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Monday, December 31, 2007

God is great is 2008!!

Ok, I know it's corny, but at least it rhymes!! hahaha

Let me start with a few quick comments about my weekend. It was an AWESOME time!! Jimmy hasn't been happier and slept like a log with all his "babies" under one roof!! The kids had such a great time together and so many times I found myself just sitting back, watching and often moved to tears at how good God has been to me! To give me such an AMAZING man, 3 INCREDIBLE kids that I adore and to be stepmom - and now mother-in-law - to these kids who have grown up to be so WONDERFUL! My stepson is the youth pastor at his church, my daughter-in-law works as the secretary over the maintenance dept at their church and my stepdaughter is a Junior in high school and co-captain of the cheerleaders at her Christian school. She has also started a Bible study night with the squad. AMAZING! Kids thrown into the drama of divorce at such a young age, now grown and serving the Lord! THAT is a testimony of the power of God!!!

Ok, so with 2008 breathing down our necks and this being my last post of the year, I wanted to just share a few things the Lord has been speaking to me about. First, is His faithfulness and I think the above paragraph kinda explains that!! Second is His provision. God equips us for whatever He calls us to do. Sounds simple, because it IS simple! Lately He's been showing me that I am the one who makes that process difficult. I mess up His plans with my unbelief! He lays things out, opens doors for me and then I sit here going, "Are you sure?" "You really don't mean that for me, do you?" "I am certainly not equipped for THAT!". Rev. Airton Pupo, our Brazilian church minister spoke at church last night on Mark 6 where Jesus returned to Nazareth but the people there "blew it" with their unbelief. They didn't stop Jesus' power but "He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them." Mk 6:5. It's not that he "couldn't" do it, He is after all God, it's that their unbelief caused the consequence of His "limited" power. It's like Jesus held back miracles in their lives because they refused to just believe. That hit me like a ton of bricks! In my notes last night I wrote "How many times has Jesus been amazed at my lack of faith?".

Thirdly, this morning my "God Calling" was titled "Jesus the Conqueror" and here's a line or two or three! haha "'Thou shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.' And in that word "sins" read not only vice and degradation, but doubts, fears, tempers, despondencies, impatience, lack of Love in big and little things. Jesus. 'He shall save His people from their sins.' The very uttering of the name lifts the soul away from petty valley-irritations to mountain heights. Jesus. Say it often. Claim the power it brings." Is that good stuff or what? Then my devotional reading this morning was all about worry. “Worry” literally means “to be pulled in different directions”. The old English root from which we get our word “worry” means “to strangle”. Worry literally strangles our peace and honestly, has no place in the hearts of women.
· Worry is a control issue.
· Worry is wasted energy.
· Worry is consuming and unhealthy.
· Worry is a joy thief.
· Worry is the interest that we pay today on tomorrow’s problems.
· Worry is practicing atheism. (OUCH!)
· Worry makes everything seem bigger than it really is!

When we choose to trust God, we are choosing against worry. Isaiah’s prayer of faith should be our prayer as well. “You, Lord, give true peace. You give peace to those who depend on you. You give peace to those who trust you.” (Isaiah 26:3 ICB) It is simple. God rewards our trust with His peace. How is must hurt the heart of God to see His children caught in the trap of negative attitudes when His plan is a peaceful mind-set. We will never minister in freedom and power until we consistently choose against worry and deliberately choose to trust God alone. " (these words came from Mary Southerland)

This weekend while window shopping with my 3 daughters we saw a sign that said "Don't change the way you look, change the way you see." If I could sum up 2007 with one sentence that would be it. God changed the way I look to the way I see! In 2008 I do not want to make a list of resolutions that I'll break the first week and spend the rest of the year beating myself up over, but I will simply see. I will do my best to see with the eyes of God. To see that it's NOT about me! To see that I am responsible to take care of my temple, but it's not about how fat or skinny I am, or my hair color, or my newly found wrinkles. To see that it's NOT about what people think of me, or if my clothes are "in" or if my shoes are old (and believe me THAT one is a struggle for me cause I LOVE me some shoes! haha). To see that what my year is about is telling others about Jesus. About showing Jesus to my kids. About showing Jesus to my friends. About loving the way Jesus loves! My prayer for 2008 is that God will show Himself greatly in me, in my life and in the lives of all the ones that I love!!!

Ya'll be safe tonight and I'll see ya next year!!!!
Sing it with me now.... After all it's all about love, love, love, love, LOVE!!!



2 comments:

Kim said...

What an awesome entry today - and I know that your hubby was thrilled with what you did for him over the weekend. And I just love your plan for the new year - thanks for helping me "see" resolutions in a new way. Happy New Year!

Lysa TerKeurst said...

Hey-
Thanks for stopping by my blog. It was a joy to pop over to yours and read your great post today. I love the Mary Southerland quote. And great pics of your precious family!!!
Happy, happy new year~