Mothers

No surprise about my topic or picture today! We celebrated Mother's Day today. I didn't know much about the history of Mother's day until I researched it a little. Ann Jarvis wanted to honor her mother back in 1908 and held a memorial for her. She then tried to get it to be wide known throughout America and it was by 1914. 

We may not all be mothers but we have all had a mother and I for one am extremely thankful for mine. My mom greatly influenced my life. I am thankful for the godly heritage from my parents and the godly example shown through my mom's life. She has become my best friend as I became an adult and I am thankful for her unwavering support in all I do and unconditional love. I love you mama!

Thirteen years ago we moved 1200 miles away from each other. I had never been more than about 12 miles from my mom so this was not only a challenge but something extremely odd for me. Long distance calling became quite common and we have enjoyed the times that we are able to spend together.

When we moved the Lord was good and provided 2 different "mom" figures to help fill the gap and I want to mention them here. My mom and I are thankful for both of them.

Carolyn became my mom while she lived here and I am thankful for her love and concern and friendship. We had lots of trips and fun times together. She has now moved out of state to be near her three children and I miss her a ton but am glad we still get to visit and spend time together. I love you!

Then God brought Gail into my life and I have become the 4th daughter in their family. She challenges me in my Christian walk and is there to talk to and spend time with. She and I enjoy our bible study time and tea time together. She is a wonderful shopping buddy and I am blessed to spend time with her and the rest of her family. She shows true grace and dependence on the Lord in trials and is a wonderful example to me. I love you Florida Mom!!

God knows what we need and provides them exactly. He has blessed me greatly now as I have become a mom to 2 wonderful children. I strive to live the example of what I have been shown in  being a godly mother for my children.

The verses that I want to share tonight depict my mother as well as the other 2 women that have impacted me greatly. My prayer is that as my children look back on my life that they can say that I also have the qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman.

 Proverbs 31:10-31:

   10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

   11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

   12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

   13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

   14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

   15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

   16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

   17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

   18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

   19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

   20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

   21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

   22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

   23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders at the gate.

   24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

   25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

   26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

   27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

   28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

   29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

   30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

   31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

If you still have your mother in your life then hug her and let her know you love her-mend any fences and reconcile your differences for there is no other relationship like a mother-daughter. If your mom is gone then remember the good times and be thankful for the time that God allowed her to be a part of your life. She will never truly be gone since we all are a small part of our mom! If you are a mom then strive, with God's help, to be the best mom that you can be. Raise your children up in the Lord one day at a time and dedicate them to Him. If they are already grown then enjoy them and be available to still help when asked. 

Hair

A hair in the head is worth two in the brush.  ~Oliver Herford

Most of us are concerned with how we look and that includes our hair-the cut and style. 

There are blondes, brunettes, auburns and jet black. Some have short pixie cuts and others have long flowing tresses. There is curly and straight. Some lose their hair and are now sporting the balding look. Some have their natural color while other of us chose our color from a bottle. And most of us while we age are showing more gray in our hair.

Today was the day that I finally was able to go and get a cut and style and she did an amazing job! While I was in the chair allowing her to work her magic I was thinking about what to write in my blog and hair came to my mind. We wash and condition and blow dry and curl. We straighten and crimp and color and perm. There are a lot of different products that we try one day at a time or use on our hair-shampoos, conditioners, hair spray, and mousse. I can't imagine how much money is spent in the hair industry.

 But through it all it still brought my thought back to one thing-God knows exactly how many hairs are on my head.

Luke 12:7 

"But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

  It is comforting and reassuring and even thrilling to know that my Lord cares enough about me to know even the littlest details-he knows the number of hairs on my head (and let me say that right now I have been losing a lot of hair so it has been changing frequently and He still knows!)

If you feel that no one cares or that you aren't special-think again-God created you and knows every detail about you and He cares!

Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

This song has been running through my head all day.

Got any rivers, you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

God specializes in thing thought impossible

He does the things others cannot do.

Sometimes it may seem to us that our lives are spiraling out of control or the events that are crossing our paths are discouraging and difficult. I am so thankful that God has promised to be with us through everything one day at a time-that He won't ever leave us if we have accepted Him as our Savior.

God never promised

A life without pain,

Laughter without tears

Or sun without rain.

But He did promise

Strength for the day,

Comfort for the tears

And light for the way.

John 14:16  

"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever" 

John 14:26

But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

Sadness and grief may come our way and family and friends may fail us but God never leaves us or disappoints us. Rest in Him and trust in His love.

Remember 1 Peter 5:7:

Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. 

Forever Friends

Some days allow us to reflect on things more than others and today I reflected on Friends. All those people who I call  "Friend" or those who call me "Friend".

God has blessed me with a wonderful godly heritage-parents who are both saved and serving God in their local church. My mama is best very best friend!

