Mindful

Last night at church, a church member rushed up to me to ask if I got her email. I said no, but that I hadn't checked my emails that afternoon. She said that she sent it on Monday and I told her that I had not received it. She said that she woke up on Monday with me on her mind and felt an urgency to pray for me. She prayed for me all day. I told her that Monday afternoon I got sick with a terrible stomach bug. We both stood almost speechless after discussing my Monday.

I have not been able to get out of my mind that God placed me on her heart. I am very thankful that she was obedient to pray for me. But what has really hit me hard is that I was on God's mind. I know that I am never off of God's mind, but I'll be honest and tell you that I often loose sight of that fact. I know that God loves me and I know that Lamentations tells me that He sings over me. I know these things in my head, but sometimes they don't always make the journey to my heart.

On Monday night I lay in my bed in tears. I was feeling horrible and have never had my stomach hurt that bad before. At times I wondered if I was going to survive. (And I wonder why my daughter is so dramatic!) I was talking myself out of calling my mama because it was so late, but I really just wanted to hear somebody act like they cared that I so sick. My husband did great with the kids, but I didn't feel that he was acting concerned enough with my sickness. His approach is to stay very far away. One time when I had the flu, he brought me a cooler and put it by the bed because he didn't want to have to keep coming in there with me. What he doesn't realize is that along with the beverages, I like to also receive a good measure of sympathy. And on Monday that just wasn't happening.

So I lay there wanting my mama, reminding myself that I am 37 years old and that I needed to not be a baby, but really wanting my mama. Yes, that about sums it up. In the end, sanity won out and I did not end up calling my mama. But I did lay there asking Jesus to help me.

And do you know what I was reminded of yesterday...He was already working on my behalf before I even knew of my need. Before I even knew that I was going to be sick, He had someone praying for me. Now that puts things into perspective!

Who am I that You are mindful of me, Lord? Your love is overwhelming!

May I see things through your eyes today!

The Greatness of God

A few weeks ago, I was helping my son with his science project. His assignment was to create a brochure to encourage visitors to come to his "out of this world" destination. He picked Jupiter as his destination. Let me just be honest and tell you that I don't really know a whole lot about Jupiter or any of the other planets for that matter. I remember studying about them in school and making a model of the planets out of styrofoam balls, but unfortunately the vast knowledge that I gained from that project has left me.

In his brochure, he needed to include some fun and interesting facts about Jupiter. Did you know that Jupiter is basically a big ball of gas? And did you know that the bright star that you see in the night sky right now is not a star at all but rather it is Jupiter? And here is the fact that I will not soon forget. Did you know that if Jupiter was hollow (which it is not), that you could fit 1,100 Earths inside of it!

That one little interesting fact just about knocked me out of my chair.

WOW, 1,100 Earths could fit inside of something that looks like a tiny star in the night sky. It sure did give me a new perspective of things. Apparently, I am not as big as I think I am some days. But is reminded me that my God is ENORMOUS!

My favorite chapter in the Bible is Isaiah 40. I get really excited when I read this chapter. I usually read it aloud so that I can answer the questions that the prophet raises. My favorite verses in the chapter are verses 12 - 14.

"Who has measured the waters with the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?"

I serve an ENORMOUS God!

Soak up the fact that the same hand that measured the waters, is the same hand that is holding you and me.

Can your mind even begin to wrap around that truth?

And this ENORMOUS God loved us enough to send His only son, Jesus, into this world to save us from our sin and invite us into a relationship with Him.

As we enter the month of Jesus' birth today, let's not miss the magitude of what this season is all about. Emmanuel, God with us, came to save us from our sins.

To God be the Glory!

Fixing My Gaze

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with our families. We ate our fair share of turkey and dressing along with quite a few other things. I did not brave the crowds and go shopping. But opted to stay in my pjs and clean out closets. Not a lot of fun, but it feels good to have it done.

So, I have been thinking a lot lately about the season that is upon us. My goal is to not miss it. I know I will be physically present, but I want to be spiritually present also. And I think the key to staying spiritually focused is in where I fix my gaze.

It is easy to think of all that has to be done and get stressed out. It is easy to think of all the gifts that need to be purchased and get stressed out. It is easy to think of the parties you have to host, the food you have to cook, the cards you have to send and get stressed out. I know its easy because I have been there so many times. But this year I want things to be different.

And here is what I have learned...when I set my gaze on Jesus and not on my cirsumstances, boy I have a totally different attitude. My circumstances may not change and nothing may get taken off of my To Do list, but when I am focused on Jesus those things just don't seem that important.

That is my plan going into the Christmas season. My plan is to think about Jesus more. To spend more time with Him. To talk about Him more with my family and those I come in contact with.

I would love to hear your thoughts on how you can stay spiritually present during the Christmas season.

These are a few of my favorite things...

October is going down in the books as one of my favorite months ever! I love, love, LOVE FALL!

This past month I celebrated 18 wonderful, carefree years with my husband. That is not really the truth, there have been some tough years mixed in there too. But I wouldn't trade one single day because I am more in love with that man today than I was 18 years ago.

This is a picture of Dog the Bounty Hunter and Beth at our Sunday School Costume Party! (Help us...what were we thinking?)

