Muddin' Mommy Style!

A couple of week's ago I went to visit my cousin at her nephew's house.  When I got there I pulled up near the door, because I had brought her some things for her birthday.  It had been raining, but I didn't realize how muddy it was near the front door.  I know you can see where this is going. . . especially since you already read the title of this post.  Well needless to say, I got stuck in the mud.

I thought well this won't be bad, instead of backing out the way I came in I'll just get turned around and go down the hill and around where it looks drier.   Well I got turned around, after slinging mud all over the house.  But the further I tried to go down the hill the more stuck and mucky I got.  My cousin got out and when to get one of her nephews and his friend and they worked on it.  And it just got worse and worse.  I wish I had taken more pictures. . . . Mini Vans AREN'T made for MUDDIN'!!! ;D

When I got out to try to put some boards under the tires, every step I took the thicker the mud on my shoes got.  It didn't help.  We were stuck in the mud for 4 hours, but we made the most of it.  Catching up, remembering, and just having a good time making a new memory that we would never forget (& neither would her nephew, because his front yard was a MESS - & that's a huge understatement).

In God's providence in keeping me stuck in that mucky mess for that long, HE provided IN HIS TIMING, for me to "see and need and fill and need" that I wouldn't have seen if I had gotten myself out after visiting with my cousin and gone straight back home.  I would have missed the blessing of being able to be a blessing.  I'm just now REALLY learning that we are blessed to be a blessing - not to spend it on our pleasures and whatever we want.  

Think about how you can be a blessing today.  Look for needs to see and fill. 

Make a habit of practicing - "See a need fill a need."

 

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These mobile pictures don't do it justice.  It didn't pick up all the mud dots all over the hood and the windows.  There is still mud on my car - after car wash and rain and scraping - and the interior will never be the same. . . . but hey that's what memories are made of ;D!!!

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"¹² Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, 

for this is the Law and the Prophets"

- Matthew 7:12

^"8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."

- Isaiah 55:8-9

³² "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, 

but they had all things in common."

Acts 4:32     

 

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_________________________________

Unless otherwise noted all verse in my blogs are NKJV

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

Used by permission.  All rights reserved." 

My Own Little World - NOT!!!

Sorry this one is late.  Life's been crazy-busy these past 2 weeks.

God is stretching me, beyond me.  He's pushing me out of my comfort-zone and teaching me in very tangible ways that "My OWN little world is NOT about me!" [Matthew West song].  I won't share details of all that GOD is doing right now, first of all because I can't see the big picture in the middle of the forest and I'm not the only one involved in the situation, but suffice it to say that my tree is being pruned and my fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[mostly in the form of holding my tongue]) muscles are being stretched, exercised, and strengthened. 

[side note: this message is what God used as the final shove to push me out of my comfort zone: http://mylifefellowship.com/video.cfm?PodcastID=350 -by: Life Fellowship Lead Pastor, Patrick Conrad]

It's amazing how much I have seen GOD show up and show out in the past two weeks,  because HE has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and had no where to fall but into HIS loving and capable arms.  I couldn't FIX IT (as my control FREAK self always tries to do) because I didn't have the means to FIX IT.  It was too big for me.  So I prayed out loud with the other people involved, thanked God for HIS provision, and then had to WAIT Patiently for GOD to provide for a need that had a definite, looming, short DEADLINE.  Talk about DIScomfort Zone!!!  - Have I mentioned - I'm a control FREAK ***AND*** Patience is my weakest fruit???  

GOD showed up just in the nick of time from the most unlikely source of provision!  Isn't that just like GOD?  To provide - do it in a way that is beyond explanation?  Not only did HE provide - HE provided without us searching and striving - it came to us - we didn't have to go find it.  AWESOME!!!

The series pastor is teaching and preaching now at our church is called "Dropping Pins on Folding Maps" today's message was on TRUST [http://mylifefellowship.com/messages.cfm - by Life Fellowship Next:Gen Pastor, Michael Baier - hover over pic and choose TRUST to watch].  In light of the current events and situation I'm in the midst of, the one point that stuck out to me most was: "Without UNCERTAINTY there is no need for TRUST."  When life is hunky dorey and there are no worries, why do I need to look to GOD?  I got this!  That seems to be my motto all to often. . . It's okay, I don't need any help . . . I GOT THIS!!!  

Then I hear the attention signal . . . . .beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep {more of a buzzy beep than anything} that is followed by the following words. . . . 

