My Bible in 90 Days Journey

Putting this last ninety (ninety four if you want me to be perfectly honest) days into words is proving more difficult than I thought it would be.

Renewed passion for the Word of God.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  II Timothy 3:16-17

Renewed conviction for the sin that so easily creeps in.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  Galations 5:19-21

Renewed gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 52:5

Renewed reverence for God’s majesty.

Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?  You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.  In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed  In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.  Exodus 15: 11-13

Renewed commitment and laser focus on my ministry.

But they were scheming to harm me so I sent messengers to them with this reply, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.  Why should the great work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”.  Four times they sent me the same message and each time I gave them the same answer.  Nehemiah 6: 3-4

Renewed patience for God’s timing.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27: 13-14

I could go on and on all day with the gems God shared with me during this concentrated time in His word.  It was so worth it and my prayer and hope is that this fire that has been ignited for the Word continues to burn strong in my life and the rest of those that joined in this challenge.

A special thanks to Amy from Mom’s Toolbox for starting this movement online and encouraging me along the way.

The Waiting Game

Back in the spring of 2006, God put a strong call on my life.  I argued with Him (while crying, laughing and driving down a dangerous stretch of highway).  I told Him He definitely had the wrong girl.  But, God can be persistent (in case you didn’t know that).

Fast forward three and a half years and I somehow figure I should get out my measuring stick (so to speak)…see how far I’ve come towards that plan.

Of course, I do not measure up to my own expectations.

And then I start saying things like this “I should be farther along with {x, y, z}.  If I’m ever going to fulfill this burden on my heart I should at least be at point {j, k, l} by now” and “I knew I was unworthy of this call, God got this one wrong” and “I should be doing more to make this happen” and “what did I do wrong?”

Interestingly enough, the sermon at last night’s midweek service was on Psalm 23.  And I learned something I did not know.  The valley of the shadow of death referred to in verse 4 translates from the Hebrew into the valley of swirling shadows.

Hmmm, swirling shadows.  Could this be shadows such as:

a period or instance of gloom, unhappiness, mistrust, doubt, dissension, or the like, as in friendship or one’s life?

OR

a dominant or pervasive threat, influence, or atmosphere, esp. one causing gloom, fear, doubt, or the like? (definitions courtesy of dictionary.com)

Could it be that the enemy wants me to be surrounded by the swirling shadows of mistrust and doubt?

Could it be that God is leading me through the last three and a half years, not in abandonment of the vision He provided, but in preparation for it?

Is it not in the valleys of life that we stand to learn the most?

So, today I am thankful for the promise of Romans 8 (if you have time read the WHOLE chapter) especially, verses 15, 18-21, 28-31, 37-39.

Exactly what I needed to hear this morning:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship [or daughter-ship, in my case] and by Him we cry Abba, Father.  Romans 8:15

Oh, yes!  That is all I need to do- cry out to Him who is with me all the time. The One who is faithful to complete the good work in and through me for His glory (and in His timing).  God’s measuring stick does not compute accomplishment or human “doings”.  He cares far more that I am leaning on Him throughout the journey.

For more Thankful Thursday posts, click here.

Uniquely You

Today, joining with Laurie from Women Taking a Stand, we are being thankful for uniqueness.

I think my readers are painfully aware of the things that make me unique so I thought I would point out some things I am thankful for about the ways the people I love are special to me, because of their quirks unique qualities.

My hubby~ God wired Mike to be cheap fiscally responsible.  I have learned so much from him about being a good steward (enough to write a Bible study about it LOL)  God also made Mike to be even-tempered- ALL THE TIME! Is it possible God knew he would be married to a spaz like me someday and someone would need to be able to be level headed? Hmmmm….

My oldest~ Sometimes with all the trials we have faced raising Jason, it can be easy to overlook the ways that God made him special.  God gave Jason a creative spirit…he is a talented artist, appreciates music and has a flair for fashion all his own.  He have him an innate stubbornness that helped him survive the early years of his life before he came to us.  God ALWAYS knows what He is doing!

My middle boy- Jared and I are so much alike I often forget to be thankful for his strengths and just get annoyed.  He is a great debater- wants to be a lawyer when he gets older (good choice!)  He is athletic and competitive.  At the same time, he has a sweet spirit (that is less evident with the whole being 13 thing) and is so good with babies and older people.  God has also given him a desire to do things the right way and the boy can’t lie (he tells on himself).

My youngest boy- Unique is the first word we use to describe Matt.  Matt marches to the beat of his own drum, God has given him a strong sense of worth, regardless of what other’s say or think.  I envy that!  And God did that on purpose because Matt gets bullied and picked on, and he just let’s it roll off his back and prays for the kids being mean to him.  Yet, when it comes to other people that are hurting or being mistreated, Matt has the most compassionate desire to help them.

I could go on and on with how God has placed unique people in my life, the perfect people to be my friends.

But I will leave you with this thought from Psalm 139: 13-14:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

God truly does know how to take each of His unique creations and place us together to form something truly special- a family.

Whose unique qualities are you thankful for today?