Unexpected Blessings

Many of us like to avoid the stores completely during the Christmas season, but for a moment, imagine with me that you are a cashier, working at a busy Walmart during this time of the year. Now imagine that you are the only person there, running the whole store. That line would be tremendous, not to mention the state of the shelves! You would be running out of things left and right, because there would be no one (besides you) to make the orders, and you would be going crazy trying to take care of that next customer.

That is kind of how I feel, around Christmas. Some years we are *really* busy, and for a little business with only 2 real employees... it is tough.

I recently read The Hunger Games, and was struck by the fact that the "upscale" boy whose parents owned the bakery in town ate mostly stale bread. Yes, he had plenty to eat (not many others had that luxury!), but his friend commented that it didn't seem like a very nice way to live your life, always having to eat the "stale bread".

Now, I have to be careful, because I do not want to complain.

One of the big struggles is to be thankful for all of the orders that God has pouring in on us! He gave us this "toy business", and it is the nature of the industry. But it is hard on our family. The kids and I are praying every night, thanking Him for the orders, and asking Him to help us have thankful hearts. As busy as it is, this is what we NEEDED, because some extra bills came up. It is a good thing to have the business we need.

But it is hard.

We shape our lives around the "Christmas Rush", out of necessity. We start school one month early, so that we can take the month of December off if we need to. I clear the calendar of appointments, we eat freezer meals I have made ahead of time (on good years), and we wear the same 3 outfits over and over again, so that laundry can be a simple matter of washing the same load every other day-- no folding, no putting away, just fishing what we need out of the basket. :) There is more, but I won't go on. We take on various emergency measures, including sleeping at the store so that more work can be done after the kids are in bed, if need be.

It is a crazy time of year.

We are near the end of it, and we are tired. The kids are looking forward to being able to live at home again. (So am I.)

Today was going to be an especially busy day, since it is the Monday before Christmas. Monday's are busy anyway, because there are the weekend orders to get out. Add to that the pressure of needing to ship everything quickly so that everyone has a better chance of getting it before Christmas, and it was looking like a long day.

When I arrived at the store, sure enough, there was a large pile of labels waiting for me. I started in, praying for the ability to get through them all before the 4:30 cutoff when the post office closes and UPS has come so nothing else can go out. It did not seem likely, but I had a special need to get them all done, since I had taken time off this morning to attend the ladies Bible study, and I didn't want to have that be something that ate up time I should have spent packing and shipping.

So I prayed, and got to work.

I think we packed around 200 packages in a little over 5 hours. I did not loose my energy or motivation, because if I started to it seemed like the Lord was whispering in my ear, "Keep working and We'll get this done!" So I kept on, and my time counted right down to the last minute when I took the last of the last out the back door to see Brian was just getting his vehicle loaded up. That whole stack of labels went out!

I didn't expect that to be possible, but the way it played out, I must acknowledge that it certainly was God's blessing on a very busy day! (Thank you, Lord!)

When I went to get "round 2", it wasn't there. Then I remembered my husband had something scheduled for tonight. There wasn't going to BE a round 2! When I looked at the clock, I discovered it was only 5, and we had time to go HOME for supper!

This is only the 2nd or 3rd time we have eaten at home (except for Sunday's) since the rush began, if I remember right. What a blessing! The kids are excited, we can eat in a warm home, we can eat on real plates, and we will all have a chair to sit in.

Now that I am home, and supper is in the oven, I see that there are piles of work. I'm not sure if I should start with the dishes, the laundry, or the mess in the living room, but I am not going to forget to be thankful for the unexpected blessings of the day. :)

Thanks You, Lord!!!

Bible Memory

Those who know me probably knew I'd get around to this subject at some point. :)

I love memorizing the Bible! It comes easily for me, and I think it is important to put this ability to use and actually continue to memorize... throughout my life!

