QT - God's plans

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

To me this is so important to know and see. There are so many days when I wake up and not know what's going to happen that day. Knowing that God makes our plans and He can give us hope and a future, well, this just makes life much easier. No matter what happens, He's in control. We get to choose our path to take, but He will lay it out before us. He can allow us to sin and learn from that. Isn't that what life is all about? Growing and learning each day. Becoming a better person than we were the day before?

Even on fun days like today, Halloween, God has a plan. I'm excited for today. The kids can have fun. Plus I get my van back from the shop. It's being repaired... big time. Between new tires and breaks and all the other things being repaired, it should drive like it did a few years ago. I'm just grateful that we can afford to fix it. I can remember when we had a Ford Escort (long time ago thank goodness) and it needed a tune up. That seemed to be an arm and a leg for us financially. Today God has given us so much to be grateful for.

We've now been in our house 9 years and 1 day. For me this was such a major thing. God wanted us here. He allowed things to play out so we could move to this town, and in this house. He worked things out and made it clear to me that this is where He wants us. I know that because He helped us get this house and keep it when we were under financial distress, He still wants us to be here. There is still work to be done for Him here. I don't know who or where, but whatever it is I will do the best I can to live for Him and show others His love.

Acts 17:26bNIV and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

Deuteronomy 6:5 NIVLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Did you know that this is repeated 9 times in the Bible? This is the most important thing for us. Unfortunately, some people use this as the only thing to get them to heaven. It's not. There's so much more to it... we get there by the grace of God!

Today I will allow my heart to be lifted by God. To be focused on Him. He has made a beautiful day today. Clear sky, sun shinning and warm weather for us (a rarity for Halloween). I want to totally soak it up and enjoy every moment of it.

QT - Teach Me,Lord, to Wait

Lyrics:
Teach Me, Lord, To Wait

Teach me, Lord, to wait down on my knees;
Till in Your own good time You will answer my pleas.
Teach me not to rely on what others do;
but to wait in prayer for an anwer from You.

Teach me, Lord, to wait while my heart's all aflame.
Let me humble my pride and call on Your name.
Keep my faith renewed; keep my eyes fixed on You.
Let me be on this earth what You want me to be.

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not faint.
Teach me, Lord, teach me, Lord, to wait.

Ok, this is such a powerful song. I wanted to change my QT just a little today. Music is such a part of my life and this is why. I can feel God hugging me and comforting me when I am down. When I sing I can rejoice with God about all things. Even about the things that I struggle with.

I've been listening to a bunch of Christian songs again. I have missed it so much. God's voice is through music, through art, through everything if we allow it.

So this song... what's it's meaning? Hello! BE PATIENT. God will take care of us. He knows our needs and wants. He knows our thoughts and loves. What we're passionate about and what drives us to our last nerve. Only with Him can we truely be what He wants us to be.

So...

Teach me, Lord, to wait down on my knees;
Till in Your own good time You will answer my pleas.
Teach me not to rely on what others do;
but to wait in prayer for an anwer from You

Teach me to pray for the things I must wait for. Teach me NOT to rely on others. Gee, that's nice and simple for us. I know that if we rely on others we will be disappointed. If we rely on God... we won't. So focus on praying to God about what we desire.

Teach me, Lord, to wait while my heart's all aflame.
Let me humble my pride and call on Your name.
Keep my faith renewed; keep my eyes fixed on You.
Let me be on this earth what You want me to be.

Gee... while my heart is torn apart and I feel miserable.... teach me how to wait. Humble me. Break down my pride.... help me to call on YOU when all these things are happening to me. Keep my faith renewed and strong. Help me to stay focused on You and not on what the world is doing. Make me what YOU want me to be. Let me live for YOU.

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not faint.
Teach me, Lord, teach me, Lord, to wait.

The ending is so true. We need to wait for You. My strength will continue to grow with You. You will help me to soar through the air like an eagle. We can run and not grow tired, or get a cramp in our side.

Learning to wait for what God wants for us is so difficult. We are such a people that wants things NOW. I'm seeing that as I wait for the things I pray for, my faith grows. That I can start to see the pure beauty of all His creations.

