No Greater Love

"How much do you love me?" asked a little voice one day.

"Well," I said in reply, "A lot."

"How much is a-lot?"

Ever asked our Heavenly Father that?

"How much do you love me?"

There are times when I'm at church, worshipping in song, or listening to the powerful words in the Pastor's sermon that I find myself hit with the reminder of just how much our Heavenly Father loves me.

"For God so loved the world....."

And, then there are the other times. Maybe it's a day when I wake up and haven't received any emails, or my spouse and I get off on the wrong foot that day; maybe the dog ate my favorite shoes, again, or I just wake up questioning-"How much do you love me, Lord?"

"....that He gave His only begotten Son....."

It's impossible to measure up to the love that our Heavenly Father shows for us. There are many who walk among us that don't really know how much our Heavenly Father loves them nor do they understand how much they truly mean to Him.


It could be that in the midst of a "bad day" one forgets just how special they are to God and His unconditional love for them is the farthest thing from their minds.

".....that whoever believes in Him....."

The love our Father has to offer goes beyond our saying the right things, wearing the right types of clothes, belonging to the right cliques, or trying to live up to the standards of others. God loves us unconditionally; no strings attached. His love is free. His love is sacrificial. And, His love is eternal. His love is not based on the things I do or don't do.God's heart desires that we love Him as deeply and unconditionally as He loves us.

"......should not perish but have everlasting life."

As we walk through this life, you and I are not alone nor are we unloved. Circumstances would have us, at times, trying to convince ourselves that God doesn't love us. Evidenced by God's sacrificial offering for His children, we can rest assured that His love is real and of great worth.

I told my youngest one, "I love you THIS MUCH" and gave them a big hug, all the while thinking how much our Heavenly Father does them same when we are having "one of those days" of not thinking that we are cared for or noticed.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16, New King James Version

A Valentine that lasts a lifetime is God's love for you and me. It's literally the gift that not only keeps giving, but calls out to be shared and passed on to others so that they too can know, without a doubt, they are loved for an eternity by their heavenly Father.


Just as God the Father's love is for His children, so should our love be for our own children- full of compassion and understanding, not based on anything they do or say, but unconditionally and freely given.

God's love is great and when we ask Him,"Do you love me?", He always says yes and opens His arms wide showing us exactly how much He has and will always love us.

You can drop by and visit Twinkle Mom at her blog, Sunflower Faith or catch her floating around Twitter.

The Perfect Tree

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
(Luke 18:18-19, New King James Version)

It's that time of the year, not the "most wonderful part" yet, but the preparations leading up to the "most wonderful time of the year".

I know it's going to happen, the one weekend will be spent looking for....the perfect tree.

The one that we are positive, is hiding in a lockbox, in the very back of the tree lot. We figure if we circle around the tree lot twenty times, they would figure we were on to them, relent, and bring out that perfect tree! THAT would make this the best time of the year, with everyone "ooing" and "aaahhing."


The truth (sorry) is that there is no perfect tree.



Eventually the tree will start losing its pine needles, and the tree has to be taken down before it catches on fire and people think you purposely decided to have a bonfire in your dining room.


I don't know how my husband does it.


I try to be a good sport and drag follow behind, but when I look at those trees, they all look the same. No matter how many angles I look, it's a tree and it's on sale. I shout, "woohoo! Let's get it!" To my husband, something is always wrong, and we find ourselves walking back and forth. I feel like humming, "999 more trees in the lot."



Good thing our Father in Heaven doesn't do that to us.

He doesn't look at us and say, "I just don't know-what about this one? Hey got anything better?"

We're all the same to Him. Sinners in need of saving. Sinners in need of His love.

This is an amazing time of the year, because its' definitely not about us.

It's about Him and its a perfect time to reach out to others who may not know Him and let them know, that He loves them for them. He's not looking for perfect. He loves the flawed, the broken, the hurt and the suffering, because that is where His heart is.

He loves us, those who have accepted His gift of salvation, but He also reminds us, "don't forget about the one in the corner who feels alone, rejected, abandoned".


Maybe we don't feel perfect.

Maybe we feel as though we don't measure up to the other trees.

We need the reminder that God loves us.

We are perfect to Him and that does matter.

We are so blessed this holiday season to sing out in praise the joy that our Heavenly Father's Son was born to save us from our sin. Let's give the best birthday gift ever and instead of looking for perfect, let's look for those who are imperfect and reach out and let them know, they are not alone, they are loved. They are just like us.


Let's let them know, the lonely trees, the power and love of Jesus Christ this holiday season.

Who knows, next year God's Family may have new members because of that extra time that was taken to let them know just how much God loves them, imperfections and all.

Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for the greatest gift that could ever be given to us, the gift of salvation. Without You, we are nothing, we are abandoned, we are rejected.

Help us remember our troops who are serving overseas and Lord, help us remember our neighbors. Help us to remember those neighbors who may not have a home, or don't know that they have neighbors who love them and want them to know a bigger and giving love through Jesus Christ.

Thank You Father in all You do and may we mark Your name, not by time, but by service to You and for You.

In Your Son's Name I pray,

Amen


You can drop by and visit Twinkle Mom at her blog, Sunflower Faith.

At the Door of Our Hearts

"Mom, we said, knock knock! You have to answer!" cried out the kids one day.

I was cleaning and when they said that. I just stopped what I was doing and looked to them and smiled, thinking, we have moments like that, don't we?

When our Father calls out to us, "I'm knocking and waiting for your answer."


I had been reading at the time, a book about "the relentless pursuit of God," and when the kids said that, it was like a reminder to stop what we are doing and just answer Him when He calls.



Stop with the excuses and the reasons why and the obligations and just stop and let Him in and do what He needs to do.

As comfortable as we might get with our lives; As much as we get our lives into that comfortable routine that is JUST right for us, He doesn't want to just peek through the curtains.


I recently did a major cleaning and reorganizing of the house.

In the process, I kept hearing this persistent knock, that I knew I should listen to, but rather than doing so, I just, kinda, put it at the back of my mind. "Not now. Not there or here."

Yet, the knocking, gentle and loving, but persistent kept going.

Our Father definitely does what He has to, to get our attention.

At least I wasn't swallowed by a huge fish, but I did get swallowed in a sea of unexpected bills we didn't forsee.

There comes a time when we must stop peeking through the curtain and get out there and open the door with a smile (or not) and saying, "Yes Lord, come in".

Amazing the life changes that happens from there.

Sometimes, there are times that He is going to ask us to just take that walk that we really just don't want to. He will stand "knocking at the door, He's here and ready and persistent".

God's not going to have us do anything that He already knows we can do, because, remember, HE is in control. He's seen what we can't see and He knows that we're going to be alright on the other end.

