Reflections

It is the last day of the year and it is inevitable that we take inventory of the year past. What worked and what didn't. What was hard and what was easy. What we learned and what we did or didn't accomplish. Then, usually, we make plans or goals for next year. This year, instead of sharing my goals and plans I am going to share with you my reflections of 2013. At the end of this post I am going to highlight four books that I read this year that were perspective changers for me.

Here are six words that describe my 2013~
Healing
Trust
Growth
Discipline
Determination
Grace

The following are things that in no way have I mastered. These are convictions, challenges, motivators and good things that have come from my past 365 days.

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Keeping a Thankfulness journal is therapeutic. There were so many days in 2013 that I woke up feeling awful. Feeling like I didn't want to get out of bed. Physically in pain not wanting to move. Depressed at my life's circumstances. Wanting to give up at times. Getting up and coming down to read my bible, do a devotional and write in my thankfulness journal almost always changed my perspective. There were always things to be thankful for. In fact, I live quite a blessed life in spite of autoimmunity and health problems. Those mornings it was challenging to make the choice to be thankful but when I did it forced me to think on the good things.
Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
There is a reason why God tells us to "Think on these things." They have power to change your mind and thoughts. I really recommend keeping a Thankfulness journal. Record a few thoughts or sentences each day of the things you are blessed by, what you are thankful for, or what you are grateful for. You can also record answered prayers which is a faith builder in and of itself!

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My family eats 100% different from the way we did at this time last year. What we eat (or don't) is radically different. This was not by choice, but in hindsight and presently I am grateful for the change. It has been a very long, hard journey (really that started almost three years ago) and there were many days when I didn't want to eat this so different. It can be inconvenient, time consuming, expensive, frustrating and require a lot of self-control. However, rewarding times in our life are never easy. They are always hard. We have seen major rewards from this change of eating an organic diet without grains, legumes, dairy, processed foods and refined sugar. I always eat full Paleo (and started on Intro Gaps early January) and my boys almost always eat Paleo and occasionally have Gluten free items (which include GF grains.) My husband eats Paleo except at various social times. The rewards have been major weight loss, lower blood pressure (in a family history of high blood pressure), great cholesterol labs, spinal inflammation in my husbands back is gone, healing in myself so that I can function daily with a above average energy level most days, & a lot less sicknesses from flu's and colds in our house. These things have made it all worth it. The rewards far outweigh the hardships and inconveniences.

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Daily time spent in God's word (The Bible) is vital to my life. This year I have developed a deep hunger and thirst for The Word and for God. I desire to know Him better, to learn from Him, to learn about Him, to trust in Him, to follow Him and to wait in Him and on Him. My desire has deepened - dark valleys do that. The valleys of the past 6 years have been dark, lonely (at times) and depressing but over time, through refinement by God, I desire to earnestly seek Him. I certainly fail still at times but my heart has started to become molded and crafted by His hands. This will take a lifetime and is painful but necessary. Through seeking Him daily, by spending uninterrupted time in His word and praying, I have deepened my relationship and understanding of my best friend- My Lord Jesus.

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I learned (once again) not to put anyone pedestal. Family, friends, celebrities, anyone that is a h.u.m.a.n. If we do this, we will always be let down. Always disappointed. We are human. Fallible humans. Not one is better than another. Acts 10:34 says God is not a respecter of persons. Status or worldly success or talents don't matter to Him. Galatians 3:28 says- There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. In other words, we are all equal in God's eyes. God created us equal and sees us that way so why should we hold up and create various "levels" for the human race?

It is not wrong to look up to someone or admire someone but know they are fallible and check your heart as to where you place them in your life. The only person infallible, trustworthy, worthy to be idolized and placed "above" is Jesus. Live for Him. Let Him be what motivates and guides you - not h.u.m.a.n.s.

