So many blessings & they all add up...

 A truth that I needed to be reminded of  today...

i have a question. a question i too must ask myself. "Whenever we are walking down this road do we take our blessings for granted?"some blessings come in small packages, while others come in medium, and then there are those blessings that come in huge packages. however, have you ever thought that the small add up, the medium add up, and honestly any way you look at it we are truly blessed. even on days when we think it is truly bad, there is always someone who is having a much more difficult time. to me blessings are God acknowledging His love for us, like gifts. each day is filled with blessings. i often think of the many that i may have missed because i wasn't paying attention. there's a phrase in a very old hymn that says, "count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done, count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done." let's take time today to look around us and see all of what God has done for us, no matter how seemingly little or small. remember each one adds up.

"Make me a blessing, make me a blessing out of my life may Jesus shine. make me a blessing, make me a blessing, make me a blessing to someone today."

a masterpiece

have you ever looked into the vast, starry sky at night and felt very small in comparison? have you ever looked at the ocean and thought about the unbelievable greatness of God? i have. i've considered the greatness of God as i've observed His creation all around me and you know what's cool? He considers you and i a masterpiece of His creation, made in His very image! how amazing to think that He would consider us to be a masterpiece. yes, that for certain "blows me away!" i praise Him for His greatness, and for the fact that no matter how excellent and great He is, He loves me, and wants to spend time with me, and considers me a precious friend, and His love for me is eternal and unconditional. Praise His name!

what a wonderful day....soaking in the beauty of nature

what a wonderful day spending time with my daughter sarah. we went and she picked out some flowers for her own little "corner" garden. when we came home i spent time gardening. i love gardening and spending time outdoors and with nature. i believe when i am outdoors i calm down and feel the closest to God. gardening for me is so therapeutic and i love seeing the fruits of my labor. it's especially rewarding when you begin to see what you have planted really start to take off and grow. i realize that gardening isn't every ones "cup of tea" it is really hard work, and i must confess, i am sore afterwards, but to me it is worth it. i love the awesome earth that God has given to us as a precious gift. and today was a day that i enjoyed soaking in the wonderful beauty of nature. 

This Is My Father's World

http://youtu.be/ry211yUrHRw

everlasting, steadfast and true

as i sat here this morning, i felt such a deep burning in my soul to find a song that would minister to my heart. so much has gone on. our family has been through so much for several months now, with no real network of friends. some how, some way we apparently have fallen through the cracks, something that i thought would never happen. are we solely responsible to reach out and let it be known just how much our family has been through? and how much we continue to go through? express the extent of this type of heartache that we have never experienced before? and how much it hurts and how much it is affecting our family? honestly, all we can do at this point is to continue to pray, be vigilant, ask for Gods healing, and trust in Him. i do not have the answers as to why we have fallen through the cracks. as i said, i never thought this would happen, i have never been in the position to experience anything such as this. But, we are living it right now. yet even though this is what is happening to us, i know for certain that God still loves us, that He has a plan, and that no matter what, His love will remain unconditional, everlasting, steadfast and true.

I Love You

http://youtu.be/Cmd64f9C21s

i guess...."out of sight, out of mind"/still relevant to this day. sad actually.

worth repeating



when you know what you've done is right and it was the only thing you could do. why does it hurt so bad? you really don't have a "network" of friends that you can reach out to for help, encouragement, comfort, or prayer. and those that you thought you did have, aren't saying too much and don't check on you to see how you are doing. it's almost as if you've fallen off the face of the earth. is that just the way humans are? i've come to the place in which i've almost stopped asking myself that question. maybe instead of looking to humans so much,i should be looking to God. maybe i've been looking too much to other people for encouragement, care, compassion, understanding, prayer, fellowship & friendship. So, instead of waiting and hoping that someone will contact me. i need to just refocus, getting my eyes off of people and unto God, which i know would be the best medicine i could use to feed my hurting soul. i can't go back, it's no longer there to take back, i can't jump ahead and grab tomorrow, i don't even know if i'll be around to do so. i have now though. so, instead of wishing, hoping, longing, telling myself i need for others to show and share some understanding and kindness, maybe i need to just look past "the people" and focus solely on the Lord. i must say that in my wildest dreams i never thought that if something were to take place as it has, that i would feel so desolate, sad and blue. but, you see....that's just it. that's what happens when you rest on your feelings, other people, and not solely on God, because people will let you down. all of us have heard that before, i have so why should it come as a surprise? God wouldn't want me to keep looking back or thinking about what should be happening because it's the right thing to do....i didn't write the book, on what the right thing to do is....God did. so, what should i do?

