SLOW DOWN…or you’ll miss the beauty around you. ~HD

Psalm 90:12 ~ Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom

There are times when I can be so impatient with my husband and daughters..especially our youngest. She’s the one who is most like him. I find myself rushing our girls. Hurry up. Come on. Let’s go. RIGHT now.

Time. It’s a precious commodity. Why do I rush it so?

I savor each moment with them. I love them so. Yet, I rush..rush…rush..

I don’t want the things that my children to remember about their childhood to be a bunch of “rush”. Now, mind you, some of the time, it is their fault for lagging behind. BUT, I still can choose to not let “time” make me frazzled. I can choose to live at a more relaxed pace. To be easygoing and “come what may”, when we are running behind.

I want to not live a “hurried” life.

Because…when we hurry..we miss things.

I don’t want to miss a thing.

In my devotion that I am doing daily, Ann Voskamp writes these thought-provoking truths:

   ”Doesn’t all the hurry make us hurt? Slow never killed time. It’s the rushing and racing, the trying to catch up, this is what kills time – ourselves. WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE KEEP WOUNDING OURSELVES? Life is not an emergency.” { DEVOTION 11 ~ One Thousand Gifts Devotional, Ann Voskamp}

Might you, too, need to slow down?

Living life at a slower pace can really be a good thing.( Shhhhh. Don’t tell my kids and husband that. )

   ”To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” ~ Oscar Wilde

               Until Next Time,

What do you think of when you hear the word “Thanksgiving”?

Does your mind go to Native Americans or Pilgrims? Do you think of holiday traditions? Pies and turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce?

Or do you think of giving thanks daily in every circumstance to God our Father?

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV84)

Maybe you think of all of the above. I do..

That’s fine.. As long as you think of thanks giving.

We have 2 weeks until Thanksgiving day. This year has flown by. Let’s be sure that we slow down during these holidays coming up. Slow down and take time to give thanks every single day.

Eyes are always watching.. Are they seeing an attitude of gratitude?

I’ll be honest. I have room to grow as well..

This week has flown by in a blur for me.

I’m thankful for:

1) Good health.. Because the nasty virus hit out home earlier this week.

4) My car is now paid for in full! Last car payment made today! AMEN!

“Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don’t.” –-Unknown

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4 NIV84)

What are you thankful for?

AND….

Would you share with me ONE of your favorite Thanksgiving day memories? A tradition or memory?

Mine is going to my Papa and Granny Peavey’s on Thanksgiving and spending time with all of my family & cousins..and playing a game of football with them. There were only 3 of us girls and 8 boys and they let us play.

Until Next Time,

Heather

I must admit, some weeks are more challenging than others. Some days it is more challenging to find the joy in the yuck. Those moments when we choose to find the joy in the yuck..those moments define us.

Earlier in the week, I had a day of inconveniences and little aggravations. I caught myself feeling aggravated and stressed out because I couldn’t get something simple taken care of…simply. Ever had a day like that?

Roadblocks.

Detours.

People are watching us. They are watching us to see how we handle the “yuck”. Our kids, our friends, our families, and strangers..Yes, strangers..are watching to see how we (Christians) are handling those things.

I’ll be real honest with you.. It was quite a battle. Fighting self. Wanting to whine and complain. Whining and complaining. Stopping myself from whining and complaining. Feeling guilty. Repenting. Starting fresh.

See, Jesus instructs us to NOT grumble and complain. Being “human” isn’t an excuse. As Christians, we have The Holy Spirit in us..so we aren’t just human.

Philippians 2:14 (ESV) ~ Do all things without grumbling or questioning

Romans 8:9 (NIV) ~ You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Every day we have choices to make. We get to make those choices.. They matter. Even when it’s harder than usual to find joy in a situation that seems like NO joy can be found in it, there IS JOY TO BE FOUND.

Even when it feels like a game of hide and seek..keep seeking the JOY.

