Gopher wood?

So reading I have been compelled by God and sheer curiosity about Noah & this ark.

The instructions are so detailed. 
Exact type & size of wood, how to fashion it, even make it waterproof...

There definitely was a plan for this! Noah listened and obeyed. 
Every thing as done according to what God said.

He also had a plan on what was to go inside 2 of every kind....
Male and female....

Enough food to feed everyone... Really? 
I end up going to the store 2 times a week cause I forgot something...

A master plan from the Master.

Noah got to keep his wife, their sons and daughter in laws. They would repopulate the earth once this event was over.

They took animals to sacrifice and keep up their religious traditions. 

Which tells me something else was on the ark...
Sin.

God closed the door on the ark.
It was not done by human hands.....

Think about that!
Could every ear hear that door as God closed it? 
Or did He do it with such a quiet, no one even noticed?

God guided Noah with detailed specific instructions,
Does he do that for me today?

Or am I too busy listen to a sermon, reading a book, or watching a man incessantly knocking on a door saying "Penny, Penny, Penny".

All the things we fill ourselves with.... Maybe God wants us to weed out some of the "noise".

Before Noah got his instructions it says, God's heart was deeply troubled about the state of man.(Genesis 6)

This past Sunday, Pastor Scott made us sit in church for 2 minuets to listen for God.
IT WAS THE LONGEST 2 MINUETS OF MY LIFE!!!

Sounds like I need to take some time out and search for some gopher wood.
 

A Change of Season

The cool temperatures and grey skies are bringing it out in me.
The leaves crackling under my feet and the amazing smell of my neighbors first fire of the season in his fireplace almost make it official.
It is a change of season.

I love it.... pumpkin bars, candy corn, turkey....
Next it will be Christmas lights, egg nog, and cookies.

The change of the actual weather seasons enjoyable.
The changes that come with life, those changes are not so easy for me.

I am going through and amazing change in my season with one of my kids.
It seems the ones that effect me are the ones that have the strongest ties to my heart.

And since I am a momma, anything having to do with my kids is right there. Next to my heart.

Lately, I have been pondering the change that Noah went through.
He knew a change was coming.

God told him" I am going to put and end to all people"(Gen.6:13)

My change is no where near as drastic as that.
But my anxiety has me worrying....
how far this change will reach into my heart and family?

Just like Noah took refuge in the ark where God kept him dry and safe, I need to take refuge in God.

He will not leave me and will keep my heart safe.
It may hurt a bit.
It may transform my thinking and soften my heart. 

Trials and change move us from season to the next.
And in our next season someone or something might be missing.
But God promises to fill us where we are lacking. (Col. 1:9)
Hopefully, I can remain strong and come out on the other side looking more like Christ.

Charlie Brown says "Good Grief!".... I say God is in my grief.

Loss hits hard and fast sometimes, and in many forms.

On Tuesday last week I lost my final grandparent. It was hard even though we were not physically or emotionally close.

I think the reason I am struggling with it so much is that he was spiritually close to me. 
Grandma and Grandpa Lucas were the ones who never gave up on us and always let us know that God had a special place for us in His family.
They passed on a spiritual heritage to me that I will forever be grateful for.

Another loss is a slow loss of a close relationship. 
Someone I love is going through this and it seems like a similar loss.
This is more the kind of loss due to the lack of emotional closeness.

And the third is a idea that I had placed in my head in regards of how I wanted something in my childs life to take place.  That dream was dashed and now I am left with an emotional void, to an imaginary loss.

In these cases God promises to make the loss become a gain. 
In Philippians 3:7, But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Though these things are hard right now and they make us uncomfortable on this earth. These losses make us more refined like pure silver. Our refined silver goes into our crowns that we will throw at the feet of Jesus.

The great theologian, Charlie Brown use to say "Good Grief!" all the time when Lucy would exasperate him.

This week when I am exasperated, I am saying "God is in my grief "  


 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6

Consumption

Consumption:
That word is both positive and negative....

Of course I tend to gravitate towards the negative. Over eat, over talk, over use, over do it.....
The list could go on and on.

I am learning(the hard way) that I need to focus on the more positive aspect.
Consume only what is good.

Feasting on what is good to me is reading God's word. I love looking at harder scripture, thought provoking,convicting, verses that make me self examine who I am and what I am becoming and doing for Christ .

In a world and a culture, that throws out barely used items, half eaten food, or better yet, "I had to get the latest version" , I am so glad that the word of God is NEVER changing, & ALWAYS there. 
It is COMPLETE and ready for me.