Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Five Minute Friday (2 days early): Happy Thanksgiving!

I just read a post on the importance of thanking God for the hard things, which really speaks to my heart this Thanksgiving Eve.  Thanking God for your adoring husband, beautiful and thriving children, nice house, rewarding job, etc, is kind of easy.  Thanking God for the trials of raising a special needs child (SO wierd to think of it this way), the challenges of marriage, the heartache of moving, house-hunting woes, and financial stress, is a lot harder.  I'm not saying life is horrible, it's actually wonderful, and I'm thanking God for making "all things new."  He has a way of turning it all out for good, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."--Romans 8:28.  But remembering to thank God FOR the hard things instead of just praying for Him to rescue me from them, is a new way to think about it, and as I enter into Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, I will be singing praises to the One who will always work it out.  :)

Friday, November 2, 2012

Five Minute Friday: Roots


From a series by lisajobaker.com

I was watching "Love It or List It" on HGTV the other night, one of my new obsessions since we are in the house-hunting process ourselves, and as the couple was going through a renovation of their basement, they were met with a problem--roots from the big trees in their yard had infiltrated under the house and into the pipes.  So of course, they could not complete their renovation due to this problem.  It got me thinking though, when I saw the topic for today.  Sometimes, in our lives, their are "roots" that grow deep into our innermost spirit and prevent renewal and renovation from happening.  Sometimes those roots are discouraging thoughts that are not from Him; sometimes they are memories of sins that I have not fully repented of; sometimes they are feelings of inadequacy that stem from childhood.  Whatever they are, until they are cut down, true healing and "renovation" cannot occur.  For me, the roots are thoughts that God doesn't love me, He's not really here with me, I'm not deserving of Him and His gifts of mercy and grace...all lies!  Gradually, through prayer, He is sawing down those roots, getting rid of them and their poison that infiltrates my "pipes."  It is clear to me more than ever right now in this time of trial that He is here with me, and no matter what is going on, He is the same God forever.  And ever. 

J.W. and I are loving the song by Laura Story right now, "Blessings:"
"What if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"


Click here to read more about the story behind this amazing song.