Week Three: Who exactly do you think you are?

My mind tries to fathom who you are. My brain reaches to understand your majesty but it is impossible to take in all that you are.

The one who "laid the foundations of the Earth and gives order to the morning". The God who knows "when mountain goats give birth and who gives the horse it's strength". The one who "has seen the gates of the shadow of death and sends the lightning bolts in their way".

Oh God of the universe, expand my mind with more of you! Fill me with more of your presence, and Father, when I am prideful and think I know all remind me as you did Job of your Majesty. Remind me that you and only you know all things, that if I can't wrap my brain around your creation, what makes me think I will understand your ways!

Trust, Faith in you is vital!

And when I realize my insufficency, Lord let me Praise you.

Job 38-41

Week Two: What's going on?

Well, a bit behind but it's all good!

God's got me right where he wants me :)

The past week has been unexpected to say the least. Saturday the 9th was the start of the craziest day we've had in a long time. Faith was hanging out with a girl friend at her house, Bill was on duty at the Fire Dept and as for myself and Ty, well we started the whole mess!

We were enjoying the quiet house and beautiful day then Ty decided to play outside while I sat at the dining room table to do some reading in my bible. As I wrapped up the remainder of the reading for that day, I kid you not, I finished the last verse and heard a blood curdling scream from outside! Being the mom of this kid, I paused for a moment and listened for more, which would give the indication that he was not kidding! The second scream came and I was like "grease lightening", up from the chair and out the door I flew. There was Ty running towards me, holding his face and screaming that the dog had bit him. I took a look and yup there was definitely an abrasion. It looked more like a cut than a bite but either way it was gonna need some medical attention.

To make this painfully long story short, we spent way to much time in the ER waiting for stitches that never came, nor did any sort of cleaning agent. The wound was sealed up with a kind of super glue for skin and we were sent on our way. Upon my arrival home from the ER with Ty, Bill called to inform me he was being taken to the ER for chest pain. This was going to be a long night!

After running some tests and an overnighter at the hospital, the doctor couldn't seem to find any reason for the sudden pain. Sunday after church Bill was being discharged and Ty's germ infested wound was now dangerously infected and had to be delt with! Monday and Tuesday we had Dr's appointments, a follow up for Bill that showed an arterial blockage and traumatizing procedures for Ty, where the skin glue (dermabond) had to be ripped off to allow the infection out. The following days we simply had to clean it and redress it with gauze ect. Bill was scheduled for a heart cath which revealed NOTHING! The blockage was there...then gone, Prayer works people!

Putting all our immediate family emergencies aside, my extended family seems to be literally falling apart! Ministry is proving to be a daunting task, My kids are pecking the very flesh off my bones and I feel totally insufficient to deal with any of it.

I know I can't deal with any of it on my own

but remembering it is the challenge!

That is why I believe God's got me right where he wants me...totally striped of the control I thought I had and bare, waiting on Him, trusting Him and being reminded of His power. Power to give it all and take it all away. That's exactly what happens in the book of Job. Over the last week and a half that's where He's got me reading His word, in the book that paints the picture of blessing through suffering.

I know, too often I think it's all about me and the things that happen

or don't happen have everything to do with me.

Not to mention that sometimes it feels like I didn't do anything

to deserve the suffering I feel.

But

What if it has nothing to do with me?

What if it is solely to prove His power?

What if it has everything to do with glorifying and praising Him!

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Job 2:10

Week One: What a beginning!

How can you believe it but not believe it at the same time?
I have never read through the entire Bible before, ever! But this year 2010 will be different...I can feel it already. I new sense of expectancy, a new sense of excitement, a desire to know all I can about the book I am to use as a road map for this life!

I began this week in Genesis, the place you should begin, The Beginning. It's interesting to me that as I read, the fact that I've heard, read and taught this story before didn't help me, it actually hendered me. I began to skim right over the words themselves. I caught myself, slowed down and really took the time to see what I was reading. It makes me wonder how often we read things and don't see them, don't take the time to soak up what the Lord has for us in it.

As I saw it, I began to realize that God created this place for us to praise Him. So that every time we see a beautiful flower, a dolphin gliding on the water, a child's precious glance, the love of a spouse, the warmth of the sun on our skin... He did each and every thing so that we would remember Him and Praise Him! Now, I know this but when you are reminded of the things you know you remember them :)

This year is going to be like no other.
I can't wait to learn the things I don't know and remember things I do!