Rumblings of Joy

I love the rumblings of a spring storm. I especially like the rumbling that commences in a continuous rolling thunder that lingers and rattles the windows of my home. I love the sound and smell of the rain that falls and the lightning that radically illuminates the sky. I appreciate the freshness in the air that ensues ~ thanks to the storm. For some, storms are unnerving. For me, they can be relaxing.

The rumblings of the storm comfort me. They bring me joy! They remind me of the mightiness of a God who loves me and cares for me. The rumblings remind me that our great God is in control. They remind me that God is with me ... All the time! The rumblings of this most recent storm, while I lay in my bed last night, are God's awesome confirmation that spring is here. Our wondrous God has brought much needed moisture to our parched and dry land. He is faithful in the face of doubt, he again has delivered what we have prayed for.

I delighted in the rumblings as I lay in my bed. I reveled in the beauty of the sounds around me. The clap of thunder, the pitter patter of water on my window, the tap tap of tiny hail on my roof, the drip drip dropping of water off of my roof, the gentle wind breezing against the exterior walls of my home. I delighted in the flashes of lightning that lit up the sky and my room. I melted at the sound of my 13 year old son's voice at my door as he needed reassurance that we were not being whisked away by some violent tornado as those in neighboring southern states were experiencing last eve.

Joy in the midst of a storm. A "real" storm ... not a life storm. I love a thunderstorm and I love to dance in the rain! God's greatness through a real storm reminds me of God's greatness in the storms of life. God is big! He is bigger than all of our life storms. He is a God of wonder. I love when his thunderstorms remind me that he is big. Big enough.  Big enough to handle all of my troubles and my cares. Big enough so I don't have to be in control. Sometimes it takes a thunderstorm of giant proportions to remind me that He is God!

Through it all I praise Him. I praise him for the thunderstorms and I praise him for the storms ... the storms of life that grow me; the storms of life that make me stronger.

"And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"
   ~ Casting Crowns, "Praise You in this Storm"

No matter what the storm ... God always leaves us with a rainbow and plenty to praise Him for!

Journey of the Soul

Lord of all the earth, I'll shout your name, shout your name. Filling up the sky with endless praise, endless praise. Yahweh! Yahweh! I love to shout your name O Lord! (Credit to Tim Hughes, "At Your Name").

I have taken a few journeys in my lifetime. Journeys of different kinds. Some with family. Some with friends. Some consisting of a few days. Others perhaps only a few hours. Some journeys are filled with laughter. Some are filled with tears. Some with both. Each journey has a specific purpose ~ maybe it is a vacation, a weekend getaway, a simple trail hike, a soul searching walk, or who knows.... As we all know, journeys can be those of the heart, of the soul, of the psyche, of our endurance, of our courage. They can be journeys of strength and testing. Regardless of the purpose, I have come away from each journey with something learned or something gained. Strengthened in body, mind and spirit.

While all of the journeys of my life are memorable, there are those that stand out as soul searching journeys. These are the journeys that stretch me and test me. They bring me closer to my God and teach me to cry out to him. To exhibit courage and reliance on him. To place my faith in him and to trust him and to believe not only in his ability to carry me through, but in my own ability to succeed and endure. God's grace is enough for me. His mercy endures forever. He will never leave me hanging. That is why I so enjoy the journeys of my life that allow me to test my endurance and my reliance on him.

Let's say I am something of an adrenaline junkie...as it pertains to hiking. I don't really like doing things that are scary, but I do enjoy adventures that test me physically and through that physical testing, they test my mental strength and the level of my faith. These adventures involve mountains and trails and hiking and soul searching. You see, there is nothing like a good hike to test my soul. For starters, who can deny God's presence and the feeling (and filling) of the Holy Spirit when one is in the great outdoors? The nature, the beauty, the creation that God has gifted to us to enjoy. What a blessing it truly is. His fingerprints are all over it. Lord of all the earth I shout your name!  The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice ~ Psalm 97:1

