It is already the LAST Sunday of October – how is this possible?! Today’s post is about an important question. What is God’s will for me? 

I often wonder what God’s will is for our life. My children and mine’s life. What is His plan, what does He want me to do? I tend to get paralyzed with options and fear. I forget how incredibly simple His commands are. Here is an example:

It’s pretty simple. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. The doesn’t mean we have to rejoice about all circumstances. We can rejoice in our gift of grace; praying keeps us communicating with our Father; and choosing to give thanks IN all situations, doesn’t have to be for all situations. So – when we find ourselves in an “impossible situation” — make sure to choose to rejoice; stay praying and communicating with your Provider, constantly; and choose to give thanks for what you do have.

Have a blessed and restful Sunday. I intend to rest – [mightily!]

Today is day 28 of the 31 Days Series. My series has been about 31 days of Life and today is about a question.

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To some degree this is what I envision the inside of my brain to look like: Tangled thoughts, ideas, visions, choices – all mixed together with mind-numbing snow {fear, indecision} and God’s light shining through. I want others to see God’s light through me and the decisions I make. The big picture is really pretty – I want to imagine God thinks the branches of my life – all the decisions and outcomes – are pretty. Of course, I have ugly sin I make the choice to keep covered by Jesus’ blood and God’s grace. I have to choose to look at the pretty and not focus on the sin. He has provided the opportunity, I just have to choose to accept it. It’s a gift already there, provided for each of us.

[13-16] Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

[17-18] Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. [James 3:13-18, The Message – emphasis mine]

Today I’m keeping it really simple – picture and scripture. My mind is pondering lots and I’m off to sew.

I chose to write my series about 31 Days of Life. Today is day 29 of the 31 Days series.

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Interestingly enough, I don’t need to understand God’s whole picture to function. I have pretty much always been okay with, “I don’t have to understand/like it, but I don’t have to – it’s not up to me, I am not God.” I know He is in control and that is good enough for me. {I attribute this greatly to growing up with my earthly father being very trustworthy. His plans might scare me spit-less (and he has, literally scared me spit-less), but I trust him. He is the only person on this earth I trust so fully and completely.}

So, even though I don’t need to understand God’s plan – I still see verses in nature/scenery/certain photos. When I see certain sights, or take photos of a specific view; I am usually “hearing” verses in my head. Sometimes in my voice, sometimes as a chorus of people – adult & children together. So, In July 2008 I saw a scene that TOTALLY had Jeremiah 29:11-14a all over it.

The text is how I visualize the verse; the picture to me screams these verses. I took this picture when hiking in July 2008. We were literally on the top ridge of the mountains. Both sides go a loooooong ways down, but this fog rolled in and you couldn’t see anything. I remember thinking how it looked like Jeremiah 29:11-14a then. I don’t know that I can even get out why in words. I’m going to try. with more visual text.

We are walking on the ridge. = We have a narrow path to walk. It hurts when we slip.

The fog is overwhelming. = Life can be suddenly overwhelming, with fog. Nothing really tangible, but totally clouds our view/perspective. Making everything seem off, unclear, worse than it probably is.

Either left or right works, as long as you stay on the path. = Sometimes we just need to make a decision and start walking one direction or the other. He promises to be there & guide us when we ask.

I love the comfort of knowing the specific “to-do’s” in these verses are so simple – helps me understand better the, “my burden is light & my yoke is easy” verse. What am I to-do?

Call upon Him | Go to Him | Pray to Him

He promises to listen, in addition He promises:

I will seek Him | I will find Him [WHEN I seek Him with ALL my heart]

Then He promises to be found by me.

Amazing! It really is so simple. This section of verses are verses I claimed 12-13 years ago, and have clung desperately to ever since. As a single mom with two preschool children I remember being so relieved I didn’t have to do anything complicated.

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I took my son to get his driving permit.  He wanted to get it while he was still 14.  He had been studying faithfully, but I didn’t know his desire until last weekend.  The morning was insane, we didn’t get out of the house to head to the DMV until 1pm.  I was concerned because history has proven the later in the day you go, the longer you wait in line.  However, God was so good! {of course!}  We got our ticket and only had to wait for 4 people in front of us.  We went in, he took his test {passed!}, got the permit and walked out within 30 minutes.  Thank you Lord!

