God promises

Yesterday on our way home from an exhausting, yet fun filled day, we were hit by a massive rain storm. The boys got soaked and were crying like their skin was about to melt off. As the storm passed and the sun started coming out, I kept reminding them it was the PERFECT time for a rainbow. Sure enough....

What a beauty! It had been years since I had seen a full blown rainbow like that and boy did it bless my socks off! Instantly the attitude in the car changed from sour to awe. As we got a little closer to home the rainbow seemed like it was following us. This is a shot in our neighborhood....

And then finally as we approached our driveway, the rainbow was positioned perfectly right over our home. I just can't tell you how much moments like that make me feel so close and loved by God. Click on the pictures to see larger.

We had lots of time to discuss the rainbow and why God created rainbows. For those of you who don't remember, it was God's promise to Noah that He would never flood the earth to destroy people and animals again (Genesis 9:8-17). This got me thinking a lot about God's promises. There are so many. "Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4. There, it says it right there in the Bible that God has given us promises. So many that if I could remember them, and claim them, maybe it would take some anxiety out of my daily living. It's easy to worry about the future, but when God makes a promise, He keeps it. I'm listing below a few of my favorite promises from the Bible.

1. Peace - This is something that some people may never have in their hearts. I find that when I get busy in life, or my mind starts to worry about things that really are out of my control, I lose my peace. But, God has freely given us this peace anytime we ask or seek it.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

2. God has given us a way to get to heaven. No it's not by being a good person, even though that's important. But he doesn't want us to ever boast that we worked our way to heaven. There's nothing that we could ever do that is good enough to get us there. God promises us full forgiveness of our sins through faith and acceptance of His son Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:8,9, 1Cor 15:3, Eph 1:7, Col 1:14,Is 53:5,6...I could list scripture for hours that promises the redemption through Jesus Christ...truly this is the best fulfilled promise in the bible or the history of the world.)

3.Guidance - Let's be honest. You don't really get a personalized handbook that comes with your child. Both of my children are completely different and come with their own set of challenges and joys. God promises us that He will guide us and instruct us, in all decisions, but especially raising our children (no matter how crazy they may be at times!) Ps 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye". We've got the bible to help us as our handbook but in case if that isn't enough for you, God promises to leave you a special helper that is always with you. Jn 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

4. You will find Him when you need Him - Sometimes you can get in a place that's dark and you just don't feel God's presence. But He promises time and time again, if you seek Him, You WILL find Him. Lk 11:9,10,13, Mat 6:33, Ps 34:4, Ps 50:15

5. Ability - Have you ever felt like you just don't have what it takes to be all God asks of you? God promises us that He will equip us with all we need to complete His will. Phil 2:13, Heb 13:21, Ps 18:32

There is so much more I could write about but these are a few of my favorites. I would love to hear some of your favorite promises too so leave me a comment if you want to share. Don't forget to see my post below and enter your email address into my Mother's Day drawing prize pack (remember you don't have to do anything it asks besides submit your name).

Claim God's promises as TRUTH! The Bible is full of them, go get you some!

My Mother's Day gift to YOU! - A GIVEAWAY!

Isn't this fun!? God laid this on my heart this morning to be a blessing to some mother this year. What we would spend on Mother's Day gifts is going to be given away to a mother who needs it just a little more than me. I'm praying over all of this, so please enter to win. Maybe you don't need it but you know of a mother who does. Or maybe YOU are just the mother that needs this encouragement. The drawing will end made on Mother's Day! Come back and enter more than once, and pass it on to a mother who needs it. Click below on the "Read More" icon and wait for the prize details to load (it does take a few seconds so be patient). * Update: I've had a few questions about entering. Here's the deal, this raffle service requires the person entering to do "something" to enter the drawing (such as like rafflecopter, like my post on facebook, etc.) I chose something easy and nobody keeps track if you really do it (YOU DO NOT REALLY HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BESIDES ENTER EITHER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR SIGN IN WITH FACEBOOK TO ENTER THE CONTEST, even though it prompts you to "like" "comment" whatever, you do not have to follow through with that): you can "like" my blog post, comment on my blog post, or comment on my blog post by answering a question "what is your biggest struggle as a mom and how can I pray for you?". Each task can enter you into the drawing multiple times according to the points assigned, the last question enters you in the contest the most times (I really want to know how I can pray for my fellow moms so I gave that the biggest reward entry- and even though you really do not have to do any of these things to enter, let me know how I can pray for you if you need it)! Thanks! Can't wait to see who wins!!

