Operation life changes 2013!

So the old year is gone and the brand spank-in new year has arrived.
I'm not usually one for resolutions per say but I do like reorganizing my life.  So far this year has been going good. Full, But good!
DH started his day shift again. I'll be honest and tell you that it feels like being liberated from a dark musty cell! I'm freeeeeeeeeeeee lol
Nights are just the worst when you have a family. I'm happy to wake up at 6am now and make my breakfast for my man ;-)
So changes we have made for this New Year?

1. We have a schedule (at least for the next 4 months, until he goes back to dreaded nights) 
2. I actually wake up at 6am (I know right??!! score on my part!) 
3. Couponing, this has made it so much more easier to make breakfast or actually have a schedule. (I find myself less "guilty" using the nice name brand soaps and shampoos because, face it paying $0.50 for it rather than $6 is a lot less daunting!)  
4. My kids cupboard space!!! oh wow where to start...the revelation, that just by folding clothes differently can save a ton of space, just totally blew me out of the water, and put a hot scorching fire under my lazy butt to reorganize! It looks the same from the outside but when you "slowly" open the dresser drawers, you can hear heavenly music playing and the warm golden glow of success and organization.
5. I cleaned the bathroom....yes me, moi! and it makes a world of difference getting ready at the God forsaken hour of 6am ( I'm working on the God forsaken part...my eyes just can't focus on my Jesus calling book that early)
6. Making our bed....the magic that lies beneath this simple act really astonishes me. making a bed in even the messiest of rooms, can make the room look somewhat put together.... which helps loads in feeling put together in the wee hours. Because honestly I feel more like a Picasso painting when I wake up.
7. cleaning my face before bed and when i wake up. This has helped with the "forsaken hour" and the feeling "put together" part. and not to mention a beautiful clear complexion. 
8. I get fully dressed every morning down to shoes (or socks...I know I cheat) this makes me feel ready to tackle the day.
9. Keeping the kitchen clean! 4 days in and my kitchen is still clean! makes me want to go prance barefoot outside (well maybe not now, but i can imagine it) the pure joy of having a clean kitchen!!! this means every morning I unload and load the dish washer, wipe the counters, sweep the floor and clean the sink et voila magnifique!!! 
10. last but soo not the least, devos...this one I have actually really been struggling with! I find it hard to get a quiet time in the day to devote to it. I guess for right now I need to be happy for the scarce little moments I do have to spend with God. they are there I just sometimes feel guilty because I can't sit down and properly give him my undivided attention. But then again toddler boys are a handful. I'm very thankful for the moments I do get to quietly talk to my savior! because they end up being in the times when i most need it and they are less "staged" ;-)

So far things are going well and I've been able to somewhat conquer all of these (except for #10) 

here are some of the inspirations behind these changes :-)

1. Daily schedule:  OK so I am NOT the best at schedules, I'm a lot like that little over caffeinated squirrel in over the hedge, Hammie??? I tend to start my day somewhat organized. but as I am making breakfast I notice the dish towel is dirty so I decide to drop breakfast and start laundry, my boys left a toy car in their laundry basket, making me stressed about the toys in their room and the state of un-organization! The horror!!, so now I am organizing toys, breakfast and laundry are still not done. but it gets worse I notice that the floor in the boys room needs to be vacuumed so now I'm vacuuming the floor, toys are somewhat organized, laundry and (my) breakfast are still half done and the house is worse off than before I started, because I never finished anything!!!! At the end of the day I'm exhausted and my house looks like an unorganized tornado attacked ruthlessly, Making for a very grumpy and tired mommy and over hyper kids! grrrr I can feel the frustration already!                               I did some research and these two sites offered the best advice in my opinion (every family works differently)                                                                                                                             Iheartorganizing: I think this woman is a fair share of crazy and awesome all in one. I had to take a step back and realize that my life did NOT have to be as organized as hers. Once I realized that, her site became a good source of  "possible" changes I could make. She has an awesome list of great organizing ideas. I like her binding and storing idea for her planner. She uses the arc disk puncher and system from staples. However you don't have to buy the punch necessarily  they also sell the notebook pre-made. I just prefer to print my own notebook. I cannot tell you how convenient these little notebooks are! if you mess up a page ...don't worry just punch it out and replace it! We used these at school in Europe and they are lifesavers! I really am excited that staples offers their own punch and equipment for these useful little notebooks. Jennifer from Iheart organizing actually sells her planner on etsy (only the printable paper NOT the notebook, you would have to pick up the notebook at staples) and believe me she has got the whole kit and caboodle!                                                                  the confident mom : Although Iheartorganizing has a good deal I personally prefer this planner. it comes with an explanation on how to start and has a very well rounded and detailed list of chores, broken down into 52 weeks. She has thought of everything! even to the amount of water you need to drink. I like having everything in one place
2. Couponing: I have three main sites that I look at regularly southernsavers, krazycouponlady and iheartpublix all of these have in depth lists on sales nearby you. they will match the appropriate coupons (both newspaper coupons and online ones, catalina's and other peelies). southern savers actually has a great tutorial on how to start couponing. click here for the tutorial. You can click on her "learning to coupon" button on the top or you an click the "workshop" button, scroll down half way and you will see the online couponing class button. definitely worth it! but watch out it is 2 hours long!

