Part of the journey

I rarely take selfies, but I really wanted to share God’s blessing.

Yes, I’m holding a lamb on my lap in the car.

This little lamb is an answer to prayer.

Way before my husband was asked to apply at his current position.

Before we had any idea we would be moving back to the country.

Before I had let myself dream of country life, God had asked me what I wanted if I were to choose a home for our family.

It felt a bit odd, but I was honest.

On the list of things I wanted was property, enough to raise some livestock on.

Fast forward several months, we are here in the country on property we can raise livestock on, I’d been seeking God as to what we were to raise and where we were to get them.

The chickens were an easy answer, we ordered them.

Both my husband and myself wanted at least one dairy goat, but I couldn’t figure out which breed and just kept praying.

Then, God opened the door for me to purchase a female Toggenburg, born this year, and when she’s weaned we’ll go pick her up.

I’m buying her from friends who live nearby and have seen her several times now.

I thanked God for His answer, and then started praying for something new.

This baby goat is used to being with other goats, she wouldn’t do well without another animal.

Since my husband and I want to raise a few sheep, we began looking for ewe lambs for sale.

While working through this process, neither of us could get peace about the animals we found available.

After more prayer and discussion with Handsome, I decided to ask a member of our church who has a large sheep herd.

I spoke briefly with his wife after church a week ago, and she said she didn’t know of any ewe lambs for sale, but would ask.

“It’s too bad you didn’t ask sooner! We just got rid of all our bummer lambs!” Her sweet face was lined with regret.

I assured her God had a plan and I would just keep praying.

Imagine my surprise when my husband texted me on Friday night from a church function:

“Do you want a bummer lamb?”

I sent an instant, “Yes!”

The sweet lady from church had told her husband about my conversation with her and they ended up with a very late bummer lamb.

The gentleman spoke with my husband at church and then Handsome texted me.

We picked her up Saturday afternoon and we all are enjoying her.

I’m so blessed by God directing us, even in something so unimportant as livestock.

For it builds my faith that God is personally interested in every detail of my life.

I want to cling to God in every possible way and I’m so encouraged by how He has provided for our new addition.

God is faithful and His ways are best.

Isaiah 30:18 KJV — And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your provision. Not just with this lamb or this home, but for those things which are eternal. Lord, thank You for Your love, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, and compassion. Thank You that You are the One who gives us life and that You have a purpose for each. Thank You that You show us truth, wisdom, and the path to eternity through Your Word. Thank You for paying the price that I might be saved. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Transparency

Job 13:15 KJV — Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

This statement from Job inspires me to be purposeful about trusting God, and like Job, to maintain my ways before Him.

Especially, when life seems be more challenging.

As I walk with Jesus, I feel it’s important to be transparent.

Yesterday, I was energetic.

Today, I’m not.

Yesterday, my health wasn’t an issue.

Today, it is.

When I got up this morning, the Lord reminded me that I’d forgotten to pay bills last week.

I feel so frustrated with myself when I forget to pay the bills, because it’s rude and unfair to those awaiting payment.

I was writing checks when one amount stood out.

It was a lot more than I remembered paying previously.

After a little investigation, I found out why.

I’d carefully filed last months bill, but hadn’t paid it.

It was our trash service and when I sent Jase out to put the bills in the mailbox he returned with yesterday’s mail.

There was one with red print on the front from the trash service.

The letter inside was very kind, letting us know that due to no payment for the past two months they would be skipping our service and if we still had not paid by next month would be coming to pick up our trash can.

Understandable.

I phoned the office, apologized for my negligence, and asked what week they’d skip.

Turns out my payment will reach their office before the scheduled week to suspend our service.

Therefore everything should be fine without any hindrance to us.

I thanked the lady and hung up.

In the past this circumstance would have engendered emotions of anger with myself, it would have tinted my whole day with a negative attitude.

But not today.

Instead I am praising God for His reminding me to pay the bills.

I’m grateful to Him for the graciousness of our trash company and that our service will not be interrupted, despite my negligence.

I’m thanking Him for some of the things that He is teaching me.

Including these times when I fail.

I’m also praying to see what I need to change in my day-to-day, so that I don’t forget to pay the bills next month.

I want this to be a mistake I learned from.

Because it’s already a mistake I’m praising God for.

Philippians 4:4 NKJV — Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the truth that You are always worthy of praise. Lord, thank You for yesterday and all the abundant blessings. Thank You for today and the things I find challenging. Thank You for Your wisdom in and through each and every circumstance. Thank You for walking with me daily, guiding and directing. Lord, thank You for reminding me yesterday to purchase stamps so I’d have what I needed today. Lord Jesus, thank You for always being my Provider. Thank You for Your love and patience. I love You. Amen.

The past two days

I’ve been in bed.

My health dictated a complete rest.

When I got up this morning and went out to water the garden, I was surprised.

It’s only been two days, but the garden has grown in that time.

I went back in the house to retrieve a bowl.

I was so thankful to pick green beans, peas, zucchini, kale, and lettuce.

This little plot is a far cry from our garden in the country, but I’m so thankful for it.

Whether it’s little or much our family is blessed to enjoy fresh vegetables.

And I’m so grateful for our son, who faithfully cares for the garden when I’m unable to.

He also took very good care of me.

He’s learning how to cook and made pizza from scratch yesterday, crust and all, without me.

It’s beautiful to see how God has used these two days to grow both the garden and our family.

What joy comes from resting in the Lord and His provision no matter what is occurring.

It brings to mind:

Psalm 41:1-3NKJV — To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.

