Sunday, April 25, 2010

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:1,2,6
Praise the Lord.  Praise God in his sactuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness...Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! 

Friday, April 23, 2010

Isaiah 40:25-31 (The Message)



25-26"So—who is like me?

Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.

Look at the night skies:

Who do you think made all this?

Who marches this army of stars out each night,

counts them off, calls each by name

—so magnificent! so powerful!—

and never overlooks a single one?



27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob Karrie,

or, whine, Israel daughter, saying,

"God has lost track of me.

He doesn't care what happens to me"?

Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come and go. God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.

And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don't get tired,

they walk and don't lag behind.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

So many times in my life, Jeremiah 29:11 has brought me comfort, through Katie's hospitalizations, through infertility and our miscarriage, through our failed adoptive plans, through so many dark days.  It is so comforting and encouraging...but what's more comforting, to me, is to read on, because he gives us detailed instructions on what to do next!  I need specific instructions (on a neon sign lowered down from heaven! Ha!) To know that He promises to listen to us, it's wonderful!  He knows the desires of our hearts...before we even ask him!  Then he says we will find him when we seek him with all our hearts!  I am SO ready to seek him with all my heart today! 

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.  Psalm 95:8

If I hear him say, "it's going to be ok", I will not harden my heart.
If I hear him say, "I love you", I will not harden my heart.
If I hear him say, "there is hope", I will not harden my heart.
If I hear him say, "I'm going to bless you", I will will not harden my heart.

I just want leave it gaping open, soft like jell-o, for Him...please, Lord, help me stay open to hear You today!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

In God's Heart...Happy Birthday, my sweet girl!


To Katie, my sweet, almost 10 year old girl:

In God’s heart, you are…
created
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. PSALM 139:14 NIV
chosen
The Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession. DEUTERONOMY 14:2 NIV
celebrated
He will take great delight in you…
He will rejoice over you with singing. ZEPHANIAH 3:17 NIV
cherished
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. JEREMIAH 31:3 NIV

Source:  http://www.incourage.me/

Sis, I love you so incredibly much!  You are my sweet girl!  You have such a beautiful, generous heart!  I love you with all of my heart! I hope you have a beautiful birthday tomorrow!  Love you sooooo much!!
XOXOXOX
Love,
Mama

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Gobble, gobble!

Just wanted to be sure and share Katie's big accomplishment!  She shot her very first turkey this past Tuesday!  He was 24 lbs, 10.5" beard, 1" spurs!  She was so proud, and Dad was BEYOND proud! 

Friday, April 16, 2010

On the eve of 2...

Oh sweet boy, I can't believe you will be two years old tomorrow!  I remember being on cervadil this time two years ago, getting some little contractions going, so incredibly excited that you would be with us the next day.  The next few days (and honestly weeks) were a blur with the unexpected c-section and recovery.  I couldn't believe how blessed we were to have you!  It was amazing just holding you in our arms, looking into your pretty blue (but slightly crossed) eyes!  You were amazing!  Two years later you are ALL boy!  Into everything!  Exploring every single bit of the world around you, obsessed with opening every last tea bag and dumping it onto the floor, into every drawer, every shelf where you're not supposed to be!  You climb out of your crib at least 3 or 4 times each night before you finally give in to sleep, you would much rather play until you give out and snuggle in Daddy's arms on the couch.  You want your tricycle AND your wagon inside if you must stay in, but you would prefer to LIVE outside!  You love playing with Hoss and Jake, you love "bees" (birds), and the (mewn) moon at night.  You love "Melmo" and showing us the boo-boo's on your knees.  You love trains (choo-choo's) and tractors (trattors), and you climb into the driver's seat of every riding lawn mower you see (even if they aren't ours!)  You give the sweetest dimpled smiles, you have the prettiest, biggest, bluest eyes!  You run to us when we come in the door.  When you snuggle against my chest with your legs and arms tucked into your belly, it melts my HEART!  When you say Mama and Dadda and Sissy, sometimes I get goosebumps, because we have YOU and I HEAR you saying my name!  You are an amazing blessing from God, little nugget.  We're so in love with you!  I love you!
Love, Mama

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Red letter words...

Jesus himself, said these words.  They are printed in red in my NIV study Bible.  I HAVE to believe that they are true!  I HAVE to believe that HE loves our little family, and wants the best for us!  I HAVE to trust!  Please Lord, help me be faithful in my TRUST in you! 

