This song is amazing!

So things have been

crazy and chaotic. Lot's of changes going on in our household. Good mostly, some not so good, but part of life. Some days I would love to know what God was trying to teach me through some of this. Am I a slow learner or something! Wow...

I know that God is always faithful. I know that He always keeps His promise. I know He sees beyond what we ever can. I know that my trust must be in Him... I KNOW all of this.

I just wish that in the flesh, it wasn't so hard to do it!

Ah well more later. I'll be starting a new Bible study next week... so I'll be sharing more.

Blessings to all!

Life has been so busy...

I have neglected my blog. Sorry to those few who read it. :)

So today, I am just going to share a wonderful promise from the Lord! And I will be back to share more soon!

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17

God is so good...

I know it's been a while since I posted, sorry about that. Life in general has been wild and crazy around here.

This will be a short post, but I wanted to just give God praise and glory! My DH has been out of work since December when his company closed. It has been a LONG five months. But God has been so good and so faithful. We have never done without. Our bills have been paid. We have felt a little "squeeze" but nothing like I had anticipated!

Just when I began to worry... something or someone would come our way... showing God's provision through so many avenues! He is soooo good to us.

Today, DH recieved a job offer. A great offer with lot's of added perks. We are blessed beyond all measure. And relieved! But through all this, I am THANKFUL for this time of testing we have gone through. It has taught me to have MORE faith, and MORE trust, and to pray.... God the Almighty, has taught me a few things and for that I am so thankful!

For those who have prayed! Thank you!

Pray without ceasing...

How do we do that? I mean really, I am a wife, and a mom to seven children. I homeschool, I teach music, I lead praise and worship, I do this and that and then some! How do I pray without ceasing?

For me, (and this is not at all theologically based) it is that I continue to be in an attitude that is open for prayer. That I try to do the best I can to follow the Lord, and focus on Him, and allow myself to be open to His "pricking" of my heart to pray.

I have learned that it is ok to say a one sentence prayer, God is listening. It doesn't have to be formal and perfect and eloquent. I can be washing dishes and think, "Lord, Help my daughter to find friends that serve you." Or maybe I am giving my little kids a bath, and say "Lord, thank you for entrusting me with this child. Help me to be a better parent and for them to know Your love above all." I think we too often allow ourselves to get so busy in our "mind" that there isn't an open port for God to whisper into.

Yes, I am a busy mom. I have a lot of responsibilities... but I try to not let my mind get so cluttered with things that do not really affect me or my life. I want to have an open space, even if it's little bitty, where I can still be sensitive to the voice of God.

Thank you Lord. And by the way, please teach me to see my children more like YOU see my children! Amen

(See that was really easy.)

I have been reading...

The Power of a Praying Parent... and it is sucking the life out of me! Well not really, but the prayers and time I have been pouring out on behalf of my children have. I have a unique situation in that I have four teend 14 and up.... then a 7 year gap and 3 children seven and down. I am thankful that I have rediscovered this book on the behalf of all of my children. I pray it chages the future of my youngest three, and prevents some of what I see happening in my older ones. Why didn't someone tell me, that one they hit 12 or so... the beautiful picture of life changes! Not that I love them any less, but the worries change, the faith must increase with that. Wow.... it is hard to be a christian, praying mom.

As I was waiting on one of my older kiddo's, who had an appointment, I read the chapter on "Releasing My Child into God's Hands". Can I just say.... I don't like this chapter. One, it convicted me...which is never comfortable. But it also hurt my heart as I contemplated "releasing" my child. I mean, isn't it our JOB as a parent to protect, guide, protect, teach, protect... well you get the idea. I know when each of them were babies, we commited them to the Lord. But... now, it's more than that. It is releasing God's power and authority over thier life instead of mine, and TRUSTING Him, to take care of them. That is painful....

One of the lines Stormie Omartian wrote is "If we're not positive that God is in control of our child's lives, we will be ruled by fear." Well that pretty much sums up my life! I guess my one question to her is... what about when your child seems to want to follow everything else "but" God. It is easier to release when you know they have a heart towards God. But, daily, I will trust God with my kids. I realize that I may have to keep giving them back to the Lord.... as I do seem to keep taking them back. I don't know that my heart can hold up to this for SEVEN children. Right now, two of them are killing their mama's heart.

