I Hear an Echo!

I have something that has been "echoing" in my head, in my heart, in my everyday.......

In a sermon a while back an evangelist, David Ring (has cerebral palsy), used a very compelling example in his message. He asked for help for a drink of water, he asked 7 times before anyone came to help him get a drink of water. I totally blew it. I never thought to get up to help him. I did think maybe my son (who was sitting on the front row), or maybe my husband, or, someone. But, when he began asking a few people, "Why didn't you help me?" And he told them, "You blew it!" 

How many times have I seen someone that needed help?
How many times have I thought, "someone should do something"?
How many times have I questioned why a thought or a burden is in my heart?

Why didn't I? Or Why don't I?

More times than not, I blew it... or better yet still blowing it.

In another message by Pastor Todd Good not long after that he said, "If not you, then who? If not now, when? Talk about a statement.... I don't have a clue what he said after that....because that stuck in my head..... I wrote it down over & over. 

How many times has God put something in my heart?
How many opportunities have I missed?
How many times did I think that's someone else's job?
I sometimes think:

• I could never do that....someone else would be better at that.
• I am scared. 
• That is out of my comfort zone. 
• I don't think God means me.
• What will people say? 
• I have enough to do. (just being honest here) 

When I laid my head down that night, I accepted the fact that I had to step up to a situation that has been haunting me for over two years. I have been praying about this for a long time and questioning God as to why it was taking so long...... Over the years, I have learned to pray over things instead of jumping headfirst into it... of course that is what we should do. I am afraid that I have taken that to the extreme at times.

After putting some thought and prayer to that thought. Many times I have prayed that He would use me, place opportunities in my path, to show me my purpose.....and then and there He showed me some things that He had placed before me. But, it wasn't something that I wanted to do, or it was inconvenient, maybe it came with sacrifice, or it was too hard,  scary, embarrassing, etc. Guilty of not doing what God placed in my path, who knows the number of blessings that I have missed. I have blown it more times than I even know!! 

OUCH! a hard pill to swallow.

Situation after situation over the past few months the words "If not you, then who?" have echoed in my head. I have shared it with a couple people, even when they questioned what  they should be doing. And those words come up A LOT!! 

Just last night I got a text that said, "Go NOW and watch" (the following video) pay attention to the chorus lyrics

Needless to say... there is an echo and now I believe it is on REPEAT!!

What have you been praying so hard about?? Do you think that God will change His mind about what He is showing you? Would you stop and pray about helping a child across the street? Would you pray about helping a single mother that needs food for her children right now? If someone has fallen would you help them up, or would you stop and pray about it, or see if someone else helps? Sometimes God places those opportunities at that very moment. The moment that we have prayed for.

Each of us has a purpose, and maybe you are waiting on God to show you the BIG GRAND PURPOSE you think He has for your life. While you are waiting on that just ......

DO SOMETHING!!

If not you, then who?

 

Content: Trusting Him

In my last post, I mentioned many things that are swirling around in my head, and how stressed I can allow all that to make me. Last night was Open House for Kea, needless to say, I was consumed with the situation we have with him. And by the time I left, I was in shut-down mode. I keep telling myself that I have to TRUST HIM, that He has it all under control. One day this week I got an email from DayS*ring with this

I immediately went there and got my printable and its on my bulletin board by my desk to remind me that I just need to Trust Him with this circumstance.  As well as any other circumstances that come my way. 

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that music and worship is a way that the Lord uses to speak to me. Rarely, does a week go by that I do not post a video. Today is no different, on my way to work this song came on, I love it, I have hinted to Bub that he needs to learn it. From time to time my past haunts me and I allow it to discourage me and it seems when I am in the midst of a struggle, I let my guard down and satan sneeks in and throws it back in my face. Instead of facing the the battle at hand, I allow him  to add past battles as well. So, I become even more discouraged. In my quest to find contentment with things and to focus more on the Lord instead of my circumstances, I had the radio turned up and this song was EXACTLY what I needed to hear this morning. So if you are in the midst of a struggle, if you beat yourself up over your past, have a regret as recent as yesterday, or you just need a reminder from Him today, take a moment and listen to the words, let them soak in and allow the Holy Spirit to work. Let Him whisper, "Child lift up your head".

Praise the Lord! I am not who I used to be! He is not done with me yet!! I am REDEEMED!!

Content: He is Faithful

Have you ever had one of those times that you are just "blah"? To be honest, Kea was talking about feeling "blah" the other day. And that explains how I am feeling pretty well. Well, I am having one of those times. I think that every year just before school starts. 

