Counting Blessings

Our hearts have been heavy over the last few days. We received sad news that a camp friend of Chuck's passed away earlier this week. Watching someone you love deal with sorrow seems to ache as much, if not more than, if it was your own it seems. Wednesday seemed especially sad for me. As I went along my daily tasks, playing taxi driver taking the boys to and fro, my little girl was singing as we loaded into the van.

"Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. "

That is all of the song she knows, (I was impressed she'd remembered even that much!) Her song lifted my spirits and I began to sing along.

Later I pulled out a hymn book to review and be granted comfort from the verses.

"Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!"

Her singing reminded me of even during a blue day there is much to be thankful for!

I am thankful for the dear friend who kindly asked how I was doing on Wed. morning and lovingly sat with me as I unloaded my sorrows into her lap. I am thankful for the prayers she is saying for Chuck and for the prayers she is saying for an aching family.

I am thankful for the songs the Lord places in my sweet little Miss B's heart, oh how they warm my soul! Later in the day she was singing Jesus Loves Me. Her songs helped keep me focused on the promises God has for me today!

I am thankful for my gracious parents, who at last minutes notice are coming to lead a hand so that Chuck can go to be with his friends to mourn the loss, and remember the happy times of a life gone much too soon.

Today while sharing my blessings and gratitude with a friend she reminded me how blessed we are to have the Lord to comfort, guide, and carry us through times such as these. Oh how I am thankful for the Lord, today and everyday!

Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."





For many more reasons to be thankful please come to my friend Sonya's blog!

86,400 Seconds

We are granted 86,400 seconds every day. What are you doing with them?

These seconds are a gift from God for only he knows the number of seconds our lives will amount to. As I choose to spend my seconds as a gift, I will praise God even if my day is tough. I pray God will open my eyes to those how may need encouragement, a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand. May I view interruptions as divine appointments and not forget to stop and enjoy precious moments with my family. I am thankful for these seconds and pray God will grant me wisdom to use them in a joyful way!

May God bless your 86,400 seconds today!

Psalm 90:12
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Mom's Hiding In The Bathroom

As the mom of three children I hear the calls of, "Mom!" a lot at my house! I have even talked to friends who on long days have wished they could hide (from their children) just for a moments peace. Thankfully as my boys are getting older I am teaching them ways of handling some issues on their own so they are not calling for me over and over throughout the day.

Immediately after school is a whirl wind time where the "Mom" calls are still at a high level. Each boy requests help from homework. Pencils, though located exactly where they have always been, are asked for as well as drinks, snacks, and it seems even the dog needs assistance and no on else but Mom will do. Often on these occassions I will in turn, complain to my husband, my mom or a friend. Some times I will fuss at my children, even if some of their requests were legitamate needs. I meet their needs, of course, but sometimes with a grumbly attitude.

Moses was in charge of a whole nation, so it makes the three I am in charge of certainly small by comparison, but I can still learn from his example of leadership. Moses, when faced with complaints, requests, and grumblings of his people, went directly to God. On several occassions he even fell face down to the ground in prayer. God always come through for him and gives him council and at times percise instructions.

Moses, an amazing leader, and faithful servant of God, misses a blessing by not following God's instructions. While wandering in the wilderness, his sister, Mariam dies, and there is no water. The Isrealites complain and moan in their usual fashion. (They complain a lot and really put loads of blame on Moses and God) Instead of speaking to a rock so that water may spring forth as God commanded; Moses strongly rebuked his people and angrily struck the rock twice. He did not trust that simply by speaking to the rock as God said, it would bring forth water. I wonder if it was out of sheer frustration and the strain of leading such a wayward group for so long that caused him to not do as God commanded. Moses and Aaron were not permitted to enter the Promised Land because of this lack of trust. They missed a blessing.

What blessings am I missing in my leadership role? How could I better handle those moments when I may want to hide in the bathroom? Am I trusting that God will protect them? Instead of grumbling as I clean the milk that was spilled several times in a day, couldn't I look at these many demands of me as opportunities for my children to watch me turn to God in prayer during frustrating moments. Instead of losing my cool and fussing couldn't I see these moments as times to teach them to help one another by serving their siblings?


Dear God,
Today I am thankful for Your Word which is helpful in every aspect of my life. I thank you for the life of Moses and his service to You. Lord, help me to trust in You in the care and upbringing of my children. Help me to have a possitive attitude in my training of them.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Numbers 20: 1-13

A Servant's Song

I do not like to ask for help! I am like my three year old as I say, "I can do it by myself!" I struggle to share my weaknesses and spiritual struggles, reasoning that it could bring others down. Yet we all need help and support from others. God designed us to need one another. Jesus taught us to serve one another through His life and ministry. This Sunday we are singing an anthem about sharing the load, serving one another, going on this journey of life together. Our director noted the line "Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too." I am not alone in my stubborn independence.

Here are the words to the song:

We Are Travelers On A Journey
Richard Gillard


We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load
I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night-time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear
I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through
When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony
Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.


Philippians 2:5
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but make himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Romans 12:15
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

Galatians 6:2
" Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

A Day In The Museum

We recently went to the Children's Museum to celebrate one of Beth's good friend's fourth birthday! Happy Birthday SG! Thanks for having us on your birthday adventure!

The girls picked apples from the apple tree!

Grocery shopping, meal preparation and working in a mechanics shop!

These girls really worked on this car!

On to a fossil dig!

Climbing a tree!

We had a wonderful day! I enjoyed just watching them discover everything! Their wonder and excitement was definitely contagious!

Happy Birthday Chatty Kelly!

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday dear Kelly! Happy Birthday to You!

Today is my dear friend, Kelly's Happy Birthday!

I am thankful for Kelly, especially today, on her birthday, for her love of Christ-- that is so full it spills out to all who know her! I am thankful for her encouragement, and guidance in studying the Word of God.

Please join me in my joyful wishes for her!

Kelly,

Today and every day may you realize how much you are loved by God. You are God's treasured possession, made in His image. May you draw strength in knowing you are chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit. For God so loved you, Kelly, that He gave His only Son, so that you may not perish but have eternal life! May you be wrapped today in peace from God, surrounding you in complete contentment!

God loves you and I do too!

Ginny


Genesis 1:26-27
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him , male and female, he created them."

John 1:12
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"

John 15:16a
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last."

Colossians 3:12a
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved..."

Psalms 139:14-16
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Snow Day!

Snow day!

We are enjoying an extra day to our weekend due to snowy weather! Last night, the boys and I played out in the snow! Beth was too sleepy. This morning Beth saw our snow man, Earl, in the back yard and said, "Mom, the birds built us a snow man!

Have a great snowy day!

Happy Birthday Sam

Seven years ago today our Sam was born. His birth was easy going and relaxing, just like Sam! He arrived at 11:46 AM. He was a sweet, tiny, blond haired (practically bald), bright blue eyed bundle.

Sam is an enthusiastic optimist! Always moving...he just can NOT sit still. Everything you do for him is the best! Every meal I prepare is his favorite! He keeps or spirits soaring and focused on the brighter points of life!

Yesterday he celebrated with his life long, (well since preschool), friend and family, with a trip to the bowling alley. Pizza, the arcade, cake and presents later at home. A great day was had by all!