Grateful for Small Things

Today is a catch up day for me. I would like to be working on my writing project, but right now so many things are demanding my attention. With leaving in less than a week, there are many things on the 'to do' list. I am extremely grateful that I didn't need to drive my son to work today, or pick him up. This allows me almost three extra hours to be home and get more things accomplished. What a blessing!

For most people, not having to drive a son to work, would be a very small thing. But for me, it is something that I am very grateful for! In the past two months, I think I have had to drive my son each week. So, I praise God when he is able to catch a ride, and I don't need to do the driving! :)


I am slowly working through the things that need to get accomplished, before we leave for the homeschool fair and then Florida. I still have 1/2 book to read and write a review for, before this Monday. I am thankful that I have worked through the other book and booklet and those reviews are already written, and are just waiting to be posted on my blog on Monday.

Yesterday I was able to finally get a good handle on what curriculum I need to pick up at the homeschool fair, for my son's schooling next year. I still need to complete (alright - start) the paperwork needed to submit for his homeschool evaluation. That one will take a while to do.

I also have a writing assignment that is demanding my attention. I need to crack open the book and get started on that as well. I am eager to get started on this, but feel I need to take care of the most pressing things first. I guess in the process of all this busyness, I am learning how to better manage my time.

So I guess, no deep spiritual thoughts for today, other than to take time to be grateful for the little things in your day! Blessings to you!

Wisdom

"Teach us to number our days aright,
       that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

This will be a short post, since I still am experiencing difficulty with my left eye. The pain remains as well as blurriness. I perhaps have been doing too much reading and time on the computer, so I'll keep this short.

This Bible verse keeps playing through my mind. Somehow lately, my schedule has gotten incredibly busy. I know that it is just a cycle that I am going through, and hopefully won't last overly long. But in some ways, it has been a good thing.

I have some new endeavors that I am branching out into doing. It's an area where I debated whether I should do it or not, because I know of the amount of time it will require. It may mean having to say 'no' to some good things in my life, in favor of the 'best.'

This verse helps me realize that I need God's wisdom to order my days. Only He knows what I can handle each day. My being busy right now also is helpful. I'm able to see what I can handle, and also when I realize I have taken on too much. It is helping to teach me to better balance things. I pray in the process I will develop that heart of wisdom that only God gives.

Slow Fade

It's been a crazy few days, and the next several weeks will also be incredibly busy. We are in the midst of finishing up my son's 10th grade school year - only seven more days to go!! The end of a school year is always busy. We are playing catch up here at the end, making sure we have all of his requirements accomplished before we finish.

Then there is all the paperwork to prepare...a portfolio of all of his school work. He also will need to be evaluated, which is set up for the end of May. Two weeks prior to this appointment, I need to send paperwork, credits, and writing samples to his evaluator. Only problem is, that is the week we will be in Florida, picking up our oldest son from college. Which means, the paperwork has to be emailed by next week.

Also next week, I have two books and a booklet that I need to write a book review and post on various sites. That means this week is busy with trying to get those books read. Then there is the chapters to read, and Bible study to prepare for next week too. In between there I have several appointments, and a writing assignment to complete, as well as a doctor visit.

I haven't even mentioned that we need to pack for our trip.... Right before we leave for the trip, we will be out of town, attending our state's Homeschool Fair for two days. Immediately following this, on Mother's Day we'll be starting our journey to Florida. We'll be traveling on Mother's Day, my birthday, and at least a couple more days after that as well.

Whew! I'm getting tired, just writing about all of this! :) Then there is the potential visit with the in-laws on the trip home. We have a time restraint that we are dealing with as well, since that weekend we are to be getting a new roof put on our house.....

I'm sure I have missed some things that will also be squeezed into these days. I know my husband has physical therapy. I don't know if I will have other doctor visits to schedule for my foot. Then once we return, my husband will be having a procedure to hopefully help with some of his pain.

Today I am trying to get caught up with laundry, and really need to look at some of my son's school work. But for some reason, the past week or so I have been very exhausted. I also have been dealing with headaches almost every day. I don't know if it is allergy related or what. Perhaps it is just too many things that are going on in my life right now. I don't know. I had hoped to get caught up with some things today, but am not sure if that will happen or not.

This morning I had my second laser procedure on my eyes, so now I'm dealing with blurred vision, slightly swelled eye, and some pain. I do hope to get the laundry accomplished, but this afternoon might find me crawling in bed to try and catch up on some rest. In fact, I could go right now......