My faith and endurance have been tested on the great Pikes Peak Barr Trail over the course of 13 plus miles and an ascent of 7,000 feet to over 14,000 feet in fog, drizzle, wind and snow; on the climb of 14,000 foot Mount Sherman in extreme and truly "Colorado" conditions ranging from sunshine to wintery, windy, blustery cold conditions at the top; or the trail to Lake of the Clouds as it ascended over uneven, rocky terrain at high altitude to the beautiful reward of clear, cool, pristine lakes surrounded by glorious green; or St. Mary's Falls Trail that seemed it would never end as we climbed and climbed in search of the beautiful waterfalls; or perhaps the favorite Red Canyon trail that somehow trapped us with a thunderstorm ~ how frightening yet exhilarating it was and how therapeutic was the laughter from that day; or perhaps a climb of the infamous Manitou Incline and the absolute mind over matter that it takes to reach the top in the 1 mile and 2000 vertical feet ascent and how amazing it is that I have gone back not twice, but a third time to endure it. Perhaps it's the challenge that keeps me coming back to these trails and endurance tests, perhaps it's the camaraderie and encouragement of the friends along side, definitely it is the growth I experience in faith and in my calling out my God as I find my way. It is a journey of the soul ~ a searching of who I am.

My most recent trip to the Incline had me more anxious than I have ever been in approaching it. I cannot say why I was so unsettled by the thought of climbing it, but more than ever I had to rely on my faith and on the encouragement of my companion that day. Once reaching the base of the Incline, my jitters waned and I was ready with adrenaline pumping. I looked up. Looked at the Incline, looked at the summit, looked at Pikes Peak, looked at the clouds, looked beyond the clouds and set my sights on God and fnishing this journey strong. We started our step climbing which seemed easy at first. Conversation flowed as we trekked along. It didn't take long for my breath to become labored as the altitude started to increase and steps became steeper. As we climbed, my confidence faded, my legs became fatigued and my oxygen compromised. I had to stop more frequently as we climbed higher. I started to doubt my ability. As I stopped to catch my breath, I uttered prayers for my companion that day, that she would be encouraged and press onward to the top. I prayed for other hikers on the trail. For their safety, for their endurance as they gasped to catch their breath. One particular gentleman concerned me, but he too pressed on. This journey of strength is not an easy one for this soul. I continued on and as I did, I continued to call upon my God. I freely prayed to him ... step after grueling step. I also uttered the words of the Lord's Prayer as I climbed. One word for each step I took. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. Stopping every 100 or so steps to glance at my companion, check on her, encourage her, and continue on. Continuing on in my journey of the soul. Looking upward to my God. Searching .... ever searching for the strength I needed to complete the journey.

Together, we completed this journey on this recent March day, my companion and me. We finished the race. We finished it strong. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith  ~ 2 Tim. 4:7  As we reached the summit, I praised my God. I praised him for the strength I had to complete the journey to the top. And at the top we reveled in his glory. I gave him the glory for me completing the task I set out to accomplish. For he is good and is worthy of all of my praise. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Cor. 10:31  

This journey, like all of the others before, was truly rewarding at it's summit and at it's end. For at the summit and all along the way, creation sang it's story. In the sky, in the trees, in the clouds, in the rising sun, in the story of creation all around us. The story of all that is good and great and created by God for our enjoyment, for our recognition, for our praise. How can one not praise the mountains and skies, the beauty all around.

My life is a journey. It is a journey of the soul ~ a searching of who I am. I am a child of God. Dependent upon God and upon my savior Jesus Christ to carry me through the good times and the bad. To him I give the glory for all. I proclaim his goodness, his greatness, his righteousness. He is the God of all. I love to shout your name O Lord!

The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. ~ Psalm 97:6 

To you all, I wish you a journey ~ a journey of the soul.

The Storms of Life

Life brings sunshine and happiness. Life brings laughter and joy. Life brings pleasure, fun and rewards. Life brings meaning to our days in more ways than we can comprehend. Life can be amazingly complete as we revel in all that we have and all that God has blessed us with. We rise each day and go through the motions . At times everything just seems to simply exist, perfectly. Day in and day out life moves on. It rolls like clock work and we fail to give it another thought. We fall in to the routine of normalcy. Life is good and life is blessed.


