~ Counting My Blessings Today ~

Well, I'm back home from taking my hubby to the airport. After 21 1/2 years of marriage and LOTS of business travel, you would think this would get easier but it doesn't. So, I sit here this morning on my porch focusing on God's incredible blessings and reading His Word for comfort.

O, how my Lord always delivers!

"You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 118:28-29 (NKJV)

I go forward into this day praising God for so many things:

I praise God for Matt...my amazing, hard-working husband, best friend, and love of my life!

I praise God for our marriage and the incredible blessing it is to us!

I praise God for Matt's job that provides a house, clothes on our backs, and food on our table.

I praise God for three beautiful children that call me "mom"!

I praise God for a home that is filled with love and laughter.

I praise God for this overweight Golden Retriever laying on my feet right now, even in this summer humidity, because he is faithful and sweet!

I praise God for the chores that await me inside, because this home is definitely "lived in".

I praise God for this cup of coffee in my hand because....well, you know!

I praise God for the hard days because they remind me that I'm nothing without Christ.

I praise God for the good days because all glory and honor are HIS and I am STILL nothing without Christ!

I praise God not just for the breaths I take but also for all the precious moments that take my breath away!

I praise God for these times of stillness when I hear His voice so loudly in my spirit.

I praise God for His Word that is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

I praise God for THIS moment because my heart is full of His comfort and love!

Today, I move forward in the confidence of God's Word and a heart of gratitude for ALL He is to me.

Blessings abound and I will count them all today!

"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

~ Study the Word ~

Good Saturday morning all my dear friends in cyber world! I'm again sitting on my front porch enjoying some quiet moments with my Lord! I have my hot cup of coffee in hand, dog at my feet, Bible on my lap, and I'm watching the deer run back and forth in the field across the street. Oh, how I love it!

This morning I cannot stop thinking about the Bible lesson I did yesterday! Our summer Bible study group is on lesson 8 of our 12-week study of the book of Daniel. Can I just say, WOW! Yesterday's lesson, (or should I say 3 days of lessons because I couldn't stop with just one day, lol) has gotten to me! Oh, the Word of God! I'm in awe and I'm so in love!

I became a believer at the young age of 6 and, thankfully, grew up in Bible-believing, Bible-preaching churches but even at the age of 40, there is still so much that I don't know. There is still so much that takes my breath away and so many times, leaves me utterly speechless! That is my God!

Yesterday was one of those days!

Oh sweet friends, if there is one thing you will get out of this post today I hope it is this:

Study, learn, and grow in the Word of God! Let God move in your heart through His Word! Our time on this earth is but a vapor and Christ's return is getting closer. Are you ready?

It's time we take the Word of God seriously and start studying. Don't just leave it to our once-a-week Sunday visit at church to learn. Our pastors bring the Word every week but it's up to us what we do with that message and also to continue studying God's Word throughout the rest of the week.

I want to know His Word more! I want to live His Word more!

There is so much in those beautiful pages for us. God's letter, His love letter, to us!

I urge you today to begin carving out time for study. Join a Bible study group for accountability and encouragement during the week. If you can't find a study to join, start your own and invite others to join with you. I cannot tell you the blessing I get with the encouragement from my fellow sisters-in-Christ. We discuss our lessons all through the week on our FaceBook group. I love seeing the things God shows them! It inspires me and challenges me to go deeper!

My heart is stirred this morning!

If you want to join a group but don't know where to start, please don't hesitate to ask. I know of many great studies getting ready to start in the next month or I can help you begin your own. Just take that step to LEARN! You won't regret studying God's Word deeper....that I guarantee!

Blessings for a beautiful day in His Word!!

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

~ Laying My Burdens At HIS Feet ~

This morning I woke up feeling burdened. A heaviness that I didn't understand. I took it to my Lord. Only He can lift the burden that I can't even explain. Only He can bring peace to a weary soul. Only He can satisfy.

In this moment, on my front porch, I soak in the beauty of His creation. I soak in His presence as I pray and talk to my Father. I read His Word for guidance and direction.

And His Word is a salve to my wounded soul.

Burdens are part of this human life. But it is what we do with them that sets us apart. Do I choose to keep the burden and let it weigh me down or do I choose to lay my burden at my Father's feet as He commanded me to do?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

I choose to place it at His feet!

In the stillness of this very moment, He makes himself known. His Word! His glorious WORD!

Abba Father, I praise You today, because YOU are worthy of ALL honor and ALL glory!

AMEN and AMEN!

~ In HIS Name I Pray ~

Yesterday was a “work from home” kind of day. Though I usually don’t have quite a heavy workload in the summer, this one has been drastically different as we prepare for a big year at SHCA! So, since I’ve spent just about every day in my office, I decided to bring the office home where my kids are. It was nice to stay in my cozies all day and enjoy my kid’s laughter all around me as I tackled the computer work.

Toward the end of the day, I received three different requests for prayer from three precious ladies.  Each one of them broke my heart, as it is hard to see them suffer. But what an honor it is to lift requests to the Father on behalf of some sweet sisters-in-Christ. Though my heart aches for each one of them I count it an honor to approach the throne on their behalf.  You see, God places others in our lives for encouragement, support, and guidance.  Speaking of my own life, there have been many times when I have been that person seeking prayer and to know the one on the receiving end would take my request to God in prayer was such comfort to my soul. There were times I didn’t know how to pray in my circumstance. There were times where I needed someone to encourage me in the Word and help me make sense of the “mess”. Yes, we need others! We need to reach out and not pretend that we have it all together because we don’t.