• get my eyes off of myself and problems.
• get my eyes off of other people and my expectations of them, they are human, they will fail.
• look around me and see the hurting and those who don't know the Lord and reach out in love.
• take a look around me and see people that are really hurting.
• remain confident that our family made the right decision based on the circumstances we were put in.
• pray that God's will is done, take my hands off and let God do the job.

if i allow God to guide me, and if i put forth the effort to do as listed above, i believe there will be a big change in my heart. it is a prayer for me to never become bitter. if i do bitterness will take over and squeeze the life out of me, and the inward beauty that the Lord intended, such as letting my light so shine before men that they may see His good works and glorify the Father which is in heaven, will be destroyed, much like what a weed does to a flower. the weed squeezes the life completely out of the flower, the flower wilts and dies. i never want that to happen in my life. it is so easy for something like this to take place if i allow myself to focus on the negative, live in the past, and look to people and become obsessed with actions in which i totally disagree with. but, once again, i didn't write the book on what's right and wrong. however, i know who did...God and i believe with all of my heart He will allow the truth to be revealed within His time frame. a verse in the Word of God that comes to my mind is: "Whatsoever you sow that shall ye also reap." that verse is relevant to each of us, not just me, not just one particular person(s), but, to everyone. may we sow seed that is beneficial, lovely, and positively life changing, so that we may reap a harvest of good,where there are souls coming to know Christ & lives are being brought closer to Christ, and the Kingdom of God is growing stronger.

there may be some who can't figure out why this whole situation can't just settle and be a thing of the past. my answer to that is: unless you are walking in these shoes or the shoes of my family can you fully know how each day plays itself out. Ultimately it must be given over to God....but, in our case it is being done one day at a time. and, through it all and in every season HE is there and will be there to never let me go.

Through It All
http://youtu.be/IdBSpjyIudk

through His power become a healer...

God loves to use people for His glory, for His service. He loves to minister to those who have been hurt or wounded, but then healed because nobody can minister to someone else better than a person who has had the same problem or has been in the same situation as the person he or she is trying to help. God is the great healer. Yet He can take a person who has hit rock bottom, one who has experienced abuse at the hands of another, etc. and turn that person into someone that can be used for His glory. Don't hide your scars. Ask God to heal you everywhere you hurt....to the deepest part of your soul and being, so that He can use you to help others. Ask Him to make you a person that is healed so that you may through His power become a healer.

The Healing Has Begun

http://youtu.be/Whb-XSOog8k

Use Them for You.....

Thoughts that are on my heart:I pray that my two beautiful daughters, Sarah and Abbie will keep Christ in their lives,that they will not forget the unconditional love of the Father.I pray that their hearts and minds will remain open and sensitive to the voice of God.I pray that as they grow they will not forget their rich heritage regarding the things of God,but,will desire to draw closer to Him,and live their lives with their hand in His. May this be a prayer and cry of my heart forever bringing the two most precious gifts that God could give to the feet of Jesus. Let their lives shine so bright for you, that others will see and be changed in a positive way. Help me dear Lord to be the right type of Godly example and guide them to honor you, love you with a love that is deeply grounded in the ways of you, and may they never depart from You, but draw closer to you with each new day.

To Me

http://youtu.be/deNRM_KVdgg

He has to break us down to lift us up...

sometimes life can seem so unclear, and there is no doubt that prayer is the key.we can't change what others may think, what others may do,what others may say, but, we can pray,and strive to be an example of Christs love. for with His love, and our prayers life can shine with Christ. there are times when God has to break us down to lift us up.

Break Me Through

http://youtu.be/aU92vKHHGZg

thoughts...

do you know that God wants you & i to believe Him for big things-things we haven't even thought about? there are places God wants to take us beyond what we have known. and the only way to get there is by believing, in spite of how amazing it may seem or how much resistance the enemy sends our way in the form of fear and doubt.


Here is a song that I absolutely love. we played this song over the system with the video for offertory, my very last sunday as the Worship Team Leader at New Day Church. this song not only ministers to me but it has become very much a sentimental piece as well.

