Today I have been reflecting over the past 6-9 months and it had been so good for me to do.
Sometimes I can get frusterated with unanswered pray - I have been in a place today of asking God "Where are you" This faith walk can be weary and lonely and somethings I have been praying for years and have not seen God move in some situations... but God reminded today of the past and about His faithfulness in the big things and little. And yes He is active and alive in my life, in my families life and He is on the move. He is wrting a story and teaching me so many things along the way.
We are studying about Abraham in church - I love what his life represented - i always have. Rod was giving this picture of toddlers who are just learning to walk and they are always looking to hold their daddy's/mommy's hand and when they have success they giggle with delight and so does daddy/mommy. That is what Abraham did when he left everything when God asked him to walk.
I love that picture. i feel that way so often - like a toddler learning to walk in this journey we call faith. A tiny step of faith for me is a big deal and takes a lot of effort - but I'm finding out that there really is no greater delight than to walk in the courage given to me by the Holy Spirit and seeing my Heavely Father and expereincing His hand - holding me the whole time and working things out in His time.
He just says walk - I've got you - hold onto me dear one - set your eyes on me - only me - come on child. And I fall and stumble, A lot of the time I get frusterated and throw tantrums when I fall - but My Heavenly Father is slow to anger, abounding in compassion and love.
So reflecting on these last few months has been humbling - so much answered prayer in my life, in my family and friends lives.
Here's just a snapshot of God happenings in my small world.
God has faithfully provided work for Kevin - something we used to take for granted but now know that God is our only Provider. And through this season of walking into the unknown with Kevin and his business, it has strengthened our marriage. it has made us see that we are desperate for Jesus. It has been a hard time but incredibly sweet for us a husband and wife.
We were praying "God fill our house or sell it" - God brought Lisa and Neal into our lives. They moved here 1 1/2 years ago from Detroit - i met Lisa on the bleachers at a baseball game. Neal goes to school with Sawyer. Lisa and Neal needed a place to land for a little while and so they moved in with us for 6 months. It was a sweet time. Today Lisa is one of my clsest friends. A sister in Christ. She is one of the bravest, strongest woman i know. She is a single mom raising a godly boy - she pours her life out for Neal. She loves the Lord Jesus so much and He is her everything. Neal is a like a son to our family - He is a great kid - we count it a gift that God has brought them into our family.
On August 3, they found duplex to live in - in Byron - not far away. The same day - my brother and sister-in-law that have lived next door to us for 10 years - sold their house.
Change... we had our home for sale for 1 year and they put their home on the market and God sold it in two months. WE always thought that we would be the ones pulling out first. But although there were may tears - tears of joy and grieving of what we were saying goodbye to - God's grace was poured out. So incredibly happy for them. They needed a place to land for a month and so our basement being empty again.. So God filled our home again for a short sweet time.
And we have had chels with us since May. Chelsea is someone so special to our whole family. A dear friend from church and she was just coming off an internship from the Boiler Room - a prayer house in Grand Rapids. She too, needed a place to land to figure out the next place to go, and to see God reignite His flame in her - to see her transform before our very eyes and see healing take place has been a gift for us to be part of. God displays His splendor in her and is unraveling piece by piece - His plan for her. So thankful for Chels.
Our kids have started school again. Sawyer, Ally and Brayden all went into new building this year. Logan stays put this year. God has been so faithful again. So much answered prayer has been see in each other their lives. Even though this school year has come with its own challenges - we have been able to take it Jesus in prayer and see him work.
But as the kids grow - especially the older one - I am realizing that my prayers matter more now than ever. We are raising them in a cruel world - a world where, looks, smarts, athletics, are what make you "popular". A place where people are only looking out for themselves, and a place where there is so much broken. I quess that is the way it always has been - It is one thing for me to expereince it - but having your child expereince the yuck of this life is hard - but in those times they also expereince their Heavenly Father's heart. GRACE!!!
Oh my heart crys out on behalf of them that God's Spirit would circumise their heart, teach them, and that they would have hearts of flesh - hearts tender toward the Kingdom of Jesus. It has been so humbling to see God answer this prayer - and even though my kids have a long way to go - just like me. God is doing some neat things in their lives.
I've had the joy of being on the front line of seeing God lead my sister's family on the road of adoption. they have two beautiful children from coloumbia and have been praying that God would enlarge their family. He has given them two beautiful columbian sisters who are waiting in columbia to join my sisters family and us (the extended family). Watching the valleys and the mountiantops of their walk of faith has been heartbreaking and miraculous. And it takes them to Caroline and Marta. God is a great story writer.
God has done so much for me - I have to ask myself - what if God didnt answer one more prayer - would His love he has for me through Jesus be enough. I struggled with that yesterday.
I want to be an oak tree - strong and firmly planted in HIM. when the wind blows I dont want to budge - but declare that my God is good and He is worthy of my everything. That Jesus is my all in all.
Sometime I get tired of praying for the things God can do - I know He loves those prayers - but what I found to be life giving to me today was to sit at His feet and just put my thoughts on Him and all of His Glory and His Love.
I love the song by David Crowder: which has minstered to me so much lately.
He is jealous for me
He loves me like a huricane
I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions and ecplised by glory
And I realize just how beatuiful you are, And how great your affections are for me.