Tear hoarder (from She Speaks)

I wanted to re-post this devotional post because it kind of reminded me of, me! I used to do everything I could to keep from crying. I felt like it made me look so weak, and that really I'm an ugly crier. But this devotional is just so right on...so read on, and feel free to cry... sad tears, laughter through tears, joyful tears...it's all good!

a former hoarder

aninspirational entry on tears

I used to be a hoarder. For years I stored tears far from the eyes of anyone else. I simply refused to cry. Stock piling my tears started with one little tooth.
“Just tilt your head back, close your eyes and I’ll yank it out on the count of three…ready? 1…2…3!”
I was only six. Too little for that sharp surge of pain that rushed through my mouth. So of course it was only natural I burst into tears.
“You big cry baby!” That’s my dad for you. The big heroic tooth extractor laughed.
All I could do was whimper amid muffled sobs, “But it hurts!” I nursed the gaping hole in my gums with a soggy paper towel. My historic moment of bravery turned into one pathetic flop. I had proved myself an official wimp.
That sealed the deal. Crying became a strictly private and pretty much non-existent affair… even into my adult years. Any time I felt tears, like a dam about to burst, I forced them to stay where I thought they belonged: hidden deep within my soul for no one else to see.
When I stumbled across these two treasured lines my perspective on crying changed:

You [LORD] have collected all my tears in your bottle
You have recorded each one in your book. {Psalm 56:8}

I couldn’t believe it. Someone else wanted to store my tears! In a far better place than the corners of my heart. Isn’t it cool to think each droplet we’ve shed over our twenty-some years of experiences {including losing our first tooth} has been collected in a precious bottle? Held near and dear to our Father’s heart?
You see, God doesn’t laugh when we cry. He doesn’t tell us to toughen up or turn the page on our tears like they don’t exist. Instead, He picks us up on His lap and wraps us in His loving arms as we pour out our hearts to Him. Our Lord loves for us to let Him in on our deepest felt emotions.
Whatever your tears are about right now–unanswered prayers… unmet promises… uncertainties of life–they are seen and saved by the One who comforts and cares for our every need. If you’re a tear hoarder, may I encourage you? Open the floodgate of your heart and release your tears, sit quietly with the Lord and… listen. Journal. Or take a walk and give your tears to Him. His bottle is open and ready to catch every single one.
Something Else…
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” {2 Corinthians 1:3-4}
From http://www.sheseeks.org/2012/a-former-hoarder/

Monthly recap

I see it has been over a month since my last blog post! Yikes, I could be labeled as a slacker!
There's been a few significant things that have happened over the past month that may deserve their own blog. I'll try to just do the quick recap today.

Mid-March I went with 3 other ladies from my church to an Extraordinary Women Conference. I have no pictures of that event sadly, but the memories are imprinted in my heart. It was such a sweet time of refreshment and encouragement to me...I called it the CEUs (continuing education unit hours) of my spiritual walk. I really want to do a blog post about all God spoke to me during those 2 precious days. It was so amazing!!

A few weeks ago my dad started having some chest pains....the journey was a little long after that and ended up with him at Duke University where he underwent a quintuple bypass. It was pretty shocking to us all since he was pretty active.

Here he is after his surgery. He is recovering at home now. I told him I was grateful he chose spring break to have this happen so all four of us were able to be there with him during his hospital stay. I'm hoping to convince him to come stay with us a little while during his recovery process, since my mom is working and he is alone during the day. We would love the company!

Here's a pic of the boys at Easter. We spent Easter in Durham with my dad, mom, and sister's family. My dad was still in the hospital at Duke.

We are back home now. Noah started back to school yesterday after spring break. It was GREAT to just be home and get back in our routine. I love routine.

One last story and I promise I will try to be a more consistent blogger....
The other day Noah and Eric were doing a bible study together. Nathan was a little sad that he wasn't involved (the study is just a little too old for him), so I gave him a few large jewel beads from a necklace I had. He loves to carry rocks around and these had fun shapes and colors so it did the trick. However, yesterday one of these stone thingys was on the couch and Noah (!) decides to put it in his mouth and swallow it. I'm not sure why that happened but here's the picture of the stones compared to a quarter. They do things like that in cop shows to show scale so I thought I would be fancy.

He swallowed the solid pink one to the left. I'm so thankful he didn't choke! I called the jewelry company to make sure there was no lead in it. Noah has panicked ever since and has worried himself to death. Thankfully the stone passed today! yay! So thankful nothing bad came of that! Boys keep life interesting and fun! Although I'm certain they are making me grow gray!!
I'm hoping for more blog posts soon...