Count it All Joy

This is a hard one for me, but God says to count it all joy. I am thankful for the times that have really stretched me. The times that have changed me. Tough times reveal who we are and increase our capacity to love and understand others. Certain times in life you are extended further than ever before. This is where the real growth occurs. God can use any situation we go through and turn it around for good. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He wants to destroy families, relationships and steal our hope, peace and joy.  But God has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

I was talking to a friend the other night and she gave me the best compliment. She said I am not the person she met five years ago. This is a true friend who has been there for me no matter what. She called me on the hard days and was faithful to pray for me.Thank God I am growing and changing. Caring less and less about what people think and more about God's special and unique plan for me and my family. This means growing in compassion and empathy for others and striving to understand their stories while respecting that each of us is on a unique journey designed to stretch and grow us into the one that He created us to be.

I was recently at a meeting with Teresa Kemp and she was talking about the butterfly. After undergoing such a transformation the butterfly doesn't return to the chrysalis and look around inside wondering what it is like. It doesn't hang out in there. No, the butterfly just takes flight.

Just fly.

The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis with new capacities and abilities that it didn't have before and a whole new identity.

God can use us in spite of ourselves. My struggle was with fear and anxiety. Maybe your struggle is completely different. Just because you have been through a battle such as fear, addiction or depression does not disqualify you for kingdom work. It actually enables you to see people through the transforming love of our Father. You know that those who are dead can be brought back to life and come alive again through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The most important thing is that you get free. Freedom comes from Christ. Freedom is in the redemptive work he completed on the cross for us. Continue on in the work God is doing in you. He has a good plan. Find your peace and rest in Him alone.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

 

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4 MSG)

#november18 #countitalljoy #youmakemebrave

{Pure joy}

So thankful that my kids take notice when I am having fun doing something that I enjoy. It doesn't take anything away from them. It only adds to their joy to see their mom being who she was created to be. Today my three kiddos sat in the room during my vocal lesson and were so respectful. Cameron sat on the front row beaming as he watched with a huge smile on his face. When I asked him he said he was feeling so happy and that I did a good job.

 ‪#‎neverstopdreaming‬ ‪#‎momsrockon‬ ‪#‎november11

I am thankful that we are not alone in raising our children. Parenting books are helpful, but wisdom comes from the Lord. He knows their temperament, personality, and the inner workings and condition of their hearts. There is nothing like when the Holy Spirit quickens you and you are able to see things through the eyes of the Spirit. The Lord lets you know exactly where to go and how to handle the situation.

I experienced some difficulty with one of my kiddos today after sch...ool. It is important to nip these behaviors right away. With the Lord's help the outcome was pretty amazing. God showed up in a major way and my child learned how to handle this in the future. 
 

Before you do what you have always done, stop and pause for a minute, get quiet, and let his Spirit guide you in what your child needs. He will show you exactly what to speak to their heart and how to pray for them.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3 :17-18


‪#‎november10‬ ‪#‎wehaveahelper

Dreams Come True

Thankful everyday for my best friend and love of my life.  Grateful for the godly example he is for our kiddos.  SO grateful for the many ways Shane takes care of us! 

#november9 #godsplanisgood #loveinaction

This Sweet Girl

 

 

Such a fun Saturday morning. Made pumpkin cookies for tonight while we sang so loud in the kitchen. Then worked on a little painting project with my girl;-) Love her focus.

 

 

 

#november8  #lovegirltime  #onefullpaintbrush

Family

 

It is still hard to process that my parents are living right down the road from us.  Gram & Poppa just closed on their new home after many years of talking about moving closer. So many prayers have been answered and we are grateful.  The kids keep asking if they can have a sleepover and are super excited.  This day we stopped by after school and I borrowed vanilla extract from my Mama for a recipe.  We have not been this close to them in over 17 years of marriage so it felt really foreign but so neat to have them here.  We look forward to making lots of new memories. On this day the kids were already outside helping Poppa with some chores.  Since my Dad is always working on something I expect the kids will learn a lot of new skills. So thankful in so many ways.

#november7 #lovemyfamily

God is Good

 

Thankful for the beautiful role music plays in all of our lives.  Playing the piano has been a huge blessing in Landon's journey.  It brought comfort and joy when he played at his Great Grandmother's assisted living home last December.  Cameron and the rest of the family sang Christmas carols and it is one of my favorite family memories. The residents loved it and Grandma Nette was just beaming. Music is so much more powerful than words. It reaches places in the heart that have been dormant and awakens us to the very peace and presence of God.

#november6 #restoration #giftfromgod

These Three:-)

 

 

So happy they share such a special bond.

Thankful they have each other.

 

 

#november5 #siblinglove

Bedtime Stories

 

This girl is pretty amazing! She just moved up two reading levels but the animal books are still her

favorites. I think she read 5 or 6 books this night. I love to listen to her reading:-) She always points

to a word if she doesn't know it. So proud of her!



