"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."
~Psalm 20:7
When you give God the opportunity to do something big completely for His glory, it is so fun to sit back in anticipation to see His hand at work. What a blessing He has given our family! We are so blessed to be close to our parents and most of our siblings. We are blessed to love and enjoy the work we do. So, asking more than that of God seemed a little tough.
But, boy did God come through. We have been working toward getting out of debt. With a little help from Uncle Sam this year and some extra income from doing a little extra work, we have cut our debt in half in the last two months. What an answer to prayer!
God says that He provides for our needs. He didn't have to give us money. We wanted to get out of debt. But I believe that it is only because we sought His will for the situation and desired to give Him the fame for it that He answered our prayer in such a powerful way. At this rate, we will have everything but the house completely paid off in no more than 18 months (and even less if God so desires). What a mighty God we serve!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Buzzing Around
Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
The bee is more honored than other animals,
Not because she labors,
Not because she labors for others.
But because she finds it sweet
To labor in the business
That her Maker has given her.
You can't enjoy the sweet things God
placed in your life
Until you replace busy-ness
with bee-ing with God. ~Debra Burton
I love the bee. Perhaps it is because the bee is so industrious. Or maybe it is because it seems as though the bee has a full grasp on its specific purpose in life. The bee does not make much honey, but she goes about making the little very often to avail much honey. That kind of clarity seems to be lacking in my life. That sense of discipline seems to be waining in my day-to-day schedule. However, I never seem to lack in the busyness that the bee is famous for.
I have had to look at my life and evaluate what is good and what is best. I find that if I toil in what is good, I grow very tired. I revel in the fact that if I truly seek out what is best and only give my time to that, I am energized and at peace at the end of my day. I suppose that is when I press into God for His strength to complete only the tasks that He has prepared for me and use the strength that only comes from Him. I suppose that is when I most want to be a bee. I want to be able to complete what is impossible by worldly standards to achieve and gives God the most glory in my life.
The bee is more honored than other animals,
Not because she labors,
Not because she labors for others.
But because she finds it sweet
To labor in the business
That her Maker has given her.
You can't enjoy the sweet things God
placed in your life
Until you replace busy-ness
with bee-ing with God. ~Debra Burton
I love the bee. Perhaps it is because the bee is so industrious. Or maybe it is because it seems as though the bee has a full grasp on its specific purpose in life. The bee does not make much honey, but she goes about making the little very often to avail much honey. That kind of clarity seems to be lacking in my life. That sense of discipline seems to be waining in my day-to-day schedule. However, I never seem to lack in the busyness that the bee is famous for.
I have had to look at my life and evaluate what is good and what is best. I find that if I toil in what is good, I grow very tired. I revel in the fact that if I truly seek out what is best and only give my time to that, I am energized and at peace at the end of my day. I suppose that is when I press into God for His strength to complete only the tasks that He has prepared for me and use the strength that only comes from Him. I suppose that is when I most want to be a bee. I want to be able to complete what is impossible by worldly standards to achieve and gives God the most glory in my life.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
A Quiet Moment, but That's All I Get.....
Isaiah 26:2-4
Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Investments for a Lifetime
No, no....this is not some outrageous dissertation on the power of an IRA or long-term earnings ratios made simple. I recommend listening to Dave Ramsey for better financial advice. Although, when we talk about investing, it is funny how tied we are to the idea of money.
Nathan has been tirelessly working a couple of jobs that will add some great financial benefit to our family. As with anything, work always comes feast or famine. We decided as a family to make an investment in our future by doing a little more work now, paying off some of our debt now, so that long-term we will have a little more financial benefit and happier family dynamic later down the road. Sound crazy or familiar?
To date, I think that this plan is working for several reasons. First, it is a SHORT-TERM plan. We cannot sustain this pace for more than a couple of months. Second, because we believe that this work came from us seeking God's will and being diligent to take care of what He gives us. We want to be smart with our finances and have begged Him to show us how to multiply our efforts to multiply His money for His service (reference my previous blog on asking God for big things in "Calling Indiana Jones"). And finally, this is working because we are still making some important investments.
Our family time and our couple time is still so important. If we are not investing in each other, we are building our bank somewhere else. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) I believe that this applies to our time, our loyalties, and our money. Nathan and I determine to be set apart from how the world does marriage or family time, and make an investment in us and in our kids that will pay dividends for years to come. The work you do now with your kids is priceless down the road, and the kids really enjoy their daddy time.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12:2
Nathan has been tirelessly working a couple of jobs that will add some great financial benefit to our family. As with anything, work always comes feast or famine. We decided as a family to make an investment in our future by doing a little more work now, paying off some of our debt now, so that long-term we will have a little more financial benefit and happier family dynamic later down the road. Sound crazy or familiar?
To date, I think that this plan is working for several reasons. First, it is a SHORT-TERM plan. We cannot sustain this pace for more than a couple of months. Second, because we believe that this work came from us seeking God's will and being diligent to take care of what He gives us. We want to be smart with our finances and have begged Him to show us how to multiply our efforts to multiply His money for His service (reference my previous blog on asking God for big things in "Calling Indiana Jones"). And finally, this is working because we are still making some important investments.
Our family time and our couple time is still so important. If we are not investing in each other, we are building our bank somewhere else. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) I believe that this applies to our time, our loyalties, and our money. Nathan and I determine to be set apart from how the world does marriage or family time, and make an investment in us and in our kids that will pay dividends for years to come. The work you do now with your kids is priceless down the road, and the kids really enjoy their daddy time.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12:2
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Snakes and snails and puppydog tails.....
We have a small sociology experiment going in our house. Growing up with two sisters, I never experienced what little boys are like. When my son was born, I was awed at how different little boys really are (practically from birth)! My finite mind wondered if it my experience around babies was outdated. Then came our little sugar and spice and everything nice. How fun it is to see that, in fact, our house has a little bit of balance and opposites to enjoy between the two.
I think that it is sad to live in a society that shames us for expecting boys and girls to be different, rather than celebrating the strengths that boys and girls individually have. My husband gently reminds me that I was not born with the "correct" noise chip in my brain to make sounds effects, but I can make reading a book just as captivating in a different way. I am so glad that my son is physically strong and my daughter is sweet-spirited. I long to teach them how to use the way God made them to utilize their strength and let God triumph through their weakness. That seems like it is true liberation.
The Bible says in Romans 8:28, "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." I am so thankful that God created us so specially, so specifically, and in a way that He can use us for a special plan. It is awe-inspiring how gifted my children already are and how God is working in and around them. What a neat plan God has in using children in our lives! I wonder who learns more.......
Romans 8:28, "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
I think that it is sad to live in a society that shames us for expecting boys and girls to be different, rather than celebrating the strengths that boys and girls individually have. My husband gently reminds me that I was not born with the "correct" noise chip in my brain to make sounds effects, but I can make reading a book just as captivating in a different way. I am so glad that my son is physically strong and my daughter is sweet-spirited. I long to teach them how to use the way God made them to utilize their strength and let God triumph through their weakness. That seems like it is true liberation.
The Bible says in Romans 8:28, "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." I am so thankful that God created us so specially, so specifically, and in a way that He can use us for a special plan. It is awe-inspiring how gifted my children already are and how God is working in and around them. What a neat plan God has in using children in our lives! I wonder who learns more.......
Romans 8:28, "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
A man of many companions may come to ruin.....
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~Proverbs 18:24
(The girl with her cousin)
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