Waiting

I still have a lot to learn when it comes to patience and waiting. But I've had a few lessons already. Once I was in a line at a grocery store at the help counter. The manager working there was moving extremely slowly. The lady in front of me turned around and spoke to me about how frustrated she was with how long it was taking, I smiled and didn't say much, the she said "wow, you are so patient!". I smiled again and said "On the outside anyway".

Truly, I was smiling, not fidgeting around, not griping or complaining. But on the inside I was thinking "why does he have to take so long? I've been in line for 10 minutes already! I'm going to just leave if its not my turn in the next 5 minutes".

I've had lessons with my pregnancies too, 3 of my 4 babies were more than a week past their due dates.

Waiting and being patient is so important to my walk through life with Christ. Sometimes He says wait when I want to figure things out and act now. I see a problem, or as much of it as I can see, and I want to act now. But I can't see the whole situation from where I stand, I can only see things from my perspective. He sees things from His perspective, and from there He can truly see it all.

He knows when it will be time for me to act and I need to wait for Him to give me my cue. If I act before then, things my turn out disastrous.

I also need to remember that I may not have to act at all! It may be that He will do all the work and all I have to do is be patient and pray while He takes care of things.

Is. 40:31 says "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint".

Ps. 37:9 "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."

Rom. 5:3 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience"

1 Tim. 6:11 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness"

Gal. 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

As much as I don't like hard times, uncomfortable times, painful times, Romans 5:3 is so true, I grow the most under pressure. These difficult times work out patience in me. Something that is vital to the development of my character.

And according to 1 Tim. 6:11 Patience is something we must follow after, seek out.

Lord, teach me to be patient. I have heard that is the most dangerous prayer, but I'm asking anyway. Help me learn to wait on You, and take cues from You alone. Help me know when to act and when to quietly wait on You. In Jesus precious name. Amen.

I'm slipping

I haven't posted in a while! I've thought about it nearly every day but haven't come up with anything worthy of posting. Well, maybe there have been some worthy issues but I haven't had the energy to think them through well enough to post.

M is going to be 8 on Thursday and we will have a party on Saturday. I think a lot of people are coming but we didn't do RSVP's so I don't know how many exactly. We handed out at least 20 invites though.

Sooooo, I'm trying to get the house in order and clean, decluttered enough to have company. I've definitely made progress but there is still more to be done. I'm trying to have a good attitude though and not get stressed out.

I was going to say "I'm trying not to turn into a Martha" but then I felt sorry for Martha, she is always remembered for that day when she stressed about the serving and chores, she had a bad attitude that day. But you know, I think that later she really turned around, she still did the serving and chores, but she had a better attitude and she really believed in the Lord, she trusted Him and loved Him.

So I'm trying to have a good attitude, get things done, but with the right motivation, to glorify the Lord through welcoming people into my home, to celebrate the life of my son. I hope that when people come over they will feel encouraged and blessed.

That's all for now, hopefully I'll get back to posting more often.

God bless!

Cold Hot Cold Hot

The weather can't seem to make up its mind! Its been quite cool (60's) this past week, and now its supposed to be up to the 90's in a few days! Its in the low 50's right now, but the high today is supposed to be in the 80's.

I just hope its pleasant weather for M's birthday party on the 22nd. I have no idea how many people to expect for his party but I really want people to be able to hang out outside as well as in.

Great is His faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

I have been singing this song all morning, partly in praise to the Lord for all He has done for me, and partly to remind myself that He IS faithful and He will provide for me.

Sometimes I start thinking the wrong way, I think "how in the world will this ever work out?" or "We'll never be able to afford that" or "how will I ever get this done?". Its at those times I need to take a look back at all the Lord has done for me. He has never let me down, He has worked out even the most difficult situations I have ever found myself in, He has always provided for my needs. When I think of those things He has done in my life, I have little room left to doubt that He will provide for me now.

Despite my doubts and unbelief at times, He remains faithful. He doesn't give up on me when I am unfaithful, when I worry, when I am afraid. He just keeps on working on me, teaching me, and loving me. Oh how I want to be like Jesus!

Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness. I believe You will always be faithful and always provide, Lord, help my unbelief.

This morning

M was disheartened when he woke up this morning and discovered that Obama was President Elect. He asked if it was for sure or if McCain still had a chance. He said he just doesn't understand why people voted for Obama. Funny hearing all of this from an almost 8 year old!

I haven't been a big McCain supporter but I voted for him over Obama. The two most important propositions we voted on have not been determined yet, so maybe if they pass M's spirits will be lifted a bit.

Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."

God is still on the throne, no one will ever knock Him off of it!

GO VOTE!!!!!

I took my oldest son with me when I went to vote today. I don't think I've ever had to wait in line to vote but I did today!

Voting is something that we are blessed to be able to do in this country. It is also a responsibility that we should take seriously. Sometimes one vote does count, so go vote! Your's might be the one!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Joy

My little sister is married! I have prayed for many years that she would find a wonderful, godly, husband (as I know she has also), and now she has! He is a very sweet sort of fellow a lot like my sister. I think that they will bless a lot of people together!

My other sister, my cousin, and I made the cakes. That was fun, I didn't help a whole lot though. I did end up helping with the decorations and running errands. At the reception my sister and I cut the cake too. There was white cake with lemon (which was very good), chocolate cake with raspberry (which didn't turn out so great but it was OK), and carrot cake (which was a complete hit!).

I have the most fantastic Dh. He helped so much by taking care of the boys so that I could help with the wedding. I would not have been able to help at all if he had not taken care of them. I know it was a big job for him to keep all 4 boys practically by himself for nearly 2 days! I mean, he knows how to take care of them but he usually doesn't have to do it all by himself for more than a few hours.

The wedding went perfectly, except for my screaming 3 year old. Dh took him out near the beginning because he just wouldn't settle down. Dh watched part of the wedding through the window in the back door of the church, but I am sad he didn't get to see the whole thing. The 3 year old was disciplined. I'm glad we don't have any more weddings to go to for a little while.

S screamed his head off in the van on the way there, and on the way back, he HATED being in the carseat. Poor guy. The trip was 11 1/2 hours on the way up and 13 hours on the way back. We had to stop a lot because we just couldn't take his sobbing. We got home at about 1:30 in the morning. Again, we won't have to do that again for a while. The next trip we will probably make is to my parents house at Christmas. But they only live 2 hours away, so if we time it right S will be taking a nap when we drive out.

I'm glad to be home. Now back to teaching school, cleaning house, doing laundry, doing the budgetting (ugh), and planning a birthday party for my oldest (more on that later).