Encourage

Hi, I hope you have missed me! All five of you who read this blog,ha. Life has been a little crazy and I have failed at keeping this site updated on regular basis, which may be why I don't have very many readers. Anywho, I am here today.

I think most of us have gotten back into some what of a normal routine with school, athletics, etc. Soon we will start back up Fall Bible Studies as well. I would like to encourage you to add something to that.....
I know you are thinking yeah right like I have time for one more thing, but this will be as much for you as for someone else.

Here it is, be an Encourager.I'm certain you probably already are, but I think I mean more by it than the word on the surface means. We all (especially women)need someone that holds us accountable in our christian walk, someone that is there on those days when we just don't feel we can live out who we are called to be. Be that one special person that can be called on to lift their spirits when times are tough, someone to laugh with when times are fun, and someone to cry with when its not so fun. How is this for you? Because you need to find someone to be that person for you as well. Maybe its more than one person.

Here is some scripture that I thought spoke of this:

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11).

Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers (Acts 15:32).

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

I hope all of us will reach out to someone today and encourage them.

Sweet Blessings,
Margaret

Live By Faith (Part 3) & Other Tidbits

Hi Sweet Friends! Let me start by telling you how blessed my Thursday was last week. My replacement cord for my computer came so yay I am back! The air conditioner was fixed Praise the Lord on Wednesday it was 90 degrees upstairs! And, we finished the guest bath downstairs! It looks so pretty I may even post a picture soon, since I did show it all torn out and Greg looking under the house. I also had dinner and a movie date with my husband that evening. So, I am a bit happier and relaxed now.
So, on with our topic.....

If you remember when we ended the last post I told you we would be discussing Hezekiah. Hezekiah became king of Judah during a very tough time for Israel. The Northern part of Israel had already been captured and now Judah was next on the list. Hezekiah had all good intentions to do Gods will, but when times got tough he became weak and his faith that God was in control began to fail. In walks a wise one, Isaiah, and gives Hezekiah a good talking to. Isaiah reminds Hezekiah that he needs to look to God for his strength not his men or the horses. You can read all of this part of the story in Isaiah 31. It was easier for Hezekiah to put his faith in what he could see and was tangible.

2 Corinthians 5:7 "We live by faith not by sight". By the time of the attack Hezekiah's faith had grown and he told his men in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. If we are focusing on God he may give us a gentle reminder or something tangible that reminds us he is in control and hasn't forgotten you and this can be so sweet. Other times I bet you, just as I, can look back at trials in your past and see that God was right there in control the entire time.

Isn't it amazing how we can find such great wisdom from these individuals in the Old Testament? Lets write this down and keep it where we can see it all week:
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”- Psalm 119:114. Then lets live it!

I hope you have a great week.

Sweet Blessings,
Margaret

Hi Friends,

My computer is still out of service, but Lauren is letting me use hers for a bit so you wouldn't think I ran away! So, lets continue talking about faith and giving God control of our lives.

Perhaps the problem with our "letting go and letting God" starts with our heart. We proclaim our love for Him with our mouths when we worship, our minds when spending time in the Word, but is our heart totally there? Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart soul, mind and strength". Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart". Neither verse says some of your heart or part of your heart, but ALL.Verse 14 goes on to say "I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from captivity". Isn't that what worry does? It holds us captive. It keeps us from experiencing freedom and fullness in Christ.

We love God, we believe in Him, we confess Him as Lord of our life, but when we face trials or times get tough where do we turn? Who do we turn to first?
Next time, we'll look at Hezikiah his doubts and his faith.
I will try to get back to you before another week. Thanks for your comments, I love to read them.

Sweet Blessings,
Margaret

My Computer is Under the Weather

Hi Girls. My computer is temporarily out of order! I will be back in a day or so with more on faith. Maybe the broken computer is all part of Gods plan as I am soaking in His Word instead of the internet.
Sweet Blessings,
Margaret

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands....

I grew up singing this song, teaching it to my children, and now with the children at The Gate. I tell others who are in doubt to remember God is in control, I read it daily, and I tell my children over and over. So, why do I continue to doubt and worry? Am I alone here? for some reason I don't think I am. Okay, maybe I'm hoping so.

I want so much to pray about whatever may be worrying me, and then truly leave it at His feet. It is so hard.

I bet we could have a lot of conversation on this. Click on comments and tell me your thoughts. You can leave anonymously if you would like. Providing my computer doesn't die or paint doesn't take me over completely in this house I will be back to discuss more in the next day or so.

Sweet Blessings Friends,
Margaret

He Loves Me

He loves me
He loves me not
He loves me
He loves me not
He loves me
He has always loved me
and He loves me with an everlasting love!

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
Jeremiah 31:3

Have a great weekend resting in His love.

Sweet Blessings,
Margaret

Little Surprises in the Craziness

The past several days have been so full and crazy at our house. Well, okay things are usually a little crazy here, but lately more so than usual!

We have had to rip out entire floors from a room finding more problems than we thought when we finally reached under the house. Lauren's car decided that high school and college was all it could handle and decided to call it quits. We have been switching rooms around as Lauren moves back home while she completes grad school which has meant cleaning out closets that should have been done long ago. To add to all of this there is still the everyday life of building a new company, assisting in the running of a nonprofit, making sure we eat, and at least trying to keep the sawdust to a minimum and the tools out of the walk way. Oh, and the several trips to drop bags of unwanted items to a thrift store and about ten bags of trash in the middle of the kitchen floor. I also may or may not feel like I am having a bit of a difficult time trying to make sure all family members have my attention and do not feel left out during all of this or slighted in anyway. This is a huge task in itself when it involves girls! Whew, how did mom do it with four girls? I also may or may not be having a difficult time remaining patient and not getting frustrated with my house a little less than organized and clean to say the least.

In the middle of all of this:









God has tucked a few little surprises like a day of this:






Where we got to sit on the beach and watch this:




I am certain that God gives us little surprises everyday we just don't always take the time to notice or acknowledge them.

Little things, like being able to enjoy a little of this:



In the midst of everyday craziness perhaps we need to be more intentional to see these surprises and give thanks. I guess it is one more grace lesson for this little lady who is still and I am guessing always will be a work in progress.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows.
James 1:17 NIV

Sweet Summer Blessings,
Margaret