God Of My Everything
http://youtu.be/zdXkG-tlXdU

will he hit his mark?

internal peace. is this something that you long for? honestly, i feel like i have it sometimes, and then other times, my insides don't feel so peaceful. that may be quite a simple way of expressing it, but, it's the truth. through out my day satan throws darts, and tries to hit targets or push buttons that will get me going, has he ever done that to you? he loves doing that, and if we're not covered he will hit his target, believe me he has hit his target in the direction of me many times. but, why? if i know Christ as my Lord and personal Savior, why is he able to hit his mark? mainly because i have pulled myself away from Christ. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Christ doesn't move i do. if i pull myself away from Christ, i am not covered, i am not safe, i have no shelter, but am wide open to the darts that satan is constantly pointing and shooting in my direction. some of my targets are becoming fearful about my health. so, he'll throw the dart of fear that something life threatening is wrong with me. another target i have is: i've been an awful mom and my kids are not close to God but instead are listening more to the world than to the Word. these are just to name a couple. i have more. i'm sure you have some of your own. every moment of each day that Christ gives me, i must stay close to His side, cling to Him, grasp His hand tightly, stay under the protection of His mighty wing, and listen to His voice. satan will try to whisper in my ear, as he will yours, he will try with all his might to entice me to stray from the shelter of my Savior. but, i must call on the power of the Lord, and pray for His strength to overwhelm me. Christ promises that He will. But, we must not stray. We must keep close to the Shepherd for it is there we find the power to resist satan and his darts of lies. Remember Christ never moves.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."-James 4:8a

My most comfortable pair of shoes...

trying to do things that are not part of God's plan for our lives is like trying to force our feet into shoes that are too small, i have been guilty of doing that and i have a nice big bunion on the side of my right foot below my big toe (i know just what you wanted to hear) and it is very painful to walk on. i can't do that anymore, and why i wanted to in the first place is beyond me. now i go for comfort, i guess i've been forced to :)

i want to be comfortable spiritually too. i want to be relaxed in spirit; i want my inner life to be at ease, as though i am walking around in my most comfortable pair of shoes. i want to be relaxed in my relationship with God and to feel at home in His presence. i also want to be comfortable around other people and not be consumed and afraid with the thought of their disapproval. all these things i know that i can enjoy if i learn to follow God's plan and not my own. i am tired of feeling uncomfortable, insecure, and anxious all of the time. i don't want to force my own agenda or strive to do what i want to do. God has awesome plans in store. i just need to daily surrender to His plans and His way...i know in doing so i will find myself at ease.

God, i pray that You would show me Your ways and teach my Your paths. i am asking You to guide me in your faithfulness. You are my salvation, and i am waiting expectantly on You

(adapted from Psalm 25:4,5)

Be Thou My Vision

what is the very first thing i think about as i awake each day? i would have to be honest and say, "i need to hurry up and pack lunches." is the first thing i think about many, many times. then there are the times, when i think, God please help this day to be a good one, help me to listen to You and Your voice of Truth. but, far too often as my feet hit the floor thoughts of negativity hit my mind like a ton of bricks. why is this? satan wants to ruin my day. he wants to rule my mind. he wants me filled with discouragement. he wants to fill my mind full of lies. but, you know as a believer i have the choice to allow him to do this, or choose to tell him through the power of Jesus Christ to leave. one of the most powerful things i can do is pray, but i as well can quote scripture out loud. i can claim the promises of God and also proclaim them out loud. satan has absolutely no power over me when Jesus abounds, when my Savior is at the center of my thinking. my vision must be of Jesus, must be of my Savior, the One who gave of Himself so freely on Calvary's tree. may i be so captivated by Him, that my eyes are set on Him, and may the Holy fountain consume me with Him. for with Him my yoke is easy and my burden is light. isn't it amazing that the sinner's heart He came to save? that He is there through times of trial. He is there through times of triumph. and, His Grace is sufficient. i desire that my eyes upon His face will gaze. be thou my vision oh Lord i pray. be the thoughts that fill my mind. be the melody that floods my soul. yes Lord, Be Thou My Vision.

http://youtu.be/qMttnek4868

be confident and comfortable in your own skin...

i often believe i think too deep. i guess there's times when i read between the lines as well. do you ever have that problem too? but, you know the more i think about it i ask myself, "what's really so wrong with being that way?" thinking deep can take a sunrise or a sunset and turn it into something so much more meaningful than pretty, it takes it to a much deeper level. the colors of nature seem all the more vibrant. it flows into so many areas of life. now, reading between the lines can get tricky. there are some pluses and negatives. you can have a perception of someone who may have alternative motives, you can pick up on warning signals, red flags sometimes, much more quickly than others. all of this is fine, until you start questioning everything, and can't take things at face value. you also may take what someone says the wrong way.

