Books, Words, Thoughts & God

I sit here looking at my desk.  I have several things on it that you would normally find on a desk.  A lamp, a pencil holder, a notepad, some stationary and note cards and a lap top.  But then I look at all the "books" that surround my area.  A bible, an old journal that I haven't written in such long time, a book that I write down thoughts, verses, poems, sayings that I like or have impacted me in a good way.  Another little book that I try to write in every day what I'm thankful for.  Then you'll find one more book that I write in and I call it my "love life" and its where I write about my marriage.  My little book that I write what I'm thankful for is almost full with no empty pages left to write on.

I try to have quite time with the Lord everyday, some times its in the morning or in the middle of the day or late at night after everyone has gone to bed.  I enjoy starting my day with the Lord.  It really sets the day off on the right foot on the days path.  I love ending the day with the Lord, helps me feel comforted and peaceful and ready to have a good nights rest.  If I break in the middle of the day to have time with Him, I find that it helps me get over the little bumps in the road that might develop on my path, encouraging me and giving me strength to finish the day.

I have found that when I don't get my quite time in with the Lord things start to feel off balance and my path gets really bumpy and I get a little lost on the way.  Tonight my thoughts started to turn towards what I have focused on with the Lord and how things are shifting into the next phase.  I've been trying to reflect daily on the things around me and be thankful for them.  I look to see where God's hand was in the situation at hand.  I have sought His guidance in many situations.  I've been comforted by His words and encouraged by His strength and move forward with hope in my heart.

I begin to look at the books that I have around me that I've been reading.  Right now I have about 3 different books going right now.  They all seem to relate to one another so its conflicting.  One talks of getting closer to God and developing a close relationship with Him.  One talks of His kingdom vs. my kingdom, then one on praying.  The ladies bible study started back up and its on overcoming fear and discouragement.

All this to say that I find myself moving on from thankfulness to prayer.  When my thankful journal is full, I'm going to start a prayer journal.  I love writing and I love pretty blank books.  I have so many in all sizes.  I have about a dozen from when I first started keeping a journal when I was twelve.  Now I love them to write down cherished thoughts, verses, poems, sayings.  Things that motivate me, inspire me, comfort me, encourage me.  I hope one to day to pass them down to my children so they can reflect on them.

Our Weakness for Your Strength

Lord you use my weakness to help me.  Use our weakness that we have shown here in this family of mine.  I know the great work You have started and will do.  At a glance anyone can tell that any goodness we have is not really coming from us but from You Lord!  You have held us together throughout our many many bumps on our path these past 2 years.

Lord please mold each and everyone one of us in this family, and make our family into a vessel You can use, no matter how broken or pieced together it may be.  At times its is difficult for us.  But because You live in us and your presence is in our home, no outside pressure can crush this family.

Your House Rules

Matthew 12:25
Every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Lord of peace,

Please help the blending of this family.  We are united with so many different ideas of how we all should interact with one another.  Please show each and every one of us that the only idea we need to focus on is Yours Lord.  Your ideas should be the only ones to lead us and guide us to blend our relationships together.

Lord, let our house rule be "to build each other up, to stand together unless they're going in the same direction (Amos 3:3)

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  (John 15:12)

Your word encourages us to "live together", live together in love, as though you had only one mind and spirit between you.  (Phil 2:2) 

You are Strong. Stronger than I

Lord you are my hope, I won't ever be broken beyond repair. Thank you Lord.  When I'm on my bumpy road, You are there with me and I know that You will not abandon me.  I may stumble and fall along the way, but I know that nothing can destroy my family.

Lord please continue to fill me with Your love and power.  Change me through daily pressures of family life into people who reflect Your great and eternal glory.

A True Family Your Way

And now I will show you the most excellent way. 1 Cor 12:31

Lord you have given me this blended family.  Give me your strength to love my family well-to believe in each members good intentions and to trust what you're doing in each member's  life.  Thank you, Father, for this family of mine.  May we always bless each other with Your "most excellent way".

