Friends

Friends and friendships are such a fun blessing! There are many different types of friends but usually each one can be categorized into- a reason, a season or a lifetime. I know we usually want all friendships to last a lifetime, but from my experience and many others it just does not happen that way.

Sometimes friends are there for a reason. These sometimes come from no where for me, they just pop up. Perhaps for a common goal, interest, period in life or just because. But just as they pop up, they disappear. They are still like all others a cherished memory, a time of growth and reflection.  

A season friend, sometimes friendships are strategically placed in our lives for a season by our awesome God. The season could be very unseen until much after the friendship has dwindled and is just a cherished memory. Then a flicker out of nowhere and you see the growth, knowledge and sometimes even pain that came from that friendship that you needed for some reason. For me personally, it's to grow me, show me something inside that I was too blind to see. These friends usually leave a mark on my life and it is so very sad to lose them. I believe that I must let go and remember that HE is the one that remains there, true and always. No other best friend, over Him, no one before Him as a confidant. Yes, I have been guilty of running to my best friend or mentor before running to HIM. Then that friendship comes to a close even if for no foreseen reason just dwindles. Then when you look around and wonder why, you see the reason that you were brought together for that cherished season.

And others are there for your lifetime or at least a lot longer than a season or a reason friend. When you find one of these hold onto and pray to keep that friend as long as you can. They are a truly rare find. This is the friend that is there no matter what, when you are at your most low and most high of moments. They love you no matter what! This friend is so much like a sibling but yet so much closer. It may even seem as though you have always been friends and close even if you only met a few days before. They are heart friends and know things that most do not and can read you sometimes before you even can. If you have any friends that are this to you, my advice is pray for them and thank the Lord for them, what a blessing, we only get a few in our lifetime. Tell them what they meen to you.

Above all others, it is HIM. Always there so reach out your hand for Him, your number one lifetime friend, HE is to be cherished!

Thankful in ALL things

Wow! Hit really hard with the obvious this morning, which I’m positive has hit me before but never really allowed and applied it to EVRYTHING in my life. This morning it was like a truck slammed into me, ouch and thank you!

I was reading and am not finished reading the book to the right, such a pleasure thus far.

As a Christian, follower of Jesus Christ, I am saved! Saved by his grace. I am forgiven! Forgiven by His grace. I am loved! Loved by HIS grace. I am heard in my prayers and daily trials and joys. I am heard by Him, because of His grace. I am His because of His grace. All that I have and do not have is because of His grace.

I am so not worthy of that which He has given me, repeatedly.

I am so thankful! I express eucharisteo beyond measure to Him.

Eucharisteo= thanksgiving
I have been saved by His grace for a while now but truly being thankful for EVERYTHING that I have struggled with and have not even noticed until today. Wow!
Of course I am thankful on a daily basis for the obvious.
But am I thankful for the less than obvious? The bumps and bruises, the sad and bad, the trials and tribulations, the loss, the sickness, the want?

No, not until now this moment He has made it so obvious that even in those moments He desires that I am thankful.

Yes ,I will pray through the difficult and cry out to Him for that is what He desires. But I WILL remain thankful because I KNOW that He will provide a way out and I will be grown, I will drwn nearer from the difficult.

　

I can testify that trials and pain and anguish and very hard times have grown my faith so much more than the happiest of times that is because I draw near to Him cry out and when it is over and I have reached the end result and gotten back to the happy that is when I see the growth, the closeness.

We have just went through and are still suffering repercussions of no income for 3 months, it has been a great financial lesson and journey. Our children now know and understand a bit more about going without and being thankful for all that we do have.

I look at them, the children and think I do not only want a grateful attitude when things are great and we are getting what we want. I do however desire for our children to be thankful all of the time in everything.

So, pure, so simple…that is what my God, my Father desires from me. Thankfulness, gratitude, thanksgiving, a grateful heart and attitude not sometimes, No, He desires this ALWAYS in ALL things at ALL times.

So that is now a goal, my life journey, to be grateful in ALL, giving Him THANKSgiving.

2010 Slide show

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Father's desire

SO to continue from the other day a bit...this picture captured it, that moment that God has been speaking into me. He so desires this from us, His children. To hold His hand, walk with Him, show Him things in your life, enjoy the moments. Why is it so difficult for us to relate to our FATHER in this way? Too often I know I am guilty of knowing the love He has for me and I for Him but do not allow this in every moment. This tenerness, This viewing of life together. This discovering together. This embrace.

So frustrating!

I AM HIS CHILD!

