Trust & Certainty, Wisdom & Truth- Four Hundred Three thru Four Eleven

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:9-12


Friday, August 12th

403) Taking initiative- It is easy to see a situation that bothers or disappoints you and merely complain about it. However when you choose to stop complaining and do something to try to right the situation, you can be greatly blessed. At that point, you are no longer a victim of circumstances but the navigator of circumstances. Hopefully the Lord is the captain of your ship, but if you take initiative- when possible- you go from being tossed about on the winds and whims of life to directing your ship and navigating through life.


Saturday, August 13th

404) Trust- In what do I place my trust? In whom do I trust? Trust is not freely given; generally it must be earned. Once trust is lost, it can be a hard thing to rebuild. There are some here on earth that I trust, not because they will never hurt me or always have the right answers, but I trust them because I know they would never intentionally hurt or mislead me. I am thankful for the ability to trust them and the trust that so many of them have placed in me. Trust can transform your relationships and that is exactly what it has done for me.

There is one other that I trust, more than any of the others combined. I trust Him not because he will never intentionally hurt or mislead me, but because He will never hurt me and always has the best answers and guidance.

Some trust in the scientific method; I trust in the One who made science possible.
Some trust in mathematical equations; I trust in the Designer of math.
Some trust in government; I trust in the One who grants government their power.
Some trust in their own strength; I trust in the strength of the Almighty.


Sunday, August 14th

405) My brother (in-law)- Twelve years ago, my older sister married an enthusiastic, energetic and somewhat crazy Tennessean. At the time, it scared me a little. My sister had always been my best friend, but I knew that with marriage her time and devotion would go another direction. Not only that but I knew it meant she was going to permanently live far away from our family. Neither thought was thrilling in my mind. Twelve years later, I still think my brother-in-law is quite enthusiastic, energetic and a little crazy (but only at times) and I love him for it. His infectious spirit has added so much to our family and the past twelve years just wouldn't be the same without him. Happy Anniversary!


Monday, August 15th

406) Certainty- "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 There is so much in this life that is uncertain and as an Army family, I have found that our lives hold even more uncertainty. Sometimes it can seem like nothing is a given. At times like that, I am so grateful for my faith and the certainty it provides. Even if everything in my life is flipped on its head or comes crumbling down around my ears, I am certain about God, who He is and how much He loves me.


Tuesday, August 16th

407) Donating- At the most basic level (and thanks to my frugal disposition), I am thankful for donating because it offers a wonderful option for your gently used clothing and household goods that at the same time can benefit others. Looking at the bigger picture (because donating is not just gently used clothing and household goods), it truly is "better to give than receive." I want to use the Lord's blessings in our lives to bless others. Donating of our time, our finances and our possessions is just one of those ways.


Wednesday, August 17th

408) Truth- There are some in our society who would say that truth is relative. After all, it's all a matter of opinion and everyone has a right to their opinion. I would agree that everyone has a right to their opinion, but truth is not a matter of opinion. There is one and only one truth in this world and it has been built into us, evidenced by our sense of right and wrong, fairness and justice. We can override that which is built in us, but we cannot change the truth. Some find the truth limiting or weighty, but I have found that the truth is liberating. It doesn't free me from rules, but it lifts my spirits, comforts my soul and give me peace about the future.


Thursday, August 18th

409) A gift card- Surprise! I got our mail and what did I find..... a gift card to the wholesale store where we have always bought our daughter's diapers. It was a little gift from the store and the diaper company for our faithful patronage. I never expected anything of the like, but what a wonderful little gift to find in our mailbox.


Friday, August 19th

410) A second set of eyes- We all see things a little differently: events, opportunities, possibilities and difficulties. With the help of a second set of eyes, we often can get a better, more well-rounded understanding of whatever we are facing. I had that kind of help this week and I am so grateful for it.


Saturday, August 20th

411) Remembering wise advice- I have received a lot of good and wise advice over the years. There are a few that often come back to me and have helped me through a wide variety of events and circumstances. Two such pieces of advice readily come to mind. My parents told me both.

"Enjoy the journey." I cannot tell you how many times this simple phrase has lifted me up during hard times or re-focused my thoughts when I was burdened down with minute details.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 When I left for college, my parents also had the chance to leave me a video message which the school would play during my first week of college midterms. (All the freshmen's parents were invited to do the same.) My parents left me with this Bible verse. Obviously it's not original to them, but I have never forgotten those words as they left me hours from home as an 18 year old girl. Not only were they encouraging me to live that way, but they were living out the words themselves. No matter what I face- when life doesn't make sense or seems downright unfair- I remember this verse and my parents who shared it with me, in words and deed.

Let Your Light Shine: Three Eighty-Nine thru Four Hundred Two

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The lord will keep you from all harm-

he will watch over your life,

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121

Friday, July 29th

389) Shade- After living in humid climates for several years where the shade does not ease the oppressive heat, I have gained a stronger appreciation for shade here in Albuquerque. What an incredible difference between standing with the sun beating down upon your head and relaxing in the shade. The temperature is significantly different. Shade has allowed my family to enjoy the outdoors far more than we were able to during past summers.


Saturday, July 30th

390) Singing- How thankful I am that God gave us the ability to sing!  I love singing myself, listening as others sing- particularly when standing in the midst of a congregation singing praises to God, and hearing our little girl find her singing voice. They all brings me joy, entertainment and peace. I cannot imagine life without singing.


Sunday, July 31st

391) Clothes for our little one-I  know buying toys for children is far more fun than clothes, but we are ever so thankful to those who help us keep our little girl dressed. The older and bigger she gets, the more I am reminded of this blessing.


