Mustard Seeds

Currently I am working through a devotional book titled "Birds in My Mustard Tree" by Susanne Scheppmann. I have had the book for quite sometime, tucked away on the bookshelf, waiting for me to finish all the other books and projects on my list. What initially intrigued me about this book was a challenge to grow my faith. Many days I feel I am no where near where I should be in my desire to become more like him and to be able to come into a deeper, closer relationship with Him. Other things seem to always get in the way. I wonder why I have a hard time trusting and giving things over to God. I wonder why I can't give all my fears, anxieties and worries over to him and leave them at His feet. I have recently come to the conclusion that I have an awful disease that prevents me from placing all my trust in Him.

Its called forgetfulness.

I forget all that He has already done for me. I forget all that He has walked me through. I forget that so far He hasn't disappointed. I forget that anything that life throws at me...I will be able to handle because of His promises to me to never leave me or forsake me.

Hebrews 11 gives a beautiful account of what I want my faith to resemble. Abraham's faith was incredible. Why? Well He didn't get there in one giant leap that is for sure. He took it step by step and God increased his faith just like he desires me to do.

One step at a time.

One step...

First, Abraham was called to go to a place where he had no idea he was going. he just went. Then, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country...lived in tents and all the while he looked forward to the city with foundations , whose architect and builder is God.

and then another step....

Now imagine you and your spouse are way past your prime with no children of your own but God enabled you to increase your family while increasing your faith. This was Abraham and Sarah's story.

and yet another....

Then Abraham answering God's call to sacrifice His beloved Son, trusting that at just the right moment God would provide the perfect sacrifice instead. God didn't disappoint and a ram was provided for the sacrifice.

He didn't take a giant leap to the top of the staircase of faith. He took it step by step by step. Trusting in God, who had walked him through the trials in his past, all the while increasing Abrahams faith that was once as small as a tiny mustard seed. Each trial in his life provided food and water to that mustard seed to make it grow. God grew that faith one incident at a time...one step at a time.

Perhaps the reason I feel my mustard seed of faith is not growing is because I worry too much about what is to be instead of feeding my faith on what has been and how he carried me through. Maybe I should stop look around and see the gift in each day and thank God that I have him to shoulder my burdens. For where would I be right now....

Without hope...
Without my faith as small as it may be....
Without God's perfect sacrifice....
Without Him....???

I cannot even imagine and I thank God I don't have to. All I need is that one tiny seed and he promises to make it grow when I feed it with his word.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." ~Matthew 17:20

Gratitude, Gratitude and more Gratitude

Well, its been a while again. Especially when it comes to my gratitude list. I get to wrapped up in doing and going and moving that I forget to stop and take in everything around me. Then when I do...I seem to forget to jot it down so that I can reflect on it at a later date. So, without further ado....

99. the sun peaking through the windows welcoming me to another day

100. Daddy's hands playing in the garden

101. answered prayers

102. a walk in the garden that reveals new growth

103. colors of purple that surround me....lilacs...red bud trees.....grape hyacinths

104. a flower bed free from weeds

105. time spent together making our house a home

106. realizing that you can do anything with 15 minutes (thanks FlyLady!)and not feel so overwhelmed!

107. Soccer games on Sunday afternoons

108. an unexpected price reduction when you check out at the register ($20 wreath for $2.50)

109. date night with the hubby

110. a song that lifts your heart and hands in praise


May you take some time to jot down some of the gifts in your life. Pointing out the small things really does make a difference.


<3

Prayers for Amy Beth

Almost two years ago I had the pleasure of running across a blog titled Ministry So Fabulous. The author of that blog (Amy Beth) had me from the get-go lets say. I love the way she writes...it feels as if I am sitting on a chair across from her.

I learned of her spunky bloggy personality as well as gut wrenching honest posts that many people would not have the guts to write.

I do not have the honor of knowing her in "real-life" however she is someone that I have grown to admire. She is a very giving person who would probably give someone the clothes off her back if they needed it. I do know that she is 25 years old and has done awesome things for young girls and their self-esteem.

I am sorry to say that Amy Beth is going through quite a trial right now...one that no young woman at the age of 25 should have to go through. If you would like to know more please hop over and hear more of her story here. One thing I do admire about her is she is so honest. She has her comments closed because right now she just doesn't want to hear all the advice and niceties and really who can blame her....

Tomorrow those who know her personally and those (like me) who know her only through bloggy land will take some time throughout the day to pray for Amy Beth...won't you join too?


Thank you....

New Again- Spring

The wind and rain pounded against the house all week last week. The windows were rattling, the roof shingles were flying and the rains came down. What was left of the snow had dissipated and the ground was soaked. For a week straight the sky had been gray and dreary casting shadows on my mood and my thoughts.

