Day 28 and 29 of Thankful....

28-  Oh, I love the smell of freshly mowed grass! I know it's November and I probably shouldn't even be mowing, but I wanted to smell it one last time. And don't you know know, there was even some onion grass in there. So, today I am thankful for the smell of freshly mowed grass and I am thankful that God will be sending us lots of snow this winter. :)

29-  Lee has started having what we think are migraines. He doesn’t get them often. He had what he said was the worst one yet this past Sunday. He said he felt it coming on Sunday morning and by Sunday afternoon, it was full blown. By the time we got to church Sunday night, he had broken out in a sweat and was sick feeling. He was just miserable. I asked the preacher that was visiting to pray for him and he and his wife took their precious time and went out to the car and prayed for him. I went back out to check on him and he said the sick feeling had left and he thought he was able to come into service. He gave it his best effort, but the lights and the sound were just too much for him. He went straight to bed when we got home.

Thomas and Zach went in the bedroom to pray for their Daddy. I walked in and Lee had tears in his eyes. He said, ‘My boy (Thomas) is going to make me cry. He just laid hands on me and prayed like he was a big man. And it wasn’t no short prayer.’ We walked out and left him alone after that… within 5 minutes he came out of the bedroom and was like, ‘Your not going to believe this, but it’s gone. I’m fine.’ Talk about THANKFUL! He went to the fridge after that, heated up leftovers and ate. I know there were a lot of people lifting him up in prayer and God heard each one. I am thankful for the faith of a child and I am soooo THANKFUL for God’s healing power.

Looking past the storm...

It was soooo foggy at my house this morning.  We left the house to take Thomas to school and it was amazing how just a couple miles up the road it seemed like the sun had cut through the fog, but at my house I could barely see the neighbors house.  It reminded me of something that I've thought of a lot lately and I don't think I've shared, until now.
Something has stood out to me this summer that I've never really took the time to see before.  We've had stormy weather come through and that makes days dark and sleepy. Somedays you just wish you could see a little ray of sunshine to help lift your tired spirit. 
I've been in awe of the clouds this year.  Even in the midst of huge fronts and overcast sky, I've seen these openings in the sky.  Proof that behind that storm the sun is still shining.  It reminds me that even in the storms of my life, the SON is still shining. If I can press through my emotions and mind battles, I will get a little peak past my storm and be reminded that Jesus is still with me. 
Paul talks about thinking himself happy(Acts 26).  It's not always about how I'm feeling or even my circumstances.  Scripture tells us that God inhabits the praise of His people.  Praise isn't praise until it comes out of us in some form (speaking, singing, worship).  So, we praise, God inhabits, and then what happens?  Strength comes, healing comes, faith increases, mind battles leave, love comes, determination comes, comfort comes .... whatever your need God is the answer too and if he is inhabiting .... your answer is there.  I know I've said that part before, but it's an area I'm working on .... I've gotta get past the circumstances, past my feelings, and focus on the only answer and the best HOPE I've ever been given. 
That storm of your life is not bigger than your Savior.  If we keep pressing and keep holding on ... that hurricane or tornado in your life will be no more than a fog for the SON to cut through.

Jesus Can Do All That You Can't

I woke up with this song on my mind this morning.  I opened my devotional the verse it gave was a summary of Romans 4:18-19. 'Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed... Without weakening in his faith.' I then opened my Bible and read word for word what it said and a little extra.  It spoke to me and I hope it speaks to you also.

Romans 4:18-25

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

I LOVE the verse that says, 'He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.' I'm holding onto that one!  It just may be my new favorite.  :)

Mommy Moment # .... well I've lost count, but here it is...

We were rushing to get ready this morning.  So ready to get our day started when I started having pain in my shoulder.  It happens from time to time, usually last a day maybe two and then it goes away.  It doesn't normally leave right away.  I am a Mom of 3 and some days I probably push the limits of what I should really be doing, so it comes with the territory.  Well, it happened this morning and I really wanted to be a help today.  It was part of the 'plans' for the day and when it started I said out loud, 'Oh NO!  You can't do this today.  I have to help....'  Thomas asked what was wrong.  I told him that I was hurting and I needed it to go away.  Thomas and Zach's reply was, 'Mommy, God will take it away.'  So, I looked at him and said 'You're exactly right!  Pray for Mommy.'  They laid their little hands on my shoulder and prayed the prettiest little prayer I've ever heard.  While they were laying hands on me, my 19 month old comes over and lays his little hand on my other arm and looks down at the floor because (of course) he wants to do EVERYTHING those big brothers do.  They finished praying and I reached up to get Zach's shirt out of the dresser and wouldn't you know it, my pain was GONE!  I said, 'You know what!?!  It feels better already.'  Thomas in that little voice that just has it all together says, 'That's because I asked God to take it away fast, Mommy.' 

You've just got to love the faith of a child.  My boys are always telling each other that God will take their boo boos away.  And to them it's just that simple.  They ask and God is going to take care of it because that's just what He does.  He takes care of us.  It doesn't matter how he does it, they just know He's going to do it.  I've watched Thomas when he gets a scrape or cut.  We will clean it up and then every so often I'll catch him checking that thing out.  Then he will say something like, 'Look Mommy it's looking better already.  Jesus is taking it away.'  I want more of that child like faith because that child like faith is the kind that moves mountains!