I have been thinking about

summer ending

school starting 

the scheduling and routines getting into place (which is a good thing, but I fight it right along with my children)

the regrets about the things that I had planned to do over the summer that we didn't do

my children growing up way to fast  

Sis is in her second year of college

that as another school year begins the obstacles we will face with certain situations with Kea
Kea's fear of storms

that this will be the last year that I take Bub to school~ he will turn 16 in April! YIKES!!

how much I love the fall

football season, band competitions, ~ great fun but our weekends take on a different meaning

Christmas being 4 months away(I know,  you didn't want to hear that)

how stressed I let all this and more make me. 

Did you notice in my list very many positives?? Uh, no not really. I need to look at this list as positive opportunities and not something that looks like I am dreading. Being content is something I must strive for each and every day. God has a bigger plan than my to-do list. And I am thankful for that!!

I was reminded yesterday, as I was blog hopping (a hobby of mine-not even sure where it was) that I allow all this to take my focus off of God and onto circumstances. In my quest of CONTENT,  I should consider it all joy that my children are growing up, that I get to watch them grow, learn new things, and experience life with them. I need to take time to sit back and enjoy them instead of being all worked up all the time. I need to take things one day at a time, one crisis at a time and remember that God is faithful. God is in control. He is with me through it all. He will make a way! 

Content: Blessings In Disguise

Warning... this is long and most likely boring to you.... consider yourself warned! As I was writing this post I realized that I needed to record some God sightings.....may I never forget what HE can and will do, no matter what emotional state of mind I am in! 

I took an unexpected leave from posting....... Why? Ummmmm, well I don't really have an answer to that question.... other than I am Not Up To It.....You  see, when I decided to start this blog, it was mostly a lazy way for me to scrapbook our family, sort of anyways. I wanted everything I posted to be uplifting and encouraging and lately, I was feeling the opposite of both and every time I thought about posting, I just thought, I will do it tomorrow. I was not up to posting anything about my little pity party.

Have you had times in your life that everything seemed as if it was going wrong and nothing you did seemed to help? Well, this is how the past several weeks have gone. Why am I posting about it now? Well, in this life we can always pretty up the outside, put a smile on our face and let the world think we have it all together and then post away...... sort of like a Cinderella story where she lives happily ever after. And because this blog was originally started as a scrapbook for my family....I don't want those that read it years down the road to think for that every thing in life is supposed to be all smiles and happiness. I want those that read this to understand that in this life there will be trouble, there will be heartache, trials and tough times along the way. And I want them to KNOW that God is there with them every step of the way. Even when they feel like they cannot take another step, God will carry them.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

I don't like to give the enemy credit, but I will say when you are doing something for the Lord.....watch your back, because it will make him mad and he will do what he can to take your focus off the LORD so your circumstance will obstruct your view. I thought I was prepared for him, but not prepared enough. I would shake him off, and he would attack me from another side.

Let me just say in the past month, my oldest son broke his thumb, he was out of baseball and drum playing for a month, my insurance changed so all the bills would be applied to my deductible therefore, we have to pay all of it, my youngest had an accident at school that rattled me pretty good,  then I beat myself up for my "o ye of little faith", my van was worked on four times, only to find out it needed more work and it wasn't even worth what it was going to cost to fix, our washer broke, our laundry was already piled high, our schedule has been a mess, we had Easter Drama practices, baseball games, soccer practice and games......I was right in the middle of Bible Study....Believing God by Beth Moore. So with that and the Drama (keep your heart clean before the Lord and get things right so there will be nothing hindering the Lord during the Drama itself) I should have had the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD covering me from head to toe and then some!!!

I know you are tired of reading my pity party, just hang on for the best part of this post.....

BUT GOD (don't you just love a but God story?) HE REDEEMS ALL THINGS!!! In spite of my doubt, God showed up and answered prayers in ways that ONLY HE CAN!!! He has blessed me so.....and I am so unworthy of His LOVE and FORGIVENESS!! PRAISE HIM!!!

THE LORD....

Healed my son's thumb, he is back at starting catcher, and to drumming (thank you Lord for a little quiet~blessing in disguise!!lol!!).
The PA at the doctor's office waived the charges for the X-rays. I ABOUT SHOUTED RIGHT THERE IN THE DR's OFFICE!!! If you were in the parking lot when I left, yes, I was the one running & Praising the Lord as I went to my car! Really? Did that just happen? Of course it did!!! God can do what HE wants to do!!

