What made me smile today

Olivia had her first orthodontist apt today ~ it was a long apt and yet she did great ~ we were still in Portage at 5:30 and she was suppose to be at volleyball at 6:15 so we were in a bit of a rush ~ from the back seat I hear come on people we have a schedule lets get going ~then of course we hit yet another red light ~ Liv says in a goofy voice come on light turner people lets turn these lights green ~ So I ask Liv do you really they have people that turn the lights ~ YES mom :) Oh what goes through the mind of a 9 year old

Beauty

After listening to this song and a few others I felt so filled and blessed to spend time focusing on God and who He is, and where he opens my eyes to His beauty. It's all around and yet so many times my eyes and heart are not open to see it. I prayed that the Lord would continue to open my eyes to see Him. He sees every detail of me and yet I want to see more of Him, and know more of His character and beauty.

I was blessed to have a big chunk of uninterrupted time today and this prayer was answered very quickly. Have you ever spent time with God and he revealed something to you that you wanted to shout from a mountain, tell your best friend or hubby and yet you knew it was not the right time or maybe you would never tell anyone.

God gave me that beautiful moment of intimacy today and that is where I saw his beauty.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse NIV

Beauty is seen in
*sunsets
*sunrises
*Lake Michigan
*snowy days
*flowers in the spring and so much more

Another type of beauty that came to mind was in relationships
* seeing an 80 year old couple holding hands
* laughter of children
* husband and wife adopting a baby after trying to get pregnant for 3 years
* flying accross the country to surprise your sister for a girls weekend
Beauty in relationships is a priceless gift!

He created the heaven and the earth, mountians and the spring flowers and the amazing moments that we get to see or be a part of. Pray with me today that God would open our eyes to see more of His beauty because it is everywhere.

Making the right Decision

Romans 5:4-6 (New International Version)
4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Are you dealing with a situation that you know is character building? Maybe you are trying to buy or sell a house and it is just not happening. You are seeking God's direction and yet you feel like nothing is popping out at you. Maybe you are looking for a job and not sure if you should look into job A or job B. I remember a few months ago I was really hung up on making the right decision. I did not want to miss God's plan for me. I felt I should go in a certain direction but was that my own thoughts or was that the spirit guiding me? When I called to talk to a friend about it I really felt like I had to make a decision. It couldn't be both could it. She said don't get to hung up on the decision that you loose sight of God. If we focus so much on what to do next that can take up a lot of our thought process. So this time as I am faced with a decision I am just praying that His will be done. What will bring Him the most glory. Not what would I love or what do I want but what will glorify Him the most. This is NOT easy but I know that I am happiest in His will.
Exodus 33:21-23 Message
God said , Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face."

This verse was in my devotional this morning and it made me think about God's hand on our lives. He put his hand on Moses but he has given us the Holy Spirit. He is always with us to giude us and all we have to do is ask.

My favorite part of this verse is God saying look here is a place right beside me. I feel so comforted by that and it reminds me that my God is with me and has his hand in my life.

Love this song!!

The day ahead

Lord I want to join with you to tackle the day ahead. I have a lot on my mind, some of which could take my thoughts captive. I ask for a sound mind today and your wisdom in all situations. Your purpose and plan is greater than mine help me to remember that. Thanks you for all the beautiful summer days you have given me with the girls and help us to enjoy the last few. When I think of all the blessing you have given us the stressful situation become minimal. Thank you Lord for your guidance
I Love you

Real and True

His Faithfulness

As I tried to have a minute of quiet before the girls woke up this was the song
I kept singing. I was attempting to read but these were the words God wanted
for me today. So putting my reading aside I really thought about this song:

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord, unto me!

Great is His faithfulness and yes unto me. Is it hard for you to
receive a compliment or gift from others. What about God?
When you know that God has given you a gift how do you respond?
His faithfulness is not something that is wrapped in a pretty pink package and yet
thanking God daily for His faithfulness is important. I so easy forget
all the ways he shows His faithfulness. I have been able to be a stay at home mom for
7 years and that is a huge gift for our family. I know that that is not His call on
every one's life but was for ours and His faithfulness has been revealed in that.
Great is His faithfulness!!
As I looked again at these words this verse came to mind

Psalm 40:3
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
My song was Great is Thy Faithfulness what is yours what is the NEW song in your mouth?