And I realy did write this after new year but am just now getting to posting it ugh I'm so busy! But hope this helps you. i will add pictures when i can.

What are some of your changes this year? How are they going? What is your motivation?

New Years Resolutions...and messies manuals!!!!

Like a lot of you out there, the coming of a new year entails detailed planning of how my life is going to drastically change this next year. Then the new year hits, give me about a week and I'm already off track. My track record on my posting here on the blog, should show you that I am NOT a good time manager. Priorities tend to come and go and change more than the mind of a diva !
Although I still like to schedule how I would like to see my life next year. I do have a realistic view that life does not go as planned. So structure is necessary but I need to plan to be flexible with my time. I tend to freak out when things don't go as planned and end up quitting altogether instead of rearranging my schedule..
So I am now trying figure that out all with the help of this awesome set of books...The messies manual (thanks mom lol)

If you are like me and try to find what suits you here are some sites and blogs that might help you out...remember that YOU are ultimately who can decide what works for you and your family.
DO NOT get sucked into the expectations of this world...If you can't do it...then don't worry about it.
I just can't post whenever I want. My kids need me and there are a multitude of things that need to get done before I can sit down and type. There is nothing wrong with that!

here are some helpful (hopefully) blogs...

Cleaning & organizing: 

• Clean Mama : She has a great free cleaning calendar that's just so cute you will want to clean ;-) 
• Organizing Made Fun: She has a ton of great ideas. She has a lot of great motivational posts...I need motivation!
• The Confident Mom: Empowering moms, strengthening families and embracing God's design. She has a killer printable schedule that pretty much includes everything for the whole year!!!! I LOVE it. I am someone who needs everything in one place. I like browsing websites but I won't be able to keep up checking 6 websites every morning...I've got toddlers for crying out loud! I want a detailed list of everything I need all in one place. This schedule is just that complete with scripture verses to read every morning. by the end of the year you are somewhat closer to being organized and scheduled and you have read through the entire bible! (this however is not free but cost $9 for the simple version and $14 for the extra version)
• Alejandra Tv: She has been featured in a lot of big name companies like HGTV and family circle. She has a 7-day organizing video class for FREE!!! ;-)  although please don't get overly stressed by her take on organizing..she is not a mother of three and even though she has really good points and ideas, don't get over discouraged if your house doesn't look like hers...
• IHeartOrganizing: Oh my word my heart is already pounding uncontrollably...my house will NEVER look like this. but she has awesome ideas just look at her freezer storage! My biggest hurdle in organizing is the containers and stuff I need to purchase it's quiet a bt of money but then again...think one step at a time!
• Fly Lady: At first this site can be overwhelming. Take a deep breath and look for the "get started" button at the top right. you can figure it out from there. straight forward and really good lessons on knowing how to really clean your house without feeling stressed. all starting with your sink!

Meal Planning: 

• EMeals: This site does all the work for you, it's affordable and they even give you the coupons to go with your weekly meal plan. Choose from a variety of options both for families or singles. 
• Food On The Table: This website will base your meal planning on the store that you shop at the most. it will calculate the savings into your grocery list. This is totally free and if you are not a fanatic couponer it could really save you some time and effort! and it has it's own free app.
• All Recipes: this site is my go to for a lot of basics it's reliable and very very helpful. If you subscribe (not expensive) you can use all their nifty tools, like their meal planning and their recipe box upgrade.
• What's Cooking Chicago: She has a massive list of easy yet healthy meals to make and freeze ahead! 
• Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons: Being a mom of boys I can totally relate to this cute blog. If you are looking for doable and cute ideas for kids snacks just check this blog out!
• Annie's Eats: Still by far my favorite blog. Her recipes are easy glamorous and down to earth. I love her style and choice in meals. the fact that she is a dr and a mom of two under 5 AND a full time blogger is just plain amazing to me.

