Words you just know

Do you have scripture that you know by heart?

Scripture that you find speaks into your life time and time again? 

That's what I'm thinking about today....the scripture that I just know.

I know a few verses and as I write this, I can't help but think that there should be more.

Whenever I open my Bible (which isn't as much as it should be) I find peace in His words. A peace I don't find elsewhere and I want more of that...I'm thirsty for that.

Back to my question... what scripture do you know by heart? 

One scripture I've clung to time and time again in my life is Luke 6:27-28

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

There was a time in my life when I was full of hatred... so much that it was all I could think about.I felt like it was eating me alive and I became angry and angry the more I thought about it.It was horrible and left me in tears often. I read this verse at that point and knew thats how I'd make it through...thats how I'd survive. I didn't want to love my enemy, do good, bless, or pray. I definitely didn't want to pray, but I did...thats where I started because I think prayer more than anything, softens the heart. Which again, as I write this, I think I need more of that too! 

I'm thirsty...so thirsty for those things and for Him.

On taking a break

I'm back from a blogging break and thats what I want to write about today!

Sometimes I need to take breaks from blogging and social networking as a whole.
I'm not always very good at it because I do enjoy it and it tends to suck me in. 

I get tired of it, though because it feels like it takes a lot of work.

Thinking about what to write, having pictures, editing pictures, and getting my words right.

I find myself, often, thinking, "Oh, I could blog about this!" 

I am glad that I have things in my life I want to blog about, but I don't want to think about what to blog in my life more than I live my life! Know what I mean?

I've also realized that I have the type of personality that lets other things get in the way of other things I should be doing! I think that I've let that happen with blogging (it used to be facebook, but I gave that up for multiple reasons).  Honestly, I don't know how other wives and mothers do it -- they work, take care of their home and family, have a relationship with God, AND blog... plus a string of other things. Its a lot of work and I see some amazing women out there doing all these things. I realized the other morning (when I decided to take a break) that I needed to stop and do other things.

I needed to stop and play ball with my son.

I needed to stop and clean.

I needed to stop and pray.

I needed to stop and enjoy time with my husband. 

I needed to stop and do something else.

I just needed to stop and be away from the computer for a bit. 

I didn't do as well as I wanted to, but it was nice to not have to focus so much on my blog, twitter, or whatever else I get sucked into on this little thing we call the computer all day! I want this to be a goal of mine...to not sit on the computer all day long because as much as I love social networking, I do have a real life to live!

Happy Sunday friends! 

Satisfaction in Him

Sometimes my heart aches for things, longs for things.

The aching, the longing, is sometimes so much that it hurts.

I long for a deeper relationship with Christ because I know thats the deepest relationship I'm suppose to have. Not only does my mind know it. Not only does my heart know it. But my soul knows it.

I thirst for it sometimes. Especially when things aren't going that well or when I'm feeling down.

In those moments it seems like only His words can fill me with what I need. 

I'm thankful for that... I'm thankful for that when times are hard, I feel that I need His word.

I'm thankful that I don't feel a strong need to turn to something else... something harmful, but instead to Him...instead to what is good.

I'm thankful that God gave us His word. That He didn't leave our longing to be satisfied by the things of this world because if He did, what a mess we would be. 

I am thankful that when I go to Him, I find satisfaction in Him.

A mama's fear (and a winner)

We all have fears. I think a lot of those times those fears aren't something that would actually occur, but still they are there. I have a fear that is new to me since becoming a mother. I fear that somehow my son is going to get hurt. I know he will get hurt in life because thats what happens. I cannot (and should not) protect my son from every little thing. Getting hurt is how we learn sometimes. By hurt though, I mean, horribly. I actually have vivid images in my head of this happening. I've yet to determine if thats normal or not.

My biggest fear is that he's going to be taken. I think I fear this because I see it so often.

Right now, theres a baby girl my sons age missing in Kansas City. She's been missing for over a month.

I cried in our bed over this. I cried saying, "I don't want anyone to take my baby!" I was so upset by this that my husband brought him into our bed for a while. Its a fear that I am sure would never happen, but it breaks my heart to think about it.

I also have other images in my head of him getting hurt.
Right now we're living in a place where at the bottom of the stairs there is concrete. 

I fear him falling down the stairs. I fear him not making it because of that.

The list goes on and on.

I tell you this for two reasons...

Maybe another mama can relate.

But mostly, I tell you this because of how I deal with it. 

I TURN TO God with these images, with this worry.

Because that is what I HAVE TO DO. 

I put them out of my head and out of my heart.

I GIVE THEM to God. 

I TRUST HIM with my son because after all, He is the one who is in complete control.

He has my son IN HIS HANDS.

I AM AT PEACE when turning to Him with this.

Giving these thoughts to Him means I am FREE from them! 

They don't have to stick around and haunt me.

I do not have to worry!

Dear God, I know You are constantly watching over my son. 

I know You love him and protect him always.

I cannot thank You enough for this! 

Thank You for taking this worry from my hands and holding it in your own!

The winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway is Linda Yan (I used the true random generator...I'd post it, if I knew how!)Congrats! I will email you soon!