His Love

Romans ( Message)
31-39So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.
I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

The more I read about His love for us the more time I want to spend with my Savior!!

Hero HeadQuarters

This was so cute I have to share: We always look forward to VBS at Grandma Greats church and we received the invitation last week. The first line reads- You're invited to "Hero Headquarters" where kids join forces with God!
After reading just the first line Olivia looks at me with a tilted head and asks will God be there?
I loved this question and I have been thinking about it for the last few days. I can't remember my exact answer but at first it was no you will not see him but his presence will be there.
Sometimes the questions that kids ask make us dig a little deeper. What do we really believe. I know that God shows up to events like this and loves to see children learning about His love and praising His name. This VBS is all about the hero's in the Bible that are not super powerful, and yet there faith is used for great things by God. Now that's real life.
So will the kids that week be able to see God? The Bible says if we know Him we have eyes to see Him. As believers we see Him in the big and little in life. God has recently woven a relationship into our life and we know it is all His work. When our eyes are open and willing to see Him and His work you will see it everywhere.
So the question will God be there? YES but you have to have your eyes on to see Him. Now my 6 year old will not get that but I know this is only the beginning of our discussions about seeing God's work and plan in our life.

Deuteronomy 4:9Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

John 14:17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

1 Samuel 12:16"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!

Psalm 34 Never hide anything From God

I am reading this morning in a message Bible and these verses are so true.
Ps 34:4-5 and 8-9
God met me more than halfway
he freed me from my anxious fears
5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.

8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
9 Worship God is you want the best;
worship open doors to all his goodness

What a verse to start the day! God wants us to take
everything to him. Yes he already knows and yet he wants us
to share out hearts.
Romans 12:1(Message)
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

What ordinary life can you put at his feet today?
For me as a mom have a hard time getting all the things done and still playing with my kids as I want to. Balance seems to be an issue in my life. I will be setting that at his feet, and much more I'm sure.

Indescribable

After drying my hair this morning I came into the kitchen to find Olivia climbing on the counter to turn up the radio. This song was playing. It is Indescribable to hear your kids singing a song like this. Also one of the lines in the song says: who has told every lightening bold where it should go. Yesterday Olivia was very scared of the storm and thought school should be canceled because of the lightening and thunder. Listening to this song with her was a great reminder that God is in control of all.

Freedom

2 Corinthians 3:16-18
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (The Message)
16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

These verses remind us that
* Freedom comes from the spirit
* God is living and personal
* There is nothing between us and God
* All of us have the same opportunity to choose Freedom

Love them all!

If you Give a Moma Muffin

If you give a mom a muffin,
She’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she’ll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She’ll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She’ll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of
Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on
Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Written by Kathy Fictorie

This was given to me by Olivia's teacher and when I read it I knew I had to share. This is so my life and maybe your too. Hope you had a great Mothers Day.

Fun quotes for Mothers Day

When I think about my kids they have brought more joy to my life than I would have ever expected. They are the biggest blessing, and yet it is the hardest job ever. I love it and need a break daily. They make me smile all the time, and yet I can see that I will be on my knees more often. They are a true blessing from God and give me a glimpse of how much he love us.
Happy Mothers Day!

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
Angela Schwindt


We cannot fashion our children after our desires, we must have them and love them as God has given them to us.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.
Walt Streightiff

Children make you want to start life over.
Muhammad Ali

A three-year-old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm.
Bill Vaughn

It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.
Barbara Kingsolver

Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home.
Phyllis Diller

We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open.
Harry Edwards

Abundant life

John 10:9-11(NIV)
9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

1 Timothy 1:14(NIV)
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 1:7
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth

There is nothing better than God's word. I love how we can gain insight and hope from just reading His Word. God says that he came so that we could have
life with him now and forever. Sign me up.
As I was listening in Bible study this morning and thinking about life, I see again that God is peeling away layers in my life and in the women around me. He is doing this so that we can have life more full with Him.

This next video has many great points but one that hit me was when we have experienced God's we are ruined for everything else. Nothing compares to time with Him!

