Remember

Some days I loose track in all of this.....WHY??? And then I remember.  I remember that He's telling a story through me.  I remember all the days and all the nights that have brought me here.  I remember the bad that He has replaced with good and I AM SO GRATEFUL.  I remember grace once again and I can't hold it back.  I remember mercy and nothing in me wants to withhold it from another....no matter the cost...and that is painful to even type.  Because the beautiful spilled oil has been so costly.  It has come forth from the breaking of all that I knew.  I remember.  It's so easy to forget.  And so He whispers...Remember Me.....and I do and for that reason alone, I just can't stop.  I just keep moving in hope that another might begin to remember.  Thankful.

Joining Bonnie for Faith Jam

Just Recieve

"Sounds good. I'll cover for you. Love you".  I smiled when I read his text. My dad. This week has been a struggle. So much catching up with me. My muscles found themselves in complete knots. I had no real choice but to go get some help with the tension. I have such a hard time admitting I need help or really that I have needs at all. I've gotten so good about keeping my head down and just pushing through that it blindsides me at times. But He's been telling me to stop, slow down, rest and wait. No no and no have been my answers. But yesterday I knew I had to get over myself and just go. And I made the appointment. Seems so frivolous. But I needed it. And I texted my dad to say I made the appointment. That I would come in early for work. And he responded with grace. With covering. Just like my Father is trying to do. And I fight Him. So He puts His hand down heavy until I settle under the weight of it. The hard way....why must I always be so stubborn? As I drove to my appointment, the tears fell and I asked Him why....it seems I am so reluctant to forgive myself, so unable to accept the grace I can extend to another. Why can't I truly take in the fact that I have done all I can and I just need to rest, to be still, to let Him be God. And so as I drove I made some choices. I would forgive myself. I would let the grace extended to me from my dad be a lesson in how to accept grace from my Father. It covers. It is finished. Nothing owed. Debt paid. Perhaps you need that today too. Maybe you need a reminder to let grace come in and do something in your heart, in your life. I'm praying you will do just that and I'll hold your hand if you need it. Thankful.

Joining Holley over at her site today

Reasons

I don't want to.....it makes me afraid. I whispered this truth as I prayed. My stumbling block exposed. But I know it's right and I know I must. And I did. I did. And I shared my reasons with Him why it was hard, what I feared. And He heard. He did. As I read my devotional for the day His answer became clear. He wanted me to do it from an obedient heart. To do it afraid. To do it because I love Him more than I fear my words. And then He showed me, showed me the why. And it was beautiful. How many times does He long to bless me, but He wants to heal my heart at the same time. And that requires a blind faith sometimes. Trusting in Him more than in the reasons why. Trusting in Him to be my reason why. Thankful. 

5 Minute Friday - Willing

Joining Lisa Jo and the girls for 5 Minute Friday.  No edits, no re-writes and love the ones that came before you.

Prompt: WILLING
Go........

Just how far, I wonder some days, am I really willing to go? How much am I willing to bend, to give, to lay down, to sacrifice.....before it is enough.  How many days will I count, sleeps, wakes, runs, meals.....just how many Lord?  Just when is the number enough?  How much were You willing to give? What number of children would be enough before You say no more? What amount of sacrifice was too great for You? What price was just too high? None.  There was no price too high.  You were willing to loose it all, even Your own life for just one.  One.  The gravity of that takes my breath.  That You love us so...and some times You ask us to let You use our lives to show another just a glimpse of that.....if we might be willing.  Thankful.

STOP.

#SheSharesTruth - Psalm 130

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2     Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

    to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

    and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord

    more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel

    from all their sins.

This is a Psalm of ASCENT.  It speaks of waiting to be lifted.  Watching for His deliverance, watching for His mercy, crying out for His goodness.  Hear me Lord when I cry for help, hear me Lord when I search for Your hand, hear me Lord when I can't take one more step.  And then I wait.  And while I wait I'll recount what I know to be true...You WILL hear me, the IS forgiveness, Your love NEVER fails and there is redemption.  So while I wait Lord and hold fast to what I know is true, I will serve You. Thankful.

Linking Up with #SheSharesTruth - Devotional

Don't Lose Sight

Some days this dream feels anything but "dreamy".  It feels wholly impossible.  And then I began to wonder...what was it I was thinking to begin with??.....The dream began with a need to breathe, which gave way to writing, which gave way to breathing (sweet!!), which gave way to giving what I needed, which was encouragement, which He gave back to me, and then writing was just..me, and I realized that it was just something that I must do because it's who I am, just a stepping stone to my dream....what was that exactly? Oh, encouraging? Huh? where did that come from and how in the world is that a dream?? But it is :) And it goes hand in hand with what He's called me to...being a mom, loving and caring for those around me in my own special way.  Maybe it's prayers or sandwiches or cinnamon rolls....maybe it's a Voxer message or a note card....oh my favorite kind of encouragement....this dream that sometimes I loose track of because I'm living life in this moment, which is a huge thing for me, circles round and finds me when I least expect it. All these little pieces will give way to something in time, but they are all connected, all part of what He is making me to be.  When I get so overwhelmed with the big, I loose sight of the small, the daily tasks of dreaming big.  Don't forget baby girl.....don't forget.  Don't ever despise the small.  Small prepares you for the things to come so you won't lose sight.  Thankful.

Joining the girls over at God Sized Dreams

Behind the Scenes - Engraved

My word. It found me and it stuck. I didn't mean for it to, but it carved itself deep into my heart. I need to be reminded of it often. She sent this to me, she did. With a card and the verse said this:

Proverbs 3:3-4 Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.

Why?

 In this way, you will win the favor of God and others,and they will think well of you.

 When I read verse 4 at first, I felt a little strange. But as it settled in, I believe He means that others will have good thoughts when they think of you. I have good thoughts of so many of the wonderful people in my life. And when I do, I find myself compelled to let them know. So when this cherished friend thought of me and acted on it, Gods love became tangible and engraved itself on my heart once again, and that reminds me of Gods favor in my life, so I wont loose sight. Thankful. 

Joining Behind The Scenes today