Friend's Devotional

Okay, so my friend Rebekah shared a much needed devotional on facebook and so I'm sharing it on here too.

Eccl. 3:11 " God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."

"If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth" -Eccl 11:3

"If we believe the message of this verse, then why do we dread the clouds that darken the sky? It is true that for a while the dark clouds hide the sun, but it is not extinguished and it will soon shine again. Meanwhile those clouds are filled with rain, and the darker they are, the more likely they are to bring plentiful showers.

How can we have rain without clouds? Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will, for they are the dark chariots of God's bright and glorious grace. Our God may drench us with grief, but he will refresh us with his mercy......so let us now worry about the clouds. Instead let us sing because May flowers are brought to us through April clouds and showers."

Revelation Song

Revelation Song from Northwood Church on Vimeo.

Need to remember this!

The last couple of days GOD has been CONSISTENTLY reminding me of his faithfulness, sovereignty, grace, love, and that HE desires to give us the desires of our heart! HE IS A GOOD GOD INDEED, and I LOVE walking in the Spirit and seeing and hearing Him speak to me so tenderly and lovingly. Right before I came across this via an email, I got a letter from Charles Stanley's ministry and it was ALL about trusting HIM to do what is of His character, and to REST IN HIM. http://www.intouch.org/atf/cf/%7B7048F59B-0DA1-4C33-B958-6A013BEDB8A7%7D/Feb10MiniLetterWEB.pdf

This is all in addition to amazing Scripture verses He has shown me lately, and the song yesterday in worship "It is well with my soul." GOD IS SO AWESOME AND MY WORDS CAN NOT ADEQUATELY EXPRESS WHAT IS ON MY HEART!I just needed to blog this b/c I so often need these reminders but I am amazed at how He has been reminding me the past few days, in many different forms!

Perfect Timing

As for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand. — Psalm 31:14–15

Do you have trouble resting in the fact that God is in control and that he knows the times and seasons in your life? Think twice before you are tempted to worry or force life to move at your pace. God moves according to his sovereignty, not according to our timetable, and peace will come only when you learn to trust his timing in every area of your life.

Resist the urge to constantly ask questions like, “When is Mr. Right going to come along?” or “When will I get the promotion I deserve?” or “What will happen if my biological clock runs out before I get pregnant?” When you grasp the truth that when he moves it will be according to his perfect plan, it makes a huge difference.

God is the God of all times, and to know him is to know faithfulness itself. He has the big picture in mind, and he knows the plans he has for you. Your times are safe in his hand. There is no need to be anxious about when God is going to answer your prayer or move on your behalf. You can relax in the certainty that his ways and his timing are perfect.

— Jan Silvious

Excerpted from Smart Girls Think Twice © 2007 Jan Silvious. Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

New Year Ahead

January 1st of 2010, can't believe it. Time goes so quickly and life seems to be just flying by before us. Wish it could just slow down you know? I just journaled 11 pages, but of course that's way too much for you all to read, so I will not put you thru that. ;)

I have absolutely no idea what this year will hold for me or for anyone I know, but so thankful HE already has it planned out and that He is completely sovereign! I am looking forward to this year ahead, I really am!!! We'll see what it brings! Hoping for growth, adventure, fun, love, memories, healing, and most of all, a closer walk with my Savior!

Praying for God's blessings to be upon all of us!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen!

hi

Just wanted to say hi!!! I just realized the post before this one was so vulnerable and somewhat negative about work so here's a post to say that life is wonderful right now, work is good, my church family has been wonderful, and there are only 4 and a half days of work left before Christmas break. This week will consist of 5 parties, lots of baking, work, cleaning, and packing for a possible trip to Mississippi. Why am I blogging? I was reading some others so I was inspired. Hopefully I will update this more often!

Current overload

Don't think I have ever felt this overwhelmed, overloaded, or insecure in my life. It helps that I talk to other Special Ed teachers and they are feeling this too, but I don't think anyone should have to feel this way about work. And they wonder why the burnout rate is so high in Special Education, I could have told them the answer to that when I first started this job. Oh my. Lord, help me. I literally prayed for 20 minutes straight this morning about how I couldn't do this, and how I need the Lord to intervene, and then there were about 3 more huge things added to my plate at work today.

C a n ' t t a k e i t a n y m o r e... and the year has just begun.

I need some ideas of ways to get my mind off of work that don't leave me feeling like a slacker. Any ideas???

Great song! Have you heard it?

This song gets me everytime, and I have never even heard it from beginning to end. It always comes on when I'm in the car and I love the lyrics and this guys sound. Do ya'll know of any of his other songs? I'm interested in buying his cd but I don't want to buy it without knowing if they are good. "Forgiven and Loved" Lyrics	[edit]
by Jimmy Needham | from the album Not Without Love

FORGIVEN AND LOVED
Romans 8:1, Ephesians 3:17-19
Written by Jimmy Needham, Ryan Wayson and Blake Samperi

Tell me I’m forgiven and loved
Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On how God is love and how man can be clean
But my joy has been on holiday
And my peace has almost passed away
Tell me I’m forgiven and free

CHORUS:
O I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation
But I bought the lie I still have work to do
Now I’m working nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in You

O whisper to me now that its for real
Cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal
Dirty deeds have done me in
O but that can’t stop the Faithful Friend
Giving mercy once again as You heal
Here it is I’m feeling it

CHORUS

O He died He died to rectify my hopeless situation
And His blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand
Empty pockets open hands
O there is no condemnation for me

CHORUS

Child your forgiven and loved
Child your forgiven and loved
Child your forgiven
And Child you are loved
Child your forgiven and loved

© 2008 Needhim Music / First Company Publishing / ASCAP / Administered by First Company Publishing