“Joy’s a function of gratitude. And gratitude’s a function of perspective. Counting gifts changes my perspective – & my LIFE” ~ Ann Voskamp from her book…One Thousand Gifts

“All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him.” ~ Ann Voskamp…One Thousand Gifts

God cares about the tiny details. HE cares and provides. HE allows. HE knows that we can’t do this thing called life alone. WE can do it with HIS strength.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) ~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So, without waiting any longer, let me share with you some of the things that I am thankful for today and this past week.

1) that THIS is not home. This place.. This world is temporary and my citizenship is in Heaven.

2) for conviction by The Holy Spirit, JESUS in me, that tells me when I’m not glorifying my Savior.

3) that my Jesus loves me.. HE loves ME.. And I’m not always easy to love..

4) for this wonderful group of women (Dstudy group) that I get the privilege to grow with and teach them and learn from them as well..

5) for beautiful..awesome sunsets and sunrises that never grow old..

6) for the pure JOY that my nephew expressed to me when I surprised him with a visit today..

7) for getting Lysa TerKeurst’s book, UNGLUED, for $1.99 today! (on iBooks and Amazon)

I guess I’ll stop for now… on here.. But I can promise you that my gratitude journal of 1000 gifts is continuing to grow every single day. For when we continue to look for the good and counting the joy, that is when we know what true joy really consists of. Thanksgiving. Grace. Joy. They go hand in hand.

Here is the Simple Truth my friends: There is JOY to be found in EVERYTHING…Because GOD created EVERYTHING & GOD is ONLY GOOD..HE is GOOD.

What are YOU thankful for?

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

I am trying hard to be more like my Jesus. I have lots of improving to do..I know I am far from perfect. My kids and husband are kind enough to remind me of this sometimes too. And yes, I remind them as well..so don’t feel bad for me.

Ever had one of those days when your patience is just worn thin? Oh boy…those are the days when I am not at my finest. Those are the days when I have the choice to overcome my flesh and not let the little or big things bother me. I have to admit that I don’t always make the correct choice.

Nope. I have definitely had my share of moments that I wish I could take back..because I reacted when I had no patience left. Not my finest moments at all.

Thank goodness God is a forgiving and merciful God. Thank goodness I’ve come a long way. No.. Not even close to perfect..but lots better than I was before!

So, in order to improve in this area..I have to be aware of those times when I may not be as patient as I should be. I have to choose to be patient even when I don’t feel like it. Jesus possessed all of the aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit..and so should I.

Ephesians 5:1 ~ Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Yes..I fail at times…but I am trying harder than I ever have before to be like Jesus. I love Him so much and I realize who and what I would be if I didn’t have Him as my Savior and Friend!

We all have areas that we need to work on. Areas in our life that need to be more like Jesus. When you realize that you aren’t perfect and are able to admit it..then you are closer to becoming more like Jesus than ever before.

Jesus is perfect..yet He chose to live a life that wasn’t luxurious or glamorous by any means here on earth. Jesus is perfect..yet, He willingly took my place on the cross so that I, being imperfect, could live in the presence of a perfect God for all eternity.

Not one of us is perfect. However, when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit..who is perfect…comes to live inside of us. So..to say, “Oh, I am just human.” is so wrong if you are a true believer. We truly grieve the Holy Spirit when we act in ways that don’t reflect Jesus in us!

Working moment by moment to become the person that God created me to be, that is how I am living now. I know that Jesus loves me..I know that I don’t deserve the mercy and grace He shows me daily. I know that I am so grateful for His forgiveness and mercy and grace.. I know that I want to make Him happy..not sad. My Savior Jesus is worthy to be praised and He deserves my very best.

When my patience runs thin now, I am a lot more calm and I am improving only because I am seeking Him. It is ALL because of Jesus.

What about you? Are there areas you might need to improve in..or work on? Have you trusted Him as your Lord and Savior? Do you really know Him? Are you trying hard to be like Jesus?

You are not alone.. you are one step closer to being more like Jesus when you admit your imperfections and begin working on those things. If you have never accepted Christ and if you can’t say that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are going to heaven when you die, then now is the time to invite Him in. Let Jesus love you..let Him lead you..Let Him save you. I could not imagine going through life without my Savior Jesus. He provides a comfort that is beyond words..a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is so freeing to know that God has everything in control..so I don’t have to be in control..He’s got it!