It's amazing to see the creations and how He's allowed things to happen in our lives to be where we are today. For me to be where I am today. I have a hard time with thinking about the past. For some reason my nature is to look at the negative (in my head), so I am working diligently at focusing on TODAY and all the wonderous things going on. Watching a spider spin a web. Watching my cat sleep on his back, teeth showing like a little tiger. Listening to the laughter of ANYONE. Ok, kid laughter is the best, but I'll take any true laugh.

Music can be so uplifting if we allow it. God's word can be shared in many ways. Thankfully there is now the internet where we can show how much He is working in our lives.

I am truely grateful for being shown the truth of His word. Seeing that He cares for us and wants us to be with Him. How He can truely take care of us and gives us so much. Do we realize what He does give us? Not all the time.

What did I recieve today? God's love. He gave me the energy to work today. To start getting caught up with what I missed last week when I was sick. To laugh and smile today. He gave me the white blood cells to fight off this cold and become healthy again. He gave me clothing to wear today. The sun is shining brightly. He gave us music! He gave me my family... my husband, kids and everyone else that I know. I have great friends. God has put them in my life.

I am truely grateful for the things He has given me today.

God is love
God loves us
God wants our love

Smile - God's watching

God's love

I am so amazed by His love for us. He has given us so much and yet I fail to give him half of it back. I want to share my hopes with others. I want people to see what God has done for me and my life.

When I look back on my life, things could have turned out so differently. I could have stayed a bitter person and not trusting God. However, He allowed my heart to be opened and see what He had in store for me. God has brought so mugh love into my heart that I need to share it today. Unfortunately, laryngitis has struck so this is how I will share.

I went from a person who felt like a victim. Always feeling like a victim. Always unsure of my purpose here. Always wanting someone to save me from whatever was going on. I have learned that no human can do this. It is only God that can bring me out of the pit of dispare. He has allowed me to go through so much, which I feel it has allowed me to become a better person.

I am grateful for those who supported me through out all my sinful years of fear and depression. Today I sit here, feeling God's love in me. I may still suffer from satan's attacks, but I know where to go now. I seek God with an open heart and I will be just fine.

Being a true disciple of Jesus is so difficult. No matter what anyone says. You have to live like no other. Put God first. This is not an easy task since we are such a self centered being. God wants us to love him as he loves us. Can you imagine that? He wants us to love HIM.

My trials as a Christian is minimal. I have the freedom of my beliefs. I can pray whenever I want to. I can tell people about God if I want to. I live in a free country where I will not be tortured or killed because I believe in Him. The trials I have gone through in the last 11 years have been nothing compared to others.

God wanted me to be able to share His love with others. So he put me in the circumstances which I can handle and learn from. In my younger days (you know the stupid years before I learned what a true christian is), I was so sinful in so many ways. I always thought that if I were a good person, I would get to heaven. I knew I was missing something. I know that's not the complete truth. People take His word and mix it with what they want. God wants us to get to Him. He wants ALL of us to see his beauty and love. Why can't we all see it?

Not going to answer that question. I know God has a reason for things to be the way it is now. I know that my life is now for His work. He will be number ONE in my life.

Some have asked me about why I'm still married to someone who has different beliefs than me. Well, it's not difficult to understand. Just because Will isn't a true christian, doesn't mean that it won't happen some day. I have faith that God is working on Will's heart, always. I have faith that God will give him a new job where he can be less stressed. I have faith that we will get to see Will's heart change even more. For him to see God's love. To wake up in the morning and see the beautiful day He's given us.

I want so much for my family and friends to see these things. I am unsure how to explain things, but I know that as long as I continue to live for God, HE will win the battle. HE will be seen by more than just a few. People can see God for the truth. For how wonderful he is.

I guess the most important thing to me is that I continue on this journey. I may not have a voice today, physically, but I know that God is still working powerfully in me. He can make the world a better place. But it starts with me.

God has give me so much that I can't even discribe it. I love Will more today than I did when we got married. Sure we have our problems, but I know that God still wants us to be together. That God has big plans for our family. God kept us together for a reason. To all my friends that knew us before... maybe for them to see the truth about God. God can do amazing things in our lives, but we need to allow him to do them.

I just pray that God continues to light my path brightly, so I can see which one He wants me to follow. Bright neon signs would be nice, but I know it's not that simple. So for now I will continue to work on my faith in Him and follow His word.

Matt 22:
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

This is the truth of Him.

