A Simple Prayer Answered

I turned my alarm off Thursday night and Friday morning I woke up at 6:30… without an alarm. The next morning, Saturday I also woke up at 6:30 without an alarm because I had forgot to turn it back on the previous night. I knew if I didn’t set my alarm on Saturday night for Sunday morning my times would all get wacked. I knew I couldn’t wake myself up 3 days in a row without an alarm and I knew I was going to get out of routine. So I was going to set my alarm Saturday night in my room for the next morning but my 2 little brothers, (Eli and Sam) were up late Saturday night and didn’t want to go to bed so Sam asked me if he could sleep with me. I had a kitchen full of dishes to do so I said he’d have to wait until my dishes were done and then we’d go to my room and go to sleep. Dishes were done at about midnight and Sam was already fast asleep on the lazy-boy. So I just slept in the living room with him. And because I was sleeping in the living room I couldn’t set my alarm, knowing it would wake the whole house. So I prayed to God… (a silly prayer maybe) but I asked him if he would be so kind as to allow me to wake up in the morning at 6:30. Sure enough at about 4:30 in the morning I woke up with an ear infection… thus I was awake for the rest of the night. Which means I was up at 6:30. If you’ve ever had an ear infection I don’t have to explain the pain that it causes, almost unbearable really. So Sunday night I was dreading to go to bed because that’s when all the pain comes back. And with that level of pain it is impossible to sleep. I knew this would lead to a Monday with no sleep, in other words me being cranky. So, as I was getting ready for bed… lying in bed waiting for my ear to start hurting I thought, well maybe I could ask for it not to hurt tonight… so I prayed and asked the Lord if it was in his will and if he wanted that he could give me a night without pain so I could sleep. Just a quick note; earlier that evening I wrote out the first chapter in James and it was talking about how those who doubt are like waves that are tossed among the sea. So I was lying in bed with that chapter going through my head. So I said… “Well, Lord, I know you can give me a painless night, if it’s your will. And I don’t want to be a wave tossed among the sea so I don’t doubt your power, I believe if you want to give me a night of sleep you can. Please, just let me have a painless and full night of sleep?” I was going to be alright if he answered with a “no” but I was also going to be alright if he answered with a “yes.” This morning I woke up at 6:30 when my alarm went off and I had no pain, I slept through the whole night, no problems. One more quick note; if you get an ear infection they last about a week, at least mine do, sometimes they last a little shorter. I get one almost every time I get sick. Usually you’ll have the pain for about a week and then you can’t hear for another week or two. I have never, ever only had one for a single night. I still can’t hear and that’ll last a while but there is no pain. J

Fear Is Just A Lie

 

Fear Is Just A Lie - Mike Donehey - Video Journal

"Avoid fear, though fear is simply the consequence of every lie." 

 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Isaiah 41:10

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:13

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"

Isaiah 41:14

"'Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,' says the Lord."

Isaiah 43:1

"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine."

Isaiah 54:4

"Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the same of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

Haggai 2:5

"According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!"

Matthew 10:26

"Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known."

Matthew 10:28

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Luke 12: 4-5

"'And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!'"

Luke 12:7

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

1 John 4:18

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Michael Junior - Christian Comedian

30 minutes worth the time if you need a good laugh.

It's 11pm and I'm still watching it...

Snow... Snow... Snow... and More Snow

A surprise day of snow

decided to visit the valley of Randle...

I took the advantage and snapped some pictures.

 

 

From outside our front window  

 

 

 From outside my window

 

 

 From inside my window

 

 

From inside my mom's window

 



A Prayer of Humility

These are the words of a hymn but let us try to look at them as the words of a prayer, a prayer of humility.

How deep the Father's love for us,
how vast beyond all measure.
That he should give his only son,
to make a wretch his treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
the Father turned his face away.
As wounds which mar the chosen one,
bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
my sin upon his shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice,
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there,
until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life;
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything:
no gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; 
his death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from his reward? 
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
his wounds have paid my ransom.

We are those who's voice is mocking along with the scoffers. We are the reason the Father had to turn his face away from the Son. We are the wretch who has been turned into a treasure, into "His" treasure. Why should we be His treasure? Why should we gain from His reward? What if God is trying to show us His grace. For the bible says in Ephesians... "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." A gift of grace...? What a sweet, humbling thought. The bible also states in the book of James: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” So first we must let go of the grip we have on pride, and then open our hands wide to the gift of grace He offers so freely.

Simple Women's Daybook

Outside my window... the dark of night is creeping in.

I am thinking... I've never gone frog giggin'.

I am thankful... for the blanket of snow that gently covers Grassy.

In the kitchen... my plant is trying desperately to sprout roots.

I am wearing... a self-crafted ankle bracelet.

I am creating... a book of prayers.

I am going... to write a letter to a dear friend tomorrow.

I am wondering... what lurks in the shadows outside my room.

I am reading... the book of James.

I am hoping... to live out James 1:19-20 daily in my life.

I am looking forward to... waking tomorrow to see the daylight creep through the cracks in my door.

I am learning... slowly but surely that the Word of God is the true and only bread of life.

Around the house... everyone is sleeping as I listen to the quiet creaks of the house.

I am pondering... on the friendships that are entrusted to me. A true privilege. 

A favorite quote for today... "Am I a prisoner of what I've lost?."

One of my favorite things... is to go fishing.

A few plans for the rest of the week... are to meet my deadlines.

A peek into my day... Ummm... well... you don't get a peak into my day.

A picture worth sharing...

My Allie Girl

Delicate Words of a Psalmist

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?

Why do You hide in times of trouble?

The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor;

Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire;

He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;

God is in none of his thoughts.

His ways are always prospering;

Your judgments are far above, out of his sight;

As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity."

His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;

Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.

He sits in the lurking places of the villages;

In the secret places he murders the innocent;

His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.

He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den;

He lies in wait to catch the poor;

He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.

So he crouches, he lies low,

That the helpless may fall by his strength.

He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see."

Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand!

Do not forget the humble.

Why do the wicked renounce God?

He has said in his heart, "You will not require an account."

But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,

To repay it by Your hand.

The helpless commits himself to You;

You are the helper of the fatherless.

Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;

Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

The Lord is King forever and ever;

The nations have perished out of His land.

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart;

You will cause Your ear to hear,

To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

That the man of the earth may oppress no more.