I am wanting to blog about my homeschooling experience, and possibly make it something that people can use as a reference. So, what to do, what to do....

With that said, I am so excited about God is doing in my life right now. He is doing great things in my marriage, with my kids, He has blessed me with a new church and for the first time I am beginning to truely understand the freedom that is found in Christ! I will have to expound on that in the future.

I'm looking forward to future blogs, and sharing what God is doing!

Love you all, and I pray that God blesses you!

Thunderstorms and Praise

Being a good ol' West Texas girl, I have grown up loving thunderstorms. Whenever I would see the clouds rolling across the flat farm lands, I'd drive out to the edge of town and sit and watch them. I remember you could always smell the rain long before the down pour. But my favorite part is just before it hits. The electricity in the air, the smell of rain, and the claps of thunder, it would only add to my excitement.

So, what does all this have to do with praise?
There is this same excitement in praise, for me anyways. My soul has felt dry for a long time now, and I've been awaiting that break in the clouds. Sunday, was thunderstorm praise! I could feel it, the power of God to set me free, the smell of God's rain to refresh my soul, and sound of His voice like claps of thunder! It poured over me, and the release of what has been holding me back was washed away.

Deuteronomy 11:13-15
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.

Ephesians 1:3-8
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Psalms 142:6-7
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.

7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.

Pure In Heart Award

It is always an honor and a blessing when someone gives you a gift! Today I was blessed to receive this!

I try to be honest, and keep my focus on God. It is truely because of Him that I write. My prayer is that He receive all glory in my life, and in this blog.

And what good is a gift if it is not shared? So here are some more blogs that I find to be Pure In Heart.

1)A Work In Progress... - I have been following Catrina for sometime, and I have been blessed by her fiction writing, her word filled wednesday, and even her "about me" bio. I am blessed that she can take any situation and bring it back to giving God glory.

2)Christian Depression Help - Peter's blog offers advice and a christian's perspective of dealing with a real disease. I have been touched by his personal stories, poetry, and even the comments. He is doing something that I believe takes amazing faith and courage. Not everyone open their hearts in such a way, and that is why I am giving this award.

3) ...life as I know it... - While I have never met Suzy in person, I have been blessed to get to know her through this blog. Seeing her struggles and victories, sadness and joy, pain and healing displayed in this straight from the heart blog, is the reason that I am giving her the Pure In Heart award.

4)lifeingrace - This is one of those "stumbled on" blogs. And I mostly was drawn by her decision to leave the workforce and stay home to teach her children. I recently made this same decision, and it has given me some encouragement to see her posts about it. Especially the one about turning her garage into a classroom! I was really inspired! I look forward to more posts from her!

5)Transforming Traci - While this is still a fairly new blog, I expect many great things from it. Already, Traci has been completely open about her struggles both physically and spiritually. And that is why I am giving her this award.

I want to say thanks to Reeve over at A Poured Out Life, for giving me this wonderful gift.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

God used you to give me this wonderful gift, thank you!

The Stains of Laziness

Proverbs 6:9-11

How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

I love Proverbs, it is the wisdom of ages passed down, to even me. When I read the verses about laziness and foolishness, I can always see areas in my "physical" life where it does apply.

The lovely grotesque image above is the result of my "physical" laziness. Stacy has been away to California all week long, which has resulted in my procrastination. "Oh, the dishes can wait till Friday, and the laundry, and pretty much all the housework!" Pure laziness!

Well, I was awakened from the slumbering state by 4 year old. She was so excited when I told her she could help me do the dishes, that she practically sat at my feet beckoning me to kitchen sink. After a couple of hours of blog reading, commenting, and updating my status on Facebook, I succumbed to her cries. We started at the top, and worked our way to the bottom of piles, in the sink. Little did I know what lay beneath the pile on the counter!

I viewed the awesome fright from a different perspective. My spiritual is much like the sink full of dirty dishes. I look at them and think how overwhelming it will be to deal with them, clean them, set them aright. So, I become lazy. I think to myself, "I can wait till tomorrow, or next week, or till just before that appointed time. But the longer I wait, the more I procrastinate, Satan comes in like a thief. He speaks to me of my fleshly wants and desires, and distracts me from what God has for me. And when God beckons me, and I succumb to His calling, I realize the stain that has been left by my laziness. If I had only, remained faithful, allowing Him to work (cause really it Him doing the work, I am merely compliant) and clean, maybe the stain wouldn't be there.