QT Proverbs 5

Proverbs 5: 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
turn your ear to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.
Hey! Pay attention! Listen to me!
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
Straying to another seems easy.
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.
It hurts everyone envolved.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
Following the sin will lead you away from God.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
Satan's sins go all over.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
Pay attention to God's word!
8 Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
Turn your back from satan.
9 lest you lose your honor to others
and your dignity [a] to one who is cruel,
Don't give in to Satan.
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich the house of another.
You will loose everything God has promised.
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.
You will be in anguish your whole life.
12 You will say, "How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!
You will say... "I didn't listen"
13 I would not obey my teachers
or turn my ear to my instructors.
"I just didn't listen to God."
14 And I was soon in serious trouble
in the assembly of God's people."
God's people saw my sin.
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?
Sin will overflow.
17 Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
You will be blessed and happy.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
May your spouse take care of you.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man's wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
Why be sinful?
21 For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
and he examines all your paths.
God will lead us down the right path.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
the cords of their sins hold them fast.
Sin will hold onto you.

Well, God wants us to be happy with our spouse. He wants to make sure we follow His word. This is a warning for us. This is a sin, stay with your spouse, be faithful to him/her. I know this is written to a man but you can change it around to be for a woman as well.

Honestly, today I am struggling with my QT. The grass is always greener ... I hate that thought, but sometimes it is. I know it's sinful, I am trying to focus on what God wants me to do. What is His will? I pray that God can shine the light on the path he wants me to take. I know that if I follow God, all will be good. I will get to dance and party in heaven. Ok, you know, I can't dance on earth so it will be nice to dance in heaven.

This is what I am focusing on. Being faithful to Him. Following His lead. I want to be loved by God, in a stong way.

I want to see the awesome things he does in my life as only He can see them. I want to see through His eyes, just like the song says.

23 For lack of discipline they will die,
led astray by their own great folly.

QT Proverbs 4:

Proverbs 4:1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
"Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get [a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, [b] get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one's whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the [c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Well, this is it. Tells me exactly what to focus on... God and his word. It is very clear that God wants us to follow him and his teachings. Not to stray from them and let satan in our lives. He knows that satan will try to get us, but if we are careful and stay focused on what God wants for us, we can get through it and be away from evil.

This is just amazing to me. God really wants a relationship with me. I'm reading a book called "Captivating - Unveiling the Mystery of a Women's Soul". This is an awesome book. It has shown me that God is the "Knight in shinning armor" that us women are truely looking for. It's amazing if you let him romance you... he will. This morning God made something really wonderful for me. I went to let the dogs outside. When I looked up at the sky there was a beautiful cloud front. I think these are so amazing. There's a layer of dark rain clouds, dreary and gray. A line of beautiful blue sky went from one side to the other as God pushed those clouds away for me to see the beautiful BLUE of the sky. It's so amazing to watch a cloud front move. Nice straight line of yuk followed by beautiful blue sky. This was His gift to me this morning. This book is allowing me to see God for the prince charming He really is.

For me, struggling with a pile of junk in my head, I really needed this. I need to allow God to remove these piles of junk out of my head. I still need to learn how to do this, but it will happen. I want to heal and totally enjoy life. My life is great and I should be able to enjoy every day.

I just pray that Will can see His work soon. So that God can reach in and take out what hurts Will. I know this is why he has a hard time being happy. He just doesn't see what God's given him.

I thank God that I have been given this opportunity to see what a great and awesome God he really is.

Annie

Well, last night I went to see Caitlynn's school musical Annie. They did such a great job. I am totally impressed with these kids. Everyone who worked so hard on the production did a great job. It reminded me so much of high school and the stuff we did. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat... that was so much fun. I know I didn't have any big part, just part of the chorus, but that alone was great.

Will's class reunion is in a few weeks. He doesn't want to go. I don't blame him. When I went to mine last year I thought it would be better. It wasn't bad, just not too many of my high school friends were there.

Just to remember those fun days is a good life. I needed a lift and that was last night watching my 15yo have so much fun on stage. She really did. I'm so proud of her. I know she really wanted to make it to the church homecoming dance, but the show is on the night of the dance so she can't. She persevered though, stuck it out and is doing Annie. It's a wonderful show that they've done. I can't wait to see it again.