Five Minute Friday: Present

I signed up to participate in the Ultimate Blog Challenge at the beginning of the month, and did a great job of blogging every day for a week. But something unexpected happened on Sunday and my whole world changed... and I didn't blog this week. I wasn't even sure I would participate in Five Minute Friday until I saw the prompt.

Present

There are no words for the flood of emotions that went through my heart and head on Sunday. I just knew that I wasn't where I wanted to be. I wanted to be with my family... with my sister and her family, and with my parents, and with my other sisters. Because my niece was suddenly "present with The Lord."



On Sunday, while she was at church, serving Jesus, loving on little kids, helping out moms with little kids, being in one of her favorite places to be, God called my sweet niece Home to Heaven. Sixteen years young, and with a testimony that puts me to shame, God wrapped his loving arms around this wonderful young lady and said, "Welcome home, Child." and "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

And while I want her here and while my kids are missing their cousin and while humanly there is no explanation and it's hard to understand, I know that my God is working in the lives and hearts of those who knew Julia and those who have heard her story and he will continue to do so. And while we may not know the how or the why here on earth, we know the Who that is writing the story and He is present with us and carrying us through these days.

All of your days you will be human

It's Sunday afternoon and the Christmas music is playing, the kids are decorating the Christmas tree, and me, I'm hiding in my bedroom having a timeout... Of sorts.

I lost it on our way out of church. A child, that I had sent to the bathroom while hubby was getting the van, took longer than expected. I checked the first bathroom, not there. Checked the one down the hall, not there either. I called her name, then again more frantically. Then I heard the pitter patter of running feet and wasn't patient in my response. My hands were full of paper clutter, most of which will hit the trash can before the end of the day, and my travel mug, and a box of leftover Sunday school snack from a kids' teacher. And I couldn't get into the van. Once I had rebalanced everything and got the door open, this same sweet little girl had thrown some of her belongings right into the seat that I was trying to sit in. I confess. I threw it in frustration to the back of the van.

So much for Sunday spirituality, and the beginning of Advent, and happy memories for an afternoon of decorating the Christmas tree. The van was pretty quiet most of the way home. After a mishmash dinner of leftovers, my husband sent me to my room for a nap.

I awoke an hour later to the sounds of Christmas music, kids' excited voices as they hung ornaments, singing along with the music... And just a whole lot of happiness. I decided that I didn't want to ruin it and pulled out my bags to do some class work (I have a rough draft due for class tomorrow) and to read the first day of Walking to Bethlehem in an effort to refocus myself.

I checked my email briefly... I'm a perpetual procrastinator. And opened THIS email from Dayspring...



You're More Than Your Hard Days
Some days you will try your best
and it will not feel like enough.
Some days the words you want to heal will hurt instead.
Some days you will question everything you do
and why you do it.
This doesn't mean you're a failure.
Or you should quit.
Or God is mad at you.
It just means this...
All of your days you will be human.
All of your days you will grow but not reach perfection.
All of your days there will be grace enough for you.
Keep going, friend.
Keep trying.
Keep moving forward.
I know it's hard on some days. But you are more than those days.
And at the end of all your days you will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
That will make it all worthwhile.
So close your eyes and remember you are loved.
Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

For more words of hope and encouragement from Holley, visit her blog Heart to Heart with Holley and to receive Free Devotionals from Holley, CLICK HERE to subscribe by e-mail.

I share all this not to justify my outburst, but just because I'm thankful for a word from God, through Dayspring and Holley Gerth, just when I needed it.

I have mentioned Dayspring a time or two, and I'm always on the lookout for their great sales, because I love decorating and filling my house with reminders from God's Word. And they have some awesome "flash sales" going on this week. I'm sharing Monday's with you...

This sale is active from 11-3 CST Monday only. This item will be marked down on the website, so no coupon code is required to receive the discount.

Monday, December 3^rd
Redeemed- Everything Beautiful- Decorative Lantern
Flash Sale Price: $14.99 (50% off)

Similar item on sale:
Love Came Down- Trio Tea Light Holders
December Monthly Special, on sale for $9.99


Also, ALL jewelry will be on sale starting Tuesday, December 4 through Sunday, December 9.  Jewelry will range from 25%-50% off.

So sign up for Dayspring emails... they come at just the right time!! :)

What has God used to share just the right thing with you!??!  When was it??

Five Minute Friday --Wonder

I confess, my first attempt at Wonder took me 15 minutes, so I didn't feel I could post it here... maybe it will show up sometime in December when I'm trying to fill in my Fridays without Five Minute Friday... yep, that's right! This is the last Five Minute Friday of 2012. Lisa-Jo (and the rest of us) are taking December off (of 5MF, not blogging).

