| I am moving over to a new blog!
My goal is to post a picture & a few paragraphs a day, and I think I will do better at keeping up a blog with a more attainable goal. I needed a fresh new start and wanted a different layout. We'll see how it goes. To the few friends who keep up with me via xanga.....check for updates over there.
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| read this tonight and was encouraged.
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6
“This psalm teaches the tough truth that there is work to be done
whether I am emotionally up for it or not, and it is good for me to do it.
Suppose you are in a season of heartache and discouragement, and it is time to sow seed.
Do you say, ‘I can’t sow the field this spring, because I am brokenhearted and discouraged’?
If you do that, you will not eat in the winter.
Suppose you say instead, ‘I am heartsick and discouraged.
I cry if the milk spills at breakfast. I cry if the phone and doorbell ring at the same time.
I cry for no reason at all, but the field needs to be sowed. That is the way life is.
I do not feel like it, but I will take my bag of seeds and go out in the fields and do my crying while I do my duty.
I will sow in tears.’ If you do that, the promise of this psalm is that you will ‘reap with shouts of joy.’
You will ‘come home with shouts of joy, bringing your sheaves with you,’
not because the tears of sowing produce the joy of reaping,
but because the sheer sowing produces the reaping.
We need to remember this even when our tears tempt us to give up sowing.”
John Piper
A Godward Life, pp. 89-90
So what fields in your life need to be sowed today? Even if you cry while you do your duty, you will, one day reap with joy. |
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| Someone forwarded this to me today, and it was sobering. It will challenge you to see where you are.
You Know You’re Religious, When…
By Emil Swift
…you love the “Word of God” more than the God of the Word.
…you have a program instead of a Partner.
…you do for God instead of with God.
…God is your Boss instead of your Friend.
…you have a religion instead of a Relationship.
…you have an agenda instead of a adventure.
…the center of your thoughts and conversations is you and not Him.
…an examination of your checkbook register shows your money goes for taking care of concerns that are self-centered not God-centered.
…you protest your love for God but practice your love for the things of men.
…you spend time and energy in trying to control your life instead of releasing control to God.
…your prayer consists of much talking and little listening.
…you do the best you can instead of letting God do the best that He can.
…you work for God instead of working with God.
…you’re primarily directed by God’s principles instead of God’s Spirit.
…you accomplish natural goals instead of supernatural goals.
…you’re concerned more with what others think of you than what God thinks of you.
…you’re passion is for right doctrine more than right Relationship.
… you’re more focused on your needs than others needs.
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| I DON'T even know if I should try to catch up.
I DO know that our remodeling is pretty much done though....and that's something to be excited about!!!!
I DON'T know that we really actually "finished" school this year.
I DO know we will be doing some school through the summer on the days we don't have anything else going on.
I DON'T know why it's SO HOT already!
I DO know the heat makes my itching SO much worse.
I DON'T know why Ashlyn isn't walking yet.
I DO know it's a blessing though because it's one less thing to keep up with at this point!
I DON'T know how my husband has managed a full-time job, working on the house, and helping coach a soccer team, and all the other things he does for our family.
I DO know I married one AWESOME man!!!!
I DON'T know why in the world I volunteered to do 3-4 year olds during VBS week!
I DO know that those cute kids are precious in HIS sight!
I DON'T know how I survive on such little sleep.
I DO know that a great birthday gift this year would be to sleep ALL day long!!!!
I DON'T see how that's possible though as we will be in Colorado.
I DO know we all can't wait for vacation! We are SO excited.
I DON'T know why things don't always go as planned.
I DO know that God's plan is always better.
I DON'T understand the pain & suffering different dear friends are experiencing in their marriages & families. Or the awful tragedies some are facing.
I DO know though that relationship with GOD is key and it's by HIS grace & through prayer that HE will see them through.
I DON'T know why I ever doubt God.
I DO know my God supplies all my needs.......
I DON'T know near as much as I think I do....
I DO know that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving, and I'm SO grateful!!!
There's a LOT more I DON'T know and DO know of course too......
How's that for "catching up??"
Maybe I can find some pictures to post too.
Or not.
5 days countdown until our family vacation for Colorado for 14 days! We can hardly wait. Means I have lots to do and get ready too.
Big cousins & little cousins~ Ashlyn & Lakelyn just turned 1 year old in May. Scott just turned 12, and Tiff is almost 11. Talk about look-a-likes!!! These two babies LOVE their sister & brother! Can't you just tell they are so much fun!?!!
(seriously, I've looked at this picture a dozen times today and it gives me goose-bumps, I just love the people in it SO much!)  |
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