My new motto is "Why have a comfort zone when God never lets me stay in it." : )
I feel like I'm in one big, long season of being stretched.
Now, I just say 'yes' to whatever God brings my way because I know if I don't now, it will keep coming up and I will have to eventually.
The other day I heard this verse in our Pastor's sermon and it struck me.
"If you are willing and obedient you will eat the fruit of the land." Is. 1:19
That's a combo that I'm working on. (especially the willing part)
Here's a funny thing that happened the other day when I said one of those umcomfortable "yes's."
I was asked to be in some photos to show the t-shirts that were for sale at a woman's conference we had. I was given a tank top and asked the photographer if he could edit the photo to make me look tan and he said that wasn't his job! LOL
The shirts were really cute. One girl had on one that said the name of our women's ministry and another lady had on one that said 'girl power.'
I hadn't read mine.
After the photos were taken, we had the choice to buy the shirt we wore or give it back.
When I took it off, I saw that it said "Love Again."
Oh my stars!
An awesome slogan, but not so awesome for a widow to go around wearing! LOL
So, yeah.
I didn't buy that one. Hahaha!
~Becky
July 28, 2017
July 26, 2017
Wednesdays in the Word
I was recently struck with how much humility means to God.
I was reading about King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. The Bible says "there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness because his wife incited him." And "He behaved very abominably."
When God's plans of judgment for his actions were told to Ahab, he actually tore his clothes, put on sack cloth, and mourned.
And God changed His plans! He actually does that a lot in the Bible.
Doesn't His mercy just blow your mind?
God said:
"Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days."
Here are some verses about humility:
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." 1 Pet. 5:6-8
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
"Whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matt. 23:12
"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." James 4:10
"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
"Clothe yourselves all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Pet. 5:5
"Humility comes before honor." Prov. 18:12
"The Lord lifts up the humble," Ps. 147:6
There's a list of things that God hates in Proverbs 6. And I think it is interesting that the first thing on the list is "A proud look." Ouch!
In Daniel 4, we read about Nebuchadnezzar and how God chose to humble him until he learned "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses."
(there's a great verse for every election year!)
(Forgive me for not typing at Neb's whole name from here on out)
I wonder if prideful people look like brute beasts before God.
Maybe that is why He made Neb become a literal beast! (check it out!) He was one until he came "to know that Heaven rules." (Good thing God does not choose to do this today or life on earth would be like living on Planet of the Apes) ; )
Neb learned that God "does according to His will in the army of heaven AND among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand."
And then he said "Now I, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice. And those who walk in pride, He is able to put down."
"The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life." Prov. 22:4 -Awesome!
~Becky
I was reading about King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. The Bible says "there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness because his wife incited him." And "He behaved very abominably."
When God's plans of judgment for his actions were told to Ahab, he actually tore his clothes, put on sack cloth, and mourned.
And God changed His plans! He actually does that a lot in the Bible.
Doesn't His mercy just blow your mind?
God said:
"Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days."
Here are some verses about humility:
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." 1 Pet. 5:6-8
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
"Whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matt. 23:12
"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." James 4:10
"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
"Clothe yourselves all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Pet. 5:5
"Humility comes before honor." Prov. 18:12
"The Lord lifts up the humble," Ps. 147:6
There's a list of things that God hates in Proverbs 6. And I think it is interesting that the first thing on the list is "A proud look." Ouch!
In Daniel 4, we read about Nebuchadnezzar and how God chose to humble him until he learned "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses."
(there's a great verse for every election year!)
(Forgive me for not typing at Neb's whole name from here on out)
I wonder if prideful people look like brute beasts before God.
Maybe that is why He made Neb become a literal beast! (check it out!) He was one until he came "to know that Heaven rules." (Good thing God does not choose to do this today or life on earth would be like living on Planet of the Apes) ; )
Neb learned that God "does according to His will in the army of heaven AND among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand."
And then he said "Now I, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice. And those who walk in pride, He is able to put down."
"The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life." Prov. 22:4 -Awesome!
~Becky
July 23, 2017
Celebrating and retiring
Our family is taking a little vacation in August. It is my home school retirement party. : )
The completion of 19 years and four kids' educations.
Such fun years!
Now they are all in college. Yay!