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Don't miss relationship and special moments because of being sucked into a screen. Email, Facebook, blogs, pinterest, surfing the net and time spent with technology which is always ALL around us can be a HUGE distraction and opportunity killer. Balance must be found. Our families lives can fly by (unnoticed) while we are enveloped in technology. Relationship becomes void. Actual time spent is priceless and where relationships are built. Virtual time is so empty and ultimately SO lonely.

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Following mainstream societal ways can be a big detriment to our well being (in many ways, but I will be focusing on health here.) Following God's path as opposed to the worlds is what God calls us to do. That means we have to be different. Romans 12:2 says - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

If I followed my full Western Medicine MD Doctor and her advice (or lack thereof) I would be dead this year. Literally. Either that, or I would be on ten different drugs that would be a mask to the cause of my health issues. These drugs would eventually give me other symptoms that if they didn't kill me then, they would later. A slow death. A life of unnecessary suffering. God did not make our bodies to be pumped full of daily drugs, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. God made our bodies to heal naturally with the good things He has created and given us. So how do we not "conform?" We ask God for direction. Just because it is easy to go to the doctor and get a pill doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. Just because we can call up a friend for advice and it is easy doesn' tmean that is what God wants us to follow. Ask God what His will is for your life, for your health? Ask Him in what direction you should go to feel better? He will make it clear. If I didn't do this I would never have found GAPS. This is what God used to get me on the path to life and vitality rather than a life of merely surviving and going from one ignorant, greedy doctor to the next all the while medical bills piling up higher and higher. (Sorry if you are a doctor but this is my personal experience.) I do have two doctors (who are investigative and functional medicine doctors) that I highly respect and do help out. Anyway, follow God's ways rather than what society or mainstream media or your friends say to do. Pray, Pray, Pray. God has the ultimate wisdom and knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our past, present AND future. What better person is there to seek wisdom from? Please don't get me wrong here. I am not saying that since I use natural healing I am more holy or "better." I am merely saying don't just do something or follow a certain way because someone else is. Our actions in our lives should reflect the beauty of the Lord and His good and perfect will for our individual lives. Seek. HIM. Daily. That is what it means to be "different."

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Memorizing Scripture and storing it in our hearts (especially as parents raising children) is imperative. There are so many reasons that memorizing scripture is important. This is how the Holy Spirit can speak to us. Since the Word is truth we can speak truth to our children when needed like in times of discipline or encouragement. We can share the Truth with others. We can help bring unbelievers to the sweet Grace of God. (Hebrews 4:12) The Word is active, it is sharper than any double edged sword. It pierces our hearts. When we store up the scriptures in our hearts, it challenges, convicts, encourages us and give us hope. What if someday we don't have the luxury of having a bible? What verses will you have stored up in your heart?

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This last one is the deepest reflection of them all! Always, always, always have bacon and bacon grease on hand! They are the building blocks of life. They are joy. They are love. They are tasty. Bacon makes everything better!

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Here are four books that changed my perspective this year and I wholeheartedly recommend to you to read:

This book is written by a former shepherd named Phillip Keller. He has an amazing, eye-opening look at the relationship between a sheep an their shepherd and how it parallels our relationship with Christ (since we are His sheep.) He walks you through Psalm 23 in ways that I have never even understood or considered before. It is a small book and relatively quick read but there are many places you will want to stop and ponder and think on the the thoughts and insights he shares.

This book is written by Phillip Keller as well and is an even smaller book than the first. I literally read it in a few hours. Phillip talks about his relationship in training this wretched outcast of a dog to be an amazing sheepdog. He parallels the training and discipline Christ gives us in our lives and the refinement it brings as well as the discovery of what our true purpose is here on earth. When my oldest gets a little older it is a book we will be reading together. It truly helps the reader to see their relationship with Christ in a different light, through different glasses - through the lens of love.

