So as I am making my way through the Old Testament I came upon some verses in Psalms that I thought were very uplifting for this Monday morning. Hope you enjoy and they uplift and encourage you today:
Psalm 73:21-26
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 86:11-13
Teach me your way, O LOrd, and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your anme forever.
For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
Have a great week:)
Monday, October 22, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Pinterest...need I say more!
I really try to limit my time on the computer...really, I do! But when it comes to pinterest I could spend hours! I have to watch the time and limit myself when I am on there. Besides the DIY stuff, holiday decor ideas, recipes, clothes...okay I could go on! I love the quotes that I find, the sarcastic ones, the funny ones, and of course, the quotes from the bible. The one I found yesterday rang true for me and so I wanted to make sure to share it:
"Because when everything else is chaotic and out of my control, my RUN is mine!" I think it is important that we all have at least one thing in life that we can do when we are stressed or we need a "therapy" session. For me that is either dancing and these days running. When I was younger and was dancing 2-3 times a week, dance was my therapy. If I was frustrated, mad or sad I would start class not knowing what to do, about the problem or situation, by the time class was finished I would have an answer. For the last 5 years my therapy has been running, I know crazy!
In the last 5 years things at times have been very chaotic and out of control(to me, I know, not to God) but when I go for a run, for however long I am going for...life for me falls into place and it is peaceful. I get to control how long I am gone, how long I go for, and how fast! Not to mention, the time I am gone, I can talk to him and pray and listen to worship music that helps me to focus on what he would want me to do.
I think that is the hard thing for Christians, yes, we gave our lives to Christ, but then to actually be out of control is hard! Therefore, I believe God gave each one of us one or several things we can do to help us stay focused on him and his promises. Sometimes, I think he even gives us things, like pinterest, just to make us happy! If we find our, peace in the midst of chaos, it makes it that much easier to let go of the bigger things...the things HE NEEDS to control:)
"Because when everything else is chaotic and out of my control, my RUN is mine!" I think it is important that we all have at least one thing in life that we can do when we are stressed or we need a "therapy" session. For me that is either dancing and these days running. When I was younger and was dancing 2-3 times a week, dance was my therapy. If I was frustrated, mad or sad I would start class not knowing what to do, about the problem or situation, by the time class was finished I would have an answer. For the last 5 years my therapy has been running, I know crazy!
In the last 5 years things at times have been very chaotic and out of control(to me, I know, not to God) but when I go for a run, for however long I am going for...life for me falls into place and it is peaceful. I get to control how long I am gone, how long I go for, and how fast! Not to mention, the time I am gone, I can talk to him and pray and listen to worship music that helps me to focus on what he would want me to do.
I think that is the hard thing for Christians, yes, we gave our lives to Christ, but then to actually be out of control is hard! Therefore, I believe God gave each one of us one or several things we can do to help us stay focused on him and his promises. Sometimes, I think he even gives us things, like pinterest, just to make us happy! If we find our, peace in the midst of chaos, it makes it that much easier to let go of the bigger things...the things HE NEEDS to control:)
Friday, October 12, 2012
Challenge Friday!
As I make my second journey through the bible cover to cover, I realize how important it is to do it! It is very important to know the morals and values which most christians base their life.
I am choosing to do this in three months...because I know me and if it takes longer than that, I will lose patience and attention span! However, there is no designated time in which you need to read his book. You can choose to do in 3, 6 or even 12 months. My feelings are that God doesn't care how long it takes us or what we choose to read, as long as we engage ourself in his word and his promises.
His word and promises are what is going to get us through those rough trials and rough days when we think we can't make it. By reading and meditating on his word we will instantly be able to refer to that and we will be able to keep our eyes looking forward:)
Challenge: To pick a part of the bible and just start reading...Good Luck!
I am choosing to do this in three months...because I know me and if it takes longer than that, I will lose patience and attention span! However, there is no designated time in which you need to read his book. You can choose to do in 3, 6 or even 12 months. My feelings are that God doesn't care how long it takes us or what we choose to read, as long as we engage ourself in his word and his promises.