And then the wicked ugly clouds roll in. Darkness overtakes us. The storm commences. Thunder cracks and lightning strikes. Hail pounds against us. Raging winds threaten to destroy us. Drenching rains threaten to wash away whatever security, comfort and consistency in life we have.

For my family, we have had a nice long run of normalcy. We have been blessed with normalcy for quite some time. It has been on the busy and chaotic side of normalcy, but we have been happy, content and healthy.

Five days ago, that changed. Our pastor's sermons from Ecclesiastes suddenly seemed to take on more meaning .....

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

....Last Sunday was a beautiful, warm, springlike day in early March. My husband and my son were itching to ride their dirtbikes over the trails of the local motorcross park. Nothing like the smell of bike exhaust, motor oil and dirt on a spring day to make them feel manly, free and in charge! We had family in town to visit, but I encouraged my boys to go enjoy a couple hours of "play" time on the trails anyway.

The trails they rode soon led to what would be a trial in our life. A trail they had traveled before wasn't quite so kind to my husband that afternoon. He took a nasty spill into a ravine and required assistance from my son and a good samaritan to make it back to the truck. After a painful and grueling 6 mile trip, my husband and son made it home. My husband was obviously injured and in pain, but at that time we did not realize the seriousness of it. His "manly" resistance to medical care lasted just under two hours until we convinced him that a trip to the ER was absolutely necessary.

Nine hours of sitting in the ER while my husband underwent scores of x-rays, scans and tests made me realize we were in the midst of a storm. One of those storms that comes and upsets the normalcy of life. When storms hit in your life, where do you run to? Where do you seek refuge? Where is your cover?

I was fearful. I was anxious. These tests on my husband were frightening. I ran to where I knew I would find comfort. I ran to my God! I ran to the one who is a mighty fortress. I fell at the feet of the One who protects me when storms threaten to destory me.

...The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. ~ Deuteronomy 33:27 ...

... You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7-8 ...

My God delivered me from my fears. He comforted me with his words. He revealed goodness to me. Scriptures filled my mind. Songs of praise rolled through my mind because after all, God is good. He is good all the time. Even in the storms of life.

You see, I had to praise him during this time, because after all, my husband was still alive. The Lord delivered me from my fears and reassured me that all would be fine. That no matter what the outcome was, he would carry us through it.

... I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.  ~ Psalm 34:4 ...

While the time passed in the ER and we waited for test results, we learned that my husband was broken. Physically broken. On his right side ... Dislocated shoulder. Shattered shoulder. Chipped shoulder joint. Fractured upper rib cage on both sides. Ribs separated from sternum. Bruised lung and small pneumothorax with the threat of a lung collapsing. Broken left hand. He was physically broken and bruised. And I think he ego was bruised too. But sing praises to God. He was alive. He was conscious. He was not paralyzed. God had delivered him.  

After nine long hours, he was finally transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he would spend the next couple of days to begin his recovery and be observed for more severe injuries that could be "hiding". It was a long couple of days. But it was filled with many prayers and searching by me for why and where does this lead us. I don't have any clear answers to that yet, but I do know that God will reveal it to me in His time.

This season of our lives has a purpose. For whatever reason this trial has entered our lives, it has been pre-ordained by God. Storms happen in our lives.

God has ordained a time for everything. And he loves us through it all. ~ I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.  ~ Jeremiah 31:3

No one is immune from the storms .. or the trials that we all must encounter as we travel through this life. These trials help us grow ... not only in faith, but in knowledge and wisdom. For whatever God hopes to show us through this season, I am ready. I am ready to grow, to learn, to love, to be thankful for the blessings and normalcy, for the hurt and pain, for the total package. The total package is what living life is all about.