Parenting:

• Focus On The Family: Is by far the best resource for christian parenting. to the point and packed full of biblical truths.
• Christian parenting website from Family Life Today: Offers articles and audio form Dennis and Barbara Rainey. They offer a free monthly e-magazine, tips on manners and a Christian parenting forum.
• Christian Parenting at Crosswalk.com is a great resources for articles about Christian parenting. You can subscribe to their RSS feed.
• Today's Christian Woman: is a great resource for articles on parenting and how to love God and live fearless.
• LifeWay Parenting:  offers solid parenting advice and resources from a Southern Baptist perspective. LifeWay offers four different Christian parenting magazines target for local church distribution.

Mother and Wife-Hood: 

• MoneySavingMom: Love her down to earth way of writing and sharing...also love the deal updates ;-)
• Women Living Well: I love their blog, she and her friend coauthor on here and share with other bloggers. I have been blessed by this blog!
• Comfy In The Kitchen: great joy filled blog about motherhood and her joy of cooking.
• Good Morning Girls: A blog about the joys of connecting and having fellowship with other moms and women.
• Karen Ehman: Has a ton of great challenges and studies for us moms and women trying to find our calling.

Praying God reveals what He truly wants me to work on this next year. All things are possible through Him who gives me strength! Hope you have a great New Years!

Calm My Anxious Heart - Week Uno

So as I have posted before, we have started our journey to being content and no longer anxious ( We are following the book above by Linda Dillow). Today marks the one week mark in our study. So far I'm loving it! It has been convicting, rich, encouraging, eye-opening and truthful. I appreciate the direct approach she uses. On the other hand, it's been embarrassing to always get the time of the bible study wrong...was late...AGAIN!!! nonetheless it has been a challenging study.
The back of the book houses a study guide filled with questions for each week. 
These are the questions for this week and my answers. Please note that these are my personal notes and by no means do they need to be accepted or copied by all.

Week 1 – “My Journey to Contentment” 

1. Memorize Philippians 4: 11-13. Write the verses on a card and go over them every day. Pray the verses back to God and ask Him to burn His truth into your heart.

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I must confess I have it written down, but have not memorized it! 

2. Write a paraphrase of Philippians 4:11-13.

I like the way the message puts it 

Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

Though God's strength I can be happy and content with much or with little. True happiness is being content with Him and what He chooses to give me. With him I can overcome and do anything be that poverty or rich abundance. I have learned to fully rely on Him. He is enough!

3. Reflect on Philippians 4:11-13 and what you have read in Chapter 1 (if following along in the book). Then write a definition of contentment.

"A soul sufficiency, a peace separate from our circumstances"

“An internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances”—Holman Bible Dictionary.

con·tent·ment           (kn-tntmnt)

1. The state of being contented; satisfaction.

2. A source of satisfaction: the contentments of a comfortable retirement.

Being content in God alone, not in this world or it's goods.

I like how Kelly (one of our leaders) commented on how Linda used the word "soul sufficiency" and not the oh so common "self sufficiency" , it takes the us out of the equation and puts it all on God. We are able through Him. We can't rely on ourselves.

4. Reflect upon Ella Spees’ (missionary with the pygmies in Africa for fifty-two years) five statements that made up her prescription for contentment: (pages 11-12) 

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything- not even the weather. 
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else. 
• Never compare your lot with another’s. 
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise. 
• Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that is God’s, not ours.

Never is a very hard word...to never complain is quite a task, one that I know I will have a hard time with. Complaining is one of the things I have a problem with. But then again we are reminded in the verse above that with God we have the strength to do anything! practice makes perfect comes to mind...

5. How do you think Ella Spees’ was able to have a “holy habit” of contentment?

"The secret is in the last statement. Her eye's were fixed on eternity. Her tomorrows belonged to God. She had given them to Him. And because all her tomorrows were nestled in God's strong arms, she was free to live today. One day at a time she could make the right choices and grow to possess the holy habit of contentment. Ella's focus was eternal, and her focus led to eternal contentment"

6. Read 1 Timothy 6:15. Look up the word sovereign in the dictionary. Write a paraphrase of the verse using what you learn about this word.

¹⁵ For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

sov·er·eign      (svr-n, svrn)

1. A supreme ruler, esp. a monarch
2. Possessing supreme or ultimate power: "the people's will is in theory sovereign".

God the almighty ruler of heaven and earth who has the supreme power over all and everything will come at just the right time, His time, and reveal Christ to all.


