Peace

Well it's official it's 1-1-11, A new year.  I'm always so excited when a new year rolls around.  I feel like it's a fresh start to reflect on this past year and see what I would like to change not only for me but my family & our household.  What can I do to help myself, my husband & our boys to have a better year.  As I was reading Proverbs 31 yesterday I was so inspired.  I feel it is our job as women of God, wives & mothers to do all we can to make our homes a peaceful haven.  I'm not expecting it to be perfect but I want it to be a place of peace, love & joy.  I have been praying & God has been speaking to me about peace.  What can I do to make our home a more peaceful place?  What are things in our home that are peace stealer's?  Two weeks ago my husband got rid of the PlayStation 3, it was causing arguing between the boys & they were yelling at the game.  We tried taking it away for a few weeks many times, we changed the games they were playing but it was still causing conflict and chaos in our home.  The boys were very upset at first but that night my oldest son told my husband he had peace that it was gone.  Sometimes we don't see that things are stealing our peace until they are out of our lives.  We think we can't live without them but in reality we can.  We choose to hold on to them and all we are doing is making ourselves as well as others around us miserable.  My boys are doing just fine without the game.  I am praying this New Year for God to continue to open my eyes to the things that are peace stealer's in our lives as well as our home.  I want to simplify and be frugal in my spending, my husband works so hard so I don't have to work outside our home.  So I am excited to for this New Year, to grow closer to God by digging in His word.  As well as Him to continue to change me for His glory and allow His peace & joy to flood through our home.

Isaiah 26:3  You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trust in You.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made know to God;  and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 29:11  The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Luke 2:8-18
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”


13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Time

   Wow I guess it's been awhile since my last post.  Where does the time go?  Christmas is only 1 week away from today.  I remember when I was a little girl it felt like forever for Christmas to get here.  But as an adult it seems to come so fast.  It seems like every year time gets shorter and shorter.  I know that's not true but it feels that way.  Why is that? We still have 365 days in a year, 24 hours in a day.  I have been reminded lately what am I doing with the time that God has so blessed me with?  We have so many things from technology to help us to clean faster, cook faster, find information faster, and yet it seems a lot of us including my self struggle to get it all done.  Struggle to find the time alone with God, time alone just hanging out with our kids,  time alone with my husband, time to get my house in order, time to cook a home cooked meal,  or even time to shop for Christmas.  Satan would like nothing more than for us to stay so busy and so stressed out that we lose focus not only on God but what He has for our lives as well as what He has called us to do.  God brought this to my mind this morning as I was laying in bed thinking of what all I need to get done today.   "Amy I have equipped you with everything you need to fulfill your destiny". 
I want to fulfill what He wants, I want to do what He has called me to do.  I want to lay down my schedule & stresses and take hold of what He has planned for me and my family.  I know His ways are great & perfect. I know with Him all things are possible.  I choose to focus on whats important this CHRISTmas season, my Savior & my family and I know He will let everything else fall in to place.

Lazy Summer Days

As I sit here and  think of all that I need to get done today I am thankful for today.  Summer can seem so relaxing but yet be so busy at the same time.  I Love lazy Summer days & nights.  No rush to get everyone feed & out the door so they don't miss the bus,  no rush to get homework done in the afternoon,  no rush to get dinner on the table at a certain time, & no rush to get everyone in the bed so they won't be to tired for school.  I am so thankful & blessed God has allowed me to be able to be here with my boys & enjoy this time with them. 

Hope

   I was so blessed to be able to go with my family to Oak island Beach for Springbreak.  While there my sister-inlaw's friend was there.  I haven't seen her in years, she is such a sweet soul.  She had just recently lost her husband to cancer.  You could just see where her hope comes from , The Lord.  I have seen & heard of quite a bit of death it seems lately.  I can't imagine losing a child, husband, parent.  Death is the one thing that is certain in this life.  It sure doesn't make it easy when it happens to a love one though.  Another thing that is certain is God's Word.  He is our Rock &  Refuge,   He is our Hope, which is what we need when we are going through life's trails.  We all went to sunrise service Easter morning on the pier  it was so beautiful.  After the service my friend played a song for us that blessed me so much!  I thought I'd share.   Thank you Lord for the Hope you offer us!

What do you have to lose?

Sometimes we need to just let go, Sometimes it's our only choice.....  That's where your Faith & Trusting in Him comes in. That's when God Peace that surpasses all understanding will fall on you!

Messes

  Well it's Monday morning, As I look around there are messes everywhere.  Laundry, toys, dishes.  It's almost overwhelming.  I was down the week before last with the flu.  I have not yet got everything caught up from being down for that week.  I guess this weekend I could have but the weather was so nice we spent a lot of time outside.  It's amazing that when your not even home  how messes can  accumulate.  God reminded me this morning that our lives can be the same.  We allow the sin or stuff in our lives to build up that we feel that we can't go to Him.  So all that stuff just keeps piling up and makes us more frustrated with ourselves as well as our surroundings. It also can make us feel that God is so far away.   But as I sit here thinking  I am reminded how easy it is to get rid of all the stuff we might be holding or hiding.  All we have to do is call upon the name of Jesus and He is there.  Sometimes we feel we have to clean ourselves up then we can go to Him.  That is such a lie, He loves us right where we are, mess and all.   He never leaves us,  we are the ones who wonder away from Him.  But like I said He is always there just waiting for us to call His name, waiting for us to climb up on His lap and let Him rescue us.  His love is so amazing!  His love never fails!