After I had the eye procedure this morning, that will hopefully open up the channel in my eyes to allow the fluids in the eyes to drain better, which should hopefully alleviate some of the pressure, I was driving home with a very blurry left eye. The concern is that the longer you have elevated pressure, the more likely it is that I will develop glaucoma. I already am on drops to try and help with the pressure. I know that glaucoma can slowly creep up on you - you gradually start to lose peripheral vision. Once it is lost, you won't get it back, hence the concern to try and get things under control.

While carefully driving, a song came on the radio by Casting Crowns called Slow Fade. I believe this song was also in the movie Fireproof. I have heard it many times before, but was struck by the words of the chorus:

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

These words are appropriate for many circumstances in our lives. I first thought of my eyes in that my vision could start to fade without me realizing it. It's scary to think that I could lose some of my field of vision, which can't be returned.

But then I thought of other areas in my life as well. I can become so busy, that I allow things to crowd out my time with the Lord, or things that I should be doing. I think as Christians, each day we need to take it before the Lord, and ask for His help with our schedule.

I pray that my relationship with the Lord will remain red hot coals, and not slowly fade to dying embers. May I not give into that trap of slowly fading, but to eagerly desire each day to be in the Lord's presence. May I be careful with how I order my days.

Sticking to the Path Set Before Me..... and Reminder

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21

There are times in your life when you can see clearly the path that God has set before you, and other times when things are a bit murky. Perhaps the water is muddied by indecision, or conflict, causing you to question the path to take. Maybe you know the path, but are unsure, fearful of what lies ahead of you.

I feel that God has set me on a new and different path. It's exciting and at times unsettling, but I know beyond a shadow of doubt, that it is where God is leading me. There are times when Satan does his best to confuse or ensnare me. Just when things seem to be progressing smoothly, he throws a wrench into the works. I cling and rely on God's faithfulness, to not give me more than I can handle with His help.

I choose to walk on the path that God has set before me. At times my feet are shaky and uncertain, but I rely on His direction in my life. He has created me for a purpose and I need to follow and seek it wholeheartedly. 


Reminder: Sign up for the book giveaway for your opportunity to win a free book.
Leave a comment on my book giveaway post.
Drawing to be held May 3rd. 
 

Joy and Laughter

"Our mouths were filled with laughter,
       our tongues with songs of joy.
       Then it was said among the nations,
       "The LORD has done great things for them."

 The LORD has done great things for us,
       and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:2-3

"A time to weep and a time to laugh,
       a time to mourn and a time to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:4 


Last evening I had two hours of joy and laughter. My Bible study girls met at the high school track to walk together. We paired up as we exercised, and shared what had been happening in our lives. It was an opportunity for our hearts to connect. Our walk was only limited by my foot beginning to protest that it was at it's limit of exercise for the evening.

We then proceeded to our local Rita's for a cold refreshment. Since it was a little chilly, we sat in the car and chatted and laughed. We were laughing so hard, that we steamed up the windows of the car. I know that I haven't laughed as much as that, since the last time we had a fellowship time together. My cheeks were sore when I got home. They had a real workout. :)

When I came home from our evening of sharing, my heart was filled to overflowing. I found the verses in Psalm and thought about how they described the way I was feeling. I also like the verse from Ecclesiastes. If you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 you will learn about there being a 'Time for Everything.'

I have had a long time of weeping and mourning, and now feel I'm in a season of laughter and dancing. There still are times when Satan tries to stir things up, and to get me discouraged. However, I am choosing the time of rejoicing and drawing close to God. I praise Him for the gift of joy and laughter and fellowship.

What's On Your Resume?

"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." Isaiah 43:1b

Yesterday I had to do something that I don't know that I have ever had to do before - write a resume. It took me a while to figure out what to include from my vast experience. Cough. Cough. All right, not so much actual job experience.

I came up with some of the following: blogger for almost three years; book reviewer for almost six months; feature columnist for 1 1/2 years; and home educator for fourteen years. In the career world, that probably doesn't amount to very much.

How do you include being a mother for over nineteen years? Being with your spouse through many ups and downs of 22+ years of marriage. Losing a parent through death, experiencing a miscarriage. Being alone in a foreign country with no support while going through these deaths, and our nation was at war. Experiencing the trauma of a son with a fractured spleen, and a husband with a broken pelvis.

All right, some of those were the hard things of life, but what about the joys as well? Times like when I married my best friend. The joy we experienced with the birth of our two sons, and the joy when they both came to salvation. The blessing of obtaining our first home, where we still live. The excitement of going on two mission trips. The joy of each day learning what God has for me.

