So yesterday, I was driving home from working for the last few days and I had my music going really loud to help me since I was so tired. I was driving my husbands car, so I did not have my SiriusXM. Which meant that I had my phone plugged in and the music I have downloaded from iTunes.
You may be wondering what is the point... I promise I am getting to it!
Well I forgot that my amazing husband sync'd all of our music, and he has Casting Crowns, which means now I do too!
You ever get to where you have heard a song so many times, but then you finally hear the words? That is what happened to me yesterday. I finally heard the lyrics and it just has been radiating in me ever since.
Here is the lyric video: https://youtu.be/tIZitK6_IMQ
During my message yesterday morning I talked about waiting on the Lord and how He is there for us through everything.
So hearing the lyrics about letting go and letting God just hold you has been hanging with me ever since.
They say "Your world is not falling apart it is falling into place..." which is something that so many of us need to hear. No matter what we are going through, no matter how hard things seem, no matter if you cannot see any way of making it out of your situation - your world is not falling apart!
Did you hear that? YOUR WORLD IS NOT FALLING APART!
God is ensuring that your world is going into place. We - as humans - may not see that.. We may be wondering what God is doing or what He is allowing this or that to happen. But remember, He can see the big picture. He planned your life before you were born - this situation is not a surprise to Him.
Sometimes we have to learn to just let go of whatever is going on and just let God hold us.
When all seems to be going wrong, go to God. Let Him hold you and take care of whatever is going on. It is not impossible.
Sincerely,
Someone who is letting God hold her even more now
Monday, May 16, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Combat Boots
Today is Thursday. Most people count down to Friday. Why? Because that is the end of most people's week... You know you can make it through the day on Friday because you will then have a couple days off before you head into the office again
Well, that's not how life goes for me. Friday is my Monday... Except my Monday only comes once a month. You may be wondering how that is... Well I promise it is not all you are thinking it is right now.
One weekend a month I grab my uniform and serve this wonderful country in the Ohio Air National Guard. I love my job, so do not think I am complaining at all. It is the life I chose.
Almost 15 years ago I raised my right hand & swore to defend this country against all enemies, both foreign & domestic. Then, 4 years later I did it again as I transferred from the Air Force into the Ohio ANG. Then 6 years later I did it again. Then a year later I did it again as an officer.
So I have made my choice and do not regret it.
However-- it is tough when everyone is counting down to Friday and I know my Friday is actually my Monday this week. But since I love my job and the people I serve with, I willingly leave my family for a few days & join another family. My extended family. My brothers & sisters who have committed their lives to this country just as I have so many times over the last 15 years of my life.
Why do I tell you all of this? I do not know for sure. I just know it was on my heart & on my mind. So I wanted to share with you. I do not serve for a thank you or for any type of recognition. I serve because it is where I am called to be for right now. When it is time for me to retire, I will do so knowing that others are coming in after me to fulfill the call to this great nation.
If there is someone in your family, a friend, a neighbor-- who you know who puts that uniform on as well, then make sure you say an extra prayer for them and their family tonight. Pray for their safety. Pray for their peace. Pray for their mental health {trust me -- mental illness is a huge issue in the military due to the type of job we have and do}. Pray that they get to see their family. Pray that their planes, ships, vehicles are all safe. Pray that their family does not have to worry.
One thing you can always do for your military is pray for them. Please do not ever forget to do that.
Sincerely,
A Girl Who Wears A Uniform And Combat Boots
Well, that's not how life goes for me. Friday is my Monday... Except my Monday only comes once a month. You may be wondering how that is... Well I promise it is not all you are thinking it is right now.
One weekend a month I grab my uniform and serve this wonderful country in the Ohio Air National Guard. I love my job, so do not think I am complaining at all. It is the life I chose.
Almost 15 years ago I raised my right hand & swore to defend this country against all enemies, both foreign & domestic. Then, 4 years later I did it again as I transferred from the Air Force into the Ohio ANG. Then 6 years later I did it again. Then a year later I did it again as an officer.
So I have made my choice and do not regret it.
However-- it is tough when everyone is counting down to Friday and I know my Friday is actually my Monday this week. But since I love my job and the people I serve with, I willingly leave my family for a few days & join another family. My extended family. My brothers & sisters who have committed their lives to this country just as I have so many times over the last 15 years of my life.
Why do I tell you all of this? I do not know for sure. I just know it was on my heart & on my mind. So I wanted to share with you. I do not serve for a thank you or for any type of recognition. I serve because it is where I am called to be for right now. When it is time for me to retire, I will do so knowing that others are coming in after me to fulfill the call to this great nation.
If there is someone in your family, a friend, a neighbor-- who you know who puts that uniform on as well, then make sure you say an extra prayer for them and their family tonight. Pray for their safety. Pray for their peace. Pray for their mental health {trust me -- mental illness is a huge issue in the military due to the type of job we have and do}. Pray that they get to see their family. Pray that their planes, ships, vehicles are all safe. Pray that their family does not have to worry.
