Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of. ~Charles Spurgeon

Sunday, November 28, 2010

A verse to add to my favorites

I am doing a study right now in the book of Isaiah and man oh man is it AWESOME!!!  Not even half way through the book and I have a greater appreciation for my salvation!!  Today, while doing my homework I came across this verse...

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.  Isaiah 25:1

I think back to the hardships I have already endured and I am reminded of His perfect faithfulness.  I also think about the future hardships ahead of me, knowing they will come and I am once again encouraged by His sovereignty!!!  "Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness!!!!!" 


"Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness!!!!!"  Father forgive me that I still doubt, question, worry, make up excuses, and justify my plans.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

Of all the things I am thankful for, it all comes back to this! 
I am so thankful it all remains in His sovereign hands.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Construction...Framing

We were busy framing last week and we will finish up this Wednesday.  I love that family has gotten to be apart of this project.  In the first picture you will see my father in law helping with the framing and then four pics down you will see my hubby and my father doing work.  Of course if it weren't for my fathers God given talents we would probably not be doing this project.  He is the architect. 






The end of this week we will start the electrical, roofing and then the demolition of the wall that stands between us and this room.  Praising God for all the ones He has brought in our path to help with this new addition.  It has been our prayer that this room would bring Him glory from start to finish.  Already there have been some great connections I will tell of in future posts.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

You've heard of mothers eating their young...well I just might!!!

This was great...She was sitting on the couch and I was able to get her singing "Oh victory in Jesus."  She kept singing it over and over. 



 
Every night at bed time she asks daddy to sing this song to her.  It's her favorite out of all the songs she sings.



This one will definitely be played at her wedding!!!  She was walking up and down the hallway singing "Here comes the bride"

Thursday, November 18, 2010

"Cherish the gift of all those perfectly ordinary days."

I heard that saying a while ago and I loved it.  These precious days do go by fast and the proof is in the pictures!  It amazes me to see how much my babies have grown. 

Today was a chore day and I loooove chore days!  My girls have come so far.  Where once I was doing all the cleaning, now my almost six year old is mopping and my 5 year old is begging to mop.  I love their eagerness in wanting to help mommy.  My almost six year old honestly thinks she is ready to marry her prince now that she can mop.  Seriously!!  Can you believe that!?!?  

While doing chores you will always find us rocking out to our praise and worship music and it never fails a great conversation is always around the corner which starts with a sweet question or comment.  I think it just depends on what the girls are hearing around them that causes their little brain to think which then leads to a comment or question.   Today's topic was adoption.  I love that my children call my uterus my womb.  My middle child was dusting picture frames and while doing so she was admiring the pictures in them which led to... "mom, maybe God will open your womb again or maybe not?  Maybe it will be closed and we can adopt another baby who needs to come home.  Maybe he or she will be born in a hospital close to us or maybe a hospital that is far from us."  I love love love that they are thinking about this, talking about it, and praying about it.  I am so blessed by their sweet innocent questions and comments. 


I treasure these conversations, I live for these conversations, I couldn't imagine missing out on these conversations, I would be so sad if these conversations were with someone else. 


This to me is true education!

____________________________________________

I wrote that post yesterday, so last night when I was updating hubby on our daughters sweet comment we were both wondering if her comment would have been the same if all our daughter heard when people asked us if we were done with children "oh gosh yes!  We are so done!  No more kids for us!!"  

Yesterday we were at the gym and I ran into my old spin instructor as I was walking out with my children.  She said "oh I didn't realize you had 3!  I bet you are so done!"  I could tell you she was not expecting to hear what I had to say after that.  It was so great because we ended up talking for 15 minutes longer.  She asked questions and I got to share a bit of our story.  My instructor asked where I found my faith?  She said she was wowed by my faith and asked if it was something I found within myself (HA! if only she knew how depraved I was!) or if it came from something else?  So amazing that I got to share all of this in front of my children.  They got to hear me share a bit of the gospel along with the fact that my children are such a blessing and that we would be honored to have more if God saw fit.