It is also good for everyone to memorize. It is not going to be as "easy" for some as it is for me, and there will be others who find it much "easier" than I do, but each of us should be using the talents God has given us and putting them to good use in "Kingdom Work"!

I was working on John 12:23-28 this morning. This is a passage I have been working on for a few weeks. I work on multiple passages at the same time... they are on what I call my "daily" list, my goal being to get through it every day. I find I can learn many more verses by working on multiple passages concurrently than I can by working on one at a time.

As I went through my list today, and came to this passage in John, these words of Jesus before his death jumped off the page at me, "Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name."

Wow. What a beautiful example of what our attitude should be! What an amazing glimpse of a "right view" of the world and its inherent troubles! How wonderful it is to be able to see into the heart of our Savior, and find that when He was troubled, His big goal was still to glorify the Father!

This is just one example. Right now I have 183 verses on my "daily" list, and I am not getting through it every day. But from what I do hit, God's uses His Word to minister mightily to my soul. How can I not be encouraged when I read of how Jesus overcame the difficulties of this world, when He was still living on this earth? Even if it is the same verse I have been working on for some weeks, it is GOD'S WORD and it is EFFECTIVE.

Why would I not want to have His Word hidden in my heart? What a good way this is to start my day!

I would encourage every one of you to memorize the Bible too. You do not have to start with a *bang* and try to hit 183 verses a day. Even 1 verse a week, or one a month, is a very healthy practice. As you meditate on the same words, day after day (and for the rest of your life... as you continue to review the verses you learn!), you will find tremendous blessing.

Please, if you do not already, start memorizing... today!

Hope

I have a little reminder to myself on my cell phone. The screen has across the top, in bold black letters, "Hope in God". This was not a "planned" thing. When I was setting up my phone, I came across the option to put text on the screen, along with whatever picture I had there. At the time the reminder to "Hope in God" was very important to me, so I quickly put those words in so that I would be reminded where my hope is (and should, practically, be) every time I looked at my phone and saw those words.

I am glad that I put that there.

It is a very concise, direct reminder to spiritual reality. (II Corinthians 4:16-18) If we stop to think about it, spiritual realities are even MORE REAL than what we can see and touch around us! No matter what is going on in life, we can hope (and rest) in God because He has it all taken care of, clear through to the end of time and into eternity!

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river,
the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved;
God shall help her,
and that right early.

The heathen raged,
the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice,
the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
desolations he hath made in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

(Psalm 46)

A Special Request

The nice thing about a blog is that I can write on any subject. I have chosen to keep this blog to things that matter, spiritually. Tonight's post has a bit of a different tone to it, because it involves the kids. The subject is still "important" despite the change in theme!

My kids love to be read to. This didn't happen by accident. I wanted my children to love reading, so I have read to them... their whole lives. There is one who does not like to read himself... but they do all love to be read to.

We read at bedtime, and we read at lunchtime. There are other times occasionally, but those are the two main times. We try to read books that all of them will enjoy, which happens to be the "older" Dr. Suess, fables, more involved stories or fairy tales, and Rebecca (3) will even put up with a chapter from a chapter book. We have our Bible story book (The Child's Story Bible,Catherine, Vos), and we've been reading through Matthew all together. (too slowly)

The other day at lunch, the kids were asking for a story. Since we are not currently in the middle of reading any chapter book... I got our Bible story book. They were excited about this, but someone wanted to read the Bible instead. Then a couple of them got the idea to "read the whole Bible"! I got the request, from excited lips, for me to read the entire Bible to them!

Whoa!

And my first reaction?

I don't know what yours would have been, but I thought, "The Bible is a LONG book! What am I committing to???" I actually considered the math, and calculated how many years at a chapter a day it would take to read through... or if we read 2 chapters a day. In all honesty, I was not excited. I like their enthusiasm... but that would be a lot of work!

