Grateful to be challenged

My son Anthony is a real treat. This is him after his graduation ceremony from Navy league Cadet Corp Boot Camp. This is a jr program the U.S.Navy has for kids that want to learn about the Navy. They drill the 3rd weekend of each month and yes go to bootcamp for a week during the summer. As a mom I handled this week as a complete wimp, I called officers daily with concern. Anthony however handled this week away from mom like a champ. They do this at a real base with real military people doing real military things (on a downsized scale). Anthony is fearless to challenge, he always raises his hand at any opportunity to try something new.
Well I am learning to accept challenges as blessings. We have a new study on Hebrews in our life group and this workbook taunts me it seems. I am just not getting it, I mean week 1 day 1 has me challenged. Our pastor is without a doubt blessed big time intellectually, and his writing shows it. Me, well I'm not so blessed and the language, while english is hard for me to wrap my noodle around. 3 times yesterday I tried and was defeated . This morning God says try again Lisa, I am expanding you to learn more, try harder. If God believes I can do this than by His will I will do it. The bible says God will never ask more of me than I can give even if I believe I am unable. So again today I will try and today I will receive the blessing of a challenge faced and conquered. Today I am grateful to my heavenly father that does not let me sit things out, but props me up till I can stand. As my son stands in this picture between 2 of his commanding officers I want to bow down before my father some day so He can smile at me and say " see that wasn't so tough eh Lisa"

okay today is the 1st day I fished in bigger waters.

Fishing in a familiar pond is relaxing, fun, without surprise. Today is the first time I went into bigger waters with the Threads of Gratitude email. Some recipients are not people of faith, some are down right non believers. I think its those without God that give me most pause. Not because I'm worried God can not work with them, but because if they come to me with questions, doubts, negativity I need to go back with the right answer, something from scripture to guide them. God help me, guide me, be that most beautiful lamp unto my feet. Oh and since I have your ear Lord can you make this easier?
Today I am grateful for a spirit to serve.
Today I am grateful for a new life group to grow in and a great "get to know each other dinner last night.
Today I am grateful for a husband that still doesn't understand this but loves me enough to support this.

serenity of obediance

There is a calmness, a sweet serenity I feel when in obediance to my Father. Its like a warm blankie on a cool evening. Or that 1 piece of chocolate you allow yourself when dieting all month long. The world is still chaotic, homework is still a battle to be won, dinner needs to be made then cleaned up after, the daily chores still need to be done. All the while a peace covers me, a Father listens to me, and I feel serenity. This is a blessing I am overwhelmed with gratitude for.
This picture was taken from the deck of a ship we were on, a family vacation last year. Its quite humbling to be out in the midst of His ocean, nothing but water all around you, not even a bird travels this far away from land today. So tiny I felt, so far removed from my life. Yet on that boat, far from home He was just a prayer away, if even that far. I felt Him with me, like He was showing me a new perspective. I find it wonderful to know that even when my dearest earthly friend is a international call away @ $ 5.00/min. My Father is but a whisper away no matter where I am. And His excitement at showing me things is as if we are both seeing it for the first time, He is gentle that way. Father does His reprimanding, and boy can He prune me, but He also never hesitates to show me beauty as well.
I greet at my home church and there's a beauty He shows me every time, it's that of the children running into the church, smiling and bouncing there way into His house. I love it every time I see it and I hear Him saying "see their joy to be here" You my child should feel that joy in being here cuz I'm just inside those doors encouraging you with open arms saying "come to me".
Today I am grateful, so very grateful to be a child of God's.

He thought it was Jesus ??

a Hail storm in a part of Kenya that just doesn't experience this type of weather,

"We thought a big white sheet had been spread, so we decided to come and see for ourselves. We thought that it was Jesus who had come back," one villager told reporters.

Oh the joy these villagers experienced for that moment, to see this white snow, to believe Jesus had come. To touch this cool treat from the heavens. The story goes on to say it was odd the ice lasted so long considering the heat there. These believers were brought sweet relief for that time. Maybe Jesus did not return, but I believe He was there, I believe He laid manna on their ground to provide a sweet treat for these, His children. Just reading the story and hearing that villager name Jesus as the reason for this odd season of weather touched my heart.

tears so close...all day...so happy I am leaking !!!

All day I'm either crying happy tears or they are welling up in my eyes. God is at work and I am seeing this with my own eyes, can you dig it? Little old me, nothing special for sure but still granted the priviledge of beholding my Father at work. After hearing Him and taking steps to follow Him I got to witness Him. Its truly amazing each time I see it, and I'm grateful.

I gotta tell ya this morning after taking the first few steps in the direction He is sending me my heart hurt, physical pain. At first I panicked I'm very human in that way. Then God whispered to me"fear not silly girl, I'm just knocking down walls, reorganizing this mess, making myself more at home" Oh Lordy Lord did my eyes feel full of cleansing tears. I'm feeling these pains and know I'm not at risk but in the midst of being saved. I am 1 grateful girl, so very grateful I wish I could make you see this gratitude, it is beautiful.

a net and a brain :)

Ideas come in so many ways, most times I know if I don't stop and write it down I will forget them, all this genius gone without a trace :) Like the notion of only using 5% of our brain. God is absolute genius to only allow us this much on our own. Can you imagine what mayhem we would cause if we had more capacity to think? My 5% of brain activity is maxed out, so much so that the thought of studying the bible had me terrified. I mean I could not wrap my head around the language let alone the meaning. But...yesterday God told me not to worry, He would provide, and my guess is He's allowing me to tap into His reserve, the other 95%, because it's coming together in my mind, it's making sense. Dare I mention I'm reading 3 different things right now in an effort to atleast grasp 1 of them and glory be to God I'm getting it all. It is trully amazing and I am yes grateful.
The other idea God gave me is that of threads of gratitude. 1st I saw this as a way to begin a week in the right frame of mind and heart. A way to lift up all my joy to the very source of joy. Now, genius as He is, He has shown me a net, He is making me a fisherman of gratitude. This is a way to bring together a posture of gratitude, together in gratitude we are joyous. God wants these threads to be a net, to gather gratitude. It all makes perfect sense in my heart, my words might fail to clearly communicate this .
God is awesome, God is generous, God has and will provide all things necessary to serve Him, even brain capacity :) I am thankful.

gratitude

it's probably a bit hard to see why I love this picture, let me explain. Here we have a puppy and a husband that did not want to get a puppy. Both playing and both smiling and just having fun. (I'm almost positive Charlie is smiling anyway, I can't really see his face). I am grateful for each moment I see these two together. Charlie is close to 2 yrs old and many of these moments catch my eye. Never did it enter my mind that Tim would love Charlie the way Charlie loves Tim. I pictured Tim grumbling each day about this dog, making the decision to get him regrettable. Than God made this happen, God made Tim care for this dog when I was tired from getting up 3-4 times a night. Begrudgingly at first but soon Tims heart was smitten(he'll never admit it) Now I watch Charlie and Tim play, read the paper, just share time together and I'm reminded how God can make something I pictured so difficult, so very beautiful. Days when I think life is difficult I need to remember this picture and realize what the world can make difficult, God can make it beautiful. Thank you my sweet Father for revelations and brand new ways to see things. My love for you overflows.