Psalm 55:22 NKJV — Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

The Lord is good and He is worthy of our love, our trust, and our praise.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for providing for us. Thank You for the garden and the joy we glean from it. Thank You for our son, who cared for it and me these past days. Lord, thank You for sustaining me, no matter the circumstance. Lord, You are so faithful. My heart can safely trust in You for Your ways are perfect and Your truth is life. Thank You. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

The hummingbird feeder

No birds at the moment as I scared them away by getting too close!

I love how God uses things in my day to teach me truths.

Not long after it began getting colder our hummingbird feeder began to gain a lot of attention.

Since we hung it up this spring it’s been busy with two or three hummingbirds.

Of course they refuse to share, and although there are several areas on the feeder to drink from normally we only see one at a time because they run each other off.

But lately we’ve had four to five birds chasing each other around the feeder, back and forth across the yard.

One morning I got up to check the amount of food in the feeder because of the fervor I was witnessing from my bedroom window.

The feeder is just out of sight, but the birds flying round and around were not.

As the kids and I watched the birds land and then fly off again as another flew at them in an effort to gain a seat on the feeder, I commented.

“It’s crazy, I wish they could understand that no matter how many of them drink at the feeder I’m going to continue to refill it. If they’d just all share, they’d have enough.”

I suddenly realized that’s exactly what God would say to me.

He will provide.

I don’t need to “horde” things, but to generously share with others as I’m able and to trust God to refill my “feeder”.

Because, there is no lack with God.

Jesus fed the five thousand. (John 6:1-13)

He caused a huge catch of fish.(Luke 5:1-7)

He healed the sick, raised the dead, surely He can and will provide for my need. (Matt. 8:16, Mark 1:34, Luke 4:40, Luke 7:12-16)

Philippians 4:19 NKJV — And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The hummingbirds at our feeder can’t understand that I care about them and have no intention of letting them starve.

These are God’s creation and He cares for them.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29‭-‬31 NKJV

God’s love is incredible and I can rest in His provision.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for these little birds and joy our family has of watching them and feeding them. Lord, please help us to be wise and to follow You in all we do. Lord, thank You for the reminder that You are our provision. Please help me to be generous and to willingly give as You lead me. Lord, shine Your truth into my heart and mind and teach me Your ways, that I might not sin against You. Lord, thank You for the birds and the lesson I have each day just outside my window. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

The gift of times past

Sis, Bell, and Anne were the reason it began.

Years ago, I wanted to give my husband something he’d have at work to look at, reminding him of his little girls.

I made sure to glue in some of their artwork along with their pictures.

Often, I would add a comic cut from the newspaper.

As we pulled one after another out of a box, Anne asked me when I started making calendars.

“Honestly, I can’t remember.”

I’m so very glad I did.

It has been so fun to look back through them now and again.

At first I always used blank calendars and had to do everything, including write in the date for every day of the year.

I’ll be honest, I messed up more than once!

When I learned how to download my pictures into premade templates and order them, the hours crafting a calendar dropped significantly.

Funny thing though.

My husband liked the homemade ones better.

He’s sweet and knows it’s easier for me to do the online thing, so he’s never complained.

I think the only time he might complain is if he didn’t receive a calendar at Christmas.

Each year the whole family enjoys flipping through the newest calendar on Christmas Day.

No matter the template I use, I’m sure to include two things: pictures of our children and verses from the Bible.

Because our family wouldn’t be if it weren’t for Jesus.

He’s the reason we have memories to look back on.

His love and provision has sustained us through thick and thin, health and illness, times apart and togetherness, little and much.

The Lord is the reason we are the family that we are.

And it seems especially important to praise Him for holding our family.

Today is my husband’s birthday.

He doesn’t like parties or fuss of that sort.

But I feel secure that he won’t mind me thanking God for him.

Thanking the Lord for the memories of past years, months, weeks…days.

Thanking the Lord for giving me to my husband as wife: his beloved, his friend, the mother of his children, and a fellow follower of Christ.

I’m thanking God for the love we share.

Our relationship has deepen and grown and we are both deeply in love with one another.

I praise God for His blessings upon our family.

I praise God for His continual provision.

I praise God for my husband.

“Happy Birthday, Handsome!”

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the birth of my husband. Thank You that he loves and serves You. Thank You that he loves and provides for us. Lord, please continue to guide, direct, and speak to him. Give him discernment with our family, our finances, his occupation, and our family dynamics. Lord Jesus, guard him from the enemy. Place a watch over his eyes, his heart, and his mind. Keep his feet planted firmly upon Your paths. Please let his words be full of wisdom, understanding, and Your Word. Thank You so much for all Your blessings and love. Thank You for our family. Amen.

Supply all…

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV

Paul, speaking to the Philippians, was discussing their generous gift and how they had sent support at other times as well.

And then this beautiful truth.

God has said it throughout Scripture.

He is faithful and will supply all.

His works are continual and constant.

So much is beyond our understanding or our knowledge.

Which is why He tells us to trust Him.

When we go scurrying back and forth in a panic, we only cause pain and destroy peace.

When we choose to seek Him and walk in faith, we find everything supplied.

Not always as we desire nor exactly as we expect, but His plans are so much better than anything we can come up with on our own.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NKJV

My prayer for today:

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for always supplying our every need. God, You are incredible. May our lives honor You. Lord Jesus, You understand what we need before we do and You have a perfect plan both for the times of less and the seasons of more. Lord, please help us learn to praise You in every season. Lord, help us to be open to Your voice and quick to respond. Lord, there are so many who still have yet to know You, please draw them to Yourself and use our lives as a testimony. Jesus, please help us to live following Your example. Thank You for all Your provision, may we never lean on our own strength. Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You.