7. What difference would it make if you truly let God be the Blessed controller of your circumstances? Give a practical example.

I truly believe that I would be a happier, more peaceful and healthier version of myself. Like it said I would be blessed, I would be able to relax and be calm and know that God the sovereign Lord has it all under control. I can remember the promises He made to me. I picture a baby snuggling into his parents shoulder while slowly falling asleep, without a care in the world. He knows that he is safe in the loving arms of his parents. I would love to have that with God. the faith and trust to let go. I need to let go of all the stresses of the day (cleaning, kids, this blog...) I need to quiet down and concentrate on Him. 
I believe I would be a more involved and less stressed mom and wife. I would hope I could instill the peace of God into my kids, instead of the hectic life style I have now.
I would have more patience and I foresee myself being able to listen more to others instead of having my mind focused on my own problems. smiles would be present.
Finances are usually my stumbling block and my children's development chart. they tend to be my biggest struggle with trust. I know that I need to trust that God has it in control but I tend to get impatient and frustrated when things don't go according to my schedule (usually it's a timing issue).

8. Reread the story of the two monks on page 19.
a. which monk do you think describes you?

Mostly the second one, I pray but now looking back, I tend to tell God what to do and how I expect things to be done. "Lord please..." I don't think there is anything wrong in praying for specific things, actually He asks us to ask even though He already knows what we need. But I do believe it's a state of mind, understanding that God will work on His schedule and His timing. NOT ours. 

b. Do you think most women try to control or manipulate people and circumstances? if yes why?

I think know I do, I don't like being wrong. I like to be in control most all the time. I don't want it to seem that I go overboard but I do like having a say in my life.
I think it has something to do with how we as women live our lives anyways. We have the capacity to multitask and think of a hundred different things at once. I'm able to write this blog and somewhat plan my evening all in one, sometimes even more. Any mom of young kids can relate to that. We wear a lot of hats. I think it's hard to find the fine line between "organizing" our lives and "controlling". It's very hard to switch between the two, and most of the time not even noticing or meaning to do it. We as women have come so far in the past years we now have so many things we are 'required" by society to achieve as moms and women in general. We have the ability to provide for our family the same way our husbands do, by working (don't get me wrong I have absolutely no problem with working moms, I have a problem with the worlds expectations that go with it) but we are also suppose to be excellent mothers, wives, friends. We are looked down upon if anything in our lives does not correspond with the worlds views. For example; my son was born by an emergency c-section after being induced two weeks after his so said due date, I was unable to breast feed him. He is now three and still not anywhere close to being potty trained. I fed my son Cheetos today and gave him candy. The world tells me that I should have just waited and done things naturally. I was told I deprived my son of a healthy foundation by not feeding him myself. And I have definitely been looked down on for not successfully potty-training my child. I should not be feeding my son "dead" food. organic and homemade is the way to go (again I'm not downing the food choices. we follow a clean eating plan at home but i'm just not overly strict when it comes to fun snacks here and there). All I'm trying to say i there is a lot of stress out there for us women to perform to certain standards. I tend to find myself being controlling on matters like the potty training for instance because I feel stuck and things are not progressing on my/the worlds time line.I get frustrated and nervous and start worrying that something is wrong with my child and I take over the reigns in my life, and end up making an even bigger mess. C'est moi! 
(again please know that yes I believe that giving birth naturally is best but it's not what God granted me at the time, same with breast feeding, I wasn't able to and my sons health was more important at the time. I would love to be able to afford organic food all the time but right now we can't...and that's OK. So please know I have nothing against these things ;-)...)

9. Write in your journal: 
a. what did I learn about God this week? 

God is my ever present help in times of need, my comforter and sustainer . His Grace and love are ever present and He offers them freely. I'm worth more to Him that the birds in the air. He sustains my soul and helps me overcome myself. No judgement is passed and He stretches His arms and hands toward me, even when I have snatched mine away. He is enough to get me through, all other things fade away. He is patient.

b. What did I learn about myself?

I am self-ish, self-sufficient, self-absorbed, I tend to manipulate God because I don't think He can manage or fulfill my idea or plan. I will go to God last, He ends up being my last resort. Prayer is more for attaining and rectifying things than to converse with him just because. I lack the trust and faith. I can do nothing on my own. I am not enough. But I do have the willpower and desire to want to change, to soften my heart and to practice and work on my faith issues. And with His strength through me I am able to change. 

c. Write a prayer to remember what God has taught you.