Then I caught myself. What was I reluctant about? My kids (Oh blessed thought!) wanted, excitedly, to hear the WHOLE BIBLE. Many mom's don't even GET that request! They WANT to hear God's word. They WANT to hear ALL of it. They want to listen to it, day after day, like we have done for many other books. (Some even almost as long, at least page-wise. I think the print was bigger though!)

This is a good thing, and I can gladly commit to reading it to them.

So... this is what we have started. (I still can hardly believe we are attempting it!) With interest running high we have read the first 3 chapters of Genesis. (It would have been 2, but I got the request for a second chapter today!)

We will read through the New Testament at the same time... and there will be lots of opportunities for good conversation. I am looking forward to it (though still a bit scared of the commitment this was!) and praying for God's blessing.

When I put the kids to bed last night, and heard my son pray for God to "help him love Him more," I was moved. THIS is what life is about. I should not be afraid to read the WHOLE Bible to children who are excited to hear it! So, we are going to dive right in, and see what the Lord does.

Keep reading, everyone! You don't know what it might lead to!

Perspective

I have trouble with perspective. I forgot today, again, that God holds all things in His hands. Something extremely troubling crossed my path, and I felt like my "fate" was in the hands of my fellow man. I didn't like that feeling at all.

Actually, I very quickly succumbed to that thought! I just could no longer "stand" or go on.

This is such a dangerous place to be. Right when it was happening, in the midst of "steering off-track", I told myself, "I know God is in control, but I don't know what he will do!" Translation: I was not "okay" with God being in control, since I didn't know what He would do. I didn't know what the outcome would be, and I was ONLY going to be okay with ONE outcome... the one I had picked!

But, saying the words, "I know God is in control," somehow made it feel like I was on the right path, despite my miserable feelings.

Thankfully, God, in His mercy, did not let me go on long in this way. He reminded me that He IS in control. Even when it looks like "man" holds my future, it is God who is ultimately in control, and I can rest in that!

The Lord also showed me that I need to trust Him with WHATEVER happens. It hasn't happened yet. My saying, "I don't know what God will do" was not said in faith. I was saying correct words, but behind them I was thinking something terrible. I was thinking that it would only be okay (with me) if He worked it out in the way that I chose!

He reminded me that I need to trust Him, even before-hand, with whatever it is he does, whether it is what I "want" or not. He also reminded me that it is a very sweet place to be trusting Him. The world can be raging all around me, but when I'm trusting Him, it can't touch me. "O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life; and suffereth not our feet to be moved." (Psalm 66:8-9) THIS is where I want to be. (always)

Thankfully I was able to talk to a couple of people, pray, and God straightened my thinking out. He IS in control, and I CAN trust Him with it, even if I don't know what will happen.

As I went through the rest of the day, a couple of things struck me about my struggles. First, my whole struggle today was summed up in Psalm 46 verse 6. "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted." This was exactly what I was looking at today. I was seeing the "heathen rage" and it was not pleasant. I did not want to be under their sway!

This verse contains amazing truth, because first "The heathen raged," THEN, "The kingdoms were moved"! Not only did the heathen threaten, but the kingdoms were actually troubled because of this. Something happened and it was not pleasant.

Now look at what God did. "He uttered His voice." And when God spoke? "The earth melted."

Ah. This is my verse for today! I was so worried about what is a very real threat, but I forgot that when God speaks, the earth melts. Whoa. This is my God, and He is on my side.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be fore us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32) "For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:13)

I need not worry. I will trust Him.

Then tonight for our bedtime story, we read about the time Jesus walked on water. I don't usually consider a child's story Bible a thing to minister to a grown person's soul, but tonight God used our story together to help me.

What happened today was I was fine while trusting God. But when I looked at the waves around me, I sank, just as Peter started to sink when he looked around at the waves instead of at Jesus.

I could say more, but I don't know how to. I am just so thankful that God works in our hearts, and brings us back to Himself when we start to wander! (Just like Jesus stretched out His hand to Peter when he started to sink!)

It is an "easy" place to be, if I am trusting the Lord, no matter WHAT storms rage about me. Praise God!