Monday, August 1st

392) Crock pot meals- I love my crock pot. In fact I use it frequently enough that we have two (comes in handy at Thanksgiving time). I love that I can make a wide variety of meals where the preparation takes place earlier in the day before I get busy with other things, and it doesn't add too much additional heat to our house.


Tuesday, August 2nd

393) A good end after a rough start- This morning was a rough morning for our daughter. It was one of those days where I felt like the only word I said was "no." I wondered briefly if I was just being too strict and putting too many boundaries up, but as I looked back over the various situations, I realized it wasn't me. Our daughter was just having one of those days. It was wearying and hard and settling down for nap time was no different. What a pleasure it was for me then when our little girl awoke full of smiles, laughter and obedience. The rest of our day went smoothly and it was just a reminder that "this too shall pass."


Wednesday, August 3rd

394) Others' prayers- My headaches and migraines have been giving me a great deal of trouble over the past few weeks and no amount of rest or assistance from Drew has helped. I had already decided it was time to try to get a more thorough check-up and the past weeks have only confirmed that. Needless to say, I was a bit disheartened when I called the doctor's office where I was to be referred and was told that the wait was six-seven weeks. I really didn't know if I, or my family, could make it that long if I didn't see some relief. I had told my family and friends about this delay and I knew they all were praying. What an incredible blessing to call yesterday and be told there was a cancellation and I could get in today. The timing of my call with the new opening in my doctor's schedule was far beyond coincidence, it was the answer to prayers of so many people. Thank you!


Thursday, August 4th

395) Medical Insurance- I have been very blessed to have some form of medical insurance for all but six months of my life. Don't get me wrong: I know there are lots of problems and difficulties when dealing with insurance. I remember the discussions and struggles my parents had when my Dad changed jobs, but they needed to maintain my coverage in order to insure my epilepsy wasn't classified as "pre-existing." I remember weaning myself off all my migraine medicine after college and enduring severe rebound migraines because I was without insurance and could no longer afford prescription medication. Even now we have to go through the correct hoops in just the right order- for both our insurance company and any civilian doctors- to insure any visits or procedures will be covered. Despite the hardships, the rising deductibles we have paid and all the red tape, I am still grateful for medical insurance. There is no way we could afford the medical care we have and continue to receive otherwise, and in times of crisis, insurance can make what could be an astronomical bill more manageable.


Friday, August 5th

396) Creative solutions- Sometimes necessity leads to creativity. When the easy, most obvious method just isn't readily available, I am thankful that I can think a little outside of the box and find another solution.


Saturday, August 6th

397) Our BioPark membership- A few months back, Drew and I decided to become members at the Albuquerque BioPark (which includes the zoo, aquarium, and botanical gardens). It was a wonderful decision and has given us many wonderful days of enjoyment already.


Sunday, August 7th

398) Enjoy my "job"- No I don't work outside the home, but what I do is a good 40 hour a week job all the same. Drew and I have always said that, if possible, we wanted me to be able to stay home when our child(ren) were small. We felt it was important and beneficial, so it has always been something I wanted to do. Now it's more than something I feel compelled to do, it's something I love to do. I love being able to spend time with our little girl, watching her grow, laughing with her when she is silly, and helping to mold her into a loving, respectful, obedient young person. I also enjoy the ability to try new, more time-consuming meals. They are nothing too outlandish, but it's more than I would have done when I was working outside the house. Last- and this will likely show my OCD some- I love a clean house. There is something wonderful about a spotless stainless steel faucet and the feel of freshly swept and mopped floors. I didn't always know if I would be a good person to stay home full-time and sometimes I still have my doubts. No matter what, I love what I do and you can't ask for more than that.


Monday, August 8th

399) Light- In the past thirty-six hours or so, I have heard several comments about darkness versus light. It has only reminded me just how thankful I am for light. I had never really thought about it before. I suppose it's just too much a part of our everyday life, but without light, what a chaotic and difficult life it would be. While this is true in our physical world, there is an even greater spiritual truth. The light, given to us by the Holy Spirit, has the same effect on darkness. I am grateful for everyone who has let their light shine before men, and in doing so, pointed people to Christ. Their light blazes forth in a darkened world and offers hope, peace and joy unlike anything else available in this world.


Tuesday, August 9th

400) Dust Mop- If you haven't caught on yet, I do love a clean house. For a long time, one of my biggest pet peeves was that even after sweeping and mopping, my tiled floors would still feel dirty and gritty. The broom and mop just didn't clean well enough. Then I found a dry/damp dust mop and decided to try it out. Now when I clean my floors, I walk away feeling as though the job has been completed and completed well. Yes, it adds a little more time to my cleaning, but I think the end result is worth it.


Wednesday, August 10th

401) Our daughter's blossoming sense of humor- Over the past few weeks, the word we have most frequently used to describe our daughter is silly and with good reason. She has started to intentionally say the silliest things just to get a smile or laugh. The more we react, the more she continues. It struck me that this is just the beginning of her sense of humor and it is a joy to watch.


Thursday, August 11th

402) Living unafraid- Fear can be paralyzing. I know that personally. I have an uncontrollable phobia of flying insects or any insect that resembles a flying insect. I know how this fear started, and I also know it is irrational. All the same, no matter what I tell myself, I still find myself nearly frozen in fear with a racing heart and rising body temperature thanks to a tiny bug several feet away. Other fears in this life can be far more paralyzing with a far greater impact on our lives. I have a few other fears that I regular combat: some related to my own fortitude, others related to military life and still others stemming from my people-pleasing, perfectionistic mindset. I know these fears exist because at some point or another, I have had to face them and decide "Will I allow my fears to rule my life or will I live by faith?". So far every time I have stepped out in spite of my fears, I have been blessed.

I know only one thing in life to truly be afraid of and that is living a life apart from God.