I'll tell you what... Life has been hustling, bustling & full around here. I somewhat feel like it's Christmas, only in the spring. We haven't been going a lot but we've been doing a lot.

MaKayla, Mal & I were in the grocery store the other evening & happened to see a very close friend that has been instrumental in my life ever since I was a little girl. I don't get the chance to see & visit with her very often, but when I do, it's especially sweet. She informed me that she happens to be one of those people who checks the blog daily for updates... Again, thankful for the accountability that I need to do a post...

Kyle has been working on some home improvement projects for longer than he cares to admit & has decided that it is time to get them finished. To be honest, I've somewhat felt like my head is in a blender. I'm one of those people who likes to get one thing completed before I start another on & lately that just isn't happening... Between yard work, home improvement projects, graduation preparations, school, life & every day tasks, I feel like I'm just hopping from one thing to another with lists here & there & everywhere. The "leftovers" from yesterday's list were reluctantly transferred over to start today's list. The Lord reminds me that I should be THANKFUL that I can create a list & be productive in COMPLETING it! :) I'm alive. I'm healthy.I'm able. Many are so less fortunate & what I many times grumble about, they would delight in being able to do.

As I contemplate life, I see so many "things" that "clutter" my space... My heart... My mind... My emotions... Our home... Things that take up area that truly shouldn't. In praying about the reality of what this looks like, the Lord has compelled me to declutter, remove, get rid of, sell, burn, throw, disperse, give away, surrender...

I find myself instantly being trouble or concerned over things that I can do nothing about & many times really have nothing to do with me. I'm learning to recognize those things before they embed themselves within my heart, my mind & my emotions. I'm learning to turn them over to the Lord & not take ownership of them. Interceding but not being consumed by them.

Looking around our home, I see things sitting that have no purpose or value... They simply collect dust & fill space. So... Even though we have simplified tremendously since we moved here (7 years ago this summer), another round of simplification has taken place... If it doesn't have purpose or meaning, it is going, going, gone. :) To goodwill, to friends who can use it or to the burn barrel. Both girls at separate times have commented, "It looks like we're moving..." The freedom of less... Sometimes I really wonder if the Lord is preparing us for something... Something where we have to be content with little...

The girls have been so helpful in getting some much needed things done & it's been such fun working together. In doing these tasks as a team, I pray that it is teaching them that "things" without personal value really have no purpose. I pray that it is teaching them how to be good homemakers to their families some day.

Over the past week or so we have:
*cleared, cleaned & organized the breezeway closet
*decluttered the kitchen (counter space, on top of the refrigerator, baker's rack, cleaned cabinets)
*cleared, cleaned & organized the school closet (one less student next year :(...)
*cleared, cleaned & organized Mallary's closet
*emptied & removed one bookshelf

Bit-by-bit we're getting there! Most would think we are doing what we're doing in preparation for MaKayla's graduation next month but not so. It's just where I'm at in life. An intense season of refining & stripping. Ushering out the old in order for the Lord to make things new! I'm so ready to be free from clutter all the way around as is Kyle, MaKayla & Mal.

Kyle did keep busy this past weekend completing some projects...

 Hanging outdoor speakers while warring against a nest of bumble bees...

 Finishing some landscaping he's been wanting to do...

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 MaKayla & I started in on Mal's room remodel...

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Mal took her first dip in the pool even though it had only been filled the day before...

 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I've just been taking it all in, enjoying being with those I love the most... ♥

More than anything, I think God is showing me that in ridding my life of those things which clutter, He is freeing me to love & live more abundantly... ♥

Bit-by-bit, with His guidance, patience, grace & love, I am getting there... ♥

I do thank each of you who care about our family & take the time to read our blog... ♥

I am humbled... ♥

I am blessed by your love... ♥

 

Acknowledge...

That post that I did back on March 20th... Well, I ran into that precious friend again a few days ago at Wal-Mart & guess what??? She reminded me "that it had been awhile"...

So here I am...
Blogging...
It's no lie.
I love to blog.
I love to collect my thoughts.
I love to pen my thoughts.
I love to share my thoughts.
But life for me lately has been an intense struggle. And since I didn't figure it would do anyone any good to hear my lament of despair, I steered clear of blogging. Besides, until about two weeks ago, I couldn't even come close to collecting my thoughts. I just lived in a fog, doing life, going from one thing to another... Day in & day out.

