Tales of a Thankful Mom

          In times of uncertainty, when my thoughts are swirling around in my head, I need to focus on what I know to be true. I need truths that are an anchor for my soul. I need to remember that God is on His throne. He is in control. I need to trust in His goodness. I need to be still and quiet my soul and remember that God is God.  He can see fully, whereas I only have a partial view. I need to trust that God is at work, even when the circumstances seem impossible. He is my refuge, as I pour my heart out to Him. He is with me. He is Immanuel, God with us. This is not just a truth I want to remember during the advent season, but every season of my life. What truths do you hold on to, during difficult seasons? Please share them with me in the comments below.

            Psalm 40:2  He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock and made my footsteps firm. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.           I love firmly made plans. I do not like things that are penciled in. Please set it in stone. Ironically, as a Mom many of my plans need to be penciled in as life can be very unpredictable. I am the type of person who likes knowing what is expected of me, and I do not like those expectations to change. I am so thankful that my foundation is firmer than concrete. I have been stuck in the pit of despair, feeling like I would never break free from the miry clay of my circumstances. God sent a rescue team for me. What amazes me about my rescue is that he set things in motion before I even realized that I needed rescued. My rescue team working in His streng...

           I do not like the word if. My mind tends to run away with the phrases "what if" and "If only." I have spent too much time wondering "what if," Asking what if is not really helpful, and can just send my thoughts in an unhealthy spiral. Ruminating on if only just causes me to stay focused on what I wished would have happened in the past instead of focusing on the present and looking toward the future. I have also recently realized that I sometimes do not want to slow down and grieve the losses that I face in the present. If I put off grieving unitl some far off future point than the shadow of grief will contiuue to follow me, taking the joy out of the present. I don't want to live life that way. I need to bring my "what if's" and "if only's" to God and leave them at His feet. When these thoughts come to mind again, I need to once again surrender them to God. As I continue to pour my heart out to God, He can fill my ...

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬             I Can choose what I think about. I can let my mind wander entertaining any thought that comes to mind, or I can I ask myself a simple question. Is this thought true?  I can fire the negative committee that sometimes wants to camp out inside my head, and chose to focus on all that I have to be thankful for instead. It is a choice to realize that the racing thoughts are only causing more anxiety, and to choose grace for myself and others and  gratitude instead. What helps you remember to focus on truth?

 1 John 5:11 11  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son                My story has some messy, broken parts. It has parts that I wish were different. I want to tell my story and share my story with others. I want to tell others that God can rescue them from situations that seem impossible. I know this because God rescued me. He rescued me from years of domestic violence. It is really amazing to look back at my life and see where I providentially met people who were "the hands and feet" of Jesus to my children and me. I had lost hope, but these individuals did not give up on me. I want to share the love, grace and comfort others have shared with me with people that God places in my life. "Oh, to tell you my story is to tell of Him" Do you have a story that you would like to share? I would love to read about it in the comments below.   

 Psalm 23: 1 The  Lord  is my shepherd, I lack nothing.           This is a beautiful promise from scripture. Because the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. This reminds me of another truth.  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3. We have all things needed for life and godlines through the knowledge of him! I don't know about you, but this promise deeply encourages me. This brought to mind what Paul said to the Philippians about contentment.  I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ( Phil. 4:11–13 )  May I remember and meditate on these verses on difficult days when the...

  “Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.” –  Wendell Johnson.           If I use the word always, may I use it in the context that God is always faithful to keep his promises. Psalm 71:22, NLT …"You are faithful to your promises, O my God." If I use the word never may it be to remind myself that you will never leave me or forsake me. Deuteronomy 31:6 "6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” I tell my children when they use the words always or never that many times when they use those words that those terms are an exaggreation, but when it comes to the promises of God always is a very appropriate term, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20. So, when I am tempted to us the words always and...