1000 Gifts and Counting

1140. Read aloud time....seeing how Addi is getting into our routine, calling all the kids to come, sitting in "my chair" ready to listen

1141. Kisses from Katie.....and tears from Charli.......they usually come together, when I'm reading aloud I always end up all choked up and the kids just look at me and shake their heads.
1142. Jake's testimony in church yesterday. What a blessing to hear, knowing the growing never stops:)

1143. Getting to go out to my favorite restaurant and have Bravo's Pasta Yandalino!!! I was so happy.
1144. Hearing Sara's testimony in church yesterday too and how the Holy Spirit uses it to remind me that I am being used to grow people there, when lately I've been full of doubts.
1145. Unexpected hugs
1146. Hanging out with Bakers, it has been sooo long!
1147. Faithful friends who meet on Saturday mornings to love and disciple one another
1148. Email stating reimbursement period has ended for insurance claim, whew!
1149. Isaiah's heart that honors me as a mother in so many ways....now if he'd just be a cuddled too:)
1150. Hearing Maddie and Addi goof off together, cuter than anything and Addi loves her almost as much as me:)
1151. Surprise spa treatment and flowers from Rachelle and Scott.....the love behind the gift meant more than anything

1152. Relaxing time away with just our family at Great Wolf Lodge
1153.  Seeing 6 young men, growing together and growing in the Lord together, voices raised (I'm sure a bit of laughter as well), but praising His Holy name....brings smiles to my dear friend's face and mine as we watch them at BSF

1000 Gifts and Counting

1126. Hearing Nate's voice speaking the Word out loud...soaking it in and cherishing the moment, only to laugh out loud when he ends with, "What?? I don't get this!"
1127. Watching and hearing chickadees and nuthatches after I found some extra birdseed in the garage
1128. Yummy Venison Stew recipe given to my friend, Amy B....now I have another use for all the venison burger we have

1129. Feeling of a burden being lifted as one last painting job is done to complete the Home insurance claim....there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
1130. Paul Davis Restoration, Sunshine Bettelton and Farmers Insurance
1131. Wonderful night studying God's Word. Makes me wanna shout, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!
1132. Free of baseball and soccer, allowing us to be home, had a family dinner, then sat together in living room, reading and doing our own things... So thankful
1133. So thankful for a Saturday cleaning family! Some day, my daughters-in-laws are gonna love me because their husbands will know how to sweep, mop, dust from top to bottom. Thankful for clean home and willing children.

1134. Thankful for family that came out to celebrate with us the official opening of our new church building and Dansville Christian Youth Center. Also thankful for seeing Allie this am and having her sit with our family! Thankful for time to bless God's name with song and friends! Thankful for warm house, good food, family, laughter and Hobbit riddles:)
1135. Thankful for joy on Maddie's face because she finally proved to her dad that she can consistently pull her bow, so he took her hunting. She was stoked! Also thankful for beautiful fall day, walking down Crocus trail to pick Allie up from the bus stop and her chatter the whole way back:)
1136. Thankful for kids on the mend, old trampoline that we bought do many years ago for $50 from the Hummels and have had to have it redeem three times because the kids love it so much, the lion flip that Ben showcased for me and made me laugh as he posed like Alex the Lion:)
1137. Thankful for co-op and friends we've made there. Also thankful for buddies down the road, the Dysarts. God has truly blessed us over the years with so many wonderful homeschooling families to learn and laugh and grow with.
1138. Thankful for Saturdays where we don't have sporting things to take us away all day....Saturday cleaning done, nap taken, games played, and time with good friends
1139. Thankful today for God's work within my kids....I can see his fingerprints all over them and it makes me wanna dance and give Him all the glory. Today as I led worship at our church, looked out and saw Maddie-belle lost in her own moment with her creator, eyes closed, hands lifted to honor Him, not caring what others would think of her but totally focused on HIM! Jake thanking me after worship for pushing him to take his eyes off self and give and serve for The Lord and for not giving up on him when he is being difficult. Zeke's heart to be faithful to God in the details, the little things if life...guarding his tongue in all matters, being kind to those that are ignored or avoided and teaching us all to speak in love. Benny's teasing, laughter and kindness when someone "needs a hug". He is the one to give it. Nater....today ready to apologize on his own, without me having to preach it to him after he lost it with his sister.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

1. 
   
   

   Struggling with yesterday's thankfulness....It's not because I don't see anything good....there are lots of things like watching Maddie and Ben and Ted prepare to go hunting together in the wee hours of the morning, having time to get some things completed and marked off my To Do list, time in Gods Word and how it sets my heart aflame and in awe.... I had these things I was so excited to share with pictures and word....