We may all believe that children are a blessing but, what are we as Christians communicating to the world...More importantly, what are we communicating to our children?   "Oh gosh no, we are soooo done; I think I would go crazy if I had more; The children I have is already too much;  I am already going crazy, why would I want to add to that." And on and on. 








Encouraging words I read this morning

Faith is believing that He heals, faith is also believing that He sustains us in whatever circumstances He has called us to.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I'm Just Saying...

I don't do well with pouting and I don't do well with needy people (and I am not talking about the poor and needy mentioned in the bible).  I am not that needy (most of the time) and when I choose to pout (remember, pouting is a choice!)  I try to do it in private.  So when I am dealing with a needy pouter who expects me to read minds...I REALLY DON'T DO WELL!

I need prayer!  Please.

I need to get over myself!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Our Pastor Read This Article Today. Thought It was Great!!

The other day someone at a store in our town read that
Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in
the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical
question. 'Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and
I were growing up?’
I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was
drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for
weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and
community social’s no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults,
was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents,
told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak
with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher or
if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that
was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out
with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pick
weeds in mom’s garden and flowerbeds and cockle burs out of
dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends
and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to
mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some
firewood, and. if my mother had ever known that I took a
single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have
drug me back to the woodshed.
Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my
behavior in every-thing I do, say or think. They are
stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin: and, if today’s
children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a
better place.
God bless the parents who drugged us.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Construction...A Foundation

YEA!!!  Our foundation was poured today.  This has been a busy but fun week.  We have been talking about this project for so long and this week we actually got to see some transformation.  Our patio will be poured tomorrow.


Next week...framing and trusses.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Are You Sure


Just in case the video does not show up...click here


So, How Can You Be Sure...Click Here ...it got me thinking!  Not doubting my salvation, not judging others salvation...but thinking for sure.






Saturday, November 6, 2010

Delight, Commit and then Trust

Such a beautiful post.  She states that her desires need to bow to God's will.  That puts such a beautiful picture in my head.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.  Psalm 37: 4 & 5


It is a beautiful picture of a heart desperately trying to align it's own desires with Gods.  It's a patient heart willing to wait on Him and not act on it's own.  It's a teachable heart humbling itself, knowing He is the one who knows best and it's a hopeful heart, knowing He is faithful to the end!

Friday, November 5, 2010

A Message Everyone Should Listen To!!! Soooo Good!

If you know someone whose adopted, if you know someone who has adopted, if you have ever considered adoption..Listen, Listen, Listen.


Thursday, November 4, 2010

A Sinner rebuking a sinner

Parenting is so humbling!!!!  So much of the time when I am disciplining my children I find myself saying "are you kidding me God?"  While admonishing them I am reminded of how guilty I am.  I guess that's the point.   Like I am one to tell them to obey?!?  Hey kids come here and let me discipline you for giving into your selfish ways, forget that mommy just did the same thing 2 seconds ago.


I will discipline them because I love them and because I am called to discipline.  Basically what I am saying is... OUCH!  The speck and the log picture has never been so clear!


Train up a child in the way he should go - but be sure you go that way yourself. ~Charles Spurgeon




Wednesday, November 3, 2010

What a Dissapointment

 So I am watching this video with a smile on my face thinking, oh what a sweet man, what a good message, I love it.  The message is great and it drew me in...UP UNTIL THE LAST FEW SECONDS!!!!  Very sad to say it is not the Spirit of God that He is in tune with. 


Just in case the video does not come up...click here


“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7: 15




Tuesday, November 2, 2010

People of Conviction

Be a person of conviction- "Right is right even if NO ONE is doing it; wrong is wrong even if EVERYONE is doing it"

 

That encourages my heart for so many reasons. 

 

 You can hear the sermon here


Busy Weekend

My baby turned 5...





Hubby got baptized...
thanks Dawn for the pic





And, my daughter rode her bike without training wheels for the first time...


Blessed blessed blessed beyond words!!!