I Can't Get Away....

No, I am not trying to escape....at ALL.

I can't get away from these words I read this morning....

"God will search the most horrible places for us. Not only will He save us from a life of sin, but He'll even wade through bitterness, pride, jealousy, anger and betrayal to rescue you!"

I was reading my friend Deidre's blog post for today. (If you haven't been following her February Month of Devotions - you should be!) And these words seem to echo in my head. It was if she was talking directly to me, reminding me of what the Lord had delivered me from, when I was in a deep pit, with only one thing to do, "Look Up" to HIM. 

He didn't have to search very far for me. Oh, He knew EXACTLY where I was. How I got there. How long I had been there. How far I would go. And then, I reached the end of ME. 

There I was, at the end of me, with no where to turn. I had tried to do it all on my own for years. My way. And I was nothing. Going nowhere fast. Useless. Unwanted. Terrified. Ugly. (just a few of my names at that time) Wallowing in self-pity. There was nowhere to look but up. And there HE WAS!! He lifted me out of that pit, and set me on a path to redemption, love, and grace. Once again HIS MERCY SAVED ME from that life of sin, sadness, brokenness, anger, unforgiveness, that I chose on my own, to love me and redeem me. 

I loved her post. It was so for me. A wonderful reminder of what God did for me. He loved me right where I was at that very moment. And He loves me right where I am today, right now. Even in the midst of trials and life. He will never leave me. He is always with me. 

Are you at a place, where you have no where to turn? Maybe you feel that you are not loved by a Holy God? The ONE true God? Oh, sure there are days I don't feel worthy of His love, and days I am just not enough. But, I do know this, HE DOES LOVE ME. He sent HIS Son to die for me. And that my friends, is more than enough! If you are at that place that you just don't know that God loves you..... join Raising Future Esthers  for the rest of this month as Deidre shares The Relentless, Transforming, Redeeming Love of God. (be sure to go back and read each day's post....you will not be disappointed!!)

And if you haven't read Hosea..... you really should. And if you want a good read that is  "A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea," Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

Thankful Thursday: Lots of Love!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Today supposedly is all about flowers, chocolate, mushy cards and lots of love.......

I can remember times when Valentine's rolled around with NO VALENTINE in sight. Depressing, huh?? For those of you that may feel that way today... STOP! RIGHT NOW!! Your Heavenly Father loves, loves you!! And His love is more than flowers, chocolate, and mushy cards!!! You can KNOW that this gift won't die like flowers or disappear like chocolate. And you can open His love letter to you EVERYDAY... and even have words of HIS love held in your heart. Hmmm... just thinking about that fills my heart with JOY!!! 

This LOVE is like NO OTHER!!! 

 Of course I have a wonderful God-given Valentine  - Mr. B!!!  And all the other gifts in my life! Just looking through these pictures fill my heart with love & JOY!!

Lots of love to my family!!!

Thank you Lord for the blessings in my life!!!

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace!!!

The Greatest Love of All!

http://www.houseandhone.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Learning to Be Content

 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,

in whatsoever state I am, 

therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

So much for my LoveMonth postings.... 

I had great intentions and as usual life takes over. I have had two posts ready with the exception of adding video clips to them. For some reason they will not UPLOAD... I haven't had a problem before BUT I have tried several times even on different computers and no such luck. And things are so busy, I haven't had time to try to figure it out. But, when and if I do, I will post.

I have also realized that keeping up blogging can be a little stressful when I "vow" to do something that requires a daily post, or thought or whatever. I have also found that I can get so involved in reading many blogs that have been blessings to me as well as my "blog stalking hobby" checking out frugal crafty blogs (there are 100s out there) as well as on Pint*rest (that's another story in itself!!). I could spend hours if I don't pay attention to the time. 

So for that reason, I am going to have to be better about my time management. I say way too much, "I just don't have time." "I am too busy." "I am worn out"  and on and on......

In our Bible study, we were asking God what he would have us give up so that we could have more time to do our homework each week. Some have given up Fac*book, some TV, some a certain food, and take that time that they would have spent doing whatever that is to spend in Bible study or just time with the Lord. It wasn't real clear to me what I should give up..... And now I do know what I am to give up and it goes right along with my on word for 2012. 