"Spirituality"

This is a tough one.

I am in difficult circumstances, because my husband has turned from God and become an "atheist". We have a family, and that makes for a lot of difficult things along the way!

When I hear, "I could never do what you do," it is a grief to me. First of all, in my own heart, it makes me not want to "be different", but God has been dealing with me on that. (We, as Christians, are supposed to be different!)

Secondly, it is a grief to me because I think it is an excuse to us. (Yes, "us", myself included.) When we look at another person and say, "I could never follow God the way they do," we are excusing ourselves from trying.

Here we are, walking through this world, and God has chosen to love us and use us. (...and much more, but let's stop there.) When He places us in a difficult situation to show His love to us and use us to glorify Himself, He gives the grace! It is not something we can do on our own! This is true! But in Him, we can. We can do whatever He asks us to do, because he gives us the power to do it.

We can all know, with 100% certainty, that in whatever trial God brings our way, He will give the grace to go through it. We can do it. Let's not make excuses, or over-spiritualize someone whom God is helping. I hear it from others, and I'm sure I do it to others. Let's, rather, look at our own struggles and work at discerning how God would have us to meet them. (to His glory!) And let's look at others' struggles with a fear of God and His ways, full of praise for His work!

Lord,

Here I am before You, a woman hurt by this world, but upheld in Your hand! This life is hard, and full of pain, but You are much more than what makes up for that! You have blessed abundantly! You have given me a new heart that finds unspeakable joy in You.

These are hard days, but they drive me to You! Oh Lord, keep working in me. Keep teaching me.

People look at me and say, "I could never be as spiritual as that." But it is not true! This is just what happens when You teach Your children (even by trials!) and they listen and follow You.

This is none of my own strength. It is all You.

Oh, Father, teach me more, even though it hurts. You are my life. This is a good place to be. (Oh help me as I struggle!!!!!!)

Amen.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5)

Reason for Praise!

"For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." (Psalm 56:14, ESV)

What promise there is in this verse, for all of us! God has delivered the soul of every Christian from death, that we may walk before God in the "light of the living". (KJV)

What beautiful words, for a day that seems difficult.

As the verse before speaks of, I will praise my God this day!

"Tomorrow"

Today I am unsure of the future. I am tempted to worry about what is not known. There is enough before me, today, to make me feel very sad.

I'm sure everyone understands, because we are all faced with this when things go "wrong" and we don't know what is going to happen.

My thought this morning is, that I will most likely be alive tonight. (Although this is in God's hands too!) Another day will have passed, and I will have survived it. I will (likely) go to bed tonight in the same situation, but looking ahead on my day like this, I realize that the amount of pain in this day is likely going to be much less than I imagine on myself (for today) by worrying about it!

What God has ordained to happen, will happen.

I suppose it is just another lesson in "worry". I have learned a lot about worry already, and I don't think I am one who is particularly prone to be worried. But my temptation (and subsequent lesson!) today is to think since it is all happening now I am allowed to worry about it because it is "today".

I like Matthew 7:34, where Jesus said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." I should not worry about "tomorrow". But what about what is happening, today?

Well, actually, in worrying about today, I have been imagining trouble on myself, that probably won't happen today. I can leave it all in God's capable hands while focusing on simply being a faithful servant/child.

As I think ahead to my condition tonight, I am sure that I will not be faced with more than I can handle. (I Corinthians 10:13) At the same time, I am very sure that I could imagine up more difficulty than I will actually face, if I spend my time worrying about what might happen today!

How easy it can be to slip into thinking, "I am right for my worry!" Let's rather heed Jesus' advice just prior to wrapping up the "worry" passage, to "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all of these things [our earthly needs] will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33, slightly paraphrased) They will be (we will be!) taken care of.

Lord, help us to have a right focus. Our life, as Christians, is all about You. We need not worry. Our focus is to be on You, in how to live for you through difficulty! Help me, this day, to keep my focus on You, not worrying, but rather striving to serve you in whatever difficulty You see fit to bring accross my path.

