Thank You

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!His faithful love endures forever." -Ps 118:1

This verse has been running through my mind all day. I have so much to worry about. So much to think really hard over. Even more to fear, but for each of those thoughts, worries, & fears are blessings that outnumber them all. I am so thankful for so much! For starters, I have a God who sent His ONE AND ONLY son to die a horrible death just to allow me to spend eternity with Him. WOW. He takes on every one of those nasty things so that I can go through my days without them. Jesus is truly my best friend and I am so incredibly thankful for Him each and every day. Other things I'm thankful for? Well, I have a job that I absolutely adore. I experience new brides, families, firstborns, all of it! AND I get paid to do it. I'm sorry, but that makes my job something to be thankful for I'd say. I only have it b/c the Lord allows it. And I hope to glorify Him every step of the way. We are commanded to use whatever gifts He's given us to better His Kingdom and I should remember - that means picture too

Over the last year, I've also been blessed to be a part of these girls' lives. Pursuit 31 is a group by Karen Stott (amazing photog btw) who felt that the Lord wanted her to bless other photographers starting out as well. She is more than a mentor, business owner, or entrenpreneur.....she is a wife, mother, follower of Christ, & friend.

Ah, the most unexpected of all .... my neighbors! We moved in to our first home last year this time and now I can't remember not knowing the three of them. God really went the extra mile there. I mean, who vacations with their neighbors? WE DO

Another thing I'm thankful for today? My sister. How does someone love me so much? How did I end up with someone like her when I know I could never have been that for a younger sister myself. She may not ever have kids (darn NYker) but she has me and she's been a pretty incredibly mother figure if you ask me - the kind that lets you have wine when you're 19 and takes you to rated R movies at 15.

Amanda comes with 2 parents. Oh my mom and dad. Could I ever find anything to be more thankful about? So many people have so many struggles within their immediate families, and Joey and I were both blessed enough to not only grow up in un-broken homes, but to see our parents just as in love today as they were when they were our age. Just bliss!

MY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO thankful for my people. My Mr (you've seen him a lot) & Aspyn (i KNOW you recognize her). They both are responsible for a bit of the stress mentioned in the beginning, but they are also responsible for a HUGE part of the blessings in my life too. They will both quickly point out that that makes the bad totally excuseable. And well, I agree.

BLAKE!!!!!!! My neighbors' son Blake is my little nephew in love. We moved in when he was almost one month old and he has our entire hearts. It's fun loving on a baby like he's your own, then handing him back to his parents when he gets fussy. Just splendid

Rhema

Stumbled upon this verse today from the Message Bible....


So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture.

Wow! Just had to share that after having my quiet time this afternoon. We recently learned in our Bible study about the Greek word, Rhema. We study and meditate on the word, and a revelation occurs. Rhema is the REVEALED Word of God. In other words, when we study scripture, at times it is more learned until we meditate on it, hear it enough, and listen to His voice closely. Then you will find that the Rhema will activate your faith. This is where the power of God's word comes into play. His word is GOD himself. John 1:1-3 makes this clear. "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word WAS God." There you have it. The power of the Lord is in your home, at your desk, by your bed in the form of a book, and yet we spend more time watching the TV or facebooking (this includes me for sure) than we do having revelations that reveal the faith we need to gain the power of the Lord in our daily walk. How foolish we can be.

This verse was oe of those "aha" rhema moments for me. GOD is on my side. He has died a brutal death on a cross just so that I could live with Him for eternity. Why would I ever assume he has anything in store for me but the good? He knows why I go through certain things and it's all part of His plan.

So remember, during your bad days, when people are cruel and find pleasure in hurting you, just know that your friend is in Heaven defending you. Nothing else matters. And concerning the "bully", dont cast judgment on them either. You are not flawless and that is a matter between them and their spirit.

Hard to do? YES! Trying it out? SURE AM! Honestly, what else matters? God loves me, he sticks up for me, his son died for me. What was I concerned about again?

