Even when you think all is lost, it's not.

Boy, do I have a parallel to share. I had the most upsetting experience in a long time the other night. No, it was not life or death, even though when my children heard me crying (and such) downstairs, they both were scared to come down to see who had died. They were convinced that for mom to be that upset someone had died.  That sets the stage for my story.  I had worked and worked on a practicum notebook for my class, which was a 17 page document that I had finally finshed with everything in it ready to submit online and when I did, it encripted itself and shut down and acted like it was lost.  I fell apart. (million pieces, not pretty) You get the picture.  Well, long story short, I called my husband (from a meeting, which he had to leave and tell those with him that he had an emergency, again you get the picture of how upset I was). Well, after two hours of help from son James and husband Mike, my file was recovered. Not perfect, but I could retrieve it and piece it back together. Here is the parallel, when we think all is lost, it's not and when we think there is no hope, there is.  My life has actually come back together again after that draining night last week. When I knew all was lost, it wasn't. I'll remember that night for the rest of my life. I know there are lessons that  I am still going to get from this as I ponder the "what was that all about " side of my experience. If you're wondering do I wish I hadn't gotten that upset, Yes, I wish I hadn't, but I did and life goes on.

Once again, when I am weak, He is strong and therefore so am I.

2 Cor. 12:1-10
Well, after a lousy night of sleep, I awake this morning feeling pretty weak.  But I am so used to that, since sleeping is not my specialty (wish it were).  Anyway, if I were to have a thorn in the flesh sleeping poorly  would be mine for sure, a messenger of Satan (that's what Paul called his in 2Cor 12:7), and yes, I have prayed like Paul at least three hundred times(not just three that's for sure) and pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But just as He told Paul, I feel like the Lord tells me.  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness(vs. 9)." . . ."For when I am weak, then I am strong (vs. 10)". So once again I reread that portion of scripture this morning. It has ministered to me time and time again.

Addisyn Faith Feyer

What I focus on. . .

I read a pretty neat little article last night in Charisma about Breaking the Worry Habit by Dondi Scumasi.  It got me thinking that I know better than to worry. I know that what I meditate on and roll over and over in my head is just going to get worse in there.  That's how mole hills are turned into mountains. (Not that that is how that making a mountain out of a mole hill expression is usually used, but it applies.) Anyway,  Here's what she said in the article,  "What we focus on we feed, and what we feed grows.  When we feed our problems with worry, they become giants, and in comparison we feel small and vulnerable."  I needed to be reminded to magnify the Lord and meditate on Him.  So that my image of Him grows and not all the negative thoughts, like worry. So I plan to catch my thoughts more often and when I 'm not thinking a good one, tear it down, and say no to it and focus on the Great God that I serve. What a Mighty God He is. Able and Strong.  He holds my life in His hand and carries the loads I give Him.

Jehovah Jireh and the Great I AM

I was thinking again today,  How am I going to do it?  More of those overwhelmed feelings came over me.  Then I remembered that what Jehovah Jireh means is that He provides what I need when I need it.  So when I can't figure out how I will do a thing in the future, if He provides what  I need, He will be there to give me what I need when I get there.  He's faithful like that.  He won't abandon me.

I also thought about how He is the great  I AM and that He will be to me what I need him to be when I need Him to be it.  It's all about Him and His sufficiency and trusting Him with my life.

Now I can enjoy today, without fretting over tomorrow and the next day, etc.

Each day. . .

I was thinking today about all the times I have stressed out about all I have to do, and then when I plod along and do what each day allows, it all gets done. I marveled again today about this concept.  I had a million loose ends going into today and then finished up some stuff from the weekend and did a couple of things to prepare for this week, and before I knew it, I was reflecting on that great truth from the Bible once again, the one that says, Sufficient for the day are the troubles thereof (KJV). So why did I worry lately about all that I had to do?  I think I forgot this valuable truth that we are not to worry about tomorrow, but to take care of today, and when tomorrow comes, take care of that, and it will all work out!

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

20 years in Greenville

Thanking the Lord for His faithfulness. It was this week twenty years ago that we moved to Greenville NC to start a church. We knew God had told us to come and we came. We knew He would do it and He did. Thank you Jesus.  The journey's been a good one and its not over. Thanking Him today! He is worthy.