but, to be totally honest i wouldn't want to change, just soften some of the edges. i like the way God made me. there's really not a time when i believe i am superficial. conversations go much deeper than just skin deep. thinking deep also makes you search down into your soul and not be afraid to share what you find. some are so reserved, and even stuffy to the point of never enjoying the depth. so, if you happen to be this kind of person, or maybe come close to being this way, don't look at it as bad, embrace it and be thankful for the way that God made you, and be confident and comfortable in your own skin. i know it's a process, because i am still going through the process. but, i wouldn't trade being who God made me to be for anything in the world. He made me this way for a very specific reason, as He did you. God never makes mistakes.

"And i am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you."-Philippians 1:6 (amplified version)

allowing Him to remain at the helm...

honestly,there are times when i want to quit, as a human that just seems to be par for the course, i suppose. things may not be happening as quickly as i would like for them to. situations just don't seem to be playing out according to my plan. but, it's really not my plan, i'm not in control, God is. so, no matter how long it takes for things to start falling into place and i begin to see results, i must keep following the Savior, allowing Him to remain at the helm & remember God blesses faithfulness.

God Is In Control

http://youtu.be/lSxBJycSUY0

choose joy, in the land of the living

i've heard a quote that says, "don't be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good."We spend a lot of time talking about what heaven will be like. That is awesome, but we are here on earth right now. i am looking forward to heaven, please don't get me wrong, but I do not believe that God put us on earth to try to muddle through life until we get to heaven so we can finally have some joy. i think of John 10:10, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." God wants us to have an awesome life right now, and one of the worst things we can do is fail to live lives that we enjoy. right now we are in the land of the living. i have a friend who constantly reminds me to "choose joy". in my heart i desire to have so much fun that the devil gets frustrated with my joy. those of you that have taken the time to read my blog are well aware that i struggle to naturally see the good in things, this is something that i must work at achieving every single day. a prayer of mine is to be optimistic and realize that whatever comes my way God will be there. So, yes right now i am living in the land of the living and to be optimistic, choose joy, and choose to live with a positive attitude is a must and in doing so i won't just experience God's goodness in heaven but also here on earth, every day, in my every day activities, and no matter what i may be going through if i look to God i can expect goodness, and i can expect Him to move in positive and unbelievable ways, because until He calls me home, i do live in the land of the living and while living on earth i MUST choose JOY.

"What, would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!" -Psalm 27:13

How wonderful He paints...

i am sitting out on my deck. what a cool soft awesome breeze is blowing. i love how it is gentle then picks up a bit. we have had so much rain, that it is nice to soak in a day that is lovely. when i look at the sky it is such a gorgeous shade of blue, and the clouds look as though a paint brush dipped in white has been stroked ever so lightly over it. the greatest artist ever known unto man has painted such loveliness. it always amazes me to see the beautiful colors of nature. the greens, the reds, the purples, the pinks, the bright shades of orange, the blues, the yellows, and that's just to name a few. all of the plants, the trees, the flowers, the birds, the animals, and much more. yes, God....the greatest artist known unto man gave all of this as a beautiful gift to us. i speak of this often, i suppose because in my mind as a creative and artistic person, it all is extra special, and awesome. i thank God for all of the beauty that He has created. it overwhelms me and shows me how much He cares. stop and drink in the beauty....it is only going to get better as the season of spring turns into summer. anticipate how gorgeous, and how breath taking it will look. God has His hand in everything, even the seasons and oh, how beautiful He paints.


Amazed
http://youtu.be/nbb4BKd-BII

Is Satan like a tick?

the power of the mind. have you ever really just sat and thought about how powerful our mind truly is? i've noticed if i am feeling down, and i sit and think sad thoughts, lonely thoughts, etc., i begin to feel worse, my initial situation of feeling down didn't change on it's own but the thoughts that followed created just the right setting to bring my mood, and attitude even deeper into feeling down. ive also been in a down mood and started thinking, happy thoughts, joyful thoughts, singing praises to God, and soon my attitude is lifted and what had once been bringing me down doesn't seem so bad after all. this is an example of the power of the mind. satan loves to toy around with this. if we give him a crack he splits it wide open and comes crawling in like a tick burrowing under the skin....gross i know, but true. one of the biggest battles for me is not with my hands, feet, body, etc., but with my mind. as it says in scripture: "As a man thinks in his own heart so is he."-Proverbs 23:7. the greatest battle is in my own mind. as long as i don't allow God to control all of my thinking and i walk down the path of negative thinking my life will never change. it will remain negative, grow worse, with satan burrowing deeper and deeper into my mind.