 I am married to a wonderful man who loves the Lord and me and takes care of our family. I have 2 children that are saved and almost out of the house. And then, God has blessed me throughout the years to have many wonderful friendships. Some have endured through the years and we can pick up where we left off each time we get together. Others may have entered my life for a short time and our paths have not had the blessing of crossing again. I have friends that are far away in distance and friends that I am able to see each week. God knows who encourages and helps and lift up and I pray that I am able to do that for them as well.

It is wonderful to be able to pray for them. Rejoice together in happy times and cry with them in the sad times.

Friendships are something to never take for granted. Experiencing them one day at a time and striving to keep them alive and growing. 

 Proverbs 27:17:

   Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

R.W. Emerson said~The only way to have a friend is to be one.

R.L. Stevenson said~A friend is a present you give yourself. I love that saying!

Here are just a few pictures of just a few of my friends-those who aren't included in pictures please know that I love you just as much and wish that I had pictures of all of us! (hint hint-you all know I love to take pictures!!)

Friends that went to school together and reconnected years later-I am so thankful for their encouragement and sweet words!

Here is one of my adopted "sisters"

These are a couple of my long distance friends-we all had our babies at the same time!

These are 2 of my oldest friends in the sense that we have been friends since we were all 5! I am so thankful for their faithfulness in our friendship over the years!

Another of my adopted "sisters"

Friends met through Evangel!

Friendships made through my kids school! 

I share my birth month with Hil & Liz!

The best part of friendship is that we are Forever Friends because we are friends here on earth but since we are saved we will be friends in heaven as well and that will be forever!!

~One who finds a friends finds a treasure~ I have found many-thank you!

Chicks in the Nest

So, I took today's picture this morning as I looked into Beth's room.

This morning was the last time that I will have to look in her room and find it empty. My baby girl is on her way from college today and pretty soon I will have both of my chicks "back in the nest" for the entire summer, one day at a time!!

This year has been a big year of firsts for us and it definitely has been a year of learning and stretching, and some of that learning even took place in the classroom :)

We are thrilled how the Lord helped Bethany finish her Freshman year of college and allowed her to be accepted into the Nursing program!

Time marches on and things don't stay the same-that should be healthy and a good thing. It's especially rewarding when your child has accepted the Lord and has continued to have a sweet spirit and live for the Lord and seek His direction in her life. I have loved my kids at all the stages but this time is a little scary. She is making decisions on her own now and we are so proud of  how our children are growing up. But part of my job isn't done yet. I love the verse in

3 John 1:4 

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 

I can still be there for my children to give help when asked and direction when it is needed. But I still need to pray for my children. That part of my responsibility will never be over. My desire is that my children always do what God wants them to do and be where God wants them to be.  There is no safer or happier place to be than in the center of God's will. 

Believe me, when I see my sweet girl's face tonight it will be one of the happiest moments this year but it will also remind me that I can continue to pray God's best in both of my children's lives!

What's Next?

The topic of death normally isn't one that comes up in your dinner conversations. Today many of us are saddened by the death of a very dear friend. Her battle against cancer ended as she entered Heaven's gates today and is now rejoicing and worshiping our Savior. We who are left behind are saddened by her absence and yet we are comforted by the confidence that as a Christian, to be absent from the body means you are present with the Lord. Some may say how can you know that? My answer would be-God told us so in His Word-the Bible-and I believe it. A common question asked when Christians are out witnessing is, "If you were to die today do you know that you would go to heaven?" It doesn't have to be a "hope so" answer. 

You CAN know and here is how:

 If you acknowledge you are a sinner (and we all are) Romans 3:23- "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." 

We then need to realize that there is a punishment for our sin, which is told in Romans 6:23:

   For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Realize that God came to earth to die and take on the penalty for your sins-He was crucified, buried but conquered death and rose again-Romans 5:8- "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

 Then you ask for forgiveness, Romans 10:9-10- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

   10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Then you can say without a shadow of a doubt that you know what's next when you die! You will be in Heaven.

You have heard the saying from Benjamin Franklin- "'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Our Pastor has always said that 1 out of 1 die. It doesn't have to be a mysterious thing or something that you fear. None of us are guaranteed a certain number of years here on earth. We live one day at a time.But you can have the certainty of knowing what will happen next. 

Our prayers are with the family at this time of sorrow-thankful that our God is big enough to be their Comforter at this time. I am thrilled to say that it is only a temporary farewell as we look forward to the reunion when all we who are Christians get to Heaven-what a day that will be!

At the end of the day...

As the day winds down and the minutes tick by, the sun slowly falls and leaves a beautiful palette of colors behind for us to enjoy before the dark falls. 

I love how God, being such an artistic Creator, gave us things to enjoy one day at a time while we are here on earth and sunsets are one of those items.

I found a couple of different verses as I did my research and thought it was interesting what God included in the Bible. We know that the sun, moon, and stars were created on the 4th day.

Psalm 74:16 

The day is Thine, the night also is Thine; Thou hast prepared the light and the sun. 

Psalm 104:19 

He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his time to go down. 

God created all and is in control of all. I rest in the fact of knowing that God is in charge. That even the sun and moon know what they are to do and when they should do it.