Happy Resurrection! Don't forget to thank the Lord today for the one you're able to have bc of His sacrifice.

Forgiven

Other than a persnickity migraine that has insisted on spending a night or two in my head, today has been a pretty awesome day. Joey passed the exam! Thank you for all of your prayers, we are truly blessed. We also recently joined a new small group at church known as the "Life" group and it has already begun changing my heart in such an exciting way.

Some of the homework this past week was on guilt and shame. Shame is something that is against who we ARE as people, while guilt is against what we've DONE. That sin that we committed. It's so simple to use the two terms interchangeably, but the fact is, they are not the same. Christ NEVER wants us to feel shame, because shame and victimization only seperate us from Him.

What an amazing this to know that the only person who can seperate me from His love is myself. Not my sin, not Him, just me. I was shocked while reading a passage in Genesis while going through the homework. Genesis 3:7-9 clearly shows us that Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden once they had sinned. What's more is that HE came after THEM. He wasn't turning away from them or unable to love them any longer because of their sin. They were so worried that he would judge them, that they wound up the one's doing all the judging. Isn't it so simple to assume our sins are too great? Or that we are unable to come to Him for forgiveness? He wants to comfort us and wipe that sin away so that we can grow even closer to Him. What an amazing blessing!

So smile! Thank the Lord for sending Jesus as our sacrifice, and take some time looking through the Old Testiment (especially Leviticus 4-5) to get a picture of just how much went into the forgiveness of sin before the ultimate sacrifice came on our behalf. ACCEPT this forgiveness and never let that guilt turn into a shame that could harm your relationship with God. Easier said then done? yes! but I can't wait to finally practice this in my own life & RECEIVE this gift & share it with others.

Just a side note from Church a few weeks ago. It's so important for us to offer the same forgiveness that we accept from Christ. If we can accept it, but do not give it to others (trust me, I know how hard it can be) then we don't deserve or RECEIVE His. What a loving God!

Rest

After our church service on Sunday, I've been reflecting on the five things I make a point to do every day to get me to the place I want to be in my relationship with friends, family, & the Lord. I've been trying to make "my five" for a few weeks now, but really gave it the most thought today & I think God has finally revealed to me what my spiritual five are. Go here to listen to our church's "five series" and you will see where all of this has stemmed from.

God has shown me through the verses Pastor Chris has given us these past 4 weeks that it is imperative that I take only a few steps towards my goals each day as to not exhaust my progress. Like an axe at a tree, Pasor Chris has said that five swings a day is better than burning yourself out in one afernoon, only to not return to the job for a week. I'm the WORLD's WORST at refusing to sit back and relax (except Saturdys...I'm GREAT at it on SAturdays)

Amanda has it right in this pic....I found these and was reminded of what it means to remember to relax and enjoy God's gifts as oppossed to running yourself into the ground with "business"

I so wish I could fit into that wicker chair again.......she had it for years, but passed it to me shortly after.....

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

(Proverbs 17:24 GN) “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a
fool starts off in many directions.” ....... ACTION! How many times I have "thought" "considered" or simply "planned" but never moved. This Sunday, I was brought to the ralization of God's promises and His Word that He can MOVE me to the action he has planned out for my life.

(Ezekiel 36:25-27) “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be
clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I
will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from
you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my
Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep
my laws.”

(Jeremiah 6:16) This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads
and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and
walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Off to rest.....goodnight everyone! Have a blessed week & don't forget the importance of taking the time for your five...not 5,000 as we tend to do

I'm SOOO investing in a wicker rocking chair after this

SNOW....

It's snowing in Alabama! Not enough to keep me home from work, but nice to look at through the window while I pull credit reports all day long.
Honestly....How can anyone believe that there wasn't a divine creator who had PURPOSE in what He made? I'm reminded of the song in my earlier post about Christ coming to this Earth like a winter snow. What a perfect way to describe His entrance into the world.

Enjoy the snow, what little we get, and join Joey & I for Hot Chocolate after work if you'd like!