So what are you waiting for? Go, read Lisa-Jo's post and join in with your own 5 minutes ...

    on Wonder

I have no problem seeing God as Creator. Creator of me and the human body, Creator of those four adorable children He gave me. I'm amazed at the intricacies involved in the human body and how it all works together so perfectly.

I have no problem seeing God as Creator of the world, the planets, the universe. I stand amazed at the stars, the moon, the storms, the seasons.

I see God in Autumn. The falling leaves, the glowing sunsets, the bounty and the beauty of harvest.

I see God in Winter. The fresh fallen snow, the sparkling diamonds as the sun reflect off the snow. Even the stark contrast of bare trees against daily gray skies.

I see God in Spring. Fresh green buds, flowers sprouting up through leftover snow. Birds returning in full force. Shades of green everywhere.

I see God in Summer. Longer days, warm sun beating down, the joys of summer berries, and the variety in color.

Why is it, I wonder, do I have such a hard time basking in the wonder of Him as my Father with unconditional love, unending grace and mercy, and blessings above and beyond what I could ask or imagine?

I wonder

The Path before me

While I was on my blogging break, Lisa-Jo did a Five Minute Friday prompt of PATH. So although I wasn't blogging, I did read her post and thought a little bit about the word path. And then I kept seeing it in my Bible reading and I just kept thinking about it.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.

Psalm 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Sometimes the path is unclear and I'm unsure of myself, but I should never be unsure of Him. Sometimes the path seems wide... sometimes narrow.

Sometimes, I just plain old don't like the path I'm on. Sometimes, there is something or someone on the path before me that is just blocking my way, slowing me down.

And sometimes, I get it right, and I let Him direct my paths, and I find fulness of joy in His presence. He gives me light; He shows me His ways. And even when I'm overwhelmed, He knows the steps I should take... and it's delightful!

What path are you on?

Five Minute Friday --Loud

I can hear them all in my head... as if they were shouting in my ear!

"You will never get it right"
"You can't do it all, but you can die trying"
"You need to spend more time with your kids"
"Why can't you be more like her?"
"You need to clean your house better"
"You need to exercise more"
"You will never sell your handmade cards"
"You need to eat more fruits and veggies"
"You need to stop drinking coffee"
"What were you thinking?"
"You think you are a writer? well, you can dream!"

So much so that sometimes I can't hear the still small voice... the voice of truth

You are LOVED

You are Redeemed

You are gifted

You matter

You have something that the world needs... don't hide it!

I love your kids more than you do!

I am not surprised by what you face today

I am holding you.

You can't do it in your own strength, but In Christ, All things are possible!

Listening to the voice of TRUTH today... won't you?

Will you take 5 minutes to write today? Join in with The Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday today!

Five Minute Friday --Brave

Today's Prompt... BRAVE

She thought I was the amazing one... having 4 kids in 4 and 1/2 years. She didn't know how I did it. She prayed for me and encouraged me. While in reality, she was the brave one!!

Pregnant and not knowing if she would ever carry her baby to full term. Not knowing if her baby would survive outside the womb. Not knowing what kinds of birth defects and disabilities would ensue. I remember feeling guilty for complaining about being so overwhelmed, etc, when I had completely healthy children.

She was brave through months of bed rest, months of testings, months of unknown.  Her baby was born ... and survived. And faced heart surgeries, angioplasties, cranial surgeries... I could research more if I had more than 5 minutes.

Her baby is a miracle baby... and now she's 3 1/2, and growing and walking (running), and learning words, and always, ALWAYS smiling!

This week, I had the opportunity to help out in her little class! It's always a blessing to see her miracles... so many things the doctors predicted and she has surprised them all... but she hasn't surprised God!  and her mom... still amazingly brave as she ventures into each new discovery and each new stage!

STOP

Just a Five-Minute tribute to my friend Julie, and her sweet Elisa!!

Project 52 --Be Still

The Project 52 theme this week is "Be Still." The first thing that came to my mind was "still life" but I wanted to stretch myself a little more than that... and I didn't have any fruit in my house at the time (isn't that what you picture when you think "still life"?)  So I began to think more on Being Still and what that means to me. "Be Still and know that I am God"  Sometimes I have a hard time being still... physically maybe not, but mentally!! and I wanted to do more than just photograph that passage of Scripture.

I'm so glad Darcy posted a reminder on facebook in the middle of the week, because I was so engrossed in my writing side of blogging that the camera had taken a back seat!!

