Blessed Be Your Name

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=7Qp11X6LKYY



So many times I find myself at the beginning of my devotional time asking God for favors.  "Dear, Heavenly Father, will you please help me with my attitude?, God, please give me direction and the desires of my heart, God please........"

This morning, it happened again and I felt a check in my spirit.  God isn't my Santa or my spiritual vending machine.  None of these things are necessarily bad to go to Him about and I know it is ok to approach my Father with my requests.  However, in the middle of it, I see my focus is all on me.  The truth is, it isn't about what I want, what He gives, or what He doesn't give.  It is about who He is no matter what.  It is about Him.  And so, no matter how my life goes, what I receive, what I don't receive, or how my day plays out.......Blessed Be His Name!  He gives and He takes away.  He leads me through times of plenty and walks with me through the dessert where no water can be found.  And through it all I will choose to say, blessed be your name Jesus!  You are worthy of all honor and praise!  It is all about You and Your heart and Your desire, and that is all I need!  So Blessed be your Name!!

A Good Reminder From a Handfull of Clay

Most mornings, on our way to school, I spend some time praying with the children.  Somehow, out of our prayer time, came the topic of why bad things happen to good people.  I explained to my children that sometimes God allows us to walk through very dark and difficult stages of our lives because He is perfecting us.  I used the example of clay and a molded pot.  I asked the kids, why do we put a pot through the fire?  Their answer was straight forward and simple.  To make it hard and so that it can hold water.  In this moment with my kids, the truth of this issue resonated with me.  The fire makes it steadfast and sturdy.  It takes something impressionable and keeps it permenatnly in the shape the molder formed it to be.  The fire takes the pot which once only had potential and transforms it into a pot which can be used for it's intended purpose.  I thought this was so good!

Jesus has taken me, a handful of clay, and has formed me, molded me and shaped me into a vessel of potential.  He has made me for a specific purpose.  He has impressed Himself onto and into  me......

In this moment of molding and shaping, I am in wonder at what He is making me to become.  I stand amazed at the potential I see Him forming.  I know His hand prints and the impression of Him is all over me and I feel abundently loved.  I am excited to see what His plans are for me.  And then, He does the unthinkable.  At least it is unthinkable to me.  He places me in a hot, dry, burning place.  I cry out in pain not understanding why or how He, the one who loved me and formed me, could allow me to suffer.  And yet, I know He still loves me, cause He has always proved Himself faithful.  Eventually, I see a door open, a way out, and I know the loving hand of my Maker is drawing me towards Him.  I look at myself and realize......The shape He formed me in has become permanent.  His impressions on me are visible and nothing can remove them from me.  He tells me I am ready now.......

I am no longer simply full of potential.  Now, I am ready to be used.

What an awesome lesson and reminder for me today!  I don't know the whys of the difficulties of this life, some of which or so horrible I can't even begin to imagine or understand.  There are simply no answers sometimes.  But He knows and He is still in control.  And if we allow Him and we choose to trust Him, He will bring us through it refined, beautiful, and ready for His purposes.  It makes me want to shout, "BRING IT ON THEN!"  And yet, I cringe knowing the fire is a difficult thing to go through.

So God I pray for you to mold me.  Shape me into a vessel of potential.  Impress yourself into me and on me.......and then set me on fire.  And in the fire, I ask you to strengthen me so that I will not falter.  I desire to be taken from a vessel full of potential to a vessel that is ready to be used.  Thank you Jesus

Isaiah 64:8
"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter;  we are all the work of your hand."

