Due to me totaling my car a few weeks ago, I have been driving our Honda Odessey van for work. I've really enjoyed this because we have the new Shane and Shane cd in the van and I basically have this cd on repeat. :)
My current favorites are # 6, 7, and 10. To know what these songs are.... you need to buy the cd. :)
Well, I'll tell you number 7 is "Miracle".
This has been the prayer of my heart this week. I need the Lord even more than the air I breathe. I need the Lord every moment of everyday.
This week God has sweetly called me to trust in Him in all circumstances and to rest in the truth that I am a chosen child of God. He is drawing me near to Him daily and I yearn for his presence. Nothing catches Him off guard, He does not sleep or slumber, He knows all. He knows what is going to happen before we do and is using all things for His glory (Romans 8:28). I so often try to please others desiring others approval, "trying" to be a good wife and mother from my own strength, or even change situations I don't have control over. I need the Lord to rest in, to trust in, to be present in my daily life. I don't need to see a dead man come alive or see the cancer go away (phrases from the song), all I need is for Him to fill me up inside or know it will be ok because He is living and active in my life. (Hebrews 4:12)
A sweet friend pointed me to these verses which have been a place of dwelling this week and truth in my life.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Jeremiah 17:7-10
Man, I am thankful I know God is my foundation and rock.
Another friend to these verses:
"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, becuase he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Psalm 91:14-16
I am thankful He alone satisfies. I am thankful that when we call to Him, He answers. I need Him to move in my heart and be present in my life. I don't desire this, but thankful for a gracious, loving God.
A verse I currently have in my car.
"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."
Psalm 143:8
God daily is growing a desire within me, to trust in the Lord's steadfast love for me. To see myself as He sees me, as a child of God, and to live this out in my marriage, as a mom, a friend, co worker, and stranger. Use my circumstances to point others to Him and understand my need for God's presence, power, and love in my life even more than the air I breathe.
Psalm 63:5 "You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy."
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Movie at the Park
Recently we enjoyed a public movie at the park. What a fun experience for Neela. She enjoyed setting up our area and then getting to play around on the blanket with Daddy and Mommy. Tangled is the 2nd movie she is ever seen in her life and she is still talking about it to this day. Daily she talks about Lion King, her first movie to ever see and in the theater, and now Tangled. Literally within the first 5 minutes of her being awake in the morning she says, "Remember when we watched Lion King? It's over. I liked it." No joke, everyday! :) And she watched Lion King 3 weeks ago. I try to keep a straight face every time but sometimes I just have to laugh and give her a big hug.
Thankful for the privilege to be a Mom and to be Neela's Mom. She is such a joy and blessing in our lives. I enjoy seeing the world through her eyes and finding joy in simple, daily blessings. The joy of sitting on a blanket in the grass, bouncing up and down on Daddy, covering up with a blanket with her shoes off, eating her peanut butter crackers, and wearing her Dora dress. She enjoyed laughing when I would laugh at the adult humor and she did not know what was going on. She just enjoyed seeing me enjoy the movie. What a sweetie. Just to point out a few from this night.
Thankful for the privilege to be a Mom and to be Neela's Mom. She is such a joy and blessing in our lives. I enjoy seeing the world through her eyes and finding joy in simple, daily blessings. The joy of sitting on a blanket in the grass, bouncing up and down on Daddy, covering up with a blanket with her shoes off, eating her peanut butter crackers, and wearing her Dora dress. She enjoyed laughing when I would laugh at the adult humor and she did not know what was going on. She just enjoyed seeing me enjoy the movie. What a sweetie. Just to point out a few from this night.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Love Letter: Colossians
Below is a blog from a great blog I follow. Enjoyed this post today.
This is Day 16 of 31 Days of Love Letters, in which I explore God's love as found in 31 books of the Bible. To find out more or to know why I'm doing this, please read this post first. The list of books I will be writing from can be found here.
The way of the world is performance.
The way of the world is meriting love.
The way of the world is fluid, ever-changing, ever-evolving love.
The way of the world is love that is imperfect and incomplete, no matter how well people love.
The way of the world is that relationships can be marred, broken, and destroyed. They have to be maintained and worked at.
The way of the world is unforgiveness and bitterness.
Unfortunately, we often assume that the way of the world is also the way of God:
He is about performance.
We have to merit His love.
His love for us is fluid and changeable.
His love is imperfect (It can't cover all my sin) and incomplete (If I don't keep up my spiritual disciplines, I will lose it).
We have to keep the spiritual plates spinning to keep His love and His favor.
He is unforgiving and bitter toward us.
Colossians tells a different story:
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him.." (2:8-10)
The way of the world and the way of God completely oppose one another.