My Father, 

Oh Lord of Lords how majestic is Your name in all the earth.Oh Lord I magnify Your name, Prince of Peace Mighty God, oh Lord God all Mighty.
You are my source of comfort and strength. You are the sustainer of all life. You have the power to give and take away. And yet You choose to accept me as Your child, You Love me with an agape love. No one can love me as You do. Your Grace abounds and is extended to me. You gave up Your son, so I could live. No greater love exists. 
And You offer all this to me even though my heart is hard and filled with doubt worry and anger. 
Father please forgive me for doubting You, for manipulating circumstances and prayers for being self absorbed and for pushing You away. Please restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and renew a right spirit within me. I pray You help me over come the worry and anxiety in my heart, conquer the tiredness and defeat lingering in my soul. May the ashes in my life be restored to beauty.
Restore Father. Let me taste of true life, abundant life. Let Your love and grace and light shine through me. Let the walls around my heart be torn down. May the strings of my life be tuned to make a beautiful sound in Your ears.  May You be omnipresent in my life.
May You be sufficient in my life. turn away anything that does not come from You. Mold this heart to be anxiety free. 
I love You Lord

Amen

Calm My Anxious Heart-The Start of a New Journey

Ever Have oodles to say but just can't seem to get it on paper or screen? ... Yep, that would be me!

I've even had dreams of writing blogs or books or whatever...I was just writing, freely without one hiccup or pause, just pure thoughts pouring out...and then I wake up, and NADA just me, staring at a very blank page/screen. fingers clam up, not sure what they are to do. My mind starts racing a 100 miles a minute, going nowhere.  

Hi , my name is Maria and I have writers block, and I'm not even a writer.

There have been so many good moments, thoughts, verses, scripture, book quotes, posts and blog entries this week. So much to say and share. but my mind just can't seem to remember them all and now again my mind is playing tricks on me and my fingers are slowly clamming up...grrrrr blasted fingers!

Anyways it's Monday the most dreaded day of the week. To me Monday is a welcomed day, it's the start of a new week. A new endless list has been made of things that need to get done (but never will).
Mondays usually start pretty good, I'm up early, cup of tea and bible in hand and ready to tackle the day.
By the end of Monday I'm ready for Sunday to roll around so that I can magically get the "Monday" energy all over again ;-)

This fall (and might I add that I am soooo thankful for the cooler weather and pumpkin everything ;-)...) is going to be a good one.
I'm excited for the new bible studies that are starting. Sunday night the church has started their "Life-school" programs. I eagerly signed up for the woman's class "Calm My Anxious Heart". we will be following a book called...yep you guessed it... "Calm My Anxious Heart" written by linda Dillow  (click on the link for the book).
This past Sunday was the first meeting...and...I ...Missed...it. Darn naps! but thankfully the leaders are also leading this study online! lucky me!

Today's homework:

• Read chapter 1
• Write Philippians 4:11-13 on a card and go over it everyday. Pray it. Praise God with it. Memorize it. 

Philippians 4:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.¹³ For I can do everything through Christ,^[a] who gives me strength.

What an awesome verse! and what a great reminder to know that God gives us all we need (not what we think we need) but what we need. 

It also reminds me of the verse in 

Matthew 6:26 

"Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?"

What an awesome God we serve! I need to remember to smile more to be content. lately when I start getting worried or anxious I think about the sparrows and pray for God's peace. lately I have been doing a lot better in the worry department. all thanks to God's strength.

It's so important to wake up and spend the first couple of minutes of the day with God, what a huge difference in my countenance when I take the time to read and thank Him for all He does! 

My thoughts on chapter 1:

I am such a Meredith! My mindset definitely follows this pattern "Finally, Maria, whatever is not true, whatever is not noble, whatever is not right, whatever is impure, whatever is unlovely, whatever is not admirable—if there is anything not excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

My negative thoughts tend to take over. ME ME ME Me and MOI!!!

ugh what a convicting thing to read in the first chapter alone...this is gonna be good!

• Never allow myself to complain about anything -  not even the weather!
• Never Picture yourself in any other circumstance or someplace different.
• Never compare your lot with another's
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
• Never dwell on tomorrow-remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.

Such good reminders, they seem very hard but again our verse above tells us that With God's strength we can accomplish all these things!

I love how she puts it: "He infuses our lives with His strength. I love tea. I drink it every morning. Now I have an awesome image to think of when my tea bag drops into the boiling water and infuses the tastes and flavors into the water. What an awesome Picture of God's strength being infused into our lives!

