Friday, February 27, 2009
...sunshine??
Ahh...yes! The sun is shinning today and it is warming up!! I love the Pacific Northwest!! The sun really does make a difference in one's disposition. I have so many things I need to do--but I think I'm going to go run errands this morning so this afternoon I can go running with my youngest son! He is so into fitness and working out! Pretty sure it is an attempt to keep up with his older brothers! :-) Anyway...the fresh air will be good for me! :-) And I'm not even going to take my ipod with me -- just going to listen to the birds! And pray.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Longing...
As a believer in Christ Jesus I have a longing to be with HIM. I long to go HOME. HOME where HE is, where there is no more sickness, no more worry, no more trials or temptations. To be fully surrounded by HIS love for me, to grasp what HE has done for me, to worship HIM in all HIS beauty and splendor.
The toil and trouble life brings gives us a choice to run to HIM and fall at HIS feet and wait on HIM or to run and try to fix things independently. The first choice is hard, it takes the control away from me...but do I really have control in the first place? Running to Jesus makes that longing all the more intense...this earth really isn't my home...but it is my opportunity to point people to Jesus in spite of "everything". So at HIS feet I humbly kneel, feeling battered, bruised and defeated. But having full knowledge that one day HE will win the victory.
So as I sit here longing for Jesus, I know that HE is here with me right now. And praying and trusting HIM is the most powerful way to bring healing, hope and wholeness to those in need, to those I love and to situations totally out of my control.
The toil and trouble life brings gives us a choice to run to HIM and fall at HIS feet and wait on HIM or to run and try to fix things independently. The first choice is hard, it takes the control away from me...but do I really have control in the first place? Running to Jesus makes that longing all the more intense...this earth really isn't my home...but it is my opportunity to point people to Jesus in spite of "everything". So at HIS feet I humbly kneel, feeling battered, bruised and defeated. But having full knowledge that one day HE will win the victory.
So as I sit here longing for Jesus, I know that HE is here with me right now. And praying and trusting HIM is the most powerful way to bring healing, hope and wholeness to those in need, to those I love and to situations totally out of my control.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
...humbled and lessons learned..
This weekend has been very humbling. Obviously living in a small community people know that Will has been unemployed since the end of October. Wednesday was very traumatic for me as the fuel pump in our vehicle went out when I was at the church for Emily-Joy's piano practice. Our Wednesday evening study is the Truth Project, so the church was beginning to have several people arriving for it...long story short, a mechanic friend went under the van and kicked the fuel pump~which was enough to get it going and get us home. But then came the cost of replacing that fuel pump as that vehicle is our only source of affordable transportation. Already there are bills that are not being paid, and this added expense was a HUGE stress for us.
On Friday night we had a house full of people over for the teen progressive dinner. We fed them brownie sundaes. It was a good evening and we had a great time with 30 people here. On Saturday morning Will was picking his phone up from the little counter and noticed an envelope addressed to us -- just our names, no stamp....inside was a large sum of cash. Almost enough to pay for our fuel pump. We got a great deal on our fuel pump through a partner store we have with our little online business (www.lifedesigned.biz), the mechanic was going to charge us $453.00 and we were able to order it (Parts America) and then pick it up at Shucks for $250.00. The mechanics bill was a little less than what he quoted us so the repairs were under 1000.00. PRAISE THE LORD! It was still steep enough to hurt us, but at least some of the sting was taken out.
Saturday evening the door bell rang. Some friends were at the door with arms overflowing with groceries. We were overwhelmed. They dropped it off and left and as we unpacked the boxes we found a card with a check for another large amount. Shock, thankfulness.
Lesson learned. Many people have asked us how we are doing and to let them know if there is anything that they can do for us. We appreciate that, we appreciate their concern. However...it is very hard to ask people for help...of course we need help! But to put a man in that position isn't right. I've seen the concern on my husband's face, I've seen tears in his eyes....I praise the Lord for people who see the need, people who listen to the Lord's prompting and obey. I've learned to just pick up the reins and do something...anonymously leaving cash, or dropping off groceries....taking the initiative and listening to the Holy Spirit in how HE wants us to minister to those who have been put in unplanned situations.
So with a humbled thankful heart I thank the Lord for HIS encouragement, provisions and the lesson learned.