He's the trainer in our lives, that comes in when He knows we really need to be whip into shape and who really likes getting up at 6 in the morning and go running though we know in the end it pays off with us jumping with joy on top of the flight of stairs.

Oh wait...that was a movie..nevermind.

Do mind though, when He comes into our lives, knocking on our door wanting us to answer, because HE knows what is better for us than we know for ourselves.

If our lives was so perfect, would we really be happy if we do everything, but answer the knock that is at our door and let Him really in our lives?

"Answer the knock, Mom," the childrens' words continue to cry out in my mind.

The first time I did, my life was changed so much for the better! Now when He knocks, rather than hesitate, or peek through the curtains, I am quick to answer the door.

Answering the call from our Father in Heaven was the best thing to ever happen, and not the easiest thing either.

Rev 3:19-22

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Is our Father knocking on the door in your life?


If so, maybe drop what you are doing and answer, be pretty surprise what He may have in store.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for just being so caring of us that You pursue us in our lives and knock, ever patiently, until we finally answer to listen to what You have in store for us. Maybe it's to refine us, or an answer in prayer or just to be there so we know we're not alone, but I thank You Lord how much You love and care for us and seek us constantly to refine us and to lift us in Your name only.

I pray that each time You come in our lives and knock to be allowed in, we answer that call and rather than find ways to run away, but find ways to run to You always Lord.

In Your Son's name I pray. Amen

You can visit Twinkle Mom at her blog, Sunflower Faith, where she isn't chasing dogs, birds or laundry.

Running in Place

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."-Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

The sabbatical was a much needed break and something I really needed.

For the longest time, I felt like I was going a mile a microsecond and there was no more fuel in the tank.

Every have that happen? You're driving and you know you should have fuel the vehicle, but instead, keep going, "One more mile, one more mile," only to find yourself, near empty and barely coasting into the nearest fuel station?

That was how I felt.

I was running empty on ideas, in need of inspiration and felt short of nourishment but instead of stopping and taking a short break and recharge, I kept going and going.

How often do our souls sometimes feel like that?

We are running on empty, there are those moments of drought and no nourishment seems to be coming in and we just want or need that quick refuel to keep us going so we really, just don't have time to stop.

Be still. Wait. Turn it over to Him and stop trying to do it ourselves.

That's easier said then done.

Even on sabbatical, rather than taking a step back and resting; I found myself going a mile a second, brain just busy and getting involved with projects, everything but....oooooo..."be still".

This command — “be still” — forces us to think on two things: that we are finite, and that God is infinite. That being the case, we need to drop our hands, go limp, relax, and “chill out.”~"Be Still and Know that I am God by Jason Jackson"

Moms, how many of you actually "relax"? I mean...don't really do anything, just took the time off and really just be still?



So I sit here, staring at the computer screen and I realized. The hardest part about stopping, is actually having to face whatever it is our Father wants to tell us. That uncertainty, we may not want to hear what He has to say, though we know we need to.

So long as we keep busy, we keep distracted and we didn't have to stop....or think.

Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way
~Stay Strong by Newsboys

We need to stop the tug of war with Him and go, "Okay I'll let You take care of this after I do this and this and this and....."

Stop.

Just stop.

And breathe.

Be still and breathe, it's okay...really, it's okay.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins"~ James 4:13-17 (NIV)

After running around in circles, it's easy to stop and find out that nothing was really accomplished. We are like hamsters running forever in a wheel that goes nowhere and what we thought we had build up, was really....nothing.


The notebook wasn't filled, because instead of making time to just reflect, I was too busy thinking. Instead of reading the books I wanted to read, I was too busy looking at more books I would like to read. Instead of making time to spend with Him, I kept saying , "tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow....."

And maybe tomorrow doesn't come or it just starts back all over again, the same way it started up yesterday, but with no real changes today.

Be still.

Stop running in place and if you have to drop what you are doing, drop it, unless they are the dishes, then that's a hard one to explain to hubby, why you need new dishes. Or maybe not.

There comes times like this, we need to just turn off the computers (okay, easier said then done for many), turn off the cellphone and today, right now, do that something different and more than anything, go to our Father and be still and just listen to Him.


The real prize, the real goal, the real point of life is that our Father has already overcome everything and HE is there and HE is strong and He IS and WILL see us through so we should just stop for that second, minute, hour.

Right now, as we speak, ask yourself.

What are ways that you can just make that break in routine and really spend that time just really listening to what our Father has to say to you and for you?

If you are feeling that rut in your life, like you are running on empty and just need to make it to the fuel station, what are ways to just make it a high priority in your life and get that recharging you are desperately needing??

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,We lift Your name up in praise for You are King of kings and no matter where we are, You are always and will always be there. You leave no place untouched with Your presence and Your light. Lord, help see us through the droughts and the storms and those moments when we seem to be stuck in a never ending wheel of routine and help keep us reminded that no matter what, YOU, are Lord and through You and in You,we do have that promise of encouragement and endurance,but rather than lift our heads down, remind us to lift our heads up and lift Your name, for You reign higher than all of us and all that ails us.

Thank You Father, for being what we are not, so YOU and only You, will be what sees us through, no matter what faces us.

Gentle Readers, it's good to be back with you and prayers and hope that you are blessed and encouraged, today, tomorrow and forever, in and through our Heavenly Father.

Thrilled to be back from taking a break, you can visit Twinkle Mom at her blog, Sunflower Faith, where she isn't chasing dogs, birds or laundry.

The Mouse that would not be Ignored

Mice.

What happened was that, about one year ago to be exact, I realized that we often don't have to look to far to hear from Him; It's just a matter of paying attention.

Sometimes we tend to be all too human and forget to really listen except with half an ear, our minds elsewhere or maybe...we just don't want to listen and go on the defensive even with God.

The following story is of what happens when we choose not to listen.

My child was helping me move some of our dogs' items out of the way so I could both clear the way of any temptation for a mouse that was in the house and to make it easier to catch it...

Trouble was that I was so caught up "in the moment" I didn't notice we were walking straight into where the mouse really was....My children did and as much as they could to get my attention, but I didn't listen.I thought that my child was talking about a chew mouse that my dog had. I brushed off his excited exclamation of, "See see mouse is running!" Rather than really listening to him, I told him..."Honey that is just a fake mouse."

Our dog proved me wrong.

Dealing with the mouse, was just His way of gently nudging me and gently saying, "See see....listen to what I'm trying to tell you."

There are times that we seem to make the mistake of not only doing that to people who do have our best interest at heart. Sometimes we accidentally or intentionally, do the same with our Heavenly Father and rather than listen, like we should, we just brush off what He is trying to tell us only to have to learn the hard way, or in my case, a squeaky way.

