A Full Faith Tank...

Yesterday our worship leader at church made a comment about our level of faith in correlation to our level of expectation. To be totally honest this hit me right between the eyes. Made me sit up a bit straighter. Kind of scolded me really. I feel I've always prayed believing whole heartedly that God hears and will answer my prayers, however He sees fit.

In saying that, what I do know is He DOES ALWAYS answer! And everything seems to be O.K. in the end because He is in it. There are many times when He speaks and gives hope in the midst of a situation that gives direction to my prayers. This whole house thing is one of them. We received news that we have an offer on the house. Even now, I'm hesitant to let all of this out because of, well, fear I guess. I have, for some reason, not let my heart be totally free to trust in the path He has shown us.

What came to the surface is although the circumstances in which we have to sell the house just down right stink, God has laid out a plan for us and given us glimpses of how He is going to take care of it all. Why I'm hesitant is because when I look all around me people I know and don't know struggle through this process so terribly and seem to have such a difficult time dealing with lenders, banks, and real estate agents. Why would our situation be any different? But, somehow it is.

And, that's where I've been scolded! I can't look at what is happening around me and allow those factors to change my faith and knowledge of what God has said and done in my life over the years. He's proven Himself faithful time, and time, and time again. Why would this time be any different? I have to believe that it isn't. It's time for me to believe whole-heartedly. To not fear what is seen, but trust in the unseen. It's time for me to get me hopes up in God again! I think that's something I was holding back to protect me from pain. And, there is no freedom in that.

So, as of today I declare my faith tank FULL! I believe in God's vision and plan for this situation...what we know and don't know fully. That is what He wants for me and I will live in it!


Time to start packing!

Small town love...

I've grown to love this small town I live in. No, adore is more like it. Being a big city girl up until 10 years ago I never could have imagined feeling this way. You see, it's not the town itself, but the people. God has seen to it to surround me in the past 12 to 18 months with the most beautiful (inside and out) girlfriends.

Today I was feeling a little blue. I don't know if it's A) The weather B) The fact that spring break is a very long 2 weeks C) Waiting for this house to sell keeps me on pins & needles or D) All of the above. After a long, gray day at home I didn't have the desire to get up and go anywhere but J-Dawg had Tae Kwon Do. So, I dropped him off and drove myself to the BEST little coffee shop in the land.

It's not uncommon to run into people you know around town, but today it was 2 of the gals pictured here that I ran into.Soon the gray of my day was lifted. Such sweet, kind souls. They have no idea how much I needed some "girl-chat". I love all these girls so much, and know God's timing is perfect! Thank you to Him, and my friends for lifting me up!

Consider it a sheer gift....

I am more and more aware that the ups and downs in this life are mainly a challenge to my character and my faith. I have been struggling for the past 6 months to keep a healthy and virtuous perspective of the financial difficulties that have caught up with us.

God has been so good to us. We forged through much of the economic down turn of the past few years. Our company stayed strong. Our employees and bills were being paid as other companies around us were laying people off or going out of business all together. Doug and I knew we weren't immune to this struggle, but have been grateful to have made it this far.

Now that this economic crisis has hit us personally I am finding myself having to check my attitude and perspective hourly! In our humanness we are so weak and vulnerable to a pity party that it takes a lot of fortitude and prayer to stay right-minded and thankful for what is of most value in our lives.

My desire is to remain positive, grateful, and most of all have a spirit that honors God in all I say and do through this season. It is a daily, if not hourly, challenge. But, I will win this one! For I know if God is for me who can stand against me?

Please pray that our house sells quickly. I am believing that God is going to bless us beyond what we could imagine. Also, pray that we are quick to hear His direction and see what path to take...or at least enough wisdom and discernment to step out in faith and trust His He will guide us.

Holding tight to this scripture:

James 1 (The Message)

¹I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! Faith Under Pressure

^2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

^5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

^9-11When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

¹²Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

^13-15Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

^16-18So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

Provision in Obedience

My devotional time this morning began with a quiet house, hot cup of coffee, and....the book of Numbers & Mark. I will admit that Numbers is not one of the more inspiring books for me to read, and as I checked my reading guide for today I was a little disappointed.