We read this book by Sam Wellman together as a family this year. It was a life changer for me. I literally found myself thinking about Corrie's life and her faith for weeks and months after we finished reading the book. Corrie's faith in the worst possible conditions of World War II Nazi concentration camps is astounding. You will learn about her family growing up, her sister Betsy who is also an amazing hero of faith, and their victories and trials in their walk with the Lord. Once you have finished the book, I recommend watching the movie The Hiding Place. In the movie you actually get to see her in real life and hear her faithful words. Don't watch the movie first though! The book has way more detail. Corrie's understanding of the Lord will challenge you and at times bring you to your knees. Her endurance and courage are incredible. She is certainly someone to admire and glean from.

This last book by Pam Forster is really more of a devotional or a checklist. It is only about 20 pages long. It is meant to be a continual resource to come too and get back on track with the biblical and Godly way of parenting. There are six areas of focus: Love, Prayer, Instruction, Protection, Provision, and Example. In each section there is a bible verse describing the topic, and a checklist of questions followed by verses to evaluate how you are doing in this area of parenting.  I took a verse each day and read it in the Bible in context, journaled about it and wrote my thoughts and convictions on it. It was a very fruitful time. It is a book I have come back to time and time again for the gentle reminders through scripture of my calling and the Biblical guidance of "how-to" when it comes to my ministry as a parent.

I pray you have a blessed new year and that you might be able to think back on your year personally and reflect on the triumphs, valleys, victories and challenges that came along!  Cheers is too many more reflections to come for the next 365 days!

~Blessings~

Thankful Thursday

vacation edition...

We recently took a family vacation for 10 days. It was such a blessing to be able to take such a chunk of time off and go on a road trip together to the Pacific Northwest. There were many things I was thankful for.

I am thankful for the innocence an joy my little boys have.

Corbin enjoying the fall leaves at the James Cant Ranch in the John Day Fossil Beds

I am thankful for fossils we got to see at the John Day Fossil Beds and that this is proof of the ice age and that Noah's Flood actually happened.

I am thankful for our trailer that we got to camp in. I am grateful for the heater and the comforts of home we had in it. I am also thankful for the memories we have made using our trailer. ** This is the first road trip that I have actually packed a fruit and vegetable basket to take along and homemade broth to drink throughout the trip!

I am thankful for waterfalls. Sunsets and waterfalls are two of my favorites in God's creation. We saw A LOT of waterfalls at the Columbia River Gorge on our trip. I was in awe of the beauty. I took over 80 pictures of the waterfalls!

I am thankful for new discoveries, like this leaf that is as big as Corbin's head. I am thankful for the quiet peace that the hikes up to each of the falls had to offer. 

I am thankful for my family of boys. They are so curious and full of energy. I am thankful they have a Daddy who is willing to teach them how to grow up to be men and give them the wrestle time now that they need. 

I am thankful for sweet treats! We had several treats on our vacation and since the boys are Gluten Free and I am Paleo we had to hunt for treats a lot of the time. We were thankful to find Kyra's Bake Shop. It is a 100% Gluten free bakery! She is the two time winner of Cupcake wars on Food Network. She won with some of her Gluten Free Cupcakes.  I did not partake in a cupcake but did have a small bite and they were delicious. The boys were in heaven! 

Speaking of food, we found some amazing places on our trip that were Paleo Friendly and had many Gluten Free options. One of the places we stopped was Cultured Caveman - a little food truck in Portland. I am thankful for Clean, Whole Paleo food that is prepared for me. We had coconut crusted chicken tenders (fried in beef tallow), braised collard greens with bacon, bacon wrapped dates, macaroons, chili, and homemade garlic aioli. MMMM...I can taste it now. I am thankful for good food! 

