Saying goodbye to my 30's

Even though my 3rd decade was my absolute best ...

I still haven’t learned:
How to conquer laziness
How to plant a garden
How to die to self
Work now and play later
How to keep a plant alive
How to take care of myself
To hate or even dislike fast food
Consistency
How to control my anger
To have an organized and well kept house
Diligence
Eating candy doesn’t make me motivated or happy
How to “just do it”
How to sew
How to bake bread

How to play the guitar

To control my weight

But what I have learned, I hope to pass on to others and grow stronger still

I have learned:
God still speaks
When I am weak He is strong
When I think I stand then I am more susceptible to fall
Knowing my neighbors is a beautiful thing
God is completely sovereign and I can’t ruin His plan.
I have no idea what is going on in someone else’s life so I cannot judge them.
There is a difference between chocolate and “good” chocolate
When I obey God, wonderful things happen
My mom is an amazing person
Kids are a lot of work, but I wouldn’t trade mine for anything
Growth is doing something out of my comfort zone
Women’s Bible Study is powerful
Reading is fun
God is bigger than anything I can mess up
God’s way is so much better than my way could ever possibly be
Praying God’s will is different than praying for God to bless my will
Women are fun to be around and encouraging
God will put me where He wants me I just need to be available
Even when I think things can’t be better God surprises me
When I think I can’t go on, God sustains me
Even when I’m not, God remains faithful
I am only in control of my own spiritual life
I am not the Holy Spirit in other people’s lives
There is nothing I can do to earn God’s love or make Him love me more
I am still under construction
My Maker is in the business of making masterpieces

So, I welcome my new chapter in life. I say goodbye 30's and hello 40's. This next chapter is going to be even better than my last. It will bring adventure and growth in areas I didn't dream possible. My God is on the throne and He knows what He is doing! I am ready to take on the world!

But for now... I need to wash "loverboy's" muddy feet and clean up his footprints from the carpet.

The Sacrifice Lamb

I just love this song! I copied it from a dear friends website.

THE SACRIFICE LAMB

(Joel Chernoff)

Have you ever heard Messiah has come?

It says in His Word to cleanse every one

Atonement He made iniquity bore

That we can find life in Him evermore

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain

His blood on the alter a stain

To wipe away guilt and pain

To bring hope eternal

Salvation has come to the world

God's only Son to the world

Jesus the one for the world

Yeshua is He

The prophets of old

speak much of Messiah

His death is foretold the purpose is clear

Isaiah did say 'twas for an atonement

To give us a way that leads not to death

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain

His blood on the alter a stain

To wipe away guilt and pain

To bring hope eternal

Salvation has come to the world

God's only Son to the world

Jesus the one for the world

Yeshua is He

So brothers of mine look not to yourselves

For we are but one we all need His help

We've broken the Law but He paid our debt

That we can find life by Yeshua's death

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain

His Blood on the alter a stain

To wipe away guilt and pain

To bring hope eternal

So final atonement has come

And brought us new hope by God's Son

If you will believe in your heart

Yeshua you'll know

Who Killed Jesus?

Was it Roman soldiers, with their tools of war?
Driving nails through hands that did no wrong?
Mocking and abusing, crowning Him with thorns,
All the evidence is very strong.

Ch: Who killed Jesus many years ago?
Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did He have to die, what is the reason why?
Who Killed Jesus? I would like to know.

Was it Pontius Pilate? He was governor,
Trying to decide the case that day-
Finding that the Savior had no fault His own,
Was he guilty when he turned away?

Ch: Who killed Jesus many years ago?
Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did He have to die, what is the reason why?
Who Killed Jesus? I would like to know.

Was it Hebrew children, proud of who they were?
Shouting, “Crucify Him?” at their King?
Trading their Messiah for a common thief,
Turning down the kingdom He could bring.

Ch: Who killed Jesus many years ago?
Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did He have to die, what is the reason why?
Who Killed Jesus? I would like to know.

When I think of Jesus and the way He died,
How upon Him all my sin was laid,
all the other people fade away from view,
It’s for me the sacrifice was made.

2nd Ch: I no longer wonder anymore—
I have found what I’ve been searching for!
My sin demanded hell—on Him the judgment fell—
I am guilty, now it’s plain to see—
that it was really me!

This song was one of my all time favorites growing up as a kid, especially after I came to know the Lord as my personal Lord and Savior (I don’t know the author).