One thing you can always do for your military is pray for them. Please do not ever forget to do that.
Sincerely,
A Girl Who Wears A Uniform And Combat Boots
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
God is Good...
Over the years there are times when I have wondered "Are you there God?" It is like the book I read as a kid... You pray, you read the Bible, you live as you are supposed to (messing up sometimes, asking forgiveness & moving on)...
But it is easy as a human to wonder if there is a reason for this. A reason to follow God & what He commanded us in His Word. I think of the saying from the movie "Gods Not Dead 2" -- "I would rather stand with God & be judges by the world than stand with the world & be judged by God!"
That is such a powerful statement. And it has been ringing through my mind since I saw the movie. Am I standing with God in all that I do? Am I really trusting Him?
Well the last 8 days have shown me just how much God loves me. Just how much He thinks of me. That I am His favorite! {Do not get upset -- you are His favorite too!! You are!}
My husband & I have been praying for years now for something. Praying. Praying. Praying. Giving our tithes. Giving offerings above our tithes. But at some points we just felt like we were not getting anywhere. Just felt like we were stuck. We were out in the wilderness alone.
But we never gave up. Never stopped praying. Never stopped believing that God had a plan. Yes it was taking longer than we wanted it to! I mean, I wanted this all done years ago. But that is not how God works. He does not do things in our timing just because that is what we want. [[I know - how unfair, right?]] He has everything planned out already.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to give you a hope & a future!"
How many times have we read that & just kept going. Thinking "well that is nice God - but what about now? What about today?"
He sees today. But He also sees tomorrow. & the next day. & the next day. He sees it. I promise.
When it is time for things to happen, He will make them happen. He will make things happen in ways that you never saw as a possibility. & that is how you will know -- without any doubt -- that it was all God! That it was not by your own might or power - but it was by God.
I had nothing to do with the recent turn of events in my family's lives... Except I trusted God. My husband trusted God. My family all prayed for us. Believed with us. & stood on the promises of God with us. & when God was ready, He made a way. He made it all fall into place. Made us just cry with thanksgiving that He thinks of us & made all this happen for us!
If He can do it for us - He can do it for you.
Since He did it for us - He will do it for you!
The only question I have for you is, do you believe? Do you trust? Can you put away all doubt & stand strong on what God says in His word?
Can you ignore the doubters & those who say God is dead... Can you overpower the voices of negativity by quoting Scripture?
I believe that your blessings are here. They are happening. You are a blessed child of God! Never give doubt any place in you heart, mind, soul.
And then watch what He will do with your faithfulness.
Sincerely,
A truly grateful child of the Almighty God
Monday, May 9, 2016
Are you going to stand?
Being someone who grew up going to church, I have heard the phrase "Trust God always" or "Trust God in everything & every situation"... If you have gone to church any number of times you have probably heard a phrase like that before too.
I think I have even preached on the subject before!
But sometimes we know something is true - we believe it with all that we are. Then, we actually get to put it to the test... Put our faith to the test. Decide if we are going to actually put all our faith & trust in God. To know that He, and He alone, can fix the problem/issue, change the final answer or work all things out in your favor.
It is not easy -- believe me -- to get to that point in your life where you are having to take a step back & fully trust that God has this problem or situation already figured out.
When your human brain is bringing in doubt, telling you opposite of what you know God is telling you, it is difficult to continue to hold onto His truths.
However, that's just what we have to do. We have to hold on. No matter what our human eyes are seeing. We have to hold on. No matter what other people say. Stand strong in His truth. Stand strong in Him. Believe the report that God has given you. Not what you feel or see. Speak the truth that God has given you, not what is happening.
Speak it into existence. Speak it as God has promised. & do not waver in your faith! Do no let the doubt creep in. Do not let the devil tell you something that goes against God's word & promises.
When your situation seems unbearable, when it seems like there is no way out, when it seems like God has forgotten you & left you to figure things out on your own... That is when you have to have faith! That is when you have to trust even more that God knows what He is doing.
Never give up. Never speak anything except what God has given you to say. Stay positive throughout your situation. Because you never know who is watching you & who is waiting to see what God will do. He is using you & others are watching. So stand strong my friend. Stand strong in God!
Sincerely,
I Needed To Hear This Myself
I think I have even preached on the subject before!
But sometimes we know something is true - we believe it with all that we are. Then, we actually get to put it to the test... Put our faith to the test. Decide if we are going to actually put all our faith & trust in God. To know that He, and He alone, can fix the problem/issue, change the final answer or work all things out in your favor.
It is not easy -- believe me -- to get to that point in your life where you are having to take a step back & fully trust that God has this problem or situation already figured out.