But I do know that I have brought them up in the "right" way... and I will pray that what they "know" will stay planted... even if they are playing in the storms.All for today I guess.

Just checking in...

I've been running every direction the past few days.

God is so good. I have to give testimony to His wonderful presence and His grace. I am so thankful that I have such a Almighty Father to run to when times are distressing. He is is my Comfort, my Strength, my Rock.... there is nothing that is to hard for Him to handle.

I am learning that I must lay everything that I love and adore before the throne of God. For it is only through Him that I can believe that all I have done, and all the prayers that I have prayed, will not be forgotten or cast aside when it comes to my children.

More later, must get ready for church soon! :)

I resign...

as a parent! Well not really, but I have decided it is much easier when they are younger! I love all of my children so much. I have done all I know to bring them up in church, and teach them to love the Lord. What do you do.... when you have one who seems to pull against everything you believe... and has no desire to "know" the Lord?

I never really ever entertained this... but it seems to be how it is with one of my older kids. My heart is breaking. I gave them to the Lord, so I know He has a bigger plan than I can even comprehend. But how do you sit by and "trust" .... knowing your heart is breaking?

I have read The Power of a Praying Parent years ago... but last night, God nudged me about 3 am to go pull it out. So I did.

The first verse used in the book, touched my heart... and although I do pray for my children, I realize I have not "poured out my heart" in a while regarding them. Lamentations 2:19 says, "Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children." So, I realize... it's time to get mean and get touch, and do some major "pouring" toward the face of the Lord.

I have made so many mistakes, bad choices, etc when I was younger, but I never felt "away" from God. It was like He was there behind me still pulling me, even when I refused to listen, and did it "my way". I don't see that in the life of my child. It's like nothing moves them, nothing touches them... and it hurts.

Well.... this is the trial of my time right now. Prayer will go on, fighting and warring over my kids. I love them all so much, and do not want to see any "lost" to this world!

Quick Share...

I love Hillsong, so many of their worship and praise songs touch my life. But there is one right now that is my anthem. It's "Desert Song". I'm sharing the lyrics. If you would like to listen to it, you can find a video on Tangle.com or YouTube.com



Verse 1:

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praiseI will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoiceI will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

It's really hard...

to wait. I am definately NOT a patient person. I am trying, but it drives me crazy to not see the "other side" of a situtation. I realize this is not about God, it's about me, and my lack of surrender of certain areas of my life.

Some things are so easy to lay down, my family is the hardest. But I'm learning. My husband's company that he had been with for 8 years closed in December. Right now, we are still without a job. I go through days of complete panic, then I go through days of peace. We haven't "run out" of anything so far. And God has provided through people we don't even know.

I remember stories from my grandmother, about me when I was little. I grew up in the church, my mom and grandmother were my teachers. I knew the Bible when I was very young. According to my grandmother, I had FAITH. She said, If I was told that God would do this or that, or His word said this or that, I believed it. Nothing could change my mind. The past few days I've been looking back over life wondering... when did that change.

I found some answers, and it wasn't God ever failing me, it was me failing God and myself. It's because I chose to do it "my way" instead of waiting for His will in my life. I failed to seek Him. I let my focus be on other "things" instead of Him. My faith is lacking because of me, not Him.

Last Sunday, I just really didn't want to be at church. I am frustrated with so much right now, so many things beyond my control. But I knew I had responsibilites that I must follow through. So as I prepared myself in prayer and reading His word, I read these words of Davids:

Psalm 27

v4. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

v5. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

Lord, I want to dwell with YOU. I want to seek YOUR ways in everything. I want to see YOU and not all the "things" of this world. May I put my focus on YOU. May I find you, and dwell in YOU, while I am waiting for the things of this world to come to pass. May "things" not block my view of YOUR true beauty. May "things" never come before YOU in my life.