The next day he turned 15…..wait.what!  My boy is 15!1. We started the day making a radio ad for my dad. {remember that campaign thing I told you about? ya, it doesn’t care what the date is…}  2. Vince’s desire for his birthday was to go shooting & fishing. Right after making the radio ad we went to the archery range where Vince & Christine got to shoot for an hour.  3. Vince showing Christine how to hold a larger bow.  Her bow was too small & he’d brought two.  4. See that angled piece of 2×4?  Ya, guess who forgot the spatula to flip the burgers…  5. Vince getting to use his waders & fish in a creek.  6. See Vince’s fly rod?  He made that!  In Feb. 2011 he took a class and made it.  He was the only kid in the class, but he still loved every moment of making is own 1st fly rod.  7. My horribly ugly attempt at making an angry birds cake.  I hated this year’s busyness & lack of being about to do better.  First Christine made a gluten-free carrot cake, Vince wasn’t sure he was impressed :-D.  So, I bought a carrot cake, we pulled the frosting carrots off, and “decorated” it.  Not pretty, but it got the point across.  We had angry bird plates to eat dinner & smaller ones for cake.  8. This would be the path we drove into our picnic spot.  See that “dip-up”, ya – with my minivan.  I followed the step van in – not sure my dad realized how much lower my van was.  But, we still made it in – 4by’ing isn’t a normal activity for me, especially NOT in my van. 😀  9. The stream I crossed with my van….  10. Fireweed.  Let me tell you a few things about fireweed. First, it is our state flower.  Second, {fact/myth/reality} it is said, as the summer progresses, the fireweed blooms upward.  When it gets to the top, our summer is over.  uhhh, this one had less than an inch to go.  This is not encouraging; I believe you could count our sunny days on less than the fingers on both hands.  Third, I am allergic to it & this means I need to start taking allergy preventing stuff. Already.  11. The view on our drive home.  Look how the sun shines through the clouds over the mountains.  So pretty!  We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful state!!!! 

Another day Vince & I went to high school orientation.  Did you {hear} that?!  How on earth did we get to high school??????!!!!!!  I am super excited Vince wants to home school AND he has an interest in the classes he’ll take and mapping out his high school years.  I don’t mean this to sound prideful, but I am so thankful he is such a good kid.  I know it is only by the grace of God.  I also know that because God gave us freewill it can change at any moment.  Vince is thoughtful towards and kind to others.  He enjoys politics – the political system – the process of campaigning, elections, state government, and federal government.  It will be interesting to see what comes of this interest.

Another day was 19 hours long!  It included three trips into town, with one trip out being 12.5 hours long.  {My goal most days is to not leave the house, and if I do – only once for a couple hours.}  It was a day of campaign, life, friendships, and design work.  It was long, but good.  I even got a couple hours at a bookstore, all by myself.

My brain has been in denial ALL week – driving permit, 15, and high school orientation.  All in the same week!  Isn’t there supposed to be some kind of break between such huge milestones?  {UGH}  Is it any wonder I am exhausted at this end of the week?  I am still hanging onto the following verses.  I have emphasized for what they mean to me.  I am so comforted to know He already has a plan for each of us – and that plan is for our best.  Also, that He listens when we call on Him and pray.  And – the best.  He promises when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13

Today has been spent working to figure out more WordPress, and taking in a campaign picnic – in the dumping rain.  So, there you go – that is a surface level recap of my last week.  I am tired, but He has a plan!

**I have to add I am horrified with the events in Aurora, Colorado.  I’m not trying to ignore what has happened; there just isn’t anything more to say.  My heart aches for the families whose lives have been forever changed.  I hope & pray this tragedy will be what it takes to put many on their knees before Christ.  That those who haven’t before bowed their knee or accepted Christ as their personal Savior, will see the fragility of life and chose to turn to Christ.  I have to cling to and believe what I know that I know – He has a plan, He will be glorified.  Even when it doesn’t make sense in my mind.  **

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Anyway, this last week was another mile-stepping stone for my little family of three.  My baby turned 12!  I am now mom to a 15 yr old & 12 yr old – they are in 9th & 7th grade….how crazy is that?!  