I have also really enjoyed being at the football field watching my son play. And my husband also coached this year which was fun. I love football especially when the weather gets cooler. This past Saturday was their last game and we were huddled up in blankets freezing, but I still loved every minute. I was sitting there all wrapped up with my sunglasses on and tears streaming down my face. I wasn't crying. It was just so cold that my eyes wouldn't stop watering. Fun, fun, fun!


We also had a blast with the fall festival at our church and then going trick or treating. We went trick or treating in my in laws neighborhood. It is always so much fun. And my mother in law is the hostess with the mostest. She made soup and cornbread so after we walked our legs off we came back and had a hot bowl of soup. We walked so far that we called for some of the family that stayed to pass out candy to come and pick us up. We met up with friends while trick or treating and just had a blast. So much fun!

Carving of the pumpkins!

This is my favorite picture. I love my daughter's expression...they are just too fun!

I hope you are having a great fall too!

This Is Me

I am going to warn you that you are about to get a real glimpse of me. It may not be pretty.

I just read a devotion that a friend emailed to me. It's focal verse was one of my favorites, so that is why my friend forwarded it. God really spoke to me through the devotion. The devotion was based on Hebrews 12:1-2 and talked about running "the race". This verse really means alot to me because God used it to break down areas in my heart that needed to be broken down this past year.

Tonight I felt the urge to write. This week my evenings have been kind of free because my online job has not really gotten back into full swing yet. I decided to watch two hours of tv instead. I really felt that I should be studing my Bible and writing but instead I just sat mindlessly watching tv shows that truly I should hate because they incorporate so many things that God hates. But I watched anyway.

On Tuesday, I could not stop snacking. It was like I could not satisfy this craving I was having no matter what I ate. I wasn't hungry but yet I snacked. I remember at one point hearing that still small voice saying to me "you aren't going to satisfy that craving with food. I'm the only one that can satisfy you." But I still kept on snacking, ignoring Him.

Why? Why do I ignore Him?

I think because sometimes it just seems too hard. I have been carrying around this dream of mine for years. Holding on to it and caring for it in hopes of one day it coming true. And this week, although it got off to a great start, I have been reminded that I am still carrying around a dream that isn't coming true.

I know what Ephesians 3:20 says and I do believe it. I know He can do greater things than this dream of mine, I know He can. But what if that is not His will. What if the dream is never going to come true? That is where I have been this week. What if I need to let the dream die?

So, that is why I have been ignoring God these last couple of days because I am afraid He is going to tell me it is time to bury my dream.

But tonight He spoke to me through that devotion and through another blog I read. I knew He was talking to me. I was ready to give up, to stop carrying the dream but He encouraged me through the words of others to continue to dream.

I am typing with tears in my eyes because I can not understand why He is so good to me. He is so unlike me. When I get ignored, I ignore back. But He chose to speak to me tonight even though I have been ignoring Him. He came to where I was, lurking on the computer, since I would not go to His Word. Why? Because He loves me so and He loves you too!

I have been reminded tonight that He is not the crusher of dreams, but rather the giver of bigger dreams, better dreams!

So tonight I will continue to dream on...

Pen to Paper

I wanted to let you in on a little secret...

I started writing this week. I only have about a page, but it is a start. This writting thing is a whole new ballgame to me and it seems a little overwhelming. I made the mistake of trying to get information on getting published. Let's just say it was somewhat of a dream crusher. And might I add that I am a big dreamer.

This is a favorite quote of mine that I have displayed on my desk.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Teresa

I want God to cross me and dot me as He sees fit. If it includes writing a book, then I know He will provide the words. I just need to focus on submitting to Him. The pencil can't do anything without the hand moving it. So often I loose sight of that.

Have a great day!

Laurie

Draw Near

Do you ever feel like God is too far away? Do you ever feel like He has forgotten you?

I have been reminded in the last few days, that God's Presence is all around me all the time. So, even on the days when I don't feel like God is anywhere in sight, He is there. Even on the days when I feel all alone, He is there. Even on the days when everything is going wrong and I can not sense His presence, yep He is there.

The reality is our feelings should not determine our faith. Our feelings are fickle. They change based on our circumstances. One day our feelings are up and then the next thing you know they are down.

So how do we live a life of faith that is not based on our feelings. The answer is really quite simple. We have to know the truth. Jesus is The Truth and we must draw near to Him. One of the promises in God's Word is if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

I have been trying to meditate on that one truth today, "Draw near to Him."

My husband just called me from the ball field to say that I needed to come with the extra key to his car. Our son locked the keys in the trunk. I said okay, but then I realized that I saw the extra key in the console of my husbands car. I know, it is a really great place to keep the extra key. I had to call him back and tell him that I did not have the extra key. I could just feel the stress coming on as I flipped through the phonebook looking for a locksmith. With every turn of the page, all I could think of was dollar signs. And then that voice inside said, "Draw near to me." "In the midst of the chaos of this moment, think of Me." And that is just what I did. I did not allow the stress of the situation to take me down a path that I did not want to go.

It was a great reminder to me that my feelings do not dictate my faith. The above situation could have turned our very differently if I had given in to my feelings in a moment of stress.

I encourage you to draw near to Him and trust in His promise that He will draw near to you.