Today marks the anniversary of my “Spiritual Birthday”. Thirty-two years ago on this day, I asked my mom a question that changed my life forever. “If Jesus was killed on this day why do we call it good?” My sweet mother sat me down, a new believer herself, and explained to me that I was not perfect and that is the only way to get into heaven. Jesus who was perfect died on this day many years ago to pay for my sins. All I needed to do was believe in Him and that He died for me and I could go to heaven. So it was a “good” day because if Jesus hadn’t died we would have no way to get to heaven.

Only eight at the time, I didn’t have any questions or doubts about what she was saying. It made perfect sense to me. I didn’t need her to prove it, she was my mom and I had seen evidence in her life and my dad’s the entire year before. Something was different about them, Jesus had changed their lives. So I prayed with my mother and my life was forever changed also. Not perfect by any means, but definitely forgiven.

Isaiah 53:5-6 “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

If You Could Send a Letter?

This is a poem that came to me in the shower when I was visiting my parents over a year ago. It was so strong that I had to write it down immediately. It scared me because I wondered who it was for. Only a few days later, my friend unexpectedly lost her 10 year old daughter Madison. This poem was for her. I added the last four verses at that time and sent it to the family. I am so amazed when God uses me, and there is no mistake in knowing it is Him not me. I thought today I would post it, since it has been one year since Madison went to be with Jesus.

If you could send a letter
What would you say?
A day is really as a thousand
And a thousand only as one day?

Are His Almighty arms
Small enough to hold you tight,
Do you have to shield your eyes
From His Heavenly Holy light?

How is it living without time?
Do you have nights and days?
Do you know what lies before us?
Do you understand all His ways?

If you could send a letter
Would you be able to share?
What your eyes behold
Or is their nothing to compare?

Would you even want to write about
The things that have passed your eyes?
Or is it just too glorious
And you don’t want to ruin the surprise?

I wish I could see you up there in heaven
Do you dance before the King of Kings?
Do you speak with His Angels?
What are the songs that you sing?

What is it like to stand before Him
Seeing Jesus face to face?
To be in the presence of the Creator
To be held in His embrace?

Oh how I wish you could send us a letter
Even though we know you are doing well
Just to hear from you what it is like
With the Everlasting Father to dwell

How is life for you my darling,
Free from your earthly shell
With eyes that see, a mouth that speaks
Perfect arms and legs that didn’t work so well?

God allowed us to be blessed by you
Our hearts long for you my child
Your memory will live on in our hearts
We will miss your happy smile

If you could write a letter
Would you be excited just to say,
The many things you couldn’t do here
You do over and over every day?

I look forward to the time
When we will see you again.
God heal our broken hearts, restore our joy
We love you, Madison.

First reaction - PRAY

Today an interesting thing happened. Horrifying to me actually, but I just had to write about it.

I had to pick up "Lover Boy" early from preschool because he wasn't feeling too well. I didn't mind except that it cut my visit short with a dear friend. The weather had really started to change quickly and by the time we were leaving from picking up "Curious George" from his pre-K class the wind had picked up and it was snowing.

I "strongly" suggested we get to the car quickly because of the cold, but I did not say go crazy and start pushing each other. As we approached the gate to get out of the school yard, "Curious George" unlatched it and was through it in a flash. I'm not sure what happened with "Lover Boy", but he missed and ended up hitting the handle (that sticks straight out) with his face. At first I thought it was his forehead that was hit. As he screamed in pain we rushed to the car to get out of the wind so I could look at him more carefully. I asked him what he had hit and with his eyes closed shut he said his eyeball.

I laid hands on him and prayed immediately, asking God to protect his vision, protect his eye and help me to be calm. Then I made him open his eye. It was dark red and his tears that I wiped with a tissue were pink. I started to panic and prayed again. When I finished I was still shaking, all I could think about was how hard he hit that handle. I examined his eye again. There wasn't even a hint of pink, he looked at me and said,"no hurt no more mommy". Praise God! I couldn't hold back my tears of gratitude and awe.

Thank You Lord for protecting my baby!

On the way home the conversation was about losing eyeballs and how to pop them back in. Whether or not they bounce and what it would be like to be blind in one eye. I smiled as my 5 year old and 3 year old discussed these things, knowing full well the truth, that God stepped in and protected my son from a very real and scary situation.