Today's verse - Right on Time

It seems, now, that I am only posting during my memory verse times... summer has been so busy - so busy, in fact, that it is close to over. We are closer to the end than we are to the beginning... a definite sorrow fills my heart, as summer is my favorite season - just because I am (make that WAS) a teacher.

The verses this time around go so well together. They are what I truly need at this point as I have given up one road for another. The direction of the new road is not easily seen at this time. But, as our Bible Study teacher reminded us on Sunday... if you are going through a period where the turns on life's road are unable to be seen just trust that your Heavenly Father has wherever that road leads in the palm of HIS Hands. He is holding up that road and directing it. Sometimes that's a whole lot harder to live out. But in the times that I want to give up and go back to my comfortable life of trusting in my own strength and doing what I've done for the last ten years, I will stop and remember this:

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19

I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.
Psalm 57:2

Another verse

Due to being on vacation to OHIO I am very late in posting my most recent memory verse for this two week period. I have been focusing on the Lord's provision since He has called me to obedience in staying home with my two kids this year instead of going back to teaching. It's going to be a challenge, however, I am confident that He will supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

The verse I chose to memorize this time around is from Matthew 6:33-34. We've been going through the adult life of Jesus in Bible Study on Sunday morning. We finished learning about the beatitudes a few weeks ago. This verse jumped out at me. I had read it so many times before, but this time it had real meaning to my reality.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This verse doesn't mean that I will get everything I ask for, nor does it imply that I will be spared from trouble. It does, however, say that if I seek after the things of God and seek after His righteousness, then the things in chapter 6 spoken of previously - will be added to me... how awesome.

Psalm 9:10

Psalm 9:10
And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Not only has God been teaching me obedience, but in the journey He's also teaching me to trust Him. I've said before in my blog that God is making it very clear to me that I am supposed to do that which He is asking of me. It became clear to me in about mid-March that the LORD was planning for me to stay home with my boys this fall. I am a teacher by trade, and truly enjoy teaching, however, it was always my desire to stay home with my boys. Due to some circumstances over the past two years, mostly undesirable circumstances, God was calling me home. Home to my family, my sons. The ones I waited so long for, He wanted me to stay home... to train them up in the way that they should go. Who better to teach them, their mom.

With this decision has been much angst. The idea of losing my income has brought about much stress and anxiety. Not only are we losing my income (2/3 of our family income), but also the health insurance that I carry for myself and the boys. However, after speaking to many godly women, many of whom who have gone through the same situation, we have come to the conclusion that I'm supposed to stay home. My hubby and I have gone through MANY conversations about what this is going to take. THIS IS HUGE... it is something that only GOD can accomplish. My hubby, being the practical one (although, I often wear the practical pants, myself) has said more than once... this isn't practical... it is foolish to be without health insurance... it is foolish for us to do this. God quickly brought to my mind --- "If I AM calling you to this obedience... it is not foolishness. I AM will provide." He has reminded me of that more than once. Thankfully, the last time my hubby and I had this conversation was last Saturday. I reminded him again, that obeying God is not foolish. It may not make sense to us... however, it is NOT foolishness. That Sunday morning we sat in Bible Study, under yet another "made for me" study given by our awesome Bible Study leader, after talking about Jesus feeding the 5,000 (which was actually estimated to be between 15-20,000 when you include women and children), wrote this on the board --- practical doesn't equal faith. The point being that when we look for things that are practical we have a hard time stepping out on faith and trusting God for who HE is. He is the great I AM, Jehovah Jireh, the Most High.

As I struggle with the enormity of this decision and I question if this is REALLY what God wants me to do I pray for encouragement... that the Lord would make it known to me again what He wants me to do. He immediately allows me to experience His grace through email devotionals that spell out clearly His request, or sends a phone call from a trusted encouraging friend my way. I am humbled that my God would be so intimate with me to give me such a clear message.

All of this being said to bring to light my new memory verse for this go round. David, the psalmist, spoke of trusting in the LORD. He declares that the LORD will not forsake those who seek Him. So simply it reminds me to trust and seek with the promise, that I will not be forsaken, forgotten, abandoned. And so, I declare boldly:

Psalm 9:10
And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

10 Years!

Ten years ago today I promised my heart to a young man of 25.
He vowed in all circumstances to protect me, nurture me, provide for me, and love me.
We've experienced the pit together, knee deep in filth and pain.
We've also been on the mountaintop enjoying the breeze and warm sun.
God has blessed every area of our lives. HE continues to weave us together into one.
At times I wonder why we don't get along the way we should... and then I remember
We are two people that God has made into one flesh.
Overall, I am so blessed to call you my husband, mate, and best friend.

Thanks for the past 10 years!
It happened in the blink of an eye!

"Let's hear it for the boys" at I {heart} faces

Taken a little earlier this year... my son and his creative side... he made a spaghetti face on the back of his spoon. He just had to show it off.


Here's a link to see other entries from the photo contest - Let's Hear it for the Boys!

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