#november4 #bedtimefun

Random Dancing

These two crack me up. Play the Frozen soundtrack and you never know what might happen. Kyleigh ran in her room and changed into her ballerina outfit and Cameron ran to get dressed. The picture might have been much different with him in his undies.

 

They love to dance together. She does lots of spins and he lifts her up and spins her around. I can't believe I caught this picture with him about to plant a kiss on her cheek.  So sweet! So thankful for these cuties who bring so much joy and laughter to our lives.



 

#november3 #letitgo

{Thankful}

 

 

Such a fun and relaxing day! So thankful for our first night around the fire pit.  Many memories have been made here.  One year it was a ginormous hole Shane dug in the sand but it worked for us.  Last year we finally bought a fire pit after enjoying it so much at Travis and Amy's house in Franklin. 

I love that Cameron is wearing a Spiderman mask. Just seems to fit right in with our crew. I love that our family is quirky in so many different and wonderful ways and I truly would not change a thing. 

#november1

Only Your Love

Your love is strong and mighty

It's jealousy unyielding

It burns for me like a fire untamed

 

Your love is all-consuming

You never stop pursuing

Nothing I could face could take it away

 
 

Your love is like no other                                                                                                       

Nothing else satisfies

It flows through the deepest waters

It rests on the mountains high

Your love is overwhelming

Brought me to life again

Your love it will last forever

In You there'll be no end

Oh oh only Your love     

 

 

Nothing can separate us

Many trials cannot hide Your love

No sorrow could wash it away

 

Your love is like no other                                                                                             

Nothing else satisfies

It flows through the deepest waters

It rests on the mountains high

Your love is overwhelming

Brought me to life again

Your love it will last forever

In You there'll be no end

 

How deep how wide

How long how high

Only Your love  

 

My Journey

 

I am excited about all that God is doing.  I have been enjoying life with my husband and children but God is so Good that He wants more for us than just a great life.  He wants to use us and our stories to touch others.  To pour into their lives with all that we have been given.   

 

When I started running Lake Hollingsworth the Lord began to work in my Spirit. As I prayed and became stronger he allowed me to see things that needed to be dealt with.  It has definitely been a process. I learned little by little that I could actually run and learned to enjoy it. Then I learned that I could conquer that mile and then 2 miles and so on.

This is my journey. This is about getting stronger. I want to be the wife and mother God has called me to me. This is about being there for my husband and kids. This is not about self pity. This is about processing my experiences and receiving healing on my journey.  When you process pain and loss you become who you were truly made to be. The Lord refines you and you are changed to reflect his image.

 

 

Processing pain and loss it is a lot like moving through grief.   The loss is still part of your experience but you can live more fully in the present. When I realized the magnitude of God's love for me the fears faded away. The Lord has revealed so much about the root of fear in my life but so much more about how much He loves me. God's love is based on who He is and I cannot earn His love nor can I be separated from His love.


When you give everything to God he can smooth away the rough edges until you resemble what He made you to be. The goal is to become a reflection of Him so that others can see Him in us. When you open yourself up to His love and healing power God can use everything for His glory.

 "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  We love each other because he loved us first." I John 4:16-19 (NLT)

How Can It Be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXn_OuJkvE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Jesus Calling~ Oct. 12

Beware of seeing yourself through other people's eyes.  There are several dangers to this practice.  First of all, it is nearly impossible to discern what others think of you.  Moreover, their views of you are variable: subject to each viewer's spiritual, emotional and physical condition.  The major problem with letting others define you is that it borders on idolatry. Your concern to please others dampens your desire to please Me, your Creator.

It is much more real to see yourself through My eyes.  My gaze upon you is steady and sure, untainted by sin.  Through my eyes you can see yourself as one who is deeply, eternally loved.  Rest in my loving gaze, and you will receive deep Peace.  Respond to my loving presence by worshiping Me in spirit and truth.


"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-34

transparent

One of the definitions of transparent is capable of transmitting light so that objects or images can be seen as if there were no intervening material. I am working on becoming more real and transparent. To be honest there is so much I want to write but several things have held me back.  One being time which is a given and then wanting to get it right.  I am the girl who wants to say it right and does not want to come across the wrong way.  I dislike or rather loathe making mistakes and surely do not want to portray my children in a negative light or place or attach labels or limitations on them or myself.

There is something telling me that there is more out there for us,  That our story needs to be told.  There may be negative to that and that is why I am extremely cautious but I also know that there is beauty there and so much to say that I don't want to keep it all to myself,  When there is something good or good news you want to share it even if others don't understand or agree with what your doing or saying.  It just has to come out.

