What if?

What if today you put Jesus first in your life?
What if today you prayed for each person that came to mind?
What if today you did only important meaningful things?
What if today you texted each person that God put on your heart?
What if today you complimented every person you talked to?
What if today you talked to people who you normally don't talk to?
What if today you loved your enemies?
What if today you gave a few extra minutes to tasks you have been putting off?
What if today....

Isn't there a whole list of things you could add to this list.  I feel like I could go on and on.  The thing you have to remember is that you have right now, this moment...  God has your days numbered.

What if today is your last day?

Did they hear you say you love them?

Remember all you have to do is to put Jesus first in your life.  All of those other things you struggle with, all of those things you find out later that you regret, they will work themselves out.  Jesus knows our every weakness and is not surprised by anything in our lives.  So put Him first, and today, no matter what happens, you will be reminded that God is in control!

Senior Night Take One

Volleyball is coming to a close.  Emma is a senior and so we participated in our first "senior night".  This is an experience for which you can never truly be fully prepared.

Your walk out with your child who was a baby put in your arms by the doctor just moments ago after her birth and now all of a sudden you are announcing to the town that this baby girl you just gave birth to is moving to adulthood in a matter of moments.

There are moments of sadness, but to be honest mostly I feel so very proud of the young woman she is becoming.  She isn't there yet (no matter how much she tries to remind me that she is an adult).  She has lots of growing up to do, but she is well on her way.

Our year is full of deadlines.  Get pictures taken, finish college paperwork, apply here, apply there, don't forget transcripts, social security numbers, birth certificates.  The paperwork seems unending and yet she is tackling it head on and meeting deadlines.  She is taking the bull by the horns and asking for very little help in the process.

I sometimes have to remind myself that this is a good thing.  The whole idea of parenting is to prepare your children to leave.  Honesty it is what we want.  We don't want children who can not function on their own.

We are blessed.  My job as mom has moved more and more from teaching and guiding to praying and then praying some more.

She is smart, beautiful, ambitious, kind, and ready to go.  We are so proud of you Miss Emma Lucile.

God Grows us through it all

Are these not the most beautiful girls you have ever seen?!?  That is truly what I see when I see these two girls.  They hold my heart.  There is not one moment of one day that I do not love them.  Even when there are words flying around our house that should never be said, even when they make me so crazy I want to pull out my hair, I love them more than anything.

I believe that God allows us to go through times of pain and frustration so that he can grow us into His image.  We had a guest speaker at our church this weekend and he spoke of going through the desert and of growing pains.  Both are part of our Christian walk and both are very painful and sometimes make us feel like we have been abandoned, but that is NEVER the case.  

God never walks away from us.  There are times when we step away, but never God.  He will never leave or forsake us!  What a true gift.

I believe that Satan attacks those who are a threat to his plan.  So that gives me great hope when my children/family goes through tough times.  That means Satan sees us as a threat.  God steps in and grows us through it all. 

I will trust Him in the storms that He allows in our lives.  I know that He works all things together for good for those who love Him... and we love Him!!

God uses sinners!

Jeremiah 14:7&9b
O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name's sake;  For our backsliding are many, We have sinned against You.
Yet You, O Lord, are in our midst, And we are called by Your name;  Do not leave us!

I was having a difficult time and was visiting with a friend yesterday and was reminded of a basic truth.  God uses sinners!  If you really think about it, if He didn't use sinners He would have no one to use. 

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

So there you have it, ALL have sinned.  If God uses anyone He is using a sinner.

It is a relief really, to see that truth.  There are times when I get discouraged by the sin I see in my life, the lives of my children, family, and others.  It would not be possible for God to you anyone if he would only choose to use the perfect, unsinning, amazing humans (who do not actually exist).

With that thought in mind I continue to pray for God, in his great mercy, to continue to bring myself and all those around me closer to Himself.  And with God NOTHING is impossible! 

Half Full or Half Emptry

Jeremiah 29:11- 13  For I know the plans I have or you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

It is an interesting subject, perspective.  The question is always, do you see the glass as half full or half empty, what is your perspective.  Well, I will give me my perspective.  The question I have is, what is in the cup?  If there is coffee in my cup I don't really care if it is half full or half empty, I will just drink it all and refill the cup.

This is how I am beginning to see my life. The question isn't is this a good life or bad life, the question is who is in control of my life. Jeremiah reminds us that IF you seek God with ALL your heart you will find Him.  We also know that God has plans for us, plans that give us a hope and a future.

I love my family so much.  I love my girls enough that even if it hurts their feelings I am willing to do that when I know that what needs to be done or said is for their good.  I want them to have a life filled with the hope and future that God has planned for them.

I know that God feels the same about me.  His plan is for good and not evil, but I need to be seeking Him with all of my heart to be in that plan.

I have a wonderful Husband who loves God, me, and our girls.  I have two very beautiful, very talented girls who have been raised to know who God is and what is important.  We are coming to a time in their lives where they are beginning to make the choices for themselves, where they will go, who they will be, but most importantly if they will seek God with their whole heart. 

So as I pray each day for my family, I will pray that they see their life for who is in control and will not worry too much about the ups and downs along the way.  If they are seeking the Lord with their whole heart, they will find Him!