I See Love - Mercy Me - music video

Pushin' with you, girls....

Have you ever been desperate for God? Have you experienced a time when it seemed God had abandoned you? A time when you just couldn't "feel" God's Presence?

Most of you know that my father-in-law passed away right before Thanksgiving. Then....we went right into the holidays. I felt immense pressure being a first year homeschooling family. My church is going through HUGE struggles right now. We have been here since we moved to Iowa- for 13 years- this is my family. And of course, just "life" seemed to deal me a blow at every corner. Andrew has been asking tough questions about his faith and God (he is 14). Bills, laundry, the cares of home of family....

I found myself avoiding God. Instead of crying out to Him, I ran away from Him. There were plenty of distractions to keep me busy....the Wii, the computer, the TV, activities....anything to avoid facing the "work" of allowing God to heal my heart.

Boy, the enemy LOVES when we do this. It is a perfect opportunity for him to kick us when we're down. He brings everything possible into our lives to further discourage us- a forgotten bill to pay, a cold, fighting kids- you name it. You know, "what ever CAN go wrong DOES go wrong!" And, then he whispers in your ear, "You're a failure. You are not good enough. You are unloved. No one appreciates you. God isn't there."

Sisters, know those are COMPLETE lies from the enemy!

I (you) are loved. Yes, I could never be "good" enough, but thanks be to God, I don't have to be! I am perfect in Christ! In Christ, I am MORE than good enough....in Christ I have everything I need and His grace is sufficient for me. I am NOT a failure, but "more than a conqueror" in Christ Jesus. God appreciates me. He has numbered the very hairs on my head. I am "precious and honored" in His sight. God is here. He has never left me. He calls to me. Whispers to me.

"I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. I am with you wherever you go."

So, as I walk through this wilderness, the Promised Land in my sight, I cry out like David, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name, I will lift up my hands."
I am at Laced with Grace today sharing about SPIRITUAL BATTLES and how I fought this latest one.... I hope you jump over there to read it!

Also, THANK YOU so much for all of your prayers as I have been walking this road. Many days they have truly gotten me through. Thank you, friends.

Worry, me????

"Don't Worry 'bout a thing...Cause every little thing will be all right..."
-Bob Marley from the song, "Three Little Birds"

I love this song from Bob Marley. As I ponder the words I am reminded of how easy it is for me to get caught in the trap of worry. There is so much to do- the house to be cleaned, mountains of laundry to wash and put away, errands to run, the monthly bills to be paid.....

There are so many "little things" of life to fill our minds with, not to mention any difficult trials that we may face. For me, it is all of the little, mundane, nit-picky things that are nagging at me....

Yes, I can get caught in worry.

But Jesus said, "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

God takes care of the birds. If He loves and cares for these simple creatures, won't He provide everything I need today? Won't He provide the time I need to take care of my family, my home, and my job? Won't He help me to prioritize my time? My worrying WON'T add any minutes to my busy day, but God can supernaturally help me accomplish all that HE CALLS ME TO DO (notice I said what HE CALLS ME TO DO)! After all, didn't He stop the sun for Joshua so that the battle would be won?

Jesus continued, "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat, what shall we drink, what shall we wear?' For unbelievers run after these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough of worry of its own." (Matthew 7:25-34)

I don't need to worry about all of these "little things." When I first seek His Kingdom, when I get down on my knees, surrendering my time and my day and my details- the "little things," He is working it all out. If He takes such good care of the birds and the flowers, how much more will He take care of ME- His treasured possession, the apple of His eye, made in His image??????

The enemy would like for us to take our eyes off of the King, caught in a trap of worry, feeling depressed, fatigued, worn out, stressed out- but God says, "Let me take care of it!" Or, as Bob Marley says, "Don't worry about a thing...cause every LITTLE thing is gonna be all right..."

God cares about us! He cares for His Creation!
Many times, we can fret and worry and become distracted with our circumstances and discouraged with our troubles...
But Jesus tells us that our Father in Heaven is watching over us.
He cares about the birds of the air.
He cares about the flowers in the field.
And, if He cares for these "little" things-
how much more does He care for you-
His precious daughter-
made in His image?

So, today, give Him your worries.

Give Him your concerns.

Trust in Him~rest in Him.

He cares.

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength."

-Corrie Ten Boom

Father God, thank you that you care for me. Thank you that I am precious to you. Thank you that you will give me everything I need! Today, I will "be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to you." Thank you God for your loving kindness and care. I present my laundry, my chores, my family's health, and whatever weighs upon my mind TO YOU. Thank you that you are taking care of it all. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.

I loved this video....especially to remind myself in a new year!

Prayer for 2011

Less of ME

more of YOU.

God, less of ME in all the areas of my life......

....less of my whining.

....less of my selfishness.

.....less of my criticizing.

....less of my selfish ambition.

MORE of YOU.

More of Your GRACE.

More of Your LOVE.

MORE of YOU....

...in my actions.

....in my thoughts.

.....in my WORDS.

Lord, I want to shine YOUR Light this year. I want to radiate YOU....not me. I want to be "the sweet aroma of Christ." I want to be filled with ALL the fullness of Christ. Lord, help me to put aside ME and allow YOU to flow through me. I love You, Lord.

A prayer for YOU, dear Reader-

May God be gracious to you and bless you and make His face shine upon you. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon you- establishing the work of your hands. May 2010 be a wonderful year full of His gracious blessing. May it be full of PEACE, JOY, LOVE, and GOODNESS. May this year be a year that we all draw near to Him, basking in His Grace and His Presence. I pray that you, too, will seek Him with all of your heart.