I am thankful for the power and majesty of God. We visited Mount St. Helens and it had a way of making us feel real tiny. Like small little peons. It is amazing how this 8,000+ high foot mountain could literally blow thousands of feet off it's top devastating everything (for miles) in it's wake in a matter of three minutes. There is nothing like being at the foot of this mountain in person. It is HUGE. It is active. It is mind blowing. God is big! God is all powerful. Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

I am thankful for laughter. We visited the fish market at Pike Place in Seattle and it is always so much fun there. The fish Corbin is standing by moves when the fish monger pulls on a chain it is connected too. I knew this (because we had been there before but Corbin was really young) and so I told the boys to go up close and look at the fish. They did and when they did the Monger moved it and scared the bejeebers out of them. Corbin thought it was funny and Cody did not! He wouldn't go near that thing. It gave us a good laugh.  Such fun memories.

I am thankful for animals and for Corbin's love of animals. I have always loved animals too just like him. They are so fun to watch and learn about. It is amazing how much we can see that we have an intelligent Creator through the study of animals.  The intricacies of all animals is astounding. There is no way they could just have formed from a blob. When we visited the Seattle Aquarium it was like a field trip for our homeschool. We learned so much about aquatic animals (which happens to be what we are studying in science right now anyway.) We saw Octopus being fed and very active, otters, harbor seals, fur seals, jellyfish, starfish and more. It was a great time!

I am thankful for my husband. To have a complete family is a blessing I don't take for granted. God has blessed us tremendously. He was the one to do all the dirty work on the trip like jack up the trailer and make sure we had the spare tire. Get the "lines" hooked up to make sure certain things - eh-hem, went where they were supposed too. All the loading and unloading. I am thankful to literally have the man-power. Also I am thankful that God has allowed my husbands back issues to heal and God has given him relief and ability to be able to do these tasks without pain.

I am thankful for time away from the normal routine and all the many sites to see on this earth. I am thankful for renewal and refreshment at the perfect time of the year. It was much needed and what better time that to go see the fall colors!  This is the Puget Sound in Seattle from the top of the Seattle Great Wheel. We were in a Ferris wheel that was 200 feet above the ground over the Puget Sound. We got so see an amazing sunset which I am thankful for and view all the sites of the town from way up high.

I am thankful for the means to take a much needed family vacation like this. God has provided in abundance! 

I thought this Psalm was a fitting end to this thankfulness post...

Psalm 145
A Praise of David. I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.

~Blessings~

Merry Christmas from Feasting on Joy!

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

By Grace

(A Thankful Thursday Post)

Since I have moved into this house there was a special place that I wanted to put up some wall words that said "By Grace." It took me a while to get them up because I had to have them custom made. Most vinyl wall word companies don't just have this saying.  I finally found a place that did my words for me for a reasonable price.  Yay!  So, after a little over a year I get to walk into my house each day (or down my stairs) and see the words, "By Grace."  It is a good reminder because I would not have the life I have now if it were not for God's Grace on me.

~Grace= favor or goodwill, a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior, mercy; clemency; pardon~
 
By Grace I have my salvation

By Grace I live in this state

By Grace I have a complete family

By Grace I have two healthy, sweet boys
 
By Grace I have family who loves and supports me

By Grace I get to read my Bible and sing worship without fear

By Grace my heater works

By Grace we own our home

By Grace I have warm clothes

By Grace I have a comfortable bed

By Grace I am slowly healing and finding answers

By Grace I can homeschool my children and parent them by my values

By Grace I can see

By Grace I can walk and use my hands

By Grace I can taste and enjoy food

The list could literally go on and on because everything in my life is only because God gives me His Grace.  Grace that I don't deserve.

Let's not take for granted the Grace our Lord so freely gives us and take some time to reflect on the graces your have in your life this season. I guarantee if you sit down to think about it your list will be long too.

Ephesians 2:8-9
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

~Blessings~

The Solid Rock

During the election result period last night I was praying to the Lord.  During my prayers he reminded me of one of my favorite hymns.  It is called Solid Rock. God put the refrain in my head.... "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.  All other ground is sinking sand." It was a good reminder to me that God IS the solid rock above all the elections and politics, above all of the natural disasters, above all the health problems and sadness.  HE is what we should be leaning on and putting our hope in because a solid rock (God and Jesus) doesn't sway or break down. HE does not sink, He is immovable.  I really needed that because in the times we live in I can have a lot of fears.  Fears for me personally, my kiddos and my grandkids to come (Lord willing.)  God doesn't give us a spirit of fear but of sound mind.  We lean on Him and we can have that.  We trust in him and we can have that.  Praise Him our Solid Rock!  This was just the peace I needed.

