I’m sure I’m not the only person who gets an unwanted song in their head. Lately there have been a couple of radio hits that have clung to my brain and the chorus will repeat itself over and over again. Grrrr. These aren’t songs that I like or listen to, but all it takes is one little reminder of it and BAM, it’s stuck there. Once I had a friend that said he sings the smurf song to get rid of the unwanted tunes...you know...la la lalalala la lala la la. He said it was like Teflon, it didn’t stick. It worked. However since then I’ve tried another song.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

Just to take Him at His word.

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know thus saith the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus

Oh for grace to trust Him more.

This song has been such a great comfort and reminder for me. It reminds me to fill my head with His truth, and to believe it. To live like I believe it. Not just sing it in my head, but to walk it out loud. Does my life prove His faithfulness to others? Am I giving Him the credit for all that is due? Why don’t I trust Him more? Why don’t I trust Him first instead of calling a friend or ignoring my problem and watching TV or reading a book?

We also sing the song that says “He is jealous for me”. In my Beth Moore Breaking Free homework is says that “Godly jealousy is to be jealous for someone for her highest good”. Let’s listen to what we are singing, and see if it is true to our lives, or just words. If He is for my highest good, and if He is a God who keeps his promises, than it truly is sweet to trust in Jesus.

National Coffee Day

I'm not back on caffeine because I'm still breastfeeding, but I like my coffee for the taste. I like it black. Oh yes. I also enjoy a good latte or mocha or other flavored fun treat, but in the morning...black.

In honor of National Coffee Day, enjoy yourself a cup of joe and if at all possible go fair trade. There are so many options out there and it's another way to do our tiny parts that will add up to something big.

Ways to give and get your coffee too!

Land of a Thousand Hills

Equal Exchange

Delicious Peace

Fair Trad Coffee Co.

Keurig

Gratefulness

I keep telling myself to get on here before Monday comes around....but alas, here we are.

21. Rainy days that mean hubby stays home!
22. Libraries
23. Babies that sleep all night.
24. Church family
25. Humbling moments

Gratefulness

9. School buses

10. Beth Moore

11. Fall Weather that is still warm enough for shorts and short sleeves and bare feet

12. Health

13. Old saints rejoicing in heaven (RIP Elizabeth Frye)

14. Upcoming family camping night

15. Days w/ nothing to do (haven't had one in a while)

16. My sewing machine.

17. People who adopt.

18. Sunday school teachers and nusery workers

19. God's gentle guidance

20. Fulfilled scripture

Gratefulness

Let us not lost heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9

As things have just been more challenging on the mom front lately I have been clinging to this verse. I have been reminded that I am not perfect. Sometimes I forget that. I never actually think or say that I am, but I forget that I'm not.

I also keep neglecting this blog. But does anyone read it? I know, I know, that's not the point, but dad gummet I'm feeling needy so comment already! Yes, I'm whining. But to compensate for the neediness and whining I'm going to start my expression of gratefulness. Though I only have time for a few, need to get on dinner. To find out more about it click HERE. (thanks Deanna for introducing me to this.)

1. My God

2. That He keeps His promise and has held onto me at all times, especially when I have days/weeks as of late.

3. My husband...for the same reasons.

4. My children for learning along with me.

5. That my fourth child is the easiest baby in the world.

6. The BEAutiful weather

7. Friends who call at the right time.

8. Blue skies.

moms

Refinement

I’ve been reading a book called Sacred Parenting, by Gary Thomas. The book talks about how God uses our children to shape our souls draw us near to Him, or in other words, He uses them to refine us. Being a mother of four little ones, this book fits right in to my season of life. It has had me thinking that everything we face in life could be looked at with that point of view.

When the Bible speaks of refinement it is usually in reference to fire or heat. (Perhaps the rest of you have had heat on your mind this week too?) The Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as:

1: to free (as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
2: to free from moral imperfection
3: to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
4: to reduce in vigor or intensity
5: to free from what is coarse, vulgar, or uncouth

I love how even though the refining process is usually not a comfortable one, the word “free” is part of the result. Free from impurities, from what is vulgar, from imperfections. God cannot be associated with sin. Yet He still takes us as sinners and refines us to perfection so we can spend eternity with Him. How I long for that day when I will be in paradise with Him and completely free of anything that has hindered me on this earth in my flesh. But until then I hope to look at each situation in my life as a way to be drawn closer to my Lord. Ask your self this week...what is God using to refine me? ...children, job, relationships, financial struggles, etc. And after we ask that we can take comfort in the promise that He is using it for our good and His Glory.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28