Looking For Sunshine

Many times as a young mother I would plan a fun-filled day for my kids. The best of plans would go awry with just one of them waking up in a mood. It's difficult to expect 3 children to all wake up pleasant. Maybe it would be an accident where one of the kids would have an injury or we all woke up to an epidemic of illness.

By the end of the day I would just want to sit and cry from my own disappointment and that of the kids. It would be one of those days that would be so out of my control leaving me feeling helpless and questioning my ability as a mom. To say I was discouraged and frustrated would be an understatement.

There were a few things I would do to help us turn our awful and depressing day into a good one: Singing silly songs with the kids would always make them laugh and laughter changes everything. Building a fort in the middle of the living room for everyone of us to sleep and bringing all our mattresses to lay on. Makes the fort more comfy! Reading stories together as we all lay in my bed and having the older kids read aloud too. Baking something fun and festive that makes it feel like a holiday. Creating crafts always seems to be something kids find stimulating and enjoyable. Even a simple trip to the library together made the day brighter.

There are so many ways to make a day pleasant even though it didn't work out as planned. Keep looking for the sun on your next cloudy day!

A picture I took of a storm approaching the coast and

 the sunshine and blue skies just beyond those clouds.

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.