You just need to pratice

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

It is so hard to be still and quiet in this day and age. I can't count how many times I have been overstimulated in the past month. The stillness is so important. It's in these moments, God comes closest. In these still moments, it's easy to hear God.

David was still. Nathan rebuked David for what he had done to Bathsheba and Uriah. After that Bathsheba's son fell ill. David was still. He laid on the ground and plead for the child's life. 2 Samuel 12:15-17.

Jesus was still. He went into the garden and prayed He was still while he plead with God to do His will.

In that stillness and quietness is when God is the loudest. It's hard to be sit and be still but God does great things in the still. I work hard at being still and some of the greatest thing have come from them. Sometimes being still is removing yourself from daily life. Going on a retreat is often a time when you can be still.

One moment stillness that sticks out is in Mexico. I was working with a group. I was going to take care of the walls and such and the group leader was going to take care of the roof. They were having issues on the roof and needed me up there. They coaxed me up on to the 7ft side. Then they got me up on the plywood closer to the 8 ft side. I was scared to stand up. I was on my knees with my forehead on the plywood screaming "I don't want to stand up" with 2 adult men telling me how great the view was. For just a moment I stopped screaming. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was still. It appeared to me the whole work site was still. Then I heard it. "Stand up. The view is beautiful. You'll love it. It'll make you smile. Just stand up." I stood up. The amazing thing about where we were working is that is was in a valley but the neighborhood was on a hill. The view was amazing. That was one of the greatest blessing I have ever received on an Amor trip. Thank God for making me a still moment in my life that was magnificent. Has God ever done that for you? Why not? Is it because you haven't' stopped? Please take a moment and be still.

I was paging through my bible the other day and postcard fell out of it. It was from the last Tapestry retreat. Jill Rhodes spoke about God being our refugee. On the card, I wrote what God spoke to me during the weekend. I wrote a piece wisdom I was given but forgot. Sometimes being still mean removing your hands from something. Sometimes being still is letting go and letting God. Do you have something that you need to take your hands off of? I do and I know it's hard but when you let go, and when you are still, you allow the floodgates of blessing to open up. Take a moment and think about that. The floodgates of blessings. Think hard, what do you want more, that thing you are holding on to or open floodgates of blessings?

Take time and be still It is so important to know that He is God. It'll be hard but I promise it will be worth it.

Is it really enough

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Is His grace really sufficient? Is it really all you need? I can tell you yes. The thing about this lesson is that I think I share with all that I know about His grace being enough and it may not help you at all. I think this is lesson you to learn yourself. You have to personally witness this yourself in order to truly understand it.

But what is grace? Webster dictionary says that grace is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification and a virtue coming from God. I've often heard it said that grace is getting more than what we deserve. When it comes down to it, we haven't done anything worthy of getting God's attention or having God do anything special for us. Yet He still does it. God loves to make you smile. It's His hobby. That is what grace is. Grace is good taking the weak, small, meaningless things and making the great, wonderful, and amazing.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)

The great thing about grace is that God gives it freely, and almost to point where it seems to overflow. God does this because as His grace works in your life He is gloried. He is seen through the good works you do. Grace really is great thing. It flows from Him so that you can focus on Him.

I've learned that His is grace is sufficient. It wasn't any easy thing to learn. God allowed to go to India to help out in an orphanage. The reason for this is so that He could show that His grace is all that I need. The children living in this orphanage had lost their parents or their parents had abandoned them because they couldn't feed them. These children don't have much. In fact all that they own can fit into a backpack. They have these backpacks because my church gave them to the children. They were happy and content. They didn't seem to be in want. They know that God is all they need. I, however, get sad, depressed and upset. I have both my parents, I have never gone to bed hungry, I have all my needs and wants meet everyday. I couldn't fit all my belongings into two suitcases, it wasn't enough space. I didn't think God was sufficient. Something was wrong and a thought process need changing. If God was enough for these children, why wasn't He enough for me? I was the one who had to look for God to be enough. It took time and it wasn't easy, but now I can proudly say that God is all need. God is sufficient.

Just look for His grace and it will become sufficient

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

It's ok if you don't know that His grace is sufficient. That great thing about God is that if you ask for something that is in His will, He'll give it to. I can assure that knowing God is sufficient is in His will. Just ask. His grace is sufficient.