My heart aches to enjoy and embrace my father like this, this precious moment, enjoying one another. I fear the Lord plenty and run to Him when I have stumbled and need help or comfort. I am seeking that attachment, that love, that walking and doing all of life together, pointing out the moments, laughing, smiling, enjoying; I know He is ever present and He enjoys and rejoices with me even when I do not give Him the same in return. Too often I leave words unspoken, blessings unthanked, answers unpraised, hand unheld through the happy in life. So eager to grab the hand, vent in frustration, cry out in hurt and pain but He remains with His hand waiting for the rejoicing times in life also. So, now I turn to Him, my Father, my daddy, my best friend, me hero

Here I am Lord, your daughter, your child and I am so thankful beyond what I can express.

We are HIS



Our blessings-HIS CHILDREN

 2 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV) ^18(A) and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

"When God looks at His loved ones, He doesn't focus upon past failures, faults, or sin. He sees the heirs to His kingdom—men and women who love Him and desire to spend eternity in His presence.
No matter how far we may wander from the Lord's perfect will for our lives, we are always welcome back. The Bible teaches that God's love cannot be lost, regardless of sin or poor decisions (though we may have to live with the consequences). Our Father's arms are always open."    In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley



Us-HIS CHILDREN

Often times, more than I'd like to admit, I do not see myself as a child, although I know that I am HIS child. Until recent and from time to time I  hold the past against myself or against others, even after praying and seeking His forgiveness or an  apology and I've said there is forgiveness. But, if we are not truly forgiving ourselves or others, than how can we allow Him to grow us. When we are not moving on and learnning from the experience but instead sinking in self-pity and doubt, we are not growing but instead we are dragging our heals and not allowing Him to work in us or through us. From more recent experience and my Father working on me I am able to see that we all fail and that is ok, it's what we do once we pick ourselves back up that makes a difference.

I am a sinner just like everyone else, saved by grace and struggled with two scriptures and fought on how to truly apply them to life: "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" Matthew 5:39 and "Jesus answered, "I tell you not seven times but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:22 These are Jesus' words, I have to turn the other cheek repeatedly even if there is not an apology and I have to forgive offenses 77 times by the same person? To apply these two scriptures truly and completely there are many blessings. We are to love our nieghbor (others) more than ourself. It's crazy thing, but I don't believe it's a Jesus kinda love when we do not forgive. Since the Lord has showed me as His child how to live in these words I have seen much fruit.

I find joy in knowing that I am His child, so I must look at it this way...when either one of my children do or say something wrong or hurtful I do not hold it over there heads beyond their apology and repentance, they are learning and growing, that is how my Father sees me I am young, learning and growing. What a releif that He does not condemn and punish us like we do ourselves! I desire complete forgiveness from others and from Him, but I must have the same grace and humility toward others, because we are all His children. Why hold grudges, hurt others and ourselves? So just like I have done in my relationship with the Lord, I release all past hurts and mistakes on my part and on others even without a spoken apology. This is a huge step for me personally, as He gifted us emotions and choices and I haven't chosen correctly. It is such an awesome release, I AM FREE!!!!! I pray that you too enjoy this peace this graceand have a blessed, fruitful day.

Peace and Order for 2011

With thankfulness for His blessings upon me and my family, He is so awesome, I open this new blog, new year, 2011. I praise Him and lift His name on high. With a longing for peace and order I hop into this new year, new start, fresh look on life and things we'd like to work on, change. Desire of the stillness and peace that is not natural but seeked after often is that which I would like to obtain. Therefore focused on not over committing or signing up for too much is a new change that will allot more time at home, growing my heart and the littles' hearts for Christ and people. There's so much to put in order- home school, finances, health, fitness and general daily life, the list could go on and on. This is the year our family will grow by leaps and bounds, we will do so by chasing after Christ and getting up from the stumbles and bumps that we will still experience, that are a source for growth. It is all in God's hands, I need to release my grip from things that I persistently try to control.  Our family is in need of true obedience in many areas and that is our new year's goal as a family, that when we see where change, growth, improving is needed that we focus in on it and with the Lord's gently, loving guidance make the necessary choices and changes. Sometimes it is much easier to follow the way of the world and others around us, but He calls us to be different, set apart, so I will focus on what He requires and convictions He sets within me in His word, my prayer life, obedient love, and His leading, not on how others feel or think I should do things. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 So even if it does not make since to others or sounds silly, if He has called you to it, follow and He will bring you through it. "A goal without a plan is just a dream"  Happy New Year's 2011, many blessings to you and yours.I'd love to read your new year goals, please share.