...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matt. 6:8

Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matt 11:28-30

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Excited and Blessed!

Good morning!  Yesterday was my first day in the office with our new Pastor.  Kris watched Asher for me, and I was able to get some things done there.  I think Pastor Melton is going to be great for our church, just exactly what God wants for us right now! 

Yesterday after my devotion time, I just felt like I needed a "sign" from God, that he was still with me, that there was hope in him.  I felt a little bummed. And guess what...He is faithful (and he didn't even have to prove himself...I know he's there and he loves me)!  Our realtor called and said that an agent wanted to show our house at 7:45 pm!  I had a burst of hope and energy, and came home and cleaned the house from top to bottom for 4 hours!  We haven't heard how the showing went, because it was so late in the evening.  We also have an appointment to show it Thursday, so we're praying, praying, praying that out of these two we will have the opportunity to sell our home!  It would be such an amazing blessing!  But as much as I want to sell it *now*, I would rather wait on HIS timing...I just want to be obedient.  We are so hopeful! 

I have decided on some ideas for the kitchen in the new house!  For paint we're going with a very light sagey-spring green, it's called, "Green Herb" by Dutch Boy.  I think I am going to try and convince Kris to put up a beadboard backsplash in a creamy white, and possibly some fresh trim around the ceiling to match.  I think with my white dishes on top of the cabinets, and my distressed PRAY sign and white rooster and chickens, it will be very farm-house-ish and pretty and fresh!  I can't wait!  I am on the hunt for an affordable cover for my kitchenaid mixer.  I use it almost every day, but it's red, not sure how it will look against the fresher, lighter colors...we'll see!  And...so excited about this...Sabrina went flea-marketing yesterday and found a white milkglass cake stand for me, for $12!!!!  Thank you SABRINA!  You rock, and you're the best! 

I'm so excited about moving to the country.  When we went out on Sunday, the lilacs were starting to bloom, and they smelled so wonderful!  There are so many beautiful plants, bushes, and even a willow tree!  Kris learned to use a tiller yesterday, so I think we're going to have a little garden this year with stuff for homemade salsa! Yum!  We're just praying and hopeful that we can move out there very soon!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...

Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.   ~Psalm 37:3-7

There are so many words that speak to me in this little part of Psalm 37, especially the part about trust.  I have been struggling so much lately in trusting that things are going to work out for us with selling the house, moving to the country, and being almost debt free.  I think it could be my doubt and disbelief that are causing the delay.  "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him", it's right there in black and white, what the inspired word of GOD tells us to do, and yet I struggle every day with this.  Lord, I am begging you to help me with my doubt and fear and mistrust!  I just want to be obedient, I want to be optimistic and cheerful, I want to have faith (even as tiny as a mustard seed)!  Please help me to do this today, I want to trust you, O Lord...there is no one else that my hope can be in!

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives it's name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21
*********************************************************
This is so encouraging to me!  I know I just need to focus on God's love, and the love that we have as a family, it is so much more important than "knowing" everything!   If we can just be patient, and wait for God's timing on selling the house, it might just be immeasureably more than we ask or imagine!  Lord, please help me be optimistic and renew my FAITH!

Sunday, April 04, 2010

He has Risen!

The angel said to the women,  "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay."

Thank you, Lord, for laying your life down on the cross for me.  Thank you for your love!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Springtime Mantle!

Hi!  Just sharing my mantle for springtime with the talented bloggers who read A Soft Place to Land!  I am so inspired by all of you, and wanted to share mine!  I keep the Give Thanks piece up year round, because I just love the quote and message, so I kind of decorate around it.  All of the white pieces and the blue pitcher were picked up at garage sales and a few local thrift stores.  The birdhouse on a stand came from Hobby Lobby on clearance a few years ago.  I made a little moss ball, with at tutorial from someone (so sorry, can't remember who!) It was so easy and cute, can't wait to make more!  I picked up the little bunny at a garage sale on Friday afternoon and had him spray painted and on the mantle by Friday night at 11pm!  Ha!  I {heart} spray paint!  The little bird is from $ Tree and is nested in a cute coffee cup!  Thanks so much for stopping by and please comment to let me know you visited!