It was great having my sister here, and we are more than willing to do it again if needed. But it's nice to get back into a routine again. We had our normal morning routine, chores, bible time lessons. And our afternoon has been just as nice. The kids finished their lessons without complaint, and are now outside playing with the neighborhood kids. I have dinner in the oven, and have about 30 minutes to myself. It's always a nice treat when things go like this.
We are still cold here, windy but sunny. Truly I'm surprised the kids even wanted to go out. But I know I did it when I was a kid. And of course, now that they have gone out, and few other neighborhood kids have come out too. Carrie finally got into her own house today. She couldn't get into her driveway, which meant she couldn't get into her house yesterday. She had to spend the night at her daughter's place until someone could come and dig out her driveway. That was finished this afternoon and she called me all happy that she is finally in her own home. She did not plan to be gone as long as she was, so she never set the heater properly or water or even made sure her dog was taken care of. She truly expected to be back by Monday afternoon. But thankfully all was well. No frozen pipes, heater working fine, and the dog so enjoying himself in this snow.
Do you ever feel like you are just learning how to live, truly live, for the Lord? Maybe I'm the only one, but the Lord has truly been showing me so many areas in my life that I have held back. And there have been so many, that I truly feel like I'm just learning to live for Him. It's all sort of 'clicking' now. For so many of my years with the Lord things seemed like such a struggle, so hard, so weighty. Verses didn't make sense, and I couldn't figure out how other Christians 'did it'. I remember back in 1999 at a women's retreat I was on, praying for the Lord to show me what the brick wall was that I was hitting. I had felt it for years. I would go so far with the Lord, then it seemed like I would hit a brick wall. Well, He has been faithful to show me things, and I feel like brick by brick He has been taking that wall down. I will say, I haven't always liked the ways He's used to show me things, but I'm thankful I'm on this side of those things, and that I'm closer to Him for it. I'm no where near being 'there' (whereever there is), and I still fail and fall flat on my face all the time. But I just feel closer to Him now, now that I'm no longer keeping Him at arms length. I know there are still areas that I do tend to do that, keep Him at arms length away, but truly I feel like I'm in a new time in my walk with Him. I'm getting to really grasp what it means to surrender my life to Him. I'm beginning to realize what it means to worship Him and to be in His Word daily. And most importantly I'm truly learning what it means to try to live out His Word. And what's funny, is for years I tried to do that very thing, not realizing it was all in my own strength. I mean, seriously, I never realized I was living in my own strength, I thought I was leaning on the Lord. But the Lord has shown me how I wasn't leaning on Him, I was always leaning on myself. So sad I never noticed that before, but what I blessing that I see it now. So I will continue to try and keep my focus on Him. To allow Him to pick me up when I fall flat on my face, for the untold number of times. Lord, I know I'm no where near being done with what You are showing me, and there are still so many things I need to learn. Thank You for never giving up on me. Thank You for being faithful, and showing me my sinful self, and the areas I have failed in. Thank You for Your forgiveness, and for being my Savior.
I loved your openness about the your relationship with the Lord. I was amazed at how much being a mother caused me to grow in my walk with the Lord.
Out of that huge growth, I started writing devotions that are very applicable to women. I think you would be encouraged by some of them. I hope you can stop by and take a look.
http://hometown.aol.com/srmiller1988/proverbs31devotionals.html. Feel free to stop by my blog too! I added you to my friends list so that I can find you again.
I'm so sorry I couldn't make here until now. I had a full day today. After I visited some blogs this morning, the day just flew, but I'm happy I got a lot done.
I'm so happy to hear your sister finally made it home.
IKWYM about a new learning time in our spiritual journey with the Lord. I feel like I am on another one since December. I like when we can talk about the things the Lord is doing in our lives. He is so good and kind to us.
(((hugs)))
Katia
How wonderful. I feel as if I am growing too, mostly out of the pain and trials of the last year. BTW, I need to pour my heart out on rocky ridge soon about tonight.
Jenn
What a wonderful testimony! I have experienced something similar. I don't think I understood God's holiness or His Sovereignty like I do now. It has made all the difference in my worship, which has made all the difference in my life.
God is so good to be patient with us, isn't He?
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