My heart aches at how quickly the last 12 years have gone by.  I am such a different person now than I was then.  The least of which is the obvious – I am now 12 yrs older 😀 … funny how instead I feel as if I’m 12 years younger.   I am thankful for this because it is ONLY by the Grace of God and Him working in me that I can so fully & honestly say, I feel & think of myself as younger and I believe that is okay.

On to the birthday — it started with breakfast and Christine getting to open gifts first thing in mom & dad’s living room.

Here are some pictures of the day:  My view while finishing my coffee & Christine opened gifts.  This is sitting on my mom’s couch ~ the peonies & daisies are from the front porch.

Vince & dad got Christine a 22 for her birthday.  She shot a couple weekends ago for the first time and was quickly hooked.  She is a really good shot. :-D!  They found the gun at a pawn shop, I guess it was in tough shape.  They took it all apart, refinished the wood, cleaned up & oiled it and got it all put back together.

How Vince wrapped the 22 – he rubber banded a bow on :-D:

Then she & I headed out to pick up her birthday cake {yes, I bought both their cakes this year – just absolutely no energy/time to bake a cake and decorate it} and made a quick run into Target to pickup plates & napkins for later in the afternoon.  We actually found a pair of jeans & a t-shirt she like and that fit too!  Skinny jeans and a “regular-old-t-shirt-but-a-cute-one-meant-for-girls”.

Then we headed to a candidate forum.  Both kids were so gracious with the reality of  having to share their birthday with events for the campaign.  I am going to repeat what I said about Vince and I mean it just as heartedly for Christine… I don’t mean this to sound prideful, but I am so thankful she is such a good kid.  I know it is only by the grace of God.  I also know that because God gave us freewill it can change at any moment.  Christine is thoughtful towards & kind to others.  She is also very empathetic, she hurts & feels deeply with others, as much as for herself.  She enjoys design, color, texture.  She can spend hours listening to stories and creating and drawing clothing fashions.  It will be interesting to see what comes of this interest. 

We went up to my Matt & Samantha’s after the forum.  Christine LOVES ribs, so mom had them all ready & we took everything up the road for a beautiful afternoon and family dinner.  When we got up there – Matt was waiting to take Christine, Vince & dad out in the plane to have fun shooting.  What a birthday!  She got a fly-out, target shooting afternoon – with her OWN 22! {I wasn’t there – I didn’t actually take the below picture, my brother did}

While they were gone flying & shooting – mom, Samantha, Ali & I hung out at the cabin.  I took a ton of pictures of sweet Ali.  Here she was smelling the flowers for me.

When they came back we ate dinner, had cake, visited, then they went out shooting again.  This time just a walk away.  At 9:45pm mom & I decided to go find them 9… When we found them, we just had to try it too.  {I am shooting the gun I sold my dad a raffle ticket for when I was in high school, uh 20+ years ago!} I haven’t shot a gun for 10+ years, and this made the 2nd time in my life I have shot, yet I actually hit the target!  Out of the six shots I shot, I got one bull’s eye & 5 in the two circles next out from the bull’s eye.  There was a spinning crow target too, I hit it 2 or 3 times.  I don’t remember how many I shot, but if there were more, they totally missed the target.  I have to say, I was impressed with myself & my kids were proud of me. 😀

I have to admit I am a little excited to see what God has in store.  The last 12 years have gone so quickly, what will the next 12 bring?   Again, reapeating from earlier:

“I am still hanging onto the following verses.  I have emphasized for what they mean to me.  I am so comforted to know He already has a plan for each of us – and that plan is for our best.  Also, that He listens when we call on Him and pray.  And – the best.  He promises when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon meand come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13″

I am so very, very thankful He has it ALL in control!

{side note:  I LOVE that for her 12th birthday she got a 22, clothes, dangly earrings, backpack, notebooks & an obnoxious pen.  So wanting to spend time with her brother, uncle & grandpa; yet, still so girl.}

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I am relishing in this reminder today.  From the Stepping Up Bible Study by Beth Moore, I learned when the word “Lord” is in all caps (like it is in the above verses), in the Hebrew it was YHWH and refers to God the “Covenant maker and keeper”.

So, according to the verses above and the usage of YHWH in Hebrew — I can take these verses to mean:

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