Thank You for Your help!

Not What I Expected (Child Sleep Issues)

My youngest daughter is 3 1/2 years old. Tonight she was very tired. She was nearly closing her eyes as I was tucking her in to bed! This is unusual, but I love nights like this because it means she will fall asleep QUICKLY. Ahh, the bliss of not having to stay up there and "police" her!

Tonight it hit me. It has been a long time. She has never been a good sleeper, and the worst part has been getting her to go to sleep. Now she is 3 1/2, and I am GLAD I didn't know, at the beginning, that 3 1/2 years later I'd still be sitting up there by her room until she fell asleep, just to make sure she DID go to sleep. (Not wandering around, crawling onto her sibling's beds, talking, playing with stuffed animals, and generally just keeping herself awake!)

It is a reminder that life is not usually exactly what we had expected or hoped for. In this case, a 6th child (meaning lots of experience!) should be easy. I should know what I am doing by now. Ha! She (and the Lord!) had different ideas. I have spent countless hours of my life "waiting" for her to fall asleep almost every night (and nap) since.

The one good thing that I have learned to appreciate is that it gives me a large chunk of "quiet time" that I am free to spend with the Lord. (Maybe it is the way He chose to ensure I have "time" for Him throughout each day!)

But tonight, I am thankful for an already-sleeping family, INCLUDING my youngest. :)

How Can I Live This Life? (A Prayer, II Cor. 1:9)

"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:" (II Corinthians 1:9)

I need this truth tonight, Lord! I feel like there is such a level of opposition and conflict in my life... not just between myself and business associates or a boss, or between myself and other people in my life... but it is right here, between my husband and I!

How can I stand it? How can I stand, another moment, to be the object of what he despises most? This is not something I can "seperate" from the rest of my life... and be "okay" when I am home and away from it. This IS my life. This is every day, every hour. Hardly a thought goes by that does not somehow include him. He is my husband! And he hates Christ in me.

How can I live this?

I am so glad for the hope that is in Your word. Here is more hope that you sent me when I most needed it, and I was able to say it again and again to myself, just to keep perspective and not slip into depression. I feel this "sentence of death" in myself. I am "pressed out of measure, above strength"! (previous verse) I surely despair...

It is not the very same circumstances, but I am in over my head, just like they were. All of my hopes and dreams for life, and my "earthly comfort" in circumstances that allow me to feel loved and stable are GONE... "But I had the sentence of death in myself [in loosing all that I have hoped for here – Lord, You know] that I should not trust in myself, but in You, who raise the dead."

Here I am at my lowest, unable to percieve how I can go on another moment, sprialing downward into depression... when You remind me it is not me but You in me. I may not have the strength in what I meet with in life... but You are my strength, so this is as it should be. I tend to think, "This hurts too much, I can't stand it!" but those are the very times that You will carry me through. "But I had the sentence of death in myself [I couldn't go on, in my own strength] that I should not trust in myself, but in You, who raise the dead." Sure, perhaps I can not bear another whithering look, or another sharp word, but this is on You. "Cast your burden up on the Lord, and He will sustain you." (Psalm 55:22) "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2)

Lord, this is rich truth. You are helping me in the storm, right now. Thank You! Help me to see more of Your truth in my everyday life!

Here I am, "fainting", and You say, "It is okay." I was half panicked, distressed at the thought of even another moment under my husband's displeasure (for Your sake), but Your word speaks to this. It is not me that goes on. It is not me, alone, that bears up under such tremendous pressure. That is You, and You surely have strength enough to carry me through.

Thank You, Lord.

Help me to continue in Your love... enduring to the end. May my life be lived to the praise of Your glory! May it cry out "Blessed is the Name of the Lord!" at every opportunity.

Thank You for Your reminders tonight. Thank You for loving me and making me Your Own!

Amen.