So I repent, I return, I rest and He pours on His grace, the blood of Christ. He scrubs away like Psalms 51:7

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

I will be made new!

Lord forgive my laziness, laziness in my phsical life, and laziness in my spiritual life. Cleanse the stains that have been left by my sins, and create in me a clean heart and pure hands, that will not be folded but working, doing. I will be and hearer and doer of Your word.

Jesus Paid it All

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness watch and pray
Find in me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord now indeed I find
Thy power and thine alone
Can change the lepers spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

And when before the throne
I stand in him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead (x6)

Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow


Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Colossians 3:1-4
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Today was such an amazing time in worship. Today we sang this song, and after a week of God focusing me on dying to myself, I can truely say how blessed I am that Christ raised me from the dead! I am not made righteous of my own accord, and my strength indeed is small! Only Christ Jesus has the strength to reach down in my dirty life and raise me to new life in Him! I just want to give praise today to The One who paid it all for me!

Treasure

Matt 13:44-46
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

You are Holy
Holy is Your name
And I am unholy
And I am unworthy

I need You
Come and cleanse me

How can I come to You
With this sin in my heart
How can I come to You
With the stains on my clothes

I need You
Come and cleanse me

You are a treasure
A pearl of great price
I have sought for pride
I have searched for idols

I need You
Come and cleanse me

Be my treasure
Be my pearl of great price
I will seek You alone
I will search for You...
....forgive me Lord

I need You
Come and cleanse me

I thank God for bringing His light to an area of heart that was hidden, that I didn't realize needed to be cleansed. On bended knees, I acknowledged my guilt today, I allowed His light to shine Holy and bright. Lord, forgive me. I have not sought You like a pearl or a treasure. You are my pearl of great price, and I will seek You and search You, and nothing of this world compares to You.

One More

I'm crazy I know! Well I have started up another blog, All Shapes and Sizes.

Go check it out!

Pursue and Take Hold

1 Timothy 6:11-12
11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

Philippians 3:12
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

What am I holding onto? What am I pursuing? I want to pursue eternal life, for that is the reason the Christ Jesus took hold of me!

Faith and Change

James 2:26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Matthew 14:22-33
22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was a long wayb from the land,c beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind,d he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

And God says to me, "Step out of the boat."

So last week, a decision was made. Interestingly, it was something I knew was going to happen, but wasn't sure of the outcome. But, the Lord spoke to my husband, and had been preparing me for it. He prepared me, by reading about Sarah, Abraham's wife. When Abraham was called to leave his family and the land that he had known, Sarah followed. She was submissive and faithful to her husband. I must be submissive and faithful to my husband, as we look for a place to settle.

Genesis 12:1 & 4a
1The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
4So Abram left, as the Lord had told him;

There have been so many changes lately...
Careers - I am now a domestic engineer, and a teacher to my children.
Homes - The apartment that we have called home for 2 years now, is no longer our home, but a new one has not been found yet.
Even small things - dogs, hair, clothes, schedules, chores

And now we are facing change again. But I want to stay in my boat. I think it is safer here, even with the waves crashing over me. I want to hold on to people, to things, to familiarity.

He says, "Come."

What good is my faith if I stay in the boat? If I stay, I have put my faith in man made things and not in The One Who Saves, Jesus. So, with my flesh still trying to cling, I reach out for the edge, I reach out to the unknown, but I know that it is Jesus who will catch me.

Love Much and Show Mercy - Give Someone a blanket

Luke 7:47-48
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."

James 2:13
For judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. mercy triumphs over judgement.


When wronged or hurt is is so easy to cast judgement. God showed me the other day that I am to love much. Because of the forgiveness I have been shown, my attitude should be to share that.

I should love much, not just God, but everyone - Love your neighbor as yourself (Not sure who your neighbor is?) - Luke 10:25-37.

How do I show this love? Readh 1 Cor 13 - Love takes no account of wrongs suffered. Talk about hard. The hardest part of forgiving is forgetting. I've heard it said (and maybe even from my own mouth), "I can forgive, but I will never forget!"

