I can't believe the month of September has come to an end. I am so used to having the cool, crisp days of Fall having lived in Ohio and now that we are much further south in Alabama, Fall is feeling and looking very different. The temperatures are still hovering in the mid-80's with plenty of sunshine.
The counting of my gifts continues and this was a week full of blessings.
261.) Riding horses.
262.) Sam competing in his first high school swim meet and doing so well.
263.) seeing the Lord work in the lives of friends who are also partners in ministry.
264.) sitting in a kitchen laughing and telling stories with a group of women.
265.) Ben making the basketball team at school.
266.) Planning for an upcoming women's ministry event.
267.) God's protection.
268.) Still wearing flip-flops.
269.) Morning runs in the park.
270.) Packages mailed to Jessica in Australia.
271.) Fridays spent with Steve.
272.) afternoon naps.
273.) Growing friendships.
274.) Baptism services and celebrating steps of obedience and professions of faith.
274.) still seeing everyday that this is exactly where God wanted us to be.
Have a wonderful and delightful weekend!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
This Week...
I am grateful for...
knowing that God can comfort a hurting heart.
the power of prayer.
life.
the truth setting you free.
cuddly kittens.
Sam's continued determination in school.
laughter.
texts with friends that live far away.
spending the day making Monkey Cake Pops with a dear friend to celebrate a birthday.
Ben seeing that God has a purpose and plan just for him.
the opportunity Steve and I have to get away this weekend.
friends that are going to take care of our boys this weekend.
understanding and extending grace.
a sweet conversation with my 90-year old grandmother, Mimi.
living in a place filled with beauty, adventure, fun, and a whole lot of love.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Do I Fear?
Yesterday I began Angie Smith's book "What Women Fear". When I read the introduction, I was really struck by something.
"For the remainder of this book, I want you to encourage you to change your thinking about fear. Instead of it being a black and white, you do or you don't, you succeed or you fail kind of issue, I want to propose that it is more of a balancing act than anything else." ~ Angie Smith
Honestly, my personality is one that always lends itself to all or nothing. Black or white. Succeed or fail. I know that this is an area that God has given me situations, trials, and opportunities to grow and be changed in. I've learned a whole lot about GRACE and how much bigger He is and His grace than my extremes.
When I hear the word FEAR, I automatically go to the extreme of what fear is. Remember what I said I do with extremes?
I wouldn't consider myself a woman who is gripped or controlled by fear. Have there been times when I have been fearful/worried? Absolutely! What I'm considering though is the fact that fear may be showing up in my life more than I've realized. Do I react or say something because really I am afraid? Are there things I am not doing because I am afraid? Are there situations that cause me to tip and get either a little or way off balance because of my pattern of thinking?
I love that Jesus never wants us to stay where we are. There are things that He has so powerfully, lovingly, and radically changed in me because His heart's desire is for me to be transformed into His likeness.
So, I'm choosing to change my thinking on what fear is and the role it plays in my life. I'm asking God to open my eyes to the areas of my life that I haven't put under the header of fear. If there are areas that are now dark and I've kept off limits, I'm asking Him to shine His holy light on them.
It's a life of balance. Knowing how to walk a step at a time, based on who He is and holding tightly to Him.
"For the remainder of this book, I want you to encourage you to change your thinking about fear. Instead of it being a black and white, you do or you don't, you succeed or you fail kind of issue, I want to propose that it is more of a balancing act than anything else." ~ Angie Smith
Honestly, my personality is one that always lends itself to all or nothing. Black or white. Succeed or fail. I know that this is an area that God has given me situations, trials, and opportunities to grow and be changed in. I've learned a whole lot about GRACE and how much bigger He is and His grace than my extremes.
When I hear the word FEAR, I automatically go to the extreme of what fear is. Remember what I said I do with extremes?
I wouldn't consider myself a woman who is gripped or controlled by fear. Have there been times when I have been fearful/worried? Absolutely! What I'm considering though is the fact that fear may be showing up in my life more than I've realized. Do I react or say something because really I am afraid? Are there things I am not doing because I am afraid? Are there situations that cause me to tip and get either a little or way off balance because of my pattern of thinking?
I love that Jesus never wants us to stay where we are. There are things that He has so powerfully, lovingly, and radically changed in me because His heart's desire is for me to be transformed into His likeness.
So, I'm choosing to change my thinking on what fear is and the role it plays in my life. I'm asking God to open my eyes to the areas of my life that I haven't put under the header of fear. If there are areas that are now dark and I've kept off limits, I'm asking Him to shine His holy light on them.
It's a life of balance. Knowing how to walk a step at a time, based on who He is and holding tightly to Him.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Counting Them One By One
This will be a weekend that I long remember. It was filled with more rain and wind than I have ever seen thanks to Tropical Storm Lee, an evening spent with the elders and wives of our new church as the rain poured and poured, knowing that all I can do is TRUST God with the care and protection of my children, and so many moments of enjoying where God has brought us.
And so, my list continues of ALL the gifts He has given me.
240.) Morning rain showers.
241.) Catching up with Steve at the end of the day.
242.) Hebrews 4:12
243.) Early mornings filled with praying and being in His Word.
244.) Lunches prepared by a sweet teenage girl.
245.) Studying that pays off.
246.) Sam's determination.
247.) Believing Jesus is my everything.
248.) The time I have with Ben in the morning taking him to school.
249.) Dinner with the elders of our church and their wives.
250.) Our new kitten, Eliza.
251.) Anna Claire calling me on the phone.
252). Boys that play in the mud.
253.) Walking on the beach and seeing God's power in the crashing of the waves and feeling the strength of the wind.
254.) God's protection over Jessica.
255.) Prayer
256.) Friends surrounding Jessica with love and care.
257.) my iphone camera and instagram.
And so, my list continues of ALL the gifts He has given me.
240.) Morning rain showers.
241.) Catching up with Steve at the end of the day.
242.) Hebrews 4:12
243.) Early mornings filled with praying and being in His Word.
244.) Lunches prepared by a sweet teenage girl.
245.) Studying that pays off.
246.) Sam's determination.
247.) Believing Jesus is my everything.
248.) The time I have with Ben in the morning taking him to school.
249.) Dinner with the elders of our church and their wives.
250.) Our new kitten, Eliza.
251.) Anna Claire calling me on the phone.
252). Boys that play in the mud.
253.) Walking on the beach and seeing God's power in the crashing of the waves and feeling the strength of the wind.
254.) God's protection over Jessica.
255.) Prayer
256.) Friends surrounding Jessica with love and care.
257.) my iphone camera and instagram.
258.) Open windows that allow the breeze to come in.
259.) Seeing everyday that God has taken care of every single detail in our recent move.
260.) Remembering and honoring the lives of our sweet nieces, Allison and Emily.