It's so difficult to understand and believe a love that is so wholly unlike worldly love. But according to Scripture, God's love is a complete love.
His love does not depend on our behavior or performance (good or bad).
His love does not change.
His love is perfect; there is nothing it cannot handle.
His love cannot be lost.
We don't have to work to maintain His love for us.
All of these are true because His love was completed for us on the cross. When we take up that cross and give Him our lives, it's a done deal ("It is finished"); we are complete. Nothing can ever change His love because when He looks at us, He sees Christ.
And we know how He feels about His Son.
This is Day 16 of 31 Days of Love Letters, in which I explore God's love as found in 31 books of the Bible. To find out more or to know why I'm doing this, please read this post first. The list of books I will be writing from can be found here.
The way of the world is performance.
The way of the world is meriting love.
The way of the world is fluid, ever-changing, ever-evolving love.
The way of the world is love that is imperfect and incomplete, no matter how well people love.
The way of the world is that relationships can be marred, broken, and destroyed. They have to be maintained and worked at.
The way of the world is unforgiveness and bitterness.
Unfortunately, we often assume that the way of the world is also the way of God:
He is about performance.
We have to merit His love.
His love for us is fluid and changeable.
His love is imperfect (It can't cover all my sin) and incomplete (If I don't keep up my spiritual disciplines, I will lose it).
We have to keep the spiritual plates spinning to keep His love and His favor.
He is unforgiving and bitter toward us.
Colossians tells a different story:
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him.." (2:8-10)
The way of the world and the way of God completely oppose one another.
It's so difficult to understand and believe a love that is so wholly unlike worldly love. But according to Scripture, God's love is a complete love.
His love does not depend on our behavior or performance (good or bad).
His love does not change.
His love is perfect; there is nothing it cannot handle.
His love cannot be lost.
We don't have to work to maintain His love for us.
All of these are true because His love was completed for us on the cross. When we take up that cross and give Him our lives, it's a done deal ("It is finished"); we are complete. Nothing can ever change His love because when He looks at us, He sees Christ.
And we know how He feels about His Son.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Rhesa's Fantasy Football Dominance
My friend Rhesa took over the worst team in our dynasty ff league and is now dominating... like a wolf apparently. His choice of pic to go on our league page... Congrats Rhesa!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Skin 11'
For those who knew us year 2 of marriage know what the title means. :) Our 2nd year of marriage we had a "marriage retreat" for just the two of us. Tim was creative and even made t-shirts that said "Skin 08', we killed it. It was really funny. The purpose behind "Skin" was for us to be transparent in our marriage in every way.
Well, we did not actually call this trip Skin 11', but we did go to the same lake house owned by our friends Jason and Alex's family. Dallas peeps, if you have not met this couple or spent time with them, you should. They are such a joy in our life. They called the lake house "Sabbath House". They use this house for a place of rest... and it is truly that. It was great because we were not bombarded with technology and distraction of our daily life. We were able to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate our hearts. It was great time of sleeping in, reading, running together, and having no set schedule. Thankful for such sweet, encouraging friends in our life.
Date night! Ok, so we are in the middle of no where, so the closest restaurant was Chili's. Which of course, you can't go wrong. :)
Tim enjoyed making funny pictures in all the pictures I took. :)
A night of scrabble to exercise our minds. :)
Where I spent every morning with my bible, book, and cup of coffee. perfect.
Everyday we spent time laying out and getting a few rays. Tim did swim in the lake. I chickened out due to me not being able to see the bottom of the water. Yes very much unlike me, but I think being a mom has changed my "crazy" side a bit... in a good way.
Well, we did not actually call this trip Skin 11', but we did go to the same lake house owned by our friends Jason and Alex's family. Dallas peeps, if you have not met this couple or spent time with them, you should. They are such a joy in our life. They called the lake house "Sabbath House". They use this house for a place of rest... and it is truly that. It was great because we were not bombarded with technology and distraction of our daily life. We were able to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate our hearts. It was great time of sleeping in, reading, running together, and having no set schedule. Thankful for such sweet, encouraging friends in our life.
Date night! Ok, so we are in the middle of no where, so the closest restaurant was Chili's. Which of course, you can't go wrong. :)
Tim enjoyed making funny pictures in all the pictures I took. :)
A night of scrabble to exercise our minds. :)
Where I spent every morning with my bible, book, and cup of coffee. perfect.
Everyday we spent time laying out and getting a few rays. Tim did swim in the lake. I chickened out due to me not being able to see the bottom of the water. Yes very much unlike me, but I think being a mom has changed my "crazy" side a bit... in a good way.
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