It's so easy to get so caught up with everything that is wrong. Maybe we just put on blinders, thinking we can put off today, what we will never want to face ever, or that we make mistakes ourselves without knowing, meanwhile our Heavenly Father is right there,in front of us, jumping up and down with flares, but rather than see Him, we keep on going, lost in our world, shutting out everyone, including Him.

I remember being SO focused on getting that mouse, that I didn't realize he (or she) was right there.

The kids were trying to tell me, but rather than be humble and think,"Hey they see something I don't," I brushed them off, mentally became defensive and rather than really listen to what they had to say, I just focused on what my own thoughts were and what I THOUGHT was right in front of me.

How many times have we often done that?

We do it with others around us, who meant well and weren't trying to point out faults or hurt us or thought we were wrong, but just wanted to let us know something that we couldn't see for ourselves? How many times have we done that to our Heavenly Father and quickly just crossed our arms and closed our eyes?It's in recognizing that maybe it's really Him, working through others, that we come to acknowledge that perhaps there may be something that we can't see but He can and He is using someone else to try and get to us since we're not listening to Him directly?

I learned a valuable lesson that day and not just how high pitch I can scream.

Or how high and fast I can jump.

I learned that a small mouse can move very fast. I learned that dachshunds run very fast for having short legs, and most importantly, I learned that there are times when it doesn't paid to be stubborn or quick to react and it helps to just step back and really just listen.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." (Ps 25:5)

Just like I needed to listen a little closer to what my kids had to say instead of quickly replying, the same is true with our Heavenly Father. Before quickly reacting to what He has to say, it pays to just take a step back and listen.

When our Heavenly Father speaks to us, He isn't out to just "put us in our place" or "show us up," but He is able to see things better than we can and want to point us to a better direction. He uses many ways to try and get our attention and it may be in ways familiar to us, or like that day, in an unfamiliar method of just plain squeaky and furry and fast.

We can learn to take a step back and listen to Him and allow Him to tell us what we need to hear, but we can also choose not to listen, only to find ourselves, standing on a couch, screaming, before reality hits and we have to realize..."Wait, we're the only adult in the house," before finally coming to our senses, getting off the couch and listening to what God wants us to do.

Humility is a hard thing to learn, but it takes us farther then when we think we're in the right and know everything.

Hmmm...did I just see an apple fall to the ground somewhere? Oh wait..that's cheese...oh no.

Heavenly Father, I ask that You keep teaching me humility and that I am no greater than the smallest field mouse. Teach me to listen to my children and show them the respect that You ask for us, your children, to show to you. Lord, teach me patience, teach me courage, but again, teach me humility and that pride gets us no where.

When I read the words and called to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said,

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Help me truly remember that I must be like that and experience that faith as a children and have that belief as a child and not just proclaim it.

What are some ways you can take the time to listen, really listen. Maybe He has words of comfort He wants to share or maybe He wants to let you know there is a mouse right by your foot?

Think of scripture that can help you learn patience and how to seek out our Heavenly Father and what promises He holds for all of us.

While we are on listening....if you hear a "squeak" "squeak", last I checked...mice can't climb couches...at least,not when people are on it, jumping.......

Sigh...and to think I told the kids to never jump on couches.

When Twinkle Mom isn't jumping on couches out of fear of ferocious, furry mice, you can find her blogging at her site,Sunflower Faith, where she writes about daily life, reflections on her walk with our Heavenly Father and the occasional escapades of brave dachshunds who love digging up plants.

Faith in a Seed

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.~Romans 8:25 (New International Version)

With springtime, it's a reminder of new renewal like the new renewal that our Heavenly Father promises and gives to all of us. It's a choice that we all make and break by our own free will and sometimes, there are no birds in the gardens, bad weather or pests to blame, nothing other than ourselves.

I anxiously await the arrival of the seeds to my new plants and hope and pray, with the loving blessings of Our Heavenly Father, that they will be viable to be moved, eventually outdoors, to be planted and to grow deep roots in the ground to flourish.

My husband laughed at my little greenhouse.

It' s not much, something I bought from the store to help start seeds to plant outside as the days, weeks and months go by.

He would go by and laugh and say, "I don't see anything yet." or "It's not going to work," but that is the beauty of gardening when planting from scratch.

It's a lesson of having faith in what you can't see, but you know it's there and just will take time to be reveal.

Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."~Matthew 13:32 (NIV)

Having faith is believing in what you can't always see right in front of you. It's the faith that God WILL see you through.

Yes, it's easier to just buy seedlings that are ready to plant at the nursery, but for me, tending from seed is just a reminder that we are all like that in God's garden.

Some of us may have the blessings of coming from a family that is developed and strong in their faith, others are partial sprigs and still others...well...still others are so new to the faith, they are like seeds that have just been planted and from it. God's fruit is yet to be revealed, but we have to have patience...we have to just...let it grow.

Some may flourish ,some may struggle and others...well...some may not grow at all.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a "Miracle Grow" for our faith and walk with our Heavenly Father?

Pour it on and it takes over! The truth is, like all things, we have to tend to our faith, nurture it, give it the nutrients it needs to grow and more than anything, have patience and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in our growth and development.

Each day I walk by my little group of starters and peek over, like an impatient child, waiting to see if a stem is going to break through. Maybe it needs more watering, is the peat getting too dry?

How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)~Numbers 13:20

For the seeds to get to where the seedlings are, it takes a lot of patience. We need to learn to cultivate and to have. Living in a fast paced society, where we get it now, is pretty difficult to reach that point a lot of time.

Sometimes overdoing things, can destroy the seeds and keep them from growing, but also under-management can do the same.

How I maintain my faith sometimes work the same as how I started my seeds.

Environment is everything.

Are there weeds to choke or limit the growth or rob it of nutrients?

Is the environment going to encourage my seeds to grow or will they just wither away or be stunted?

Nutrients are everything as well.

What type of water are they nourish with?

Is it too salty or is it pure enough?

The same goes with us and how, who and where we surround ourselves.

"......A farmer went out to sow his seed.As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." ~Matthew 13:2-9

Like the precious seeds, I have to watch who, where and how my faith and walk with Our Heavenly Father is nurtured. And like my faith, if I don't provide the right environment, the nourishment that is needed, the chances of the seed's success can dwindled.

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ut when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." ~Matthew 13:5-9

Heavenly Father, I pray that You just have mercy on this imperfect seed that keeps struggling to grow in Your word and way each day. I pray that Your Word is planted on fertile ground and my growth is not hinder by weeds that will choke my faith and growth, stunt my growth or keep me from being all YOU desire for me to be and not what I desire to be.

