He is~

A wonderful resource if you need a

reminder of who our God is~

 

I have been playing it daily.

The kids dance to it.

I play it softly at times just to penetrate the air.

I play it at night for my babies to fall asleep to.

I want to know who He is.

I want them to know who He is.

 

He is

I AM

You can find it here.

 

You won't regret it! 

This one thing~

Some days just seem to flow so smoothly. Like a well oiled machine. You wake up and things fall into place. You get jobs done quickly and with ease, and with few interruptions. Your mind can rest, and just enjoy the ride. You are still busy, and you still work hard, but the day is productive, and all is well.

 

Then there are the not so smooth days. The days you wake up behind, and you find yourself racing to catch up. It is not a time thing, it's something in the atmosphere. Something that can't be helped. A feeling.

 

A day when the baby cries every time you try to put her down.

A day when the laundry is piled high, and a sea of interruptions keep you from catching up.

A day when dishes don't get done.

A day when children need help with all their independent school assignments.

A day when carpets need vacuuming, tile needs sweeping, and rugs need shaking.

A day when everyone seems hungry all the time, and it is hard to make it out of the kitchen.

A day when five little sets of eyes look at you longingly, ten little hands reach for yours, and five little bodies need your embrace...

 

A day when you want to snap at their needs, their frustrations, their demands...because there is so much to do.

 

Just take a look around.

It's a beautiful mess...

Take a deep breath and "do the next thing".

(Those are the words of my encouraging husband.)

 

Days may not be perfect.

You may not be able to get it all (or much of anything) done.

But when you are feeling overwhelmed and covered up with all that life demands,

Just focus on the next task in front of you.

 

Whether it's washing a load of sheets,

making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,

helping a third grader with his math and a fifth grader study for her Bible test.

Whether it's teaching a little one new chores,

soothing a toddler who got a boo-boo.

Whether it's trying to squeeze in some exercise,

or cuddling a baby who so desperately wants and needs your everything...

 

Just focus on the thing that is before you.

Ask God for His grace.

Ask Him for His patience.

Ask Him for His strength.

 

 

 

Resist frustration.

Resist feeling angry and having self pity.

 

Embrace where you are.

Take the next step,

and focus on this one thing.

. .

U

A day in a year~

My hope is to take a photo a day.

Images from what I see.

Images that capture my sight,

in a different way.

Pretty images.

Special images.

Enjoy~

 

 ~January 1~

 

 



~January 2~

 

 

~January 3~

 

 

~January 4~

 

 

~January 5~

 

 

~January 6~

 

 

~January 7~

 

 

~January 8~

 

Daily Dose~Part 2

Continue to put His word first in your life,

 and see the remarkable change that will come in all areas...

 

 

What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Nahum 1:9

 

***

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Matthew 8:2-3

 

***

 

When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."

Matthew 8:16-17

 

***

Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.…

Matthew 18:18-19

 

***

And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Matthew 21:21

 

Matthew 21:21

 

***

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:22-24

 

***

 

Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Mark 14:16-18

 

 

 

***

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 

Romans 4 :16-18

 

 

***

 

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of  his Spirit who lives in you

Romans 8:2,11

 

 

***

 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5



Reflections~

Tonight I am filled with joy as I close out my 32nd birthday. I spent the day with my precious family.
Thirty-one was a blessed year. It began with announcing to our little ones that we were expecting a new member of the family. December, January, February,  and March were spent muddling through feeling terrible with a new little one growing inside me.  I spent many days over the summer with my mom sewing, eating, sipping coffee, and preparing for baby to come, while my husband diligently worked very hard getting a new business off the ground. I got to bring forth a new life...little Ivy Joy. An added treasure and blessing to our quiver. I have cherished many days at home nourishing my little ones in their character, checking attitudes, training in daily chores, watching them play and learn and grow. Baking, cleaning, laundering, nursing, laughing. We made another life long memory with our big east coast trip. Three weeks of sightseeing, driving, and lots of  TIME soaking up being together. Seven people in a Yukon XL, packed to the brim, just making our way up the east coast was an adventure. A beautiful adventure.  I am so thankful for all that my Lord has given me.  He is so good. So, tonight, on this cold December night, with baby in arm, sleeping children all around, and fresh peppermint hot chocolate in hand, I sign off...closing out day one of being thirty-two. :) my heart is full, and I am happy...