 I recently talked with a woman full of wisdom who said that she feels that God is going to use what my son and I and our family have been through.  I really don't need a special word to know that because God can use anything that we go through for His good.  It is amazing how others even along different paths can be touched and how someone's journey and healing can have purpose when shared with others. Why? Because we all experience pain and fear and joy and sadness in very similar ways even though our experiences may be entirely different.  The thing to remember is that God can use it all for His good.  We are learning and hearing from Him everyday and it is just too amazing to keep it all to ourselves.  When your pain is brought into the light the darkness must vanish and the brilliant light of the Holy Spirit shines through and can reach others who are hiding in the shadows.

As each facet of a multifaceted, brilliant diamond shines with light and unique perspective so are the unique stories of those in the body of Christ. One story does not replace or diminish the others; each facet of the diamond shines as a beacon to give hope to others.

Isaiah 60:1
"Arise, shine! For your light has come; the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Isaiah 58:8
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

“God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling. After all, dear friend, you never know how God will use you until you let Him.”

Lysa TerKeurst 

Trust Me

IF YOU LEARN TO TRUST ME– really trust Me– with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from My Peace.  Everything you endure can be put to good use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me,  This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you. Joseph was a prime example of the divine reversal, declaring to his brothers: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way.  Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done.  Relax in My soveriegnty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day.  Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you encounter.”

Genesis 50:20; Psalm 23:4

Kid Zone October 5, 2012

Kyleigh and I stayed home from church a couple of Sundays ago as she has not been feeling well.  Landon called me on the way home and he sounded so excited and inspired.  He said "Mom, I finally felt what it is like to worship!" He said that he really entered in today. He said "When I worshipped I felt so alive with God."  It was beautiful.

Shane and I have been helping out in Kid Zone once a month and Landon doesn't really raise his hand for games or volunteering which is fine.  On this day he said he raised his hand and he really had a connection with the Lord.  There is nothing that could make me more proud! The awesome thing is that he would not just raise his hands because others around him were. It had to resinate with him and when he felt the leading of the Holy Spirit he entered in.  God makes all things beautiful in his timing. Since that Sunday Landon has written poems and a story at school about the Holy Spirit.  So thankful. God is working.

Hmm

I must write/type this out lest I forget which is very unlikely but here goes:

(These posts are several years old. I'm trying to combine several different blogs and am way behind.)

Monday when I picked the boys up from school they jumped in the van as usual.  Landon had something to tell me. He said he got a fine that day. He lost $10 of his money at P.E. He said Coach had a conference with him and a girl in his class and that he had gotten the fine. I think this is his first one this year or second. I can't remember right now.

So. The question. What happened? Well for quite a while now Landon has said that the "s" word is really bad and that it should never be uttered.  Not what most people think at first but to him the "s" word is "stupid."  So it seems some girls in his class were using the word at lunch and then during P.E. in conversation. They weren't calling anyone stupid from what I understand.  So Landon tries to tell them it is a bad word and argues with one girl in particular who tries to tell him "No, it is not a bad word!"  From there Landon said he got really angry and them proceeded to say the "d" word.  Insert pause here.  Ok. hmm... So Landon (dreading the answer) "What d word?" He says I said "D-a-m" (more pausing).

All the mommy questions are going through my head and some pop out of my mouth at this point.  So Landon "Where do you hear that word" and "Do we use that kind of language" and so on.  He said coach talked to him and said the word he used was much worse than the word the girl used and that it was so bad she couldn't even say it.  I really don't think he knew this word was all that bad. He says he doesn't know but he thinks he heard it from a girl at school at some point.  Anyway, we know all our kids will inevitably hear these words. There are many teaching moments to come.
We were able to talk and pray with him.  His teacher suggested we have him look up the word stupid to understand the context within it is being used.  She wondered if the context of "bad word" was understood.

She shared the following:

"In the book I am reading to the class for Reading Workshop there's a a scene where the character says that a situation is just "plain stupid". I read that yesterday and saw a streak of terror cross Landon's face. My take is that it's a word that we NEVER call other people but there are times when a particular thing or situation might be "stupid". Maybe having him look it up in the dictionary and further explaining that God did not create "stupid" people - things or situations can be "foolish" - would be helpful. Please understand I don't advocate the use of stupid just want to make sure he understands the context so he doesn't get offended if he hears it used in context.

So his teacher hit the nail on the head:) Mrs. Dippold is a wonderful teacher and God send! She is so easy to talk to and started to pray with me at the beginning of our first conference.  This all reminded me of a story our Pastor's son told during a sermon.  He said we home school our kids, don't have cable and pretty much try to keep them in a bubble.  One day his kids were playing Uno and his son got upset about something during the game and said "Damn!" He said all their mouths flew wide open and jaws dropped.  Where could he have heard that word.  The truth is we live in a world where our kids are going to hear and see lots of things. It is our job to be there to point them in the right direction. When I told my Mom I have to admit we did chuckle a little.  It is just hard to picture.

Sept. 2012