I don't EVER come even close to admitting that big "D word" but three weeks ago this coming Friday, Jesus & I had a moment... Just the two of us. I was walking through the living room in a stupor & He said, "Mendi, look at yourself. Acknowledge how you are feeling. Acknowledge how you are coping. Acknowledge your actions & your thoughts & your reactions. Acknowledge the difference in who you were & who you are." In an instant as I processed each of those things that the Lord asked me to acknowledge, I had no choice other than to admit that I was depressed. I really didn't even see it until I took to heart the words & exhortation of that Still Small Voice. There was no denying. I went to Kyle & I's bedroom, snuggled under his side of the covers, cuddled up to his pillow, breathed deep his scent & rested in Jesus. When Kyle called on his morning break, I shared with him how I was feeling & he assured me that he would be covering me in prayer. I would have to say that there is something vastly different about hearing from God & being gently enlightened by Him of your mental/emotional state rather than "getting that info" from a physical human being. When it's from a "person" rather than Jehovah, I feel accused, threatened, intimidated & exposed but when it comes from God Himself, I can bear my heart open before Him & acknowledge that what He says is Truth. He knows me better than any other. He sees my heart. He knows my hurts. He feels my burdens. He shares the heaviness. He weighs my motives. To be honest, once He spoke... Once I listened... Once I acknowledged... A wave of freedom washed over me. I didn't have to wonder any more, "Why am I feeling the way I feel?" Now I knew. Now I could seek deliverance. Now I could move forward. Talk about liberating... Isn't that the blessedness & richness of Jesus?

 The past several weeks have been difficult to say-the-least, but minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, through the Lord's great love, compassion, mercy, strength & patience, I am seeing more light & less fog. I was never in the "rolled in a ball, weeping state" (except for the afternoon of the revelation), but what I was feeling was real. When I shared with MaKayla how I was feeling,what I was thinking and how the Lord has spoken, she said, "Mom, I see it. I agree." Together, she & I had an invaluable visit. It confirmed a lot of things in my heart & magnified things a little/a lot more so that I could see even clearer than before. After all, she is with me all day every day. She sees things I am blind to.

 Life had just gotten big & I was overwhelmed. I had been taking very little purposeful time with the Lord. There had been very little time for Kyle & I to just be together... Things were mounting, building, escalating... That next morning was a Saturday & Kyle had the day off of work so he & I laid in bed & talked for a very long time. He shared his heart. I shared mine. We took one thing at a time & visited about how best to pray or what needed to be done in each situation. We regrouped. Since that time, although it hasn't been easy, I am regaining my joy & I am seeing much purpose in the valley the Lord had allowed me to enter. He's been refining me. Stretching me. Stripping me. I am learning the true essence of humility.

During the worship service this past Sunday as part of Pastor Bob's message, he asked people to share testimonies about God's glory & faithfulness. I was in charge of running the projector this Sunday, but felt the Lord tugging on my heart, so I reluctantly walked down the stairs & shared that during Kyle's lengthy, chronic illness, I didn't find it terribly difficult to glorify the Lord. I couldn't control the situation & I saw God's faithfulness all around yet I am finding that it's in the little things in life that I fall short of glorifying Him. It's in those circumstances when the answer isn't immediate & the path is unclear that I wane. It's in those every day situations that I fail to trust in His faithfulness. It's in the seasons that I "can't see" that I get impatient & allow myself to be blinded to His glory. And I'm finding that the less I trust, the more impatient I am. And the less impatient I am, the less I glorify. And the less I glorify, the deeper of a rut I dig for myself. And the deeper the rut I dig, the darker the way seems. And the darker the way seems, the more deception Satan lords over me. And the more deception I allow Satan to lord over me, the less hope I have... In absolute humility, I am learning to trust even when the road seems long, the way seems foggy & the view is obscure.

This too shall pass...
I just want to make sure that I get from point A to point B with a change & a gain...
Not with a loss...

Happy Switch...

Cloudy...
Cool...
Serene...
Birds singing...
Girls quietly reading on the couch...
Jim Brickman playing in the CD player...
Nala resting quaintly...

School is well underway for the day...

