I chose this next verse to memorize because lately I've noticed how easy it is to get distracted by outside influences. I want Him to be my center. I want Him to be my source of peace. I want Him to fill my heart. I need to be careful. If I teach my kids anything, I want them to remember this verse. As parents we are all protective of our children and who we allow to get close to them. It's nice to know that our Father cares so much about us that He taught us that it's most important... ABOVE ALL ELSE to protect our heart!
I love putting my verses on pictures so I can remember them. I tried to locate a picture of me in the hospital, as I was born on Valentine's day and supposedly the nurses brought me out to my parents in a heart-shaped box. I thought it would be perfect. Oh well... this will have to do.
We are told in...
Proverbs 4:23... "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Above all else I want to guard and protect my heart by spending my time getting to know Him more!
When I got home from Bible study yesterday I really wanted to post about what I learned in session three. Then I thought I better not spoil it for someone who hasn't done the study yet. In my head it was like ruining a joke, book or movie by telling you the punch-line before you heard, read or saw it. I assumed EVERYONE would be doing this study and would want to learn it on their own. Then the more I thought about it, I realized a lot of people may never do the Esther Bible study written by Beth Moore. So I am going to go ahead and take the risk of spoiling it for you by telling you a few things that were light bulbs for me.
Beth was talking about Queen Esther and destiny. I'm just going to paraphrase what she said (to me)...
Sometimes when someone needs me for something I have my own issues going on. Their timing is off. God's timing is off. I might be in the middle of own personal crisis and am overwhelmed with responsibilities when God asks me to encourage someone. I feel I just can't help them...now. But God's timing is perfect. When He asks me to do something I want to do it! God knows what He is doing.
Queen Esther thought she was past her prime. I'm a 47 year-old woman. What can I possibly do to help anyone?? I could easily believe Satan's lie to make me believe I am past my prime. God knows what He is doing.
She talked about the importance of us being transparent. To identify is to testify. When I share my story with someone and remind them how God continually helps me when I am going through something it might encourage them to have the desire to know and trust Him in their situation. It's risky to be open about my weaknesses. She talked about having a "false shelter" and how it makes us very lonely and isolated. It's lonely when I keep it all inside! There is a reason I have had to go through the difficulties in my life. It may just be to help someone else who is going through the same thing. God knows what He is doing.
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. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I think I may have just found my next Scripture memory verse!
One more thing... You know how when someone tells us something absolutely tragic? Something that is WAY too big to comprehend, like losing a child, a plane crash or something terrible? When we don't have any words to explain "why" something bad happens, we don't know what else to say, so we say these two words... WHO KNOWS? Well, guess what girlfriends, I know and you do too!! I know that God knows what He is doing! Think about it the next time you are tempted to say "who knows". You know! He wants us to have His full attention and He may just want to use you and me to point them to Him. You know God knows exactly what He is doing!
Now I spoiled it. Or did I? To get the full story, please do Beth Moore's Esther Bible study and get into God's Word. Beth's knowledge and understanding will Bless you beyond measure.
I've never seen anything like it. On Friday I helped a loved-one move who is going through a divorce. I couldn't believe the kind of teamwork I saw between two people who are ending their marriage. They were so polite with each other. They seemed like good friends. I couldn't believe I was admiring a couple who isn't going to be a couple a year from now. It's a long, complicated story and still saddens me that this union has to be broken.
She gave me something I will treasure forever...
It was a heart shaped plaque that says, "never forget to kiss each other goodnight". It now hangs in my bathroom to remind me.
I hope she knows God loves her and He will make a way!
I love Kathy Troccoli! I just listened to this song about FIVE times in a row!!!
Please pray for healing for my sister-in-law. I KNOW she appreciates it! Thank you so much! Love, Angie xoxo
So... not long ago I wrote a post comparing blogging with facebook. I said I like blogging a lot better. Well, today I'm changing my mind.
