it's worth repeating that man was not created to be an island to himself....

so often i have told people that they need to reach out for help if they need something. they can't expect to be able to dolife on their own. God intended us to live in relationship with one another and to bear eachother's burdens... sounds like i am preaching... TO MYSELF!!

isn't it interesting how easy it is to use cliches and quotes to help others but to totally overlook them for yourself...

sometimes we don't even realize how much we are sinking until someone pulls us out and we remember what it was like to stand on solid ground again...

i thank God today for people who recognize when I am spent and need a break... so many people make my life better because they make my well-being their business...and they reach out to me even when i am too proud to reach to them...and to them i say thanks in a big way!!!

do you need others around you to lift you up?? don't be afraid to ask for prayer, support, encouragement, and friendship...

let someone be a blessing to you today..you will be glad you did...

Blessings..

it's worth repeating that when all else fails, God doesn't...

actually i'm not sure i have ever heard that said that way but i have heard Jesus never fails, and God has never made a promise He hasn't kept...

i was reminded today of what it feels like to have planned things fall apart, to count on people that just don't show up, to have to scramble to make things work....i was tired, emotionally and physically...and in the end, i still needed God to make it work...

But God always provides...

I am a worship leader and tonight my entire band basically couldn't be there, but instrument by instrument i filled the vacant spots throughout the day.  when i got to our service though i still didn't have a drummer...i think he probably told me a while ago that he couldn't be there and i just forgot....unfortunately, though my two other drummers didn't tell me they were going to be gone, so i thought, well that's it...i have worked all day on this only for it to fail because we have no drummer for our youth service and we are 1 hour from it starting...

But God always provides...

one of our youth leaders just interrupted our rehearsal and asked if i would want him to play the drums until someone else showed up that could do it...i said definitely.  the musician side of me was worried, but the "doing my best to trust God" side of me was thinking God filled the spot... it turned out he did an awesome job and played for the service.

my plans failed..God's didn't..  So, God still has never broken a promise..he always provides for our needs...

what are you worried about that seems to be failing?  put your trust in God because when all else fails, he doesn't...

Blessings!

it's worth repeating that we were made to live in the present...

often i find myself spending time in my past, wishing i could change things, make better choices, take words back, treat my parents better, have more confidence with who I am in Christ, not be so boy-crazy...

other times and even more frequently i find myself trying to figure out my future...what does the future hold?  will we be safe or at war?  will my children learn to love the Lord?  will my husband and i be able to hear the voice of the Lord and know what to do with our lives?  will i miss God on something really important?  will my kids get hurt, sick, or broken-hearted?  i find myself thinking about my future but only thinking about it out of a mindset of fear?  I don't include God in my future when i think about my future with fear...

what i want to do is live more in the present..moment by moment walking in step with the Holy Spirit, relishing the amazing journey of life, appreciating the people in my life, and living life to the fullest?

are you stuck in your past??  are you fearing your future??

live in the present...after all, it is a gift from God...

Blessings

it's worth repeating that the best things in life are free...

today, i am thinking of all the things in my life that cost me nothing but that bless me so much...

my husband (okay, the wedding cost a little bit...)
my children (i guess that could be argued too)
my salvation from sin
my relationship with God
the peace i have
all my family
all my friends
my memories
the sunrise
encouragement

these things are priceless to me..even if they cost a fortune they would be worth having and that is what makes them so amazing...

Lord, help me not to take these things for granted just because they are free..help me to treasure them like they are fine treasures...

what are some of the things that mean the most to you that are free???

i hope you enjoy your life's journey today..

blessings,
amanda

it's worth repeating that God doesn't call the qualified He qualifies the called...

I am so glad I don't have to submit a resume to God for Him to decide whether He thinks I am worthy to be used or not. I have done so many things, made so many mistakes and have so many weaknesses that could easily disqualify me from being useful to God, but instead He just asks me to be available and obedient to Him...

i was reminded tonight that God works great under pressure... he always pulls through in the clutch...and I am so thankful that when we commit our plans to Him to succeed...

Tonight, I also get to play a role that I am not qualified for...the role of tooth fairy. My oldest daughter, Annie, lost her first tooth today...so i am going to figure out what a tooth fairy should give her daughter for her first lost tooth!! wow, my little girl is growing up so fast!!

if there is something in your life that you feel God has asked you to do, but you don't feel qualified at all to do it, then it probably is Him calling you because He doesn't need people who can do everything on their own...he needs obedient and willing people...

so even if those are your only "qualifications", then you get the job!!!

Blessings!

it's worth repeating that you are what you eat...

so tonight i am a delicious olive garden salad, some yummy garlic breadsticks, and Shrimp Caprese.

seriously, i love food!!! i am not a picky eater and just love a great meal, especially when i don't have to cook it or clean it up!

i love when Job says that he desires God's Word even more than food...wow!! I also want the Word of God to be my primary sustenance for my mind and soul... not self-help books, encouraging words from others, or even sermons... all of those are great, but if they are my primary sustenance then i am in trouble because i am relying on others to feed me. i need to feast on God's Word myself!!

are you allowing God's Word to be the food for your mind and soul?? most of us have a hard time neglecting the rumblings of our tummies (especially on Sundays around noon..ha!). Let's hope we also listen to the rumblings of our soul..

when was the last delicious spiritual meal you had??

Blessings!

it's worth repeating that friends are the best resources we have...

i am a pretty straight forward person...so here it is. I have been stressed to the max lately. I have had a hard time enjoying life, my husband, my kids, my friends, everything, because i have just felt so overwhelmed...and irritated that i feel so far behind in life.

today, my husband gave me one of the best gifts i have ever received. it was a notebook filled with notes from my close friends and family that brought me to tears. Each person wrote in their note what I mean to them...yes, the impact i have had on them, or the difference i have made in their lives.

sometimes it is TOO easy to get bogged down with all the monotony of everyday life that we forget that everything we do can be a blessing to someone else...

i felt humbled, loved, and recharged as i read each note. i laughed, cried, and chuckled as i remembered some great times, and thought about some priceless friends...

are you feeling bogged down? overwhelmed? depressed?

remember, your ordinary life can make an extraordinary difference to someone else..
your kind, encouraging word can recharge a dead soul...

Blessings!

it's worth repeating that God gently guides those who have young...

I can't lie...the last two days have been some of the hardest for me as a mother. It seems my children have been able to push every button, make every mess, incur every injury, and fight every battle...and that's just the first five minutes of the day. In fact, as I am writing this, I am wondering how I am going to get up and be a mom again tomorrow.

So tonight, I am praying before I go to bed that God remind me of the blessing my children are to me. I don't say that in a meaningless way. I want to remember the first time I held them, the first time I fed them, the first time they smiled, laughed, peed all over me, and the first time they gave me a kiss...

I need God to be gentle with me tonight, because I am going to bed feeling guilty for saying no so many times today, for yelling when I shouldn't have, for expecting my kids to not get stains on their clothes, etc... I need God to whisper His love to me and give me wisdom in how to raise my children and strength to persevere... I need Him to teach me to be a better parent to the wonderful children He gave me...

So Lord, help me tonight to be reminded of the calling you have placed on my life, the highest calling...to be a mother to my children. I don't want to try to raise them alone...I need Your love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control every step of the way... Forgive me when I fail and help me to get back up in your strength tomorrow and be the mom you have called me to be..

I would love to hear your comments on how God is helping you to raise Your children...

Blessings!