Mia's First Dance

Place your ordinary life before God

Place Your Life Before God Romans 12:1-2 Message
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

I am learning that if I am having trouble or struggling with something that I need to ask more for Gods help and stop trying to do everything on my own. I needed a reminder that taking my every day ordinary life to God is exactly what he wants. One of the struggles I am having right now is my eating. I want to eat all the time and feel like I have little self-control. I know that eating at 10:00 is not what I need to be doing and my mind seems to be focused on eating that chocolate or popcorn until I eat it. Then I am frustrated with myself afterwards and feel crappy the next day.
For some reason I seem to gain weight in the spring and summer and I want that to be different this year.
When I read this verse I am reminded that it is less about what I can do and more about asking for Gods help and laying it at His feet. My everyday, ordinary life I love that. I am not asking to be a super model and he knows that I just want to feel healthy and not obsess about that chocolate until I eat it.
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. - Wow I hope you take a minute or 10 with our amazing Father and soak in His Love.

Struggles in dealing with an addicted father

As I was listing to our Bible study this week the thought of having to call my dad was totally on my mind. I don't jump out and share this with everyone but know that there has to be women dealing with a similar situation. My biological Dad(if you know my family this is not my dad Mike) is an alcoholic and is still in that bondage today. Many things are so hard about that relationship. One of the hardest things I am dealing with at the moment is how far do I let him in our life, and the lies he continues to feed me. If you were to look at my life from the outside you might think we are normal and maybe even look put together. That's the great thing about just looking, the illusions we get look pretty and yet they are usually way off. We live in a nice house in a great neighborhood, I have a loving husband and two beautiful girls. All that is what you might see. Yet living the day to day is much different. I am passionate about living a life that has meaning and living it with Christ at the center. I have to because if I didn't I would be lost. As a women it shakes something inside of you to be lied to by your father. The relationship we are supposed to have with our Dads should be honest and loving, and yet can I be honest? The only time I hear "I Love You" from him is when he is drunk. No matter how much I walk in faith with Christ that still rocks my boat. Maybe it shouldn't but it does. All of this is right at the front of my brain right now because he called again last night and I need to return that phone call. With everything in my I don't want to and yet he is still my dad. I had to get this off my heart today and writing helps me. I want anyone dealing with this to feel that it's ok to want to scream, run and or cry. Some days I just crave normal whatever that is. I also wanted to add this list of characteristics that some children of alcoholics deal with. I don't want this to be something that we hang on to but the opposite. If you find that one of these describe you and you want to be freed, ask God to heal you. Ask for his help to over come this. Our God is a healer and Redeemer and if he heals that addict then he will heal their children too.

Adult Children:

...guess at what normal is.

...have difficulty in following a project through from beginning to end.

...lie when it would be just as easy to tell the truth.

...judge themselves without mercy.

...have difficulty having fun.

...take themselves very seriously.

...have difficulty with intimate relationships.

...overreact to changes over which they have no control.

...constantly seek approval and affirmation.

...feel that they are different from other people.

...are either super responsible or super irresponsible.

...are extremely loyal, even in the face of evidence that loyalty is undeserved.

...tend to lock themselves into a course of action without giving serious consideration to alternative behaviors or possible consequences. This impulsively leads to confusion, self loathing, and loss of control of their environment. As a result, they spend tremendous amounts of time cleaning up the mess.


I have to say the first time I read this list it made me feel that I was not as crazy as I thought. Most of these on some level have been a part of my life at one time or another. Sad but true. I am so thankful that God is not leaving me where I am today and that with His help these rough edges are being shaved away. I have listed the website where I copied this list and I am sure there are more out there like this.
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/adult/a/aa073097.htm
If you are dealing with a parent that struggles with addiction ask for God to surround you with His love. He is the only one who can brighten my day when I am dealing with an ugly situation with my Dad and I know that we can brighten yours.

Cat and Mouse

Luke 11:10"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?

I had read this verse many weeks ago in the Message and liked the wording, cat and mouse game. I love that we can go to our Father and ask what is truly on our hearts. The Bible says to come with confidence in Hebrews 4:16.

What passion spills out of you?? - repost

Day 1
If you have a minute after listening to this song write a prayer or what is on your heart.

Lord I need you today. I need you everyday but today I really need to be filled with your love. Open my eyes to see what you have for me.

What are your dreams what would you do if time and money were not in the picture. What passion has God given you that ties up your thoughts. Maybe I am just a dreamer, but I think about this often. As a Mom I went into motherhood wanting one thing and now my thoughts and dreams have changed. I have changed. How about you? How has being a Mom changed you?