however, there is hope....praise God! if i allow myself to listen to the voice of truth, cling to His promises and direct my thoughts on things i should be thinking about such as Philippians 4:8 "Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, honest and worthy of praise, think on these things." then through the power of God (NOT THROUGH ME) i can light a match and burn the rear end of satan right out of my mind, much like you do when a tick has burrowed itself under your skin. i am no match for satan on my own, but with God on my side and me allowing my Savior, that sacred voice of Truth to guide me, satan has absolutely no power over me. i personally don't think positive natuarally so the renewing of my mind will take place little by little. one thing that i need to work on is not to become impatient if the process seems slow, because the end result is going to be unbelievably awesome. in my mind i need to be set free one area at a time. it doesn't come from my own strength but from the strength of Jesus. i often feel like i am still at such baby stages when it comes to this whole thing. but, i do know that i desire to strive to focus in on the voice of truth allowing Him to wrap around my mind, and think on positive things. i haven't reached that point, but, i'm striving and with God as my covering i know i will make it. i want to live for Him, allow Him to direct my thoughts, and know that no matter where i am at in this whole process, He will welcome me with open arms, love me, and continue to help me find my way when it comes to probably one of the hardest battles i will ever face. Lord i want to please You, and i want to live for only You.

Hungry

http://youtu.be/bhu3vVBBF48

i'm sitting here tonight....

i'm sitting here tonight and thinking about how much Christ did for me. i often think about how He left heavens throne to be born in human flesh, live for 33 years spending time healing and actually hanging out with people that some of this day and age would think of as disgraceful. yet, He reached out in love. His whole purpose for coming to this earth was because of love. my heart swells with such gratitude, and sometimes it is hard for me to find the words to express how much His love on Calvary touches and moves me. His love is the epitome of all love, it is unconditional, when all human love will falter or even fail at one point. look to Him and i will see perfection, perfect love, look to others and i will see failure, because all humans at some point fail. i look to my Savior and will forever see perfection, receive unconditional love, and if i ask will be given life eternal. it's amazing to me that He asks for my life, and in return gives me life eternal. He even says that He has engraved my name on the palms of His hands, that nothing will ever be able to take me out of His hands. He keeps me safe and protected and guides me through the good, and bad. He is my Savior, He is my friend, He is my Father. how awesome to experience such love. His grace still and always will amaze and blow me away. His love will always envelope me and hold me close. He carries me when i cannot walk, and He holds my hand when i can....He never leaves, never moves, never takes a hike.....just keeps on loving, forgiving, and filling my life with His goodness. how amazing He did all of this for me, and for you.

Amazing Grace
http://youtu.be/lhRirRm0jCE

through being faithful, your life touches another whether you realize it or not...

what may seem insignificant, boring, routine, or small, is often used by God to show His over all power. God uses small things and routine faithfulness to accomplish great things for His glory. so, when you think that you're just "one" person doing small things, you are never an island unto yourself, your life touches another, whether you realize it or not.

Holiness

http://youtu.be/uN0rQmjxhnYhnY

to love as you would love

God anoint my lips with the words of healing that I must say.Let the words flow from you as if you were saying them. Rain down your Holy presence in a way that is felt gently, tenderly, yet powerful and strong.God grant me the wisdom to speak as you would speak, to care as you would care, and to love as you would love.

How He Loves Us

http://youtu.be/JoC1ec-lYps

remember each one adds up....

i have a question. a question i too must ask myself. "Whenever we are walking down this road do we take our blessings for granted?"some blessings come in small packages, while others come in medium, and then there are those blessings that come in huge packages. however, have you ever thought that the small add up, the medium add up, and honestly any way you look at it we are truly blessed. even on days when we think it is truly bad, there is always someone who is having a much more difficult time. to me blessings are God acknowledging His love for us, like gifts. each day is filled with blessings. i often think of the many that i may have missed because i wasn't paying attention. there's a phrase in a very old hymn that says, "count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done, count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done." let's take time today to look around us and see all of what God has done for us, no matter how seemingly little or small. remember each one adds up.

"Make me a blessing, make me a blessing out of my life may Jesus shine. make me a blessing, make me a blessing, make me a blessing to someone today."