365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 192

It was so facinating to watch our daughter process the mix of emotions going through her as we got her off to Upward Bound camp. She was excited and scared all at the same time but as we got her to her lodge and found her bed and counselor, you could see the scared part melting away. Than we walked around looking for her brother and that took away the rest of the fears. As we were walking away to leave, we saw her standing there unsure of what to do, where to go but when I turned back one last time, I saw her talking with one of the adult counselors and knew she was going to be fine. I am so thankful for God that we can give this opportunity to our children to enjoy the company of believers in the beautiful setting of the forest camp in the mountains. What a wonderful experience it will be for them!
Psalms 47:1-2 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 191

My yougest will join my oldest today and start their week long adventure at their church camp. I have mixed feelings as I do feel a bit of worry for my youngest and how she things will go for her during the week. My other feelings have to do with how quiet it will be in the house without them both. Just me and my hubbie. Hmmmm. I am praising God for this upcoming week as an opportunity to have a one-on-one camp with my hubbie. It will be a good refreshing thing for our marriage. So though it's bittersweet and a little worrisome with both my kids leaving us for a week, I am looking forward to the time for renewal and peace. My prayer is all the kids at camp this week stay safe, sunburn-free, enjoy the experiences and open their hearts to the Lord.
Phillipians 4: 6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving. present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 190

People at my work having been talking about the negative path the new owners have taken us on. One co-worker was complaing this week how she was ready to walk out. Others have been searching for new jobs, polishing their resume's and just coping the best they can with the workload that has been put on us all without further compensation. I spoke with a co-worker at the end of the day as we were leaving and she needed to vent so I let her. She made the mistake of not taking a job she was offered because they wouldn't give her two weeks so she could quit without leaving her fellow co-workers with more crud piled on us. She won't make that mistake again. I told her I would have no hard feelings and would be glad she found something else that will hopefully end up being better than our current situation. I am learning slowly but surely that I just need to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. No need to give them a reason to let me go before I am ready to be let go. My wise husband says it's better to get a job while you still have a job. He is right, of course. So, I am thankful to him for being my listening board and giving me some good wise advise. Have you been in a situation that made you want to vent? Vent to God and a trusted spouse about what's going on.
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 189

I was  listening to the radio as I drove to work yesterday and they had an exclusive interview with Jeremy Camp about my current favorite song of his and where he got the idea from. The song is "Overcome". He said he met and spoke to a man from New Life Church right here in Colorado Springs and found out he had written this song after the tragic shooting at the church. That church has gone through some challenging ordeals with the shooting and the scandal regarding the lead pastor but they have overcome and are still thriving. With Jesus, we too can overcome just at the song says. Listen to the song here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhmcmpX4Zn4&feature=related  It is a wonderful song of worship so listen when you can really listen to the words and worship the Lord. Like another current favorite song of mine says, "love has come, love has won." Let the love of God fill you up today and all the days to come.
Galations 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 188

I had some photos already printed from our Memorial Day in 2011. We went to Territory Days which is a street fair that happens every year over Memorial Day weekend. Last year they had a petting zoo. So, with my animal loving daughter, we went in to feed the animals. There was one little goat that was being a little shy which is unusual for goats. Faith took a real liking to this little one. These photos got me thinking about the concept in the bible of feeding the hungry. So, I searched and found a verse about Jesus telling us to feed his lambs. Hungry is not just in the physical sense, is it? I think since the day we are born we are hungry for knowing if there is a higher power who created us and all of it. I found it interesting that Jesus says to feed the "lambs" and take care of my "sheep".  Lambs, as we all know, are baby sheep. Jesus was telling us to feed the children.  Children are like sponges and will soak up whatever you expose them to. We should be in the word everyday with them, feeding them from the Word of God. Are the children in your life being fed?
John 21: 15 Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." "Take care of my sheep."

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 187

Hallelujah! I know we have all been there and done that. Been in a funk where you just aren't motivated or can't focus or think. I am in a bit of a funk this morning... I have a few random thoughts about things but nothing enough to inspire me. With my Christian radio station on in the background, my mind went to the song and singing it rather than thinking about what to write. Our brains are not perfect either. Sometimes they don't want to work the way we would like. Today is a brain-malfunctioning kind of day and that's okay. On days like this and in moments I have had where I can't even speak the words to pray, God hears me anyways. He hears me in my heart or in the song that is currently stuck in my head and it's all I can think of. My stuck song is now from Aaron Shust... Savior please, keep savin' me...Praising God for his heart hearing ability and hoping to be out of the funk tomorrow morning.

Psalm 95:2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 186

I am so not the perfect mother and I am so thankful for forgiveness from God and my family. My idealist expectations bubble was burst yesterday with my frustrations of doing stuff as a family on my day off of work. My daughter wanted to play the Wii so after a lazy afternoon nap while watching the movie The Patriot, I was all ready to do some family stuff but not everyone was on board with that idea.  My attempt to get the game started without my husbands help ended up in a frustrated mess and pushed me to lose my self-control and get angry. In my anger, I told my daughter we weren't going to play but instead go outside and practice riding her bike. She was not kean on that idea since her last practice ride and her fall. She's also becoming aware of how it looks with a 9 year old riding a bike with a parent next to her and training wheels. I turned my anger into what I thought would be productiveness in getting her on her bike but it ended up being a disrespetful mother pushing her daughter to do something she wasn't ready to do. It broke my heart as I saw her go into the house and start crying. My bubble burst at that point in a big way. I saw what I had done and realized how wrong it was. My parenting has always been with a healthy respect for my kids. I have always thought respect needs to go both ways. I did not respect her fears and feelings at all. I went upstairs and hugged her with 'I am sorry's' for a while and than I asked her to come watch me ride my bike that I got for Christmas. In the end, it's probably a good lesson for my daughter to see her mother struggle with her own sins but to turn back and ask for forgiveness but I still wished it hadn't happened. Thank you Lord for your mercy, forgiveness and love.
Matthew 6: 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.