• "This is a test. This station is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.  This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. The broadcasters of your area in voluntary cooperation with the FCC and other authorities (or, in later years, "federal, state and local authorities") have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency.  
  If this had been an actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions
  . 
  This is only a test."

I'm learning [many times the hard way] that life is a series of TRUST tests.  Am I going to trust HIM or am I going to lean on my own understanding? (Prov. 3:5-6)  Am I going to walk by faith or by sight? (II Cor. 5:7).  Am I going to hope in the unseen and have faith, or do I have to see to believe? (Heb. 11:1)  

Another point in todays message was a quote:

"The best proof of love is trust." - Dr. Joyce Brothers

If that is true, then how does my love of God measure up?  Am I trusting HIM?  REALLY?  or am I giving HIM lip service, and going on in safety mode in my own little world?

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"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

- Hebrews 11:1 

^"7 For we walk by faith, not by sight."

- II Corinthians 5:7

⁵ "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths."

- Proverbs 34:5-6

⁴⁰ "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. . . ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”’

- Matthew 25:40, 45-46

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_________________________________

Unless otherwise noted all verse in my blogs are NKJV

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

Used by permission.  All rights reserved." 

Birthdays & Blessings

I just had a birthday and Micah(10) was determined to have surprise party for me.  Micah has trouble keeping surprises hidden without hinting at them, and he told his little brother who also has trouble keeping secrets.  So needless to say it was not a surprise, however, it was the sweetest most thoughtfully planned out party.  

Micah LOVES to cook, so he planned the whole menu, and he helped his meemaw do some of the cooking.  We had 3 kinds of homemade soup: Mexican Bean soup with Corn Bread Dumplings, Cheesy Potato Soup, and Chicken and Dumplings (Aaron could eat his weight in these daily and be happy to never have anything else - except mac and cheese and some bacon to go with on occasion).  And for dessert, instead of cake, I requested my favorite pie: Lemon Icebox (the creamy lemon kind like they have at Chick-Fil-A).  And Micah found a recipe for a dessert that he wanted to make:  Mexican Cheese Cake - kind of like a giant cheese danish with sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top - had a crust on top and on bottom. 

I ate 'til I was a bit more than pleasantly full.  Wow it was good!!!  

I enjoyed visiting with family and a few friends that I haven't seen in a while.  After reading all the well-wishes on Facebook, I began to reflect over the past year and longer, and am realizing more and more how blessed I really am.  God is so Good.  

Sometimes we focus so much on the trees, because they are so close and right in front of us, that we miss the forest and it's beauty.  I so often find myself in crisis mode, putting out fire after fire, instead of backing up and looking for the source of the fires and praying for help to know how to deal with that source.  It was so nice to take a day to back up, rest, and get a good look at the forest, and realize HOW AWESOMELY BLESSED I really am.

I am so relaxed after my day of celebrating LIFE - and loving resting in the PEACE that Passes Understanding!

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 Here are some of the recipes very similar to what we had at my b'day feast if you'd like to try them:

mexican bean soup w/dumplins: http://www.food.com/recipe/southwestern-bean-soup-with-cornmeal-dumplings-247860

Mom made the dumplins smaller than they suggested - turned out great

cheesy potato soup: http://www.food.com/recipe/best-cheesy-potato-soup-ever-221943

this recipe says puree all the potatoes - ours were 1/2 pureed and 1/2 left as small cubes

chicken & dumplings: http://southern.food.com/recipe/chicken-and-dumplings-163278

We add cream of chicken soup and cream of celery/or/cream of mushroom soup to the broth, and cut the dumplings into rectangles.  I love the dumplings so we usually make a lot more than this recipe calls for.  Probably at least triple the recipe for the dumplings.  Add boxed/canned chicken broth if you need more liquid.  Also - we us only about 2 tablespoons of milk and the rest of the liquid is water.  As you make you'll learn to tweak to your taste.

lemon icebox pie: http://baking.food.com/recipe/lemon-ice-box-pie-88120

mexican cheese cake: http://www.food.com/recipe/mexican-cheesecake-253252

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

-Philippians 4:6-7

⁸ "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

-Philippians 4:8

 ¹¹  "So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house"

-Deuteronomy 26:11a

¹⁸ "And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.

So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work."

-Nehemiah 2:18

 ¹

 The goodness of God endures continually.

- Psalm 52:1b

¹⁰ For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

¹² O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

-Psalm 84:10-12

² I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

³ How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.