Then came Monday.

Then came spring.

The clouds blew over, the sky opened up and the sun shined brighter than I've seen in a long long time. The over abundance of water that was laying in the yard slowly receded as the earth took in every last drop. What has been dead and stunted has shown new life, new promise.

My Jesus gave that to me. New life...new promise. Each day with my Savior, comes with it, the gift of a fresh start....new life. It feels like spring....even in my heart. The storms of sin may beat against us but not for long.

White as snow

The snow storm we had a few weeks back painted a beautiful picture as I looked out from inside my house. Blankets upon blankets of fresh snow covered my yard and neighborhood and before I knew it we had snow up to my butt. (Probably everyone elses knees but my butt.) Really I didn't mind it because it gave this gal a much needed reprieve from the normal every day work day. No one was forced to go in to the office so I burned a sick day and snuggled in and caught up on some much needed cleaning and landry.

I must say, that I absolutley love the change in seasons where I live. Old Man Winter may not be my favorite guy, but he does have his moments. Whenever that beautiful white fluffy stuff falls from the heavens a certain hymn runs through my mind:

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

The winter snow that fell this day reminds me so much of the grace that falls freely for those who believe. It coats the ground with a fresh new layer and brightens the gray that tries to dim our days.


After the snow falls and is laying there for a few days,however,I begin to forget. I begin to overlook the beauty and I begin to see the dirt that forms from passing cars and salt trucks. And before you know it, its turned black.

I tend to compare my faith journey to that right now. I know I am saved and that his sacrifice has washed me white as snow. However, it doesn't take long for me to feel dirty and black. If I don't take the time each day to sit with Him I begin to focus so much more on what I am not rather than what I am with his love and grace.

When I fellowship with Him, it is then that scrape off those ugly layers of dirt that try to weigh me down and darken my days. Without Him I would have no hope and no light. Without him...I would be lost.





Sweet friends, may your day be spent embraced in the love and grace of our Heavenly Father.

Guilty as Charged

I woke up early to dive into His Word this morning. And the words I read pierced my heart:

The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people (Julie) treat me with contempt? How long will they (Julie) refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? -Numbers 14:11

I began to think on all the Lord had brought the Israelites through and yet they still refused to listen to him. I am not so different when I search the depths of my heart and soul. For He has brought me through many a bondage and trial and yet- I forget so easily. I still try to go my own way...to fix the problems of the world instead of laying them at His feet.

I am guilty.

Guilty of the fact that although I know I am saved by the blood of the Lamb I still try to pave my own way despite His leading. Guilty that even though I am not worthy of the grace that he has showered on me-the human in me acts at times that I am owed something more or something better. Guilty that I want to know him more, but I put everything else before Him.

I am guilty. Guilty of presumption.

Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD's covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah. -Numbers 14:44-45

Even after they defied His instruction they still expected the blessing. Ouch.

In order for me to let go of the things that keep me from Him I must lay them down at His feet. I must get them out in the open...it is only then I will be able to surrender my all to Him and let Him do His work in me.

So Lord,

I lay it all at your feet today. Take my:

selfish ambitions
judgmental heart
my fears of the future
my fears of what other people may think of me
my seemingly endless need for more

Take it all, Lord. I trust you as you continue to work in me.

Armed and ready to go

The battle begins in the early morning hours. Before my physical body wakes to consciousness, the war is waging in my mind. As I wake, I am hit with thoughts and fears that threaten to pull me down.

"Ugh- morning already? I wish I could just stay home"

"I am so useless and lazy. Look at all the things I didn't get done yesterday"

"What if there is something really wrong with me?"

"Why bother trying lose this extra weight? I end up falling off the wagon anyway"

Its time. The lines have been drawn and I must stand firm. I have a choice. I can feed my fears and anxieties or I can let them go out of my mind as fast as they came in and replace them with Words of Life.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you." 1 Peter 5:7.

I named this year the year of renewal. I have challenged myself to renew my thinking and my mind. Honestly.....its been harder than I thought. The more I try the harder it seems to be some days. I am pushing through because I am tired of holding onto the side of the pool...afraid to let go.

As you may have noticed (or not-lol) January and February were so dry for me (thus my lack of posts in bloggy land). I was soaking myself in His Word but I still felt dry...nothing clicked.

Then this morning the battle began. I stood firm and gave praise to God for the gift of a fresh new day. The verses I have been meditating on came flowing through to my defense. Today my joy will not be hindered by my fears. I pushed through- the clouds lifted and I heard a chorus of birds serenading me as I got out of bed. I smile because its so clear He was reminding me of those precious verses that water the soil of this womans soul.

Mark 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.