Please leave me a comment if I can pray for you. There is power in prayer. Prayer is our direct line to God.

Until Next Time,
Heather

   There is a topic that I know we can all relate to. It is one that we all have experienced. Something that is unpleasant at times.

   I have written about it many times. In many different contexts. I don’t know that I have blogged about this aspect of it, though.

   Forgiveness…even without an apology.

   How in the world do you forgive someone if they haven’t apologized?

   How do you do that? Is it even possible?

   Do you have to?

   The answer to “Do you have to?” is …NO. You don’t HAVE to do anything. You can hold a grudge. Be bitter. Let unforgiveness take residence in your mind and soul. OR, you can do for others just as God does for you. YOU CAN FORGIVE. EVERYTHING. ANYTHING.

   HOW?

   Only through having a relationship with GOD. A real one. A consistent one. Praying. Listening to God.

   And then. It is still sometimes difficult. This I know, it can’t be done on your own. It takes the strength that comes from God.

   WHAT IF….?

   Face it. Life isn’t fair. Unfortunately, even Christians hold onto something called PRIDE. Even Christians don’t always do what God calls us to do. Forgive. Pray for those who persecute us. Love your “enemy”. Turn the other cheek. Admit our faults.

   So, how can we really and truly forgive and move on…when the one who hurt us, doesn’t see it? How can we get better when we are holding on to the hurt?

   I can tell you this. God IS the ONLY TRUE SOURCE of PEACE and COMFORT. He IS Forgiveness. He IS Love.

   I can’t tell you that you truly ever quit hurting completely. You may and you may not.  I suppose that is because we struggle with trusting God fully…unfortunately. We just do. We want things “our way”. Or atleast..I know that I do..

   There comes a time when we have to choose to move on. Move on whether or not there is mutual forgiveness. Move on even if the other person NEVER apologizes. Really. Leaving it all in the hands of God. Trusting Him fully. Even when we just don’t understand. Trusting that HIS timing is way different than ours. His ways are completely different than ours…THANK GOODNESS!!

   Ephesians 4:31,32 (NIV) ~ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

   As long as you have truly done what is right in God’s eyes…you can move on. Notice that I didn’t say “what is right in your own eyes”.

   Hosea 14:9 (NIV) ~ Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

   It really is possible to forgive even when the other person doesn’t. It really is possible to forgive and move forward even when the one who hurt you doesn’t seem to care. See, God does care. He does know the outcome. We simply have to trust Him and do what is right on our end. That is all we can really do.

   In God’s Word, He specifically calls us to forgive. Not just the ones WE want to forgive. (Colossians 3:13)

   There is no better feeling than forgiveness. Think about the times you have hurt others and hurt God…and how you were forgiven by others and God. It is a feeling of relief…right?  That feeling of being forgiven. That feeling of peace.

   It is possible to forgive when you are walking closely with God. It is possible to love others just like Jesus does.

   Colossians 3:12 – 14 (NIV) ~ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

   I hope that as we end the year, that we all take a long, hard look within. Is there bitterness we are holding on to? Unforgiveness? Pride? Resentment? Hurt?

  We have to place all of our hope in God. He never lets us down.

   He always forgives. He always forgets.

   We should too.

   What a gift it is…Forgiveness.

   What a gift Jesus was and is…Redeemer..Savior..The Forgiver of our sins..

   What a gift to give someone as the year comes to an end….a wrong being made right. An apology. With no expectations, except to make things right. And, to show them JESUS.

   Life is so short …this life here on this earth. We aren’t promised tomorrow or even the next second. It’s never too late to make a fresh start.

   With others and with God. AND, if it is in HIS plans..reconciliation may be an extra bonus for your relationship with the one who hurt you or the one you hurt…

   Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Wishing peace and joy to you and your family…and a fresh start. Because…it IS possible.

