A Taste of Worship

Read this on someone's blog and totally agree:

"I believe that worship does not just happen on Sunday morning. I believe that it is in every little thing in our every day life. How we treat our spouse. How we react to our kids, even in the stressful moments. If we make life about "me". How we treat the waitress or the car that cuts us off. How we love. How we forgive. Everything. These are all opportunities to worship God. To show Jesus to others. I also believe that being a Christian isn't about the "dos" and "donts" or if you drink or not or cuss or not BUT I DO believe that if you follow God with full abandon...abandon your old self, your old life and let Him live through you...it is a natural overflow- your life changes, in all areas."

May my life overflow with worship of my God so that people will walk away from encounters with me having encountered God's love for them. God help me to proclaim boldly your love when I have the opportunity and to make the most of opportunities that you give me to spread your love. May it be contagious.

A Taste of Blessings

I can not say enough what a blessing it has been to live here in Houston and to get to see my sister, brother in-law, nephew, & niece on a regular basis. Just today, I kept Noah & Briley for about 3 hours while Matt and Mel worked. Working from home and having a flexible schedule also has been such a blessing so that I am able to do this. I try to pick the kids up from their Mothers Day Out program once a week to give Matt a few hours by himself or to finish some work and SELFISHLY, I love having one on one time with them at my house. Noah just amazes me everytime I see him with the new things he thinks up or the things that he says. Today, he insisted on making Uncle Brad ANOTHER birthday card (we made one last week) and wrote all of his ABCs on it and ran out of room to actually write "Happy Birthday" so he made another card for him with that on it. I let Noah decide what we did today, so we did that and made Santa & Rudolph masks and watched "The Parent Trap". I showed him this movie a while back thinking he'd think all the boobie trapping was funny but has NO IDEA he'd love it and request it on a regular basis. I can see the wheels turning in his head as he thinks, "Hmm, now how could I do that to Mom and Dad. . ." And sweet Briley played for a while and crawled around and was mesmerized by my Christmas tree. . .more the ornaments really. And then she feel asleep in my arms-oh she is so sweet. It was just a normal day, we didn't do anything super creative or "special" but spending the afternoon with them was so special to me and just made me so happy.

I say all of this fully realizing that the rest of our family would love to get to do this, and I truely wish they could too. I know it's just not possible to always live close to family. All I can say, is that we talk about you all a lot and can't wait to spend time with you all! Noah knows that he is loved by his extended family and Briley soon will realize that too-I think she already does for what her young mind can understand. You can be proud of Matt & Melanie-they are amazing parents to these two kids-it is so neat to get to see them and their love for their kids.

I just want to take advantage of this time that God has given me to be close to my family and to make sure that beyond a shadow of a doubt, Noah and Briley know that I love them and know that they are special to me because they are truely gifts from God and loved by God. It is neat because I think Noah really understands a lot about God and how God loves him. And SO far, Noah still gets excited to see me! I'm going to enjoy that for as long as I can!

I would have never guessed a year ago, that I would be here in Houston but what an amazing God we have who orchestrated this move and these precious months here. I'm so glad I trusted Him even though it was sad to leave such dear friends in Nashville. My heart is full of thanks to God for what He has done, and I pray that He will continue to give me opportunities to spend time with and love on my family.

A Taste of God's Prescence

Has it really been since the MIDDLE of OCTOBER since I've written? WOW. I don't know where all that time went! Well today, I am overwhelmed with God's prescence. During the last several weeks, I have been reminded of what it is to cry out desperately for God's prescence, not necessarily in my own life, but in the life of some dear friends: Matt & Alissa Peppley. Now, quite honestly, I don't know Matt & Alissa super well, but Alissa's sister Katie, is one of my best friends, so I consider anyone that she loves, a dear friend. I got to know Alissa a little bit when her and I both lived in Nashville and she has such a sweet spirit and reminds me so much of my friend Katie. While I ate breakfast one time in Nashville with Alissa, I could not put Katie out of my mind because they look, act, and even sound so much alike.

Well Matt & Alissa found out 9 months ago, that Alissa was pregnant again, a miracle in and of itself due to some physical reasons. During the pregnancy, they were told that their sweet baby Anna has two major heart issues and the doctors did not expect her to be able to survive outside of the womb. I was heartbroken when I heard this news. I can not imagine what a mother and father would go through hearing this news. The excitement of an unexpected pregnancy and then the news that your sweet baby may not survive. I can only imagine the questions that were sent up to God on their behalf.

So, people started praying. Praying for healing, for peace, for intervention, for GOD'S prescence in this situation. And while I was joining in the prayer and hope for healing, I have to admit that I didn't know if God was going to heal this sweet baby. I wanted desperately for Him to and I KNEW that He was able to, I just didn't know if He would choose to.

The best I knew to pray was that God would overwhelm this couple and this family with His prescence so that regardless of the outcome, they would know His love and would have a "peace that passes all understanding." Matt & Alissa also listed some specific prayer requests, so I prayed for those as well.

Well God has performed so many miracles on this family's behalf. Sweet baby Anna was born this last Thursday, breathing on her own and even screaming! Matt & Alissa both got to hold her before she went into surgery. The surgery went well and right now this sweet baby is trying to heal. She still has a lot before her, but her parents are already praising God for the days of life that she has had and for the time that they have gotten to spend with her. I am humbled and challenged by this couple's faith and trust in God. If you want to read more on their story, check out: http://babyannajoy.blogspot.com/

And then today, I found out that my dad's sister, Aunt Celia passed away. My heart hurts so much for my parents and Aunt & Uncle to lose a sibling and a sister-in law. I do not want to even begin to think about what that would be like for me. Aunt Celia was a very sweet and loving woman. I know that my Mom especially will miss her as my Mom talked to her regularly and tried to always be a friend and encouragement to her. And now I will pray again for God's prescence in each of their lives so that even in something like this where there is sadness and loss, God can be felt and experienced in a way that draws us closer to Him.

I don't always understand why God allows certain things to happen, but I do know and completely believe that He promises to be with us in the midst of life and that He offers hope, healing, and peace.