Thankful

I am beyond thankful this season. Here are some of my reasons:
Hope in Jesus which is what sustains me.
A husband who loves me unconditionally, is an amazing provider, spiritual leader and pretty good in other areas too! *wink wink*
3 happy healthy boys who, despite all my efforts to stop them are growing up way too fast.
An extended group of family and friends who know me intimately and still love me.
Freedom to speak the name of Jesus without fear.
To live in America.
The house I live in, the car I drive (that is paid for), and the church I attend.
The freedom to Homeschool my children.
Sushi, bunco and Starbucks. :0D
Don't take life for granted. Be thankful every day!!



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Right where I am

I live in NC. I have purpose here. Sometimes I wonder though. I am homesick, to the point of breathlessness right now. How is it, when life is already so short my family is somehow called to be on the other side of the country?

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

I think that says it all.

When I realize that as I go about my life with my heart being fully committed to God and focused on Him then even when I feel purposeless His plans are prevailing.

I have these times when I question and doubt and wonder how this little seemingly insignificant life I lead has any purpose but thats just it, my heart is truly devoted to God and if this is where He wants me, doing just what I am doing right now then OK!

I think too often we compare ourselves with what others are doing. We sit and think well Christine Caine has been ministering in 4 countries in the last 2 weeks, or Francis Chan is starting yet another church in California and Nicky Cruz just had his 2,000th crusade. But I/you haven't been called to be Christine, Francis or Nicky. I've been called to be ME! I have to remind myself that just because I am not jet setting around the globe that somehow my life isn't as significant. God loves me and can use me right where I am as long as my heart is devoted to Him for His purposes and not my own.

Rest

I have been learning to rest. Not the whole mom of three kids, plus a husband and homeschool etc and I need a break kind of rest. But the resting in God kind of rest.
It started about a month ago after we began looking for a house. I wasn't really sure I even wanted to pursue house buying again. After all we went through in Florida I guess you could say I was gun shy. Now admittedly we didn't exactly do things the right way but even still we have been working really hard to be debt free so I didn't want to add any more. Not that house debt is bad debt but anyway, I digress.
There were just lots of things happening all at once I felt totally overwhelmed.
During my time with the Lord one morning I was reading in Matthew.
Matthew 6:25-27 says Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Then in Matthew 10:28-31 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
The first scripture is telling me not to worry about my life or what I will eat or drink or what I will wear. That life is so much more than all those things. I like how in both scriptures there is a reference to birds.
Several times a week I'll sit on my back porch in the mornings to talk to God and my view is an empty field. As I watch the morning fully roll in the birds are flying all over, some solo and some together. I watch how they are so free and its so clear to me how they just live their lives knowing its all good. They are just birds but not one will fall to the ground outside your father's care. He knows when a bird falls to the ground and I'm worried that He might be missing something in my life?
So, back to rest. What does that look like? Different things for different people I guess. For some its disconnecting from the world, shutting off the phone, computer or TV, being quiet, taking a time out and getting away from it all. Maybe its all of these things. I think more than that its recognizing that God holds it all in the palm of His hand. He loves me and has it all under control. My life, my marriage, my kids, my future, everything and anything. Not only that but when I lack wisdom for any situation that He has control over I simply need to ask and He gives it to me. James 1:5. Key is to choose it. To open my hand and my heart and let Him reign. He has nothing but goodness for His children but we have to make the choice to give it up to Him and trust He knows best.
So, this house situation has been amazing all the way through because where ever we have needed wisdom God has provided it. We have prayed without ceasing, sought godly counsel and ultimately left it in His hands and entered His rest and its been the best thing I have ever done.
So, my encouragement to you? Choose to enter His rest. You will never regret it.

Halloween and stickin' it out!

Halloween this year was spent at our churchs' trunk or treat since I got suckered into decorating a car. If you know me, then you know that is not my area of expertise. Nevertheless I sucked it up and not only decorated but also made up a game for the kids to play for candy. Brian and I bought the best candy so I had to spend the whole night smelling this amazing chocolate and sugar mix. It was intoxicating but I held out and didn't give in and have even one piece. In just 28 short days Paleo has held true to it's word that when you cheat you feel horrible so it's not worth giving in. That doesn't mean though that it's getting easier because it isn't. In fact I'm quite sure I had migraine last night simply from inhaling. Well not quite but it sounds good doesn't it?
The boys had a blast being Napoleon and Pedro and Jayden even won the middle school costume contest. (Jackson won for Napoleon at a party last week) See below how funny they looked.
After beating the candy monster that is Halloween I am convinced Thanksgiving and Christmas will be a breeze.


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