Inside and Out

First off, I have to say, I am sorry not all of my Thankfulness postings made it to my blog like I originally intended.  For some reason, my blog did not like working on my ipad.....so the Thankfulness posts ended up on facebook instead.  Someday, when I have nothing to do, I may add them on here :)

Now, on to why I decided to write today.  As you probably have already gathered, I tend to be an organized creature of habit.  So, on my way home from dropping the kids off at school this morning, a nagging reaccuring thought kept coming back to my mind.  It was the issue of having the inside of my house decorated for Christmas, yet the outside of my house definately still decorated for Thanksgiving.  This sort of thing really bugs me.  It isn't consistant.....it's like having a dual personality for my house.  I know.  To save you the effort of having to whisper it under your breath, I will say it for you.  I am a tad bit OCD.  I'm working on it, I promise you!  :)  Anyway, as I was pondering this idea of how long it might be before I have time to match the inside of my house to the outside of my house, another thought came to my mind:  Outside Thanksgiving, Inside Christmas.  And I had an aha moment spoken to me from the heart of God.

Outside Thanksgiving, Inside Christmas.  My life should be that way.  On the outside, my life should be an expression of thanksgiving to the One who gave me life.  I should be able to proclaim a life of thanksgiving because on the inside I hold the promise of Christmas, the promise of Jesus!  It is because of Him that I am able to live a life of Thanksgiving so that others can see it.  Just like my front porch.  Because of Christmas on the Inside, Thanksgiving on the outside is possible.

Hmmmmmm, I like this thought.  Almost enough to leave my Thanksgiving decorations up for awhile during the Christmas season :)  But, then my OCD kicks back in and it still bugs me that it doesn't match.  But I love the lesson learned today and the rememberance that becuase of Christmas on the Inside, I am able to live a life of Thanksgiving on the outside!

A Month of Thankfulness: Day 4

Today, I am thankful for my church family and for our pastor and his wife, Don and Lisa Smith.  I am thankful for their dedication and unwavering stand on the truth.  What an inspiration and encouragement they are!!  It is wonderful to be a part of a church body that is not only a congregation of believers, but is also a family!  I am thankful for the freedom we have to gather together to worship God, to fellowship, and to encourage one another.

 ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25

A Month of Thankfulness: Day Three

Oh my word!  Ok, so I am going to try to explain the irony of today's post as best as I possibly can and proclaim that God has a very funny sense of humor when it comes to seeing if I am capable of living out the words I write.  I just got done writing a pretty little note about how I was feeling grumpy today and not at all thankful, but how the falling leaves outside remind me that everything in its season is beautiful and to focus on those things......the things that are good, pleasing, and excellent.  And then......and then I lost my pretty little note about learning to be thankful in every season, no matter what.  And I got kind of grumpy again until God gently reminded me of what I had just written about being thankful no matter what season I am in and to focus on what is good!  So, today I am thankful for Gods sense of humor and His lessons and tests which leave me left with only one little word.......touché!  

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

A Month of Thankfulness: Day Two

Today, I am thankful for Gods provisions, not only for my family, but for Others as well.  I am thankful for the home He has given to us and for the way He supplies our needs.  I am also thankful for the way He works through His people to provide for others  in need.  Tonight, I have the privilege of delivering two boxes of groceries and two large gift bags of clothing for a family in our area in need of a blessing.  Not only that, but God has provided a group of people to bless this mom with meals about once a month as it is physically difficult for her to cook for herself and her children.  I don't have all the resources to provide what they need, but I know the One who owns cattle on a thousand hills and He HAS provided through His people!  What a blessing to be a part of watching as He works, as He provides, and as He pours out His love through us!  I am thankful for God's provisions!


But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians  4:19

A Month of Thankfulness: Day One

I was inspired this morning by a Facebook friend and her Jar of Thankfulness and I thought, you know, this is a good idea!  So here goes, Day One :). Today, I am thankful for sick days.  Sound strange?  Well, maybe it isn't so much for the sick part as it is for the opportunity to spend a day loving on my sick little Kara.  It has made thankful for her life and the precious gift she is to our family.  Each day of her life is a gift and each moment a wonderful memory.  Today has also made me thankful for caring doctors, anti-nausea medicine, gaterade, and the fact that Miejer pharmacy workers work extra fast to fill your prescription if your child is throwing up in their trash can.  Who knew, right? :)  I will have to remember that each time i go to fill a prescription.  :) Anyway, today these are the things I am thankful for!

Rejoice in The Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!  Phillipians 4:4