blah... i mean Grati-Thursday

my birthday was this week. and it kind of stunk.

me and my girls were sick off and on all week, starting sunday. so, my celebrations are on hold and my 4 year old is sad that i didn't have a birthday party or a cake.

i'm a little bummed that i missed so much time with my friends this week.

However, the reality is that this whole week has been a huge blessing.

i have felt the Spirit near me almost the whole time. even in the middle of chasing the 2 year old with a bucket and paper towels my husband and i were laughing and talking about how funny this will be in a few years.

i didn't work on my Bible study as much as i should have, i missed lunch and 2 walks with my friends, but i felt God's peace in the middle of my "light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17) chaos.

today was less joy-filled than the rest of the week, but i know it was because i tried to function under my own power and not God's. i am very blessed to have a husband who is able to help me re-align my perspective in a loving way. i'll do better next time... maybe.

there is always tomorrow, or Jesus will come back; either way i'm good with it.

choosing a direction

one of the hardest parts about living a christian life is knowing what direction God is leading.

inside our wedding bands we have "Romans 12:2" engraved.

the verse says:

"Do not conform any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will."

this is the verse we want to base our married life on. it isn't about us working on our marriage. it is about us working on our relationship with God. if we commit to God and submit to God we could only be successful in our marriage, because it will be His not ours.

we believe that the only way to be transformed is through the scripture and by communication with the Holy Spirit. Then we will be willing to submit to God's will.

one of the things i have been seeking God's guidance on is whether or not to work part-time and where to work.

my big girl is going to kindergarten and i didn't know if i should just stay home with the little one or get a job.

thankfully God plopped a job in my lap that allows me to do both.

a family in our church needed someone to watch their little one, and they thought enough of me to ask me to do it. it is such an answered prayer!

i will be able to earn a living and be home with my little bug.

the secret is that it takes a ton of effort to only pray and study and wait for God's leading.

i had offers for other jobs. there are 2 places that asked me to work for them. i'm sure it would have been fine. it would have worked out (after all, God can redeem any decision and its consequences). however, if i go where God leads i know it will be the best path.

now to apply this idea to every other area of my life...

Gratituesday

today i am grateful for healing.

it has been just over 3 years since my last miscarriage.

mother's day was just a couple of days ago.

for the last few years mother's day has been more bitter than sweet. i was either trying to conceive or recovering from a miscarriage, and even though i had one daughter all i could think about is that life wasn't the way i wanted it.

i had several moments where i thought of my babies and how much i wish i had them here, but my day was filled with the joys of normalcy. i woke up and fed the girls, we went to church, we came home and had lunch, we spent the day as a family. just like almost every other day, and i was happy, just like almost every other day.

this, my friends, is not time that has healed my wounds. it is the work of God. my savior, my comforter, the only being who is able to make a horrible thing turn out well. He is my redeemer. by that i mean He not only redeems me (on a daily basis), but He redeems my circumstances, my memories, my life.

Thank You God.

Psalm 30:1-2

I will exalt you, Lord,

for you lifted me out of the depths

and you did not let my enemies gloat over me.

Lord my God, I called to you for help,

and You healed me.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

reaction to osama's death

Osama is dead.

my family is a military family, so i understand the sense of accomplishment people are feeling as a patriot.

i am also a bit of a cynic, so the first verse that came to mind was:

Ecclesiastes 1:9

"What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun."

how naive i think people are that the death of one man could end the war on terror, or terrorist action against the USA.

however, i am a christian first and foremost. as a christian i need to only think that it looks like God has lost one of his creations, who He had hoped would find Jesus and be saved.

i am disgusted by how political and hateful the posts by christians are on facebook. is that really the perspective God would want us to show our non-christian friends?

things that are from God create PEACE, LOVE, KINDNESS and the other fruits of the Spirit. my anger and judging are not going to produce good, so i need to root them out.

Please God remove my judgements from my mind and heart.

Remove the anger i am feeling towards other people.

Please God be glorified in my life and change me to be like you.

Please use this situation to bring your lost sheep home.

Give me an attitude of Peace and Love towards everyone i come in contact with.

Amen