This hymn was written in 1824 by Edward Mote who was a carpenter and then went on to be a pastor at a Baptist Church until his early death in 1873 due to health problems.  He lived out his faith - in his last days he said, " I think I am going to heaven; yes, I am nearing port.  The truths I have been preaching, I am now living upon and they'll do very well to die upon, Ah! The precious blood." (part of the story rephrased from Then Sings my Soul: 150 of the worlds greatest hymn stories)

Here are the lyrics to the hymn and you can click on the link to hear it...

The Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Here is a verse that he wrote that is often left out of most hymnals today:
I trust his righteous character
His council, promise and His power;
His honor and His Name's at stake
To save me from the burning lake;
On Christ ,the solick Rock, I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Let's continue to put our hope in our redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.

~Blessings~

Joy

It brings me joy that I get to be at home with my little guys everyday and have a morning Bible study with them. We have been studying horses in our Konos Unit for Obedience and today's Bible lesson was in Psalm 32. Corbin read it to us and it really convicted me and brought me joy because my (our) sins are covered by the blood of Jesus!

Psalm 32

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

More often than not when I am doing Bible study with the kids it ministers to me too.  The Word is powerful.  It is a great way to start our morning.

~Blessings~

The month of love, a tradition

I am trying a new idea this month.  I got it off this site.

Since Valentines day is in February I usually like to make the whole month focused on love.  Not the kind of love that buys stuff and is full of commercialized things but the kind of love that comes from Christ.  I have tried various ideas in the past years and we do love to do fun things on Valentines day like have pink heart shaped pancakes and trade valentines but I still think the focus should be on the Lord.  Loving like Christ loves us.

It is so important for me and my husband to teach Christlike love to our children.  The serving kind of love and the selfless love.

This month I decided to try what we call the "love jar"

We decorated a ball jar with a love theme and then I had my boys cut out a bunch of hearts.  Cody even tried.  By the end Cody had a bunch of little tiny, tiny strips on the floor and table.  He was very proud of himself and kept asking me to "yook" (look.) 

I put the jar, hearts and a pen where the family can see it in the dining room and throughout the whole month anyone can go pick up a heart and write on it why they love another member of the family then put it in the jar.  On Valentines day and February 29 (leap year... I knew someone born on the 29th of Feb!) we are going to pick the hearts out and read them to each other.

Corbin was so cute.  He couldn't wait to write on the first heart.  He kept saying, "Isn't anyone else going to write a heart, I have already written two!?"  Mind you it was only like two hours since we created the jar and put it up.  He is so full of love.  Praise God.

I hope the family likes this idea because if they do I can see it becoming a fun tradition that we look forward to each year.

As I posted here last year, remember John 13:34

"A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you so you must love one another." 

Let's make February about the Agape kind of love, the love Christ showed us.

~Blessings~

A Bed of Roses

Do you ever read other peoples blogs or facebook posts and think, "Gosh they have it all together" or "they have such a fun life everyday" or maybe you even think,  "She is such a perfect mom, I wish I was like her or my life was like that!"


I know, I know you have never thought that! Well neither have I!


That's the post for today have a good night.


Ya right!


Not that you would look at my blog or facebook posts and think any of the above but I certainly have thought those things about other people. Sometimes about people I don't even know!  I only know them through the "blogosphere." Reality is (and I know this already but need to reinforce it to myself tonight) that no one has a perfect life.  We all have down days or seasons.  We all have our failures and weaknesses.  While I do think that reading about the latest craft or movie you saw is awesome and should have a big part in a blog, I also think that a blog can be a great place to reflect and encourage others.

