Favor On Your Life

Do you see God's favor on your life?  I bet if you look you will.

Favor can look like a big blessing, an out of this world miracle, or it can be the smallest provision.

Last week a small work issue resolved itself without my effort, my worry, my anxiety or even my best intentions.  And I saw it as God's favor because had I tried to handle it myself there would have been worry, anxiety, gnashing of teeth, tension headache and the like.

Our needs are met daily.  Seek to know the One that meets our needs. Watch for His favor on your life.

13 years ago today

April 15, 1998 is a significant date in my history.  It's a date that for many years I wanted to forget.  But now it's a date I look back on with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips.  Watch and see.


Tracey Crosby: To Live is Christ from Reston Bible Church on Vimeo.

Alan has been trying to get me to write down my testimony for years.  I just couldn't.  I wanted to, but the words just wouldn't come. 

After I heard Ann Voskamp speak at the Relevant conference last fall I felt like it was time to start sharing my story.  Because story is all we have.  If I am keeping my story quiet how can I give full glory to God?  The God who spared me from my first suicide attempt on April 15, 1998.

So, back in February I called the Director of Women's ministry at our church and invited her over for coffee.  I had no idea what I wanted to come of it but I thought she was a good place to start. 

What came from our 3 hour coffee date was twofold.  She invited me to video tape my testimony and share it at our women's retreat.  (Which I wasn't attending because of a sweet, smiling, nursing newborn.)  She also asked if I would be interested in co-leading a post-abortion bible study.  WOW.  I never expected either of those things to happen over 3 hours of coffee. 

I needed to get some distance between myself and San Francisco before I was able to share all this, but what an amazing God we serve that he allowed me to.  Little old me.

Gypsy Mama gave us the prompt "On Distance" for 5 minute Friday today and even though this story has been a lifetime in the making, this post wasn't. 

The Cost of Clutter

I paid a price this weekend for the clutter I have allowed to pile up on the island in our kitchen.

We were without our name tags at Financial Peace University last night. They were buried in that pile instead of in the bag with our other class materials.

There was a 10% late fee on our quarterly water bill.  Ouch. The original bill was thrown in that pile when the pile started and it never resurfaced.  That didn't bring a lot of financial peace.

This price seems insignificant in light of the price Jesus paid to save me from death.  When he died for me, and for you, he paid with his life so we could live forever in heaven with God. 

I'm so thankful He hasn't left me in a pile of clutter.

Share. Care. Love. Disciple. Mentor.

What is my part?  I have felt a tug for some time to get involved. 

Do something.  Be used.    And most importantly, to not let the testimony of my past be wasted.  

I was first prompted a few years ago when a friend approached me to mentor her for a time.  Whoa.  I need a mentor was what I thought.  But God. 

Well, now it’s a few years later and I have been to the Relevant Conference and I have heard God speak through Ann Voskamp’s words:

Why do I need your story and why do you need your story?

Because story is a way that the Spirit of God can bind our wounds.

It is in story, we meet the Spirit of God. The reader meets the Spirit of God in the reading of story — the word made flesh in your life. The writer, you, meets the Spirit of God in the writing your story – the word made flesh in your own life.

And so today, I responded to the prompting and took a step.  I met with a leader from our church and the discussion has started.  To use my story.

{Time is up. Gypsy Mama encouraged us to whip up a post in 5 minutes. And I did it wrong because she said use a photo prompt. And this might be the first post I've written without a photo. I am so rebellious.}


Okay, fine.  This photo has nothing to do with this post but it was taken the other day and I love it.

One Word 2011 = Patience

We had a lovely 2010.  We became a family of 5.  And the refining that comes with motherhood blessed me.  And it challenged me.

I am joining Alece from Grit and Glory by choosing one word to focus on this year.  When I read her blog last week I knew immediately my word should be patience.  I was a little scared ("don't ever pray for patience, you might get it") so I secretly tried it out for a few days. 

And an amazing thing happened. It was as if God immediately blessed me with an extra measure of patience.  Just by being willing to focus, He was already working.  On little ol' impatient me.

The interesting thing was that a few days earlier I had asked my husband to help me recognize when I was being impatient with our children.  A raised voice, a harsh tone, a frustrated look. He agreed this can be a weakness for me.   Further confirming my need for an intentional focus on patience.

Thank you, Alece.  Our family has already benefited, and it's only January 1. 

