Just.Go.With.It

In.the.flow

O let thy trembling sould be still, and wait thy wise, thy Holy will.

I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see, yet all is well since ruled by thee...

We are Christ's ambassadors and therefore His messengers. Too often we think that the message we preach reflects our faith. However, on a much deeper level it is the message of our everyday words and actions that are influential. We are the letter from God that people read. We become unreliable messengers when we speak crudely, gossip about a neighbor, or act dishonestly.

Our words and actions reflect God, who lives inside us, to people who never open a Bible or enter a church. Never forget that you are an ambassador for Christ and a messenger of hope. Ask His Spirit to empower you to deliver the Good News with your life and words.

Lord, thank You for allowing me to be Your ambassador. Let my message be honest and true. Help me to encourage others and to go out of my way to speak a kind word. Forgive me for times when I have spoken without thinking. Let me live in such a way that my words and actions represent You so that my message may be one of love and hope.

Grapes...growing at the cabin...

Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief...

blogger troubles

I was able to sign in, but I still don't understand what is happening and have no idea how to fix it. I can no longer access the email account I used to open this blog. I am getting a message from google that my account needs to be verified. I will be moving...no idea what to call it...
I hope to post the new name here, but if I'm not able to sign in, it will be in the comments section of this post!
Any help would make me extra happy!

Today, I am most grateful for answered prayers...

Anxiously waiting on some test results...could sure use an extra prayer today...

strong enough

You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well, forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I.don't.have.to.be.strong.enough...

Matthew West has such a talent for writing "real" songs, for "real" people, about "real" struggles...

day eight...

Honor

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever.

I am here... {Finding Heaven one step at a time}

I want to be here...

It's my choice...

double lesson...

on day four of 21 days of prayer for sons...

James 1:22-27 ESV says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless"

This brings up a very important lesson for my "sons", me as well. Honestly, I think I cover all these "important" things...really, there is so much information here, and now I'm afraid I'm missing some of it. Am I failing...I too must commit myself to dig, study, strive, harder, to get the truth, not only for teaching my sons, but for teaching me as well, so that when I am called to, I may be able to answer...

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 Make a new heart in me, My God! Create it out of Your Pureness! (2 Cor. 5:17) Make my heart brand new so that it is totally pure and without anything bad. Dear God, make a new and faithful spirit inside of me. Give me Your Holy Spirit that I may be faithful to You in all things!! (John 3:1-21)

Have my heart stick to You no matter what comes my way!!

21 days of Prayer for Sons...

starts today...won't you join me over here with Brooke and the others...

no words...

***edited to update***Father Brad has died also, leaving two of the triplets, 17, Delaney, and Layla, and younger sister Ally.
***edited to update*** The youngest child Zoe has died. Father, Brad still critical. Please remember the three children left without a mother, and the loss of two siblings. Ally, Delaney, and Layla.
I have no words for the pain I feel for this horrific accident... Just posted to the "Quiet Corner of Prayer" yesterday, here is the story.
McAlester House Fire

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

darkness into light...

The Lord says, "I will lead the blind by a road they do not know . . . . I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. . . . and I will not forsake them."

Our weekend travels led us to The Lost Sea in Sweetwater. Now, if you're a cave fan, or not, this is a visit I recommend to everyone. It's phenominal, amazing, unbelieveable formations... As I was gazing at the ceiling, I couldn't grasp the reality of this creation. We can't...take it in...imagine all the wonders that have yet to be found, and those we are blessed with each day. All created by His hand. This underground lake, second largest in the world, is right here in Tennessee. Although the cave itself had been discovered and used many years prior by the Cherokee Indians, and during the Civil War the Confederate Army mined the cave for saltpeter. The story of how the lake was found is quite interesting. If you go here, you can read the history. While inside the cave, the "cave guide" has everyone sit down, and he turns off the lights. This is total darkness, so dark, that if you were to stay in the cave for two weeks, you would begin to lose your sight. This is what life would be like without the Father...complete, total darkness. It scared me as I thought of life this way. We choose to live in the dark, or live in the light. There are days, when life hurts, feels dark, but God will bring you light.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14

Just a few pictures of the cave.

enthusiasm-outshines-ability

inbox from Faith Imagined

The way she puts together words, with "just right" scripture...

photo from here

comfort elsewhere

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

I'm not quite sure how I got here, what or who led me, but I found comfort...Cleaning out my life

picture post...

loading pictures of our drive this weekend I also came across last years photos that I've already posted...they make me happy, so I'm posting yet again...

this is one of my favorite guys in Dollywood. The only time I care to visit is at Christmas~

and another ~

and this one~

He's the one that I think of when I'm having a not so good day...the one...when life is hard, and times are not as they should be, I feel in my heart, the love that we have will get us through to the happier days.

and this makes me think of waiting...When we pray, waiting is the hardest, longest process, but His ways are not our ways, so we wait, listen, believe...

(Mark is sitting by ebb & flow spring)

a frog in ebb & flow spring

I truly love old log structures. We passed this one on a hike last fall in Laural Run Park

on the way to this waterfall~

this is at the old Amis Mill in Rogersville...

Jesse-Ray standing inside what's left of the mill, and by big creek~

I almost stepped on this little fellow~

thou art dust...

and to dust thou shalt return...

photo from here

And so begins this period of prayer and fasting. A journey into my soul...a cleansing, faithfulness, gratitude...

What if...

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause 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

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause 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
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Forgiveness and the Freedom of Letting go

His ways...

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.


I've been thinking...wondering...waiting...

and I'm juggling this...a lot...

I've officially been back to work full time for almost a year now. Being able to stay home for 14 years, one settles in...a routine...a comfortable place...Very difficult to change, when this girl doesn't like any part of it...change.
Realizing how UNPREPARED Cody was for college has me scrambling, worrying, wondering...have I let him down? I see the same future for Jesse-Ray and this can not be.
Anytime I've mentioned homeschool, people snarl...as if you've cursed. I no longer care about the snarls and the whispers, I simply want the very best for my boys. Jesse-Ray has always DISLIKED school very much...not because he wasn't academically where he needed to be, he has a good memory, and has never had to study. This year*is*different. I don't know what the change is, but I totally see it. So, I'm trying to find a way to homeschool, while working full time. Is this possible? I need help, finding a way. I am also really thinking about going back to school to finish the PsyD I started twenty four years ago...since my creative mind is on hiatus somewhere in a foreign land...not sure when or IF it will return.

I'd like some thoughts on this homeschool subject...I was lead to this wonderful little spot. Visit Sasha over at Lemonade Makin Mama. I read way back in the archives, and there is so much helpful information. I love so much that she's able to share her heart like this also.
Have a happy day-

comfort...southern made...

This is a very special recipe for chili. Shared by Rick Light, father of Josh Light...talented young dobro player. The Light family was..."a feel good family"...always a joy to be with. Josh had quiet an ear for music. I expected great things from him. He was taken too soon. Leukemia...Fall of 2009. At least 30 musicians came together to pay tribute at his service...I know he was welcomed into Heaven.
This is the only chili recipe I use. I know you will enjoy it as well. It's different than any chili you've had, I'm sure.

(If you click on the recipe, it'll pull it up close to a larger view so you can see, or print)

create...

A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others...

I feel like I've lost the audience, how can I blame you...I haven't been here for visits, I've been empty.

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I wanna feel good, lose weight, feel younger again. I wanna homeschool, be in love with my life, sit in my pj's most of the day, stitch, and create jewelry. I want to have good hair, like victoria Beckam, no wait, I wanna look like her too. I wanna put together store displays of designer clothing, strange, weird kinda dream I've always had. I wanna take a road trip, a long one. I wanna return to Jamaica, I wanna sell the house, build a house. I wanna hear from all of you who bring me joy with your messages. I wanna have words again, words to share with you...

edited to add...I wish to take a mission trip, to help others more, and want less for me.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Think Spring here

Dunns River Falls (above)

Blue Lagoon(above