   UNTIL NEXT TIME,

My Family November 2011 ~ photography by my precious friend who is like a sister to me..Becky Platt

   There have been many times in my life when I have prayed for wisdom and discernment. During times of uncertainty..times when I wasn’t sure what to believe. It is during those times when we tend to seek God more anyways. Do we listen though? Do we wait and really pay attention when He gives us signs or answers? Or,  do we seek Him and then charge on ahead of Him..not really waiting for that discernment that comes from being patient (still)..?

      It can be really easy to take things into our own hands instead of patiently waiting on God to guide our steps. How often does acting before thinking..or not thinking before speaking turn into something good? Not very often. It takes learning to wait on God and desiring to reflect Him in everything for things to change. It takes the desire to be perfectly in His will..desiring His will.

   Proverbs 28:26 ~ Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

  Pay attention to every little thing when you are wanting the discernment that comes from God. Pay attention to others who are on “solid food” and more mature in their walk with Christ. Pay attention to the Word of God..it’s not fiction.

   God wants good for us. He desires for us to want what He wants for us..(also known as ~ His Will). His will is for our good. Never to harm us.

   Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) ~ “For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

~   How do we learn how to discern between true and false, right and wrong?

   Hebrews 5:14(NIV) ~ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

   You see, in Hebrews 5:12-14, the writer is talking about how, in order for us to grow from infant Christians to mature Christians, we have to learn discernment. 

   So….to learn how to discern good from bad(or evil), we have to train ourselves to do this. This takes training our minds, our bodies, our senses, and our consciences to discern true from false and good from bad.

   Just as if we were training for a race or whatever. It takes practice and consistency. It takes staying on the solid food. We can’t go back to baby food and expect to learn discernment.

  We can train ourselves by studying God’s Word and then applying it to our lives. Spending special quality time with God without rushing it. It shouldn’t be treated like a duty…it’s a privilege to spend time with Him.

   Proverbs 2:6 ~ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

   Do you desire that Godly wisdom and Godly discernment? Time to get on and stay on the solid food then. I know that sounds blunt and point-blank, but that’s just the truth.

  Proverbs 1:5 ~ let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-

   There is no fooling God. He knows our true selves..He knows all. Yet, He still desires a relationship with us. How awesome is that?

    He truly waits patiently for us to turn to Him and say, “God I can’t do this anymore on my own..Father God I need YOU.” Then, He takes us by the hand and He walks with us..sometimes even carrying us. He never leaves us. That’s what happens when we accept Him as Lord and Savior. Then we begin the process of growing in our spiritual maturity. We can’t stay on the milk forever.

   Until Next Time,

  Do you ever feel like everywhere you turn you are hearing the same message? Maybe through a devotion, a song, a friend, a book, or a message at church. Have you ever stopped to think that it could be God speaking to you? More than likely it is.

   Being still with God is a whole lot harder than I thought. I pray and talk to God all the time. I talk. I even listen sometimes. Apparently I have some work to do in the being still part. I wonder what He is thinking as I just talk and won’t hush my mouth and be still. I suppose that is why He has to use other ways to make us “get it”..like books, devotions, blogs, songs and other people. Little things that we can so easily miss or mistake for just coincidence.

   If only we would just be still and let Him be who He is anyways!

   I’m going to be transparent with you. I have a bad habit of interrupting my sweet husband when he is trying to tell a story. This is partly because he is so slow in his storytelling and I tend to want him to hurry up and get to the point. Bless his heart. He probably gets so frustrated with my impatience. Convicted. Ouch. Apparently I do the same thing with my sweet Savior too.  As I sat and tried to just “Be still”, I caught myself trying to start a conversation with God in my head. (like He needed me to initiate the conversation??) I couldn’t even hush in my head! That is when I felt like God was saying..”Heather, be quiet….and just be still..give me a chance to speak.”

   Now, I am by no means saying that I heard an audible voice. I am not saying that I hear voices either! I am saying that when I finally quieted my spirit and my soul..that I could feel His presence more. I even had a random thought that could only be from Him come to my mind. I even thought..”okay..well why did that thought just pop into my head?”