The only downside, so far, to this patience project is that this song has run through my head at least once a day. GAH. 


And now it's in your head too.  Hello, 1989!  You were a wonderful year to graduate from high school.

Christmas Starts Early This Year!

I was just talking with Tiny Twig yesterday on Twitter about the desire to start decorating early. And then this beauty showed up on my front porch from Dayspring!

The decorating has officially begun.  I can see this piled high with Christmas cookies or finger foods or Christmas Cards.

The Dayspring Jesus is the Gift line is one of my favorites.  It is bright and cheery and communicates the message of Christmas I hope I never, ever forget. 

*Disclaimer, Dayspring sent me this platter for review, opinions are my own--I really love it! I have just joined the affiliate program with Dayspring and any purchase you make by clicking on links in this post will generate income to support this blog and my family.

A Blogger After God's Own Heart

It took me 3 days to even find these words. 

Last weekend I attended Relevant and came home blown away by God.

Before I left I told my husband I thought my expectation for this blogging conference was that it would be the women's retreat experience I always hope for, but never really get.  AND IT WAS!!!!

I learned practical blogging tips from Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom like ways to save time and save relationships from being damaged by blogging.

I was greatly encouraged by a devotional given by Courtney Joseph of Women Living Well--she charged us to heed Jeremiah 45:5  "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not."

Sally Clarkson gave me a desire to sustain the weary with my life, my blog, and my marriage.  I felt the presence of God being with her.  I want others to feel the presence of God when they are with me.

In a session on "Finding God's Purpose For Your Blog" with Kristen from We are THAT Family and Courtney Joseph I was prompted to let the blog be a calling, not a job.  And I was excited by the reminder that if we have the heart of God it will show on the blog.

Through all my tears, snots, and tissues I couldn't take a single note during Angie Smith's keynote. I thought since I knew her story it would be easier.  I was weak as she asked the women in the room who had lost a child to stand.  I stood and as I looked at the sea of women who also stood I saw God and His amazing ability to give and take away.  Bless and heal.  Use all things for good.  "...because everything he does is right and all his ways are just."  Daniel 4:37

And this was just in the first 24 hours people!  I'll write about the rest soon.

Reading The World's Best Seller

The bible is a book I have been wanting to read all the way through for many years. Most recently I have been reading 5 chapters a day.

Starting tomorrow, I will begin a 90 day challenge to read it straight through. I am excited and nervous and challenged!

Yee Haw! Let's read the bible in 90 days!

Go to (in)courage and share your dream for 2010.

What Gives Me Courage

"When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You." (Psalm 56:3)

I have found a new spot to hang out, it just opened yesterday and I can't wait to spend more time there.

Security

Where is your faith? Is it in a deadbolt? I didn't realize it until this morning as I kissed my husband goodbye and closed the door, but I had faith in a deadbolt. Faith that as I shut the door and turned the lock our family would be safe from harm.

When I turned the lock this morning I realized the window next to it could easily be broken and the lock turned. Then I looked at the other two points of entry in our house and they also have windows near the locks.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:1, 6

So, where is your faith? Is it in a deadbolt? Or the One who made you?

Summer Reading Club

I ran across a cool dude blog today called This Guy Falls Down. I don't read many dude blogs; I much prefer hearing from a woman's heart when I venture into blogland.

However, I was checking out BooMama and I ran across Mark Lee from Third Day (I feel like such a name dropper loser so cool linking to him) and he is hosting a Summer Reading Club link up.

I told you guys last month about Kelly Minters book No Other Gods in this post. I am reading this ever so slowly since it is my before bed book and I am usually too tired to read more than a page or two. I am also reviewing my notes from Kelly's No Other Gods bible study I did last fall and getting another healthy dose of "wake up and smell your idols you ding dong."

Ain't God good? He knows I can be a slow learner, yet He never fails me and His mercies on me are new every morning.

No Other Gods

"You shall have no
other gods before me” Exodus 20:2-3

Hey, have you all heard that Beth Moore is doing an online version of Kelly Minter's No Other Gods: Confronting Our Modern Day Idols bible study this summer?



I did this study last fall and it is probably the best study I have done to date. If you are interested in following Beth's version this summer, check out her blog post.

The trade book just came out if you don't have time for a bible study but want to read the book.

He Is Risen!

`The Resurrection
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8

Good Friday

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 53:5

Thank you for the cross.