 

I text a close friend this morning to see how she was doing regarding some health issues she is currently facing & in the midst of the conversation, she made mention of yesterday's post & how happy I seemed. :) I told her that the happiness that was conveyed in yesterday's post was very real but was very fleeting. I hadn't even completely finished it when a wave of despair washed over my being. Just as soon as I typed how nearly perfect & good my day was, Satan slipped right in & nearly stole the "goodness" from me. I was overwhelmed, agitated, annoyed, unmotivated, sad, removed & quite frankly, sinful! My thoughts went from high to low in a matter of milliseconds... My attitude immediately went from positive to negative in the blink of an eye... My words were brash... My outlook grim... My countenance ungodly... How does that happen anyway???

Kyle came home, picked me up & renewed my focus! When he arrived after work I was flat on the floor & MaKayla was massaging my head. I was whining & complaining being a less-than-desirable wife & mom... He laid down beside me, kissed my forehead & told me how much he loved me. ♥ We laughed together, chatted with the girls & then headed outside to do some yard/garden work. In the midst of heading out the door, the girls & I sneaked into the Oreo stash from the deep freeze!?! :) Yum-oh!

I many times wonder why I allow such a drastic turn of events to take place in my heart, my mind & my spirit. As I told my friend this morning, I wish I had a "happy switch"... A switch that I had control over as to whether it were on or off... Of course, I would always "choose" to have it on... Who wouldn't? Don't we ALWAYS want to be happy? But then it occurred to me, I DO have a "happy switch"... God gives me a choice of my attitude, my actions, my thoughts, my character, my countenance, my words, and each of those choices & the fruit therein, begins with the condition of my heart.

So many times my heart isn't "conditioned" to endure the situations & circumstances that I might be faced with on any given day. The condition of my heart is my choice and is determined by how much time I commit to prayer & how much time I spend in God's Word. It's affected by how often I am in fellowship with other believers & how much intimate time I spend with Jesus. Many times the condition of my heart is contingent upon my obedience to the Holy Spirit and how willingly and faithfully I am submitting to my husband. All of these things strengthen the condition of my heart.

On the flip-side, many things deteriorate the condition of my heart. Thinking on things that don't pertain to me. Dwelling on something that I have no control over. Reading things on facebook that fail to edify my walk with Christ & put me in a critical frame-of-mind. Being envious of another person's accomplishments or possessions. Falling into the pit of discontentment. Time spent on activities that will never encourage fruit in my life. Trying to be in control of situations/circumstances that I can't change.

So...after helping Kyle in the garden, fixing a yummy supper for my family, listening to MaKayla share a great deal of insight out of the current book she is reading, taking a nice hot bath, enjoying the evening visiting with one of my closest friends, crawling into a warm comfortable bed, spending time reading God's Word and then snuggling close to the man of my dreams as I drifted off to sleep ♥, my unconditioned heart was well on it's way to being conditioned again.

Today I am choosing to keep the "happy switch" on... :)

(He truly is the MOST PRECIOUS little guy... ♥ ♥ ♥ )

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:13

 

A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
   gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. 

Proverbs 17:22

Goodness...

It's a beautiful day here in the country.
The sun is shining.
There's a nice spring breeze.
The temperature is nearly perfect.

MaKayla is away tutoring & Mal & I are here at home doing our own thing...
She, math.
Myself, housework/laundry.

As I took yet another load of clothes out to the line to dry, I had one of those moments where it felt like everything was nearly perfect. The only thing I would change would be to have Kyle here at home with us enjoying this gorgeous day. As I relished in the goodness of God & the goodness of life, I was quickly reminded that life simply isn't "normal" for everyone. I think we all so often forget that even in our happy, joy-filled, day-to-day life, others are far from experiencing what I am "feeling". How often do I caught up in the "goodness" of my life that I lose sight of the burdens that others are carrying? People I love... People that I am close to... People that I care for...

Today, as I sit here typing this:
♥ Someone I love more than life is striving to find freedom from a stronghold that has held them captive for years...
♥ One of my closest friends is sitting by the bedside of her mom, waiting for her last breath to be drawn & another precious friend is standing in the gap & trying to make sense of a parent who has a terminal illness...
♥ An extended family member is recovering from major surgery...
♥ An uncle & cousins are trying to plan a graduation & a wedding without the presence of my aunt who suddenly went to be with Jesus in December...


