Our God is a wonderful God. How do people live without Him in their lives? I often wonder this, because, though I'm not perfect and my relationship with Him is not always what it should be, I still can't imagine what life would be like apart from Him! Do any of you feel that way? Life can bog us down sometimes, and even get us blue when we focus on ourselves, or on the hurts others cause. But, He is so faithful and so loving and always there when we need Him! I am just excited that He has been showing His hand in our church lately, and He keeps us encouraged when we fight negative thoughts and feelings. How is your relationship with our Lord? Is He numero uno, or is He just there, waiting for you to make Him number one? It is so scary to put yourself first...how can we get so blinded so quickly from all that tries to take our focus? I am trying myself to put Him first, esp. when it comes to spending daily time with Him. I have not been consistent at this, but I know I need to be to fight off all of life's aggravations! I hope you will do the same, if you're not already! Enjoy your weekend! Enjoy your church and look for what the Lord wants you to hear! ;)

Well, it has been a busy last couple of weeks! Jon has been having one difficulty after another with back pain and then having to have a tooth pulled then having an infection! I haven't had a moment to sit and think, much less write! :) God, as always, pulls us through somehow and we get through the weeks with a sigh and a "wow, that was crazy!" Do you ever have weeks like that..you feel pulled in so many different directions? Yet, God can always somehow give us a sense of calm when it is all done and a sense of relief that He got us through, yet again!!!

Wednesday night in church we have been learning about God's wisdom and last night at our Dave Ramsey class was a gentle reminder that reading a proverb a day will help to keep us seeking after God's wisdom (which will affect ALL areas of our lives). I don't know about you, but I can use all the wisdom I can get, and the best place to get that is from God's Word...yes, you need common sense, but you don't necessarily need the world's "wisdom" to be a wise person!

We are instructed to seek God and ask for His wisdom, and He will give it liberally to us! Thank you, Lord! Have a great weekend, everyone!

On my mind all week has been, again, the call to be content...to not want for anything. It started I think a week ago Sunday that Psalm 23 was preached at church. Normally, most of us could recite that entire Psalm. We know it, we "get" it, but do we really? Something hit me that night that I haven't been able to let go of all week. "...I shall not want." We are surrounded by people (Christians and non-Christians alike) who are always looking for the next big thing to "fulfill" their lives...to make them happier, to make them richer, to make things easier!

Jon and I started Dave Ramsey classes this week, and I must say, though I'd heard some of the information before, it is a somber reminder that we as a culture are dissatisfied! Going into debt to have the biggest and best, wasting all your money on the next thing that will supposedly make you rich...God wants us to rely on Him for all we need...in Matthew he talks about the clothes you wear, where you're going to lay your head, and the food you need for sustenance. We have ourselves deceived into thinking we need ALOT more, when in all reality, we don't!

"To whom much is given, much is required" the Bible says...it is not sinful to have money if God blesses you with it, it is what you do with what He gives. I take on the whole approach that God knows who can handle wealth and who cannot! God has given us all the same Bible to figure out what He wants us to do with money...and to be good stewards! We are not to be indebted to others, we are to give to the poor and needy, and help the widows, etc. It is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil. Let's not let ourselves be deceived by the devil's lies that we need alot...we actually don't~let God lead you in what to do with what He has given you, and if you don't have a clue where to begin, take a class! :) Jon and I are enjoying it and are looking forward to being in a better place so we can better use our resources for God's use!

I am so blessed! I celebrated my 37th birthday yesterday, and I am just reminded of how much God has blessed me with and how much I need to use my time and strengths for His purpose! That's what we talked about Wednesday night at church: using your gifts in the church to serve Him! Are you using your gifts? ;)

My kids are off for a week of February vacation, and I plan to make it a fun one! We are (hopefully) going to use our gift card to the new Cracker Barrell in Portland (the kids have been bugging us since Christmas to go)...I think Gram Cracker would've been so excited to know a Cracker Barrell was so close! ;) On Thursday we are going to visit my grandparents, which they always enjoy!

My plan is to just enjoy being with my kids...we can't spend alot of money and go to lots of fun places, but we can make lots of fun and loving memories! I read this on a friend's facebook status, and it is going to be my "mantra" for the week...if I can give my kids anything, I want it to be this (not tons of stuff and memories of expensive places):

"To a child, a parent's unconditional love serves as a representation of every other kind of love, including God's love. Parental love should be demonstrated with deeds, not just announced with words. Thoughtful parents demonstrate their love by giving their kids heaping helpings of prayer, time, attention, discipline, protection and nurturing!"

I will pray the Lord helps us all this week (who have kids or are involved in the lives of kids) to use this to be a catalyst to help your kids be the best they can be! It all starts with us! Have a great week, everyone, and enjoy your break, if you get one! ;)

Well, I have been sick all week, so I didn't have much energy to be on the computer, much less think of what I would like to write on my blog!!! I read something out of a book I am using with my devotions ("The Frazzled Female") and it just struck me, so I would like to share it with you.

"It requires faith to be joyful when you don't feel the joy. Life on earth is like that. Sometimes you just don't 'feel' happy. But Paul encourages us to remember what we were taught and to continue to overflow with thanksgiving. "

Wow! Do you always overflow with thanksgiving, especially when things are rough and not going your way? I wish I could say "Yes, I do!" But that would be far from the truth. We lose sight so quickly when we think things should be a certain way, but God has other things in mind. This one devotional is talking about thirsting for Christ and being attracted to Him. Sometimes we can become so distracted and things (even good things) can take our focus from the Lord. If you are able to get this book, I would encourage it! I received it as a gift for Christmas, and am still on the first week, but it is really good!

I will admit I am a frazzled female, at times, with all these responsibilities, but I am noticing that when I put God first, everything else falls into place and it becomes easier to do all the things required of me. When I let everything else crowd in first, I lose focus so easily! Soooo...the glass half-full lesson out of this one is to keep remembering that God is first and above all else in my life, and, in doing so, He will make it easier for me to handle all other things that so easily take my focus!!!

Next week my devotions are going to be about how negative attitudes can shift our focus from our relationship with God to our feelings about ourselves and others. Stay tuned... :)

Well, my internet has not been working for me all week, so I obviously have not beeen able to post anything! The brain goes crazy, as always, with thoughts I have...sometimes thoughts so random that it takes me in weird directions! (don't ask for explanations, I think I just have fried my brain from carrying/having 5 kids!!!)

Sometimes life is tough. Sometimes the glass doesn't seem half-full! This week has shown that to be true, but I am still trying. It's just the little things, nothing major. But I remember a God Who loves me and accepts me despite my seemingly insurmountable imperfections!! For some reason this week I have been thinking alot about gossip, and trying to watch my tongue in the way I speak of others, and hear what others have to say to me (about people). Goodness, did that just get confusing! :)

The Bible tells us not to speak evil one of another...enough said! Wow, we have all failed that command many times over! But, make it a goal this week to be conscious of your words, your thoughts of others, and what you want the hearer to take from your conversations. If you talk evil about people to others, they may talk evil of you to different people. I know this is a tall order for all of us, but if it couldn't be done, God wouldn't have told us to do it! If we all try, it could make atleast our own world a better place!