My Heart

Lord I offer my heart to you-all the bruises, numbness, and dark corners.

Please pour out Your Spirit on me. 

Turn my heart to You, and toward all who are part of my family.

Turn my heart to You Lord.  

Let my focus be on You and You alone.

Break my heart, Heal my heart.

I am Yours Lord.

Amen

Family Fun & Dirt Bikes

Dillon has had dirt bike withdrawals for so long now.  Micah looked up temperatures to find out where the warmest place would be for this family outing.  "Family Event" but without Kyle.  He was too tired after sleeping over at a friends house.  He spent the day with a friend that lives in our neighborhood hanging out at his house (which lead into another sleepover).  Anyways we pile in...or actually cram into Micah's truck to head to Camp Verde.  Micah, Sara, and I in the front and Dillon, Scott (my ex-husband) and Karlee in the back.

Miss Bug Eyes.  She needed my sunglasses to be able to see so that she could draw.

Sara kept busy by drawing

as you can see where we were at allowed for nicely posed pictures

Here let me help you (get ready for a little ride with Dad)

almost done

almost....perfect

I loved watching Karlee help Sara. Here lately they haven't been getting along much.  Well if you asked Sara she would say that her sister has been mean.  If you ask Karlee she'd tell you how annoying Sara is and how much she talks.  But none of that was the case.  It was simply  Big Sister helping Little Sister.  Karlee really does take good care of Sara and can be very patient with her but they do have a normal sisterly love relationship especially since there is an age gap.  Just the same they do love each other despite their differences.

She was so worried that she looked like a boy but she thinks the shirt is extremely comfy and when she isn't riding she has her flip flops on.  Silly girl......Too cute

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Scott & his girls

The girls had so much fun with their dad.  It is so great to have him here to be with the kids.  They needed him as much as he needed them.  There was nothing but joy, laughter, smiles and hugs that could be seen from a distance.

Lastly.....I will show you that I got over my fear and got on a dirt bike and rode it for a bit.  I like 4 wheelers but I've always felt a little shaky when it came to motorcycles and dirt bikes.  I think its fun to ride on the back of a motorcycle and dream of going on the road where ever it may take me but the thought of dirt bikes scared me and represented more danger than a motorcycle. 

Karlee talked me into it so she helped me put on the gear and gave me motivation to say "I can do this".  Karlee was a great encourager.

I'm thinking seriously...how did I let you talk me into this...

It was quite entertaining to watch me "learn" how to ride a dirt bike.  I had several failed attempts but finally I succeeded.

Micah was a good and patient teacher.

I got up to 2nd gear I almost went to 3rd but thought I would take it easy.  I'm not so sure on turning so my turns are wide and slow but it was fun.

off I went....

Sara video taped my successfully attempt to ride the dirt bike.

Micah has helped me with my fear of guns and I discovered it was fun shooting them at a target.  He also showed me how much fun it is to be in a kayak and drive a jet ski.  Now he has shown me how much fun it really is to ride a dirt bike. 

We ended our day with a spaghetti dinner, charades, movies and sleepy time. 

His Way

Psalm 32:8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Lord,
I pray today for You to open the way ahead of me. I can't make the right decisions in life without You.  How blessed I am to have the Lord of the universe as my companion and guide.  You are "the Lord Almighty. 

 Please be my guide.  As I use the abilities and information I have, nudge me in the right direction.  When I get lost because of ignorance or wrong motives, mercifully intervene, Lord. 

I have traveled many unfamiliar roads in my life together with You-and arrived at completely unexpected destinations because You have guided me.  You've always made a path for me to follow.  You are the light shining brightly down that path.


Today, may Your joy and peace flow through me even when I might  feel lost.  And may my quiet, hope-filled attitude  flow back to You as a gift of sincere worship.

Thank You, Lord Your way is best.