When I originally joined facebook I did it to snoop on my kids. Now it's perfectly acceptable for parents to be on there. Some of my kids' friends have requested to be my friend. Okay, just a few but let me tell you how excited that makes me today. This morning I was looking at Katie's (who we've known since preschool) facebook page and noticed she had one of the Scripture verses I was memorizing on her sidebar. At first I thought I made a mistake until I went back to my page. Then I noticed it was on hers! I made a comment about it and she responded to me today...
":) you're to thank. I started Bible study after reading your blog."
Um... excuse me? You have NO idea what that did to me. I got the chills immediately. I didn't even know she knew I had a blog let alone read it!!
I was thinking back to the time I was embarrassed to tell anyone I knew that I had a blog. Actually, after Katie's comment I'm glad I have become a little more bold. If anything I write could help just one girl want to buy a Bible (and study it) it's worth it to me. ALL of the credit goes to God! Let me say that again... All of the credit goes to God! Her comment made my day, my week, my year! So it's official.
I can't believe it's already time for another Scripture memory verse to add to my collection. I don't have a list of verses I want to memorize, they just seem to come to me. When I read this one in my daily devotional this week I knew right away that it would be next. I want to be ready in case of an emergency for anything that might come my way. I want to be armed with verses that will apply to any situation.
I chose this one for many reasons. This particular picture had to be part of it as well. When I look at it I can't help but remember several things. First of all, it was the first Christmas after my sister passed away. I had given my parents that gift on my mom's lap. They had recently lost their business. At that time we had no idea my dad had cancer or that my mom would have to bury not only her oldest daughter, but her best friend who was sitting right next to her. When I look at that picture I notice my left hand has no wedding ring on it. I was divorced and a single mom. The tears on my mom's face tell it all. I also know exactly where that picture was taken. It was at my brother and sister-in-law's house that turned out to be too big for them to handle.
I do not understand why we have go through so much in this crazy world we live in, but... God knows. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5)
Tomorrow is the first game of the last season of my son's college career as a lacrosse player. I wish I could adequately express my thoughts right about now...
You would have to know John. To say he is determined is an understatement. When he makes up his mind he will do anything to accomplish his goals. He was always that way. I'll never forget when he was 3 years old and determined to learn to ride a bike. And... when he was determined to learn to shoot a basketball, determined to play soccer and learn tricks, determined to play baseball, determined to learn karate, determined to make the basketball team, determined to make the golf team, determined to learn to play ping pong, determined to learn to throw a football, determined to learn tennis, determined to do well in school. Do you get the idea? He would play outside for hours and I must admit, he wanted me to play most of these sports with him. I wouldn't trade that quality time for anything. If I needed to talk with John I knew there would have to be some kind of sporting event involved. It was okay with me. No, I have to tell you that I enjoyed every single minute of it. If I were cooking dinner and he asked me to play a sport I would drop everything to play with him! Oh, I almost forgot to mention the fact that he was determined to learn to play lacrosse... and play at the college level.
Now, as he goes into his final season of lacrosse I can tell you that I couldn't be more proud of that kid. He has a work ethic that I know he will take with him throughout the rest of his life. He takes sportsmanship seriously. I look forward to watching him coach his kids one day. I pray God blesses him with kids so he can get just a taste of what I've experienced being his mom.
This time has gone so quickly. I look forward to sitting in those bleachers this Spring, cheering him on this last time. I'll cherish every moment.
I was just on facebook (snooping in other people's business) and noticed a friend of mine posted this link. I thought I should share it with you. It was very convicting. I had never heard of Mark Driscoll before tonight. You might want to spend a few minutes watching this message.
I absolutely love to watch waves. They remind me that God is in total control of my life through the calm and through the storms. My life is calm tonight. I am so grateful. It's comforting to know He will be with me when the next one comes.
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29)
I chose this verse to meditate on and memorize for the next two weeks because I wanted to remember to be grateful during the bad seasons as well as the good ones. I remember going for a walk when I was going through one of my toughest times (my divorce). God brought to attention all of the things I had to be grateful for even then. As I walked through my neighborhood I listed one thing after another that was going well for me. Being grateful changed my attitude and helped make me better instead of bitter. I can only be joyful when I am praying continually. I couldn't be more grateful today as I recall this past week in Cancun. I wish all of my friends and family could have joined us!
