No need to fear

During Session 4 of the Beth Moore Esther bible study Beth presented a "and if ____________then ___________ scenerio, for dealing with situations of fear in our lives. During small group I had expressed one of my fears and as soon as I felt it leave my mouth I knew it was a mistake. Sure enough I faced that very fear just a few nights later. I pulled out my bible study and began praying and going through the "and if" scenerios as they played out in my mind and soon I had pen in hand and was pouring my heart out unto the Lord in exhortation. Here is what I wrote:
The Lord is my helper and my shield, the Lord will remember me and bless me, both me and my children.
I love the Lord, he hears and answers my prayers. He bends down and listens as I pray. His mercy and grace endurath forever. He will never leave me nor forsake me. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord. How great is his loving kindness. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His rightousness never fails. All he does is just and good. My rightousness is as filthy rags before him. Who am I that he is mindful of me. He has shown me great love and mercy though I deserved it not. How marvelous is the heart of God. Who can know how great is his love. His peace flows like a river and beyone my understanding. All I am and all I have is the Lords.
He flooded me with blessed assurance to know that as long as my trust and faith were in him alone I had no need to fear.

Melancholy

Today is the last day of high school football my son Tayler will ever play. Its very bittersweet. He turned 18 years old a couple days ago, he is a high school senior, running headlong into adulthood and its almost more than a mothers heart can bear.
When you carry that baby within you and dream so many dreams for it, you can never imagine the day that they will desire to leave you behind. It comes way to fast and I feel so unprepared. We've had many struggles in his desire for independence and they have left us at odds more than once but the love and pride I have in him and the person I know he will become is immeasurable. I placed him in the hand of God the moment I knew I was going to have him and I know regardless of the paths he chooses now or how far they seem from God....they will ultimately lead him back to the hand of God and his divine destiny for Taylers life. So, I will go to the game tonight, I will cheer my heart out and relish every moment of the clock ticking down and I will mark an end to this chapter and look forward to the next and every up and down it might bring as I see my sweet baby boy (my rebellious teenager) take another step toward becoming a man.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

We had a beautiful praise and worship service this week at church and I truly love our music of today, but there are times (like this weeks service) when nothing speaks to the soul like an old hymn, written in the midst of traversity to withstand the test of time. I wonder if they speak to anyone else they way they do me.....Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, Because He Lives....they speak to a place deep in my soul, I know the writers of the songs lived and breathed every word they wrote because it resonates with each stanza, and it feels me with hope and strength that I can face tomorrow, that I am assured Jesus is mine that because of his amazing grace I have been forgiven and set free........this is one of my favorites one I have sung many many times to bring peace to my situation and calm to my troubled circumstances.



Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know "Thus saith the Lord"



Chorus:



Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I've proved Himo'er and o'er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!



O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

Just in simple faith to plunge me

"Neath the healing, cleansing flood!


Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.


I'm so glad I learned to trust Him,

Precious Jesus, saviour, friend;

And I know that He is with me,

Will be with me to the end.

Words

I have a thing about words.....I love them. I love to read them and look at them and think about them.
One simple word can say so much or so little. One word can convey a whole mirad of emotion or be
completely devoid of any emotion at all. Words are thought provaking and can be completely thoughtless.
Words conjure up beautiful images and memories....sights and smells.....wonderful feelings. Some words bring feelings of regret, hurt or remorse. Today I'm thinking of good words.......words to cause smiles and feelings of happiness. These words remind me of my Esther bible study and the women who are participating. I think they are all princesses and goddessess......full of grace and beauty and strength, each one individual and unique in their own right. I have come to love them so much and find such treasures in each and every one of them. So here's to my Esther Ladies and a few of the words I think of when I think of them.

Random thoughts going through my mind

achievement great love power action against Aging ambition beautiful beauty beginning belief belittle Bible bold Boldness brain chance choice clarity comfort compliment confidence confident conflict courage creation creativity

...just a few of the words I have running around my mind concerning my life and the lives of those I love. Each word holds a bounty of emotions and thoughts and ideas. I have never really paid that much attention to blogs but lately a friend of mine has been really digging into them and as she would share with me the lives of these women I became inspired by them and their courage to put their hearts out there for the world to see. To share richly of themselves and their lives. I felt drawn to start a blog myself ....a place I can give of myself and hopefully enriched someone elses life.....a place others can respond and bless my life in return. So here it goes.....bear with me as I figure this thing out. I pray abundant blessings for all of you today and every day. I pray your hearts will be full of the great things of God, so full it spills out onto everyone you come in contact with.