Tonight's post will be a bit reflective.  I am sure you picked that up already. 

Today was one of those days.  We have been sick for some days now.  Head colds, not too bad but enough to be a bother.  Functioning is a double duty when you aren't feeling 100%.  I have managed (thanks a lot in part to the help from my husband!) Anyway, today was the kind of day that I have every once in a while where I don't feel good enough.  This time it was not because I was comparing myself (although I have had those times too,) but because the enemy was attacking me and making me feel burdened and overwhelmed with homeschool. (Don't click away if you don't homeschool - this can apply to you at work, parenting and more!) 


There are certain subjects through my own public schooling that I could not stand!  Well now I am choosing to teach them to my own children. Granted my kids are in a different environment then I had but the subject is similar. 

In teaching a certain subject today I felt less than.  I felt like a failure.  Doomed - "I have to teach this how many more years yet I struggle at a first grade level!"  All these horrible thoughts coming through my head.

So after all those thoughts I got down in front of my kids on my knees and started praying for help and that those thoughts would be taken captive.

Ha - ya, I wish I had done that. I am still being pruned and growing.  Someday I will choose the right path.

No what I really did is blow up.  I got frustrated with myself, my kids, my husband and spoke harshly and regretted every moment of it.  I did apologize later (thankfully I did something right) though.

Here is what God taught me (or reminded me of) throughout the rest of the day when I thought of what happened:

1.) Romans 3:10 There is none righteous no, not one...

I am not good enough.  I never will be.
I will never be a good enough teacher, mom, wife, etc.

Never good enough on my own that is....

2.) 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
By God's grace I wake up each day.  By His grace I teach everyday (or almost everyday.) With God I function and do the duties I have been called to do each day.

3.) Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.  I don't do these things because I AM good enough or because I can, I do them because God allows me to do them. It will never be impossible to teach my kiddos WITH God.  In my own strength - I will fail. It will be impossible.

4.) Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Because God gives me His grace so I must give it to others (like my children.) In my tone, my actions and all of me I pray it will be with grace.  God's grace.

5.) On a practical level something that God reminded me of in my frustration is that I need to take homeschooling one day at a time.  When I feel lost or frustrated because I don't get it and therefore can't teach it to my child, I first need to call upon the Lord through prayer.  I really DO need to kneel (not to put on a show) but to sincerely call out to the ONE who gives me grace.  Secondly, I need to take it one day at a time.  When the thoughts start swirling, "how am I going to teach this for 11 more years?" "I am doomed!" "My child is not going to know what he needs to know!" and on and on.  I need to take it one day at a time and trust God is in control.

God will give me the right curriculum and help for what I don't know or understand. God knows each of my days and my kids days.  I can trust in Him for their education.  Really the MOST important thing is my children's relationship with the Lord and their character.  Academics has it's place but their faith and character come first. I need to model what they need to learn.  God's Grace will allow me to do that.  God's grace will allow me to teach my children how they need to be taught.

I pray you find encouragement tonight (or whenever you read this post.)  Nobodies life is perfect.  You have a glimpse into my imperfections.  I pray that you will allow your imperfections to cause you to run quickly to the refuge of the Lord Most High! He cares and wants to do a mighty work in you.

~Blessings from an imperfect human~

Melancholy

I realize that this blog is Feasting on JOY there should not be a blog post titled "Melancholy" but hey - just keepin' it real.  Actually my current state is not so bad I just have waves of feeling melancholy.  Can I tell you why?  Oh good.  I am so glad you would like to know why.

First let me tell you the definition of Melancholy:

mel·an·chol·y   /ˈmɛlənˌkɒli/ Show Spelled [mel-uhn-kol-ee] Show IPA noun, plural -chol·ies, adjective

noun
1. a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
3. Archaic .
a. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.
b. black bile.
adjective
4. affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed: a melancholy mood.
5. causing melancholy or sadness; saddening: a melancholy occasion.
6. soberly thoughtful; pensive.