His word and promises are what is going to get us through those rough trials and rough days when we think we can't make it. By reading and meditating on his word we will instantly be able to refer to that and we will be able to keep our eyes looking forward:)
Challenge: To pick a part of the bible and just start reading...Good Luck!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
My new favorite...
I think every new fork in the road that God walks us through he gives us either a verse, song, quote or someone that is going to be our strength through that rough time! It has been true for me in the last 11 years since I have been saved! Usually it's a verse...however, this time it's a song and it's by Sanctus Real! The title is Whatever You're Doing...
For this whole entire year our life has been a whirlwind...
1. we listed our house on the market in January
2. bought a new jeep in April
3. became licensed foster parents
4. had 4 foster children in one month(2 at a time, stayed for a week each)
5. got a full time foster child
6. have had tons of showings and open houses
7. found Silena's dairy allergy
8. medicine quite working for craig and I
....and I forgot to mention became youth directors!
This whole entire year has been nothing but a waiting game and a very uncertain waiting game! But like the song says as much as I feel my world has been turned upside down I know God is doing something bigger than me, something heavenly. I also know that he has a plan and all the things listed above will be worked out in his time...as much as my daily life is chaos right now...there is also peace!
Some of you have asked how we are going to deal with the fact that our foster child may be reunified with his parents, my theory is, that is what he deserves! Will it be hard...absolutely! My family and I have fallen in love with this child and we feel he has become a part of our life. If this happens God will be right there and he will offer us the grace and mercy to grieve the loss of this child. I have definitely had my share of bad days the last couple of weeks, but I keep feeling God telling me this....We need to feel honored that he picked us, out of all the foster parents in portage county, to be a part of his story!
As we all go through different "forks in the road" God gives us whatever he feels will help us the most and the best way that he can let us know he is here guiding us through these situations:)
P.S. Please pray that the best decision is made in the case of our foster child
For this whole entire year our life has been a whirlwind...
1. we listed our house on the market in January
2. bought a new jeep in April
3. became licensed foster parents
4. had 4 foster children in one month(2 at a time, stayed for a week each)
5. got a full time foster child
6. have had tons of showings and open houses
7. found Silena's dairy allergy
8. medicine quite working for craig and I
....and I forgot to mention became youth directors!
This whole entire year has been nothing but a waiting game and a very uncertain waiting game! But like the song says as much as I feel my world has been turned upside down I know God is doing something bigger than me, something heavenly. I also know that he has a plan and all the things listed above will be worked out in his time...as much as my daily life is chaos right now...there is also peace!
Some of you have asked how we are going to deal with the fact that our foster child may be reunified with his parents, my theory is, that is what he deserves! Will it be hard...absolutely! My family and I have fallen in love with this child and we feel he has become a part of our life. If this happens God will be right there and he will offer us the grace and mercy to grieve the loss of this child. I have definitely had my share of bad days the last couple of weeks, but I keep feeling God telling me this....We need to feel honored that he picked us, out of all the foster parents in portage county, to be a part of his story!
As we all go through different "forks in the road" God gives us whatever he feels will help us the most and the best way that he can let us know he is here guiding us through these situations:)
P.S. Please pray that the best decision is made in the case of our foster child
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Food for Thought
Did you know that the word Trust or a form of the word is mentioned over 100 times in the bible? And out of all the books in the bible...it's mentioned the most in Psalm. I thought that was very interesting! It is said that the more one word is mentioned in the bible the more important it is...That makes you think doesn't it?
The definition of trust is: firm belief in the honesty and reliability of another. It had me thinking this morning during my very beautiful fall run, why is it so hard for humans to trust another? For a majority of us our needs are meant from the time we are born. We are fed, changed, held and loved by several people and anytime we cryed we were reassured that everything would be okay. But where does that trust break down for those of us that grew up with a stable household? Were we tramutized as a young adult, got a broken heart, had great loss or really let down by the people that supposedly loved us? We trust those that we see and when that is broken we automatically put up walls and don't let anybody else near until we fully believe they are capable of handling all of us. Why is it so hard to trust someone we can't see?