As Mother I think we have less time for ourselves than anyone else, but what occupies your uninterrupted time?

What do you do with that uninterrupted time?

How much uninterrupted time do you have during the day or at night?

What would you love to do with that time if you are not already doing it?

God always knows the perfect time and as hard as it is to wait on his timing, we can be sure he knows the perfect time and perfect plan for our lives.
Lets look at Ecc 3: 1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
As you read through those verses what verse was most meaningful for you today, and in this season of life. Share this verse by writing it down

As I look and read these verse the one that really sticks out for me is 7- a time to be silent and a time to speak
I really want Gods direction and for him to speak into my life and I know that for that to happen I need to be silent. I need to be silent and to listen to him but I also need to be silent and respectful to others(my husband). Looking back at the verse that you wrote down write a sentence or two about why that is important in this season of life.

Take a minute today and just be silent before God and ask him to speak into your life and show you his love.


Day 2
I think this is such a fun song and yet it makes me think about the steps I am taking in my life and are they the ones that God has planned for me.

I love to watch shows like American Idol or So you think you can dance. I love to watch people going for and achieving their dreams. Most of these people on these shows are given a God given talent and they can not help but do what comes so natural to them. When they interviewed Joshua on So you think you can Dance last year(08) I remember them asking him so when did you start dancing? He was in about 2 or 3rd grade and was getting in trouble for dancing in class. So his teacher recommended to his parents that he should start taking classed outside of school. Dancing was just a part of him he could not help but dance. Some of the judges tell the dancers you were made to dance. I know that sounds a little dorky but when you watch them it’s true.
As I love to watch these show I think about what has God given me that I cant help doing. Something that make me feel so alive. Something that I know is my God given talent or interest. Think about that for a minute.
What is your special gift from God?
What has God given you that you cant help but doing ? What spills out of you?
Encouragement, teaching, Serving
Singing, Loving others, Hospitality
Dancing, Mercy, Cooking
These are a few to get your mind thinking. We are all given gifts from God so if you are having trouble and thinking what are my gifts take a minute to pour your heart out to God. Also ask a friend or family member that will give you an honest answer. Sometimes we cant see our own gift and yet to others they are so obvious.
See if you can find scripture to back our gifts given by God.
*
*
A few times when I have been watching these shows I have been a little convicted of the time that is takes away from other things. This is the thought that has come to me more than once. Are you going to watch their dreams come true or are you going to make your own come true. I know that I can not make those dreams come true on my own, but they also cant come true by watching T.V. for hours on end.
What can you think of in your life that might be a dream distract or dream killer? ( a negative attitude or maybe being around negative people)

Lets look at a few verses that get us back in God’s truth. I know for me just seeing what his word says helps me in the day to day.
These verses are very special to me because they are my daughter ( Mia’s) life verse. Lets write them out together Jeremiah 29: 11-13

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart.
First God already knows the plans for our lives before we start praying or asking. Second we are to call upon and pray to him and then he has promised to listen. Third we will find him when we seek him with all of our heart.
How do we seek him with all our heart?

For me it is putting him above everything and everybody else. When life gets crazy you seek what God has to say not what your neighbor or you friend tell you to do. Also to spend time with him and put that time as a huge priority. God knows as Mom’s we are busy, but we are still called to be in relationship with him.
Take time and write a prayer today that God gives you the desire and the time to seek him with all your heart.


Day 3 -
I am sure that this song is talking about falling in love with a guy but what about our love for Jesus. My love for Shawn has grown through the years and has really grown through the tough times. I can see the same pattern with my love for Christ. Through the years my love, trust and faith in him has grown. Christ is always the same but for me that relationship has taken time.
When has your relationship with Christ grown the most.

We don’t wake up one day at the same level as Moses it’s a process. One day at a time and one step at a time. On a little deeper note we can take steps forward or backwards which way in your walk with Christ are you walking right now?
This question is for you feel free to Journal if you feel lead.

If you are taking steps forward in your relationship with Christ right now Praise God! If you are taking steps backwards Praise God that today is a new day and today you can take a step forward all you have to do is get up.
Who did Jesus call to get up in Mark 2:9 and Matthew 9:4-6

Lets all take a step forward today in our relationship with Christ.
Lets take a minute to pray and seek his guidance for our lives.