The day of my Salvation......

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."  Isaiah 61:10

I know the day of my salvation.  I was just 10 years old in the middle of a revival at my home church.  I remember crying and not understanding why I am crying.  Yet I also remember a peace washing over me.  I remember feeling like I had been clothed with garments of salvation as he wrapped his arms around me.  
When my daughter was 6 years old, she was saved.  I am so thankful to have that assurance that I will be forever with her in heaven.  I am so thankful that Jesus is in her heart.  I am thankful she can proclaim: "God's got me."  
I've had a couple of friends whose children have gone far too early to be with the Lord.  My mind cannot fathom that pain, that heartache, that loss; yet my heart is exceedingly glad that I will see those children again because I know who lived in their hearts.  I delight greatly in the Lord.  
Isaiah 61:10 gives me peace when I read it.  This verse assures me of His great love for me.  The God of all creation loves me.  The God who rescues the lost loves me.  The God who created the land and the sea loves me.  The God who heals the brokenhearted loves me.  The God of forgiveness loves even me.

Dear Lord, I am so thankful for your love, your grace, and your mercy.  I am grateful for your garments of salvation and I pray for all my friends who do not have the assurance of salvation today.  I pray you use me as a witness for you, O Lord.  Amen

I have never been more grateful until...

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are overjoyed.  Psalms 126:3

I have never been more grateful until yesterday for the ability to celebrate another birthday.  Though I have had a few trials over the last few years, I am grateful for being able to celebrate yet another year with my friends and family.
I love this verse from Psalms.  This has become my life verse after having a few health related trials myself as well as my husband and daughter.  I believe that your attitude can change the perspective of your own circumstances.  I want to share a story with you about a new mother who proclaimed this verse from Psalms in her worst circumstance...
"I remember the bright white lights as the doctors performed a C-section.  I remember sounds, yet the rest remains very foggy.  I remember my baby's face as she peaked across the curtain and the nurse escorting my baby girl and husband out of the operating room.  The next thing I remember is a doctor standing over me.  All I heard her say at first was "Did anyone tell her what happened?"  My eyes immediately shot open and I repeated over and over, "How is my baby?"  The doctor locked eyes with me and said, "Your baby girl is just fine.  Now you...."  Out I went again.  Yet I felt such a peace come over me in that moment that I had never felt before.  I proclaimed Psalms 126:3 over and over.  The next time I opened my eyes I saw my mother and my husband standing over me.  
Over the next several hours, I was wheeled into ICU, given a 50-50 chance to live, and had just a moment to see my baby girl's face. Yet I felt peace beyond my own understanding.  I felt peace that could only be from the Lord."
That young mother was actually me.  You see just 10 years ago, I was given a 50-50 chance to live, yet God gave me peace in the midst of a dark circumstance.  I believe that the peace given to me allowed me to have a very thankful and grateful heart no matter what was to come.
Today I am thankful for the gift of another birthday --- my 39th --- to celebrate with friends and family.  I choose to Celebrate!  You should too!
Have you told the Father how thankful you are today?

Dear Lord, thank you for another year to celebrate life.  Thank you for friends and family who help me celebrate.  Thank you for the peace that is beyond understanding and for giving us more than we deserve.  Amen

Is there Peace in your home?

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.  Psalms 29:11

I will be honest and say that the mornings around our house can be quite stressful.  Though none of us are morning people, little has to be said to create a wake of chaos and short tempers.  From the missing homework to the spilt coffee to the empty tank of gas in the car on the way to school, little interruptions can cause a great stress in our house.
Too many times I have found myself taking a big sigh of relief after dropping my daughter off at school and entering a quiet house.  Then the guilt sets in.  I want my daughter or my husband to go off to school or work with a peaceful heart not the echoes of the stress of our morning.  
I am so thankful for Christ's example of a peaceful heart.  I recall in Matthew when Jesus went up to Gethsemane to pray that he left the disciples behind to keep watch.  After finding them asleep instead, Jesus did not lash out at them with a short temper or inflict his own stress upon them.  While I am positive he was disappointed in their actions and probably even a little frustrated, He showed grace.  
When is the last time I showed grace to my own family in the midst of my own frustrations or stress? 

Dear Lord, thank you for the grace that you show me each day.  I pray that I show grace to my family in the midst of my own stress or frustrations.  I pray that our house be filled with your peace.  Amen

Is Your Busyness keeping you from His Peace?

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

I am guilty.  I allow my busyness to consume me.  I am guilty of being caught up in every"thing" that takes up my time.  I realize I have the same 24 hours that everyone else has yet I seem to squander mine with unfulfilling activities.  I am guilty of spending too much time on social media.  I get sucked in so easily.  I jump on to take care of business or look at my own Facebook wall and get sucked in to everyone else's stories, lives, posts, and even the drama.  I become so consumed that what I thought would take 20 minutes actually lasts an hour.  My mind strayed away.  I did not stay focused.  

Then there are all the extra activities of our days.  From volleyball practices to doctor appointments to orthodontist visits, often our days are full of extra stuff.  I often feel rushed in getting dinner on the table, baths taken, and everyone in bed by 10pm.  Where did my day go?  I often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the end of the day. 

The peace that God so freely gives to me is layered under all my piles of "stuff."  It takes me removing my own self-inflicted stuff that has made room in my life to find that peace that I've been trying so hard to find.  Yet, Isaiah tells me I need to keep my mind on Him!  My focus should be on the Lord.  My thoughts should be more of Him and less of Me!

Dear Lord, thank you so much for your perfect peace.  Help me to stay focused on You and what you have in store for me each day.  May my thoughts be more of YOU and less of Me!  Amen