Goodbye Numbness-I am Alive!

So many of you have already heard me go on and on about my new favorite book One Thousand Gifts by my new favorite author, Ann Voskamp. But I really cannot say enough about how God is using this book to help put everything into focus for me.

When I say everything I mean, my relationship with my husband, my role in our home, my relationship with my kids, and even this blog but it's all more clear because I have a deeper understanding of my most important relationship in Christ.

Sure, I'm a Christian of five years and sure I know how I should love and treat my family and how I should act. Let's face it though ladies, people (especially those we live with) are not always so lovable (and often times neither are we). And sure we're taught as Christians to love one another as Christ loves us (John 13:34), not to return evil for evil (Romans 12:17), and God has a good purpose for all things (Romans 8:28) but how do we practically apply all that knowledge of scripture?

Ann goes into great detail how God taught her the art of giving thanks. He led her to a place where she now gives thanks for 1000 daily gifts, big and small, from how the sun glistens on a soap bubble in the sink to the smile of a child.

Since reading the book I started pondering what is it I want, long for, yearn for, what is it I feel I'm missing? On a rare occasion when I was alone, driving to the grocery store on an emergency milk expedition, God revealed this to me... Numbness. I don't want to feel numb.

One of my greatest fears is to wake up one morning feeling as if I never took it all in, this life that is, and with it all the experiences and gifts that God gives. I don't want to waste this life God's blessed me with by focusing on what I don't have but instead giving Him thanks for what I do have.

I want to use this life to glorify Him more, to bring joy and love into the lives of my husband, my kids, and all who God places in my path. I want to take time to just sit and watch how a toddler marvels at a butterfly, or how a ten year old burrows his eyebrows low and sticks his tongue out during an intense Wii battle, or how my husband's face lights up when he comes into the room and sees me and the kids playing together.

The bottom line here, and point to my ramblings, is I don't want to miss God's gifts, His good and perfect gifts in ALL this life offers. All means just that...even when my husband shows his irritation AGAIN, or when my son forgets to make his bed AGAIN, or when the baby torments the cat AGAIN, or when I lose my cool towards the kids AGAIN... I can make the choice to give thanks even in those circumstances! And yes girls, it IS a choice. A choice that God backs you up on if you're willing to trust Him and to wait on Him. (Dt 31:8)

Psalm 33:20

We WAIT in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

So far in giving thanks, I have learned it takes my focus off the negative and instead the light of all the positive shines through. I can take even life's frustrations and stop and say "Thank you Lord. Although this situation is hard, I know it is here for a reason and you are allowing it in my life to strengthen my faith in you. What will you have me to learn from it? How can I glorify you through it it Lord?" Wow, what a difference this has made in my attitude towards my husband and kids! It allows me to set that peaceful tone in our home that I keep saying I want more of. Finally, I am learning it all starts with giving thanks to the Lord.

Will YOU thank the the Lord and start today by making a list of ALL the good gifts He's blessed you with today? As we approach Easter and ponder Christ's death, burial and Resurrection, I think we can safely say He is trustworthy, He loves us and He is faithful!

Have a blessed day everyone and start counting! :)

Visit Women Living Well Wednesdays, Ann Voskamp's site for Walk With Him Wednesdays and Internet Cafe Devotions for Word Filled Wednesdays

Word Filled Wednesday- Trusting the Lord

Yay, it's WFW's again! I haven't participated in awhile just simply because of a crazy schedule but I'm so glad I'm doing it again today. Sometimes I can get carried away with the blogging thing (addicted at times you may say) and WFW's gives me a way to honor and glorify God through blogging. How cool is that? If you would like to join just visit 100AcreWoods.

So my verse this weeks is Proverbs 3:5-6. This is one that the girls in my accountability small group suggested for me. I have been trying to memorize it by carrying it on a note card in my pocket with me all day. I pull it out and read it at times I feel myself getting stressed, angry, worried or pretty much any emotion that's conveying that I'm not completely trusting Him.


This verse is such a great reminder to me that God loves me so much and wants to bless me if only I would trust in Him and follow His lead. He will guide my path and set me on solid ground but I have to be willing to follow Him instead of making my own trail. I find it tempting to just forge ahead through life without really stopping to reflect on God's word or pray before a decision is made. I have learned many lessons that are a result of doing the OPPOSITE of this verse. So I can tell you going your own way and trusting in yourself to do things does not work! Thank you Lord for being my great Counselor!

WFW- Peace

It's Word Filled Wednesday's again! Today I would like to focus on the amazing peace and quietness that our soul can be filled with by trusting fully on God!

I'm sure I'm not alone in this but often times we can get comfortable in our faith. We can be so comfortable in our faith that we can say we trust God and even trust Him completely even through a trial... until a trial comes that is and we REALLY have to trust Him!  Well that's where I have been the past week.  There has been trial after trial and not just tiny ones like losing car keys or spilled milk!  But God has been amazingly faithful in putting certain individuals around me to remind me that He is in control and that my actions speak louder than words.  I learned that through my actions last week, which I can now admit were NOT God honoring, were a result of not trusting in God.  By not trusting in the Lord what I was really saying, God is not a good God, He doesn't love me, and He's not a merciful enough or powerful enough God to give me the grace to get through this.

As you can see my pastor's wife did not sugar coat things when she was counseling me on this. Thank you so much for being straight forward Janet!  So once she got this into my thick skull, I realized how prideful and sinful I was being and repented.  

As I was seated in court Monday (sorry, I shouldn't discuss details) I could honestly believe and live Phil 4:7.  Thank you Jesus!  

It was just one of the greatest feelings in the world to sit there and honestly and truly be at peace with whatever the judge through our way.  The hardest part was knowing our innocence and knowing that even with that truth she may not let things fall in our favor despite our innocence.  Trusting God was crucial through this and knowing that whatever the judge's decision was was what God was allowing and would use it.  The peace in my heart that I felt was like receiving a BIG HUG from the Lord himself.

I feel like my trust in Him was good but now it's more than I could ever have imagined.

I pray that everyone can and will know this kind of peace, it's amazing!

Go visit 160 Acre Woods for more inspiring photos and verses.

Word Filled Wednesdays

I know Wednesday's almost over but I've been wanting to participate in Word Filled Wednesday's for awhile. A blogger hosts it over at 160acrewoods .

I chose this verse because I think it's so easy for us to get caught up in everyday happenings, good or bad, and forget to just simply rejoice in the Lord! I also think we take the wonderful gift of our undeserved salvation for granted. We should be doubly rejoicing of the hope and joy of our salvation is in our Lord Jesus Christ!

This verse helps me put all the "crud" we're dealing with right now into perfect perspective.