It took me forever to decide how and where I wanted to have this little celebration.
Life took such a crazy turn that I can't do what we'd planned, which was a cruise with my wonderful hubby, who made homeschooling possible in the first place!
Nathan is flying in and then we are road tripping to a cabin in the mountains near a lake for a few days!
And there will be a corny slide show with lots of pictures (not made by our resident professional -LOL) and lots of memories will be laughed over. We got started early and laughed together about these the other night while face-timing him.
Excited to celebrate this milestone and rejoice in what was God's plan for this family.
~Becky
The completion of 19 years and four kids' educations.
Such fun years!
Now they are all in college. Yay!
It took me forever to decide how and where I wanted to have this little celebration.
Life took such a crazy turn that I can't do what we'd planned, which was a cruise with my wonderful hubby, who made homeschooling possible in the first place!
Nathan is flying in and then we are road tripping to a cabin in the mountains near a lake for a few days!
And there will be a corny slide show with lots of pictures (not made by our resident professional -LOL) and lots of memories will be laughed over. We got started early and laughed together about these the other night while face-timing him.
Excited to celebrate this milestone and rejoice in what was God's plan for this family.
~Becky
July 12, 2017
Wednesdays in the Word
Sometimes we get caught up in the "why's."
We want to know 'why' this happened or 'why' that didn't happen. At times I struggle with the "why's."
But we just aren't going to understand everything that happens here, this side of heaven.
And I found Proverbs 20:24 comforting the other day. It says that "A man's steps are of the Lord. How can he understand his own way?"
Pretty sure the answer to that question is that there is no way we can.
And then a knot garden came to mind.
I'm sure knot gardens look like just a bunch of well trimmed bushes at eye level.
But not from above! They look completely different from above!
I think that's how our lives must look from God's eternal perspective!
And we will never have God's view while we are here on earth.
But since He plans our steps, we can trust in His care and the beauty of the outcome!
~Becky
We want to know 'why' this happened or 'why' that didn't happen. At times I struggle with the "why's."
But we just aren't going to understand everything that happens here, this side of heaven.
And I found Proverbs 20:24 comforting the other day. It says that "A man's steps are of the Lord. How can he understand his own way?"
Pretty sure the answer to that question is that there is no way we can.
And then a knot garden came to mind.
But not from above! They look completely different from above!
I think that's how our lives must look from God's eternal perspective!
And we will never have God's view while we are here on earth.
But since He plans our steps, we can trust in His care and the beauty of the outcome!
~Becky
July 8, 2017
Random fun
It is summer in FL and I actually survived for TWO whole weeks without A/C in my car. If that sounds like no big deal, then you have never been to FL in the summer when it is 95 degrees and the humidity is a million percent. : )
My many, many, many thanks to my hubby's best friend, who spent two whole days fixing it and saving my life and surely my sanity.
I do love the extreme weather changes in FL in the summer. When I am in or near A/C, of course! Just when you think you are going to melt or move,
it rains, or the sunset leaves you speechless or you see an entire rainbow across the freeway!
Andrew is back from his amazing trip to CO, which makes my heart happy even though he and I haven't spent more than 30 minutes together all week. LOL
His best friend is here from CA and they are always on the go. J always comes with a list of places he'd like to go while here. Those usually include lots of coffee shops and books stores and gourmet Popsicle places. (those are a thing!)
I think Bree's sappy face here shows how much we all love J and enjoy his visits! : ) He's one of the family.
I bought these napkins recently. They are the cutest conversation starters. Thanks, Wal Mart.
My many, many, many thanks to my hubby's best friend, who spent two whole days fixing it and saving my life and surely my sanity.
I do love the extreme weather changes in FL in the summer. When I am in or near A/C, of course! Just when you think you are going to melt or move,
it rains, or the sunset leaves you speechless or you see an entire rainbow across the freeway!
His best friend is here from CA and they are always on the go. J always comes with a list of places he'd like to go while here. Those usually include lots of coffee shops and books stores and gourmet Popsicle places. (those are a thing!)
I think Bree's sappy face here shows how much we all love J and enjoy his visits! : ) He's one of the family.
I bought these napkins recently. They are the cutest conversation starters. Thanks, Wal Mart.
Hope you are having a happy summer
and that your cars are full of freon! LOL
~Becky
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