Paul knew what it meant to be content. If he can write such a thought provoking verse in prison in chains then I should have no problem being content in my own life! but yet i find I'm not!

May my life, an alabaster box, be broken in front of you. may Your fragrance and strength be infused in my life May they linger and never die or fade.

May I be content in only You...You are enough!

Worship Wednesday; God's Blessing Like Water Flow

This Wednesday was jam packed with messages, encouragements and loving words and reminders from my Savior!
Crave was awesome this morning God really revealed Himself to me! I love when He does that so personally and direct.

(Crave on Wednesday's is something our church provides, it's a prayer and meditation time for the women of the church)

We have been going through the Jesus Calling book, every week we get a small piece of paper with the message and corresponding verses for that specific day. Of course you come and follow God's calling, meaning you read whatever He puts on your heart. Such a sweet time of communion with our Lord. I Love it and "crave" it ;-)
for today (the 8th) we got to read this:

I speak to you from deepest heaven. You hear Me in the depths of your being. 

Deep calls unto deep. You are blessed to hear Me so directly. 

Never take this privilege for granted. 

The best response is a heart overflowing with gratitude. 

I am training you to cultivate a thankful mind-set. 

This is likebuilding your house on a firm rock, where life's storms cannot shake you. 

As you learn these lessons, you are to teach them to others. 

I will open up the way before you, one step at a time.

 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

Psalm 42:7;

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalm 95:1-2; 

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Matthew 7:24-25

The yellow words are the words that somehow stood out to me while I was reading.
God placed the word "water" on my heart.
We meet in the sanctuary, when walking in I was struck by the sound of the AC running. usualy people (including me) find the noise quite distracting. Today the sound reminded me of rushing water and waterfalls. I was reminded of the sound of cool flowing water.
I love the sound of rain, it's calming to me. The sound of the AC and the thoughts on waterfalls and rain, led me to this song by Laura Story  (watch the video here). She sings "What if your blessings came through raindrops?" and it just touched me someway.
I pictured a girl standing in the rain with her arms raised, just accepting the raindrops as they surround her. A picture of how God just engulfs us with blessings and gives us all we need "one step at a time"
Our joy is to joyfully and freely receive with a thankful and grateful heart. Sometimes I just concentrate on getting cold and wet that I miss out on what God has given me.

A good friend illustrated it so perfectly; she saw god pouring out blessings. There were 4 different kinds of people. the first received the blessings (rain) gratefully and without hesitation. The second person received the blessings but still fearfully hid under an umbrella, receiving only bits here and there. The fourth person just stayed inside the comfort of his home and never ventured out, this person declined the blessings of God and continued with what he thought was the best plan...his plan. the fourth person had absolutely no idea about Gods blessings and was completely oblivious of the blessings being poured down all around him.
As I was thinking about it, in my mind I could see all these things "raining" down over us and we were standing with open arms and hearts to receive them. Then I thought of how, in the natural, when it's raining we automatically want to grab our umbrellas because we don't want to get wet. However, in the spiritual, who wants an umbrella or other barrier up when God is raining down all these wonderful gifts on us? We want to be completely saturated by those things and by His Spirit!
We sing the song "Rain Down" and ask God to open up the heavens and rain down on us. And in reply He says, "Look up! I already have! Receive the blessings I've given you!"

Are you standing under an umbrella waiting for God's blessings? Or are you standing in the deluge, soaking up every drop?

I want to be the first person, the person who ventures out boldly and gets soaked with Gods blessings! The person who is not fearful for he knows he has an awesome God protecting him!
His house is built on firm ground and stable on the rock, even the storms can't budge it! THAT is who I want to be!

Hope this was a blessing to you as well! God bless you!

I Will Praise You In This Storm

God is good...

Today is Worship Wednesday...I can honestly say this would have been the last day that I would have wanted to worship. Today we were suppose to find out if we were having a boy or a girl instead we founds out that our little growing baby didn't make it. Of course I cried, This is the second baby we have given back to God. But no anger surfaced instead I found myself saying these words...The words of a well know christian song by casting crowns " I will praise you in this storm".

I especially felt the words " I will raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away" and I honestly did. I am so thankful for the gifts and blessings God has given and I understand that God's plan is a perfect plan. 

So for this worship Wednesday I want to share the song that God put in my heart. I'm sad but overjoyed to have such an awesome King and to be able to know that I can call him Father! He will get us through!

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", 

and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth