Two New Nephews!

These two sweet boys were born into our family a few weeks ago!  I'm sure there is lots of fun to come with these two cousins!  I'm so excited to be their auntie!  

Griffin James born 08/17/2013

Jens Albert born 08/23/2013

Praying these two little boys grow up to one day to be men who love the Lord with all their heart! 

It is Not Vain!

This past weekend, I went to a retreat with some friends from church.  It was a blessing to spend time at the lake, get away, and hear great preaching!

I am so amazed how God answers the needs of His children all the time.  The first message we heard preached this weekend was about how it is not vain to serve God.

The Lord knew I needed to hear this message! I had been discouraged for some time in a few areas and this message spoke to my heart and encouraged me so much.

The message came from Malachi 3:13-18.  I will share with you some of my notes and some of the thoughts that encouraged me!

There are Two Types of People:

1.) Those Who Say it is Vain to serve the Lord:  
Verse 14 says:  "Ye have said, it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

There are people who start their walk with the Lord and then when trials come, waiting gets long, or they have been hurt, they allow their flesh to give up.  They end up feeling it is vain and worthless to serve the Lord, because they don't SEE the working of God.  Verse 15 says:  "And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up;  yea, they that tempt God are even delivered."  We all could develop a negative feeling when we don't see the manifestation of God working in our lives.  We may even FEEL that it would be better to live again like the world, or that there would be no difference if we quit serving and walking with the Lord. However, we need to remember this is not truth.  Rebellion against God will not get you where you want to be.  Seek the Lord and His righteousness-then you will see things happen God's way, and there will be no sorrow added to it!

2.)  Those Who Trust and Fear the Lord and Will Continue to Serve Him:
Verses 16-18 say:  "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:  and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his nam.  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels;  and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."

Sometimes God just wants to see how committed we are to Him.  He wants to see if we REALLY trust him.  Our faith is put to the test in a dry and thirsty land and it is not always easy to keep walking with Him.  Just because we may FEEL a certain way does not mean God has changed!  God does not change!  It is my job to be faithful.  The rest is up to the Lord.  Job knew God, and there was no way he could say it was vain to serve the Lord.  Abraham waited a very long time to hear from God, but he didn't give up on Him, he just did what God told him, and God honored the promise He made to him in the end!  Don't ever come to the end of your faith and think God deserves to be given up on!  Don't cast away your confidence.  Sometimes, it's just the right time to wait and trust the Lord!

I needed this message so much! I have been through that dry and thirsty land where I have been hurt and discouraged at times. The Lord used this message encourage me to keep doing right, keep waiting on Him, and keep telling others about Him, and I know that in the end His blessing will be attached to it, and there will be no sorrow!  By God's grace, I hope my life is one of faith, and that even when I am going through that dry and thirsty land, that I will keep fearing Him, and serving Him no matter what!  May I never say it is vain to serve the Lord!

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."  Proverbs 10:22

We don't have to Sink!

I often go through times where I feel full of faith, and that I am so confident in the Lord, and then, so suddenly because of a circumstance or a wrong, untruthful thought, I begin to have doubt, and fear, and distrust.  Recently I was reading in Matthew 15 and a few verses stuck out to me that I could relate to.

In verses 26-31 it says: "And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying It is a spirit; and they cried out of for fear.  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Peter was so full of faith when he took those first steps, but when he got his eyes off of Christ and onto the storm instead, he began to sink.  I often do the same thing.  I will one day have a strong confidence that God is working all things for good for me, I am fully trusting in Him and have a peace in my heart that He is in control, then, so quickly, I can take my eyes off of Him and His word, look around at my circumstances, and that faith that I had can so quickly fade.  I begin to sink.  But what stood out most to me in these verses as I read the other day, is that when Peter recognized that he was beginning to sink, he cried unto the Lord for help, and it says that immediately Jesus stretched out His hand to help him.  Those times when our faith begins to sink, our eyes are off the Lord, all we have to do is cry unto Him, and He will pull us up again!  We don't have to keep sinking!

It's my hope at those times when I begin to take my eyes off Christ, that I would quickly recognize it, call on Him for help, and put my focus back on the truth of His word.  He will immediately help me and pull me up again!

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."  2 Corinthians 5:7

A Fun Evening with Sweet Friends!

A few evenings ago a few of my friends and I decided to go to Thunder Road for some mini-golf, laser tag and go-cart riding!

Rachael, Erin, and myself getting ready to ride go-carts!  

Rachael, Erin and Heather

  Golf clubs can be dangerous!  :)

Elissa and I

There is nothing better than friends that love the Lord! I have been blessed by these young ladies whose sweet spirits always encourage me to grow closer to Christ!  

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

Proverbs 27;17