Never too old for...

Vacation Bible School!  Seriously.

I love working with the kids at our church and for VBS every summer.  Such sweet kids, and seeing them learn more about Jesus is just awesome! 

I had been just as excited about this year, until some quick and unseen changes took place in the life of my family.  My thrill for the week changed to dread.  How was I going to be able to bring JOY to the kids, when I was feeling so defeated and down?  My range of emotions go from absolutely positive everything is going to be fine and knowing God is in control, to fussing at myself because I feel so insecure of where we are at the moment, and feeling like I am not trusting a very BIG God.

But VBS inevitably began... and as tired as I am... I am even more blessed.  I am finding it so "like God"  that He is speaking as much to myself and the other workers, as to the children.

So what am I learning this week?

No matter who you are........... Trust God!

No matter how you feel.......... Trust God!

No matter what people do......  Trust God!

No matter what happens........  Trust God!

No matter where you are.......  Trust God!

Maybe, I can remember this!

Faith....

Quote:  Having faith in God includes faith in His timing. - Neal Maxwell

Worn...
Weary....
Broken.....
Tears, tears, and more tears....

That is how my morning began.  There have been many "quick" changes in just a short time, since my husband lost his job.  I am just a mess of emotions and they come flooding out at the most inopportune time.

Sunday, my pastor, Tim Mills from LifeChurch Birmingham preached from the book of Job.  I'll be totally honest and say, at this moment... I kind of have that Job feeling.  I do thank  God that my health is still good... I'll pass on the boils! :)

I have been reading a book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp lately too.  (Visit my "gifts" tab on my page.)  This book is slowly and radically changing my life and the way I see every day, every "gift" regardless of how small or how large.

Ok, so how does all of this fit together today for me?   Job had everything taken from him, yet he continued to love and follow God.  His eye was on the Gift Giver, and not the gifts.  When all else around him was gone, he still had the greatest gift which was God.

I am learning to see the Gift Giver in every gift.  Even in these broken and uncertain moments in my life.  I am blessed with so much.  And although there is a lot of "unknowns" in my life and that of my family, I still have such an abundance of gifts.  Yet, in counting gifts in the small and simple things ( what I'm learning from Ann's book), my focus becomes in greater on the GIVER of these gifts.

For this Giver is where JOY is from.  My joy does not come from anything I posses, any gift that He see's fit to give me... My JOY is found in Him alone!

So this morning, when I was having my melt down in tears, I looked around me for those small gifts I usually wouldn't see as "gifts" and realize how much I am loved by the JOY GIVER... and I found peace.

May  my eyes remain on the GIVER of all things.  God, creator of all things big and small, help me to know that I have JOY in everything, because I have YOU.  May I feel Your presence and Your joy, even in the tears that fall.  You are so good to me.

Love this scripture....

Beauty....

Just a short post.  My son and husband, just came home today from an international Royal Rangers "Camparama" in Missouri.  While quickly flipping through the photo's from the week, this is what took my breath away.

This is my 11 year old son, with arms wide open, worshiping the Savior of his heart!  One of the most beautiful things I will ever behold. 

As a mom to seven children, ages 5 to 24.... all that matters at the end of my days is that they know the Lord and serve Him.  At this moment, almost all of my children have a relationship with God, only my oldest son wants nothing to do with Him.  But my job is not over, I have more in my home, living and watching me daily, to lead them closer.

When I stand before God someday... nothing I can say, will mean anything to me, other than I did all I could, gave all I had, win my children for the kingdom of heaven.

Living Fully...

A storm is brewing around my family.  Bad news, problems, despair.... seems to be coming to the surface daily right now.  The "old me" would have been filled with darkness and dread.  The "old me" would be frantic needing answers immediately... how do I fix this.  What do I do first.  How can I make everything "good". 

I am so far from where I want the "new me" to be.... but this "new me" who is learning to count my blessings in the midst of it all, is at peace. 

I have peace because I now God has walked us through a path almost the same as this one a few years ago.  I have peace because I have a Savior who has said, He will never leave me.  I have His Word, that tells me that He has only good things for me.  (That does not mean, I'll never go through hard things, but in the midst of these hard things, I will see HIM more clearly.)

My morning began too early.  Cloudy and dark, rain pounding the ground outside my window.  I just didn't want to face the day yet.  I feel worn, tired, empty.  So I pull out my journal and begin listing my gifts..... 

..... faith stretching
..... sleepy smiles
..... text from a friend praying

I am reminded... my JOY, comes from above.  Living my life in the moment by moment of His mercy... seeking His face... to see through His eyes...feel through His hands... love through His heart.... my JOY.... yes, it is in every things.  I must choose my perspective in how I see what is in front of me.