The Best Plans

Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. Genesis 6:14 

God asked Noah to plan ahead by building an ark which measured over one and a half football fields long and took the best part of one hundred and twenty years to complete! I would call that a "long term plan!" Noah didn't focus on the problems and circumstances of the day but instead just reported for duty. I find that my prayers are more about the circumstances of life instead of the plan God has for my life! Satan uses circumstances to take our focus off of what we should be doing. 

Let's pray each day in spite of the circumstances about the plan God has for our life. Let's not let circumstances dictate our lives. God can overcome any and all problems and do something in us and through us that we did not know was possible. It will build our faith as we follow Him! 

As a parent, we see the endless possibilities for our children. We encourage them in their training, lessons and education to grow in areas where they are gifted. It is so easy for us to see how their dreams can be achieved even before they do because of our own knowledge and experience. God is our parent and He wants to do the same for us. We have to be eager to listen and obey! God will direct us in the same way a parent does their child. 

Let's be open and receptive to God's call on our life! Like Noah, God has called us to change the world. Take a step today to bridge the gap between your present circumstances & where you need to be.....

This picture was taken of me with my youngest daughter at Stone Mountain in 1999.

Releasing My Grief

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

There was a time in my life that I did not allow others to see my grief because I was afraid. Most of my life I didn't even allow myself to see and feel my own grief. I didn't like feeling weak and vulnerable but instead more in control of my own emotions. 

Life has taught me that it is healthier for me to release my grief. Crying out to God that I am hurting like David does in the book of Psalms. Dealing with my grief is better than rehearsing it over and over in my head or stuffing it. Feelings that are pushed down will only fester up in time.

Frozen anger and resentment will manifest in other forms. I have learned to be honest in my words with others and with myself. Unfortunately, I have hurt feelings in the honesty of my emotions and for that I am truly sorry. I do not want to cause anyone any pain because life has enough difficulties. I am trusting God to protect me and my relationships because He has the power to overcome any of my mistakes. I can't always trust others to say or do what is right. I certainly cannot trust myself to always say or do what is right but I can trust GOD!

He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.

Psalm 107:29

This picture was taken of a wall that I decorated for my granddaughter September 2013. I wrote on the picture the words from the song Love Lifted Me talking about God's love.

Madness Of The Mind

 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” Deuteronomy 1:28

In the verse above the people of Israel were being discouraged by rumors of giants in the land. Instead of trusting God they were trusting the rumors of man. The words of men began to rule their minds instead of the Word of God. 

It's our choice who we listen to ~ God or Man?

I don't know about you but when I am discouraged by what others say or life's circumstances I feel like crawling in my bed and pulling the covers around my head. No matter what is going on in our lives my husband continues to move forward on whatever plans we have together and I have learned to just follow. When I look back in pictures I have taken of our times together I see what we have been able to do with God's grace. I am truly grateful for those memories instead of giving in to the madness going on in my mind!

This song is a wonderful reminder that we are not alone....