Simple Things

 The simple things in life are the things I love to appreciate. I often forget how precious those simple things can be. My life often gets messed up and marred by the complicated and busy life I live. It's not that it is complicated in itself, but that I make it complicated by being so busy! I pray daily that God will help me to be more focused on him and to uncomplicate my life and my mind. I ask him to renew my mind and spirit so that I can focus on the simple things in life. The things that matter ... to Him, to my family, to me.

I am fortunate to work in a school district with a 4 day school week. When Thursday rolls around, I can hardly wait to get home to my family and my weekend. Sadly, when that weekend gets here though I am still so busy that I rarely take the time to "enjoy" it. My time is littered with obligations and not necessarily bad ones, but the fact is, they all take my time. It seems sad to me that I often feel like the only time I can really appreciate the simple things in life is when I "get away" from life. For me, getting away can mean a trip back home, a camping trip in the mountains, a glorious mountain hike, a simple hike at the lake or a once every seven years trip to a West coast beach. My appreciation for the simple things .... and perhaps better stated as the finer things in my life is usually most evident to me in these times when I am away. This is because I am "away".

My away times give me time to reflect on life and it's goodness and the little things that bring me joy. The laughter of my children, the puffy clouds in the bright, blue winter sky, the smell of springtime in the air, a ripe tomato in my garden, a baby bunny on my lawn, the changing seasons, watching quiet deer in a grassy field, the touch of my husband's hand on mine, the sound of my mom's voice on the phone, the jovial twinkle in my dad's eyes, time to pray, a cup of coffee with a friend, a hug, a secret shared, a calm summer evening, gentle conversations around a campfire, a snow-covered trail hike and this list could go on. Forever. It could go on. Importantly, these things do not cost me a single cent, but to ignore these things robs me of contentment, joy and comfort. I do not need the material things of this world to make me happy.

Tonight is the first night of my "weekend" even though it is Thursday evening. From the moment I left my school building this afternoon, I have been busy. A parent meeting at my daughter's high school, making dinner and clean-up, then phone calls to fill a schedule with volunteers for activities on Saturday at my church. My "busy"ness has made me crazy and stressed and searching for a moment of peace. As my evening is winding down, I have found myself kicked back in my chair trying to "de-program" myself from the constant flutter of activity, while still shuffling papers and making phone calls. My hubby and son headed to bed and my girls (teenaged, almost out of the house girls, sniffle, sniffle) decided they would go to a late night movie with some friends.

My girls were only gone from the house about five minutes when I receive a text from my youngest daughter. My heart of course sinks, thinking "Oh no! What happened?" I open the text to reveal something to me that is peace capturing! It reads, "Hey ma, the stars are beautiful tonight!" Wow! Do you know what that does to my heart? To my inner well-being? My quick response was, "Well that's because God made them." My sweet girl's response, "Haha, well duh ma, but they look like mountain stars."

MOUNTAIN STARS! So simple and I love it because that simple description took me right to a mountain top, looking at stars with my girl. I closed my eyes and I could see the stars. Then I walked outside and looked at those beautiful mountain stars. So crisp, so clear, so beautiful, so God-infused that I could not help but grin from ear to ear. I love that she wanted to share with me. A simple observation, a simple feeling, a simple appreciation she had. Simple things! Oh but to take the time to observe the simple things! I have found my peace tonight .... my happy place. I didn't have to go "away" to find it. I only had to be still and listen to the heart and the voice of teenage girl who loves her God and all that he has created as much as I do. Right now I feel renewed in spirit and in mind. I am at peace and it feels perfect.

Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is-what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2

Direction

I am a mother of two teenage daughters and a very soon to be teenage son. Our conversations no longer dwell on the new Disney movie releases, the latest action figure toys or new Barbie dolls. Our conversations instead have turned to more grown-up topics and things like what they want to do with their lives or how do they know if they are going the right direction in life. How do they know if they are making the right choice when looking at a college and what about a major and what if they change their mind after they get there? Should they go to college out of town or stay close to home? What if they make the wrong choice?

These are the kind of questions that currently plague my senior daughter, Katie, who will be graduating 105 days from now. (She could quickly give me the hours, minutes and seconds too if I asked!) However unsure she may be about her actual direction in life, she seems to know without a doubt that she is leaving town and heading north to the college of her choice.

