Recipes

I bought a "Cooking Light" magazine the other day. After pouring through each page, I only found about 3 recipes that I'd like to try. I'm a picky eater. I like plain, simple, quick meals. I discovered why I hate making a roast. It takes too long to cook. After more than 10 years of working full time regular hours, I have to retrain my brain to start cooking earlier in the day. This is no easy task. Retraining a 40 something year old brain has its challenges.

Fortunately, God has provided a wonderful husband for me. My spouse will attempt to eat anything I attempt to make. He supports me. He encourages me. And, he is honest with me. If it's not good, he will let me know. This kind of environment has a way of making it possible to attempt something outside the "norm" and occasionally end up with a new favorite food.

Probably not my new favorite, but I won't know until I try.

(Father God, thank you for the spouse you provided for me. Your timing and selection are incredible. I love how he mirrors Your interest and care in the little things of my life. I have learned so much about You from him. Bless him today as he works. Give him straight paths. Guide his thoughts and speech. Help him to honor You in everything that he does. In the name of Jesus, Your son, I pray. Amen.)

Marriage and Job - Update

As I was reviewing my blog the other day, I realized there were many entries concerning the stress of my job at the University. Well, I no longer have that job. When the job went, so did the stress. I have been continually amazed at what stress I was under without realizing it. The peace that fills my soul now is incredible. I believe that God provided that job for as long as I needed it to keep my family stable but He had something better in store for me.

Oh yeah, God placed a wonderful man in my life and we got married. I made reference to this exciting event in these entries:

• Fallen in Love (3/11/09)
• Mary Kept (2/18/09)

(Father God, thank you for giving me the strength to wait for what you had in store for me. I am so blessed to have my sweet husband by my side. Please bless him now. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Fallen in Love

I've fallen in love.  No, I was not planning on falling in love.  After being a single parent for 7 years, adding another person to the mix was just too complicated.  The logistics of blending a family has not and does not appeal to me.  The practical things that have to be addressed require way too much work on my part.  Yet, God is using this.

When in love, it's easy to want to spend time with the object of your affection.  I constantly think of and about this new person in my life.  I can't wait to see him at the end of a work day.  I look forward to the day we can wake up together.  I enjoy what ever the thing is that we do together.  I dislike and am impatient when we are apart.  

But then today, I got to wondering.  Do I seek Jesus as the object of my affection?  Is my relationship with God on the same level as (or higher than) the relationship with this other person? What can I learn about my relationship with God because of this relationship with him?   If this relationship is the answer to my prayer for a relationship that honors God, then I better be learning something from it.  

So, I'm learning that I don't worry about the logistics of my relationship with God.  I'm going to let it fill my senses the way a new romantic relationship does.  I am allowing God to create in me the desire to spend time with Him.  I'm allowing Him to distract me from the day to day activities for thoughts of joy and peace.  When I do, a loving smile settles on my face.  God is faithful.  He loves you  and I with a love beyond what any human does or can.  He has our best interest in mind even when He chastises us.  Isn't that amazing and desirable?

(Father God, thank you for the perfect relationship that You - and You alone - provide.  Thank you also for the human relationships that show me about Your love in a way that I can grasp and understand.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Mary Kept

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."  Luke 2:19.

After the angels announced the birth of Peace on earth and the shepards came to see the Saviour, it was told far and wide about this event.  These shepards just had to tell everyone about Jesus.  It was an exciting time for them.  But, Mary didn't tell.

This is the way I feel right now.  God had blessed me in a way that I wasn't expecting.  And, I'm keeping so much of it and pondering it in my heart.  I know this is an exciting time that others want to be a part of.  Yet, I want to savor this time with God.  Thanking Him for His provision. Praising Him for His faithfulness even when I waivered.  Rejoicing in His timing and handiwork. Thanking Him for the exercise of waiting.  Letting His grace and mercy fill every fiber of my being and soul.

(Father God, thank You for loving me beyond measure.  I thank You for the gift of salvation and the joy of it.  Forgive me when I lose sight of You.  Thank You for the reminders of how You work in my life even when I'm not looking.  Thank You for this unexpected place.  I am overwhelmed at the demonstrated love.  Oh Father, place Your protection around it.  Show Your grace, honor and glory through it.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Fireproof the Movie

Why would a single mom experienced in divorce recommend such a movie? I recommend this movie because one of my greatest heartaches is the loss of my marriage. I never want anyone to experience the pain of being ripped in half emotionally. God is good. He will heal if we turn and seek Him.