-Daniel 4:2-3

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

-Micah 6:8

 

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_________________________________

Unless otherwise noted all verse in my blogs are NKJV

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

Used by permission.  All rights reserved." 

To Fear or Not to Fear

On a Tuesday a few weeks ago, we were on the way out the door to Bible study, when my son handed me the previous day's mail that I hadn't had the chance to look at yet.  My heart sank to my toes.  A letter I was dreading the arrival of had arrived.  My faith suddenly turned to fear to the point that I was shaking and crying.  We got in the van & the boys wanted to know what was wrong.  I explained a little and asked them to pray, asking Micah to pray out loud for us.  

When we finished praying, Aaron said, "Mom, you don't have to do that.  If you don't want to, just don't."  I love his reality check.  It was true!  He reminded me, I have a choice.  Though this one was a hard one, I still could say "No!"  

My default when the boys wake up with a bad dream, or can't get to sleep because they say they are scared is, "Quote your verse.  Say it with me, 'God has NOT given me a spirit of fear, BUT of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.' II Timothy 1:7."  Though that's my default for them, it wasn't my default that day, and in my rush immediately defaulted to fear.  Instead of battling with the SWORD of the SPIRIT (God's Word), I forgot I had a weapon and bawled like a baby.

As we finished up Bible study that day, I took the prayer request card that we filled out at the end of class and opened my Bible to put it in.  It opened to a place that already had some cards in it, & it Just Happened to BE the day that the piece of mail was talking about (as we are doing a Chronological Bible Study - CBD by Iva May).  So I read - I had highlighted some scriptures on that day in last year's reading.  It said, "¹³ Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'" - Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV-1984)  I had written in the margin, "STOP Striving!"  What's even more significant is that right before I was diagnosed with the brain tumor God had brought me back to Psalm 46:10a over and over and over again, "Be still & know that I am God."  

I've told you before that I'm a forever recovering control FREAK, as I try to walk my walk as a Jesus FREAK.  So to "BE STILL" is not in my DNA.  Patience is my weakest fruit, and something God stretches me at constantly.

When we got back to the car that day after Bible study, I asked the boys to remind me of OUR VERSE if I ever freak out like that again. . . to remind me also, "God has NOT given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  Hopefully they will remember what our default should be next time, too.

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¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"

-Psalm 46:10

⁷ "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, 

but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

-II Timothy 1:7

¹³ "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'" 

-Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV - 1984)

¹³ "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

-Philippian 4:13

⁵ "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."

-Proverbs 3:5-6

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_________________________________

Unless otherwise noted all verse in my blogs are NKJV

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

Used by permission.  All rights reserved." 

Holy Ghost or Wife?

I don't know about you, but me - as a wife - I have a tendency to try to be the HOLY SPIRIT way too often.  Like God needs my infinitesimal help - HAA!!!  I'll try to do my best to keep my mouth shut, but I'll let my mind go wild and not hold my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.  AND AS you may well know by listening to Joyce Meyer, "Where the Mind Goes, the Man Follows."

So instead of trying so hard not to say something, I've got to redirect my focus on not allowing myself to just think everything that pops in my head and taking those thoughts captive before I start dwelling on them and then acting on them.

I so often think, "But I know better." or "This is what we need to do." or "He should do that; He needs to do this."  Instead I need to hold those thoughts captive and pray, "God, YOU alone know what's best and I know YOU are capable of speaking to Andrew just as well as YOU speak to me and he is just as capable of hearing YOU as I am.  I trust YOU to show him what he/we need to do, and I trust YOU with what he does with it.  You have a plan for us, to give us a hope and a future.  YOU promise that all things work together for good for those who love YOU and are called according to YOUR purposes.  YOUR word says that we have not because we ask not - we are asking, seeking, and knocking, that we may receive YOUR perfect will for our lives.  YOU promise that if we seek YOU with all our hearts we will find YOU LORD - we are seeking hard after YOU.  Thank YOU that YOU supply all our needs according to YOUR riches in glory.  YOUR word says that if we delight ourselves in YOU that YOU will give us the desires of our hearts.  We seek to delight YOU Oh LORD our God in all that we do.  We want YOUR will for us.  Show us what YOU WILL that we may obey YOU, Abba Father.  In the name of Jesus and by the Power of His Blood. AMEN."

 

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⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37:4-5

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

¹ Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:1-3 

¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 

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_________________________________

Unless otherwise noted all verse in my blogs are NKJV

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

Used by permission.  All rights reserved."