Nothing warms a mothers heart more than when her 4 year old sits down to eat and asks if she can pray. (well I should not say that nothing warms my hear more but this is pretty special) We were sitting down to eat the other night and I told her it was time to pray. She asked "mommy, can I pray?" and promptly folded her hands and closed her eyes.
She thanked God for going to Auntie and Uncl's house. She thanked Him for going to preschool and she thanked Him for going to Nana and Papa's new house in Iowa. Then she thanked Him for the food and the time with mommy. Amen.
I feel blessed to have a pretty special little girl, who probably does not know why we pray or have the basic concept of why we thank God for things but she has a foundation for her own faith. She loves going to church and listening to her worship CD's in the car.
I am one lucky mommy.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
"My Father is the gardener" John 15:1
"It is a comforting thought that trouble, in whatever form it comes to us, is a heavenly messenger that brings us something from God. Outwardly it may appear painful or even destructive, but inwardly its spiritual work produces blessings. Many of the richest blessings we have inherited are the fruit of sorrow or pain. We should never forget that redemption, the world's greatest blessing, is the fruit of the world's greatest sorrow. And whenever a time of deep pruning comes and the knife cuts deeply and the pain is severe, what an inexpressible comfort it is to know: "My Father is the gardener".
John Vincent, a Methodist Episcopal bishop of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries and a leader of the Sunday school movement in America, once told of being in a large greenhouse where clusters of luscious grapes were hanging on each side. The owner of the greenhouse told him, "When the new gardener came here, he said he would not work with the vines unless he could cut them completely down to the stalk. I allowed him to do so, and we had no grapes for two years, but this is the result."
There is rich symbolism in this account of the pruning process when applied to the Christian life. Pruning seems to be destroying the vine, and the gardener appears to be cutting everything away. Yet he sees the future and knows that the final result with be the enrichment of the life of the vine, and a greater abundance of fruit.
There are many blessings we will never receive until we are ready to pay the price of pain, for the path of suffering is the only way to reach them." J.R. Miller (from Streams in the Desert)
I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser,
for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
and ne'er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.
Enough said. Sometimes we have to be brought to the bottom before we can be built up again. This is so important to remember through tough times when we question why things are happening.
Renee
John Vincent, a Methodist Episcopal bishop of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries and a leader of the Sunday school movement in America, once told of being in a large greenhouse where clusters of luscious grapes were hanging on each side. The owner of the greenhouse told him, "When the new gardener came here, he said he would not work with the vines unless he could cut them completely down to the stalk. I allowed him to do so, and we had no grapes for two years, but this is the result."
There is rich symbolism in this account of the pruning process when applied to the Christian life. Pruning seems to be destroying the vine, and the gardener appears to be cutting everything away. Yet he sees the future and knows that the final result with be the enrichment of the life of the vine, and a greater abundance of fruit.
There are many blessings we will never receive until we are ready to pay the price of pain, for the path of suffering is the only way to reach them." J.R. Miller (from Streams in the Desert)
I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser,
for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
and ne'er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.
Enough said. Sometimes we have to be brought to the bottom before we can be built up again. This is so important to remember through tough times when we question why things are happening.
Renee
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tested and Tried
"Dear tested and tried believer, it is your mission to walk onto the stage of this world in order to reveal to all of heaven and earth that the music of life lies not in your circumstances or external things but in your own soul" (from Streams in the Desert, September 28th)
Many people have asked me how I do what I do. I am now a single mom, I work full time and I am furthering my own education. It amazes me that how often I have been told "I do not know how you do it". Truth be told- there was a time that I wondered how I was going to do it too. How was I going to carry on? How was I going to continue despite the trials I have faced? There are still days I wonder......
But then I remember God's plan is not my plan. His timing is certainly not my timing and His path that He has mapped out for me is larger than I ever would have expected or been able to comprehend with my human mind. You see, God is so much bigger than the things that happen to us. He is doing things in our lives for a purpose. We might not understand why He does things or how His plan is going to play out but I strongly believe that He is in everything- WHEN WE ALLOW HIM IN.
Sure I questioned God when everything began to fall apart. I wondered where He was and I asked why this was happening to me. Then I realized that I had two choices in life: I could run away from God and live a life lost to worldly ways. OR I could draw close to Him and praise Him in everything that I encountered. I could choose to fight and live my life in accordance with His will. And that is what I did.
I fight. I continue on with my daily life and I trust that God will work out the details for me (it is called FAITH for a reason you know). Besides "when you have the God of the universe in your corner, why would you freak out?" (Pastor Peter Haas)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" John 16:33
God never promised us that life would be easy. He tells us that we will face trouble and have trials from time to time. It is what we do in those time of trouble that matters.