Lord, give me the discernment that by trying to do things on my own, I will only fail and face frustration and it's only through giving up to You and through You, can this struggling seedling grow in Your Light.

• What are steps that you are taking today to nurture your walk with Our Heavenly Father?


• Are there any distractions, influences or maybe need of nourishment that your spiritual faith is needing to be attend to?

• Take some time and seek Our Heavenly Father in prayer and find out...what do you pray and hope, Our Heavenly Father can nurture and raise through you.
  

Visit Twinkle Mom at her blog, Sunflower Faith.

Smooth Sailing

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew: 7:24-27 (NIV)

I reflected on this verse and the words from this devotional that I recently read;

"Just because we're Christians living out God's principles for life, does not mean we won't face difficult circumstances. The difference being a Christian makes is how the difficulties affect us. If we are hearing and heeding God through our prayer time and reading His Word, then we will be able to stand strong in the storms of life. Our faith will not be shaken and our identity will not be rattled."

I have known people in my life and have even done it myself, that when faced with a difficult situation, rather than pick myself up and face it, I instead just curl up in a ball and ask, "Why bother, I'm only going to fail."

It seems when the boat ride is tumultuous and wild or there is a good, but steady wind going, we're on fire and exclaiming, "wow, this boat ride is fantastic!" Then we hit rough waves or maybe the wind has died down and we find ourselves stranded with no wind, and that oceanview gets, well, boring.

Instead of taking advantage of the quiet or just using this time to get a sun tan (with a very high spf rated sunblock) and using this time to have quality time with our Heavenly Father, it's like our mind focuses on how bored we are and this-is-just-too-

boooorrrrriiiiinnnngggg!

The moment I say that and do that, I have already failed myself and let my Heavenly Father down. First in not trusting Him enough. Knowing that He has seen me through so many tough times that I shouldn't have made it but did. Instead of being confident that He ALWAYS keeps His promise, I, at the slightest touch of the wind, am ready to just give up.

Why do we do that to ourselves?

When times are great, oh we are on fire, but when life gets us down, wow, it just gets us down; We talk the talk,but when it comes time to walk it, a snail would have made it to the finish line before us.

The hardest part isn't often when the storm is hitting us the hardest, but in the moments before it that really defines how strong we are in our faith and how weak we really are.

If we trust Him as we say we do, rather than sit around and think, "Why try?" we should be exclaiming,"I don't care how hard this wind is blowing, my Heavenly Father has already seen me through the worse and this is nothing!" We should be putting on our rain boots, trudging forward not downward. In those time when there is nothing to do, we should choose to see it as a break time. An opportunity to take that much needed rest from a voyage.

Maybe it's not a bad day.

Maybe we're just bored, or maybe we just can't handle the quiet.

Instead of making the most of the moment and saying, "How nice, perfectly smooth sails," we often instead complain and become so focused inward that we don't see that while the boat is sturdy and there are no waves, we are slowly sinking the boat and everyone around us, with it.

People will see us complaining doing nothing really productive and then just five minutes later, we do something that has us regretting, "why did we even do that in the first place?" It leaves us feeling like something out of an "I Love Lucy" episode.

Come to think of it...don't we worry when the kids get too quiet or have nothing to keep them preoccupied?

What's our first reaction?

Ignoring it and enjoying it are definitely not it.

Yet we do that to ourselves when we are presented with the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with our Heavenly Father or take that much needed break that He knows we need.

What makes a difference between a Christian who is making the most of it and a Christian who allows life to make the most of them?

One sees the life for the reality of what it is. Yes, there are going to be moments of difficulty or stillness, but we already know of the hope and the promise after it.

The other, is never happy no matter what and in the process fails to see the blessing that our Heavenly Father bestows.

Having a boring, everyday existence is not a curse nor meant to be. Having a boring day can actually be just as exciting and powerful as a busy day, because it's God's way of answering our prayers to help us get the rest that we say we crave and He knows we need.

Life isn't always going to be exciting, but when we are truly honest with ourselves and with our relationship with Jesus Christ, we look forward to those storms and quiet days, like they are the most exciting gifts from our Heavenly Father.

It is then that in the litmus of the Christian Faith, we can truly find out how strong or weak we are.

People who are looking at us as testaments to the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ tend not to really pay that close attention how we handle ourselves when life is exciting and grand, but when life is boring and mundane and difficult.

Kinda like we tend to be more attentive when the kids fall silent and we notice that the non-washable markers are missing and that nice, pure white couch is at their mercy.

As much as we may yearn that life is as exciting as a Hollywood movie, the reality is that most of life can and will be as simple as going to work, coming home and little else happens.

How we handle those days, tells not only others how strong our relationship with our Heavenly Father really is.

So instead of grumbling...

be thankful and give praise!

Be surprised how much a simple act of enjoying the blessing God has thrown your way can turn a day with no winds, into a day of perfect and smooth sailing.

Heavenly Father, help me appreciate each day you give me, exciting, bad, happy or sad; Help me to treat each day as the blessing that it is; Not only remind me that it bears testament to others about our walk but our relationship to You.

Remind me that you don't give us a boring, everyday, just because You are trying to bore us, but that maybe our bodies or our minds just needed that much needed rest, and You, in Your divine wisdom and state, sought to give us the relief that we so desperately needed.

Thoughts to Ponder:

Share some ways you make the most of days when it seems so average, there is nothing better to do.

How can you use those days to draw closer to our Heavenly Father?

Join Twinkle Mom daily at her blogspot,
Sunflower Faith, where she daily journals her life.

Making Time Count

Sipping my coffee, my hair rivaling Einstein, I scanned over the devotional that had been sent to my email box.

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

I Thessalonians 4:11&12 (NIV)

"Great devotional," I thought as I hit the fwd button and without a thought. I picked up the worksheets, a battered day planner and textbooks and headed off to start another day of school, daily chores, going through mounds of email and mounds of laundry. Ironically, as I found some time later in the week to sit down and go through mounds of email as everyone slowly drifted to sleep, I reflected on a bible study that I had done that day and my mind drifted back to that
devotional. Going through email after email, I found it again and really sat down and read it. Word for word. Then I hung my head down.

"Wow," I thought to myself. How many times have I thought I was being busy and productive for myself, for our Heavenly Father, and my family, when honestly, I think I was just busy for the sake of filling in time or passing time.

I couldn't figure out why I would go to bed exhausted, my mind whirling on things I still had to do, when I suddenly realized...I still couldn't just let myself...rest. I think as women who are mothers, sisters, daughters, wives and co-workers, we are own worset enemies.