Kea and another little boy ran and collided into one another and they called 911 for the other little boy, he was fine just a really bad black eye, They checked Kea's head and they said he was fine. Yet he didn't have a hard raised knot, his forehead was very squishy and it really scared me, I had never seen such and fear set in when he went to bed and I just lost it.......

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, 

and of a sound mind.2 Timothy 1:7

God placed a young single mother in my path last Thursday, God used her to gently remind me of the many blessings in my life. Even though I have had some troubles, been far from content, He showed me that I am blessed in ways that I fail to see every day. So, when my washer's spin cycle didn't work at 10:15pm. I just laughed, so what? at least I have a washer and a husband that can most likely fix it!

Knowing that we were going to look for a vehicle the next morning I felt a peace knowing He had all this under control. It is just a memory to Him. I had prayed that the Lord would prepare the way and that it would be quick and easy ..... and of course HE DID.....We have a really nice van.  He provided above and beyond what I asked....another blessing!!

On Saturday, I decided since my laundry room was piled high with clothes, and not sure when B would get the washer fixed I decided that Sis & I would go to the laundromat. It's been years since I have had to go, but let me just say this..... 11 loads of laundry (I am always behind!) and 2.5 hours

ALL OUR LAUNDRY WAS DONE!!!!  That hasn't happened since I was on maternity leave with Kea!!! That's over 7 years.....can you say HAPPY DANCE!!! A HUGE BLESSING!!

Our family has been a part of our church's Easter Drama for over 10 years and this year was no exception..... it can be stressful with the practices and the fact that me a three other wonderful servants were responsible for 23 children. They are so excited it's hard to keep them quiet & still while waiting on our parts..... BUT IT WAS WORTH IT ALL!!!

So far, there were 21 lives robbed from satan over the weekend. God is soooo good to me. I had the opportunity to lead 2 precious little girls to Christ on Sunday. I am sure that even more lives were changed over the course of the Drama.... ALL HIS GLORY..... More blessings!!!!!

My grandmother always said, "everything happens for a reason". I find that I say that a lot as I have gotten older. God does have a reason for things in our lives and sometimes we get to see the fruit of it and others, we may not know until we get to Heaven. We never know what are truly blessings in disguise. Looking back over the past couple of weeks, I was so overwhelmed with things that I wasn't looking for the blessings,  I was too busy worrying about everything and having my pity party.

God is faithful, even when I am wandering around as the Israelites. Lost and undone. He still chose to use me, even though my view was clouded. He is faithful, even when I am not.

 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

Looking back at the past several weeks, I am reminded of many of David's Psalms. David cries out for God's mercy in the beginning, and by the end he is praising Him for who He is and what ONLY He can do. I cried out to Him in my affliction and He heard my cry and He has done wonderful things that only HE can do!!! May I never forget what God has done and will continue to do for me!!!

Will I worry again? Probably.

Will I find  myself having another pity party? Probably

Will I turn to the Lord again and again? YES!!

Will the troubles in my life be over? No.... BUT GOD can and will answer my cry!

Am I learning anything about CONTENT? Yes, with God leading the way!!

If you have read this entire post, (bless your heart!) and you are having your own pity party, open your eyes,  God has a multitude of blessings right before your very eyes....sometimes you just have to work through the fog to see the SON!!!

 

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!!

December 23rd? Really?????

I think I may have slept or blacked out at some point the first week of December, because my calendar says its Dec. 23!  WHAT??!!! Seriously, I was thinking more like the 15th?? Would someone please explain where time goes??

Another week has flown by and I haven't posted. I don't know about you, but it sure doesn't feel like Christmas.....  its been very warm. Average temps here, 60ish, I am not complaining because I am not very fond of COLD.... the decorations are out, Santa is at the mall and most of my shopping is done (much better than last year at this time!!) Oh and I am soooo excited that I actually have some wrapped presents under my tree before Christmas Eve!! You are probably thinking, CHRISTMAS EVE!!??? Cause you probably have yourself all together, have had shopping done since September, and all you gifts wrapped before you put up your tree. Well, don't fret, cause the past few years, well.... that's just how I roll.

SO LAST MINUTE.....yes that's me.

I know, I  know!!!

