A way Home

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

Jeremiah 17:7

A few years ago we we're moving cow's out to pasture on a sunshiny May day. (Its always a cheerful day when cow's get moved out to the green grass and rolling hills.) We we're on our last trailer load of cattle to the pasture when a storm rolled through and lots of rain was poured on us. The pasture road was immediately sticky and muddy! We tried to get out of the pasture and to the highway so we could make our way home after unloading the trailer but found ourselves stuck. I remember feeling hopeless and praying "God just get us home". 

And out of no where a neighbor was passing by and was able to pull us out so we could get back on the road. 

Just as God equipped us to make it home that rainy afternoon, He equips us to make it home to him. When we change our focus to be on God rather than our problems we find ourselves more useful and joyful through our everyday struggles. 

Father God, thank you for your promise of heaven, of home. May I turn my focus to you and the promise of going "home". And by doing so may my actions reflect this. May I live each day with love and calmness in my heart and in the words and actions I chose to use. 

-Amen

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Through the Changes of Life

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrew 13:8 As a child, I grew up with divorced parents from the age of 2. I knew they both loved me but I knew my family makeup was a bit different than friends I had that had both parents in the home. My parents lived four hours away from one another and some of my earliest memories we're that long car ride back and forth across state lines from one parents home to the next. At my mom's home I was the only child and at my dads house I was the oldest of four kids. I always felt that I had the best of both worlds but I had to learn how to guard my feelings well going back and forth. To know that I often didn't blend in right away from one home to the other. Over the years and hundreds of miles back and forth I learned that there would often be a lot of change from one visit to the next and that I would often feel misplaced until I settled back into the household routine. The change of scenery, homes, people and circumstances helped me to grow into a person who can quickly adapt to new situations, and as an adult its a positive trate I believe I have. Through all of that back and forth God has remained next to me helping me to know that I'm not alone and that He is right by my side through it all. Father God, thank you for never changing and holding me ever so tightly through the under currents of life. Thank you for reminding me Father that the change in my life doesn't happen by chance and that your beside me through it all. Thank you Jesus for never changing!

-Amen

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Being a Comforter to my Family

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Being a mom has been one of the biggest blessings I can ever ask for. I find so much joy and happiness being a mom and caregiver of my family. But being a mom has also been one of the hardest things as well. 

When our son was 2 he had to have his tonsils and adenoids taken out. Its a common procedure that lots of children go through including myself when I was small. 

On the day of surgery my husband and I took our son Owen to the hospital early in the morning after our daughters had gotten on the school bus. When we arrived at the hospital we we're met by the best nurses who we're comforting and pleasant. The room we we're taken to was dressed with a "cowboy" pillow case and a cute little stuffed animal for Owen to feel special. 

He was given some oral medication to help calm his nerves and help him to feel less anxious. Little did we know it would make him the funniest little boy we had ever seen, giggling like crazy and making us all smile. After the nurse took him back for surgery we waited for the surgery to be done and then met him back in his room 45 minutes later.  I knew he wouldn't feel well when he woke up but I was unprepared for how angry and mad he would be coming out of the sedation. 

Parenting seems so similar to how Owen went from extreme happiness and joy before surgery to pure frustration, confusion and anger after surgery. I sat by my son's side in both circumstances to provide comfort and love just like God sits beside us through life's ups and downs. 

And in that, I take comfort! 

Father God, I choose today to quiet myself so that I can hear your little promptings. Show me ways I can bless others, including my children, through doing their laundry, fixing their meals, cleaning up after them and reminding them to bathe and do their chores. Instead of feeling unappreciated, may I feel the sense of being a blessing and comforter to those I love. 

-Amen

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Let go of the Fear and have Faith

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act." 

Psalm 37:5

In life we have daily fears; fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough, fear of what others might think of us. Those fears can stop us from living in the presence of the greatness God has made us for. 

When I was a freshman in high school I was in an Ag class where we built wood chairs. These weren't just any chairs, they we're the cool wood chairs that you often see on patios or front porches. This class was designed to introduce us to shop safety and wood working among other things. I was fearful of using the tools because I had never handled them before and felt less than because my pears seemed to know exactly what to do while I was a bit clueless. 

During those 45 minute sessions over that second semester of my ninth grade year I learned more than how to use power tools. I learned that the more I tried the better I became. I learned to measure twice and cut once. And I learned to believe in myself and let go of the fear that was holding me back.

When fear stops you in your daily steps think about all that can go right and learn to lay your trust in God's plans for you. When I think back to that 14 year old me, I had no clue that I would someday use the skills I learned in that Ag class and enjoy and find peace in building pieces of furniture. Looking back I'm thankful I let go of the fear and let God work through me!

Father God, thank you for loving me more than I could ever know.  May I put all of my dependence and trust in you God - our mighty and sovereign Lord. 

May I let go of all of my current fears. I know that you hold them Jesus and are far bigger, mightier and greater than any fears I have now or that tomorrow might bring. 

-Amen

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