Daily Dose ~ part 1

Pleasant words are like honey.
    They are sweet to the spirit and bring HEALING to the body.
 Proverbs 16:24


I have been walking out a spiritual journey. Learning to trust whole heartedly the Words of God. Learning to depend on His words more than anything. Trusting that His words bring life, and change, to unchangeable situations. His words are medicine to our whole being. I am dedicating the next several entries to the Healing Scriptures. Read them. Speak them. Pray them. Write them. They will change you. In ways you won't expect, and can't imagine...
*     *     *
1.)Worship the Lord you God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Exodus 23:25

 

*** 

2.)You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young. The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but will inflict them on all who hate you.

Deuteronomy 7:14-15

 

*** 

3.)This day I call the heaven and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

 

 *** 

4.)Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.

1 Kings 8:56

 

***
5.)So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10


***
6.)I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
Psalm 91:2-3




***
7.)He will certainly save you from hidden traps
    and from deadly sickness.
 He will cover you with his wings.
    Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety.
    He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.
 You won’t have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night.
    You won’t have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.
 You won’t have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness.
    You won’t have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.
Psalm 91:3-6


***
8.)I will praise the Lord.
    Deep down inside me, I will praise him.
    I will praise him, because his name is holy.
 I will praise the Lord.
    I won’t forget anything he does for me.
He forgives all my sins.
    He heals all my sicknesses.
Psalm 103:1-3


***
9.)My son, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen closely to my words.
 Don’t let them out of your sight.
    Keep them in your heart.
 They are life to those who find them.
    They are health to your whole body
Proverbs 4:20-22


***
10.)Beat your plowshares into swords
    and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
    “I am strong!”
Joel 3:10

Leaving no time...

When was the last time you heard from God about something small in your life that he wanted you to let go of? Did you listen to Him? Did you put it off, thinking your own mind was talking to you and not Holy Spirit? I believe so many of those little nudges from Him, get ignored. Things that if we just followed and obeyed, would lead us closer to Jesus; closer to ridding our lives of idols. 

 

 They can be silly things really, but things that take up so much of our time, so much of our "attention"...that they push Jesus and our relationship with him to the side...to a place where it never should be. He decreases, and that thing, that entertainment, whatever it may, be rises to the forefront of our life.

 

 

 

It can become an idol. It can happen slowly, over time, but before you know it you may be addicted so to speak. You may let it consume your every spare moment. Leaving no time to talk to God. Leaving no time to commune with Holy Spirit. Leaving no time to worship at His feet.

 

 

Could it even go as far as to take your attention away from your children? From your spouse? Do you let it rob you of sweet moments you could be looking at your child, taking in the beauty of what they might want to be sharing with you, but you miss it because you are distracted with this idol? Do you miss moments you could be connecting with your husband? Do you miss the moments you have together because you are distracted?

 

 

 

Is this idol worth it? Is God trying to speak to you? He was speaking to me. I want to be ready to lay anything down at His feet...big or small. I want to hear and obey. I want to get anything out of my life that keeps me from being a better wife, a better mom, a better daughter, and sister. I want to get anything out of my life that keeps me from being a better child of God. I want to be filled with Holy Spirit. I want him to feel welcome at any moment in my life...not like He has to try and squeeze in and be noticed, or felt, or heard from.

 

 

Life filled with work, school, laundry, meals, errands, etc. is busy enough, don't let "things", or any form of entertainment become first in your life. Slow down the pace. Become "old school" if you will. Cherish Jesus more that anything. Cherish your family. Listen for that still, small voice and follow Him.

 

 

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22