Many people have asked me how I do what I do. I am now a single mom, I work full time and I am furthering my own education. It amazes me that how often I have been told "I do not know how you do it". Truth be told- there was a time that I wondered how I was going to do it too. How was I going to carry on? How was I going to continue despite the trials I have faced? There are still days I wonder......
But then I remember God's plan is not my plan. His timing is certainly not my timing and His path that He has mapped out for me is larger than I ever would have expected or been able to comprehend with my human mind. You see, God is so much bigger than the things that happen to us. He is doing things in our lives for a purpose. We might not understand why He does things or how His plan is going to play out but I strongly believe that He is in everything- WHEN WE ALLOW HIM IN.
Sure I questioned God when everything began to fall apart. I wondered where He was and I asked why this was happening to me. Then I realized that I had two choices in life: I could run away from God and live a life lost to worldly ways. OR I could draw close to Him and praise Him in everything that I encountered. I could choose to fight and live my life in accordance with His will. And that is what I did.
I fight. I continue on with my daily life and I trust that God will work out the details for me (it is called FAITH for a reason you know). Besides "when you have the God of the universe in your corner, why would you freak out?" (Pastor Peter Haas)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" John 16:33
God never promised us that life would be easy. He tells us that we will face trouble and have trials from time to time. It is what we do in those time of trouble that matters.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Do not ask for an easier life
For anyone who has gone through difficult times there is usually one person that God sends your way to encourage you, to listen and to help you make sense of the world. This person that has been sent to me is my friend Erin. We are going through different but both very difficult situations almost simultaneously. One night we were talking after going to a friend's birthday/bonfire. It was a Friday night and we left the party late but then we talked forever, which seems to come naturally for us! Even after I got home, I got an overwhelming feeling that I needed to open my devotional book, despite my extreme urge to go straight to bed. I listened because I thought this might be a good lesson for me, and it turned out to be just the thing I needed to hear based on the discussion we were having earlier that night. The following is the devotional from August 3rd in the book Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman.
"Never pray for an easier life - pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power - pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle - YOU will be the miracle. Phillips Brooks
We must remember that Christ will not lead us to greatness through an easy or self-indulgent life. An easy life does not lift us up but only takes us down. Heaven is always above us, and we must continually be looking toward it.
Some people always avoid doing things that are costly, or things that require self-denial, self-restraint, and self-sacrifice. Yet it is hard work and difficulties that ultimately lead us to greatness, for greatness is not found by walking the moss-covered path laid out for us through the meadow. It is found by being sent to carve out our own path with our own hands.
Are you willing to sacrifice to reach the glorious mountain peaks of God's purpose for you?"
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to life.
Shun not the struggle; face it.
It's God's gift.
Be strong!
Say not the days are evil- who's to blame?
Or fold your hands, as in defeat- O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely,
In God's name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long,
Faint not, fight on!
Tomorrow comes the song.
Maltbie D. Babcock
Whatever it is that you are going through, remember not to ask God to take the trials from your life. We must trudge through and give Him praise for the trials we face. This was something that I never really understood until I came upon May 27, 2008. I can even date my trials, how is that for precision? While I can date it and I can remember details that no one should ever have to bear in their lifetimes, it has also turned my life into what it is today. God is there and God is good. He will provide but we must be patient for His timing. Unfortunately many of us have problems with the patience aspect. That is why faith is so important.
Renee
"Never pray for an easier life - pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power - pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle - YOU will be the miracle. Phillips Brooks
We must remember that Christ will not lead us to greatness through an easy or self-indulgent life. An easy life does not lift us up but only takes us down. Heaven is always above us, and we must continually be looking toward it.
Some people always avoid doing things that are costly, or things that require self-denial, self-restraint, and self-sacrifice. Yet it is hard work and difficulties that ultimately lead us to greatness, for greatness is not found by walking the moss-covered path laid out for us through the meadow. It is found by being sent to carve out our own path with our own hands.
Are you willing to sacrifice to reach the glorious mountain peaks of God's purpose for you?"
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to life.
Shun not the struggle; face it.
It's God's gift.
Be strong!
Say not the days are evil- who's to blame?
Or fold your hands, as in defeat- O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely,
In God's name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long,
Faint not, fight on!
Tomorrow comes the song.
Maltbie D. Babcock
Whatever it is that you are going through, remember not to ask God to take the trials from your life. We must trudge through and give Him praise for the trials we face. This was something that I never really understood until I came upon May 27, 2008. I can even date my trials, how is that for precision? While I can date it and I can remember details that no one should ever have to bear in their lifetimes, it has also turned my life into what it is today. God is there and God is good. He will provide but we must be patient for His timing. Unfortunately many of us have problems with the patience aspect. That is why faith is so important.
