God's love REALLY does change everything!!!

If you have been around me in ministry, you have probably heard me say that if you can really GET how much our Heavenly Father loves you, it changes EVERYTHING!  It really is true...

I am blessed to observe it over and over again in my own life and in the lives of others...

I am watching my mother get closer to eternity these days... her battle with non-hodgekins lymphoma is almost over... My heart is broken... My mommy and I have always been close... every day I ask "what am I going to do without her???"   BUT... the sadness I feel... the grieving I am doing... is not like when my daddy went to heaven many years ago... Its not that I don't love her as much... I am not completely overcome by mourning because I KNOW where she is going... and I KNOW that God is and will be with her every step of the way... and I KNOW my Abba will hold me up.. He's the lifter of my head :)

When my daddy went to heaven... this "daddy's girl" felt the tremendous loss... I wanted my daddy!!!  I am blessed to watch God providing for me even now as losing my mommy becomes closer to reality...

     He has given me an amazing husband who I know will HOLD me through this... I know I am safe with my Tommy, my love.

     He has given me mom-figures in my life to help fill the void before it is even complete... women to talk to, cry to, run to, vent to... who help me to get my thoughts together, encourage me... I am blessed beyond belief!!!

     And... as for the mother-daughter time... WOW!!! with 3 daughters... do I get alot of that... My mom and I used to just sit and chat after school when I was growing up... and we loved to shop and shop and shop  together... all my girls are good at that :) and I have discovered that I now have in my oldest daughter that mother-daughter-confide-in-each-other time...

    I watch my son adore his grandma... sit by her side and make her laugh or smile... it doesnt get much better than that!

    and as if all that is not enough... God has given me many other daughters :) and sisters :) and brothers :) and even a dad... that I can go to when I need a hug or a laugh... and that randomly (well... not so random... Holy Spirit led) show up or bless me with some unexpected something from above.

I shared all this to say... God's love really does change things... and I am blessed to know and understand my Father's love... and to be aware of HIS activity in my life..

Do you allow Him in?

Are you aware of the things He is doing in and through you and FOR you?

Listen and watch for Him... He is AMAZING!

 

    

the peace that surpasses all understanding

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

This seems like a pretty tall order, doesn't it?  "Be anxious for nothing"  How is that possible?  Being anxious comes naturally to me... to most of us!  When the world around us changes, anxiousness creeps in. When things seem out of control, anxiousness sneaks in. When we don't know what's going on or don't understand why... again anxiousness... It's how we were made, right?  WRONG!  well, sorta... While it comes too easily to be anxious... I know I was made to pray and worship!!! God created me (and you) to be in relationship with Him... this includes talking to Him. 

Something funny I've been thinking about... If I have an issue... any issue, and I talk about it with my friends (or even with myself) sometimes we figure it out... but most often, I just become more worked up about it... BUT... when I talk about it with God ("but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.") something else happens... PEACE... ("And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.")  This really is quite amazing! Peace moves in and replaces anxiety... and it is unexplainable... It's a God thing.

This week I have had several things weighing on my heart... My heart was so heavy yesterday.  I was crying out to my Abba for a number of things... and really fighting for a good attitude.  (those closest to me might tell you that I did not always win)  All I could think about were these "things" going on... and so I took that as a reminder to lift the situations up in prayer... You might say I was nagging God. He doesn't see it as nagging however... He wants us to come to Him... to lift it all to Him and to praise Him in all circumstances, to see His hand in our lives... His fingerprints on all that happens in life... so that was what I did... alllllllllllllllllll day and into the night...

This morning I woke up flooded with His peace... I don't know what He is up to... I don't know what things have taken place in the spiritual realm...I don't know if anything has changed  I only know that here and now, my anxiousness has been replaces with His peace!!  This continues to amaze me...

May His peace fill you and yours today as you give everything to the One who holds  you in His hands!

shut up and SING!

When i was in Jr. High, we used to listen to alot of Amy Grant on the church bus going to events... Remember the song "Sing your praise to the Lord" the words said "stand up and sing one more Hallelujah"  but we used to sing "Shut up and sing one more Hallelujah!"  And now I'm thinking... such wisdom from Jr highers being silly... 

When I'm tired, it's easy to get that overwhelmed feeling... and sometimes life happens and we feel like we just don't have anything to give... It is easy and even natural to complain or to whine... to this I say "Shut up and sing one more Hallelujah!" today :)  It is theologically correct... In all things we are supposed to praise Him... In all things we are supposed to thank Him... Today, praying for my friends, my heart feels heavy... there is so much going on... so many needs... and I have a choice to make. I can get cranky or depressed OR I can praise the One who holds us close... the One who has it all under control. (even though things may seem out of control). so... a few minutes ago, I got out my guitar & sang & sang & sang... until it was worship... until I meant what I was singing... "I open my heart and let my spirit worship yours. I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth... worthy, you are worthy."  He is indeed worthy of all my praise. He is worthy of all your praise!  and it changes us... it lifts us into His presence and brings my attitude into a much better place.  In the words of wise jr highers... "shut up and sing one more hallelujah!"  just sing!

Rejoice!

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice." Phil 4:4

God want us, commands us to be joyful... and not just in happy times, not just in easy times, not just in smooth times... ALWAYS!  Fridays are usually very productive days for me... maybe it is the pending crunch getting ready for worship this weekend... maybe Friday's are just my day... IDK.  BUT... I always wish I had just a few more hours in this day.  It seems like by Friday evening, I am working quickly, the ideas flow, the things get done... but sometimes I feel frantic too.  It is my commitment today, for this Friday, to slow down and REJOICE!  I am grateful for this day, grateful for my wonderful family and friends... for this church and ministries that God has allowed me to be a part of.  I an blessed!  I WILL rejoice!  I will "enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise."  (Psalms 100:4)  The quickest way into the presence of God is being thankful and praising Him.  Today, I plan to stay in His presence, not let the busy-ness and business of this day make me buys...

Join me today... Let's REJOICE IN THE LORD!

Blessed are the flexible

Happy Thursday to you!  I find it interesting that, just when we think we have it all figures out, something changes.  I try to remember that blessed are the flexible... for they shall not break.  we never know exactly what God has in store for us... life certainly is full of surprises and how much easier is it if I am ready to allow God to change my plans.  This coming Saturday we had tried to schedule Beach Baptisms... but it is not God's timing... and that is OK.  I am excited to see what He has in store for us instead... and also how amazing these baptisms will be when it is the right time.
I am thinking about the other areas God calls me to be flexible... to wait on Him... He always comes through. He always directs, always guides... the problem lies with me when I fail to listen or allow Him to be in control.  Zephaniah 3:17 keeps going through my mind...
"The LORD your God is with you,
       he is mighty to save.
       He will take great delight in you,
       he will quiet you with his love,
       he will rejoice over you with singing."
HE is mighty to save! and He actually takes great delight in me... and in you...
When this is at the forefront of my thoughts... nothing else seems to matter... much :)