Encouraged

I am greatly encouraged today to keep on serving God. This is not because it is easy or that I am so good at it, but because it is so wonderful to walk with Jesus. I realize that when you give your life to Him and you maybe do things that don't make any sense to the human mind, you will be persecuted. Sometimes people will try to hurt you and even falsely accuse you. That is exactly what happened to Jesus. It is hard when what God has so clearly shown you, you see how much it annoys some. And not because you have said something about it to someone but because of the choices you make in how you live it out. You might even loose close friends and family will try to avoid you. I know this last while, have noticed things in that area I wouldn't have exspected.

Today, I press on and I am so excited about having Jesus as the savior of my sinful self. There are so many areas, I have a lot to learn and need grace and strength everyday.

Jesus said, to let our lights shine before man so that they will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. There is no light within me unless Jesus lights it. I pray He will brighten the light within me a little brighter each day.

An Important Job

I had an important task today. I spent the day preparing for our special guest. I wanted it to be clean, comfortable and smell nice. With things more organized, it is easier to serve others and saves time, so that we have more time for quality time with those that come here.
So that is what I set out to do today. After all if Jesus is going to be here I want to do a good job with the work I do for Him, and make this place as enjoyable and comfortable for Him as I can. You might be thinking that I must be talking about something deeper than house cleaning now, but no I am not. I'm talking about cleaning my house for Jesus. Doing my work for the Lord. I am excited that I get the privilege to do these things for Him.
Most importantly though , I am excited that the first thing I get to do is just sit at His feet and listen to Him and Learn.

"...Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily ,as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord , that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward. The One Whom you are actually serving is the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3: 23-24

Fast Growing Weeds

A negative thought is like a fast growing vine or more like an ugly weed. It very quickly spreads into many areas, and this is what I have done these last few weeks. It started with me feeling like I couldn’t keep up with everything that was going on. Felt like there was just too much to take care of. I could go into all the details and come up with a bunch of reasons why I felt like this, but I’m not going to do that, because the fact is God’s grace is always sufficient and somewhere in there, this was my own fault, and God had a better way for me then what I was taking. With negative thinking, it’s funny what it can do… A little self pity and suddenly you have a huge unwanted weed!
So I’m thinking, this is all too much, then I start thinking it’s not fair! Oh, AND then wait a minute…My husband should do this and that and the this and maybe this…..(oh,I could give him a long to do list ) Do you see how this could grow into bitterness towards him and well anyone else who isn’t doing things according to MY list. I know! As I’m writing, I’m thinking what kind of a woman would be like that…Oh ya me. Well, this weed started to go into other areas as well. I started to think well it’s not like anyone else cares either. The only reason people talk to me is because, I always make the start. You see how one thing led to another? I think I was beginning to believe some lies here and being ungrateful for God’s many blessings.
Well, I needed to get down on my knees and ask God for forgiveness for my attitude and not being thankful in all things. I needed to let Art (Hubby) know that I had been wrong and ask him to forgive me. God changed my thoughts and feelings as soon as I repented.
Then my eyes were opened again to all the things I needed to thank God for. Art goes to work in an over heated paint booth everyday for his family, he is always the one to clean our van, yesterday he cleaned up all th junk in our basement, he cleaned the pool for the kids.(and he does all these things without me asking him to) I started to feel bad because I saw he was doing way more then I deserve. The greatest blessing of all is he often reads and prays with the kids now. He is always telling me he loves me and makes me feel like I’m worth so much to him. God has done so much in both our lives! I know! How could I ever complain! It’s embarrassing to think about it now!
Then as for other people go, I have received a number of calls and an email this week from friends just checking in to see if Kati-Lyn is okay now (she was sick) I have a mom who is always there and a dad whom I talk to more now then ever. Many sisters and sister -in- laws who do care. Also thankful for my prayer sister I have now who also really brightened my day. Thank s to the people who pray for me even though I don’t always know it So all around I just needed to be thankful and apologize for not weeding this garden.
I am so grateful for the mercy and forgiveness and grace God has for us if we as!

O what a wonderful, wonderful day- day I will never forget;
After I’d wondered in darkness away, Jesus my savior I met!

Children are Gifts

God is the creator and giver of life. Children are a blessing from God. They are a gift and God is counting on us as parents to nourish, protect and bring them up in the ways of our Lord.
We walk through this life and watch our children grow. As babies, just watching them sleep is amazing. They seem so peaceful and innocent. Seeing them smile, kick, hold things for the first time, their first words.... It's all so much fun! So many stages come and go. Before you know it they are talking, walking, playing, and with it comes teaching them no means no! If you are a parent, or take care of other people's children, you have a clear picture of all this.
I guess the most important thing I have learned is that children are gifts that I need to give right back to God. Ultimately they belong to Him. Sometimes it's hard to give them back to God. We always feel like we want to be in control of things ourselves.(or atleast those have often been my first instincts.) But really, if we come to the point where we say it's all yours God...Whatever you see best for the day we will do, they are in much better hands and so are we. We are not perfect parents but God is a perfect holy father. Who better then to keep watch over us and our children 24/7 !

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

Jesus said, "let the little children come to me, and forbid them not, for of such are the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:14

Anthony Loves Jesus!

This evening Jamie started talking about things that scared him. I encouraged him to trust in Jesus and that we are safe . Well this led to so many questions and topics about God, I wouldn't know where to begin to tell you all the details! One of the things the boys started talking about was their 2 brothers that went to heaven. They wondered what they were doing in heaven and so on. Anthony said he wanted to go to heaven one day too, but not without us . He said we should all go at the same time.
He then started asking me about how we can go to heaven and not to a bad place. I asked him if he thought he was good enough to go to heaven and at first he said yep! I'm always good. So I asked him if he never fought with his brother, or lost his temper... things like that. He wasn't so convinced anymore that he was good enough! So I explained to him that we all had sin in our hearts, and that was why Jesus died for our sins, to wash us from our sin. We had talked about this before and he had said before that he wanted Jesus to be his saviour, but today it really sunk in and he understood why Jesus was his savior, and he wanted Jesus to be in his heart! He loves Jesus and wants to serve him and tell people all about him he said. This is the most important thing in life and so precious in children!
I pray for our kids that God will direct their paths and that they will all serve our Lord throughout their life!

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

~Nancy~