Renee
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Something's Gotta Give
So plans change. I have learned to live with that over the course of the past few years. I have learned that when people promise something or say they can do something- yeah, it is not guaranteed to happen. Most of all, I have learned that you cannot. trust. anyone.
yes, humans fail you. they fail you all the time and if you are not careful you will be hurt.
It just seems like at some point in my life something has to start getting better right? I know that God has a plan and so many people like to keep reminding me of this as well as the fact that in His time it will happen. The thing is that I am tired. I feel like everywhere I turn I get punched in the face and pushed over. I feel like everytime I have something figured out, something is bound to ruin it. I look at some people around me and do not get me wrong, I know that we all have our baggage and for many people, things always seem to be great on the outside because as humans we are too proud to admit when we are struggling with something. As Christians we are supposed to be perfect.... or are we?
I am not dumb and I do realize that those around me have their own set of struggles. But I also wonder if they realize how lucky they are. I feel like I have been dealt my own hand of bad cards for my life. I know others who are also in the "my life is certainly not where I want it to be" category. But what about those that are in that category and are able to live out their dreams? What about the ones who are happily married with children, no debt and are able to stay home to raise their kids? Well this is certainly not me. I just wonder if people realize how lucky they are. In a moment it can be taken away.
I just hope and pray that I finally someday before I die get my break. I hope I am able to live out my life. Being that I am almost 30 and in the position I am in, I doubt it but I can hope can't I?
Renee
yes, humans fail you. they fail you all the time and if you are not careful you will be hurt.
It just seems like at some point in my life something has to start getting better right? I know that God has a plan and so many people like to keep reminding me of this as well as the fact that in His time it will happen. The thing is that I am tired. I feel like everywhere I turn I get punched in the face and pushed over. I feel like everytime I have something figured out, something is bound to ruin it. I look at some people around me and do not get me wrong, I know that we all have our baggage and for many people, things always seem to be great on the outside because as humans we are too proud to admit when we are struggling with something. As Christians we are supposed to be perfect.... or are we?
I am not dumb and I do realize that those around me have their own set of struggles. But I also wonder if they realize how lucky they are. I feel like I have been dealt my own hand of bad cards for my life. I know others who are also in the "my life is certainly not where I want it to be" category. But what about those that are in that category and are able to live out their dreams? What about the ones who are happily married with children, no debt and are able to stay home to raise their kids? Well this is certainly not me. I just wonder if people realize how lucky they are. In a moment it can be taken away.
I just hope and pray that I finally someday before I die get my break. I hope I am able to live out my life. Being that I am almost 30 and in the position I am in, I doubt it but I can hope can't I?
Renee
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
You just never know
You think that you have your life figured out.
You think that you will live happily ever after.
You think that those promises that are spoken to you are forever.....
And then the hard reality hits you and you realize that this is far from the truth. Those dreams are gone, the happy thoughts are crushed and the dreams are pulled out from under you. Where do you begin to rebuild a life that once seemed so happy but has turned into a nightmare right in front of your very eyes? What do you do when that one person has moved on and left you in the dust without thinking of how their actions have selfishly affected those around them?
Sure sometimes it seems like a great thing would be to retaliate, to yell and throw a fit and place blame on the person that has put you in this position in the first place. When I think more about this, one of the above would not accomplish anything nor would it make anything better in the long run.
James 1:2-4 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
Someone asked me once what this verse meant to me. I was not sure. Why should I be happy that I was suffering? Why should I have joy that I was facing the most difficult times in my life? My world had turned upside down and I was supposed to be happy? Yeah. Right.
As time has gone on I have finally discovered the real meaning behind this verse. When you think your world is gone and that life could not get worse, you have two choices. You can either give up and let the world win. Or you could fight back. You can turn to God to help you through one of the most difficult situations you have ever faced. As a believer, we are tested from time to time. Some of us more than others yes but we all face trials in our lives. The above two choices are the paths we must face in our walk with Him. We can walk away or we can cling to God for help. When we have those difficult moments and we choose to walk in faith, we are strengthening our walk. We are getting close to God while gaining strength with each passing day and learning to persevere through those hard times in our lives. This perseverance allows us to become complete and move on in life.
While the road has not been easy nor will it be from here on, I have chosen to fight. I chose to follow and cling to my faith. I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned a lot about others. I have learned a lot about the power of deceit and how it can bring you down. I have also learned about the power and love that God has for His children. He loves us more than we know, even in the tough times when we are wondering why we cannot see Him. Those are the times that he is the closest to us but is just waiting for us to reach out.... to touch Him.... to claim that we are His children and ask for help.
I have my ups and downs. I have my good days and my bad days. The thing is that I have already walked through some of the deepest, darkest days of my life. How much lower can things get?