This mom hurts a bit when the reality of it all sinks in. The thought of Katie leaving home and wanting so desperately to escape the life we have here with her. She is ready to live her own independent life. Yes, this hurts. You see, this is my baby girl, my first born daughter whose due date of September 15 was exactly, to the date, the exact date that I lost our first baby 16 weeks in to my pregnancy. God has a way of turning anguish to joy. John 16:20 says “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” Yes, we lost a baby, but in losing that baby, God gave us Katie, then Aubrie and Jordan.

I suddenly feel like I am now losing my Katie to the big scary world, I realize that God has pre-ordained this step in her life. He has been growing her since the day of her conception. He has been preparing her for the direction she must take in her life. In preparing her, God entrusted her to us. Our job has been to parent her, raise her, teach her, direct her, guide her, nurture her and love her as we have each one of our children. Most importantly we have brought her up to love the Lord and seek His will in her life. I am confident that He will direct her path and fill her with peace as she realizes His will for her. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.”

While I face the grief of losing my daughter to a college to the north, it really isn’t a loss, but an opportunity for growth and for joy to be born through this new experience in her life. In seeking out new experiences in their lives, I pray that my children will always seek His will. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” May their direction be God’s direction.

Joy to You

"Chairein". Put simply, Greek for "joy to you".

What brings YOU joy?

Is it worldy possessions? Is it material goods? Is it recognition of greatness? Is it exercise and physical gains? Is it financial gain? Is it keeping up with or better yet, being ahead of the "Joneses"? Is it having the best of the best of the best and always being the best?

What brings ME joy? I have given this question some thought over the last couple of days after being introduced to "chairein", pronounced ky-rain, in the book of James. I can think of many things that bring me joy. Nothing material brings me more joy than a brand new pair of trail hiking shoes because hiking and climbing mountains brings me lots of joy! My family brings me great joy ~ their love, their smiles, their hugs, their time, their accomplishments. My friends bring me joy. Money brings me joy or at least I think it does and yes I love nice things, who doesn't? I could compose a nice long list of the things that bring me joy, but what I have been reminded of through my recent ponderings and bible reading is that we should seek first the joy that Christ gives us. There is nothing wrong with finding joy in things like I have noted above as long as our focus is right.

Phillipians 4:4 says, "Always be full of joy in the Lord. Again I say rejoice." Amazingly, these were the words of Paul while he was imprisoned for his beliefs and teachings that Jesus is the Son of God. Paul spent roughly 5 years of his life in a prison cell for his beliefs, but in the midst of it he maintained a right attitude. His true joy came from knowing Jesus Christ and he knew that even if death came to him, he could still rejoice because he had the Lord! Paul was a great encourager and taught that we should always seek joy even through our troubles and trials. Our true joy should abound from Christ living in us. In accepting Christ, we accept the joy he brings. In seeking joy in him first, joy in all areas of our life will fall into place.

What an amazing gift we have in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ! While we may encounter hardship and sadness, troubles and trials, let us not forget that our Jesus is ever by our side. Though our circumstances my be troubling and we may seem defeated, we must remember that when we place our trust and hope in the the Lord, he will bring us through the tough times and show us the joy that only he can give.

I love Psalm16 ~ especially verse 9 ~ "No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice*. My body rests in safety." *Rejoice in the Greek version states "and my tongue shouts his praises." Don't you just love how joy makes you want to shout his praises? When my heart is glad and full of joy, I can rejoice and I feel safe in him. God is so good and I am happy that I can find joy in him. I love also that I can simply open up his scriptures and find joy and reason to praise him on every page. He is a God of love, mercy, grace, goodness and joy.

One of my greatest joys is knowing that my children know their Lord and Savior. I have not had prouder days than when they each accepted the Lord and the single day, four years ago, that they professed their faith, together, before the church through water baptism. It is my prayer that each of them will find true joy and find it first through seeking the joy of Christ. I thank God this week also for the simple reminders of joy in my life and where I must work on seeking joy first!