Silly me. God never disappoints when we are ready to meet with Him! I had to write about this today because of my silliness and because of how He spoke to me with regards to this season in my life.

Numbers 28. God is instructing Moses about daily burnt offerings and other burnt offerings in addition to the daily ones. As I was reading it occurred to me...that is A LOT of animals! I thought to myself, "The Israelites would have had to have an abundance of animals!" Then the light went on...let it sink in just a minute......

God instructed them to do something, yet He is the one that provided the abundance. All the Israelites had to do was obey. He would do the rest!

Mark 8 went along with the same idea. Jesus fed the multitude with 7 loaves and a few fish even when the disciples grumbled. Jesus' compassion for the people seeking Him overwhelmed Him to provide for their basic need.

This was an encouraging start to my day. God has called Doug and I to venture into a new season. If we don't step up to the altar we will miss His blessings!

God will provide the blessing as long as we obey the calling!

CAN I GET A WITNESS???

Let me just say this first: GOD IS GOOD....ALL THE TIME! O.k., now that we have that understanding here's the latest.

Times are tough. We are in the construction industry. Pretty much enough said right? Doug and I have wrestled many times over the past year about the fate of our business, employees, house, stuff, etc., knowing full well God ultimately is in control of it all, and for that we are so very grateful. Last summer we began to come to terms with the fact that selling the house and getting out before we were sucked under may be the right thing to do. We even found a house that got our attention as a possible replacement. Our hearts were willing although mine I'll admit was a bit sad. We built this house. It's got Doug and I written all over it. We have a quiet piece of property, an amazing view of the Sisters mountains, and it's conveniently located for being "out-of-town". There is a shop to store the construction business supplies and the property to hold the big equipment and a home office to keep us all together. Yet, we were still willing to check out other possibilities, and in the end did not feel we were to move forward at that time.

Fast forward about 6 months. We're feeling the squeeze of the economy all over again. We're also feeling God squeezing our hearts and speaking to us about simplifying. The house that got our attention last summer is still available. I feel we are both at peace now about really leaving this house and moving towards the next adventure. But the details! Seriously! Who is selling a house like this in the market we are in? It'll be a miracle to break even!

Friend, He is SO into the details isn't He? I mean really we've all witnessed them! An astonishing sunrise or sunset. The countless stars in a clear night sky. How about the changing of the seasons and the wonderment of color and beauty they each display? I could go on and on, but the bottom line is how much more is He involved in the life details of those He loves!

You know the story in the New Testament where the fishermen had been casting their nets all day with not a single fish to show for it, and then Jesus shows up and tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Weary and uncertain the fishermen try one last attempt at a previously fruitless act of the day, and miraculously their nets just about broke because it was overflowing with fish!

Well, here we go. We are going to cast our net into the real estate market that has been coming up empty for a long time! Believing Jesus is going to show up at the right moment and fill our net to overflowing!

This is the reason I've titled this "Can I get a witness". If this is God really moving us in a different direction, and not our own human nature, then it's going to have to have His finger prints all over it! And, if He does what it feels like He's doing all of the glory will be to Him and Him alone. Having said all that I go back to the beginning and say again...God is good all the time. If this isn't a direction He's leading physically but maybe just stretching our faith and keeping our true hearts' desires aligned with His then that's good too. We'll ride the ride with Him at the controls and be His witnesses all along the way.

It's Tough Being a Woman

I love this title of the Beth Moore Bible Study I've just started. It's all about Esther. I haven't been part of a woman's bible study for 4 years now. My heart strings have been tugged for a few months as God is working on a new season in my life. He impressed upon me that it was time not only to dig into His word with a study, but also to surround myself with Godly women in my community and reach out for new friendships.

The book of Esther teaches us to trust in the promises of God's word even when we can't hear Him or feel His presence. That's faith! That's what I want!

I'm so excited to find out what divine appointments wait for me at every turn of the page!