I know that the things actually on my paper resume are not too impressive. But on the resume of life, you will see a woman that is called by God, and He says that I am special. No matter what I hear back from the job possibility, I know that I have found favor with my Heavenly father, and that is most important to me.

Book Giveaway

I have been given an extra copy of David Platt's book Radical - Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream. If you are interested in reading more about this book check this out.
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422217

I will be reviewing this book during the week of May 3-7.

Leave a comment concerning your thoughts of what it means to live a radical life for God. A winner will be picked on May 3rd.

Open Eyes

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." Psalm 119:18

I purposely chose the color green for the verse written above. It was close to the color of light that I saw during a laser procedure to my right eye this morning. Ever since I have had my eyes tested back in November, I have been struggling with ocular hypertension. This means that I have elevated pressure in my eyes. Not a great condition to have, since prolonged time of having it can cause glaucoma, which untreated, causes blindness.

I have been on eye drops each night for quite some time. Last week I had a check-up to see how the pressure was doing. Even with being on drops, the pressure is higher than the doctor would like. So she decided to perform a laser procedure that should hopefully help to alleviate some of this pressure.

I was told it would be relatively painless. I had a lens placed in front of my eye, so I wouldn't be able to blink throughout the procedure. Then I had 100 pin pricks of laser  light in my eye. It was painful, but not unbearable. I could feel the tears rolling down my face during it. After the doctor was finished, my vision was blurry in my right eye. I was told it would take a few minutes to clear. It actually was about 20-30 minutes.

Next Tuesday, I get to go through the whole process again, but this time to the left eye, all in the attempt to help reduce the pressure in my eyes. Hopefully the pain will be worth the gain. I guess only time will tell.

I didn't enjoy having to go through this procedure, but it made me think of the importance of keeping my eyes wide open each day. I want to see the things that God places in my path. Sometimes it may be a word of encouragement from a friend, a smile, or some other subtle way that God uses to inspire us. God used my devotion time this morning to speak His words of encouragement to me in regard to a decision I am facing. I know it wasn't a coincidence, but instead something God ordained.

May my eyes be open each day to see what He has for me.

Refresher Course

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

This verse was the scripture theme for the sermon I heard this morning in my church. The guest speaker entitled the sermon, "How to Untie the Nots In Our Life." He then pointed out the four 'nots' that were in this Bible verse. I found his message very poignant and meaningful.

I was thinking about the opportunities you may have to take a refresher course on something you already have learned. Perhaps you want to re-certify in CPR. You need to restudy the information and be tested to make sure you remember how to save someone's life. Sometimes it costs money for the refresher course, but sometimes it is free. It still will require you to set aside time from your schedule to delve into the material.

As I sat in church this morning, I was burdened and heavy ladened. I had felt that way since last evening, and it continued through the church service, until God gave me my own refresher course. While the speaker talked about the nots, I was reminded of the lesson that God taught me through my month long spiritual retreat in February.

I remembered the freedom I have to choose. Even though I was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by a situation, God reminded me that I didn't need to stay in that camp. I could choose to continue to carry the load and be burdened by it, or I could choose to put it on His ample shoulders and allow Him to haul it for me.

In that one instant, He brought my troubles into complete clarity. Do I want to carry it alone and have it affect my health? Or do I want to give it to Him, and allow Him to carry me instead? Hmm..not much of a choice there. I immediately placed the burden in His capable hands and felt His peace. I choose this day to rest in Him!

Raining Pink Petals

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
       let the distant shores rejoice. Psalm 97:1

As I look out my window, pink petals are raining down upon the grass. The breeze is slightly blowing, causing our Japanese cherry petals to float to the earth below. Spring has hit early in PA this year. We have had many things bud and bloom, much earlier than normal. Our tree usually is not in full blossom until around the first week of May.

My favorite scene every Spring is waiting to see our cherry tree. The tree has grown quite large and is usually loaded with blossoms. I get such a pleasure and joy out of seeing it each year.

While enjoying it today, I also expressed some sadness with seeing the petals covering the ground. The beauty of the tree will not last much longer. This caused me to think about my life as a Christian. I allow the Lord to reign in my life and be in charge of it. There are times that I can take back that control, and try to rule things, thinking I know what is best. When I do that, I always learn the hard way, that things are optimum when I choose to give up my right to control, and hand it over to the Lord.

I pray that each Spring as I see the pink petals carpeting the ground, I will be reminded of the need to let the Lord completely reign in my life. Only He knows what the future holds, and what is best for me. I can trust Him to hand sift my life, allowing things into it that will help me to grow and be more like Him.