I fit mostly 3 a. 

Just KIDDING! Yuck!  I fit mostly in number 2 and 6 maybe a little of 5 too.  Not depressed or anything.  No definitely not.  There is SO much to be thankful for and the season of celebrating Christ's birth is very joyful.

The reason I am melancholy is that 11 of my family members have uprooted from the state they are native too and moved to another state.  That includes my nuclear family. We are almost all together now.  This is a really good thing. 

So you say, "Why is that making you melancholy?"  Well the reason is that the last people to move are my parents. I cannot wait to see them but you see in order to come here that had to sell their home. The home in which I grew up in. Well actually the rebuilt home that I grew up in.  The home that my parents both really love. They lived in it for 25 years and I lived in it for 22.  There were a lot of memories in this home to let go of. Another hard part to let go of is that this is the house that my Dad actually built - with his own two hands.  It is amazing! It is gorgeous. It is his dream home (well almost - if it was on some acreage.)  He wished he could have just picked up his house and moved it here to a big plot of land. Unfortunately he can't.

I have a hard time thinking of someone else, some other family living in our house.  My parents are at peace with it though.  They feel so strongly about getting out of the state that it is worth the sacrifice to them.  I am so thankful that they are willing to do that to be near us.

I will miss my childhood home terribly. I am counting down the days until it wont be a part of our lives anymore. I do have to put it into perspective though - a Godly perspective that is.  It is just a material possession (not even mine for that matter.)  My understanding of possessions changed after the fire.  It will all turn to ashes - or dust in the end.  It has no eternal value.  I know.

When this feeling comes up I always have certain verses that keep popping into my head, which I am convinced the Holy Spirit is giving me. They are in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  Can I write them for you?  They really help in seasons of change.  We have to remember that there is a time and a season for everything.  God's plan is perfect. He knows what he is doing.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
(The bold are times I have personally experienced in my life.)

Goodbyes are hard.  I have despised them all my life.  Whether it is saying a goodbye to a person, place or thing it has always been terrible in my book.  However, with the hope of the Lord and my trust in his sovereignty I can lean on these verses above.  They comfort me. We are in a time of uprooting and building here and even though I am melancholy I am excited for the season to come and for that matter, in my own personal (nuclear family) the season that is here.  God IS good ~ ALL the time!

Are you going through a tough change or a season that is a bit uncomfortable?  Take notice, in each verse above there is a positive and a negative or an opposite.  If your in a hard spot be comforted that the positive side or opposite is soon to come.  All in God's perfect timing.

~Blessings in your perfect season of life ~

Happy Thanksgiving from Feasting on Joy!

Psalm 95:1-6 - O Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Being that is is the week of Thanksgiving and it has been a "Thankful" month all month around our house, I thought I would encourage you with a Psalm of Thanksgiving today.  Our Pastor taught on this chapter in church on Sunday and it was very encouraging to me.

Psalm 100
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

I pray that you are reflecting on all there is to be thankful for in this season.  It may be a hard time for you right now (sometimes holidays are tough) but there is always something to thank our good Lord about.  Even in the valleys we can look up and see His precious face looking down upon us comforting us.

I'm Here?!?

Wow.  Where has the time gone?  Every night I go to bed and among my thoughts are things I want to post about on Feasting On Joy.  I have big intentions but lately finding a good chunk of time to post has not happened.  I have also been having space issues and memory problems on my computer which hampered the photo rich post I wanted to do tonight.  The below update was much needed anyway. It was meant to be to have words only tonight.

We have been busy with our big boys kindergarten graduation, play dates, visiting my sick Grandpa, crops, a Chuck E Cheese visit, a sickness, church baptism, trying out a new church, swim lessons, counseling, and a big Father's Day picnic with some of our friends and family.  Oh my! In between all that I have been enjoying sleeping in,  time at home playing with my boys and in my brokenness learning to truly trust in the Lord through the roller coaster of life.