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
A friend recently said that the word plans is plural. God does not just choose one path for our life. He has many and will see us through to the end. This kind of love is never ending and the kind that sounds pretty good when you have lost what you thought was the best thing in the world. Turns out that nothing compares to the love of our Heavenly Father.
I am not saying I am perfectly fine. I am not saying that life will continue without disruption. Certainly I am hurt and my level of trust has been severely compromised. It may take a while but I do hope to find that one person that I was really meant to be with instead of lied to for years before discovering the real truth behind his actions and words. Do I regret? No. I have learned a lot about myself and I gained a beautiful daughter in the process. I may not be the best mom but she is a blessing I will never take for granted. This is just the beginning for me. I have the chance to start over and live my life. You better believe I am going to take it.
Blessings,
Renee
You think that you will live happily ever after.
You think that those promises that are spoken to you are forever.....
And then the hard reality hits you and you realize that this is far from the truth. Those dreams are gone, the happy thoughts are crushed and the dreams are pulled out from under you. Where do you begin to rebuild a life that once seemed so happy but has turned into a nightmare right in front of your very eyes? What do you do when that one person has moved on and left you in the dust without thinking of how their actions have selfishly affected those around them?
Sure sometimes it seems like a great thing would be to retaliate, to yell and throw a fit and place blame on the person that has put you in this position in the first place. When I think more about this, one of the above would not accomplish anything nor would it make anything better in the long run.
James 1:2-4 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
Someone asked me once what this verse meant to me. I was not sure. Why should I be happy that I was suffering? Why should I have joy that I was facing the most difficult times in my life? My world had turned upside down and I was supposed to be happy? Yeah. Right.
As time has gone on I have finally discovered the real meaning behind this verse. When you think your world is gone and that life could not get worse, you have two choices. You can either give up and let the world win. Or you could fight back. You can turn to God to help you through one of the most difficult situations you have ever faced. As a believer, we are tested from time to time. Some of us more than others yes but we all face trials in our lives. The above two choices are the paths we must face in our walk with Him. We can walk away or we can cling to God for help. When we have those difficult moments and we choose to walk in faith, we are strengthening our walk. We are getting close to God while gaining strength with each passing day and learning to persevere through those hard times in our lives. This perseverance allows us to become complete and move on in life.
While the road has not been easy nor will it be from here on, I have chosen to fight. I chose to follow and cling to my faith. I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned a lot about others. I have learned a lot about the power of deceit and how it can bring you down. I have also learned about the power and love that God has for His children. He loves us more than we know, even in the tough times when we are wondering why we cannot see Him. Those are the times that he is the closest to us but is just waiting for us to reach out.... to touch Him.... to claim that we are His children and ask for help.
I have my ups and downs. I have my good days and my bad days. The thing is that I have already walked through some of the deepest, darkest days of my life. How much lower can things get?
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
A friend recently said that the word plans is plural. God does not just choose one path for our life. He has many and will see us through to the end. This kind of love is never ending and the kind that sounds pretty good when you have lost what you thought was the best thing in the world. Turns out that nothing compares to the love of our Heavenly Father.
I am not saying I am perfectly fine. I am not saying that life will continue without disruption. Certainly I am hurt and my level of trust has been severely compromised. It may take a while but I do hope to find that one person that I was really meant to be with instead of lied to for years before discovering the real truth behind his actions and words. Do I regret? No. I have learned a lot about myself and I gained a beautiful daughter in the process. I may not be the best mom but she is a blessing I will never take for granted. This is just the beginning for me. I have the chance to start over and live my life. You better believe I am going to take it.
Blessings,
Renee
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Blah
Yeah, pretty sure that sums up my mood lately. Just BLAH. Everything just seems to be coming to a head at this moment. Things should be great. I am on a break from school, I am not working for the summer, I am able to spend time with my kiddo. but for some reason things do not seem so great. Maybe it is because my parents are moving? I love that they are... I am so happy for them and that they are able to have this amazing opportunity. I just never realized how great I had it and how spoiled I was when I could just ask my parents to take my little for the evening. This is all going to change now and will affect me much more than I ever before realized.
Also I think I never really processed through the crap. I was so busy before that I just never took the time to realize what happened in my life. Sure I will be fine but the nasty feeling of having to work through it kind of sucks.
I will be fine and I will work through the change that is coming but it will be a transition. All the change at the same time may be just a little too overwhelming for me I guess.
Also I think I never really processed through the crap. I was so busy before that I just never took the time to realize what happened in my life. Sure I will be fine but the nasty feeling of having to work through it kind of sucks.
I will be fine and I will work through the change that is coming but it will be a transition. All the change at the same time may be just a little too overwhelming for me I guess.
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