The Beauty of Faith.

I have heard over the years a story of faith in my family I thought I'd share. For many years my great grandmother ran a diner.She owned a few different locations all around town.  My GG had acquired a new location but lived about 10 miles from it. So she had to leave early everyday to make the breakfast for the workers. GG was getting up in years and traveling in the snow was hard for her. She  heard through the grape vine that a house was going for sale via a sale at court house steps . GG told my grandma about it. They went to see the house. GG wanted it. She wanted it bad! 4 bedrooms and a lot of space for my great grandpa's wheel chair too. She feared it would be crazy over her budget . GG and grandma hung their heads in despair. They knew it was a crazy  to want something that bad knowing they couldn't afford it. A few weeks went by and both of the ladies kept thinking about that perfect house. The day of the auction came.. It was one of the biggest snow storms that had hit in years.My grandma called my GG and said she going to that auction if it killed her. She knew how bad GG wanted it.  Grandma got there and stood around in the cold ,freezing snow for about 20 minutes. The door to the court house opened a tiny bit. Out came a little man in a very big coat. He asked if she were there for the auction . She nodded. He then said how much will you give me. My grandma said what will you take? He said opening bid is 1.00. She said well 1.00 then. He said SOLD! She was in shock. Had she really just bought a house for 1.00?? The house that both GG and she had pondered over for the last few weeks. Wondering how they could ever have enough for it? Surely someone would bid a few thousand on the house.....but God had other plans, there my grandma was in the cold signing a paper saying my GG was now the owner and for a $1.00 no less. The trip home in the car was one I wish I could have seen. God had taken care of a need, He went above and beyond like only He can. Gave them the desires of their heart. My grandma went home and told my GG and papaw. Both were shocked and elated. Now they just had to figure out how to move that huge house to the property next to the diner.  Then as only He can, God showed up again.. A nice man that frequented the diner said he could do it for $500 dollars. And one night while the whole town slept, the dream house was moved 3 miles down the road to its new land. When everyone woke that morning, a new, much easier life had begun. Have a little faith God will move houses!! We just have to take a leap of faith and let Him.

The Walls We Hide Behind....Insecurity.

 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.~James 5:16

I was born into a very intellectual, artistic, talented family. God forgot to bless me with talents like theirs, didn't He know that I need to be like everyone else? Don't be silly....God knew what He was doing even if I forget to give Him credit. Now my family will tell you that I have a big heart, compassion, yada, yada...I see it as them just being nice, they are trying to cover up my lack of talent. I have major insecurities about who I am and how I relate to them. I get married and guess what? My family that God has allowed me to mother is very talented musically. I just can't catch a break...lol. That is the thought loop on a bad day when I allow insecurity to rear it's ugly head, and forget that God has a plan just for me.


I am learning that comparing myself to others, even those I love and being insecure is cheating myself of what God has for me. He creates each of us differently and for different purposes. All are meaningful and are important, we just have to choose to see it and to trust our Maker.

I am still looking and praying for ways for God to use me. The difference in the me of today and the me I used to be, I trust God with what He has blessed me with and I am asking how I can use my talents known and unknown for Him and I am preparing to step out in faith. I can see where this also strengthens the body of Christ. We are called to be accountable in love to each other but if we are insecure we hide and are not transparent and this can hinder spiritual growth. And insecurity can also cause us to lash out in jealousy and anger at those we should be building up and encouraging as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.~Galatians 6:1-2

In the Baptist denomination there is a saying "God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called"...I believe this is 100% true and each person called to minister even if we are called to the same methods we are each going to go about it differently because we are each created unique by God to reach a certain set of people.
Don't compare and cheat yourself God has your back!

Insecurity within a marriage is just as destructive. You are throwing out God given validity and blowing your flaws or what you perceive to be flaws way out of proportion and shining a spot light on them. This goes hand in hand with negativity and this is hard for our spouses to deal with on a daily basis. Most of the time I find that these "quirks" are endearing to my mate and he doesn't mind them near as much as I do. So I must remember to keep it in the proper perspective. Staying in the Word of God is the way to do this and to keep an eternal world view. It reminds me that my life is just a tiny part of the picture and I don't want to waste what God has given me, overly criticizing His handiwork.

