What a Perfect Example

On this Father's Day, I was making pancakes for my crew, the blueberry kind... since the season is almost in full swing, and I was thinking about a Father's Day card. I was negligent in sending my dad a card on time... it went out in the mail yesterday. I hadn't bought my husband a Father's Day card... but I had one left over from last year that I never gave to him. My mind started to wander. It occurred to me that I thank my own dad for all of the ways that he has been a dad to me. I have thanked and did thank my husband this morning for being a dad to our boys. I don't ever recall thanking my Heavenly Father for being the PERFECT DAD to me.

Later this morning, as some of my family sat down to eat the blueberry pancakes I thanked God for the beautiful day, the opportunity to eat wonderful food that HE had provided, and thanked HIM for being the PERFECT DAD to all humanity, and wished HIM a happy FATHER'S DAY.

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful fathers in my life!

Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
Prov 17:6

JOSH 1:9

Boy, am I falling behind in my blogging. There's so much to tell. School is now out for the summer. I've been busy trying to clean my house before the kids ended their time with our sitter. But, I find that you never get done all that you set out to do... however, I'm truly thankful for the day of cleaning that my house received.

My new verse is from Joshua, one of my favorite Old Testament books. In this verse Joshua is being encouraged by the Lord. Good ol' Josh had some AMAZING shoes to fill after Moses died. He was chosen by God to lead God's people into the promised land, a land flowing with milk, honey, and let's not forget about the giants. Joshua had seen how the people reacted when Moses had given them directions from God. He had seen firsthand the complaining spirits of this temporarily nomadic people regarding the provisions that God had supplied. God knew that Joshua was afraid. He told him 3 times in the first 9 verses of the book to "Be strong and courageous." WOW! Encouragement directly from the LORD. The Lord knew that Josh would need encouragement. He knew that Joshua was probably doubting his own capabilities. But just like God, He had a plan. What He was really telling Joshua was that HE had it all under control.

The next new chapter in my life has me feeling a little nervous. God's calling me to obedience. He's asking me to live it out. I don't want to disappoint Him. I long to bring glory to His name. I yearn to tell others of what miraculous things that He has done in my life. I perceive that I'm on the edge of God's greatness. I have a choice to make. Will I obey? Will I follow?

This month's memory verse reminds me of what God told to Joshua. He's telling it to me too.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Divine Appointments (cont.)

How is it that over the past several months that the LORD has decided to get HIS hands on me? It feels as if all of a sudden He has caused me to wake up and pay attention to what is going on - what HE wants me to do. Since January every devotion I read, every sermon I hear, every Bible study lesson could definitely have my name inserted into it for a personal invitation to take heed and apply the Word spoken. It's as if every message delivered was for me personally. When I think of it, it was. He must be ready to do something BIG in my life that He has gotten my attention in this way. I don't know if I've just been so blind up to this point, however, in my prayers I have been praying to grow into a deeper relationship with my Jesus.
Whenever we gather, or hear the Word of God, it is personally for us. God speaks to us where we are. He has a message for all of us. We may be needing to apply it differently, and obviously are living in different circumstances - but as the Bible says -

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Heb 4:12

The fact that God's Word is active says that even though it doesn't change - it is able fit and to apply in 3 different circumstances of 3 different women studying the same passage in a Bible study. That is amazing to me. God is so personal that He provides His word to me.

I must confess that the obedience to which I am being called causes me fear. I'm not being asked to leave the comforts of home to travel to a far away land to share the Gospel. However, I am being asked to give up something that brings me some amount of comfort and security. There is a conflict within me. My old self thinks that it is CRAZY to give up my comfort and security. My old self is quick to bring up all of the "what ifs". "What if this doesn't work?" "What if the kids get sick?" "What if Jeremy loses his job?" "What if?.... What if?... What if?" On the contrary, my spiritually controlled self is excited to see how God is gonna work this one out. It is a HUMONGOUS GOD THING!!!! This is the kind of thing that only HE could pull off. And it's so easy for HIM. What is too hard for Him? NOTHING! My spiritual me wants to see my faith grow, and this is how God is gonna do it. My spiritual me is ready to see something miraculous. I'm excited to be on the other side of history in this situation, as if it's already the past, to see what God has allowed and how He has worked His miracles. The awesome thing is that God is already there... in the future, as if this situation is history. He knows how I've handled all that will happen to our family. My utmost prayer is that whatever comes, be it joy and pleasure, or pain and suffering, that I bring glory to His name. For He alone is worthy!

This is a great segue to my May 30 Bible verse -

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

Divine Appointments

On Tuesday, I was invited to a monthly luncheon at our church. I am not usually able to attend due to only having a half hour lunch, however, I took off of work early and came at the request of my friend who happened to be speaking that day. My friend invited me to sit with her, which - if you are familiar with Let's Do Lunch, is a cool place to be - because it's up at the front. Let's Do Lunch always sells out quickly!

Well, Tuesday's Let's Do Lunch date was a DIVINE APPOINTMENT. For anyone who understands how the LORD Almighty works - it was no coincidence why I was there. DIVINE appointments are God's appointments. God had purposefully arranged for me to be there to hear the message my friend was planning on giving. Funny enough, I think she was in on it being aware of the decisions going on in my life and family currently.

Her story was moving! It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I was moved to tears, not only because of how far God had brought her to make the HUGE decisions that she and her family were making (moving to seminary and then to the mission field), but also in realizing that God is calling me to obedience in what HE is asking me to do.

My friend and her husband have sold most of their things and will be leaving to go to a dangerous place all for Christ. They felt God's call. It was not an easy decision. It seems quite foolish to some. Many acts of obedience to God seem foolish at the time, Noah's building of the ark, walking through the Red Sea, getting out of a boat to walk on water, and bathing in the Jordan river seven times. The point being, if God asks it of you, it is not foolish. It's obedience.


Thanks Deanna - you inspire me to grow closer to God and to trust Him for all He's worth!

New Verse

At this moment in my life the Lord has been leading us into some decisions that are pretty heavy. Back in February or March I wrote about how God was teaching me obedience. He taught me about obedience, and now He is giving me a life lesson in it. Many times life lessons are rough. However, as every great teacher knows - you can learn all the book knowledge there is, but the true learning comes in the application process. Can you apply what you know? Will I apply what I know? Scary thought - when you have to put your feet to your faith, yet not so scary when you have a God as big as mine. Still my selfish prideful human side loves to be able to count on me to do it myself. After all of the times I've seen me fail, why on earth would I trust me? God's success rate is 100% ! Why would I chose my rate of success with many failures when I can have God's 100%? Seems silly, doesn't it?

So this being penned, here is the verse for this 15 days.

Phil 4:19-20
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen

Our new sport

Chopsy has a new sport in which he's been excelling for some time now. It is only fair since his older brother, the Monkey, has karate. This sport is a definite art form. Not many can do it as well as the Chopster. I think that his skills come from a long heritage from his father's side. The sport.... eating. Full contact eating! I've never really seen anyone enjoy eating as much as Chopsy. For him it always involves every part of his body. After meals or special treats a bath is usually necessary.

These pictures below are from the full contact subsport of ice cream. He obviously won.

Next Verse

I know that it has been at least 15 days since my last post. That's a really long time. I want to try to get better at posting more regularly, however, so much has been going on. My head is once again swirling with the things that are going on around me. Actually, maybe I've never stopped. So that being said, my next verse to memorize is Phillipians 4:6-7. This verse is important to me at this moment in time so that I remember to leave my worries, my "what ifs" at the foot of the cross. My Father is faithful to take care of my anxieties. He is so much better equipped to do so. He is God Almighty. He owns everything. He has control over everything. I just need to do what the Scripture says. Easier said than done. Hopefully, committing this verse to memory and meditating on it will make it more readily applicable in my daily life.

Phillipians 4 : 6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.