Here's a thought: Shouldn't God be the one NOT to trust us? We as humans screw up on a daily basis...and some of us royally! We have made mistakes from the beginning of time and yet, he still loves and still wants us as his children. He knows that it is hard to trust someone you can't see but that is why he forgives us everytime we cry out in frustration. He understands that sometimes we need just to vent to him and he knows we don't mean it. I think it is amazing that he sent his son for us when we really don't deserve his trust.
As hard as it is we NEED to trust him and believe in each situation he is going to work all things for our good! Whether it's the answer we want or not it's what's best. So even though it's a hard concept at times...think about it....he trusts us when we don't deserve it, shouldn't we be able to trust him?
The definition of trust is: firm belief in the honesty and reliability of another. It had me thinking this morning during my very beautiful fall run, why is it so hard for humans to trust another? For a majority of us our needs are meant from the time we are born. We are fed, changed, held and loved by several people and anytime we cryed we were reassured that everything would be okay. But where does that trust break down for those of us that grew up with a stable household? Were we tramutized as a young adult, got a broken heart, had great loss or really let down by the people that supposedly loved us? We trust those that we see and when that is broken we automatically put up walls and don't let anybody else near until we fully believe they are capable of handling all of us. Why is it so hard to trust someone we can't see?
Here's a thought: Shouldn't God be the one NOT to trust us? We as humans screw up on a daily basis...and some of us royally! We have made mistakes from the beginning of time and yet, he still loves and still wants us as his children. He knows that it is hard to trust someone you can't see but that is why he forgives us everytime we cry out in frustration. He understands that sometimes we need just to vent to him and he knows we don't mean it. I think it is amazing that he sent his son for us when we really don't deserve his trust.
As hard as it is we NEED to trust him and believe in each situation he is going to work all things for our good! Whether it's the answer we want or not it's what's best. So even though it's a hard concept at times...think about it....he trusts us when we don't deserve it, shouldn't we be able to trust him?
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
A phrase I dislike!
A post once every three months...wow, I am on a roll! I have been so busy over the last couple of months, although writing has been on the back of my mind for that long. I love writing...it allows me to vent without caring what anybody else thinks. I hear this phrase a lot(not so much anymore) but I heard it the other day and it just got under my skin: Welcome to parenthood!
Seriously, I have been a mom for 5 years...I am NOT a new mom! To me this phrase almost makes the person sound better because they have experienced it before you did...so what! Who cares when we experience different parent only things. For example, I have been a mom for 5 years and I finally got a mom brain last weekend and completely got times wrong for a friends birthday party. I was completely shocked, I am naturely a very organized person so I hadn't experienced that yet...but when I got to the party I was told "Welcome to parenthood" like I was a new mom!
If you think about it...everybody is a new parent several times in their life! When your oldest starts walking, starts talking, goes to school, becomes a teenager, graduates and moves out! All those experiences with your oldest child makes you a new parent. After that with your other children your not a new mom anymore! I don't think we should tell anybody that...even if they are brand new parents....they now they are inexperienced they don't need reminding. We should be supporting each other and say "I just did that," or "you know what helped me, when I did that." And when parents have child number 2 they are NO longer new parents.
It doesn't matter how adults become parents, if they have the desire in their hearts then God will help them become parents. Just because some parents and children are not blood related that doesn't take away the different phases of being a parent. Those of you who have never adopted...those children's birth certificates are changed the day the adoption is finalized!
No one wants to hear "Welcome to Parenthood," people know the day they get pregnant or adopt a child their world has just changed...they don't need us parents shoving in their faces that their experiencing all these things. I knew the day Silena was placed with us that my world had just been changed. I loved having all those mom experiences...in fact I still cherish them...it reminds of the blessings God has given me:)
Seriously, I have been a mom for 5 years...I am NOT a new mom! To me this phrase almost makes the person sound better because they have experienced it before you did...so what! Who cares when we experience different parent only things. For example, I have been a mom for 5 years and I finally got a mom brain last weekend and completely got times wrong for a friends birthday party. I was completely shocked, I am naturely a very organized person so I hadn't experienced that yet...but when I got to the party I was told "Welcome to parenthood" like I was a new mom!