I have also remained Gluten Free now for 3 months! Next week I have my follow up appointment with my doctor in regards to going gluten free as well as blood test results. I had blood taken today and they had to take 9 tubes!  UUGGH! Coming from a girl who used to be the screamer and all the nurses didn't like, I can't believe how much I have had to have my blood taken in my adult life. It's not so bad anymore though.
I hope to share what I find out at the appointment. Hopefully good news. I have had a chance to do some experimenting with some gluten free cooking lately too and I am happy to be putting together a post with a few good pics and recipes! My confidence is growing in adapting recipes I like or already have to be made gluten free. I also can't wait for this weekend because I get to take my first gluten free cooking class.  Yay! Of course I will be posting about that and sharing some of what I learn.

Tomorrow I have an appointment for a test called a biomeridian at a natural medicine center.  I am excited about it because it should be able to tell me what allergies to food I have as well as if there are toxic levels in my body from pollution, allergens, etc. It feels good to be finding some people and places that can truly help me to find the cause of some of my health issues rather than just treat the symptoms. Also up and coming is a post about harmful ingredients that we need to avoid in products that we buy. 

As soon as I get this space/memory thing worked out the pictures will be back.  I always love posts with pictures. Stay tuned because I would like to get back to regular posting so you have something to feast on!

I would like to leave you with a verse that really speaks to me about TRUST.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

To obey or to disobey

It seems like such a simple choice.  Right?

I think it is as simple as making a choice but we have to will ourselves to make that choice and follow the righteous path of obedience. If we do, blessings will flow.

I was having another divine appointment with my counselor the other day.  She is really like a mentor to me.  A wonderful Godly woman whom the Holy spirit ministers to me through. Love her!

Anyway, she showed me some verses in the bible where God directly portrays what a life of obedience and trusting in the Lord is like as well as the other side with a life of bitterness, distrust and unforgiveness. I thought I would pass along the wisdom because it really encouraged me and maybe it will encourage you too.

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Jeremiah 17:5-6 = life and fruit of bitterness and not trusting in the Lord...

5 Thus says the LORD:
"Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 = life trusting in the Lord and abiding in His forgiveness...
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

I don't know about you but I like the later verses, they sound more appealing. If I choose to trust and obey as well as continually forgive then the peace comes.  The peace of Jesus.  It is not always so easy to do but the effort and hard work to choose trust and reject bitterness is worth it.

Many Blessings!

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will.

I am always blessed when I sit down to read God's word.  I find such joy in it.  Not when I quickly read a verse or two to "get it out of the way," but when I truly sit down for a period of time to really let what I read sink in and let the Lord speak to me. This verse spoke to me today in my bible study because I am praying a lot to the Lord about discerning His will for my life. This verse tells me how to test and approve God's will.

As Christians we are called to be different.  Not be like the rest of the world. In order to do that we need to "renew our minds." How do we do that?  Well... 

I looked up "Renew" and these words stuck out at me
Restore, replenish, revive, reestablish, recover.  Also, to make new or as if new again.

To make my mind new I need to recover or revive it.  To recover it I need to take time to read and meditate on to God's word.  When I am in God's word, learning it and storing it in my mind and heart I am able to replenish my mind.  I am able to focus on the things of God, not of this world.  Then because I know God's word (learning it daily) I am able to know and understand who God is.  Once I understand who God is - His character, His love, and His mercy then can start to discern His will.

I can "test and approve" what the Lord's will is for my life. Rather than just hope this is God's will or think this is God's will, I can know it because I have renewed my mind to be different and in line with what God wants for me. It is a pretty amazing circle of blessing.

I realize this is a pretty basic bible study but it encouraged me because it was so simple.  I hope it encourages you too!  Now go out and be transformed by the renewing of your mind!

Happy weekend friends and family.