If You Only Knew

If You Only Knew My Unlikely, unavoidable Story of Becoming Free by Jamie Ivey

I picked this book up at a bookstore. I was intrigued by the back and just reading someone's story. This is a great book for those that secretly give ourself labels.. failure...not good enough.. used..really we need to share our story and help others. Even if our story creates a sin shock.. Jaime's story is a story of being a church kid.. having a fall or 2 in HS and college and then finding God"s Grace.
I loved it when she wrote, "When God starts chasing you, He changes what you want."
I also loved how she reminded people that pastor wives have stories... we all do.. dont judge.. let's grab each other's hand and encourage.. face this life together..
Grab your copy today!

Life passes so fast!

It feels like I just posted, but then I log in and see how long ago!
This past year has passed so fast! My children are growing up and I journal less. I will miss going back and not getting to read about their days.
Summer passed and now we are in September!
I hope each of you are stopping to enjoy something in each day! Find a blessing in something! Uplift one person a day!

One funny from this weekend was when we passed a field of cows.. My youngest wanted to know what was hanging down. I just haven't brought up udders and breast feeding to them lately.. But since this Normalize breastfeeding has been happening, I know that they need to know it is ok. So I told them how animals feed babies, just how mommy fed them. Both were in shock at first, but then my 9 year old thought with his deep thinking self. He said well thank you mom! I bet if you would not have, I would have a gluten allergy.. and he loves bread.. I have no idea where he thought of that. You have to love kids and their thoughts..

Enjoy today! Life just passes so fast!

Seeing the UnSeen by Randy Alcorn

This is a 90 day devotion. It begins each day with a title with a small saying that goes with the title. It then goes to a small story/devotion. After the devotion, you have 2 sections – “Perspective from God’s Word” and “Perspective from God’s People”. God’s word being a portion of verses from the Bible, and the God’s people are well known Christian authors or speakers. At the very bottom of each devotion, is a small website where you can go read a blog post online if you wanted. The devotions are not long, yet they help you focus each day on heaven and our heavenly Father. It helps steer your thoughts to things not of our daily world that we see, but things of the Lord. This would be a good book for those wanting a small devotion daily. I never went to the blog at the bottom, but I have enjoyed the daily devotions. It isn’t a big or thick book. I have kept it under my calendar at work. This would be a good gift book for someone if needing a small gift or something to add to a gift basket. I have really enjoyed this book. I have received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Courage for 2018

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 1 Chronicles 28:20

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

The Bible has the word Courage throughout it. This year I really debated on my word for the year. However, I felt on the 1st day of the year, God just handed it to me. It wasn’t on a silver plater, but it was on my coffee mug. I thought to myself, that is NOT my word, b/c if you know me… Courage isn’t something that I believe that I have a lot of.

Words of the past years were Simplify, Joy, Journey, Transformation…. Now I look at Courage… Where will this year take me?

I believe in 2017, I transitioned into a bigger Faith… a bigger Trust in what God has planned. However, since I take words into the next years to come, I do see more transformations than I thought I would.

2018 has already taken my beloved Pastor away from me. He is still living, and I will still love him and support him. He can’t lose me b/c he married into the family! He will come out stronger than before; I believe that wholeheartedly. However, I stand in 2018 with change where I need Courage to move forward, I need Faith and Trust more than ever.

I moved into a new job at the end of 2017. I am not one that just walks into change. Normally God has to shove me or throw things at me. This time it happened to be roaches. Oh do I not like bugs. However, I feel like I transitioned into a new area where I will face more challenges and become a better person where God has me at.

I have had a lot of conversations and prayers lately over 2018! I am looking for a new home to begin my youngest starting elementary school this year. I pray often for God to guide my path like only he can. He knows how to move me out of uncomfort and to make me change, as long as I ask him to guide it. I know this year that I need Courage. I need Courage to face the change that lies ahead. I know that I need Faith and Trust to help me deal with the change to come. So I cling to my heavenly Father more right now.

Last week while taking my youngest to class, I was walking down the sidewalk. You have those kids that run, the kids that look down and move slower than molasses, the ones that won’t walk on the sidewalk – life is about off-roading it, and you have those that walk normal and get to where they are going. I really felt God speak to me and say this is how my children live life… You have those that get in a hurry and miss things or run people over, you have those that move to slow and don’t enjoy their surroundings, you have those that never walk the path they are meant to walk and walk on the sides… This picture really just struct me and made me think about how I take life each day. If we would stop and look around, we would see God moving and directing our steps. I pray daily for God to guide my steps.

Here is to 2018! Facing each day as it comes with Courage. Asking God to guide each step that I take and blessing every encounter that I have with others. Having Faith that he will lead my life in the direction it is meant to go, and in return, may I be a blessing to those around me.

I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store!