Amazing Grace

 This last week God has taken me on a journey through His Grace. I am quick to expect his grace for me, and yet not show that grace to others. Grace does not mean giving in to something, or being a doormat. Grace is about loving others, no matter what the circumstances. I admit that I have not thought about His grace much, until recently. I look back on the events that led me to Christ and I am overwhelmed with His Amazing Grace! If not for that grace, I would not be here today. 

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.    Luke 19:10

We have had some recent events that have made me focus on the Grace that I was shown, and has forced me to decide whether or not I am going to show that same kind of Grace. Trust me....it's not easy!

God continues to speak to my heart about the His grace to me, and the grace I was shown by others. As I have been praying about this I ran across this quote:

You will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given you - Max Lucado.

This really convicted me. I was so undeserving, and so unlovable, and yet I was shown limitless grace by countless people. Not only did God bestow His grace on me, he used other people to show me what it looks like! How can I walk around unwilling to give people grace when it was so freely shown to me. I did not know that some of those people would make such an impact on my life, and forever remind me of what it looks like to be obedient to God. What if God wants me to be that to someone else? What if I am so busy worrying about myself that I miss that opportunity to show God's grace to someone?  I am praying that He will clearly show those people to me, and that most importantly I will be open to hearing him, and be obedient.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.      2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Organization...... Who ME?

I have been looking for a better way to organize my home-school. I always get really excited when I start a new thing, and then the newness wears off and well, I get frustrated. I think I may have found a solution that will work for my family! They are called work boxes....it's actually very simple (which I need). Each child has a set of boxes, and in each box is a subject, I fill the boxes each night with the next days work, along with instructions for that subject. When they are finished they return the work to the box for me check.

I was told that because of my personality I will never be organized...that was almost like a challenge to me! While it doesn't come easy to me, I still enjoy having an organized house, and I am willing to work hard to get it there. What's the point of this post? Well I don't know, maybe I am starting to enjoy writing down my thoughts.....never thought that would happen:) For those of you that are writers.....THANKS ALOT!!!! 

Stay Tuned for more of my organizational thoughts........hopefully:)

Wow....has it been that long???

Well, it has been over a year and a half since I have written on here!! I have missed it, and have been inspired by a friend to go back to it.

It's all been worth it.

This Sunday my husband is going to celebrate his ordination. I am so proud of him, I think back 6 years ago when we started this journey and this day seemed almost impossible. We had just had our third child the week prior to him starting school, and I have to admit that the first semester, ok the first year was really, really hard. There were days and months I was not sure if our marriage was going to make it. God on the other hand had a plan and walked us hand in hand through those 4 years of school. We had some great moments during those 4 years and we also had some very trying ones. It was all worth it. I watch him today and see joy, and contentment. He LOVES being a pastor! He is also very good at it. God knew that he would be, that is why he called him to do it. Funny how God works huh:)
I am excited to celebrate my husband this Sunday and to honor God by praising him for the work he has done in Brett's life and in our family. Our GOD is good!

My baby turned 1 on January 28th. I can't believe she is already one. She is our last baby, so there is alot things I will never get to do again. Some of the things I will miss about the baby days:

• the wonderful smell of a new baby
• the sweet coos and noises
• the first time they smile at you
• how they hold on to your finger so tightly
• how when they look at you, nothing else matters
• all the wonderful firsts (sitting up, first food, first step, first word,etc.)

Things I will not miss about the baby days:

• waking up every two hours
• being spit up on (sometimes in your mouth)
• bottles, bottles, bottles
• endless screaming that pierces your brain

The things I am looking forward to about her being 1:

• sippy cups:)
• bigger car seat (easier to get her in and out of)
• self feeding
• new words and new discoveries
• more independence (the classic " I do")
• running, playing at the park
• things I am sure I am not even aware of :)

I love every stage of childhood, yes even the teenagers, every stage has good and not so good things, but I get to experience it with them and I cherish every minute.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year all. I pray that 2009 will be a year of discovering something new about God and remembering his faithfulness in your life. God Bless you as you begin this new year.

Merry Christmas

Have you noticed that most people do not say Merry Christmas? They say Happy Holidays, or Season's Greetings, or nothing at all. A few years ago when this started to get so bad my husband and I decided that we would not say anything but Merry Christmas. Why?
Well, we live in a world that is desperately trying to push Jesus out, and we want to desperately keep him in. We try to make it a point to say Merry Christmas to all clerks, cashiers and most anybody we come in contact with.
Sometimes the simple things can make a big difference. If we don't try we will never know. Jesus is the reason for the season, and I proudly proclaim it. So to everyone reading
MERRY CHRISTMAS.