Sheer Joy

You ever saw a dog going down the road hanging outside the window of his owners car?  That's sheer joy. That dog is the happiest he's been all day. Right at that very time. He sniffs the air. He tastes the wind , he smells all the smells .  His owner is his best friend. He is home. He is loved. He is getting a treat. he has been a good boy! A good dog. Every dog I have ever seen do this had his tongue is hanging out and his tail is wagging. Both at the same time. 
   Marriage is the same way. when our mates get home we should be happy to see them. We should inhale the aroma of their love. We just sit beside them. Be their best friend.  I don't have a tail to wag but we ladies should flirt a little . He came home to you. After working hard all day. he's been a good boy so to speak.
    Ever notice the driver of the car with the dog hanging out the window? He or she is usually smiling from ear to ear. He or she is just as happy to see the dog being happy .
If we ladies are happy when our hubbies get home. They will in return be happy too. A happy mom and dad, is some thing most kids don't see. So poke your head out the window, it truly is sheer joy!

The Walls We Hide Behind...Negativity.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.~Ezekiel 36:26

I am by nature a very negative person. I can find 15 things to fuss and grumble about before my eyes even open good in the morning. I have to fight my flesh to be happy and to not make those around me miserable. This is not an endearing quality to have at all. And I have seen it damage relationships that would have otherwise thrived. It has driven a wedge between me and my family. It gave me an excuse to not be effective for the Lord. I was saved at 18 years old and have spent 21 years griping and complaining and hiding behind my wall. It wasn't until I started making an effort to give things to God and to search for the joy in the everyday that things started turning around and I saw the alternative and boy am I glad I did. Thankfully no permanent damage was done and God has been restoring what I gave away, that's right I willingly gave away my joy and blessings, crazy isn't it? I am sorry that it took me 39 years to get it. Negativity is a wall that we erect to protect us or so we think, it doesn't protect it does damage in your life and in others lives. So today I want to share what God has taught me so that you too can stop giving away and damaging what God wants you to have.

First, cling to His word. It will never fail us and it is always true. When things get mucked up I pray scripture. My favorite verse, that applies to many situations is Isaiah 26:3...You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. All I have to do is trust God, He will do the rest, He will calm His child, He will work out the details...He sees the whole picture and I only have a snippet so it is best left to Him. Now I know that things may not always look rosy but I do know that I have a loving heavenly Father that is working all things to my good. That doesn't mean that I will never have hardships and tribulations but it does mean that it will be worth it. Romans 8:28 reinforces this...
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

 for those who are called according to his purpose. And 1 Peter 5:10 shows us that Christ gives abundantly and will strengthen us. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

Secondly I get busy looking for the jewels that God has hidden throughout my day. Like Andi's post yesterday there is always some thing beautiful that He is blessing us with, we just have to choose to see it. It may not always be a huge, bold blessing by the world's standards but there is always a jewel to be found. So get busy hunting those jewels. It may be something as simple as a cup of coffee or a kind word, don't overlook them...collect them and hold them close.

Thirdly, spend time with the Father. Tell Him all about what is bugging you, He is a big God who cares for us and wants us to bring our burdens to Him. He never gets tired, He never waivers. Talking to our friends can provide immediate soothing and relief but only talking to Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd. (this portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture..Psalm 23: 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.) will bring lasting relief and give us a true change of attitude. And take the time to sit and listen with your heart. His wisdom is remarkable and will never lead us wrong. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.~John 14:26

Fourth and finally....Surround yourself with things that are good. Music that focuses on the positive and reminds us of God's love and care is a great place to start. During my day I listen to WAFJ 88.3 they play happy, Christ honoring music and I will also turn on some good preaching. This keeps my focus on what is good and lovely and many times gets right to the heart of the issue. God is always providing. Be careful on what you put before your eyes as well. In our culture television is geared to make us discontent and distrusting...there is very little on the air that focuses on the good things in life so we have to be extremely diligent ourselves. What we watch, listen too and surround ourselves with does affect our outlook on life.  

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light ~ Matthew 6:22; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Psalm 101:3

 

Don't give away the gift of today and healthy relationships with those you love just to have the right to complain and have a woe is me attitude. It isn't worth it at all. Trust someone who has been there...

For the birds...

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.~Romans 15:13

Some days you wake up and your world just doesn't gel. Nothing works right, nothing acts right, nothing feels right. Those days are the days I say are for the birds. That was my day yesterday.
We all have them. Those days where you'd rather lie in bed. In fear if you touch something it will break.. Sometimes we need cheered up to go on.
Yesterday,  I got up. but what I  really wanted was to stay like I said curled up in my cozy bed. But I knew laundry and dishes awaited. Along with the barking dog that would not be quiet ... He had to pee-pee. So up I got. Out I took the dog and then it was his breakfast time. Got to love the pup, he keeps me in line. Past the window I go... I stopped dead in my tracks. there they were... 2 beautiful cardinals. I of course grabbed my camera and started shooting. Right there through my window. I was so honored to see them. Their presence was known,their fire engine red feathers shined brightly through the foggy sky. I was amazed at how a $4.99 bag of bird seed  had changed my attitude.  Now I was happy to be up. I was excited to see what photographs I could get. Everything I had felt just minutes before, the not wanting to move or deal with the world, not feeling right.. now,I felt fine. I felt like the world was a fine place to be in now. I sat and watched numerous species come in and out of the bird feeders. I truly got nothing else done for admiring the birds.
 I guess we all need a bird day. A day to enjoy what God has given us . The beauty of the sun shinning , the sound of the birds chirping. It is beautiful.. the birds were exactly what I needed to make me smile. So My day truly was "for the birds". God knew what I needed. He gave it to me. I am blessed.

