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.
Kids
The reason I do what I do!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, October 7, 2013
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
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
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, September 23, 2013
I am sick...
Blogging Break.....Forced, not by choice.
Like I said I am sick....
The Lord brought me to a place where I had to come to a halt and deal with myself.
Anxiety has been a master of mine for far too long.
Becoming aware of my illness and learning to cope has been and will continue to be an on going process.
My challenges come and go and stress is a major factor for me so stepping back and taking time to heal has been slow. But at least it happened over the summer while the pool was up.
I have hurt people, the anxiety pushed me to do and say thing I would not normally. I was broken and needed a cure.
Unfortunately a cure comes daily and slowly. But because I have the loving support of my husband, kids, family, and friends, and a damn good therapist, I am mending.
My mending has come in many forms fear, crying, begging, apologies at first and finally a repentant heart.
Until I became repentant it was controlling me. I was grasping at straws to get my way and living in fear.
In regards to mending the Bible says:
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Matt 9:16
I was making things worse. I am being restored. It is God who is doing my mending. In Ecclesiastes 3:7 we are told "there is a time to tear and a time to mend".
It goes on to say in 3:11 "He makes all things beautiful in His time" and "He has set eternity in my heart".
I am HIS CHILD! And nothing can snatch me from His care. He will restore what I have torn and make "ALL THINGS NEW". (Rev.21:5)
I want to thank my husband, Todd for his love & support, Rachel & Dan for extending grace and forgiveness, Kollette for being there as God's hands to guide me.
Like I said I am sick....
The Lord brought me to a place where I had to come to a halt and deal with myself.
Anxiety has been a master of mine for far too long.
Becoming aware of my illness and learning to cope has been and will continue to be an on going process.
My challenges come and go and stress is a major factor for me so stepping back and taking time to heal has been slow. But at least it happened over the summer while the pool was up.
I have hurt people, the anxiety pushed me to do and say thing I would not normally. I was broken and needed a cure.
Unfortunately a cure comes daily and slowly. But because I have the loving support of my husband, kids, family, and friends, and a damn good therapist, I am mending.
My mending has come in many forms fear, crying, begging, apologies at first and finally a repentant heart.
Until I became repentant it was controlling me. I was grasping at straws to get my way and living in fear.
In regards to mending the Bible says:
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Matt 9:16
I was making things worse. I am being restored. It is God who is doing my mending. In Ecclesiastes 3:7 we are told "there is a time to tear and a time to mend".
It goes on to say in 3:11 "He makes all things beautiful in His time" and "He has set eternity in my heart".
I am HIS CHILD! And nothing can snatch me from His care. He will restore what I have torn and make "ALL THINGS NEW". (Rev.21:5)
I want to thank my husband, Todd for his love & support, Rachel & Dan for extending grace and forgiveness, Kollette for being there as God's hands to guide me.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
No More Easter Bonnets
They use to be so little, love to dress up, and want to wear Easter bonnets.
Where did my little girls go?
To all the young mom's CHERISH IT!
It goes by so fast.
But more importantly... TREASURE IT!
The word says store up "TREASURES IN HEAVEN"
How do I do that as a mom??
Help her build a FIRM foundation. On Christ ALONE.(Luke 6:48)
Not in a degree, a job, or a husband.
Placing her feet firmly on this foundation will help them not slip away.
Help her form herself into a woman of NOBLE character.(Prov 31)
Teaching diligence & discipline will help her be secure in herself but more importantly in her GOD.
Help her be HARD WORKING.(Ecc 5:16)
Not that they have to constantly be "doing"
But that what she does, do it for God's glory not mans.
Help her to SUBMIT to authority.(Job22:21)
That is where she will find His peace.
Help her see her FAULTS.(Eph 4:2)
In doing this she will become humble and gentle.
Help her be PURE.(Eph. 5:2)
Sacrifices now are a SWEET AROMA the LORD.
All these things will help her be transformed into a woman who fears the LORD.
The bonnets have gone away in our house,
Some day soon she may be placing a veil on her head and walking a long isle.
I want her to be able to walk up the isle with those treasures stored up in HEAVEN & HER HEART.
Where did my little girls go?
To all the young mom's CHERISH IT!
It goes by so fast.
But more importantly... TREASURE IT!
The word says store up "TREASURES IN HEAVEN"
How do I do that as a mom??
Help her build a FIRM foundation. On Christ ALONE.(Luke 6:48)
Not in a degree, a job, or a husband.
Placing her feet firmly on this foundation will help them not slip away.
Help her form herself into a woman of NOBLE character.(Prov 31)
Teaching diligence & discipline will help her be secure in herself but more importantly in her GOD.
Help her be HARD WORKING.(Ecc 5:16)
Not that they have to constantly be "doing"
But that what she does, do it for God's glory not mans.
Help her to SUBMIT to authority.(Job22:21)
That is where she will find His peace.
Help her see her FAULTS.(Eph 4:2)
In doing this she will become humble and gentle.
Help her be PURE.(Eph. 5:2)
Sacrifices now are a SWEET AROMA the LORD.
All these things will help her be transformed into a woman who fears the LORD.
The bonnets have gone away in our house,
Some day soon she may be placing a veil on her head and walking a long isle.
I want her to be able to walk up the isle with those treasures stored up in HEAVEN & HER HEART.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Wood, hay, and straw
Listening to a sermon this morning got me thinking....
The pastor mentioned that most of what we do will be burned up and only the precious gold and jewels will be left when we stand before God.
So I dove into 1 Cor. 3:11-13 looking at it it looks pretty simple, but as I thought about wood hay and straw I came to several conclusions:
1st they are temporary.
They can be destroyed by fire, they can rot, they can be eaten by animals.
2nd they can not stand alone.
They must be bound together,mixed with something else of substance to make them work. Like nails in the wood to hold it together. And they use to put straw in with clay to make bricks back in Biblical times.
3rd they are not that valuable and were in abundance.
Every forest had wood and every farmer and family had hay for living andd live stock.
So what are my wood, hay, and straw??
Is it my volenteering, my time with friends?
Maybe it is more like the time I waste on the computer,
or the mindless tv I watch.
But it could also be good things
that God does not really want me to focus on.
Where is my focus?
Is it on PRECIOUS things?
What is Gold, Silver, and Jewlels to him?
Praying LORD that you show me this morning what is PRECIOUS IN YOUR SIGHT. That I can focus on those things and start getting rid of the things that will burn up and do not matter to you.
The pastor mentioned that most of what we do will be burned up and only the precious gold and jewels will be left when we stand before God.
So I dove into 1 Cor. 3:11-13 looking at it it looks pretty simple, but as I thought about wood hay and straw I came to several conclusions:
1st they are temporary.
They can be destroyed by fire, they can rot, they can be eaten by animals.
2nd they can not stand alone.
They must be bound together,mixed with something else of substance to make them work. Like nails in the wood to hold it together. And they use to put straw in with clay to make bricks back in Biblical times.
3rd they are not that valuable and were in abundance.
Every forest had wood and every farmer and family had hay for living andd live stock.
So what are my wood, hay, and straw??
Is it my volenteering, my time with friends?
Maybe it is more like the time I waste on the computer,
or the mindless tv I watch.
But it could also be good things
that God does not really want me to focus on.
Where is my focus?
Is it on PRECIOUS things?
What is Gold, Silver, and Jewlels to him?
Praying LORD that you show me this morning what is PRECIOUS IN YOUR SIGHT. That I can focus on those things and start getting rid of the things that will burn up and do not matter to you.
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