Full

I know it has been several days since my last post. Things have been crazy around here. Still haven't gotten my truck back yet. In a fight with them. It has been three weeks now. Ugh! I hate having to be mean and ugly. That isn't me.. oh watch it-ha The fight has been going on for at least a week with the insurance agent, claims adjuster, rental car agency and the car repair shop.
So why am I telling you this? To let you know life hasn't been rosy. I have been stressed out, tears have come....

But yet........

Life is full. I was thinking on the way to work of all the things I do have that I am thankful for... so here is a little list. Don't want to bore you but want to get you thinking of the things that you are too. And not just because it is the season, but that does help. There is no order to these.

Family-a great new step mom that I love. And her family too.
Friends-how they warm and fill my heart. With love and with laughter.
A truck that I actually enjoy driving.
A house that I am learning to decorate on a budget. In this economy-extremely grateful!
My babies-Coco and Sassy-who melt my heart
A job that I love-the laughter of kid's everyday-how could you ask for anything better-just listen.....
Knowing Him-a legacy that was passed down. A relationship with the God that created my list!

So what are you thankful for today? Have you told the ones around you that you are? Have you told Him that you are?

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

Hope

3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God. Psalm 146: 3-5

I was listening to the news this morning as I got ready. It is interesting to hear all the comments about the new president. Basically how he will "save" us and not only us but his people too . Optimisim abounds if you listen. Men are putting their trust in a man. Well you know what that leads to.... After watching the news, I opened my Bible and read this chapter. Just a reminder that our hope needs to be in Him, not in mere men. Where is your hope? your help? your trust ?

Coco

That is my cat. I have had her since she was born so she is my baby. Well a big 11yr old and 10 lbs baby! She is my heart. And she is a mama's girl. Noone can get near her but me. Oh people have tried. People that are so sure she will let them per her because they are cat people. Doesn't matter. She only loves her mama. Now why this story? Because she has had eye problems for a week. (I know) So I finally took her to the vet. First to get her to go, I had to prepare the car in case of an accident. Plastic and towels! Then I had to go into the attic and hide the carrier under a towel so she wouldn't run and hide. She knew by then that something was going on(smart cat-I tell you-like mama). I had to entice her out from under a table and then fight with her to get her in. I tried wrapping her in a towel so she couldn't see. Didn't work. Bottoms first in the carrier-nope she spread her legs so she wouldn't fit. Then head first. Ohhhh the anger. Finally jammed her in head first. Whew-I was tired. Then she cried all the way there. Hissed at the doc. They had to put her to sleep to work on her. All for a little eye problem!! Wow....

Aren't we like that? (I had a friend ask) God wants to help us and make us better and we fight, scream, cry and scratch to not go thru the journey. Anything to avoid the pain! Not going there head first! No way. I will go kicking and screaming before you make me do that. And the crying-oh it broke my heart. I would have done anything to avoid that. But it was for her good. You know it breaks His, if a cat can do that to mine. And sometimes we just need to be knocked out to see the good- ha But in the end-we are better for it! Healthier, happier (she curled up to me and purred later on) and still loved. Could we not learn before we have to go thru all this that it is for our good? Oh that we would....
Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. Isaiah 38:17

Lessons learned

Ok, yesterday I wrote about trust. It is easy to write but so hard to practice... As some of you know, my car got hit by a deer and tore up the whole right side. I do have insurance but it is costing me a pretty penny. Have no idea where the funds are coming from. So what do I do-well of course, worry. Lay awake at night, try to figure it out. Yep-lost sleep-and what did I gain? A solution? Nope! Nothing-not even that hour that Matthew 6 talks about. So Sunday the sermon on worry (don't you just love God's timing in our lives) he talks about telling tomorrow goodbye-for it has enough troubles of its own. So as I layed in bed the Sunday night, after all the worrying, I did. Finally gave up. Told the end of the week when my car should be done, goodbye. God is going to have to do it. I don't have the money. So left it with Him. Tried not to take it back! And had to try hard!