   It’s harder than you think to just be still with Jesus. Especially since we are normally in a state of motion..making plans, running errands, taking care of things. Guess what though?? It is possible! I am a person that has a hard time just sitting ..unless I am doing something else while I am sitting. I am a multi-tasker. If I can do it…you can too! I promise you will be blessed.

   Pay attention to those thoughts that come to mind when you actually give that time to God, and are still and quiet with no distractions. Start with 5 or 10 minutes..and see where it leads. Don’t give up after the first few minutes of noise that is hard to quiet in your head. You can do it!  Time with Jesus is never wasted time.  He will bless you. He will speak to you. You just have to learn how to be still and pay attention to the little things. (by the way, that is what I felt Him say to me in my quiet time today..and I didn’t really know why until now…but the random thought was “pay attention to the little things, that it’s all important“)

   If a recurring theme or message keeps smacking you in the face, pay attention because more than likely there is a reason. It’s up to us to slow down and be still and let Him be God. He IS GOD anyways…He is God of ALL.

   Here are some verses from His word, that relate to the topic of BEING STILL and LISTENING :

   Psalm 37:7a (ESV) ~ Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him

   Psalm 46:10a ~ “Be still, and know that I am God.”

   John 10:27 (NIV) ~ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  ( See, Jesus is referred to as our Shepherd and we are referred to as sheep)

   Revelation 3:20 (NIV)~ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.  (Jesus desires a relationship with us. He is patient and He is persistent. He tries to talk with us..we have to open up the door though.)

    I leave you with a challenge. Try just being still with Jesus. Don’t give up..because it’s going to be harder than you think..keep trying. I would love to hear back from you of how you have been blessed by this time with Jesus. Leave me a comment if you would like. If you are not signed up (subscribing) to my blog..please do! I promise that you only receive an email when I publish a new post. You can LIKE my Simple Truths Facebook page as well. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! Blessings to you all!

   Until Next Time!

   You know how the bathroom mirror gets all foggy and you can’t even see into it when you take a shower? Or how your windows in your car or home get steamy when it is cold outside and warm inside? That’s what it looks like inside of us when we tend to forget that God is in control. Life, stress, financial problems, medical problems. relationship problems all fog or steam up our minds. We get so stressed out, and can’t even see God because we need to wipe a little or quite large spot away. All we see is the fog or the mess, instead of focusing on Him.

  What is fogging up your peace? What is clouding  and steaming up your mind?

   It’s during those times of trouble that we have to begin by wiping away the “steam” a little at the time. Then, we begin to see God more clearly.

   How do we do this? By being intentional about carving out at the very least..10 minutes of our day. Ten minutes…what’s 10 minutes?? Take those minutes and just stop, slow down, and just BE with Jesus.

   It can be difficult at first to quiet your mind. I know. I struggle sometimes too.

   It is so vital…so important to seek HIM. Seek His Word. Study it, don’t just skim over it and expect to get it. Give Him some of the time back that He has given to you. I am right there with you…I have to choose to spend time with Him too!

   Psalm 105:4 (ESV) ~ Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

   Truth is, when we spend time with our Creator..God…He blesses us. The Word of God is powerful..and The Word of God is Truth!

   Hebrews 4:12 ~ For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

   You’ll find wisdom, clarity, and peace when you seek Him. You have to make that choice though. He’s waiting to clear up the foggy mess that we often try to handle ourselves. We don’t have to handle the messes in our lives alone or in our own strength. If you are God’s child, He gives you the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you. He is your strength when you put your trust in Him.

   Philippians 4:13 ~ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

   Will you trust Him? Will you spend some special time with Him? Will you be still and quiet and just listen? He speaks to us through His Word, through other believers, through messages we hear from authentic believers… He speaks to us and we can hear Him ..if we stop trying to be in control and just LET HIM.

   I can’t stress enough, the importance of seeking Him first. I can’t stress enough, the importance of being careful of who you seek advice from. If it doesn’t line up with Scripture….if it leads you against God’s teaching and God’s character (Galatians 5:22,23)..it is leading you wrong.

   Matthew 6:33 ~ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

   Until Next Time!

