When I grow up I want to be...

a FROG= Fully Rely On God.

I think I'll practice today... Eyes wide open, jumping around bringing Joy to everyone I meet!

Care to join me?
Have a nice day!
Angie xoxo

"Thing"

"But because I love them --and you --I've made a way for you to revolve your life around Me as your first thing. Everything else --your marriage, your checkbook, your self-esteem, your cancer -- is a second thing. When the first thing (namely, Me) is in first place in your life, every second thing will be yours to enjoy. And that will be when you're home, not until."
(From 66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb)

Lord, You are not something for me to check off my "To Do" list. You are not just another book to check off my reading list. I'm sorry for treating You as if You are just a first thing. You are my Only Thing!

Love,
Angie xoxo

Perfection

I'll be honest with you. I wasn't going to read Beth Moore's new book, So Long, Insecurity because well, I'm not insecure. Yeah, right. I really do find my security in Christ for the most part. Our church is hosting her simulcast in April and I thought it would be nice if I volunteer to help out. It's the least I can do. I thought I better read her book.

Anyway... in the book Beth talks about "a prominent false positive: one thing that we think would make us more secure in all things."

I'll let you in on mine...

If I had the perfect family.

I find contentment and peace only when I'm okay with my relationships (with my husband, kids, family, co-workers and friends). My divorce shattered my dream of having a perfect family. So often I still wish my kids came from an in-tact family. My parents weren't divorced and none of my friend's parents were either. I have always wanted to be perfect and do the right thing, so I took the rejection and divorce especially hard. I've come a long way, but I need to make the choice to find my security in Christ alone, not in my not-so-perfect-family!

I love Lisa Harper!

xoxo

It really is amazing...

If I weren't a mother I don't know if I could ever grasp the love of God. I cannot imagine watching my child endure that kind of pain, agony and isolation. I'm way too selfish. I'm thankful that God would do whatever it took to get me to comprehend His love. He did it through my two beautiful children. People think I'm strange when I tell them how many times I've watched the Passion of the Christ movie. Don't even ask. It hurts to watch, but I quickly forget how much He loves me and need the visual reminder!

I'm really missing my kids today...

Don't ever forget how much you are loved!
Angie xoxo

Instruments

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal 5:22-23)

Please, Lord make ME an instrument...

Let Your love increase...

I love His Word more than my words.

Shalom,
Angie xoxo

His protection

I cannot imagine getting a call from someone telling me that my child has been in a car accident. We are thanking God today that He protected my nephew, Loren! Words cannot express our gratitude!

Love,
Angie xoxo

Party Planner

If you ask anyone who knows me, they would tell you I am a planner. My family affectionately (I think) calls me the "cruise director". Okay, I like to be organized. I totally believe what a friend once told me... "If you fail to plan, you might as well plan of failing". I've recited that to my husband a million times. I like to call it proactive instead of reactive. I think I was born that way. My belief is that if I don't do it, it won't get done. If I'm being honest, I get a little resentful for having to make all of the plans--all of the time! Oh, and I better add that I don't like change. I don't like surprises either. Once a plan is made, I don't want anyone messing with it. I've come to realize what a control freak I really am. I had always heard that phrase and didn't really see it as bad. I secretly thought it was kind of cool. I am drawn to other control freaks. I like to be around them because I know they can be counted on to follow through and get the job done.

Until this morning, when I read Love Letter Four: Numbers in Dr. Larry Crabb's book. God had carefully planned out a trip to Caanan for 603,500 people and only TWO made it to the Promised Land. As Dr. Crabb explains... "Everyone else was presumptuous and unbelieving."

It has been my assumption that if I make all of the plans there will be no disappointment. Well, the Bible tells me that no matter how much I plan, life will still be full of disappointment and people will always let me down. I've always thought that if I do the right thing, life will go smoothly. I'm learning that I can't control everything, even with my perfect plan and it isn't supposed to be easy! I know it in my head, just not my heart.

There are so many changes in my life right now it's beginning to drive me crazy. This girl who doesn't like change is being tested. As I laid in bed this morning I reflected on all of those changes. Wow, the list is long! Will I trust and believe God that His plans are better than mine?

This song convicts me every single time I hear it. I don't seem to Praise Him in the middle of the storms, changes or disappointments, but I sure do Praise Him after He brings me through them. I wrestle and complain through them! I am learning that He cares more about me learning to trust Him during the journey... and all of these changes.



Love,
Angie xoxo

Love still believes

God always seems to show up when I need Him most. Last Sunday He showed Himself to me... and my husband through a message at a new church we've been going to lately. If you want to listen to some great messages on marriage, you can hear them here. Click on media. My mom said she'd like to get a copy of the message to give to ALL of her grandchildren so they can pass it on to their children and their children's children. I thought it was a great idea.

Have a great day!
Love,
Angie xoxo

I'll probably wake up tomorrow morning regretting that I posted this song tonight. I posted it for me, but if it blesses you along the way, it would be totally worth it. :)

Love,

Angie xoxo

Again

Something made me find my favorite post on the LPM blog.

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." ~Deuteronomy 6:5

Love,

Angie xoxo

Are you Whistling?

My morning devotional couldn't have been more appropriate today!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." ~Colossians 3:23

"A dairy maid can milk cows to the glory of God" ~Martin Luther

May we glorify Him wherever we work today (... and every day)!

And may we be a blessing to every person we meet.

Much Love,

Angie xoxo

Status Update:

If you want to know my favorite song of today...
Check it out above.

If you want to know the definition of Grace...
Check it out here.

If you want to read the Message version of the Bible (easy to understand), make the link your homepage and you can read it every day.
Check it out here.

If you want to read an excellent book along with the Bible, you must get this book, 66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb. You can start anytime. I just started it last week!
Check it out here.

If you want to read it with a few women who will keep you on track...
Check it out here.

Just in case you were wondering what is on my mind,
Angie xoxo