He loves us (me) oh how He loves us (me)
We are his portion, And He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, then we are sinking
So heaven meets earth like an unseen kiss
My heart turns violently in my chest
I dont have time to maintain regrets
When I think how He loves us - oh how He loves us
He loves me - oh how He loves me
Sometimes I can get frusterated with unanswered pray - I have been in a place today of asking God "Where are you" This faith walk can be weary and lonely and somethings I have been praying for years and have not seen God move in some situations... but God reminded today of the past and about His faithfulness in the big things and little. And yes He is active and alive in my life, in my families life and He is on the move. He is wrting a story and teaching me so many things along the way.
We are studying about Abraham in church - I love what his life represented - i always have. Rod was giving this picture of toddlers who are just learning to walk and they are always looking to hold their daddy's/mommy's hand and when they have success they giggle with delight and so does daddy/mommy. That is what Abraham did when he left everything when God asked him to walk.
I love that picture. i feel that way so often - like a toddler learning to walk in this journey we call faith. A tiny step of faith for me is a big deal and takes a lot of effort - but I'm finding out that there really is no greater delight than to walk in the courage given to me by the Holy Spirit and seeing my Heavely Father and expereincing His hand - holding me the whole time and working things out in His time.
He just says walk - I've got you - hold onto me dear one - set your eyes on me - only me - come on child. And I fall and stumble, A lot of the time I get frusterated and throw tantrums when I fall - but My Heavenly Father is slow to anger, abounding in compassion and love.
So reflecting on these last few months has been humbling - so much answered prayer in my life, in my family and friends lives.
Here's just a snapshot of God happenings in my small world.
God has faithfully provided work for Kevin - something we used to take for granted but now know that God is our only Provider. And through this season of walking into the unknown with Kevin and his business, it has strengthened our marriage. it has made us see that we are desperate for Jesus. It has been a hard time but incredibly sweet for us a husband and wife.
We were praying "God fill our house or sell it" - God brought Lisa and Neal into our lives. They moved here 1 1/2 years ago from Detroit - i met Lisa on the bleachers at a baseball game. Neal goes to school with Sawyer. Lisa and Neal needed a place to land for a little while and so they moved in with us for 6 months. It was a sweet time. Today Lisa is one of my clsest friends. A sister in Christ. She is one of the bravest, strongest woman i know. She is a single mom raising a godly boy - she pours her life out for Neal. She loves the Lord Jesus so much and He is her everything. Neal is a like a son to our family - He is a great kid - we count it a gift that God has brought them into our family.
On August 3, they found duplex to live in - in Byron - not far away. The same day - my brother and sister-in-law that have lived next door to us for 10 years - sold their house.
Change... we had our home for sale for 1 year and they put their home on the market and God sold it in two months. WE always thought that we would be the ones pulling out first. But although there were may tears - tears of joy and grieving of what we were saying goodbye to - God's grace was poured out. So incredibly happy for them. They needed a place to land for a month and so our basement being empty again.. So God filled our home again for a short sweet time.
And we have had chels with us since May. Chelsea is someone so special to our whole family. A dear friend from church and she was just coming off an internship from the Boiler Room - a prayer house in Grand Rapids. She too, needed a place to land to figure out the next place to go, and to see God reignite His flame in her - to see her transform before our very eyes and see healing take place has been a gift for us to be part of. God displays His splendor in her and is unraveling piece by piece - His plan for her. So thankful for Chels.
Our kids have started school again. Sawyer, Ally and Brayden all went into new building this year. Logan stays put this year. God has been so faithful again. So much answered prayer has been see in each other their lives. Even though this school year has come with its own challenges - we have been able to take it Jesus in prayer and see him work.
But as the kids grow - especially the older one - I am realizing that my prayers matter more now than ever. We are raising them in a cruel world - a world where, looks, smarts, athletics, are what make you "popular". A place where people are only looking out for themselves, and a place where there is so much broken. I quess that is the way it always has been - It is one thing for me to expereince it - but having your child expereince the yuck of this life is hard - but in those times they also expereince their Heavenly Father's heart. GRACE!!!
Oh my heart crys out on behalf of them that God's Spirit would circumise their heart, teach them, and that they would have hearts of flesh - hearts tender toward the Kingdom of Jesus. It has been so humbling to see God answer this prayer - and even though my kids have a long way to go - just like me. God is doing some neat things in their lives.
I've had the joy of being on the front line of seeing God lead my sister's family on the road of adoption. they have two beautiful children from coloumbia and have been praying that God would enlarge their family. He has given them two beautiful columbian sisters who are waiting in columbia to join my sisters family and us (the extended family). Watching the valleys and the mountiantops of their walk of faith has been heartbreaking and miraculous. And it takes them to Caroline and Marta. God is a great story writer.
God has done so much for me - I have to ask myself - what if God didnt answer one more prayer - would His love he has for me through Jesus be enough. I struggled with that yesterday.
I want to be an oak tree - strong and firmly planted in HIM. when the wind blows I dont want to budge - but declare that my God is good and He is worthy of my everything. That Jesus is my all in all.
Sometime I get tired of praying for the things God can do - I know He loves those prayers - but what I found to be life giving to me today was to sit at His feet and just put my thoughts on Him and all of His Glory and His Love.
I love the song by David Crowder: which has minstered to me so much lately.
He is jealous for me
He loves me like a huricane
I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions and ecplised by glory
And I realize just how beatuiful you are, And how great your affections are for me.
He loves us (me) oh how He loves us (me)
We are his portion, And He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, then we are sinking
So heaven meets earth like an unseen kiss
My heart turns violently in my chest
I dont have time to maintain regrets
When I think how He loves us - oh how He loves us
He loves me - oh how He loves me
