new blog...sort of

Ahhh...the realization that I cannot do it all is refreshing. So, I've decided to combine blogs. I'd be honored for you to join me here instead!

a front row seat

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night..." ~Joshua 1:8

What does a girl do when she gets news? The kind of news that is unexpected, heart breaking, and out of her control? The kind of news that, if she chose to meditate on it, would cause continuous sorrow, hurt, and even depression.

She felt her mind leading her there. She heard his whispers, knowing he hoped she'd absorb them & claim them. She hurt, and she knew ultimately, it was out of her control.

And, just like that, she could easily feel herself becoming like the Israelites. The ones who saw the miracles of His hand yesterday but didn't trust Him for today. And then she recollected...

"I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me." Psalm 57:2

"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

So, in the receiving of the news, she's reminded. And she's glad. Glad it's not in her control...but His. Glad that He may use her despite her. Glad she can find joy amidst the hurt. And she's excited. Excited because He will be honored. Glorified. Shown. Beyond what she's capable of...because she knows...

He, the Most High God is her Hope. Her Savior. Her Redeemer. Her Provider. Then and there, her mind becomes fixed on Him. She meditates on His plans. His will. She longs to please Him rather than others. Her desires render glory to Him rather than herself. And she finds rest for her mind and heart. The voice speaking lies is drowned out. The Word of Him brings forth the light, hope, and promises that were already there.

So now, she acknowledges her position. It's a front row seat. To watch Him work within her. Amidst her. Despite her.

~His reminders of His sovereignty through a recent miracle.

~His mercy in using the miry clay.

~A growing vocabulary in a toddler that makes me giggle. This morning it was because of a toy that was noisy and wouldn't turn off. His reply? "Oh my goodness! Hush! Hush!"

~An 8 year old girl who likes to cuddle and thinks it's for her benefit...but it's for her mama's, too.

~A husband who is compassionate, a leader, and who is expressing his availability to be used by Him.

~Prayer warriors.

~Silly songs and an excuse to dance.

#17-23

Multitude Monday is here & Tuesday's Unwrapped is here.

it's You

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4


Though it's in You I know we mustered up strength, I am overwhelmed by Your fortitude.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

Though it's in You we saw there was hope, I am overwhelmed by the protection of your mighty Hand.

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God." Psalm 146:5

Though it's through You there was perseverance, I am overwhelmed by the enduring love you've shown.

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."  Deuteronomy 7:9

Though it's by You our doubts were devoured, I am completely in awe of You.

"For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome." Deuteronomy 10:17

the God who hears

Monday, we saw Tinkle's pediatrician for her chest pain. Her doctor felt it necessary to run some tests on her heart. As I clung to scripture and waited, I prayed. I prayed some more. And I prayed some more. We received news yesterday that all is well with her heart. Praise Jesus! To Him be the glory.

We also got news of another. A loved one who has had her share of spiritual attack lately. One that I've prayed for and over as if she were my own. Her news wasn't as happy. As I sat and pondered over my prayers and over my God, I was reminded and I am claiming the lessons I've been learning in my Precept Daniel 1 Bible study.

• God is the God of history. He created time. He knew then and He knows now what is to come.   Nothing comes to Him by surprise and He sets the paths of His people.
• He may not deliver His people from it, but He will deliver them through it. As Daniel faced the den of lions and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego faced the fiery furnace, their God could have removed them from their circumstances. He is all powerful. Instead, he allowed them to face the danger, and He chose to deliver them through it. And He received the glory from it.

So, the same God who gave us the good news about Tinkle is the same God who is in control of this sweet girl's circumstances. He will deliver her. I'm claiming it. And in the end, the glory is His. It already is.

And for the record, I hate Satan. His schemes on His church, His people. This enemy will not prevail. The battle has already been won. His church will rise up and continue to glorify Him through it all.

Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever.
Selah
Psalm 44:5-8

when faith cries out

It was Saturday morning. We sat on the sidelines, watching her play. Me...not sitting so much...moving...capturing shots. 

She just wasn't herself. Not running with her normal pep to her step...slower...and then...grabbing her chest...several times. Then I stopped capturing shots...more focused on her. Half time, I moved in on  her. She, not wanting to be pulled from the game, denied anything..."I'm not hurting." Once in the car, she admitted to the chest pain.

She's had it before. When running. A couple of years ago. I've chalked it up to a pulled muscle, as she quickly recuperated, mentioned it to her pediatrician, but now...we need to know it's nothing more. We will see her pediatrician this morning. As I sit here and write this, I am concerned. I do have butterflies in my stomach. But I also have an unexplained peace in it all.

This peace. It doesn't come from a confidence in finding nothing. My hope is not in her wonderful pediatrician.  It doesn't come from quality testing, a multitude of treatments, or even good diagnoses. It's a peace that comes from Him.

This peace is simply from this mother's heart leaning on Him. The Unfathomable. Uncontainable. Unstoppable. All Powerful. All Knowing. Savior. Redeemer. King. Yahweh. Adonai. LORD. Regardless of what news we get, He is unchangeable, and she is His. You see, I know the true battle of her heart has already been won.

So, before I pick her up to take her to this appointment, I will, again, call on Him. I will fall prostrate before Him and cry out on her behalf. And I'll know, all is well. Regardless.

Psalm 121


A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.



3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;



4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.



5 The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;



6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.



7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;



8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Linking up with Emily for Tuesdays Unwrapped.

multitude monday

As I soak up the gifts of today, I am so thankful that this faith in the Living God is devouring up my focus on the to-do list, and instead, allowing me to see the gift of the moment.
#1...the amazing blessing of hearing "mama" 8,679,543,678 times a day...all from the same little guy

#2...a quiet moment that allowed my quiet time to soak in

#3...a set of chocolate chip muffin hands & face to wipe down

#4...a daughter who's enjoying her 4th book of the day

#5...a little guy who calls every color "yewow" (yellow)

#6...the bible study that deepens my knowledge and love for His Word

#7...the laundry that reminds me that I have these precious little bodies to care for

#8...the laundry basket that can hold the laundry that can wait another day

#9...the little tikes trike, sidewalk chalk, electric car, and jump rope that are calling my name...because these littles can't wait another day

#10...knowing that the day will end in prayer over them...because I can.

Linking up w/ Multitude Monday today.

sick

Today, I woke up sick. Not the queezy tummy, sore throat, achey joints kind of sick. The kind of sick that comes from noticing truth that isn't erupting from my own life journey. The kind of sick that comes from seeing sin...acknowledging it with remorse and sorrow.

Yesterday, we had an amazing opportunity  to serve/make breakfast for the homeless in our community. Tinkle & I woke up early to "cook" sausage biscuits (it was frozen, but trust me when I say they wouldn't have wanted homemade biscuits from me). We watched several people come up, take the food with thanks, then leave. Each life had their own story...a story I don't know. Though I don't know their story, one family caught my eye and heart in an unshakeable way.

She came with her 4 children...2 boys...2 girls. The children gazing at the food unsure of what to choose. Polite. Not grabbing or claiming. Waiting patiently for someone to offer. The mom helped each child get their food & drink. But when we asked her what she wanted, in a fashion that is so true of a mother, she said, "I'm fine." It was more the tone in her voice. The one that any mother hears and knows. It was the kind that said, "I'm here for my children, not for me." After much encouragement, I think she finally got something for herself. Or maybe she took it for her children later. I don't know. But, in that moment, when one mother's heart spoke, it broke this mother's heart.

A heart broken because of noticing I've been too comfortable. And, just in case you're getting too comfortable, please, I urge you to take a peek here.

So, this faith journey is helping devour the cozy state of comfort. Eyes that only look at the world around me the way I want to see it. Yes, I was definitely getting too comfortable.