Amen

Always Grateful

Phil 1:3-4
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy.


Phil 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ ;having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.


I thank you Lord for the new beginnings you have brought, are bringing and will yet bring.

Lord take up residence in me, filling every corner of my life.  Where there used to be sin, may your Holy Spirit bring the beautiful fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control.

Since the new year has started I can't help but find myself feeling really thankful for the year past.  I know I had some ups and downs...maybe at the time it seemed like more downs than ups.  But really if I reflect there were ups even in the down moments.  And as I continue to take time to think about this last year and the new one that is starting I can't help but notice all the things that the Lord had done for me and my family, all the blessings to be thankful for then and now to come. 

God is Good

You are Good God, thank You for Your grace, strength and love.  

When I reflect over the past year-my husband, children, family and home-You have accomplished 

good things and many blessings.

Psalm 119:68

You are good and do only good; teach me your principles.

This year keep my eyes open, my ears alert, 

my mind clear and my heart softened 

so that I don't miss once single evidence of Your goodness that You accomplish in my home.

I will always trust Your generosity and continual provisions.  

I will look for the blessings and gifts from You.  

They may come in many forms and disguises throughout each day-from morning to evening.

Lord You are so Good

Thank You

Isaiah 63:7  

I shall make mention of the loving-kindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has granted us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has granted them according to His compassion And according to the abundance of His loving-kindnesses.

Keep walking forward

I read this verse today and it really caught me and I began to think about it.  I think its a great one to reflect on the year that past and the year starting.

Philippians 3:13-14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord,

In my relationship with my family I want to move ahead.  But to go forward Lord, I need Your help to "leave" behind the things that happened.  Lord you know of the ups and downs, tears shed moments, to smiling fun laughing moments that my family and I have had in the past year.  A new year has started with new lessons and new growth on the horizon.  Lord help me to take the lessons learned to keep moving forward.  Help me to move past things that would hinder me from moving forward.  (old expectations, immature pastimes, inappropriate loyalties, harmful grudges, record keeping of wrong doings etc.)

Everyday I want to keep walking forward into the future You have in mind for me and my family. I have many roles in this family (a wife, mother, step-mother, a daughter, a child of God, an example). Help me with each one of them, help me to know Your purpose and use me to help my family walk forward with You. This family -with all its oddities, absurdities, wonders, roller coaster up and downs and blending-is part of Your plan.  Lord help me to keep walking forward, to only reflect behind when needed.   

Thank You for Your promise: Psalms 37:23-24 A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.  Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand.

I look forward to walking forward with You beside me Lord in this next year.


By your power and grace.  Amen

My Intentions

To live in harmony with God and others
To do things that honor and bring glory to God
To study Scripture steadily, constantly, and frequently
To have faith that can move a mountain
To serve where God leads me
To bear the fruits of the spirit to my family, children, friends, strangers and enmenies
To obey God and follow Him by loving others, helping, serving, trusting Him and to always believe.

Drawing Near & Becoming New

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

I draw near to you today Lord.  I seek you today in your Holy Place with Jesus at the cross.  He has opened "a new and living way, for me to come to you Lord.  Thank you that when I feel grimy, Lord you wrap me up in perfect white.  I know that your arms are opened wide to welcome me.

I know you are always near as you have promised me. I know you are real and your reward for me is a much greater treasure than anything I could ever imagine.  Your reward is there when I earnestly seek you.  I am made new in your light.  It is with you I can draw near and begin again.

Your blessing is the greatest gift.  Thank you that through your only son I have eternal access to you even though your holiness and power are completely beyond my understanding and my worthiness to receive.  It is through that blessing, that gift that you draw near to me as I humbly draw near to you.

Thank you Lord

Happy New Year

I look forward to the new blessings that you lay before me.  I know I will be alright and blessed as I draw near to you.  You are there and I am made new in your arms of love, acceptance and forgiveness.