Hearts of Glass

When I was a little girl my mom and dad got divorced. I was 7 at the time. I never really had a close relationship with him until after I got married, I was 18.  This was also the year my dad and step mom got saved. I remember the night he called to tell me.  They were so happy.  I was so happy for them. After that we became close. Dad really grew in the Lord. He and I became very good friends.
   Years later dad became a Sunday School teacher, his first Sunday he was scared to death. I happened to be visiting that weekend. So I was there to soothe his mind. I remember him saying , "I don't know what to say to anyone" . I told  him just to say what he knew. My dad was a glass blower. As his father before him. I come from a line of master artists in glass.  My dad adored his job and he longed to get better daily.
 So in our conversation I told him to tell the congregation how blowing glass and being a Christian were alike.  My dad thought a minute and a smile crept to his face. He grabbed his Bible and off he went to study.
   That Sunday morning was crazy. Lydia and Linsey (my sister) both tiny babies, I held Lydia and my step mom held my sisters in her arms. We both set there and listened to dad teach Sunday school.  He started talking about how blessed he was. He prayed for God to help him not to be nervous. Then he began to talk. He was so humble as he talked. He said that our relationship with God was like blowing glass.  You have to heat up the glass before you can mold it. You have to shape the glass , blow the glass. It has to be hot to be used. If the glass was cold it couldn't be used.  Just like our heart. If it gets cold God can't use it. He has to keep us Hot and ON FIRE for Him. So He can use us. God wants to use us. He wants us to become more like Him. To be beautiful. Dad could mix in colors and designs into his work. And much the same way we are each a unique Masterpiece created by a loving Heavenly Father. Dad's work
was always beautiful. God allows people to help mold us. His word gives us His design. It all works together.
 Dad continued to talk. Vicki and I were so proud of him. He had done it. He had told his heart. Both of his love for glass and his love for God.  Dad that day to me was my hero. You could see what  God had done to his heart of glass. He had shaped it. And it was a beautiful piece of art.

To Our Husbands With Love...

I was reluctant to write tonight's post. I haven't just addressed husband's before but I feel a strong leading to do so tonight. So here it goes...... We all hear the sermons admonishing wives to look their best, be in their best mood when their husbands arrive home from work, etc, etc. However, where are the sermons admonishing husbands to do the same? I don't mean to come across as critical or mean, I just want the opposite sex to know how much it means when they too put forth this extra effort.

As the mother of 5 blessings ( as well as 2 dogs, 2 guinea pigs and one cat), my days are brimming with activity, noise and chaos. Even the good days. It sometimes gets lonely being the only "adult" in the house and it can and does wear you down. I thank the good Lord that my husband understands the value of a well placed phone call "just to hear my voice" or to "let me know he loves me". He has even called to make sure the kids are listening. The anticipation of these calls really does encourage respect and obedience in our little ones, daddy doesn't seem so far away, it also helps Donald feel more involved. Now, he has that luxury and I know that not all husbands can do this. However, what can you do to reach out to your wife and children when you are away from home? Maybe a quick email, or a well placed note before you leave. Just to let her know that you are thinking of her and appreciate her, even a note to remind the children that their mother needs their help and that you can't wait to see them that evening. This really brightens my day and gives me extra strength to keep going when I am tired and the children are really rambunctious.

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, 

showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, 

so that your prayers may not be hindered. ~1 Peter 3:7

My sweetie also comes in and gives me the biggest bear hugs. This has the amazing ability to completely banish many negative thoughts and sharp words, many of which are on the tip of my tongue ready to leap... It also makes me feel like he has anticipated returning home to us all day and our life is his dream come true and that is more important than me airing a complaint, so I stop and savor the moment, forgetting the petty things and focusing on what matters the most. So I challenge you husbands to reach out to your wife when you are at work and let her know that she is your dream come true and you are truly her partner in life, find reasons to be involved in her daily routine.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ~Ephesians 5:28