Today, as I sit here typing this, I am aware of:
*a mom who is walking beside a child battling cancer...
*a man who is preparing to say good-bye to his spouse of many years...
*a woman who needs deliverance from spiritual oppression...
*children who lack a loving parent...
*people I care about who need Jesus...

I'm thankful that even in the blessedness & goodness of my life, that the Lord is faithful to remind me that life simply isn't "normal", comfortable or enjoyable for everyone right now. In that reminder, I am compelled to carry those that come to mind to the Holy of Holies. In that reminder, I am stirred to not take the goodness that is present in my life for granted. In that reminder, I am humbled.

It's a day of "goodness" for me...

Beautiful Day... ♥

It's been a beautiful day with these two girls... ♥

Thank you, MaKayla & Mallary, for blessing my life in the amazing way that you do... ♥

Ocean... Sand...

Ocean... ♥

Sand... ♥

Free spirited... ♥
Always changing... ♥

Never the same... ♥
Carefree... ♥

Constant... ♥
Never changing... ♥

Predictable... ♥
Always there... ♥

Best friends... ♥
Soul sisters... ♥
Together... ♥
For always... ♥
For ever... ♥

There are “friends” who destroy each other,

but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

Pray and Love...

This week has been a tremendously productive week. With the exception of a full day of running on Wednesday, the girls & I have been able to be HOME EVERY DAY doing school & life. I've learned over our many years of homeschooling that HOME is where I long to be. I've learned that I function best when I am at HOME. For a long time I simply couldn't figure out why I would get cranky & irritable when I was out & about for days in a row. One day after a season of busyness i was mulling it all over in my mind when the Lord ever so gently spoke to my heart, "Mendi, I created you to be HOME. I designed your heart, your mind & your spirit to be content at home. That is where I desire you to nurture, to work, to learn, to live life." Ever since that day, I make sure that I am very prayerful & in-tune to the Lord's leading when I am committing to things & placing events on the calendar. It's been good to see MaKayla & Mal work diligently on their studies. It's been encouraging to see housework stay caught up & extra projects get accomplished. It's been refreshing to have our evenings here at home as a family. It's been a good week.

Ever since Christmas, in my few minutes of down-time here & there, I've been reading a book about Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar. It has been quite interesting & inspiring to learn about their lives, their faith & how they orchestrate such a large family. Even though our family is such a small fraction in size to theirs, many of their ideas are very neat & creative. One thing I read the other day that I have been trying to implement here at home myself is to work on projects or tasks in fifteen minute intervals. After you've worked one specific thing for fifteen minutes, move on to something else & then come back to finish the other task. It's been a motivating factor for me in an unmotivating season of life... It's helped me to stay on task, day-to-day in getting some things accomplished. It's reminded me to make "To Do" lists & work on them bit-by-bit, scratching each one off as I tackle it. :)

Yesterday afternoon/evening was a busy time in the kitchen taking on several recipes at once. Those are the times that I wish our kitchen was a shy bit larger... All four of us working on something feeling like we are on top of each other. MaKayla working on homemade dinner rolls, Kyle cutting up chicken, Mal peeling potatoes & myself making cream cheese pumpkin muffins. Mallary has been begging for fried chicken ever since the last time I made it so, I dug some hindquarters out of the freezer, thawed them in cold water throughout the day & made her one of her most favorite meals. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, homegrown canned green beans & dinner rolls. Yum! :)

Just as we sat down for supper, one of my dearest friends sent me a text sharing some life-changing happenings of her day, saying she could really use a hug & wondered if they could stop by for a bit a little later. Of course I said, "Yes!" We finished up supper & quickly cleaned it up. Mal & Kyle went down to the music room to record some songs for another friend & MaKayla & I played a quick round of Bananagrams & Yahtzee while we waited! I love spontaneous, unexpected texts like that...especially from someone I love so much that I don't get to see near as often as I would like. Awesomeness! We had such a nice visit catching up on life while MaKayla gave her a relaxing pedicure & new paint job on her toes! :)

