Oh boy, a choice, how awesome.

What an awesome reality? I dared not ask for a choice, but just to serve. Then God said witness in the prisons Lisa go and share in there with those ladies. Well I dare not lie and type that I said "okay Lord as you wish". Nope I actually argued this choice of His with him for a year. God heard my cries and knew my fears and changed my location not the path necessarily. God said if not here than somewhere. Then as if He packed my bags, my move was effortless, seamless, completely the hand of God. @ years after we moved here the time has come to do this, first I had to find a way, then get clearance, then wait my turn. Now time is coming and another choice has my Father laid before, as if knowing I needed comfort, to feel His presence. To feel completely comfortable with going in He has 3 different coriculums(?) I can choose from. His choice will be made clear but in His merciful way He is making me feel comfortable, He is making His presence known. Thank you God for being everything I need, everything I want, surely more than I deserve.

thank you Lord

Thank you Lord, my God for listening to me whine. When I have feelings swishing around in my head and I am leaning neither this way or that way. Thank you for allowing me to lay this mess of emotions at your feet, completely trusting you to work it all out.
Thank you God for the beauty of a marriage coming back together, for allowing me to witness my friends faith close and upfront from the moment her hubby moved out to the moment you moved him back in 9 months later. I watched her faith and her example of living by the bible and it's promises when I admittedly would have given up months before. Lord thank you for sermons on cd that speak to me and teach me.
God, thank you for my kids, each one of them is a wonderful, shining example of your love and generosity for allowing me the privilege to parent them. You are mercy, you are love, and you are grace.

ahhh the serenity of a scheduled day.

AAHHH School has started and peace has resumed residence in my home from 8am to 4pm. I am grateful. I love my kids and really enjoy sharing time with them. But the summer monthes, as they progress the boys get bored, start to bicker, complain about things. So this school days stuff thrills me. They have stuff to do, then come home and are happy to be here. Granted getting thru homework time is a challenge I have yet to master. Patience, my mom says is a flower that does not grow in my garden, huh I say. Each year I plant the seed, tend to my patience with much prayer and try not to kick myself when I fail.

My hubby and I relieve each other if we notice the others patience about worn thru. I'm telling you these teachers are angels from God himself to do this day in and day out. And a summer off is just about enough time for God to restore them in time for the new school year. Today I am grateful for school and for teachers. I'm grateful for quiet in my home and to enjoy a full uninterupted conversation with my hubby:) I'm grateful for so much my list goes on much longer than any list of complaints I could put together, praise God.

multitudes of gratitude

It seemed I waited so long to go on this trip with my daughter, and here we are horseback riding on the beach in Progresso. It was an awesome time together. The whole trip was just wonderful. We laughed alot, a whole lot. My little girl got to travel outside the states. I fell asleep each night thanking God for the day, I woke up doing the same thing. Gratitude overflows from me to my heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity to spend time with my little girl. I'm continually amazed by His generousity. I mentioned listening to a series of teachings by Pastor Jerry, and in that series he teaches about God wanting the best for us, well let me tell you this trip God provided was THE best, I wouldn't change a thing. Even the painful sunburn was awesome. From before to during to after, everything went just great. I believe if you live expecting God to provide, He will, He wants to. Looking to Him for everything is a gift, and even if it's not what you wanted it will be what you need, that is an awesome reality, God's reality for me, for us. Live for Him, love Him. Oh and be grateful, so grateful that His love endures...forever.

Ready for a trip :)

Last year my husband and boys and I went on this cruise, it was an awesome time. This year I will be taking this cruise with my daughter. Praise God for the blessings he pours out to me to allow me to do such a thing. I am so excited, she flies in today.