I must give up trying to DO EVERYTHING, BE EVERYTHING, AND DO & BE PERFECTLY ....... I must give up trying to keep up with a theme, or a daily blog post (its just too stressful and takes up way too much of my time), I must give up comparing myself to others, I must give up holding on to stuff that doesn't really matter. I have some stuff that just drives me crazy, I need to give that up, too.

Seriously, is it such a big deal that I never see the bottom of the laundry basket? Or that coats are on the chair instead of the closet? Or that I didn't get to post last week. I wasted more time trying to get those videos to work and really does it matter?

I can be anal about so much that really doesn't matter. I say this to my kids when they are fussing over some of the silliest stuff ever, "If Jesus came back tonight, would this really matter??" Yet, I its one of those things I say.....but don't apply to myself. 

I still have a long way to go in seeking the Lord for my contentment. I haven't quite "learned in whatever state I am in to be content". But, I am thankful that He has shown me that there are lots of things that don't really matter. And I am wasting too much of my time spinning my wheels on some of those things. I must work on my time management along with my priorities. It's my nature to be a planner, and its odd how I don't use that "planner" in me to plan my day or my time. Not that I am going to plan everything on my to do list, because I know well enough, that curve balls are thrown and if I am in "PLAN IT" mode, I too will be thrown.

I know I have said this before, yet, I need the constant reminder to

 

Will you pray for me as I do my best to give up the "stuff" that keeps my focus OFF of the ONE TRUE GOD!! And strive to learn to be content where ever I am!!

Love is .... Day 3

On Day 2, LOVE was shown to me by a dear friend. She is someone that I can count on when I need prayer, when I need a listening ear, one that gives me encouragement and points me to Christ! She had asked me to attend a Women's Conference with her, through some unfortunate circumstances she could not attend. She told me to see if I could find someone to go with me. I knew who to ask and luckily she wanted to go!! We haven't had any bff time in a long while, so this was perfect for us. (you have to know we usually have to plan things weeks in advance because of our schedules...so this was totally God!!)

We were only able to attend the Friday night event, due to our schedules, yet it was such a blessing to me. I was able to have a girls night out, worship the Lord, and see Lisa Welchel!! Don't know her?? Did you ever watch Facts of Life?? She was Blair!! Anyway, what a hoot she was!! The event was about Connections: Woman to Woman, she mentioned how some of our friends are like Teflon and thing just slide right off of them and nothing sticks. And then there are a few that are live Velcro, they stick to you, just the way you are....they are there through the thick and thin of life's ups & downs. Ones that you can be honest with and they can be honest with you, no matter what they say to you, you can handle it coming from them. I got to thinking about all that and I realize that I have a couple of friends like that and what a blessing they are in my life. 

On the other hand I was convicted in a way....

I asked myself some questions.....

Am I the type of friend I would want to have?
Am I the Teflon type of friend, one that just listens to others and then let it just slip off or go in one ear and out the other??
Am I one that is like Velcro, allowing what my friends say stick to me, and hold true in what I do or say? Can I be trusted?
Am I one that says, I will pray for you.... and never prays?
Am I one that gives of myself to my friends?
Do I show my friends love like Jesus would want me to show?
Do I put my friends needs above my own, or am I wallowing in my own problems?
Do I have a pity party when I don't think my friends are really friends at all?
Do I only call on certain friends, when I need something??
Do I tend to avoid my friends when they become needy?

I won't give you my answers to them, but I will tell you I am convicted by several. I know that God has blessed me with some wonderful friends and I am very thankful for them. Friendship is a sacrifice and it can be hard sometimes. But I know that just as in a marriage, at a job, or in our daily lives things get tough. And I know Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, but I want to take today to thank God for giving me friends that I can count on! May I not forget to have a friend I need to be a friend!! 

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

1 Thessalonians 3:12

Are you a Teflon friend or a Velcro friend??

Love is .... Day 2

In my last post I mentioned getting my priorities in the right order, as God would have them to be. My first priority is my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I must do all that I can to be in His will. The only way that I can draw closer to Him is to get into His Word, hide His Word in my heart, talk with him throughout my day,  live each day to praise Him,  to bring honor and glory to His Name. 