This morning as I was getting around for the day, I was praying for someone that I deeply love. Some concerns crossed my mind. Some questions breezed through my thoughts. I found myself a little unsettled on certain things that I simply don't understand. Just as quickly as I started to ponder those things, the Lord spoke to me & said, "Mendi, not everyone sees life the same. Not everyone perceives life in the same light. Not everyone processes situations & circumstances in the same manner. Everyone is unique. Don't question. Don't judge. Don't criticize. Don't condemn. Pray and love. Be patient and encouraging. Pray and love." I tend to be the type that wants to understand everything. I want to "fix" it all. I want to be IN CONTROL. Especially when it's someone that I love beyond measure. And when I don't understand or when I can't fix it, I feel out of control and it tends to send me into an unrighteous way of thinking, feeling & acting. It turns my unconditional love into conditional love which in no way glorifies the Lord. God says to pray and love...to encourage and be patient...to leave the rest to Him. We all do life differently... He calls me to pray and love... To be understanding even when I don't understand... To encourage and be patient... May I be more mindful...

I love when God teaches me. I love when He instructs me. I love when He corrects me. I love when He nurtures me. I love when He restores me. I love the God I serve. ♥

It looks to be a relaxing weekend here at the O'Riley home & I am glad. Lots of good family time. Lots of little tasks to work at & complete.

May your weekend be blessed as well... ♥

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:

and He shall hear my voice.
Psalm 55:17

A friend loveth at all times...
Proverbs 17:17

At. All.

The house is quiet as the girls work diligently on school. Classical music is playing while MaKayla finishes out another book she is reading in history & Mal whittles away at her math. We are all very tired & seem to be struggling to stay focused & awake. Mal had an orthodontist appointment 45 miles away at 7:20 a.m. this morning... Ugh!?! I just about caved & rescheduled but then decided the responsible thing to do would be to go and get it out of the way. She is NOT wanting braces. At. All. I told her that we would go for the consult, see what they thought & then regroup. She still hasn't changed her mind.... She does not want braces. At. All. MaKayla always thought braces would be a fun thing to have so when they were recommended for her, she was all for it. And then there is Mal... She has said all along that she didn't want them... At. All. And I don't think we will change her mind. It's one of those toss ups. Of course when Kyle & I were kids, braces weren't the norm. Only the "well off" group of kids could actually "afford" them so for us, it wasn't even an option. Now it seems abnormal if kids don't have them because most orthodontists would find reason why everyone needs them. So...we will pray & visit some more & then decide. Our budget would be much happier if we chose the "no go" route but then I wonder if Mal will have regrets as she grows older...

This draft has been sitting open all day on the computer...
School was completed...
Lunch inhaled...
And off again...
This time to the dentist... Yuck!
There are very few things I detest but the dentist is one of them. It's nothing personal towards the nice man who takes care of our teeth, but I simply don't like people messing around in my mouth. The possibility that they could cause me pain makes me a little (or alot) uneasy. Dr. V too concluded that Mal really needs braces. Blech... Not for cosmetic reasons but to prevent her from having major issues as she grows older. I can't say I'm still 100% convinced so much discussion & prayer will go in to the decision. I can say that I am thankful for a child who doesn't find value in vanity, as Mal has always said, "I don't mind the way my teeth look. They don't bother me a bit." :)


After our check-ups, the girls & I ran a few very quick errands, met Kyle & then came home for them to switch their belongings out & then head off for Worship Team Practice. I'm home alone & have tried to stay focused so that I can be productive in my solitude... :) Of course my thoughts now are very different than they were at 11:00 this morning... :/

I will say that in my "down-time" throughout today...while waiting at the dentist office, riding in the car, tidying Kyle & I's bedroom, feeding Zeke...my mind has been prayerful. Lots of things racing through my "gray matter", as my dad calls it, that only God can care for...fix...heal...resolve... It brings my heart such peace to know that He cares. He sees. He hears. He knows. He answers. I'm thankful for such a faithful Savior. One who is ever present in our every need as well as our in our times of victory. What a great God we serve!

Off to finish supper & spend time with the Lord before my people arrive home. :) It's been a very busy day but a very good day & I am thankful... ♥

Unholy Natures...

It's been a busy few weeks here trying to get back into the swing of "normal school" after a little glitch in our schedule. Even last night Mallary said, "I'm really looking forward to school tomorrow." I loved the sound of her words! ♥ Last week I spent a great part of a few days updating hours & grades in my log book which was a feat in and of itself. Why I allow myself to get behind on those tasks I will never know, because after getting caught up, I vow to stay on track only to get behind again... Ugh!?! I will begin anew! :)

This is about the third blog post that I have started in the past several days... Just can't seem to collect my thoughts long enough & well enough to compose something that is understandable... :/ Lots going on in my mind... Many things to process... Burdens that are heavy... Tasks that loom like black clouds over my head... No motivation... Life...