No need to fear what is to come

And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

Life is so uncertain. We have no idea of knowing what tomorrow will bring. However there is no need to fear. God goes before us. Sometimes though this thought isn't enough. We feel like we should do things. We want to be in control. There are things we do to help us feel safe and hold fast to this promise.

First really look at what the verse really says. He is the One who goes before you. God has set this example of going before us. God sent Joseph before he sent Jacob and his family do into Egypt. He went before Moses and the Israelites as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This verse is Moses talking with Joshua. Another great example of this is with Mary the mother of Jesus. Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her what was to come, but Mary wasn't Gabriel first stop. Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth and Zacharias. One reason this happened is because God knew Mary would go to Elizabeth. He goes ahead.

Remember that He is with you. It says over and over again in the bible that God is with you. He also repeat the phrase I won't leave you. If something is repeated it's important and it has meaning. I think that the great thing about about the phrase I am with you, is that when you look at it in the old testament, it is proceed or followed by three very powerful words declares the Lord. The first two definitions of the word declare in Webster's dictionary is state emphatically and authoritatively and announce publicly or officially. The Lord has feeling when he says this to us and He wants everyone to know it. It is something you can rest on and count on.

There are other things that you can do to help you remember this promise.

Be prepared
By knowing what God's word says, it will help you to be prepared and help you to be ready for what is to come. If you know the promises of God you can lean and rest on them when uncertain times come before.

Keep Godly Friends
Those friends that know God can offer support. They pray for you and stand beside you. Others have been there and done that. Their experiences can help you. Some of those friends even have the gift of God's wisdom and they are to share that wisdom with you.

Faith and Praise.
Keep working on your faith. It is something that needs to be growing. As long as you are starting your day trusting Him and walking with Him, you will have no need to fear anything. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Praise draws you closed to Him. Praise Him for the times he has gone ahead of you. Praise Him for the times He is near. Praise Him for the times He has been faithful.

Focus on God and His greatness. Exalt Him alone and with others. Pray to Him and He will answer. He will take care of your fear and anxieties. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:3-4

The great thing about Deut 31:8 is that it is a promise you can hold on to. It's amazing. It shows His power. He will go before. He is wherever you'll be next year, but He is also right here with you now. He is getting ready the next place in your life, but He is watching over your day to day needs at the same time. He can't leave us. He gave up too much to leave us.

It's not mundane

Many of my friend have made the comment that my life has now become very mundane and that, I don't seem to have to much going on. I have news for you. It's has become mundane, what has happened is that sometimes God puts us into a state of Sabbath.

Leviticus 25
1 The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. 3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. 6 Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, 7 as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.

I think this applies to us to in our lives. If you look at the past few years, I've had a lot going on. It was lot of growth and a lot of change. Many struggles and many advertures. My life has produced much fruit, but now it needs a rest. What's the point of having so much going and learning so much and yeilding so much, if there is no time to process it, learn for it and make sure it is gathered. Just looking at the past several years. I worked very hard for 4 and half year to earn my degree. I taught kindergarten for two years. I lived in Korea, I meet James. My father had cancer. I got married. That's just the tip of the iceberg. That's isn't any of the lesson or growth that has happened in my life. So I'm simple housewife, who works part time at church doing childcare. My life needs a sabbath. It's kinda nice to be able to try my hand at some new things. If life was always producing things, when would we process and see the progress we've made? When would we reflect?

When life starts to feel mundane, maybe you need to stop take a little sabbath and remember what the Lord has done. He does great and mighty things. He heals and restores. Often after healing has taken place it is good to rest and recover.

As more me life is just begin to gear up again. James and I are head to Alaska next. I'm working hard to be albe to be a certified teacher again. I've taken on planning some social events for the band and the wives to enjoy each others' company.

Life never gets mundane unless you let. I'm not about to let it get mundane, but I will enjoy my sabbath.

Is there a Mr. Right.?

I have said it several times that there are three rules before you can find Mr Right or in some cases Mrs. Right. So here is my advice. 1.) You have to be happy with yourself and love yourself. If you don't love yourself how can you expect or hope for someone else to love you. 2.) You have to be content with what you have more before you can gain more. 3.) You have to know what you looking for. Make a list that way you know what you want.