How often in our quest to be busy, to keep up with the Joneses, to be something to everyone, that we often forget to minister to the very people who are in need of us the most. Sometimes, keeping busy becomes no longer a praise, but a distraction. A distraction from not only from our friends and our family, but from our Heavenly Father. HE see it and often times, He finds ways to get our attention.

Ways that are not comfortable for us. His way of saying, "Slow down," even when we don't want to. Ever feel like there isn't enough time in the day? How did women do everything they needed to do before the advent of cell phones, email, and well, really, everything modern life has to offer and yet still found time for our Heavenly Father and for their family? Sometimes life really isn't about quantity. It really is about quality. It's sometimes about being honest with ourselves and asking ourselves if what we are doing is more about keeping busy and being distracted and less really about others and particularly for our Heavenly Father.

Do we want to be known for being the person whose schedule was so packed that we have to schedule in sleep or brushing our teeth, or do we want to be known as the person who, despite what was going on, put people and God before herself and that errand. The errand that really could wait another day. Putting aside that stack of paper that isn't going to anywhere, in exchange for a minute with the kids, the neighbor next door, or that friend we haven't talked to.The opportunities will be gone if we don't take the time to just....breathe.

Being busy didn't have to mean inaccessible or constantly juggling everything....Even the Proverbs 31 woman, probably knew when to delegate errands here and there instead of trying to take it all herself. The more we learn to work with others...to make time for others, the easier it is to get done the things we need to do. Instead of being imprinted in other people minds as that blur that goes in and out of their lives, we become more known as that person who, well, seem to be able to do everything, when it was really learning to cut out the un-necessary's and focus on the most important. Which reminds me....I have cookies burning in the oven...I better get to them before the next load of laundry is done!

Heavenly Father, I thank You when You strive to put speed bumps in my life, not because You think it's funny, but because You don't want me to pass up on the blessings that You give us. Thank You for always reminding us, to stop taking life so seriously all the time, and just make the time to live in Your word and to let You give us the strength and joy that work is supposed to give us and not the distraction and drudgery that we let work become in us.

Reflect:

• Do you often find yourself living life in a whirl that you find yourself forgetting to breathe?
• What are ways you can really sit down and figure out how to cut out the un-necessary to make room for the necessary in your life and to live the life God calls each and everyone of us to live in and through Him, so that the work we do, will be a blessing for and about others?
  
  
  

Join Twinkle Mom daily at her blogspot,
Sunflower Faith, where she daily journals her life

Past and Present

Wouldn't it be great if the past year could magically disappear along with debts, pain, hurt and illness?

At the time I had ccomposed this, the "New Year" still felt like a million years away, but in the blink of an eye, it is here before we know it.

For many, this turning of the calendar is waited for with baited breath; a start to"a whole new year!" We begin fresh, though really, when we look at it with honesty, it's just a turning of the calendar; when we look in the mirror, we still are who we are.

(Well, unless we use plastic surgery, a box of hair dye and a closet full of new clothes.)

We are still going to have to deal with the same issues that existed 12 hours before midnight. While we wake up with a fresh new date and a new year, the person waking up is still, well, us.

Depressing?

Maybe.

If we had several more helpings of "Granny's" favorite pie, than we probably wouldn't be feeling as great as we should, but if we have faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, be it in the new year, the last year, or the next year, we have every reason to have hope and faith in new beginnings.

2 Corinthians 5:17,"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come."

The hardest part is allowing ourselves to have that faith and trust and asking our Heavenly Father to give us that new beginning that He promises. The beginning that came in the reality of the cost His Son had paid. We are still who we are, but just different in the fact, though we may have to still get up in the morning (or evening if you work the graveyard shift), life goes on.

Psalm 22:3-5," Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not disappointed."

For us, the New Year is greeted not with a big party or lavish clothes.

Instead, it's in the midst of a wild herd of dachshunds, children sleeping on the couches and chairs, while adults battle it out over a good game of Scrabble (and yes I think it's cheating when someone uses a foreign language to play Scrabble; If we are going to allow the use of a language no one else can understand then I'm learning Klingon to level the playing field.)

For us, everyday is a New Year!

From the moment we wake up, to the moment we go to bed, we greet each day as the blessing it is from Our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 4:12,"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

When we wake up in the morning, we are still going to be who we are; The dishes will need to be put away and the stack of bills will be waiting for us on the counter, but the source of the hope isn't in the passing of a year or the changing of a calendar to make things better, but rather in the hope, faith and salvation in our Heavenly Father first and foremost.

Our Christmas tree dried up, a trail of pine needles to announce it's departure to a sand dune somewhere out there. The decorations are going to be put away to gather dust for another year, and I'm hiding that Scrabble board in a better place! As I seek God's never changing words and I lift my voice and heart in prayer to Him, I know that He is always there, never changing, always consistent and always faithful to us.

Psalm 22:22-24,"I will tell of your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him."

The irony of all this is that I couldn't be here, if I hadn't been there. There in the midst of sorrow, joy, pain, gain, of good times and bad, if all of that was really gone; Wiped away by the New Year, I fear what type of relationship that would have mean having with our Heavenly Father.

As much as I wish we didn't have to suffer, hurt, be ill, or experience earthly loss, at the same time would we really know strength, good health, love, happiness, joy and more than anything, a real, living relationship with Jesus Christ?

Would our relationship be sincere or superficial?

Whoa.

I need to use that word for Scrabble.

How many points will that gain me?

Maybe not as many blessings I pray to gain from Our Heavenly Father by just being in His presence and praising Him through good times, but particularly through the worst times of the old year. He drew me closer to Him and my relationship with Him, grew just a little bit stronger rather than weaker.

As much as it's great to greet the New Year, I don't want to forgot the old year either and the blessings He gave, both visible and invisible.

Psalm 22:25-31,"From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live for ever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. Yea, to him shall all the proud of the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and he who cannot keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation, nd proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, that he has wrought it. "

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the blessings of the past year and there were many times I felt like I couldn't just make that extra mile, but You didn't give up on me and you pulled me through when I didn't feel like I could be pulled through. Thank You for Your NEVER changing love and hope and faith You offer to all of us. I pray Lord, in this New Year, we seek You more not less.

Though we make mistakes, though we feel like broken vessels, You show us and use us to show the world through and in us, who You are and I thank You Lord. Lord, don't give me a perfect year, but give me a year where I am forever reminded why You are Lord, Our God.

• Many of us have had a tough year. We make choices we later regret; We suffer moments that leave us doubting; Read Psalm 22 ~ how does it remind us that we have to let go of the anchors and allow God to lead us to a new tomorrow?
• One of the things we've learned this past year in homeschooling was the in the lesson of the seasons and the changes that occur. Thinking of the different seasons and how life is constantly renewed, how has God shown Himself to you in life? How has He reminded you that there is always a new beginning to every ending?
• Count up the blessings God has blessed you with and how have they changed/not changed you?

