Yesterday at church someone asked what my New Year’s Resolution was.  Normally I don’t make them.  I’m not much of a goal setter.  But when I answered her in a funny way about keeping my kids alive through the New Year.  She said, "So in a word, Restraint?" 

And I’ve thought a lot about that word. 

Restraint.

I do think that over my whole life that is what I will pray for this year.

Restraint.

In finances, in dealing with my children, with my tongue, TV, everywhere I look I need restraint.

Thanks friend, for opening my eyes to something God wanted me to see yesterday for the entire year.

Oh, and I miss summer.  Now that Christmas is over I’m ready for the beach….

Blessings…….
Restraint…….
IN HIM…….

Friends of ours recently lost all of their material possessions in a house fire that consumed everything, except them and their pets.  It was devastating.  I was blown away by the complete destructive power of fire.  My heart has been so heavy for my dear friend.  Nothing I could do but pray, offer clothes, and gift cards.  Prayer, of course, has been most important.  But my heart still breaks for them and their loss.

It’s been so hard to watch them grieve but so wonderful to watch people reach out and help them.  Some haven’t even known them.  Some have been good friends.  But all have been "Jesus with feet" to my dear friend and her family. 

Yesterday they got to pick up their children from their grandmother’s house.  I am so humbled by God working to bring this family back together for Christmas.  It seems like all of life is okay just because they are now together. 

I know there will be times when certain material possessions are missed, making them sad.  But I also know Jesus is there to rebuild what no man can…..a family. 

Join me in prayer and praise for this beautiful family God is rebuilding.
What a Christmas!
I praise you Lord Jesus!
IN HIM….

The boys are sitting by the campfire tonight.  It’s actually cool here.  And tonight began college football.  The best time of the year if you ask my husband.  He could live from sept to dec every year over and over again and skip all the other months

"Oh Father may she always have such a tender heart for you.  Your prophetess, your child.  And may you always remind me you hold me just as tenderly in your hands."

If you asked most of my friends you would find that I tend to be a "standing in the gap" person.  I enjoy praying for others and feel it an honor to do so.

Pray if you feel led.
Always in HIS grip………

Today I got up before the kids which has been different than my normal summer routine.  I’ve caught up on a lot of sleep this summer.  Since the surgery on my foot I’ve routinely slept until 9am or so.  One day I actually slept until 11am.  I haven’t done that since I was a teenager.  It was strange waking up when it was almost noon.

Today, as I awoke to foggy windows and a quiet house I walked into the kitchen to punch the coffee button.  My husband has gotten into the routine of leaving me sweet sticky notes on my coffee cup each morning.  It’s been a wonderful way to know he’s talking to me even tho he’s already at work.

I’m reminded of the many seasons we go through in life.  Some are quiet, some loud, some active, some sleepy, some hard, some easier.
And I’m so thankful that in the quietness is when I can feel the Father’s love the most.  I feel his “good morning” in the cup of coffee waiting for me, the sticky note my Rocket Man leaves, in the cat waiting to come in for a treat, in the fact that I live in a nice house, my husband has a job and that I have the privilege for praying for others who do not.  And I am reminded of that in the way my Father takes care of me.

What season are you in?  Is your life hard right now?  I pray that you find the Father’s arms wide open and his care for you constant.  I still worry about money from time to time especially with all the doctor bills rolling in from three surgeries.  And He knows it’s an area where I struggle.  So I’m constantly taking that to Him, laying it as His feet and asking him to take care of his arm, his foot and his bills.

After all, I am His girl.  And we are His family.
He put us together.
He made us one.
He brought my children into the world.
He is the KING.
And I love reminding my children of who they are…..
Children of the King!!!

Go forward today as a Child of the King.

Sheer Concentration!

That’s what it takes sometimes to make right choices.  At least that is the way it’s been in my life.  Some of you “real life” friends know that we have recently been through a job change.  We were so blessed to receive a severance package from our former employers that allowed us to pay off all our debt except our house.  Is that a WOW or what???

The remaining money we planned on socking away in savings and supplementing our income for a while until we adjusted to our new yearly income.  After a few miscalculations on our part we ended up with a little less than we planned.  Still no big deal.  We’d get the rest next year at tax time.  Instead of saving it ourselves we’d let the government get use it for a while.  “Aren’t we kind?”

So with the remaining “sock it away” money we then realized we had not figured in our tithe.  YIKES.
“Ahm, excuse me God, but do we have to tithe this money?”

“I mean, I know it’s income and all but we were planning to save it and ended up with a little less than we thought.  So……???”

looooong preeeegnant pauuuuuse

“Ok, Lord, I’ll just be honest here.  You know my heart anyway.  I don’t want to tithe that money.”

There.  I said it.

I could call myself all kinds of names but let’s just call me a REAL Christian.
Sometimes I don’t want to do what is best for me.
Sometimes I want my way and not the Father’s way.
Sometimes I’m a little dense like that.

So a few days pass and I allow myself to be in this place knowing good and well I’ll do what my DAD wants because, well, I really love him and I’m his girl.  I want to please him.  I want him to smile upon me.  And I love, did I say LOVE?, his blessings.

“Pst….tell ya a secret…..He think’s I’m really special.”

So a few days of some heart changing and I begin to pray about where God wants the money to go.  Hmmm……

“Lord, show me who you want to touch with YOUR money.”

And oh my word!
Here’s where the Mouth Wide Open part comes in.
The blessings I have been able to be a part of!!!
It makes me wonder why I ever question Him.  Why do we?  Crazy us!

It is more blessed to give than to receive.
It really is.
Really.
I’m not kidding, really!

I have felt so honored just to be a part of God’s work in blessing others that I’m so excited about doing it again.
More often.
With greater fervor.
With greater concentration that I am investing money in eternal things.
That one day when I’m walking the streets of gold He’ll allow me to see what my obedience started, ended or continued.  I’ll see people that I touched and never knew I’d touched.  I’ll see him smile at me and I’ll remember the secret.

“He really thinks I’m really special!”

Be a blessing to someone today.  Try it out.

I’ve been playing with my new Canon 40D and trying to become familiar with it, all the different buttons, and how to maneuver around with such a monster.  It’s quite different from my Xti.

With that said I’ve pondered this picture for a day or two wondering why I like it so much.  It has struck me that what I “see” in the photo is this…

Amid the distractions (my daughter’s head, the sofa, and the sweet photo of my sons as wee ones) the reflection in the glass of the one picture draws me into it’s reflection.

And you know what I’ve decided?  That I want my life to reflect Christ’s life in that same way.  Even as I type this my flesh is screaming.  It knows that becoming more like Christ means it dies away.  It also knows it does not like that.  My flesh really likes getting it’s own way.

But my heart and my soul wants to rest in Jesus.

My favorite verse is this:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
Isaiah 30: 15

And I’m thankful that as of today I’m resting.

Resting in

His work
His power
His love
His strength
and
His might.

IN HIM,