   BUT yesterday also had something happen that left me and our family feeling sick, angry, betrayed, confused and hurt. And as I watch my children struggle with these feelings, as do I, the Holy Spirit asks, "Will you be thankful in this? Will you be thankful for betrayal, for how evil has touched your children?" And as a believer and lover of Christ, how do I choose to respond?
   
   By will and out of love and devotion for the One who went through worse for me, I choose to respond with a resounding YES! I'm thankful this morning for the betrayal because in this situation I have an opportunity to open my children's eyes to what God is doing in it. He is growing each one of us to be more like Him, to love when others don't love, to forgive when others don't forgive, to let go of the things of this world that don't matter, for the things NOT of this world that do! Thank for Lord for bringing that person into our lives, who unknowingly was used by You and who would open our eyes and hearts up more and more to YOU.
   
   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
   16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A Prayer for Election Day

By:
SCOTTY SMITH
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Rev. 11:15-17
Dear Lord Jesus, it won’t be long before we will stand and sing Handel’s magnificent rendition of the grand affirmation of this text: “And He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings! and Lord of lords! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” It’s hard to believe Advent season is upon us. And yet we don’t really need to wait. Election Day is a perfect day to rise to our feet, or fall to our faces, and worship God with peace-filled and joy-laden hearts.
Lord Jesus, you are the King of kings and Lord of lords. Your reign has already begun and your reign is coming in fullness. Not a breath will be taken from our lungs, nor a day taken from our lifespan, apart from your decree. No premier or president, emperor or autocrat, dictator or potentate is a threat to you, or necessary to your purposes.
Demons tremble at your name and stars sing your praise; fierce hurricanes become gentle zephyrs, and placid lakes become roaring oceans at your bidding. Lame legs walk, deaf ears hear, mute mouths shout at your command. Loved ones are taken to heaven and sufficient grace is given, all in keeping with your purposes, timing and glory. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of our Lord.
On this Election Day, we bow to you and cast our votes. The brokenness in our country, hearts and world leads us to cry out, “How long, Oh, Lord? How long before you return, Lord Jesus, and finish making all things new?” Until that Day, we will seek to “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Pet. 2:7). We will seek to live as good citizens of two kingdoms—the city of man and the City of God. We will seek to adorn the gospel and serve you faith-fully, wherever you place us in the community and culture.
Whatever the results of this Presidential election, (as well as the many, many other offices which will be decided today), we affirm with renewed confidence and in-this-moment gratitude, that you, Lord Jesus, are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Hallelujah, what a Savior; Hallelujah, what a salvation. And you shall reign for ever and ever! So very Amen we pray, in your loving and triumphant name.

1000 Gifts and Counting

1120. Feeling that Spring is coming, spied beautiful crocuses

1121. A gift in water...Rainy Monday...I can choose to focus on the dark, dreary day or on the gift that the rain will usher in growth and life soon
1122. a gift in wind....Listening to Nater read Ephesians 3:14-21
1123. A gift in white....White Internet page...lecrae quote.... Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
1124. days warm enough for kids to play outside

1125. Sound of downpour while in BSF speaking of Gods awesome power

1000 Gifts and Counting

We thank you, O God!!  We give thanks because You are near.

Psalm 75:1

I am so thankful for the big and little things as I clean and box up our belongings.  Here are just a few....

1094.  Large paper drawings that kids have drawn for me over the years that have served as the decoration in my bedroom.  Now they have to be preserved in a photo because the original is in bad condition.

1095.  Reminders on white shirts in my closet that this is real - it's not all in my mind or that all this work is for nothing.

1096. Seeing the boxes begin to stack up....

1097.  Friends who come over to help and work with us....that is a blessing as well...that we can work in the same room instead of working seperately throughout the house.....any time together is a blessing

1098. Pizza & slush to reward hard work!
1099. Blackboard where I can write the reminder for our family that we are bringing shalom into this chaos with our hearts and actions and words

 1100.  More friends!  They played the whole time, but that was a blessing too!

1101.  Handmade gifts that are treasured by us, covered in soot, but we are able to get mostly clean. (this head garland was made by Amy Cooper)

1102.  This rainbow silk was made by Amy Cooper and myself when we lived next to one another on Ash Street.

1103.  Risk frenzy in the midst of chaos....kids having game after game....all precipitated by Nater's constant requests of one and all, "Wanna play Risk with me?"