God bless you, Gentle Readers and I look forward to hearing from you.

Join Twinkle Mom daily at, Sunflower Faith, where she journals about homeschooling and her personal reflections of her walk with our Heavenly Father.

Breathing Patience

Ever try to teach a child the concept of "wait"?

From the sounds of laughter and heads hitting the keyboard, I gather the answer must be "yes!"

The New Living Translation had this interpretation of Proverbs 16:32:

"Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city."

Would anyone out there agree with me to make this into sticky notes, tattoos, whatever it takes to remind us when we go out shopping that an extra five minutes really isn't an eternity? Come to think of it...this might make a great memory verse?

It never fails that this time of year, before I even have a chance to decide what type of dressing I want with my choice of five different types of cooked turkeys, time seems to just speed up rather than slow down.

October was barely over and already the stores were stocked with Christmas decorations.

The store's music loudly proclaimed the desire for snow and, as parents, we begin to hear the words that children are instinctively born with:

"I want that!"

"Can I have that?"

"I need that!"

"Really.....I NNNNNEEEEED THATTTTT,Moooooommmmmmm!" The child rolls around the ground, rolling their eyes while watching us out of the corner of one eye hoping that we would say, "Alright, lets go to the store and buy it now"!

It's sometimes hard to teach children the concept of time. For them, there is only one "right now" and each minute is a lesson in patience and why that fruit tree in the back yard really does not bear money like grandpa keeps claiming.

As difficult it is to teach our children, sometimes we tend to become like children ourselves.

That's when our Heavenly Father steps in and tries to gently guide us back into perspective, not only what the holiday season is really about but what all of our lives are really about:

Taking time and being patient.

Easier said then done.

When we are faced with a mountain of paperwork that the boss HAS to have now, or the kids are worried that if they wait five minutes it will result in instant dehydration or we're fumbling in our purses or pockets trying to figure out where those house keys could have gone, panic mode sets in.

We look up.

They were just right there when we unlocked the door and, oh, never mind, they are hanging in the door knob, it feels like we have NO time in the world.

Life does comes pretty fast, but when we are living in our Heavenly Father's time, it shouldn't.

Something I've learned to do with the kids when they are positive, is teach them that if I don't simultaneously pour juice for both of them at the same time, while stopping the dogs from stealing their lunch, and dehydration sets in, is to take a deep breath.

Just Breathe.

They soon learn that in the time it takes to take a deep breath and let it out, mommy will have time to hide.

Oh wait, different story.

Forget I said that, I mean, they soon learn that, the problem can be resolved, we get done what needs to be done and then mommy can hide.

Same with any situation, except we can't really hide.

Patience is a virtue that doesn't just happen, it's encouraged, it's developed and it needs to be nurtured.

As busy and overwhelming as life may feel, having patience with ourselves, with others and with our walk, is a fruit of the spirit that we can actively choose to participate or reject.

"Though it tarry, wait for it." Habakkuk 2:3

Oswald Chambers wrote in "My Upmost for His Highest,"

"Patience is not indifference; patience conveys the idea of an immensely strong rock withstanding all onslaughts. The vision of God is the source of patience, because it imparts a moral inspiration.

Moses endured, not because he had an ideal of right and duty, but because he had a vision of God. He "endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible." A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself.

You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it; things come with largeness and tonic to the life because everything is energized by God. If God gives you a time spiritually, as He gave His Son actually, of temptation in the wilderness, with no word from Himself at all, endure, and the power to endure is there because you see God."

No one can make us have "patience". We can only make that choice, for ourselves. We have to encourage it and develop it and as this holiday season comes upon us let's strive to teach not only our little ones, but ourselves.

It's okay to just breathe and take that little extra time with ourselves, with others and in our journey with our Heavenly Father.

There maybe times we may not feel like it. For instance, while looking for a parking space, or trying to explain to the kids why they can't get the "Mega-Jumbo-Super-High Flying-Louder than an F16 flying across a chalkboard with long fingernails" noisemaker today or in the next thousand years, but a little patience goes a very long way not only for ourselves and our journey with God, but in our testament to others about Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, as the holiday season comes upon us, I pray in Your name that You use this time, more than ever to help us remember above the holiday rush, the shopping, the gifts and yes, even in the family gatherings, to give to You, ourselves so in us and through us, Your love and patience can and will shine through to others.

Heavenly Father, I pray that my life will bear testament to and for You and that I remember not only now, but everyday to just learn to have a little patience and things can't be accomplish in one day, though we would like to.

Lord, forgive us for times when we are un-necessarily short with others or with ourselves and help us remember of the unlimited patience You have and do show to us, each and every day. You show patience to us as sinners and You show patience to us as Your children and I pray that You will continue to refine us and help us grow in Your love and light.

Thank You Heavenly Father for all You do and I pray that I will learn to grow patiently and learn to wait and to heed when I should and not just rush headlong like a child. For the days I do, Lord, I pray that You give me discernment and wisdom to learn, to be rebuked and to grow and not continue to make mistakes that can easily be corrected.

• With the holidays coming upon us, it's a difficult time for many and patience does become a virtue. Think about ways our Heavenly Father has been patient with us now and in the His Word and how we can use those lessons to learn and to grow.
• There are many translations of Proverbs 16:32; When you have the time, take a look at the different translations and journal, how Probverbs 16:32 speaks to you and how it can be applied in light of the rest of the year.
• What ways can you develop a little patience or maybe do you have tips to develop patience?
• As a parent, how do you teach your little ones the importance of patience, particularly during the holiday season? *Disclaimer* Earplugs don't count or work.
  

God bless you, Gentle Readers and I look forward to hearing from you.

If you have the time, drop by Sunflower Faith, to read more of "Twinkle Mom's" life reflections and journey in her walk with our Heavenly Father.

Lost and Found

"May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other."

We all have times in our lives when we are separated from each other. It could be due to a love one in the military; It could be due to long business trips; It could be our child going away to college for the first time, or it could just be us....and life keeping us busy.

It's like white water rafting and being caught up in the moment that everything else just seems eclipse and it's only you and that moment right then and there.

It's those times that when we stop and catch our breath and look around us and see how much time has passed without us knowing, maybe we've lost touch, intentionally or not. Maybe we've faltered in our walk or we've been so caught up in our walk, that we don't see how far or behind our Heavenly Father has taken us until something happens that makes us stop and we suddenly take in the scene around us.