Just last week our Women's Bible Study began and it is exactly what I need right now!! We are doing

By Beth Moore

So far I am seeing what God has and wants for me. I have some issues/struggles and most have been  revealed by past Bible studies and for some reason, I am still battling some of the same ol' junk!!! (I may share them one day). I am sick of it! I want to get well!! I want to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give me!! Please pray for me as dig into His word, and focus on what He wants for me. I want to keep HIM on top of my priority list, and as I do, He will get the glory in the rest of my priorities. 

from Believing God:

God is who he says He is.

God can do what He says He can do.

I am who God says I am.

I can do all things through Christ.

God's Word is alive and active in me.

I'm believing God!!

Love is.....

Believe it or not its February. January has come and gone. Not sure why it chose to fly away so quickly, but it did. My being intentional on some things for 2012 have went by the way side. And I do not want February to get away from me.

Last year my real life blogger friend did a series for Love Month and I loved how she and her family showed God's love to others every day. I want to put a little different twist along with her idea from last year....(hope you don't mind D)

Along with my word CONTENT for 2012 God has shown me that I need to get my priorities in order. So along with the Love Month idea, I am going to attempt to get them in order as God would have me to do. Of course my relationship with my Heavenly Father should always be at the top of my list, unfortunately, that is not always the case. I praise HIM that His mercies are new every morning!! (Can I get a Hallelujah?!)

The rest of this post will feature another blogger, Lori from Always Learning. God led me to the post and I was so convicted about my second priority, MY HUSBAND. Sometimes life gets so busy, that I fail the love of  my life.  I loved how she went through the scripture, and stepped on my toes and pricked my heart. I appreciate her for allowing me to feature her post to begin my Love Month! Thanks again, Lori!!

 

A gift from God!!



Because You Love Him

A challenge came to me...It is to be entitled Imagine The Impossibilities.  A bunch of women are taking the challenge to do something they think is impossible.  I was encouraged to write about loving our husbands.

  I Corinthians 13 gives the best definition of what loving your husband looks like ~

Love is patient ~  Are you patient with your husband and allowing God to work in his life instead of nagging, manipulating, and controlling him?

Love is kind ~  Are you kind to your husband and treating him better than you treat others?

Love is not jealous ~ Are you jealous of your husband, maybe when he goes golfing with the guys while you are stuck at home?  Or do you encourage him and are happy for  him when he gets to have fun and do something he enjoys?

Love does not brag and is not arrogant  ~  Do you respect your husband's ideas and plans?  Do you share your ideas with him in a humble way?

Love does not act unbecomingly ~  Do you put on your best behavior for your husband? This means no pouting, yelling, or silent treatment to get your way.

Loves does not seek its own ~ Do you want your husband's best?  Do you seek to please him and make him happy?

Love does not provoke ~ Do you act gently with your husband?  Do you allow him his opinions and support them, even if you disagree with them?  Do you honor him?

Love does not take into account a wrong suffered ~ Do you hold onto grudges or do you forgive quickly and easily as Christ forgave you?

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth!

Love bears all things ~ All those habits that you don't like of his and that annoy you, you bear them, because you love him.  You put up with his in-laws, friends, and the toilet seat up, because you love him.

Love believes all things ~ You believe the best about him.  You know he has faults, but you choose to dwell on his good qualities, because you know everyone has faults and because you love him.

Love hopes all things ~ You hope for the best in him.  You praise him even when he isn't worthy of praise, because you love him.t I have got some work to do!!

Love endures all things ~ You stay married to him until death do you part.  You keep your vows through the good times and the bad, because you love him.

Love never fails ~  Even when you don't "feel" like you love him, you love him because you base your love on a decision and a commitment, not on a feeling.

You love him, because he is your husband and you are commanded by Almighty God to love him.  He is a gift from God to you.  You want to please and obey your Maker and you know His ways are good. 

Imagine The Impossibilities

On Your Heart Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesdays, Domestically Divine,

Gratituesday, , Sweet Shot Tuesday, Tutorial Tuesday, Tuesday Time Out

I don't  know about you, but I am challenged!

Thanks again Lori!!