Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

You Gotta Wait

I'm sure there are those of you out there who either have, or have had a three year old in your life. Now, I don't yet have one of my own, but I'm around my niece pretty much daily and by that I've learned quite a bit about three year olds.
Three year olds love Dora, Diego, Mickey Mouse, and the Backyardigans. Three year olds have a pretty limitless supply of energy. Three year olds like to DO THINGS THEMSELVES. And three year olds do NOT like to wait.
When my niece is ready to go, she is ready to go. It doesn't matter that she only ate two french fries and a roll and that no one else has really even started their meal. She hates sitting there waiting once she's finished. But slowly but surely she is learning that she has to sit there and wait for everyone else to finish their meal.
It's funny to watch little ones being trained at the basics of life. I mean I don't recall ever seeing an adult at a table full of people fuss and cry because they were ready to leave before everyone else was finished. Eventually you learn the patience to wait for those around you.
However, learning to wait for things is something we perfect throughout life. We must learn to wait for God to show us His perfect will. We are given constant reminders throughout the Word to wait on the Lord. Here are just a few,

Psalm 25:5, "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

Psalm 27:14, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Psalm 37:7, "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."

Psalm 62:5, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."

And I could go on and on. I don't know about you, but it seems pretty important to God that we wait on Him and His timing. After all, His ways are perfect. He has our best in mind. Maybe it would be best for me to remember that the next time I'm sitting there feeling sorry for myself thinking that God should have brought something to pass in my life already. Hmmm, maybe I'm not so different from my niece after all!
What about you guys?

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Monday, August 27, 2007

Keeping My Mind on Christ

Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

This was the verse of the day on Bible Gateway this morning, and I thought I'd share it with you guys. I've always loved this verse because it has always reminded me that perfect peace is never out of reach. All that I must do is keep my mind focused on Him.
Sounds simple doesn't it. Just focus on Christ, and I'll have perfect peace. And truly it should be simple. But I honestly believe that is why Satan attacks the thought life so much. He is constantly trying to wriggle his way into my thoughts in order to take my mind off of Christ where it should be. Why? Because Satan doesn't want me to be at peace. If I'm in a state of perfect peace with Christ, then I'm right where I need to be to serve Him. And the last thing that Satan wants is for me to serve Christ.
So he tries to put my mind on something else, anything else. The words to a pointless song, the crazy joke from a TV show, the ridiculous outfit my coworker is wearing. Now don't get me wrong, we live in this world, and we are going to come into contact with it, but the things of this world shouldn't rule our thoughts. Christ should rule our thoughts. Everything we do should be done in Christ-centered thinking.
I'm far from perfect in this area, but I pray that I can draw closer and closer to Christ and rest in His perfect peace by keeping my mind on Him more and more each day. How about you?

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Bring On The Rain

Here in NC, we have been having a bit of a drought. Kind of ironic in light of the flooding throughout many parts of the country. We've been praying for rain, as others have been praying it away. And yesterday God sent it. A nice rainstorm that got rid of some of the yucky stuff in the air. And I'm so thankful He did.
My niece on the other hand was not quite as ecstatic. See, due to the rainstorm, the baseball game she was going to was called off. And the girl loves her some Grasshoppers (intimidating mascot there huh?) baseball. Actually, I think what she really loves is the playpark at the stadium, but regardless of her reasons for wanting to go, she was very put out when she was told she wouldn't be going to the game last night.
It made me think though that many times in life, God sends things that we may not really understand or like. But those things really are for our best. Rain was definitely what we needed yesterday. The leaves around here are burning off the trees. But my niece just couldn't understand why that needed rain had to happen during her ballgame.
This familiar verse from Romans 8:28 came to mind last night, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
So remember next time when God sends a little rain when you wanted to go to a ballgame, He knows exactly what He's doing, and He's working everything out for your good!

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Sometimes God Just Does Things Just Because

Have you ever had one of those days where you woke up feeling blah? The humidity outside is 200%, it's already over 100 degrees and it's only 6 am, and on the way to work you remember, "Man I forgot to pay that last cable bill." And you decide that the latest Karen Kingsbury book will have to wait until next paycheck in order for you to keep up a good name with the cable company.