There have been many moments like that for me and I'm sure with you, dear Gentle Readers, that life just occurs and when we finally take that moment to breathe, it seems either we've fallen so behind the crowd that we have to yell to whoever, "Wait up for me," or we've sped full steam ahead that we have to wait patiently for everyone else to catch up with us.

When I was in New York, I was just amazed at how focused and fast everyone walked. They just looked straight ahead, lost in their own world. Everything else seemed to be drowned out around them. The noises, the smells, the millions of people that you never seem to see the same person twice, that I was so afraid if I stopped walking in the midst of it all, I would get lost and the group I was with wouldn't find me.

Out of all that busyness and noise and confusion, when my group and I did stop, out of pure confusion and being lost ourselves, one of those many million souls in New York had stopped and basically approached us with a smile.

Something that defied every stereotype that we all came shouldered with to the Big City.

With that smile, she said "Hi", and asked if she could be of help to us and of course we gladly accepted her offer and sighing a huge sigh of relief and thanks, told her where we were trying to go and where we knew we were not.

She smiled and chuckled and said, "No problem" and patiently, not once, but actually a few times, showed us how to get to our destination and before letting us go off on our own. She made sure that we were heading on right way, before she, a total stranger , with really nothing to gain, went on her own way, blending into that fast moving crowd.

Thanks be to Our Heavenly Father that He is the same way. He has a million "To do" things on His list and in the grand scheme of things, we should rate pretty low on that list, but even He takes the time to show us the way.

With a small chuckle and a pat on the back, He lets us know thatHe completely understands and doesn't hold it against us, and makes sure we're on our way again before letting us go.

It's great isn't it to have that safety net?

Really. God is that safety net.

He is our navigator. Our God when we get lost driving.

He is the Northern Star when our ship is flailing about and we don't have a cute, wise cracking pirate to pull out his compass to show us the way home.

God is always there with the map, nicely folded, no crinkles and He knows what street we need to take and He's not going to let us be on our own to find it. He takes every step of the way with us, until He is sure we are on our course again before He lets us go.

With homeschooling and just life, I felt like I had lost my way for a short time. I know I lost touch with many people I didn't mean to lose touch with and my day planner was covered with so much dust I could have started a garden on it.

For awhile, I pledged to make no phone calls during the day with fear I would get lost off track , in addition my bible reading was hurting in many ways.

The good thing was knowing that God hadn't left me and was ready to set me straight when I needed to be set straight and as long as I had an open and willing heart, He was going to help me find my way back when I needed to.

Yes, my day planner is still hurting but it's getting straightened out and actually becoming useful again.

I don't stare at my teacher's book like it's the Rosetta Stone that needs to be cracked. I have it in a way that flows with the school flow, and I can transition from school time to home time without gasping breath in between.

There's still a few things that I need to get caught up with. You don't want to see the condition of my email box nor the fact that the moon rises more often than I was able to blog before, but I'm getting back on track and finding my groove finally with all this.

When I picked Genesis 31:49, it really spoke out to how I felt in the midst of all life. As we all hit that busy time of holiday planning, gift buying, dealing with relatives both bad, good and in between, it's a beautiful and simple prayer to our Heavenly Father to not let us be absent from Him as we pray that He is never absent from us in our lives.

The blessing is that in reality, He really isn't that absent from us as we may think. He is NOT going to let us fall. He WILL pop up when we need Him the most and He will help us find our way to our destination if we just trust Him.

Ever feel lost and like you are absent from everything? Me too.

Sometimes I feel that way too and I try to raise that white flag to make sure someone sees me because I can get lost too, but God loves you so much! He loves everyone! Finding the lost is HIS specialty and when we are absent, that makes Him want to find us more and bring us back home near to that warm fire where a hot cup of cocoa and a warm blanket is waiting for all of us.

Heavenly Father, I thank you that when I am blind, You help me see~ and when I am lost, as I do get lost here and there, You help bring me back home like I need to be.

Lord I pray for those who are still lost and who don't even know You and the comfort and promise You offer to them. Lord, I pray that there is never a moment that You don't use to reveal Yourself to those You have yet to know. I pray that like I am lost and You come to lead me home, that You will lead those who don't know who to turn to, to You and Your warm comfort.

In the Name of Your Son, I pray. Amen

1. Before you feel lost, think of ways now, that you can remind yourself of God's word and His promises that You are never in the dark as you may believe.

2. What passages can you think of specifically that remind all of us of God's promises to lead us to safety?

Join Twinkle Mom daily at, Sunflower Faith, where she daily journals her life and the occasional escapades of her dogs known as "Double Trouble".

Holding Strong in Him

The past week and more has brought a lot of things into perspective and talk about a lesson in what was important and what wasn't.

I learn really fast that if something was ever to come up, I don't do really well in packing light.

Even the dogs would bear testimony that they don't want me packing for them.

I can't help it.

I'm convinced that there will come a time and moment when I will need to use my own kitchen sink in the middle of the Sahara Desert so I better make sure I have that crammed in my bag along with the 10 pairs of socks and we all know that the only place we can get a pair is in our home town. Forget about the fact that there are duplicate chain stores with the exact same pair, size and color at our destination.

Hindsight is golden I suppose, but I learned on my arrival back home, that a lot of the things I thought was important and needed to be "saved" really wasn't important after all and could easily have been replaced.

I really could have done without a few bags, okay...maybe all but one bag and that, in the end all of things, it's not what we have that is important but who we have that is important.

This was a powerful lesson, because for awhile, things were no longer convenient and though not primitive, we didn't have the luxuries that modern convenience gave us.

Remove of all distractions, it was a great test and understanding that no matter where we are, who we are, there is only one person who is consistent and reliable no matter what and that is our Heavenly Father.

He isn't going to lie to us. He isn't going to abandon us and more than anything, in Him and through Him, we really have nothing to fear....unless it's a snake. Or a mouse. Or both.

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a famous storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” -- Matthew 8:23-27

Life is semi-normal...if one can call it that and everything is going back into routine and it's funny how we can slip into old habits but it was a reminder that God isn't insurance or an emergency brake that is useless until that one day we finally need Him and pull on it to activate.

He is there every day, around us, in us, through us, everywhere. WE not Him need to stop and see Him for who He is and what He is and what He has to offer us.

In the end, He is all that we need. Coincidence some would say, but when we trusted in Him, the things that we needed was met and through that, we on our side, were able to give to others in what ways that we could offer.

It was funny, but we spent less time really worrying about us but worrying about how can we use this to serve Him and be a testament to our Heavenly Father and in the process, found Him using us in ways, we didn't expect.