I am grateful for the calling God has placed on my life to encourage and reach out to other women. I am thankful for God’s grace that got me through some devastating circumstances in my own life. I am thankful for the precious souls that were there for me and are still there in a moments notice. I am thankful that God, in His divine providence, is still on His throne, hears our pleas, and works on our behalf!

Today, I lift these requests to His throne again and ask for healing, for peace, for comfort, and that God, himself, will be glorified through it all!

“But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.”

Psalm 18:6 (NLT)

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

~ Dancing With My Daddy ~

This past weekend, I attended a staff retreat with the amazing women I work with. We had a great time of training and workshops but we also had an awesome time of just enjoying conversation and laughter. As busy moms, those moments are priceless and I enjoyed every second of it.  Somehow during conversation, I began reminiscing about one of my earliest childhood memories. When I was a little my daddy would pick me up, hold me tight, and dance me around in the living room to a Conway Twitty song.  Now, it wasn’t the sappy, love song from Conway Twitty that made that moment so special. It was the fact that I had my daddy’s undivided attention. The youngest of five children didn’t leave a lot of room for one-on-one time from my father, but in that moment, I was the main focus of my daddy’s attention. That 5-year-old little girl felt like a beautiful princess as her daddy would put the stresses of the world away for a few minutes and just, dance. Now, thirty-five years later, I get the privilege of seeing my daughter have those same precious moments with her own daddy, my amazing husband! 

As I think back to those sweet memories, I am quickly drawn to the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father.  I’m not a little girl anymore who dances around the living room with her earthly daddy to Conway Twitty songs, but I have a Father in heaven who devotes his undivided attention to me every second of every day and holds me tight as He lavishes His love on me through His Word. As a matter of fact, scripture tells me just how special I am to my Father. I am a masterpiece made in His image.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

And He beams with pride of His creation!

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”

Genesis 1:31 (NIV)

The same sense of love and security that I once had as a small girl comes flooding back when I am immersed in my Father’s Word daily. It is there that I bask in the glory of his promises. It is there where He reminds me of His love for me. It is there, in the depth of those amazing pages of scripture that He speaks to me. He gives me guidance for the paths of life, He gently corrects and disciplines by his commands, and He reaches through those incredible pages and holds me tight as I cling for hope.  That is when I bow my head and praise His Holy name! That is the moment we “dance”.

“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”

Psalm 16:7 (NIV)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Abba Father, I adore you!

What is your relationship like with your Heavenly Father?  Do you long for the hugs that only a Daddy can give? Do you want to be wrapped tightly in your Father’s arms and held securely in His love?

O, sweet one, it is available to you!  You are dearly loved and cherished! He adores you and longs to hold you tight!  Begin today by allowing your Heavenly Father to lavish his love on you. Open His Word for strength and comfort and renew that fellowship with him through prayer. Daddy loves His children!

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

1 John 3:1a (NIV)

~ Jehovah-Rapha ~

Today was an incredible day at Caleb’s doctor appointment! We have been so blessed to have wonderful doctors taking care of our precious boy at UNC Children’s Hospital. Today was a big appointment as both his specialists joined us together.  They coordinated their schedules so they could meet with us together and they were in awe of where he is today compared to his test results just 2 years ago. Caleb has battled a medical issue since birth and we have seen our Great Physician do such a healing work in his little body. We have seen one doctor since Caleb came home from China and the other specialist joined the “party” last year because Caleb’s case was so unusual. They wanted to put two heads together and they have done an awesome job. They have put lots of teamwork into this and have been a huge blessing to our family.

As we sat there cramped in this tiny exam room, I listened to the doctors explain all the technical terms and how unlikely this was and I just smiled. When they finished, I shared with them that this is the result of lots of prayer. What an amazing God we serve! I shared again how we have prayed since day 1 that God would provide healing in Caleb and guide us through the treatment options even when they, the doctors, seemed skeptical and unsure of the correct route.  One of his doctors began tearing up! He has walked this battle with us for 6 years and to see these results got us all emotional. That’s right! Our Great Physician receives ALL the glory for this!

We praise God for His guiding hand, His healing touch, and His amazing love! Caleb is such a special boy and his sweet smile touches every life he encounters. He is our little miracle and we praise God for him! 

~ A Mom's High Honor ~

I get asked this question by moms all the time...

"How do I get my children to love the Word of God?"

Well, your children need to see their mom reading the Word, studying the Word, praying the Word, talking about the Word, but most importantly...living the Word! Be a living testimony of the power in that precious Book and pray over your children!

I am living proof! Growing up I witnessed my mom immersed in God's Word daily. She lived it in front of me and taught it to me! Because of her deep love for the Word and prayer over her children, I am forever hooked! I saw the magnificence of God's love lived out through my mom and now I cannot get enough my God and His amazing Word! My desire is to know my God more, to love Him more, and to serve Him more! I now have that same opportunity to share that deep love with my own children and pray that they grow to love it and live it as well! Such big responsibility but such great honor!

Don't lose heart dear, sweet mamas. Hold tight to His Word and keep on praying! Live it out loud and continue being a shining light to your children!

"Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates."

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (MSG)