Daily reading

Exodus 16-18 and Matthew 18:1-20

In reading Exodus, I ask myself am I like the Israelite or like Jethro? The Israelite complained about no food. God provided food, warned them not to be greedy. Yet they did not trust Him to provide the next day. In their distrust, they took more than they could possibly eat. The food went bad. Do I do that, not trust God to provide for tomorrow? Am I a hoarder, saving for a "rainy day"? Am I being held back by my mistrust? I know in my heart of hearts that God will always provide for me as I can see He has done for years. Why must I hold on to the baggage? God is calling me to place my wholehearted trust in Him. He is calling me to live simply and contently in His loving arms. I need to trust Him to follow through with His promise. I want to be like Jethro and praise the Lord for all he is done.

Are you a complaining Israelite or a content and rejoicing Jethro?

Five Minute Friday ~ Tender

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:
Tender…
GO!

Psalm 79:8
Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.

How often do we remember those who have wronged us instead of treating them with tenderness? I am often guilty of this with even my own children. Yet I expect them to be tender and forgiving and I expect God's tender mercy for my wrong doing.

Dear Father please forgive me for holding grudges and not being forgiving of others. Father teach me to be tender to my family and speak softly to them. I can only do this with Your help.

STOP!

Thankful Thursday

Today as January winds down, I am thankful for the snow on the ground, it will help provide water for our summer.

I am thankful for my long time friend, Kristy. We have known each other 25 years. Kristy is a godly woman seeking to serve him and her family with grace. I enjoy reading her blogs and following her life. We have gone from being childhood friends who practically lived at each others houses, to mothers living 2000 miles apart. We don't get to catch up nearly enough but I love her. Thanks Kristy for encouraging me to blog and finding great blogs.

I am thankful for a loving God who has plans for my life. My favorite verse

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

When life gets so stressful, I am reminded that He walks beside me and has plans and my best interest at heart.

judging

This Sabbath our sermon at church was on Don't Judge Me. Often we feel judged by others and will use Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged as our rebuttal. But yet aren't we judging when we give the rebuttal, assuming they are judging us. God abhors sin, sin cost Him Jesus. Jesus doesn't love us because He died, he died because He loves us. A long time ago I read Max Lucado's book, No Wonder They Call Him Savior. In the book Lucado talks about Jesus' last words "It is Finished" Lucado likens the words to an artist finishing a painting. Everything that happened from fruit was eaten to the cross all pointed to Christ's death, to Salvation. Christ died for us. He loves the sinner but HATES the sin. I am in awe of the Gift of Salvation.

Often I judge/compare myself to others. This is a way of making myself feel better about myself. When I really need to just focus on Christ and the cross. I will never measure up when I compare myself to others. Only through Christ will I ever be who He wants me to be. I need to remember to encourage others and not tear them down by judging them or elevating myself.

I am a Princess because my Father is the King of Kings and you are a Princess or Prince because you are a Child of the King of Kings as well!!!

Have a blessed day!

Good TImes

Tonight was a cookie exchange night. Oh the fun I had chatting with the couple of moms that came. We come from very different backgrounds but yet when it comes down to the basics we are the same. We are mother's, wife, child of God and most of all homeschooling moms. It is nice to be together, encourage one another in this season of our lives.

Five Minute Friday

Vivid memories of vacations with family. One of my most vivid memories as a child is going to Vermont to visit my step dads family for Christmas. Growing up in the city and with no snow we had a very different view of life then Vermont in a small town without even a stop light at the time. One of my favorite things to do was sled down the hill behind gram's house. We would start at the top and go forever down that hill. The hardest part was walking back up the hill through the snow. But oh the fun we all had. Then we would come back inside for something hot to drink. Those are the types of memories I want for my children, the joy and fun of being a carefree child.

Other vivid memories. To this day 29 years later I still remember getting baptized by Pastor Sharp the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is still one of my favorite hymns. Every time I hear it, I think of my baptism. God is faithful and is always there for me.

reminded

I haven't blogged in a long time. I forget to sit and take time to reflect on the big things in life and often dwell on the little things. I don't take pictures as often as I should because the background isn't just so, the house is a mess or the counters are cluttered. One day I will regret missing out on the "big things" which are often simple smiles or expressions or conversations. I think to myself I will remember that forever, but in reality how much will I remember 5 years from now when my oldest is 17 and my youngest are 10.

God help me to remember to reflect on the big things (my kids) and forgo the little things that wont matter in 5 years.