Monthly Archives: August 2012

The Shelter of God’s Promises (Online Study Beginning)

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV

Promises.

If you’re like me, it doesn’t take long to learn who can be trusted to keep their promises and who can’t. After a few times of being disappointed, I become leery of trusting someone when they say something will or won’t happen.

But there is One whose promises can be counted on. Always.

God doesn’t break His promises. His Word is solid, it can be counted on, and His promises are for you and for me.

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For When I Want To Reach For a Snickers Instead of My Sneakers

running shoes“Exercise? Lord, you want me to exercise? Are You serious? Don’t You know how hard that is for me? I just wanna stay in bed. I want to eat whatever I want whenever I want and never gain an ounce. Are You sure exercise is necessary?”

Exercising does not come natural to me. If rating it on an enjoyment scale, I would put it somewhere above scrubbing toilets and then somewhere below eating chocolate. Waaaaaaaay below chocolate. To my flesh exercise seems (if I am going to be quite honest) unfair.

Those very feelings reveal a place where I have gotten the Lord and the enemy confused.

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Who I Am to You

I beg him for specific feedback. “Do you like my hair this way?” “Is this a good color on me?”
“I actually spent time trying to look nice today…did you notice?” I’m his wife, his beauty, his companion, his best friend.

My heart beats a little faster when he tells me, with great fervor, “you’re the BEST mommy ever!” I’m his parent, his guidance, his role model, his cheerleader.

To others I am daughter, teacher, friend, listening ear.

But when I try to imagine who I am to God? I pause, speechless.
My first thoughts land on words like unworthy, disappointing, insignificant.

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Acknowledged

Tiny sock covered feet shuffle across the carpet towards my room. I hear the shh-shh-shh-shuffle getting closer. It stops a few feet from me. I look up to sleepy eyes and tornado hair. She waits. “Good morning bitty girl!” I muster all the excitement in me. Her eyes brighten, her eyebrows raise, and her mouth tips upward as she takes a flying leap towards my legs with arms outstretched. I cover her head with kisses and bend down to sprinkle some love on her cheeks and forehead, as well.

Every morning is the same. My little girl drags into my room and waits to be acknowledged.

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When it feels like no one sees you…

Ever felt a bit invisible? Ever wondered if anyone ever notices all you do?

It is so hard to not crave recognition for all the hard work we do day in and day out. It is especially hard to feel unnoticed in our efforts to serve the Lord by serving and loving people.

When I have had an especially hard day sometimes all I desire is for someone to pat me on the back and say, “Good job. I saw you. I noticed your sacrifices, your serving, your biting your tongue when you wanted to lash out at that person who wronged you…  Good job not complaining when you had to do that one thing you despised doing yet again… I saw you.”

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The Adventures of Toby: Making Friends (Review)

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom Writer Jill Berry.

The Toby series of animated, faith-based family films is made by a diverse collection of artists in South Africa with a mission to teach children about Jesus. My family and I recently reviewed a DVD from the collection called The Adventures of Toby: Making Friends.

Toby is a cute little tot who wants to meander around observing his world. You know how little kids want to take forever to walk from the house to the car? Well, Toby is too busy observing his world to rush. But, like most little kids, Toby’s mom and family are too busy to stop and smell the roses.

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Mine

Our son and grandson visited for a few days last month. We were thrilled to see the progress our little miracle man is making, and marveled at how God has taken a 1 lb. 9 oz. preemie and grown him into a four year old mischief maker. GLORY!

One of our favorite things from the visit was learning what JJ calls his daddy. He has names for all of the special people in his life. Momma, Nana, Granddaddy, Gram, and Rev, but when it comes to his daddy . . . he simply calls him, “mine.”

Mine!

There is nothing more precious or personal than being called “mine.”

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When God Sends Mixed Messages

“Lord, you know this has been a long season of waiting. It’s hard to look ahead, not knowing what is on the horizon for us. Where are we going to live? What job(s) would you have us do? It’s been such a long season of not knowing how/when our needs will be met.”

We’ve been living in limbo for many months as we await God’s direction on new ministry opportunities/jobs, a new home, and possibly new schools, new friends, new church family, new…everything!

I continued to pray that God would provide in a tangible way as I drove home. I noticed the boys’ VBS CD in the player in the car.

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