This day..

I like so many others love music. The right song can pick me up and get my heart focused in the right direction so quickly. Like so many of you we are going though a hot spell here in the midwest. Our apartment is rather warm and I hate to admit that I do not handle the heat well. I get crabby and lazy. Today was one of those days that I was headed in that direction. 


Then I spent sometime in the sprinkler with several of my children. That helped a lot. While I was not wanting to get wet at first, I ended up in a water war with my 10 year old son and ended up soaked. That was fun and cooling. I was very thankful for that. 


Came inside and started to do the dishes. I had an mp3 player on my cell phone, so I was listening to some songs and then one of my favorite came on. It is an older one by Steven Curtis Chapman called This Day. I love the lyrics to this song, especially this part..


"Who knows what tomorrow’s light will bring
Tears to cry or maybe songs to sing out loud
But only God can see that far away
And He made us for living day by day
‘Cause He wants us to see
That the God that He’s been every day of historyIs who He is this day"

Remember this day is a new day, this moment is a new moment. The stress from a moment ago can be in the past. if you just release it to God.

But even if he doesn't....

I have known the story of Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-nego since I was a young girl. I have read the story time and time again. (If you don't know the story you can read it in Daniel 3 or Here on Blue Letter Bible and read it.) I am sure I have read the words before, but the other day God really brought them out to me.

Dan 3:15 NASB - "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
Dan 3:16 NASB - Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
Dan 3:17 NASB - " If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 NASB - "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Do you see it? They knew God had the power to save them, but even if he didn't they would choose to obey and follow.

There are areas in my life that I know God has the power to change, but even if he doesn't I will choose to follow and obey. This can apply to even the smallest areas of our lives. Like giving up soda. 

What have you read that all of a sudden God shows you something you had not seen before. 

overwhelmed

What do you do when you are overwhelmed?

It is a very common thing in my home to have more then 1 child who needs my help or attention for something. It is one of those times that I am thankful for my older kids cause they are able to help me. However they have been gone much this summer and I am left to take care without their help.

What do I do... breathe. Sometimes, most of the time, simply taking breath and putting a smile on my face makes things so much easier.

Then I pray and ask for wisdom. Jam 1:5 NASB - But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

God is ready to give us wisdom.

Pro 2:6 NASB - For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 NASB - He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

 

working on the weight loss

Well I have been kinda working for the past week or so at really losing weight. today I am kicking it into gear and making sure I track what I eat.

My weight loss attempts are something that is keeping me down. I feel like such a failure. I have never been able to lose weight and now things keep getting worse. I am however going to cling to God and let him do the work.

My first goals right now are..

• Track my food. Even if I go over my calorie goal, I will track.
• No soda. I love to drink soda. I may try and limit to say one can every other day, but for now I am saying no. 
• Exercise just 10 minutes a day. (Today was 15 minutes)

When 8 kids becomes 5 for a week

So this week is a quiet week in my home. There are currently only 5 of my kids home. Now I know for many who may read this blog that will still seem like a lot of kids, but to me it is almost boring.

So where are my oldest 3 kids? Well one is at camp for the week. This is one of her favorite times of the year. She spends the week learning about God, swimming and just simply being with her friends. It is also a hard time for her as she is one of my shyer kids. She often has a hard time making new friends. And because of where her age falls in regards to the other kids in our church that go this camp she often misses out on rooming with them. This year however she was able to room with 2 at least 2 of her friends from church. She also has 2 camp friends that I hope she got to room with.

My other 2 are on a missions trip with Student life. They went with a group from church. One child is doing a backyard VBS and one is doing some sort of gardening. I will know more about what they have done when they get back.

So what am I up to? Normal life. :) Laundry, cooking, cleaning homework. The hardest part is dealing with the baby without my older ones. I don't realize how much having them around to hold the baby helps.

I am praying for them and if you think of it could you pray that God will work in their lives.

Personal convictions....

A few years ago I realized that even as Christians we do not always agree on everything. Sure there are things that there are no this way or that. We are saved by grace through faith that is it. However, I have seen how God gives us different convictions based on what he wants us to do and how we can best reach those lost that are around us.

For years my husband and I have been convicted to allow God to plan the size of our family. This has allowed us to share many many times on how God continues to provide.

Our choice to homeschool as well has given us a chance to share our faith in God and what we believe.

I have a dear friend that has come to salvation and our family has played a part in her seeing God's love. I think if our family was different she may not have been as open.

Promoting my daughter

I am very proud of my daughters blog. This one was hard for me to read, but it was well written. She is sharing a little bit about being homeless...
http://princessfaithm.blogspot.com/2012/04/story-to-give-hope-to-homeless-part-2.html