So, I remembered to grab my camera when I left the house Wednesday evening and I was glad I did!  As I was pulling down my long driveway, I stopped... and enjoyed some of God's great artistry. (I have a slight frustration with the fact that it never looks as good out of the camera as it does when I'm enjoying it in person.)

and as we were driving to church... in a rare evening of just my son and me, all of a sudden my son said, "Look, Mommy, the moon is peeking at us!"  And I took a moment to be still and enjoy the moment, enjoy my son, and enjoy the moon! :)

and then on the way home... with all the kids this time, my sweet little 4 year old asked me, "Mommy, why is the moon following us?"  and for just a moment in time, I was still and just reveled in my sweet kids and the wonder of it all.

What makes you "be still"?



to my photographer visitors: what's the secret to capturing God's great creation on film... especially with the sun or moon involved??!?!  any great tutorials online?

Previous Project 52 entries: 

A Great Leap

Cabin Fever

True Love
Drink Up
Shadows

The Red Door

I talk often about my mountain... this property we live on, this house we inhabit! I give thanks for it EVERY DAY!! I do not EVER want to take it for granted. In my mind, it was a long time coming and that is part of what makes it so sweet today. The story has been brewing in my head, and I want to get it down in writing! Thankfully, Write it, Girl, gave me the push I needed. (WARNING: There is a lot of back story and I might jump around a bit)

It really began back in the summer of 2004. I became pregnant with baby #2. I found out in the fall that it was a girl... Our first born was a boy. We lived in a 2 bedroom trailer. And like I'm so good at doing, I panicked a little bit and worried and fretted and stressed about when they could no longer be in the same room because they were opposite sex. (and then I added a larger home to my "Impossible Prayers" journal.)

She came in April of 2005 and fit just fine in the room. Toys and books were in the living room; dressers, changing table and cribs in the bedroom.  Then we had baby #3 in September of 2006 AND baby #4 in January 2008. Yes, FOUR kids in 4 1/2 years!! One boy and 3 girls... but still there was nothing on the horizon for a larger home.  We started to get just a little cramped... I started to get just a little depressed ... it was a struggle ... I was overwhelmed.  I worried and prayed and fretted and prayed and got mad at God and worried and prayed.

On the street before our trailer park, there was a gorgeous, LARGE home (not one we could ever afford, but I still dreamed of the day it would go up for sale). My son was drawn to it as well. It had a beautiful red front door and red garage door. My son wanted to live in that house, too. So I told him to start praying about it... and he did. At 4 and 5 years old he would pray for the house with the red door and the red garage and pretty soon his sisters were praying for it, too.  ... Oh me of little faith, I prayed, but I didn't pray believing.

Then in Summer 2009, I did Beth Moore's Believing God bible study and I worked on claiming God's promises... and believing them!!  Then in week 5, we studied Moses, and the people of Israel and their exodus from Egypt. I don't remember all the details (it was almost 3 years ago), but the important points had to do with the color RED, the blood on the doors, etc. And I remember thinking about the house with the red door and the reminder of walking thru the door. AND I started to BELIEVE and to pray, believing.  I told God then and there, that I knew he was capable of giving us THAT particular house with the red door and the red garage, but if not, I was also believing that when He chose to give us a house, it would have a RED DOOR.

This house on the mountain... it's not ours, we don't own it. We are caretakers. The 2 families before us were both from our church... so it's a word of mouth kind of situation. I remember when the first family was moving out and I remember thinking then that I wanted to live up here. (even though I had never been here and really didn't know all that was involved) and I was disappointed that they didn't ask us. But God knew the timing wasn't right. Our kids were babies, I was overwhelmed, to be 20 minutes from town, to have my husband have the extra responsibilities on the property, so many reasons.

Then in December 2009... just 5 months after I really started praying believing, the then-caretakers approached Wes to see if we would be interested in caretaking and living "out here on the mountain." I started praying like never before, knowing nothing about the house... just that it was bigger than my trailer!! :)  It was a waiting game as they were waiting for a pastoral position to open up for them somewhere, but it was really exciting to think it was a possibility.

Late February 2010, we finally had an opportunity to go and visit the home. I was soo excited and so nervous driving to the house. We drove up the long (half mile) driveway, pulled up to the house and I almost started crying RIGHT there...

Because there to greet me was a RED front door.

I knew then and there I was entering my future home, it was just a matter of when!!

It wasn't until July that we found out they were candidating at a church in New York.  We found out the second week of August that they were taking the ministry and moving in 2 weeks time.  I packed my trailer in record time and we moved in on August 27, 2010.

I am loving my red door. I have had so much fun actually hanging things on the red door and am thankful for the reminder of the promise from God that He will always take care of me and meet my needs... in HIS time.

All Glory to God!