hair for Sarah

This evening I am donating my hair for Sarah Gardner, for her full story click on the caring bridge link on the right hand side of this page. While I have only met Sarah a handful of times, I know her sister well.  Sarah's story is very compelling. In a nutshell, she survived brain cancer, with permission from her doctors, got pregnant, cancer recurred, delivered a very premature baby, who is doing well, while Sarah continues to fight.  They are both at home but need continued prayers for health and healing. 
God is good and I know that He can heal Sarah and that is my prayer.

ask, seek, knock

God wants to be involved in your life. It's crazy to think about, but He really does want to have a personal relationship with you, not just "lay down the law."  He wants to love you and bless you yes but even more than that he wants to be a father to you-have a relationship with you.  Amazing.

Mt. 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

the widow's offering

I don't know why this story from Mark 12 came to mind today:

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Tithing is good and right, but sometimes we are called to give sacrificially of our money, time and effort. Consider how God wants to use you today.

happy birthday

I am so blessed with friends and family and a loving savior. For me, birthdays are good days to remember what God has done and also to take an honest look at where I still need to grow in order to be more like Jesus. I also love to celebrate with loved ones w/gifts, cake, and ice cream ... and if it is ice cream cake, that's even better.
What are some of your birthday traditions?

PS. 139:13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14a. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Corporate worship

At church last night, we took time to make declaration to God about who He is. It is good to declare aloud the truth about God privately and publicly. Worshiping together bolsters the spirit within and helps you see and know more aspects of God than you can see and know on your own.

Psalm 7:17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Praises for the little things

It is often easy for me to think of the "big" things to praise God for: health, family, friend...but when I start looking around there are thousands of 'little" things that I often forget to mention: the moon filtering through the bedroom window at present, the baby loving her peas, the fact that I didn't wake up even once last night, that I now have followers to this little blog.  God is good in all things, I'm trying to make it a practice to notice it.

Ecc. 11: 7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

fellowship with others

It is vital to your relationship with God to be in fellowship with other believers. The triune God is all about relationship at his very core. Make time to actively participate with those in your church, seek out opportunities to love and serve those around you. 

1 John 4: 7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

encouraging others

Surely you know someone in a hard place, whether their trouble be financial, physical or emotional, take a few minutes to give them a call - just to let them know they have a friend who cares. Your encouragement may mean life to your friend or brother/sister.

Gal. 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

Getting away

Jesus often left the crowd and even his disciples to seek out a place of solitude in order to meet with his father. If you can, seclude yourself as frequently as possible to meet with the Lord.

Being an example

Our lives are on display to those around us, and we are examples whether we realize it or not especially to children and those that look up to us. Make sure your life is one worth following.

1 Tim.1:13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Nothing but the truth

Prov. 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Sometimes it is very hard to speak the truth in love to a friend, but it is worth the risk in the end to stand against the crowd of yeahs to offer a nay or vice-versa. Who knows maybe your comments will at least cause an honest discussion to ensue.

Prov. 27:: 9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Participation

God is not looking for merely lip service, He wants your very life, your time and energy devoted to serving His purposes.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Living Simply

Currently, we are trying to sell our home, so most of our belongings are packed in the garage. It is amazing that I don't miss half of what is out there in my day to day schedule.  While packing, I made some donations, (how many t's do you need-really?) and I'm thinking about letting go of more.

Shhhhhh

Taking time to be silent before the Lord is just as important as bending His ear. It is refreshing to turn off all the "noise" in the house and in my head to take a few minutes just focus on God, His holiness, His goodness, and His mercy.

Zephaniah 1:7 "Be silent before the Lord God!"

Worship

I was having trouble fitting worship into my day until I made a play list of worship songs to listen to while I walk on the treadmill.  I enjoy walking more as a result. God is amazing and deserves all our praise.

Ps. 70:4 May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”

A Thankful Heart

It is easy for me to think that I deserve things in life and grab for them like a kid in the candy store, but it is much more rewarding to express thanks to God for his abundant blessings. He is so generous, and when my eyes are focused on Him instead of self, gratitude overflows.

Daily Devotion

I take time each day to read God's word, how can I know His voice if I don't give attention to His word.  There are many daily reading plans on-line and one plan that I sometimes do is to read a proverb a day for a month.

Grandparents Day

If your grandparents are still living take time to bless them with a visit, call, card or letter...it will bless them so much. If they are not, take time to reflect on how they influenced your life and how you can even honor them now.

Starting the day

I've been starting each day with prayer...it is amazing how this simple step can make a world of difference to my day.