Quiet Time

How precious did that Grace appear, the hour I first believed. -Amazing Grace

Quiet Time

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22-23

Quiet Time

I have said here many times before that I am worrier, it is part of my nature and something I struggle with. However, it has become a lot better as I learn to leave it all in God's hands. A few people have asked me if I am scared to take on a new office- some wanting to know from a business perspective, some wanting to know with a child on the way. No matter what the reason for asking, the answer is yes. Well, sort of.

In the past month I did have a major panic attack, full on sobbing to be honest. Then God reminded me to leave it in his hands and since then I have not worried for one second.

The point of this is to say whenever I take my eyes off of God or try to run my life without Him in the forefront panic always makes its way back in. The other day I realized this so clearly and it made me think of this story:

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14: 25-33

Quiet Time- Mother's Day

God took the fragrance of a flower...

The majesty of a tree...

The gentleness of morning dew...

The calm of a quiet sea...

The beauty of the twilight hour...

The soul of a starry night...

The laughter of a rippling brook...

The grace of a bird in flight...

Then God fashioned from these things

A creation like no other,

And when his masterpiece was through

He called it simply – Mother.

God's Masterpiece is Mother - Herbet Farnham

This post is especially dedicated to my Mom, the best you could ask for. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!!!

Quiet Time- For Alabama and Beyond

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Thinking and praying for all the victims of the storm and all those out there going through difficult times.

Quiet Time - Happy Easter

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3

Quiet Time

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 118:1

This week we had several things to be thankful for (well really we always have so much to be thankful for). As my Mom said this week when we were on the phone- it is important to say prayers as thanksgiving as well as just what we need. Amen!

Quiet Time

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Quiet Time

I would say I am pretty good about not judging others but this week I needed a little reminder....and I got it."So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." Romans 14:12-13

Quiet Time

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3: 17-19.

Quiet Time

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Song of Solomon 8:6

Quiet Time

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

Quiet Time

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

Quiet Time- Two Wolves

My sweet Mother-In-Law forward this e-mail to me and I had to share it....

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is God - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Quiet Time

Somewhere along the way I learned that God wants to have a relationship with you, he wants to be your friend. This changed me. I now talk to God all the time from serious prayers to the most mundane tidbits. For me, God is no longer this cold, untouchable figure I pray to only at church but the closest friend I could ever ask for. I say this because while I FEAR God, I also feel our relationship doesn't have to be serious all the time. All of this to say I thought I would post something a little different today.....

So cute, Harry has some catching up to do. Thanks Noodle and Boof for bringing this to my attention!

Quiet Time- Compassion

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Quiet Time

Today I want to do a special Quiet Time post for all military families and anyone out there who might be feeling scared right now. Last week someone very special shared this verse with me and it seemed fitting to post it today:

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your sheilf and rampart. Psalm 91:4.

Quiet Time

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

I am sure I have posted this verse before but the worrier in me loves it. When it came in my e-mail this week it was perfect timing and I knew I had to post it again.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

A Special Quiet Time

My Grandmother passed away. Tomorrow we will be celebrating her life, remembering her kind, gentle and humble spirit. Her passing was a blessing after years of illness but it hurts...a lot. However, there is comfort in God and for that I am so thankful. I couldn't think of a better way to honor Nonny and praise God for his promise to us than the Prayer of Saint Francis...

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.**The final years of my Grandparents life were hard on everyone but especially my Mother. Watching her care for sick parents was heart breaking. I am saying a prayer for all of you who are caring for your parents. Judy Goldman wrote a wonderful article in Real Simple that really hit home for me. I recommend reading it....

"Near the end of her life, I could not see beyond my mother’s childlike stare, the confused disorder in her eyes. I could not feel anything but the ache of having to be my mother’s mother. After she died and I had finally shaken off the last shiver of the disease, I was able to remember what she had been like before Alzheimer’s.

I could see her turn her wrist to adjust her watch. There she was, at her dressing table, leaning into the magnifying mirror, plucking her eyebrows. I could see her dipping the tiny wand in the brown Mercurochrome bottle, painting my bruised knee orange. She was the grown-up. And I, again, was the child."

-excerpt "Losing My Mother", full text HERE

Quiet Time- Great Expectations

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

A couple of weeks ago we watched a sermon (yes, truth be told we usually "watch" church HERE) and the topic was baggage. The whole message really spoke to me, especially when Pastor Chris came to our "unrealistic expectation of this life". A lot of the time in today's world we expect Heaven on Earth. Or as as Chris put it, "We think God obligates himself to make Earth Heaven". Then he went on to point out that Jesus actually came to save us from this life.

I definitely "hope/expect" this life to be everything I want it to be, the reminder that it isn't supposed to be perfect by any means was comforting and thought provoking. Something I am still thinking about...

To watch this message click HERE or visit Church of the Highlands