Today I am grateful for opportunities recognized. So many times God attempts to bless us, and in our busy state of mind, or our feelings of unworthiness we do not accept these opportunities. Lately I've been listening to a series on cd by Pastor Jerry, called the Blood Covenant. In this series time and time again God offers Himself, His blessings to His people, time and time again they did not see it or grasp it. I'm equally as guilty as my ancestors. Today Lord open my eyes to your giving, your blessings. I pray my heart accepts how happy you want me to be. Challenging myself in each moment to cherish the people you have placed in my life. Opening my heart to slow down and appreciate each person, blessing. To wrap my heart around each lesson you want me to learn. These people are not interuptions to my day but placed there by you for a purpose I will never know if I do not slow down. May I anticipate you in each day, open and waiting to see you, and standing still till I fill your direction for me. Today Lord I expect you, want you, need you to guide me. Today Lord may I recognize you, and cherish the blessings you shower down on me, in the mighty name of your sacrifice, Jesus, amen.

grateful for His pictures

So many times God has spoken to me in pictures, from detailed textured art to bright beautiful crayon. Cool thing is He knows when I need it to be clearer, when I long to understand but can't quite get my head around it. In the middle of a conversation with Him He places this picture in my heart, ah ha I get it. Someone that is very dear to me, I'll refer to her as flower. I don't believe anyone will read this blog but just in case her name will be protected. Flower has repeatedly suggested I write this stuff down, so here I blog. Last night in bible study Beth Moore provided us all with this AWE moment, this visual of visuals. She asked us to stand shoulder to shoulder so close that nothing could come between us. Beth explained this is how we are supposed to be, united together, regardless of our differences we are all children of Christ and we should be unified, shoulder to shoulder. Then she said "Jesus, I present to you, the Kings daughters". I was moved beyond my physical world in that moment. I was fully in the spritual world. I, as God is my witness (cuz He was there too) stood with my sisters shoulder to shoulder presented before His throne. It was breath-taking, knee -buckling, unifying, a miracle in action type moment. There I stood before His throne, presented as His daughter, with His daughters and I will never be the same. There are not enough colors and sounds to adequately draw this moment for you. What I can explain is in that moment, doing what God found pleasing (standing unified as His children), seeking Him, God gave me a glimpse, a preview of heaven. No experience here on earth can even come close.

Today I am grateful for His generousity, His grace, His love for us.

It just keeps getting better :) :)

Have you ever been just walking thru your day, hum drum. Not really noticing the beauty of God in your day? I have, often, if I'm being honest. Kinda like this hike we were on, it was hot. The hike seemed never-ending. Lots of trees, hills, dirt, and heat, I did mention it was hot right? Then like a whisper to remember, to really open my eyes, it appeared. This flower type thingy. It was beautiful, the picture doesn't capture how vibrant it was. How solitary it seemed at first. Then my eyes were open to the greens and browns. To the life going on within this hike. Ants, birds, spiders. All right there as big as life, and I almost missed it. The whole temperature of the hike changed at the site of this flower. No longer did I grumble at each hill, or wonder why someone would hike this trail. It became a wonderland of smells, visuals, sounds.

So you see today I am so grateful for God grabbing my attention when I'm not paying attention. For Him opening my eyes to "see" Him at work all thru my day. I absolutely am in love with Him and His genius ways.

so much gratitude :):)

As I anticipate a vacation with my daughter, I reflect back on past vacations. This picture is from our trip to Missouri, so much fun.

Today I am grateful for answered prayers, for knowing without a fraction of doubt God heard my cries. Funny, even though we know He's there and that no "being" cares more for us, it floors us when we feel His presense. Even on days I'm being convicted, disciplined, pruned, just knowing it's Him doing it makes it so much better, right?

I'm grateful for this month being one of time with family and fun. Both my older kids will have visited me this month, my two younger boys will have spent a week at each grandparents this month. Praise God for the blessings of being able to do these things. I am overjoyed to know we stay connected while living far apart.

I am gratful for Women of Faith this month, and the opportunity to bond with women from my home church and others as we come together to seek Him, to know Him more, to worship Him. After going last year I could not stay away this year. It is such a blessing to attend these events and gatherings. To hear Him through others, to see His work, to witness His love. Grateful, grateful, grateful am I.