All Things

I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

All things, if I really lived like I believe I can do all things my life would look a whole lot different.

I would start running, no matter what the weather was like.
I would stop choosing food over God, no matter how loud that little voice got inside my head.
I would stop getting so angry at my kids and husband and start realizing they make mistakes too.
I would reject that very ugly piece of my heart God has been showing me latley and start filling that hole up with Him, and Him alone.

All things...God's not exagerating here...we really can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. And it's not a hee-man brute strength we're talking about...it's an inner strength that rises up when you're at your weakest saying GO My Child, because I AM inside of you.

What things can you do because Jesus gives you strength?

Continuing with my list, today I'm thankful for

11) Quiet time with my Father, He wakes me up no matter if I go back to sleep after my alarm or not, He knows I need that time with Him and did you know He enjoys our quiet times too...He loves hanging out with His children, do you have daily quiet time's with Him?
12) Baby smiles and even a few giggles from my almost 3 month old nephew
13) Being used daily by an almighty God who doesn't have to use me but wants to use me
14) Work for my husband for today
15) Learning to focus on one day at a time and thanking God for the blessings of the day
16) The inner strength God's word gives me every day to say NO to my flesh ~ even though I mess it up ~ His grace is perfect in my weakness
17) Family dinners, and a lesson in each from God
18) My kids and their prayers before each meal "Thank You Jesus for this food" and their passion to pray on their own
19) A husband that forgives me for my attitude daily
20) Doing hair and nails and playing dress-up and baby dolls with my 3 year old daughter ~ and learning a lesson from God about her heart
21) Having my eyes open to the sunrise when I choose the better option
22) A new Bible Study in Ephesians that I'm learning SOOOOOO much from

Throw off your old sinful ways and former way of life which is corrupted by lust and deception.

Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Eph 4:27,28

What do you do?

I clean when I get stressed. I also write. I write to make this world make sense. To make some sense of my out of control emotions. To channel my feelings into a small box on blogger so they don't come bursting out of me like flames of stress and anxiety.

Yes, sometimes I am stressed. Sometimes I'm anxious and sometimes I just kneel in the midst of these feelings and wait for my Daddy to make it all better...He's working on making it all better even as I type.

So tell me,

What do you do when your husband just lost his job.
What do you do when the IRS is knocking on your door.
What do you do when the police come to take a loved one away because of some misunderstanding.
What do you do when your electric has been shut off and so has your water and you have 4 mouths to feed and no money to pay your bills.
What do you do when it seems the whole world has turned against you and it's only you and God and you're not even sure He's on your side anymore?
What do you do when someone you love is sick or dieing and God is not answering your prayers.
What do you do when someone you love very much keeps rejecting God's word over and over and over again.

I'll tell you what I do...what I am going to start doing as of right now.

I'm going to kneel. This world is giving me too much to bear right now. My shoulders are heavy. My heart is tired. He lost his job today. My husband, that is. Satan keeps reminding me of all the things we won't have. Insurance being a big one. He keeps reminding me that unemployment won't even pay probably half our bills. He tries to tell me I need to help God with this one. He tries to tell me God won't take care of us because I was ungrateful and wanted my husband home with us.

I'm going to kneel.

I'm going to open my arms, lift up my eyes and kneel at Daddy's feet. I'm going to wait for His touch that tells me it will be ok. I know He will take care of us, He has given us so much in this life. I want freedom this year, I won't be weighed down by this heavy burden. It's not mine to carry. I know God will help us and I know this was not my fault. I know God does not need my help, He already has the outcome planned out and in motion.

Even when we can't see the finish line, we can be sure He's got it taken care of. He created the whole earth in 7 days, I'm sure He can take care of this very small thing.

My Spirit is excited, God is going to do something amazing. He's pushing my husband to His purpose. Many people will see and believe in Him as this plays out. Watching and waiting is hard, but I can't help God on this one...that will only cause a mess...and we don't need any more mess.

When life gives you too much to stand...kneel friends. Kneel and wait for that touch. The touch of God on  your shoulders letting you know that whatever the world is throwing at you in this moment, God has already overcome and He will take care of you.

Excuse me while I go pray now.

There's Hope

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. Psalm 71:14,15.

God showed me this verse in my quiet time this morning. He told me even if perceived hope is gone, we should trust Him. Even if things are really awful, we should have hope and trust in Him to rescue us. Praising God will set our hearts free from our troubles, so we should do it often. Talk about God, often. Tell people what He has done for you. Talk about what He's done in the past and your heart will know what He will do in the future. Talking about God, praising Him and remembered what He has done is how you get through tough times. Each day is a blessing.

As for me, I will always have hope.