To that we give praise to just how loving He is and how He is so eager through us and in us, to show how much He loves and cares for all of us and that there is always hope waiting, with His hand reaching out in the dark to pull us through the worse of any circumstances.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the times You have used us and for all the times You seek us to remind us that we had nothing to fear but instead had to have hope in You. Lord, I give You praise and thanks as You help us still go through our moments of shock, awe, encouragement and awareness of how wonderful and loving and passionate You are to all and for all of us, May we find ways to seek Your truth, to hear Your truth and feel Your truth in all we do.

1. There is no such thing as a hopeless moment through Jesus Christ, as Christ encouraged His disciples to fear not, how can you hear what God has to offer you to encourage you through life's darkest moments?
2. What storms have you had in your life that you felt fear and how can you learn through them that our Heavenly Father will see you through safely through them too?

Join Twinkle Mom daily at, Sunflower Faith, where she daily journals her life and the occasional escapades of her dogs known as "Double Trouble".

Little Guidance

The bickering.

The arguing.

They have the same toys.

The same treats.

You would think by now they would have learn how to share or play with their own toys.

I had enough of the crying and arguing and reach down and took the chewy from both my dogs.

We have a 4 month old puppy name Murphy.

Buster is the oldest by 8 months old and you would think they were toddlers except with hair everywhere and a tail.

Buster, our older dog, could be minding his own business and within seconds, get bowled over by Murphy, or quietly trying to enjoy his chewy, only to have Murphy within inches of him, barking in a high pitch yelp.

It didn’t matter they have the same set of toys or chews. They want what the other one has.

There were quite a few times, I’ve expected Buster to just go up to Murphy and go, ”Look, you have a chew right at your feet yourself, leave me alone”.

That hasn’t happen-yet.

Buster, being the big brother just puts up with Murphy for as long as he can before letting out a heavy sigh and moving on to something else.

It’s not Murphy’s fault.

He’s just a young puppy with lots to learn and I can’t help but wonder if Buster picks up on that. I’ve seen times when Buster is outdoors, barking ferociously at the air, and then stop and look behind him, as if he is looking for Murphy.

If Murphy wasn’t there, Buster would stop and wait for Murphy to catch up before resuming the agonizing barking. I think Buster was trying to show Murphy the ropes of what to do or just trying to drive me crazy or both.

How many people do we know in our lives that are like that?

New to the faith and in some ways, we wonder why they just don’t get it yet or base what they know on what we already know without giving them a chance to learn on their own.

There are a lot of people in the body of Christ that are new and can use a mentor not only to just guide them, but to let them know, it’s okay; We’re all on different levels in our walk with God and it doesn’t make us one better or one worse than the other.

Now when I say being a mentor, I don’t mean teaching someone new to the faith, how to fetch or run into the backyard and start barking at the air, but really taking the time to just lend a hand and help guide them in their new walk.

People may have wonder why we didn’t just get it either, but instead of making a quick judgment call, sometimes it helps to just extend a helping hand, and with scripture in tow, listen and hear what they are really saying.

I could imagine how our Heavenly Father might chuckle at us when we are on fire and quick to serve Him a little too quick in our walk, that we may not realize that rather than being helpful…our words may sound more like a high pitch bark instead.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Murphy and Buster are doing a little better now.

Murphy has stop barking at Buster and I think it’s safe to take out the earplugs.

Buster found another chew and let Murphy have his, so now the two of them are both happily working toward the same goal of eating up the chew and I’m sure, later on, I’ll find a remnant of it in my shoe or under the bed. Did I mention Buster thinks he is a cat sometimes?

There are many times in my own walk, I feel so spiritually immature and weak compared to others that I look up to that person or persons in awe and pray I could be so in tune with our Heavenly Father like they are.

I wonder, if I sound to those who are more further in their walk than me, like Murphy must sound like Buster. I am humbled deeply, when someone comes to me for guidance and I lead, half in fear, that I have no idea what I’m doing, but then remember, I was in their shoes at one time. It’s not time to flex my muscles, but instead be humble and just lend a help and help them in their walk to.

I don’t think Buster worries about that problem when he is showing Murphy the ropes so how could I? It’s about being an encourager and helping each other grow. No where have I found that it’s every one for themselves.

Our Heavenly Father calls out to all of us in Hebrews 10:24-And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

It’s so important if you are new to the faith, returning to the faith, or whatever the circumstances that you are in, or at that point in your life, to find others to connect with, to speak with and more than anything to encourage each other and be encouraged. We all need someone and we are no better than the other.

Hebrews 10:25-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.

It’s not about where we are in our walk that is important, or really our own personal views. It’s about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is unique and personal to each and every one of us.

Buster is 8 months older than Murphy, but I think there is an innate sense that he is no better or less than Murphy. Maybe he remembers at one time, he was in the same shoes as Murphy was, or maybe all he cares is that he gets fed, loved and the best spot to sleep.

Whatever is the case, I do know, at least in the human world, it’s not about who is better or more learned or more accomplished and that what matters isn’t how many letters we have behind our name, how much money is in our bank (though that sometimes helps paying the bills), or how many times we have read the bible.

Instead, it’s about the most important thing in the world, “Do we or do we not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and if we don’t, would we like to hear how we can” and how we can encourage each other in our walk instead of discourage each other.

Philippians 2:3-5
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.Questions to Reflect on:

In what ways can you think of, that you can reach out to others who might be new to the faith, returning to the faith, or just in a general walk with God and help encourage their personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

Think back to a time when you were new to the faith and how you once felt. Remember who was it that was your mentor and how can you be a mentor to someone else?

Looking back at, 1 Thessalonians 5:11”-Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”, challenge yourself this coming week to reach out not only to those you do know, but look for non-familiar faces at church and around your normal routine, and find ways to encourage someone you don’t know yet, in their life.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You keep challenging me to push myself out of my comfort zone, to seek faces I don’t know but You call for me to know, to encourage them in their walk with Jesus Christ and if they don’t know Christ yet, find ways to let them know that they too are special to Him and that You strive to have that personal relationship with them.

Lord, I pray that You help me find people in my own life to keep me encourage, convicted and humble and help me in my spiritual walk and growth. I’m a human being; A very imperfect human being who stumbles and falls and I pray that I can be guided in my own walk because I know there are times I feel like I’m only tripping over my own feet and could use some help.

And Father, I particularly pray that You keep me humble and in Your word and remind me it’s not about what I do know, but rather what I don’t know which is a lot and about everything. Pray, keep me from allowing pride and self-righteous lead me to be un-loving and judgmental and I pray I have the humility to remember that we are all on different walks with You and we don’t have all the answers…You and ONLY You do.

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Join Twinkle Mom daily at, Sunflower Faith, where she daily journals her life and the occasional escapades of her dogs known as "Double Trouble".