Well, let me tell you HE has come thru!! What a blessing! And from places so not expected but so loved. And to watch Him work has been so remarkable that words here aren't enough. But to see His blessings when we know we don't deserve them-grace and mercy abound. (that is for another day) But today-wow! Sometimes I am at a loss for words! (oh stop it). So this trusting thing works. It is hard, He does test us.... right down to the last minute...but He does love us. And I am seeing that more and more each day!

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26

Hmmm

Well as you see I have been doing some thinking-ha. Hey watch it! Be nice!
The sermon this wkend and for the past 2 is on "Why Worry." Now as you know I have the market cornered on that. I can worry with the best of you! What if's, How can I's,...

So this was a good and timely lesson for me. It was based on Matt 6. At first I thought oh great another sermon on worry. How many have we heard? Millions if you have been in church long. But yesterday it really hit me. He was talking about Ahab and Elijah. Go read the story in 1 Kings 16. It is great. But one thing that hit me in a song we sang and in something he said was the good ole word "Trust" I wondered as we sang, what would it look like if we REALLY trusted HIm. I mean REALLY. With everything. See Elijah didn't after God showed himself. So God met him and asked him "What are you doing here?" We get ourselves in places we shouldn't be, doing things that we shouldn't do and hurting others that we wouldn't have hurt, had we not trusted Him. Trust- a little 5 letter word that seems to be the hardest thing to do. I use to as a kid. But as an adult, trust comes hard. With people and with God. But I am learning. Albeit slowly, I am learning. Sometimes I sit and watch the kids as they easily trust. I learn alot from them. So I guess what I am asking is-Do you trust? a little? alot? during good times only?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

Doom and Gloom?

1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4 Will the evildoers never learn— those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on God? 5 There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them. 6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

So what, do we give up now? Didn't get the one that most of us wanted for president, so that's it. Just give up. Resign that God can't move in this situation, this country? We are doomed. Is that how you are feeling? Well read above my friend... See-He is still looking for those that seek Him, no matter the circumstance. No matter if we feel that it is hopeless. So do you seek Him? or resign to the fact that nothing can be done... we are doomed. But wait-did you read the rest? Vs 6-oh that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! There is a hope, there is an answer.. and that is found in Jesus Christ! We may go thru a difficult time here-but there is hope and in the end, we will win!

Seek Him!

Today

Well, we have a new President. Whether we like him or not, he is our President. We must pray! Pray for him. I know it will be hard. But we must remember that God is in control. But as everyone is blogging about this-I thought I would go in a different turn.

As I said in Monday's post, I get to see the sunrise. It reminds me that God is in control. And at this time of the year, the leaves are also changing colors. And oh what colors! Living near the mountains affords a variety of them. Everywhere. (and I will post some soon) You I heard once that scientist can't figure out why the leaves that turn red, do. What makes them that color? They can find DNA but can't figure out why a leaf turns red. Well hello, God! I love it that He leaves some things unexplained. (no pun intended) How cool if this is really true... (I 'll leave it up to Sheryl to find out). There are some things that He still holds in His hands. And today is one of them. The world, the trees, the sunrise-all show that He is still there. And still loving us. Loving us enough to share His beauty. Have you seen it today? Have you thanked Him for it? Do you stand in awe? or is it just another day......

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27:4

He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

Morning

Hope by now you changed your clocks back! I don't like it getting dark early but so do love it being light when I go to work.

I love getting to watch the sunrise on my way to work. It reminds me of His love. His power. His constant watching over us. To watch Him tell the sun when to rise is amazing, to set the day into being. And to watch Him display His love. You will probably see shots here, as I carry my camera. At times I want to stop and sit in awe at His majesty! What will heaven be like if this is a pale comparison. We can't even imagine..... Go today and praise Him for the beginning of a new day, not complaining about the early ending of one.



The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1