Why is it two steps forward and one step back?

Brad headed out to run errands and called me to tell me that the window in the car broke. At one time, I would have freaked out - why? Because I lost control of something - like he did it on purpose (dumb, I know). But I took in stride - two steps forward.

Then Brad called from the repair shop - we can rent a car (a Lincoln, no less) for $34 a day. Freak out. Why, because he wants to spend money on something I don't think we need. Why couldn't I just say, "I don't think it's necessary, but thanks for thinking it would help." No...I have to snap at him - one step back.

When will I simply gain ground and keep moving forward??

I did apologize but the step back was already taken.

My devotion this morning was on the principle of planting - you will reap what you sow. Planting nothing will mean we reap nothing. However, planting the good things will reap good things. St Francis of Assisi prayed: Where there is hatred, let me sow love; injury...pardon; doubt...faith; despair...hope; darkness...light; sadness...joy.

This is my prayer, that I will sow the things of God where there is hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness, or sadness. God has given me so much. Filled my life with so many good things (great things, actually). It is my joy to pass these on to those who may be suffering.

My son, David, is one of the best things that happened in my life. He's taught me so much and I'm so proud of the man he has become. I'm excited to see what God has planned for him. I miss the little boy but .... maybe one day I'll have little David, Jrs to spoil rotten :)

Plan on spending the day scrapping!

I was reading my Bible (reading thru in a year and I'm behind a couple of days) and found several verses to share today.

Psalm 19 - wow. Love it. THE HEAVENS PROCLAIM THE GLORY OF GOD. The skies display His craftmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. The speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. How beautiful.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. This is my prayer. That my words and thoughts will please my Redeemer. He deserves so much more.

Prov 4:11-19 - I will teach you wisdom's way and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers. Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

I love the NLT wording. Don't even think about doing evil - where does sin start? In the mind. We rarely "slip" into a sin. It is usually a thought out process. So stop thinking about it. Don't go that way - action. Don't go where sin is. Don't go where temptation will be strong for you. Don't flirt with it - it will drag you in too quickly. Turn away and keep moving - amen! The Bible tells us to resist the devil and he will flee. It is our responsibility to take action - turn away, keep moving, resist. Don't be idle. Don't let sin come in and take up residence in your home. Move.

God is awesome. His Word is full of beauty and insight and direction. It has the wisdom we need to be free...to be whole...to be full of joy.

Have a great day.

Today is the day that the Lord has made - let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Thank you, Father. The snow is falling in fluffy flakes - my favorite. I can relax and read or scrap or crochet...and spend time with You.

Thank you for life!

I love going scrapping with my friends. It puts me in such a creative mood! I spent Thursday evening at church faithbooking and Friday night working on a four pages of pictures (Christmas and Thanksgiving).

I'm going to start a new project - scrapping/journaling Bible verses. Not sure what it'll look like yet but I enjoy this type of scrapping more than pictures - go figure!

Pati let me have her scraps :) and I made some cards. I came home and made several more - now I just have to remember to send them to people.

Here is a sample of my cards

One year ago today I lost my little sister. I should say younger because she was 39 years old. She went home to her Father...and what a day of rejoicing that was, at least in heaven. I know her son, two daughters and grandson miss her very, very much - as do her sisters.



Even though she was grown with three beautiful children and a very handsome grandson, this is how I remember her - 9th grade!!


Dorothy was a beautiful woman who loved the Lord with all her heart. No matter what circumstances life brought her, she knew her Father was right there with her and would bring her through.

Its hard to believe it has been year. I miss you Dia. I'm praying for your kids and grandchildren (yes there is another one on the way). I love you.

Dorothy Ann Williams

My devotion today started with 1 Thes 5:24 - He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

C.H. Spurgeon (who wrote the devotion) said: God is faithful and thus is His Word. Millions have proven His promises to be true; none have proven them otherwise.

I never thought of it that way. I'm so thankful that He is faithful and we can count on Him no matter what.

Looking forward to scrapping tonight (and tomorrow night!).

James 1:1-8 was my devotion for yesterday.

Verse 5-6 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

God wants us to understand His Word. He wants us to know what His message is to us. Ask for wisdom. He'll be happy to give it (in fact, we have His Word on it). But don't doubt. If you are going to ask God for something, have faith, have courage, have belief. Believe He wants to give you what you ask - otherwise, don't ask!

God is faithful and He is leading us. I have to remember that - even when the path goes where I don't want to!

Thank you, Father, for giving me confirmation that even when the way is unpleasant, You are always with me.

My devotion today was titled A Sin By Any Other Name (Gen 39:1-9). One sentence really moved me – Calling sin by a softer name will change neither its offensiveness to God nor its cost to us.

Wow. It also said that God’s moral standards are absolute. It is only when we see sin as something abhorrent to the Lord that we will be motivated to make right moral judgments.

While I was thinking about my entry today, I heard this song by Casting Crowns:

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the
strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
The journey from your mind to your handsI
s shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand You just might be sinking
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Father, help me to be careful of what I see and allow to fill my mind. Keep my heart pure as I line everything up according to Your standard.

My Daily Bread devotion had me read Psalm 119:25-32.

27 - Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.

Precept according to Websters - a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action.

Lord, this is my prayer: I want to understand Your commands and principles so they will become my general rule of action. I want to be more like You. I need to meditate on your wonders. This world is amazing - the workings of our cells is beyond amazing.

28 - My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

He has done this over the past year. My soul has been weary. I lost my younger sister a year ago (January 23rd) and then my Mom passed away 2 days after her 75 birthday (5-26). What is awesome is that me and my other sisters had been visiting my sister the week before her death and then in May we had all spent a week with my mom (3 wks before she passed). The Lord is good.

30 - I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.

This is hard with so much false teaching wrapped in the right words. But I have chosen the way of truth - every teaching must line up with the Word. Lord, You need to teach me - give me wisdom.

32 - I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

I am free! I am free from living in the past, from sin, from failure. Sure, things aren't always roses and puppy dogs, but I have freedom from the things that pull me down. I have to live in glorious freedom from my God.

My friend Pati's blog gave me inspiration to start this. Don't know where it will go, but I hope to bring some .... I'm not sure. I have so much going on in my head sometimes that I need an outlet. Maybe this will help. Maybe something I say will bring hope or inspiration or happiness or guidance or laughter to someone else. :)