So you get to work and climb breathlessly through the un-air-conditioned stairwell. And you pull out the number to the cable company along with your account number, then you call them up and are passed through the billing department like 20 times as they try to find your account. And you wonder what in the world is going on, after all you just want to pay your money. Then a very nice lady comes on the line and says, "Ma'am, we have found your information, and you don't owe us any money. We sent out a bill a month ahead of time, and your account was closed before the starting date of that bill. We actually owe you $17, and we will be sending it in the mail."

See, sometimes God blesses you just because He knows you need an attitude adjustment, and that maybe, just maybe that new Karen Kingsbury book will be a true blessing to you right now.

So the next time you wake up feeling blah, just look for a blessing. God is certain to send it!!

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Friday, August 10, 2007

A Little Reminder From God

Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

This verse was the verse of the day today on Bible Gateway, and I must say that God has once again amazed me. See, Psalm 46 is my life chapter, and at different times in my life, God has brought it before me again and again.
He's constantly reminding me the He is the refuge I can run to, the strength I can lean on, and the help I can cry out for when I'm in trouble. He's constantly reminding me that HE IS GOD.
And today, I really needed to be reminded of that. It's not like I forgot it, but sometimes you need to hear that reassurance that God is God, and God never changes (James 1:17.) And since He doesn't change, I can lean on Him now just like I've leaned on Him in the past.
I don't know about you, but it gives me a great deal of peace to know that my God doesn't change. I can rest in the fact that He will keep every promise He's ever given because He's God.
Yes, I definitely needed this reminder today, and I'm glad He started my day out like that!!

**And just a note, I probably won't be able to blog next week due to the fact that I'll be travelling with work again. Just didn't want anybody worrying or anything!!**

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Thursday, August 09, 2007

God's Perfect Provision

Luke 12:6-7
"6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."


I've always loved these verses. Sparrows apparently weren't of much financial value to men back in the Bible days. Five of them could be sold for about two cents. Yet God has never forgotten one of them. He knows just where every single sparrow is. He provides food for each and every one.
Now you may think that's not a very big thing, but have you ever stopped to think about how many sparrows there are. I mean, there have to be millions on top of millions of them. More sparrows than even the richest man in the world could ever think about providing food for. Yet, God knows each one of them, and you know what? I haven't seen a sparrow coming up to any birdfeeders lately carrying a sign that said, "Hungry, need bird seed."
And the thing is that we mean so much more to God than any sparrow ever could. We are His children, and He has promised to take care of us. When I was little, I used to wonder why then that so many are out there starving and in want.
Then I came to realize that first off, maybe, just maybe God wants us to be His means of provision to them. That's why there are wonderful orginizations such as World Vision and Compassion International. But these orginizations can only give to those willing to accept their help.
Then I've also come to realize that in the case of some, they have chosen other things over the provision of God. In other words, some choose to use the money they receive for a bottle of alcohol or just one more hit of heroine rather than using it to buy food.
Either way, God is providing, it's just a matter of whether people choose to accept the provision. The thing is that sparrows, as created creatures with no souls or free wills do just what God intended them to do. They eat seeds, they drop seeds and they help in the process of keeping things growing.
We as humans on the other hand do have a free will. And with that free will, we can choose to follow God's perfect will and walk in His provision, or we can choose to do our own thing. Either way, we matter to God. Either way He loves us. But there is only one way where things are truly going to work out for our good.
So as you live your life today, ask yourself whether you are walking in the way that's best or in the way that's going to bring you pain.

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

He Will Save Us

Things are crazy hectic here at work, but I just had to share this verse I read this morning. It's so awesome:

Isaiah 33:22,
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us."

Isn't it awesome to know that we only have One Judge? And that Judge is perfect and just. He doesn't bend the rules for some and lay the hammer down on others. He judges each of us fairly, and He does that because He loves each and every one of us.
He is the only One who can give us a true standard to live by. He is the One perfect lawgiver because He has never broken any law. He is the only One I ever want to rule over me as King because He is perfect and holy.
The best part of this verse is that very last line. "He will save us." The same Lord who is our judge, the same Lord who gave us the law, the very same Lord who is the One true King will save us. And He will save us because He loves us.
It's amazing to think that no matter how many times I fail Him, I can still rest in the promise of His saving power. Are you resting in that power today?

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Thursday, August 02, 2007

So, the Man Said I Could Win $2500, I've At Least Gotta Try

According to this:


Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!