On Friday night we had a house full of people over for the teen progressive dinner. We fed them brownie sundaes. It was a good evening and we had a great time with 30 people here. On Saturday morning Will was picking his phone up from the little counter and noticed an envelope addressed to us -- just our names, no stamp....inside was a large sum of cash. Almost enough to pay for our fuel pump. We got a great deal on our fuel pump through a partner store we have with our little online business (www.lifedesigned.biz), the mechanic was going to charge us $453.00 and we were able to order it (Parts America) and then pick it up at Shucks for $250.00. The mechanics bill was a little less than what he quoted us so the repairs were under 1000.00. PRAISE THE LORD! It was still steep enough to hurt us, but at least some of the sting was taken out.
Saturday evening the door bell rang. Some friends were at the door with arms overflowing with groceries. We were overwhelmed. They dropped it off and left and as we unpacked the boxes we found a card with a check for another large amount. Shock, thankfulness.
Lesson learned. Many people have asked us how we are doing and to let them know if there is anything that they can do for us. We appreciate that, we appreciate their concern. However...it is very hard to ask people for help...of course we need help! But to put a man in that position isn't right. I've seen the concern on my husband's face, I've seen tears in his eyes....I praise the Lord for people who see the need, people who listen to the Lord's prompting and obey. I've learned to just pick up the reins and do something...anonymously leaving cash, or dropping off groceries....taking the initiative and listening to the Holy Spirit in how HE wants us to minister to those who have been put in unplanned situations.
So with a humbled thankful heart I thank the Lord for HIS encouragement, provisions and the lesson learned.
January 20/09
...I thought I was trusting...
Earlier this week I had a startling realization!
DH was laid off at the end of October, the construction industry has since con’t to go downhill with no end in sight, but I thought I for the most part had handled it really well. I thought that I was fully leaning on the Lord and trusting that HE would get us through this. Sure I’ve had moments of worry and concern and I won’t answer the phone (my dh deals with that). BUT…I was at the grocery store on Monday and as I was filling my little basket I all of a sudden could not breath. My heart was pounding, I was seeing stars and I felt sheer terror!! I managed to pick up the couple of remaining items and headed to the cashier — I only felt worse. My head started to spin and feel like it was going to explode and my chest felt like I had an elephant sitting on it.
I was having a panic attack!! Overwhelmed, despair, distrust, depression, you name it, I felt it. And to date I still have not been able to shake that feeling. I wonder “where are you Lord?” Why has HE not answered, what lessons still have to be learned. I understand the economy is tight and more and more layoffs are happening, but I seriously thought that HE would provide a job for us. Yet, we remain unemployed and the fuel pump just went out on our vehicle and I may have to make a trip home in the next several weeks, what little was saved is gone…
Yet, I “lay my head down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep”…my family has a place to lay our heads down, we have warmth and food and HE has given me today to give back to HIM.
Today I choose to trust Him. I choose to live for Him, and I choose to lean on Him to handle tomorrow. And I am praying that the depression that is starting to sink into Will's life would be lifted and that the Lord would give Him a new freshness and trust.
So thankful for all God's provisions for us.
Earlier this week I had a startling realization!
DH was laid off at the end of October, the construction industry has since con’t to go downhill with no end in sight, but I thought I for the most part had handled it really well. I thought that I was fully leaning on the Lord and trusting that HE would get us through this. Sure I’ve had moments of worry and concern and I won’t answer the phone (my dh deals with that). BUT…I was at the grocery store on Monday and as I was filling my little basket I all of a sudden could not breath. My heart was pounding, I was seeing stars and I felt sheer terror!! I managed to pick up the couple of remaining items and headed to the cashier — I only felt worse. My head started to spin and feel like it was going to explode and my chest felt like I had an elephant sitting on it.
I was having a panic attack!! Overwhelmed, despair, distrust, depression, you name it, I felt it. And to date I still have not been able to shake that feeling. I wonder “where are you Lord?” Why has HE not answered, what lessons still have to be learned. I understand the economy is tight and more and more layoffs are happening, but I seriously thought that HE would provide a job for us. Yet, we remain unemployed and the fuel pump just went out on our vehicle and I may have to make a trip home in the next several weeks, what little was saved is gone…
Yet, I “lay my head down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep”…my family has a place to lay our heads down, we have warmth and food and HE has given me today to give back to HIM.
Today I choose to trust Him. I choose to live for Him, and I choose to lean on Him to handle tomorrow. And I am praying that the depression that is starting to sink into Will's life would be lifted and that the Lord would give Him a new freshness and trust.
So thankful for all God's provisions for us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