The picture above is of part of my flowerbed…and as you can see, the weeds are taking over. I was going to pull the weeds. Why pull them when I can spray some weed-killer on them and be done with it??

Then, it hit me… So many times we try to do everything ourselves (at least, I do) and God is right there waiting to be my “weed-killer”. He says that we have not because we ask not. We go through our day, struggling with different issues…ignoring the fact that He is capable to do the impossible if it is His will. So, why don’t we give our problems to Him.. ?

James 4:2,3 (NIV) ~ You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

I will be the first to admit that I am terrible about asking others for help…and even worse about letting others help me. I am trying to do better though. I used to be really independent. So much so..that when I was sick and needed help …I would apologize for being sick. Seriously. It is different with God.

God is The Ultimate Weed-Killer. We have to surrender to Him first though. Surrender our will. Surrender our independence. Surrender our problems. Surrender our weaknesses. Surrender = Complete Trust. Surrender also = Complete Peace and Freedom.

Everybody has had weeds of some sort in their life. Weeds choke the life out of you. Weeds cover up the beauty. Weeds get out of control really fast.

What weeds do you need to pull or better yet, let the weed-killer handle for you?

The first step is trusting and believing in Jesus. Next, you have to admit your “weeds” and start getting rid of them. Finally, you have to surrender to Jesus. Trust Him. Let Him.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) ~ Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch – as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

The enemy (satan) wants you to keep the weeds in our life. As long as we keep sin (especially hidden sin) in our life, the devil has got us right where he wants us..in bondage. Miserable. Unable to be free to do God’s work.

What weeds might you be holding on to?

I am not asking out of judgement. All have sinned and fall short.. (Romans 3:23). It is an everyday decision to choose to let God lead the way.

1 Timothy 5:24,25 (NIV)~ The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgement ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Jesus loves you. He loves you and He is patient and forgiving. There is nothing too bad or too ugly for Him to forgive.

Here’s the kicker…want to know how He is the ultimate weed-killer?? Well, it’s simple. When He forgives us of our sins He forgets them too. They are gone for good..unlike the weeds in my flowerbeds that keep coming back. You know though, if our weeds (sins) keep coming back, it is our fault. Yet, He is still faithful to forgive us our sins. What an awesome and loving God!!!!!

1 John 1:9 (NIV) ~ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12 ~ as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Until Next Time,

Ephesians 6:10,11 (NIV) ~ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

I was thinking about some times in my own life when things didn’t go as planned. {<– link to previous post} There have been lots and lots of times like that for me.

There was the time that I smoked us out of the house… It is never a good idea to boil baby bottle nipples on the stove to sterilize them…and then leave the house.. You get the picture. (I am showing my age..I know..) Was it an inconvenience? Yes..we had a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 week old baby. I would call having to move out of our home for a couple of weeks pretty inconvenient. The flip side, we were blessed to be able to stay with my husband’s parents, and they are always such a blessing to me! I also got my house cleaned from top to bottom! Pretty awesome if you ask me! A clean home after having a new baby..that’s a treat!

There was the time that our dishwasher leaked and ruined our kitchen floor. Praise the Lord for that! We were blessed to have insurance that took care of getting nice flooring in our home.

There was the time that our entire ceiling fell in our sunroom and water dripped through every light, the ceiling fan and other random places in our den. I do believe that I used every towel and every single pot and container that we had in the house to catch the water. We had to move everything out of those two rooms..and FAST! It all got handled though. We had enough containers and towels. It was a definite inconvenience at the time..but we survived! Nobody was hurt.. it was an inconvenience for sure..but everything turned out fine.

I won’t bore you with anymore of my stories today. Believe me when I say that there are plenty more I could share though. (Some comical..some not so comical and some more serious than the ones I shared)

I simply want to share the fact that.. Yes, life is filled with inconveniences. However, it’s how you handle those inconveniences that matters. Looking for the good in them.. Or focusing on the negative… Choose to put on the full armor of God today.

I will leave you with one of my very favorite verses from the Bible.

Romans 8:28 (NIV) ~ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Until Next Time,