I could possibly win $2500, and all I had to do was put these words on my blog. And I was like, well, that's an easy $2500 if it works, so I did it! Check it out for yourself, but then that would give me more competition wouldn't it? Maybe just pretend you never saw this....

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Creative Blogger Award



Well, Dawn has graciously awarded me the Creative Blogger Award. And I always thought I didn't really have the creative gene. Who knew? Now I'm supposed to award this to 5 other creative bloggers. So in no specific order, I give you:





Diane who is one of the sweetest Christian ladies ever. I've never actually met her in real life, but I just know if I did, I'd give her a big, huge hug and tell her thanks for always offering me her support through everything!


GiBee who in all her Christian kindness offered to open her home up to me anytime I wanted to get away. This is a lady worth learning about folks! Oh, and I'm pretty sure she'd offer you a cupcake if you dropped by!


Shalee who also said that if ever I wanted to come to Kansas City, I'd have a place to lay my head. This lady is a great listening ear when you need it. She truly is a blessing!


Amydeanne because she always chooses the most inspiring verses to share on her blog. Verses that I needed so badly even when I never said anything.



Susanne because she always shows how important it is to lean on God even for the smallest things. I have gone by her blog and been convicted more than once.


And I know this is 6, but I have to mention this dear lady:


Margie who is a true picture of how God can completely rearrange a life if we leave everything in His hands. She has encouraged me over and over to keep pressing on!

Well, that's my list! I hope you will go visit these ladies and be inspired as well!

Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

From Complaining to Praising

If you guys knew me in my everyday life, you'd probably know that I complain WAY YONDER too much (and for those of you who didn't know, yes, I'm from the South.) Anyway, the words, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I'm tired of rain, I'm tired of the heat, I'm so sleepy, have too often been muttered from my lips.
A fact that I'm catching from myself so often in this pregnancy. And it is something I so want to change, not just throughout this time of my life, but for the rest of it. Because I am honestly so blessed.
So I must say to my sister that I'm sorry for making her endure my rant about the evil basement workers (who I felt at the time should be compared to nothing less than trolls for their unneccessary locking of the basement exit door). Because, I shouldn't have complained. After all, I really needed the excercise that I got from reclimbing the 40 stairs I had just descended, and the nice heart healthy walk through the 90 degree weather that I gained by having to circle the entire building due to the fact that my basement exit door was locked. And I'm really not being sarcastic. I really did need the excercise, because as my doctor says, I don't need to take the lazy way out.
I'm sure by this point you're wondering where all this is going. I promise I'm getting there. See, as I'm waking up at 2 am wondering what kind of heat trapping material my spaghetti strap pajama top and shorts are made of and who in the world had turned the heat to 200 degrees in my house, when really the optimal setting should be no higher than 50, anyway, as I'm sitting there pondering all these important matters of life and forcing myself to walk through the Sahara desert of a house to get to the bathroom (again!), I start to think of how I really need to count my blessings.
See, when I was about 8 weeks into my pregnancy, I went for my 2nd doctors appointment. Mom went with me because she's just a great mom like that. Anyway, we met this girl who was in the same boat that I'm in. Single girl, raised in a Christian home, who through a round of bad choices found herself pregnant. But the outcome of her appointment that day was so much different than mine.
See, while I was told that everything looked great and that all seemed healthy and happy, she was being told that she was losing her little one. She about 5 or 6 weeks along, and she hadn't told her parents yet because they lived out of state, and she really wanted to tell them face to face. And as scary as the thought of telling her parents was (a fact I totally identified with) it was breaking her heart to be losing that child. Despite the circumstances, she wanted that baby.
And I knew right then and there that God had allowed me to meet this girl. Because He wanted me to remember that no matter what, He makes NO mistakes, and that this baby is a blessing and a miracle. A gift to be cherished. And that through this child, He would teach me many great things.
See, God has promised to work all things for my good because He has called me(Romans 8:28). And I honestly pray that the girl I met at the doctor's office is seeing the loving hand of God working in her life in this time of sorrow. Because everytime I complain, I remember that she would trade her tears for my thousand trips to the bathroom, she would trade her pain for my prenatal hot-flashes, and her mourning for my morning (actually evening) sickness.
I am blessed beyond measure. And if I ever sound like a complainer on here, remind me of that!