Singing on Sunday - Turn Around

A Change in Me...

Alright, so it's been a while since I've been here....having trouble putting thoughts on a blank page lately.  Lots going on in my head so that every time I try to put the words together into coherent sentences...well, I freeze and it just doesn't happen.  So here goes...let's see what happens....

Lately, I have been putting into perspective what I want my life to look like.  A less cluttered, clean and peaceful home.  A schedule that doesn't make me drop down exhausted at the end of every day.  Plenty of time to spend with my Lord in Bible study, prayer and just resting in His presence.  Some semblance of organization.  No more "I don't know."  No more doing things just because it's good for someone else, even if it's killing me.  No more wishy washy.  Making decisions based on what God wants in my life.  Setting goals, looking forward.  Spending time with the people who mean the most to me.  Staying in touch with all those I love better.  My own brother lives three blocks away from me....I see him maybe once every few months.  Ridiculous.  Less worry, less stress...more faith.

And I realized something just a few days ago.  I realized that I am farther along that path than I thought.  I realized that I no longer stress and worry about money like I used to.  I know what I have and what I don't.  I know my debts and the things I need to take care of.  And I know that it will all be met.  I know that my God who loves me, also provides for me.  If I look back in my life, I see over and over and over just how well God has provided.  I see all the time and energy and sleep I wasted worrying over things that God had under control.  There is such FREEDOM in letting that worry go.

I worry about the people in my life and whether or not I am pleasing them.  When really, the only one I truly answer to is God.  And if I am living my life the way He wants....I will probably still not please every person in my path, but I will please Him.  I can't control the way someone else reacts to a decision I make or the way I behave or the words I say.  But if I am doing everything in love, compassion and truth then I have nothing to regret.  I know there will be people who don't like me.  I know there will be people who get angry with me.  I know there will be people who no longer want anything to do with me.  I will still pray for those I care about.  I will still behave with love and compassion and truth.  There is FREEDOM in letting go of that worry.

There is a change in me.  I am calmer.  I worry less about how much I will accomplish each day and more about how I spent my day reflecting my God.  I look forward to the future with assurance that when I focus on Him, my life will be as it should.

Peace.  May you have peace today as you let God handle things.  Step into that freedom...

Philippians 4:6-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

wishing you peace...

I'm going to be gone for a few days on a staff retreat.  I'm looking forward to this opportunity to grow our team and spend time with my co-workers in ministry.  I hope you have a blessed week!  I will be back with some comments on a new Bible study I have started on 1 Peter and my first week's progress with Hello Mornings.

Be blessed!

Giving thanks with Multitudes on Monday

Because being thankful is finding joy...counting over the last few weeks....

212.  an embroidered purple butterfly from Jenny...sweet gift
213. morning walks in the early sunshine
214. an extra night to relax with the kids.
215. unexpected gentleness
216. joy in the day
217.treating myself to a new necklace and dress
218. one on one time with Kira at the art show
219.  Dawn and Tony blessing Kyle - taking him out to dinner and the aquarium for a break from his routine
220. a little less heartache, a little more patience
221. a new focus on simple living
222. fun evening at a baseball game with friends
223. free seat upgrades and free tickets to another game
224. spending lots of time with Leah!!
225. hugs and kisses from my godsons
226. enjoying a lovely sunset...at the ballpark
227. Kyle is home from DCI today!  Missed him so much, but so proud of him!
228. Nathan's friend, James, who has been visiting the last few days...a very nice young man
229. great discussion at Bible study today - about Revelation
230. so enjoying quietly listening to the chatter between the three young men in my living room this evening
231. grateful for a good chiropractor and relief from headaches


Linking up here with Multitudes on Monday

Singing on Sunday - Britt Nicole

You've been walking with me all this time.....

He never leaves.

Letting the Word Speak Tonight....

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 41:9-10
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

And finally....

Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have a lovely and blessed weekend knowing God is ever strong, ever present.  He is holding you, His chosen, every moment.  And nothing, nothing at all, can take away His love for you.  

5 Minute Friday: Connect

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::

Connect…

Connect.

We all feel it don't we? That need to be connected to something, someone, somehow, somewhere, some way?

It's almost a tugging, or a pulling...

Deep calls to deep.... 

Perhaps on purpose...perhaps created just for that.  A connection to the Creator.  Created to Creator.   Our Creator desires relationship with us...connection.  Our Creator put us together in just such a way that we have that need, that desire for relationship, as well.  Some choose other means to make a connection...not to the Creator but to something else that seems to fill that void, that space, hooks up that broken link. 

But when we look to our Creator, when we move in close, and sit still, and hear His song over our very lives...we connect in the most perfect and beautiful and fulfilling way possible.  Created to Creator.  Connected, loved, put back together.

So go ahead...say a little prayer, breathe in the breath of God...and connect with your Creator...