I pray for each of you today ~ That you experience the abounding, unbridled joy of living the Christian faith and experience knowing the Lord fully. Live your faith, live your joy, show your joy and by it, others will experience it too. Love and blessings to you all.

Thankful

Thankful! What more can be said but I am thankful. Thankful that God has made me who I am.

~ But by the grace of God, I am who I am .... 1 Cor. 15:10

Thankful for the tender hand of a loving God. Thankful for bountiful blessings that flow from the tender hand of a God who gives me way more than I ever deserve. Thankful for the comforting hand of a Father who takes away my pain, my worries and my stress. Thankful for the Father who gives me do-overs with the rising of the sun each morning. Thankful that He has given me a family to love and care for ... his family. Thankful for the energy, the courage, the love that He gives me to care for them each day. Thankful that he has given me a family that shows me gratitude and love in return. Thankful that he has allowed me to be a mom to three beautiful children on this earth while he is caring for my oldest in heaven. Thankful for a Godly husband who cares for me and our children and sacrifices for us daily. Thankful for the gifts of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell that allow me to experience the world He has created to the fullest. Thankful that I live in a country where I am free to worship my God and profess my belief without fear of imprisonment and free to pray openly for those who are persecuted around the world. Thankful for the trials in my life that make me stronger. Thankful for joy, sadness, grief, worry, love, .... Each is truly a gift and makes me who I am.

Every good and perfect gift is from above ... ~ James 1:17

I. A.M. T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L.

Made to Worship

I was made to worship ~ made to worship him with all my heart, mind and soul ~ made to worship his goodness and grace. We often talk about worship, but really what does it mean to worship a God so great and awesome?

Oswald Chambers wrote, "The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. Nothing is more important. Nothing is more rewarding than discovering that God is everything he said he is: all-powerful, sovereign, yet tender and compassionate, accepting of us in our fragile state, and desiring with all his heart to bring us to rest in him." When we know that God is real it is easy to worship him. How can one not worship a God who is as real as the rising sun, the majestic mountains, the brilliant full moon, a sweet summer rain, a precious newborn baby or birds chirping in the trees. God has made everything beautiful and wonderful and he gives us so many reasons to be thankful and to worship him.

Worship is a call to sacrifice. A call to sacrifice "self" and drop to our knees to give praise to him. To put all things great and small before him. To take the focus off of us and our wants and needs and to simply praise him for his greatness and wonder and the blessings he bestows upon on us. Worship engages us deeply and connects us with our holy Father like nothing else can. I find it easiest to worship my Father in the majestic wonder he has created. For me there is nothing like the feeling I get when I am on a mountain top, a trail or somewhere in the great outdoors. The beauty of His creation all around me gives me a sense of utter closeness to God. Maybe it is because I find it easier to put him first without all of the jumbled clutter of life I find when I am home. The "busy"-ness of life and all that it brings can get in the way and quickly make "me" seem more important than the worship that should take place.

On a lighter note, I chuckle as I write. I had the opportunity to spend one on one time with my son this evening. He was feeling a little under the weather and wanted to hang out with his mom. :) After watching a sci-fi movie together, he requested that we read the bible. Since I am currently going through a study of James, I suggested we do today's lesson together. I love the mind of my soon to be teenage boy. He always makes me laugh ~ even in the midst of a bible lesson. As we were discussing Jesus being perfect and the kind of relationship he had with his mother and brothers, my son remarked about the "worship" of our savior. How crazy odd it would seem for a mother (Mary) to worship her son, Jesus. While chatting about this he quickly noted though that I could worship him if I wanted to. Silly boy ... such a boy!

It is the sweet spirit of that same boy that often reminds me of the importance of God and the worship that must take place for me to have a right and intimate relationship with the one who made me. As I tucked my son into bed, I gave praise to God for the blessing of this sweet boy, two precious daughters and a loving husband. These gifts of mine are more than enough reason for me to worship my heavenly Father and sing praises to his name.