So here is my list.
Must Have
these are things he has to have, there is no negotiation.
1.) He must believe in and have a relationship with God.
2.) He must have a job that pays same as or more than my teaching job does.
3.) I must think he is attractive.
4.) He must think I'm beautiful not matter what. I could be all done up with my makeup or covered in cement dust, he will look at me and think I'm beautiful.
5.) He must want to spend time with me and what we do doesn't really matter. He should be willing going to the teacher store with me. If he does this, I'm will to go where he wants to go i.e. the music store.

I know some of them seem shallow, but if there is no attraction than how does a relationship start. If you aren't willing to be with me and spend time together how does a relationship grow.

So how does James measure up to this
Must Have
1.) He does
2.) He does
3.) I do. I have the hottest husband out there.
4.) He does. There was a day in Korea when we didn't plan on seeing each other, so I didn't put on makeup that morning, he texted and said we could meet for dinner. He told me I looked beautiful.
5.) He is fine with doing anything with. When can be in a room, he can be watching t.v. and I can be reading book. Now he's never gone to teaching store, but he took me to old navy and the bookstore my first week back in the states. I went to see hurt locker with him.

The Wants
these are things he doesn't have to have but bonus points if he does
1.) Nice
2.) Sweet
3.) Compassionate
4.) He doesn't have to do Amor, but he needs to understand that it's something I do
5.) ok with my dog
6.) Smart
7.) Social
8.) understanding that I will do some kind of ministry now matter where I am

So how does James measure up
1.) yes
2.) yes
3.) yes
4.) He has done Amor, so he understands and is willing to go with me.
5.) he likes her
6.) yes
7.) yes
8.) he does

Deal breakers
if the guy has all the other things, but has one of these it doesn't matter it's off
1.) smoking
2.) drugs
3.) aggressive
4.) angry
5.) bitter

How does James measure up
1.) no
2.) no
3.) no
4.) no
5.) no

James is perfect and I can see that God added things to my list. Here is what God added
Someone who loves music
He makes me feel like I'm the only and most important person out there even in a room full of people
He hates pb cups.

Why waste it?

Last year while in Korea I bought a wedding magizine. I found this dress and fell in love with it. It was the dress I wanted to get married in. It's the only thing I really wanted for my wedding. James wants a trumpet, I want this dress. I search for a dress shop that carried the line and found. One informed that they didn't carry and it was discontiued. The other shop said they had it. I went and looked at it. My dad paid for it. She called in March and said she was having trouble but that everything was fine. She gave me a new store number and address. I waited two after when my dress was suppose to arrive. I heard nothing. I called the "new" store number and was informed that they weren't doing business with her. I called the old and left about 4 messages. I drove out to the "new" store location and there was nothing. I admit that I then left a message and I did yell and it wasn't very nice. Then store number was disconnected. I have no dress, Angela and Kate now have no dress either.

I've been told that I have been handling this rather well. I'm not that mad. This is my thought. People are naturally evil. They do wrong. It's there sin nature. I can't change people. People do whatever feels right. Expections lead to let down. Being mad and hating this woman won't get me my dress. I won't do anything. Why should I waste my enery and feelings on being mad at this woman when I have other things I could be doing.

Magic Wands and PVC pipe what in the world?

A few years go on an Amor trip God gave me an object lesson that I needed very much and it's easy to remember. I shared with the ladies at Tapestry retreat on year. Joy remembers and it really spoke to her.

At the time, I was just starting my teaching career which had a very rough and rocky start. I was really struggling with wanting to be a teacher and wanting to do great and wonderful for God's glory. An new "tool" was introduced. It was a small piece of pvc pipe about foot long. For most people when they look at pvc pipe they think about plumbing and transferring water form on spot to another used by plumbers. However to me, I just need a small section and it's the greatest tool I've ever used. It's used to stretch chicken wire. The job use to be time consuming and hard. It isn't easy to get the chicken wire tight enough. With this pvc pipe, I've heard call the magic wand, it's quick easy and the chicken wire is tight enough.

So the lesson learned is this: that you may see a simple a teacher when you look at me. That's fine. God did intended for me to be teacher. That role in my life has it's purpose. However, when you take me and place in God's hands, I can do amazing. I've built houses. I've a company have a smooth spring season. I've been a nurse's assistant. I've helped children learn about bible. I've feed people.

I don't want to be the pvc pipe. I want to do something that at times seems mundane and boring. I know it's very functional. In fact, it's needed. It's job that somebody needs to do. I want be the magic wand. I want to be doing amazing things for God's glory. I know that both show how great my God is, but you don't have look when you are being the magic wand.