1104.  Seeing Nater decked out in knight/mosquito protection as he shoots bow.

1105.  Lessons God whispers into our situation as I begin in another room and uncover more soot.  How often we want to deny that there is any sin issue we need to address in our life (similar to Ted's insistance that there was nothing out of the ordinary going on in our house when I would complain of the dirty house or carpets) and also how when we start peeling back and taking spiritual stock of our heart - we begin to see how insidious sin really is and how prevealent it is (just like here in the classroom after I took down our 13 colony timeline).  Only then can we do the work to remove it - first we have to see it!

1106.  Amy B. & KC both supporting, praying, listening to me before I had shalom in this chaos
1107.  Yummy meal that Amy brought that we spread out for days!!
1108.  Sunshine - name and the person behind the name who guides me thru this process

 1109.  Jake's music echoing through the house as I work....makes me smile now! His song about time.

1110.  Natalie letting me borrow more Ray Vander Laan to listen to as I work!  Kids are also listening to him in other rooms.
1111.  Changing my focus off self and onto thankfulness and the reminder that in every circumstance I'm building His church and to be bringing shalom into chaos.

1112.  hearing things like "it's like the sky or heaven", "it's white like us after Jesus washed our sins away", "it's like the color of honey because remember Taste and See that the Lord is good!" coming out of my kid's mouths as they try to convince each other what color they should go with for their rooms

1113.  Time in the Word to refresh my soul....helping me to go to Him for all my needs

Hebrews 4:16 

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  

There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

1114.  Boys - amazing helpers anytime I ask!

1115.  Farmers Insurance - each time I start working in a new area of the house and see all the soot, I whisper how thankful I am for the insurance company covering this - without their help we'd be stuck living in it.  Which in turn - spurns me on to thank Christ each time as well, for the price He paid to wash my sins aways.....Where would I be without Him????

1116.  Washer, dryer and dishwasher  to clean things - each day all are loaded many times with sooty items to clean - every time I pull out something I'm blown away with thankfulness.

1117.  Chemical sponges - lifesaving tool to clean pictures!

1118.  Exhaustion at the end of the day

1119.  Soot.....I am thankful for it, for how it has reminded me once again of what truly is important in this life - what is lasting - what I want to focus on - not on things but on those He has put in my life to love and care for and for His Word!!

Ties You In Knots

Lately, I've felt tied up in knots because of all that seems to lay on my shoulders to prepare our home and family for what is just around the bend - a restoration company coming in to clean our home from top to bottom of soot.  The other day, as I was trying to help Isaiah and Ben work in their room, while I was working in Maddie & Nate's room, I could hear Jake in his room singing away and playing his guitar.    At one point, as I was rushing to go downstairs, I stopped at his door to tell him something he could do to help, but I held my tongue and just listened (totally the Holy Spirit at work!).  He was recording the drums for a song that he was creating, so I just laid on his bed and listened to the lyrics.  This is the song that he was working on and I think God is soooo COOL that He had Jake working on this song right at this time, right when I needed it!  When the song was over, I asked if he would just play it for me and sing so I could enjoy watching him and he did and I was overcome with emotions once again by how gifted he is and how beautiful it is to watch him sing and play.  The song is light-hearted and yet powerful - I love the lyrics at the end of the chorus: "She's the queen of your life, you don't wind her up, she ties you in knots."  I don't want to live this next week, this next month, any moment of my life - at the mercy of this lady and full of regrets....I want to live in the center of Christ's peace - the peace He gives me as I focus my heart and mind on Him. That is what Jake's music did for me that day - God reminded me through a child where my focus should be.  Since that day, my heart's been lighter - I randomly burst out the chorus as I'm cleaning and boxing and bless God throughout the day for this process, this mess, this home, these children, His Word and His love.

Enjoy and be blessed as well!

V1

Eight-thirty, stop by the nearby coffee shop.

Nine o'clock, head off to work.

And at ten, run through your hair with your ten fingers, again.

Ten thirty, finish the papers

Eleven, sip your cold mocha,

And twelve wish you were home...

Chorus

Typical days, spend them in the same ways in a different place;

Day after day, after day, after day, they all start to look the same.

Now if you look at the clock, you'll see she never stops,

She's the queen of your life, you don't wind her up,

She ties you in knots.

V2

Nine o'clock at night, fighting another fight.

Ten-thirty again, throw off the covers and head for the kitchen

After taking a drink, You head for the sink,

Where you look in the mirror again

Wondering if he'll ever be your friend?

Repeat Chorus~

Bridge:

Cut the days in half and you'll get 12 hours

Cut to the chase 'cause life isn't a race

So stop runnin' off the clock again

Time is a'chasin' we all know it

Twenty-seven thousand two hundred and five days

That's all it takes before you're 75 and still looking at the time

You wonder where did it go

You can let that old clock rule you with it's iron hands

Or you can take a stand

Just be a man

Repeat Chorus~