Showing mercy and forgiving is difficult, espescially when the pain is deep. But haven't I been forgiven of my many sins? And how deep is the pain I have caused my Heavenly Father? But His love is deeper and wider - Philippians 1:9-11. I must have full knowledge and understanding of His love, I desperately need it!

The more I understand this love, the more I want to share it. Like sharing a blanket with my family, or giving a blanket to someone in need, or wrapping up a precious baby for protection.

What good is a blanket that never gets used or shared?

Knowledge and Depth of Insight

Philippians 1:9-11

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Intresting that having a knowledge of love enables you to discern what is best. Hmm, something to chew on for today!

How Precious Are the Thoughts of God

Psalms 139:17
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!




How often do we stop and consider what God thinks?
Lord, what do You think about my day today? I want your thoughts to be precious to me!

Walk with Him Wednesday

I have to share with all my readers, a new favorite blog of mine. I like to check out the blogs that all of you follow, and sometimes I come across some real inspiring blogs. If you have a chance go check out Holy Experience. I promise you will be blessed!

Lord Willing

James 4:13-17

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.



By nature, I am a planner. Before I go to sleep, I am thinking what my first plan of action will be in the morning. Which is usually get up and fix me a cup of coffee. But I am so detailed that I will plan out exactly how many times I will hit the snooze button before succumbing to the day.

I want to be a "Lord willing" type of person. I have heard at times, a person say, "I am going to do this or that, Lord willing". Right now, we have a lot of decisions that need to be made, and I, in my infinate wisdom, want to plan it all out. Open my Microsoft Excell sheet, list it all out, and make sure nothing is overlooked.

Lord, help me to submit my life to Your will. Instead of making plans and leaving You out of them, I want You to be in the center of it. Help me to be a "Lord willing" person.

2009: What did I learn?

I love the reflection that a new year brings, and one of the blogs I follow, she did such an amazing job, it inspired me. I thought, hey why not go back and recap those things I learned this year (well hopefully I learned, you may see some repostings!). Here's what I've done (and it may backfire), I have listed the title of my blogs in order, and the first sentence or statement of that blog. Let me know what you think! Thanks Suzy! Go check out her blog!

January:
I Will Praise the Lord - I Will Praise The Lord Words and Music by Ray Boltz
Faith, Worth More Than Gold - 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice,
Seeking - Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Seeking: Marvelous Mysteries - Here is a continuation of the last blog:
Deep - Psalms 42:7-8 Deep calls to deep at the soudn of Your waterfalls;
Finding Life - Withering Away

February:
Sacrifice: Abraham and Isaac - The story of Abraham is a story of patience (and impatience),
Psalms 19 - The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Radiation - Romans 8:18-25 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

March:
Just feel like writing - I give my life
On The Outside Looking In - Little girl hair all in bows, looking through a toy store window.
I Finally Get It - Below is an email I recently sent to my hubby about some confusion I had been having regardin Hebrews 2.
Hmmm - Childsplay

April:
Let My Silence Be Praise - Sweet melody to Your ears alone.
Dare to Hope? - Psalms 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?

May:
Counting the Cost - Luke 14:25-33 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus,
Sacrifice: The Ram in the Bush - Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

June:
The Stand - Hillsong United - You stood before creation
Discipleship: Getting ready for swimsuit season - Yes, I know the title is strange.
Worship Me - Lord, I want to worship You.
Another Honest Scrap - Ha! I don't know how to do this

July:
My Soul Cries Out - In the hollow of Your hands You have measured the depths of every sea
By Your Word - Upon this straight and narrow path You have placed my feet.
Run For Your Life - This was a very moving video
Like a Cloud Over My Head - First let me just say, "Ugh!" (that about sums it up)
The Valley Song by Jars of Clay - You have led me to this sadness
Psalms 91:1 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Amen!)

August:
Briefly - Well, this will be brief. (Kind of redundant, huh?)

September:
Healer - I have loved this song from the first time I heard it.

October:
My Beloved-Kari Jobe - Your my beloved

December:
Reason for The Season - Christmas trees with bright stars atop, (haha, not the point of that blog at all!)

I hope to be posting more this year, I had set a goal last year to double my posts from the previous year (I didn't reach it) and maybe this year I will be able to double last years posts. But I want to keep this focused on the Lord, it is because of Him that I write!

I pray you all had wonderful New Year, and may God bless you in 2010!