From the first time that I heard Sherwood Pictures was doing a third movie, I could harldly stand the wait. And now, the movie release date is near (Sept. 26). I praise God this group of people are willing to put it all on the line for the message He wants us to hear.



(Lord God, I pray for the message this movie delivers. I pray that You will use it to touch hearts lives and marriages in a mighty and obvious way. I pray that it will also touch the hearts of single men and women to know the love You give is greater still than any other. Thank you. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.)

Mom and Blogging

My mom came to spend a week with us. It was wonderful having her here. It was a most special time because we did not "do" anything extra ordinary. We went shopping, had meals, talked, laughed, and spent quiet time together. It really doesn't get any better than that.

(Lord, please keep my mother safe. Draw her near to you and bless her. Thank you for placing me in her care so many years ago. Thank you for the wisdom that she shares with me. Thank you for the extended family she has found since Daddy passed away. You are truly awesome. In the name of Jesus, I pray. )

Today, I saw the face of God...

Now, someone might say, "Huh? That's just Nathan."

God says He knew me before I was knit together in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 44:2). He says that He loved me before I knew I needed His love (I John 4:10, Matthew 6:8). He says that He loved me so much that He was willing to die in my place (2 Corinthians 5:21, John 3:16). He joyed in me at His salvation (Luke 15:7, Psalm 105:43, Zephaniah 3:17).

I was so helpless, so tiny, so small when I sought Jesus with my heart. My age didn't matter. What mattered was God's love for me. I wasn't perfect, mature or even big enough to be on my own, yet He overlooked all that to see something more. I was His creation, fashioned in His image. He knew I wouldn't do everything right. He knew there would be times when I intentionally sought things not good for me. He knew. He still loves me.

I see these beautiful pictures of Nathan and Gwyneth and wonder. Do you think God snuggled each of His children like that? I do. Do you think He holds each one and looks down in love? I do! Do you think He looks through tears of love and joy at us? I do! Do you think He carefully, gently wraps His hands around us and pulls us up close to His heart? I DO! Ahh, dear friend, I saw the face of God today. Did you?

(Dear LORD, thank you for showing me this side of You. Thank you for putting it in Nathan's heart to share this journey so that You might encourage me and so many others. I pray now that You will continue to bless this young family. Continue to use them for Your glory and honor. Thank you. In Jesus' name alone. )

Bridges and Babies

My mind has been swirling with the difference God makes in a life. I hear and know of wonderful families that are so thankful for the miracle child they have. Then, this week carries the news that a father has thrown his 4 children off a bridge to their deaths. The gulf between depravity and love has become a little more clear for me.

Gwyneth Rose has been honored with parents - Nathan and Tricia - that cherish her immensely, even in times of trouble. Their faith is obvious and strong. At 24 weeks gestation, she made an early entry into this world. She is beautiful. The details of her tiny body declare boldly of a Creator God who put a lot of thought into His creation. I praise Him for His wonderful works. Thank you, Nathan and Tricia, for being willing to share your story. I've only been reading a few days but it has truly blessed me.

Ashley Kate is a transplant survivor. Her parents cherish her all the time, even when her ornery streak shows. Their faith is obvious and strong. I've kept up with Ashley's story from the very beginning. The miracles that God has worked in her life and through her life are numerous. He even used her to open my heart.

Yet, my heart is broken each time I see the news reports on the 4 children thrown from the Dauphin Island Bridge by a father mad at the children's mother. I don't even have the words to express how heart wrenching this report is to me. How can a person be so selfish? What filled his life that would allow those thoughts to take over? And then put action to those thoughts? I just don't understand.

Do you see the difference? Parents that value life because they know God gave that life are such a contrast to a parent that has no regard for life.

(Dear God, forgive our nation, forgive our sins. Please Lord. Forgive us for letting the value You placed on lives go so far away. Thank you Lord.)

A New Week Begins

Hello, it's been a great first day of the week. It is so wonderful how God reveals himself to us. How easy it is to find Him when we just look.

I want to share with you another blog that I follow daily. It is the amazing story of God's presence in a young life, Ashley Adams. I won't give you the details here because I might get them confused. Check out her blog at http://ashleyadamsjournal.blogspot.com/ and her web site at http://www.ashleysstory.org/.

God had used this young lady to open my heart in ways that I tried to stave off. He speaks to me through her journey in ways that are awesome. He's allowed me to see her through His eyes and by doing that He's taught me to see those around me differently. I'm still practicing this ability.

Thanks for taking a moment to see what's up around here. Good evening.