When your human brain is bringing in doubt, telling you opposite of what you know God is telling you, it is difficult to continue to hold onto His truths.
However, that's just what we have to do. We have to hold on. No matter what our human eyes are seeing. We have to hold on. No matter what other people say. Stand strong in His truth. Stand strong in Him. Believe the report that God has given you. Not what you feel or see. Speak the truth that God has given you, not what is happening.
Speak it into existence. Speak it as God has promised. & do not waver in your faith! Do no let the doubt creep in. Do not let the devil tell you something that goes against God's word & promises.
When your situation seems unbearable, when it seems like there is no way out, when it seems like God has forgotten you & left you to figure things out on your own... That is when you have to have faith! That is when you have to trust even more that God knows what He is doing.
Never give up. Never speak anything except what God has given you to say. Stay positive throughout your situation. Because you never know who is watching you & who is waiting to see what God will do. He is using you & others are watching. So stand strong my friend. Stand strong in God!
Sincerely,
I Needed To Hear This Myself
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Mom, you are not alone...
When you are a parent, sometimes you do not even get a second alone to think. About anything!
From what you are making for breakfast/lunch/dinner, or if you already washed your hair... Not even to remember if you made your bed or fed the dog.
Please tell me I am not alone in this.
Some days all I want is to be able to go to the bathroom without one or two kids sitting on my lap while I go! Is that really too much to ask?
When did my life go from peaceful boredom to so much stress 24/7 that I cannot even remember if I brushed my teeth today?
It is so easy for moms to loose themselves in the daily grind of what this life has become. Wiping noses. Changing diapers. Finding a paci (for the millionth time today). Making food that may or may not be eaten. Waiting until the kids go to bed to actually get to eat something yourself without little hands helping themselves to whatever is on your plate (even though the just fed the dog everything you gave to them to eat).
I have found it to be so important to take a minute to breathe! Among all the whining, crying, teething, fussing, I am sleepy but do not make me nap moments, as a mom, we need to breathe. We need to take that second to gather ourselves before we truly do go insane!
I am just being real here.
And I know I am not alone. I know I am not the only one who forgets to breathe. Forgets to remember that this too shall pass. And one day I will long for these moments back.
Please know you are not alone. You are not the only one wondering how you will survive another day (okay - maybe another minute) without someone giving you a break.
When you try to talk to another adult & your children just will not let you - remember, that other adult is not judging you. They have probably been in the same boat you are in now!
I get so embarrassed when my kids do not act like they are supposed to - but then I have to remind myself they are 2.5yrs & 1yr old... They cannot always tell me what is wrong. Maybe they do not even know themselves. They just know that at that moment they want me. Mom. Their comfort.
So take a breath mom. Lean on your comfort system (God, hubby, your mom, a friend). Just like your daughter or son needs you - you need someone to remind you to breathe & it will all be okay!
Sincerely,
Another tired, stressed, worn out, needing a shower & brushed teeth, losing her mind mom
From what you are making for breakfast/lunch/dinner, or if you already washed your hair... Not even to remember if you made your bed or fed the dog.
Please tell me I am not alone in this.
Some days all I want is to be able to go to the bathroom without one or two kids sitting on my lap while I go! Is that really too much to ask?
When did my life go from peaceful boredom to so much stress 24/7 that I cannot even remember if I brushed my teeth today?
It is so easy for moms to loose themselves in the daily grind of what this life has become. Wiping noses. Changing diapers. Finding a paci (for the millionth time today). Making food that may or may not be eaten. Waiting until the kids go to bed to actually get to eat something yourself without little hands helping themselves to whatever is on your plate (even though the just fed the dog everything you gave to them to eat).
I have found it to be so important to take a minute to breathe! Among all the whining, crying, teething, fussing, I am sleepy but do not make me nap moments, as a mom, we need to breathe. We need to take that second to gather ourselves before we truly do go insane!
I am just being real here.
And I know I am not alone. I know I am not the only one who forgets to breathe. Forgets to remember that this too shall pass. And one day I will long for these moments back.
Please know you are not alone. You are not the only one wondering how you will survive another day (okay - maybe another minute) without someone giving you a break.
When you try to talk to another adult & your children just will not let you - remember, that other adult is not judging you. They have probably been in the same boat you are in now!
I get so embarrassed when my kids do not act like they are supposed to - but then I have to remind myself they are 2.5yrs & 1yr old... They cannot always tell me what is wrong. Maybe they do not even know themselves. They just know that at that moment they want me. Mom. Their comfort.
So take a breath mom. Lean on your comfort system (God, hubby, your mom, a friend). Just like your daughter or son needs you - you need someone to remind you to breathe & it will all be okay!
Sincerely,
Another tired, stressed, worn out, needing a shower & brushed teeth, losing her mind mom
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