If you think about it...everybody is a new parent several times in their life! When your oldest starts walking, starts talking, goes to school, becomes a teenager, graduates and moves out! All those experiences with your oldest child makes you a new parent. After that with your other children your not a new mom anymore! I don't think we should tell anybody that...even if they are brand new parents....they now they are inexperienced they don't need reminding. We should be supporting each other and say "I just did that," or "you know what helped me, when I did that." And when parents have child number 2 they are NO longer new parents.
It doesn't matter how adults become parents, if they have the desire in their hearts then God will help them become parents. Just because some parents and children are not blood related that doesn't take away the different phases of being a parent. Those of you who have never adopted...those children's birth certificates are changed the day the adoption is finalized!
No one wants to hear "Welcome to Parenthood," people know the day they get pregnant or adopt a child their world has just changed...they don't need us parents shoving in their faces that their experiencing all these things. I knew the day Silena was placed with us that my world had just been changed. I loved having all those mom experiences...in fact I still cherish them...it reminds of the blessings God has given me:)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Since it has been almost exactly 4 months since my last post...I should catch everyone up with what has been going on. We have been so busy since Feburary that is why I haven't blogged.
We felt a strong tugging on our hearts toward foster care. So we started the paperwok and application process again and will be official foster parents on Monday. We just really felt that if God wanted to grow our family that way that we were stopping him from being able to do his work. We are licensed for newborn-1 year olds. We want to be able to experience what it's like to have a baby! We are very excited to be able to minister to children through this way.
We also took over the youth ministry at our church. Which, Craig has had a strong desire for since he was a teenager himself. We absolutely love it and just completed a huge fundraiser for the youth that will help them go to camp.
We are getting over a VERY rough period with Silena(that is a post in itself). Through prayer and therapy her behavior has done a complete 180 and I now feel like,for the first time, in a long time...we are connecting as mother and daughter. She has become my favorite person(besides Craig) to hang out with.
We also took the huge leap of putting our house on the market. We would really like to move and get a little bigger of a house. We have found one that we have completely fallen in love with and now all we need, to do, is wait for ours to sell. We would really like to be able to take on multiple foster kids at once and the only way to do that is to have a bigger house. This house was never our permanent plan and the house we are in love with, we can completely see ourselves in for a very long time.
So please agree with us in prayer for the following:
-youth group growth
-a foster child who needs our love
-our house to sell
-everything to work out with the new house
-continued guidance in parenting Silena
We felt a strong tugging on our hearts toward foster care. So we started the paperwok and application process again and will be official foster parents on Monday. We just really felt that if God wanted to grow our family that way that we were stopping him from being able to do his work. We are licensed for newborn-1 year olds. We want to be able to experience what it's like to have a baby! We are very excited to be able to minister to children through this way.
We also took over the youth ministry at our church. Which, Craig has had a strong desire for since he was a teenager himself. We absolutely love it and just completed a huge fundraiser for the youth that will help them go to camp.
We are getting over a VERY rough period with Silena(that is a post in itself). Through prayer and therapy her behavior has done a complete 180 and I now feel like,for the first time, in a long time...we are connecting as mother and daughter. She has become my favorite person(besides Craig) to hang out with.
We also took the huge leap of putting our house on the market. We would really like to move and get a little bigger of a house. We have found one that we have completely fallen in love with and now all we need, to do, is wait for ours to sell. We would really like to be able to take on multiple foster kids at once and the only way to do that is to have a bigger house. This house was never our permanent plan and the house we are in love with, we can completely see ourselves in for a very long time.
So please agree with us in prayer for the following:
-youth group growth
-a foster child who needs our love
-our house to sell
-everything to work out with the new house
-continued guidance in parenting Silena
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