As I sat during my quiet time Tuesday morning, the Lord really began speaking to my heart... Through Oswald, He posed some things He wanted me to ponder & some questions He wanted me to answer... He was challenging me to dig deep... He was compelling me to acknowledge things in my life that He simply wasn't "okay" with...

What is it that blinds you to the peace of God "in this your day"? Do you have a strange god--not a disgusting monster but perhaps an unholy nature that controls your life? More than once God has brought me face to face with a strange god in my life, and I knew that I should have given it up, but I didn't do it. I got through the crisis "by the skin of my teeth," only to find myself still under the control of that strange god. I am blind to the very things that make for my own peace. It is a shocking thing that we can be in the exact place where the Spirit of God should be having His completely unhindered way with us, and yet we only make matters worse, increasing our blame in God's eyes.

"If you had know...." God's words here cut directly to the heart, with the tears of Jesus behind them. These words imply responsibility for our own faults. God holds us accountable for what we refuse to see or are unable to see because of our sin.

~Oswald Chambers~

As I read, reread & then really began to ponder these words, the question the Lord kept bringing to my remembrance was, "Do you have a strange god--not a disgusting monster but perhaps an unholy nature that controls your life?" I started searching my heart... "What god is present in my life?" I could think of many "things" present in my life that at times are "gods"... Things that take me away from being fully committed to Him... Things that interfere with time in His presence... I knew that is where Satan wanted me to stop. He didn't want me to search any deeper than that "surface question". He didn't want me digging any further. But the question that really pricked my heart was, "Mendi, what unholy nature controls your life?" Wow! Ouch! Really? Again, I knew Satan was trying to put a veil over the windows of my heart. He didn't want me to see... Yet the Lord kept prompting me to search... Seek... Examine...

Little-by-little, bit-by-bit, fragment-by-fragment, pieces came to the surface...
One linked to the other...
The list lengthy...
Reaching the end...
One big thing tying them all together...
Truly something I never even recognized...

After Kyle got home from work that afternoon, we sat at the table & visited. I shared with him what God has spoken to my heart through the devo & then how He applied it to my heart. I asked him if he saw this "big thing" in my life. Nope, not really. Yet the realization of it's presence, brought a great deal of clarification to some of the things I struggle with.

Kyle, the girls & I went on a significant road trip over the weekend resulting in several hours in the van. It was a great opportunity for me to go to the Well & drink. A great time for me to go to the Table & eat. A perfect chance for the Lord to clarify what He was wanting me to grasp. I'm stilling thinking, pondering, praying, meditating... I'm still journaling "bone fragments" that continue to rise to the surface...

I wondered why I had really never recognized this before & then the devo a few days later answered my wonderings...

When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.

Our Lord doesn't hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). We must have an oneness that with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don't have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us.

~Oswald Chambers~

It's a humbling thing to examine the unholy natures in your life...
To recognize them...
To acknowledge them...

It's a choice to surrender them to the Lord....
To let go...
Hand them over...
Raise your "white flag"...

It's freedom when you realize baggage, baggage you were even unaware of...
Is lifted from your shoulders...
The weight is gone...
It's lost it's grip on you...

But thanks be to God!

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

All The Time...

Today I am feeling...

♥ Broken...for one I dearly love that is deeply struggling...
♥ Joyful...that Jesus is certain even when many other things aren't...
♥ Blessed...through two beautiful girls who have been entrusted to me...
♥ Rich...because of a husband who loves me unconditionally...
♥ Prayerful...due to many people I am interceding on behalf of...
♥ Thirsty...needing refilled & hydrated from the Living Well...
♥ Quiet...as I listen to the Lord...
♥ Reassured...through His presence & the promises of His living word...
♥ Happy...spending a fun day with Tuck...
♥ Heavy...wishing I could take away the burdens of some close to me...
♥ Thankful...a result of a life overflowing...
♥ Content...the reality of knowing that all my needs are met...
♥ Hungry...desiring more of the Bread of Life...

God is good, all the time...
All the time, God is good...

I am thankful for an amazing Savior who loves me!