Mountains

My theme verse for this year says, "I will go before you and will level the mountains..."

So I've been praying God would do that, all the while having my own ideas of what the "mountains" are... and always they were something "out there".

This week I began to realize the "mountains" He's working on are the ones inside of me. The doubt, fear and unbelief that loom up as huge "mountains". But they're going...and I'm GLAD! I'm learning to trust, even when I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

He who promised is faithful, so faithful!

Nothing Wrong...

They say...no news is good news.

I have no real excuses...I'm not on vacation, my computer still works, I haven't tried sticking my finger in the mower and my dog didn't die...

And yet...there have been no posts... OH! It just hit me - I turned 40! Could that have something to do with it?? The brain doesn't function as well, we get confused, the memory goes (along with the hair), we feel tired (exhausted, really) before the day is half over, we make MOUNTAINS out of mole hills, people get mad...it makes us sad, we wonder why people get married younger all the time (why I remember when he was born!), we enjoy salads, but then...eat chocolate to even things out, we worry...about the future...AND it even hinders our sleeping...

No there is NOTHING wrong with me - NOTHING AT ALL! I just turned 40 but that's nothing that time won't cure.

I Stand Amazed

"And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, he was able also to perform."
- Romans 4:20,21

Sometimes my faith is weak. Life hits me and I'm left reeling and asking the hard questions and wondering if God is real or if He even cares. Is He personally interested in me? Does He speak to me and if so, how can I know it's Him?

Although I know in my head that He loves me, it takes something to get it to my heart. Things happen I don't understand and I cry out again, "Where are you, God? Do you REALLY care??"

This morning I asked God to show me some tangible proof of His love for me - something I would KNOW was Him.

I went to church not feeling very loved and not really being "into" Valentine's Day for, of course, love is the focus. But, I thought, maybe God would use someone there to show me His love. It was a good service and there were lots of things said about love but nothing outstanding to me. After the service the pastor and his wife passed out candy and told us it was to remind us of God's love for us. That was great, but still it didn't feel like God's sign just to me.

After lunch with my sister I headed home and as I neared my place I noticed the flag was up on my mailbox. I thought that was kind of strange and decided to stop and look inside. AND THERE IT WAS! My special love-gift from God! I couldn't believe it! There was no card or note so it must have been an angel straight from heaven! (Wish I could've gotten a glimpse of him!)
Now, in case you're wondering WHAT He sent me - that's the best part!:) I opened a cute little box filled with heart-shaped Reese's(my very favorite kind of chocolate!) and pink balloons. Besides that there was a book titled "His Princess - Love letters from your King"! All I could do was weep! If that isn't love, then I don't know what is!

He is my God and what He has promised He will do! Thank you, Jesus!!

Why Do You Say?

"Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increased the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:27-31 NIV

Fears

God recognizes my fears and insecurities.

Have you read the story of Gideon defeating the Midianites in Judges 7? It's an awesome story! After God had whittled his army down to 300 men, this is what he says, "If you are afraid to attack, do down to the camp...and listen to what they are saying." (vs.10) Who wouldn't have been afraid??

When Gideon went down to the enemy camp he heard a man telling his dream and the conclusion the enemies came to was this: "God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his(Gideon's) hands." (vs.14) Wow!

I love how God listens to my heart. He doesn't just give me some big job to do and say, "Now you're on your own, big girl, go out and fight." He knows my fears and takes me straight into them to show me I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR! And all along he is right there with me to help me face the fears. He is preparing me for the battle.

Fears...they crop up on every side. They show up in unexpected places. They raise their ugly heads again just when I think I have them all conquered. They keep me from freedom, from true joy, but most of all from loving as I long to do - from my heart. Seeing people as Jesus does, through eyes of compassion, down to their very hearts.

Fears may come and fears may go but knowing Jesus is WITH ME in the fear makes all the difference in the world!

I Will Go Before You...

This is officially my first post of the new year! I have safely passed the 40 mark and am well on my way to becoming an old (or at least middle-aged) woman!

Last year I decided to choose a theme verse for the year. I often repeated it when I needed a bit of encouragement and felt like there was no "goodness" left in this life. This was my verse: "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Ps. 27:13
I can't even begin to tell you all the goodness I saw in the last year, but reading through my earlier posts was a good reminder.

Towards the end of last year I thought it would be nice to have a theme verse for 2010, as well. I started asking God for a verse. Nothing came to mind immediately and I thought, If nothing comes up, I'll just keep the same one for it would be well worth keeping! However, a couple days later God gave me these verses: Isaiah 45:2-3 "I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."

I can't wait to see how God is going to do this for me! What a great and awesome God I serve and he is fighting my battles for me!

The Cat

Alex, the cat, lives in the garage. He has a box, with a warm, cozy blanket, that works most of the time. On colder days the hood of a car that has just been running is good for warming toes. But some days even that doesn't do the trick.

And so...

He will park himself outside the kitchen door in hopes that it will open. He has learned that it opens quite frequently these days as dear ole Dad once again peers out to make sure that the garage doors are all securely closed and locked and the cars are residing in their proper places. As soon as the slightest crack appears, Alex will swiftly and silently bound into the kitchen, at times escaping the notice of dear ole Dad. However, he does not go unnoticed long by other members of the household and someone is soon yelling, "Who let the cat in again??!!" Dad quite innocently declares it wasn't him, while Mom scowls and Pauline tries to muffle the laughter bubbling up inside.

Now Ann, the cat lover, welcomes him with open arms as he leaps into her lap and purrs contentedly, revelling in the bit of extra attention.

After awhile he tires of that and wanders off to find a comfortable chair in the living room or if he's feeling naughty, he may try sharpening his claws on the furniture. Pauline, who is not a cat lover, takes a newspaper after him, which makes him very mad for he sorely hates to be disciplined. He then turns his attention (as in teeth and claws) to her leg and sends her off yowling and very mad, as well! She yells for Dad (who thinks cats do not belong in the house in the first place) to carry him out. He's had lots of practice and nearly has the technique perfected. This is how it goes.

And so...the house is once again peaceful and quiet, at least until Dad decides it's time for another "garage check"!