Every year I vow to do better next year, and usually I am still frantically running around on Christmas Eve. This year, I have kept that vow, if only by one day, I still made it. All I have left are a few gift cards, (don't criticize, what do you get for the parents that have EVERYTHING???) and some wrapping to do. Oh yeah, and something that I am making, I must finish it tonight. I can't tell you what it is or who its for, cause then it wouldn't be good if I didn't finish. And some of you can't keep a secret :)

I had different plans for the days leading up to Christmas, I wanted

• to be more intentional about my family focusing on Christ's birth
• the gifts to be more personal
• to perform R.A.K.ing (random acts of kindness people!! cause I definitely do not rake!)
• to spend more time with my family
• to make some "pint*resting" stuff (Pint*rest a NEW obsession)
• to be more crafty
• to make Christmas goodies (especially chocolate covered cherries for my hubby)
• to go to Billy Graham L*brary.....today is the last day, :(
• to do many other things differently (I could go on & on but I don't have much time to post) 
• to post all about this month & Christmas so that one day my children could look back and remember....lol!

To list all that makes me feel guilty and sad all at the same time.....I have already beat myself up enough over all that and more. So I am going to just pick myself up and try, try again! Thank God that His mercies are new every morning!!

Something that I have been thinking about this season, my husband said to me when we were getting Angel Tree stuff together, "Why is it we (& others) only help people out at Christmas? Shouldn't we make it a point to help them all through the year?"

Yes, we should..... we need to be more intentional about making a difference in others lives. At least I know I do.

God has blessed me this month, with laying children, and several families on my heart. I couldn't have helped them very much on my own, but with the hearts of our church family, my co-workers, and even my daughter, we were all able to make a difference this Christmas in many lives. One said to me, "thank you", I said, "I didn't do all this" and he said, "without a willing vessel, nothing is accomplished, without your obedience, my children would not have anything for Christmas."

Oh, (tear) I never even thought of it that way. How many times have I missed what God what leading me to do?? I am on the lookout for opportunities He places before me. How about you??

In case I don't make it back on here, may each of you that stop in to see what a mess I am, have a  Merry Christmas.... May Christ be your focus and enjoy your time with your families! Take every opportunity to share the love of Christ, the New Born King this Christmas!! He came that we may have life! He came to change the world!!

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Piper

Keeping It Real.....

I would like to say that I haven't posted because I haven't had time..... and I really haven't had time to sit down and try to post. But, to be real honest, I haven't felt like I have anything to post, or to write home about, so to speak. It has been a topsy turvey week for me. Yes, I had Labor Day off, and it was a blur. But, the work week has been crammed because of that day off. Not to mention, we have had something every night this week. I really need to get a routine. I know that's how the beginning of school is and it just takes time.

Do you ever have a week when you can't think straight, you don't feel very good, not sure what is wrong, if there is even anything wrong, I am fearful, of what?I am edgy? Am I going crazy ? Well, if you don't ever feel this way consider yourself blessed!! When I feel this way, I am usually headed for a Pity Party. But, I know exactly where this is coming from...... from the king of all lies. Every time that I am doing something for the Lord, the liar shows up, and picks and pulls me in every direction to take my focus off of the Lord. I know this. This is nothing new to me. But, I still allow him to rob me of my joy, making me want to go home, crawl under the covers, and not come out until the storm passes. Then I make a CHOICE I CANNOT ALLOW HIM to do this to me. I try so hard, I pray, I listen to worship music, I try to be still....... so that I can get out of my "funk" as I call it.

I have turned to some of my SSMT verses to focus on God and allow HIM to pull me out of my funk. I realized how far behind I am in memorizing my verses and that I have been grumbling & complaining without telling God first. I usually listen to praise music on my way to work, but yesterday I decided I am going to take that 10-15 min drive down 40 to go over my verses. Each one has come with a story of how I chose it. Unfortunately, I hadn't ever given thought to writing those "stories" down. Now I wish I had started my blog so that I would remember where God had me when HE gave me HIS words HE wanted me to know. Anyway, when I got to " the Lord hath been mindful of us, He will bless us" Psalm 115:12a. I actually had written in my spiral " the Lord hath been mindful of us (ME!), He will bless us(ME!)"

BAM!! A light bulb went off..... He knows exactly how I feel, He knows my heart, He knows what is going on, HE hasn't forgotten me. And through all of this HE WILL BLESS ME!! I would like to say that in a split second my whole attitude changed and that my joy was fully restored, but not exactly. What I got was a HUGE reminder that HE is with me even when I am in my "funk" and there are times that I need to be right in the midst of my "funk" so that HE can remind me He is there for me. And Isaiah 43:2 reminds me that the waters will not overflow me.

He pours His grace out on me daily, I thank Him that His mercies are new every morning. I know there is a reason that I am in this situation and I thank Him that He will not leave me here! He loves me! HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!!!

Do you ever find it hard to be "real"?

Piper :)