Happy Mother's Day...

A lot has happened this week but I want to talk about Mother's Day! I struggled with this week's email b/c I know it may be a tough time for some of you and I want this to be a day that we celebrate our mothers. Some of you may have mothers that have been a positive influence in your life & have a great relationship w/ her. Some of you may have mothers that have caused you pain & hardship or you may not even know your birth mother. There are many different types of mothers or mother-figures. She may be your real mom, your aunt, your mother-in-law, grandmother, or just someone you look to as a mother. Proverbs 31 describes a mother and wife as a very nobel character.
Let's look at verses 25-31 ²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. ²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ²⁹ “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. ³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 
 "Her children arise and call her blessed", I pray that I my mom knows how much I appreciate all her hard work and love she gives me. So this Sunday I ask you to honor your Mom's memories or give her a call or hug to let her know you appreciate and love her. I hope you have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day! I love you....

Seasonal Verse...

I hope you've all had a wonderful week. It's Friday...WooHoo! I have been sending out these Happy  Fridays for about a year now & want to thank you for allowing me to share some encouragement with you. I often talk about the seasons we go through in life & although they can quickly change our Father is who we need Him to be at that particular time. I want to do something a little different this morning by asking you to share your "seasonal verse". Let me explain...When I'm facing trials in my life I cling to certain scriptures more than others & will often repeat them when I am challenged. The scriptures change with the seasons of my life. You probably have favorite life scriptures but I want you to dig deeper and share the verse that gives you hope in whatever you're currently facing. I've attached my "seasonal verse" below as I'm faithfully waiting for a new job closer to home.  I love you & hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)  1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 

Gotta Have Faith...

I hope you've had a great week...It's Friday! WooHoo!! Have you ever heard the expression “You can take that to the bank”? It normally means that you can trust what someone has told you. What would you do if I handed you a check for one million dollars? Laugh, throw it away, tear it up, whatever you're reaction may be I'd hope you wouldn't actually try to cash it...because  my checking account WOULD let you down. Now what if I gave you one million dollars in cash? I'd definitely get your attention then huh? It would be something that you could physically touch, see, and literally take to the bank. Although I've never actually seen one million dollars I know that it exists. What  about the wind...have you ever seen the wind? No but you've seen the effects of it, you've felt it blow across your face and hair, & you've seen it's destruction.  The following verse gives us insight about faith. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

When Peter got out of the boat and started walking to Jesus on the lake, he got scared because the wind was blowing all around him and he started to sink. Peter was in the presence of Jesus! He saw Him face to face and still his faith dwindled. Jesus told Peter he had little faith and then asked him why he doubted. I'd like to think that if I were to see Jesus with my OWN eyes, my faith would never dwindle. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight.However when the winds start to blow and the water gets rough I get distracted, scared, and stumble in my faith. In those times of little faith we should cling to the truthful words in the bible & seek Christ with every that is in us.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.The above verse says the GOD IS FAITHFUL...and you can “take that to the bank!!!” I pray this brings you some encourangement as it has me. I love you & hope you have a great weekend!

Matthew 14:25-41 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

All of Creation Sing Praises...

I hope you've have a wonderful week! It's Friday, WooHOO!!! Well its that time of year again when flowers are blooming, trees and grass are greener & everything that was dormant for winter is now flourishing. The birds are chirping away & it seems like even the sunrises & sunsets are more breathtaking than ever. Everything seems to be coming to life & lifting up sweet songs of praise. I love this time of year, it reminds me to thankfully praise God for all His beautiful creations.

Psalm65:8 (NIV) The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Isn't that awesome to know that “the whole earth”, birds, flowers, mountains, trees, etc, sing their own
song of praise to our Maker? I pray you join in with all of God's creation and lift joyful praises for His glory and honor. I love you and hope you have a wonderful weekend. 

Psalm 66:4 (MSG) All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise. Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!" When your
enemies see you in action, they slink off like scolded dogs. The whole earth falls to its knees— it worships you, sings to you, can't stop enjoying your name and fame.

Keeping it between the lines...

Good Morning....I hope you've had a wonderful week! It's Friday...WooHoo! This morning it was extremely foggy making it difficult to see & drive. There were a few spots where the fog was so thick I had to slow way down & I just kept telling myself “Just keep it between the lines”. But as the sun came up it was easier to see & the fog started to lift. Have you ever felt like you were driving aimlessly through the fog of life praying to “just keep it between the lines”? Health issues, finances, employment, relationships, etc.... Sometimes we go through seasons in our lives that can cloud our vision of Christ's great plan. God isn't affected by the economy, health issues, finances, or any other sufferings we face. He defeated death & now lives at the right hand of Our Father

 

 Hebrews 1:11-12 (NIV) 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

Read what Jesus tells Martha when she's upset with Him about Lazarus's death. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”Do YOU believe? Next time your sight is clouded by life's struggles remember to trust that the Son is always there, will rise, and and reveal His marvelous plan for you. I pray this encouraged you with whatever trials you're facing and it has me. I love you & hope you have have a wonderful weekend!

Sacrifice...

I hope you've have a wonderful week! It's Friday, WooHOO!! I want to talk to you about something that I've never really paid much attention to...Sacrifice. It's Lenten season now & although I'm not Catholic, I like the principle of self-examination to better ones relationship with Christ. I have asked myself what have I sacrificed lately. Better yet what have I ever sacrificed? As you would imagine, the Bible is full from cover to cover with people who sacrificed. In Genesis 22, God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac to one of the mountains and offer him as a burnt offering. HIS OWN SON! As you continue to read Abraham obeys God, takes Isaac to the mountain God showed him, & is about to sacrifice his own son when an angel of God stops him.Verse 12 says "Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn't hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me." Abraham exemplified his faith and trust that God was in total control.

15-18The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: "I swear—God's sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I'll bless you—oh, how I'll bless you! And I'll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me."

I can't help but to think of Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 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.

God was testing Abraham & he passed to say the least! God blessed him & his children that they would “flourish-like stars in the sky!” I strive for faith like Abraham at that time.

I pray this opens your hearts so that you can hear what God is asking you to sacrifice for His purpose. I love you and hope you have a great weekend!

I'll Huff & I'll Puff....

I hope you've all had a wonderful week! I can tell you I'm relieved it's Friday! It's just been one of those weeks & I'm welcoming the weekend with open arms. :0) To best describe lastnight let me set the scene for you. It's about 7:30 & we just got home from having dinner @ Jeremy's parents house. I still have to bathe 2 babies, do laundry, dishes, and pick up the house because the young cleaning lady will be here tomorrow. Thankfully Jeremy bathed the kids so that was one check off my growing list. Everytime I started a chore, either my children or my husband would pull me away with their many (what I thought) "less important" needs. Well this started a chain reaction of the old familiar huffs & puffs, eye rolling, and stomping. I was downright upset that they couldn't see I was obviously way too busy to tend to them & that they were interrupting my agenda! Thankfully no feelings were hurt. However as a result, I am extremely ashamed by my selfish actions lastnight. Have you ever noticed that more often than not we're much nicer to strangers than our own family? I have many "middle names" and complaining is one that I'm not proud of. Phillippians 2:14-16, tells us we shouldn't compain & so that we can "shine...like stars in the sky". It also reminds us to hold tight to God's truths so that when He returns He'll have a reason to be proud of us. We can be living proof that all of His work was worth it. I pray this has opened your eyes & hearts so we can continue to show God's love to others. I love you & hope you have a safe weekend.

Phillippians 2:14-16  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.