Fullness of Grace

God's grace is born out of our unworthiness. Grace, like mercy and love are rooted in the goodness of God and his awesomeness. In Romans 5:20, Paul tells us that God's grace abounds. It is abundant and multiplied wherever sin increases. He tells us that God's grace is ever sufficient for us. It covers a multitude of sins. Thank God for his grace! Without it, I'm not sure I would make it through a single day.

God blesses us with grace! Grace is like water ~ Without it, we would die. Do we deserve God's grace? Surely not. We depend on God for all that sustains us because we are nothing without him and his provision for us is great both physically and spiritually.

I depend on God's grace to get me through the whirlwind of activity and emotion that plague me as each day dawns anew. Today was a great day. Not all days are as such. But today I can boast of God's blessings that make me a mama very proud! My oldest daughter received her acceptance letter from the university of her choice. She is ecstatic and very excited to embark on her new "grown-up" adventures. She will achieve great things, I just know it! My second daughter ~ my OCD daughter, after much planning and stress did a fabulous job of coaching her Kindergarten cheerleaders through their very first Upward Basketball Game. Those little girls love her and she is a wonderful role model for them especially spiritually! My son, just about to become a teenager, took up wrestling this year for his middle school. With three losses under his belt, my rookie wrestler achieved his first win of the season today with a pin! Anxious to keep his church commitment, we traveled quickly from the wrestling match to church where he was quick to jump into the "Leo Lion" mascot uniform and dance with the cheerleaders and cheer on the young basketball players. How can a mom not be proud? But this mom ever depends on God!

I wrestle daily with shortcomings and failures as a mom. As I write this blog I feel guilty for not spending time with them instead of writing. Have I done enough for them through the years? Have I been too tough on them or too controlling? Have I let them down? Did I teach them enough to help them be self-sufficient in this life? Will they have a good work ethic? Will they stay close to God? Have I been a good role model?

No one is perfect and I am proof of that! Most certainly I need God's grace to provide me with the reassurance that all is well. I don't deserve it, but I have accepted his grace just like I accept a gift. I don't have to earn his grace, I must simply accept it through a right and just relationship with our savior. Much like accepting a gift. If you choose to never unwrap it, you will never experience the peace that God gives through grace. Opening that gift is like opening a bundle of blessings. Those blessings are what I experience every day when I feel the hand of God upon me reassuring me that he is in control.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ~ John 1:16

May you experience fullness of grace and revel in the blessings our God has to give.

Goodness of God

God has always been good. Maybe I haven't always seen it that way, but he has proven it to me over and over that it is true. Do I ever have doubts about his goodness and his plan in this world? Absolutely!

The past couple of weeks have given me more than a couple of reasons to question God and his goodness! Friends have lost loved ones; 17 year old Cole ~ the victim of a car accident; 47 year old Kevin, father of two ~ the victim of a car/train accident. A friend is injured; 69 year old Ron is still fighting for his life after a tragic tractor accident. One of my students; 6 year old Andre is fighting leukemia that is attacking his body with a vengeance after 4 years in remission. A local child I do not know, Calysta, kidnapped and beaten by her kidnapper until she was rescued today, thanks to an Amber Alert and the prayers of many who dropped to their knees and pleaded with God to save her.

Yes, God has a plan and yes, God is good all the time. The circumstances of this world and the situations that arise and that we are a part of don't always lend themselves to goodness, but God does have a plan and God is in control. He accomplishes his plan through all circumstances ~ both good and bad. We will experience his goodness and we will experience trials. We must not question him, but simply put our trust in him. He wants us to call out to him in our times of trouble and our times of doubt. He wants us to praise him at all times because he is God. (Psalm 145:3 ~ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise.)

Our God is most worthy of praise! One only needs to look to the east in the dawning day to see the goodness of God. He paints us a glorious masterpiece as he brings a fresh new start to each day. His promise of goodness and grace abound in the rays of the rising sun and the reflect in the lightening sky. One can look to the west and see his Glory in the sunsets, in the mountains and the beauty he paints all around us. His light shines through, even the gray darkness of the trials we endure.

Great is the Lord and worthy of praise!