Breaking for a Bit

It's hard to believe school is just around the corner. My summer is quickly coming to an end. Due to this, I am going to take some increased, focused time to spend with my family and refreshing for myself.

One of the places I eagerly look forward to spending some personal time is here with these:

I purposely hid the titles, because part of my excitement is that 3 of these 4 books include giveaway's! 2 of those 3 include giving away multiples!

You know what that means don't you? You will have a chance to own these as well. Don't head too far because when I return... the giveaways will begin.

In the meantime, rumor has it that Amy is giving away one book EVERY DAY this coming week. Go check it out and get started on some new reading now.

Although I will miss our time together, I am eager to slow the pace and have some time to refocus, refresh and regroup.

I am only breaking for a bit.

FFF: The Illness Edition

Today marks 2 weeks that there have been ill children in our house. In those 2 weeks we have had a total of 6 appointments at the doctor's office. We have picked up a total of 5 prescriptions and a nebulizer. And with no insurance, we have spent more money than I care to think about. And it's not over yet...


Even in all of this, I have been continually challenged to find the good in it... to find God in it. I have been reminded to see the blessings in the middle of what is so disappointing, so discouraging, so exhausting.

And so, in that spirit, here are five of my favorite things that have blessed and encouraged me in the middle of it all.

1. Parents Remain Well: We have been praying that my hubby and I would remain well through it all. Surprisingly, so far, we have! That in itself is a miracle considering the hours we have been putting in, the lack of sleep and the surrounding environment of germs!

2. Quiet Times: Amazingly enough, in the last week, all mornings but one have found the children all sleeping at once allowing me to continue my personal time of quiet. It has required that I purposely make the time, and to be honest there were mornings that it was more of a choice than a desire. However, as I chose to make that time, God met me in some very sweet places and I have not been sorry that I made that time!

3. Friends who Pray: For almost 2 hours one morning this week it was very critical for one of my children. The news was passed and immediately friends were praying. What a comfort it was to me to know that as I sat and waited... friends were standing in the gap for me and my child. There is comfort and power in prayer!

4. Coffee and Rain: We have been having unseasonably warm and humid summer days. One day started with refreshing rain. As I was starting my day in quiet, the smell of the brewing coffee mixed with the scent of the rainfall and helped to create an atmosphere of extra calm. I was reminded of this promise:

Hosea 6:3 (NIV) "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

5. Silence: This morning, for the first time in 2 weeks, as I had my quiet time... it was truly quiet. Other mornings there had been coughing coming from all corners of the house. Not this morning. Silence. Pure, beautiful, undisturbed... silence. And it never sounded so good! Could it be this is the beginning of the end of this journey? Oh, I do pray that is so!
~~~~~

Regardless of what your week has held, have you taken some time to find the good in it? To find God in it? He is there if we just look for Him. As Hosea 6:3 promises, as we press on to acknowledge Him, he will appear. He will come to us. Acknowledge Him... and find Him meeting you there.

Thanks to Susanne for encouraging us to do just that... finding favorites in each week regardless of the situations it contains.

I've got my cup of coffee and am ready to listen. Tell me, what have been favorites in your week?

Storm Calming... Child Calming

Listen. The winds are fiercely howling. Look. The waves are wildly crashing.

Those in the boat are terrified! They look into the distance and see a form walking on the water... towards them. They cry out in fear of what they believe is a ghost. Surely they are dead men.

Wait. It is Jesus.

He immediately encourages them to "take courage" and "to not be afraid". Peter asks to come to Jesus. Jesus invites him. Peter climbs out of the boat. Peter does the impossible. He walks on the water.

As long as Peter is looking straight into the face of Jesus... he walks on the water. Peter is oblivious to the wind, the waves, the storm around as long as his eyes are focused on Jesus. The moment he takes his eyes off of Jesus... he begins to sink.

Jesus did not tell them to take courage because he was going to calm their storm, he was going to fix everything, he was going to take it all away including their fear. No.

Instead, He was offering the words of "Take courage" and "Do not fear". He was offering something even more than removing their fearful situation and all that encompassed. He was offering the presence of His very self in the middle of their storm.
(Matthew 14:22-32)

Oh, that I would be like Peter in the middle of my storms. That I would first desire to approach Jesus. That I would focus my eyes directly into his.

However, may my actions of Peter stop there. May I continue to gaze into the face and eyes of my Jesus. For if I don't, my actions will continue to be just as Peter's... I will begin to sink.

My goal?! To fix my eyes directly on Jesus and His leading. He has not dropped my hand! He has not stopped walking before me... beside me!

I think, probably, all that He is looking for, all that He is really searching for.... are my eyes.

Where are they focused? Can He see them looking at Him... or the storm around? I'll bet He is just waiting to hear me ask to come to Him, to be near Him. I imagine His heart and face break into a smile as I climb out of my boat, the safety I have falsely created for myself, into the very storm itself... just to be near Him.

I have learned and continue to learn something about my Jesus. Sometimes He calms the storm.

But sometimes... sometimes... He gives us the presence of His very self in the middle of the torrential storm instead. If we will just let Him... He will instead calm us... His child.

~~~~~~
Sometimes He Calms the Storm
By Kevin Stokes & Tony Wood

Verse 1
All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Verse 2
He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain
Beats down on those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Chorus
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child

Not What You Know... but Who You Know

There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man show of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23.

Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation - “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” - the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor’s incredible ability to bring the verse to life.

But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up, “Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?”

The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.

With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man’s recitation that every eye was full of tears.

Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, “I don’t understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training, but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?”

The young man humbly replied, “Well, sir, you know the psalm… but I know the Shepherd."

--Author Unknown

My King

Being reminded of exactly who my King is this morning. Finding great encouragement and strength for the day ahead in the reminding.

May you also find encouragement and a bolstered spirit in being reminded.

What Drowning Does and Does Not Look Like

The unseasonably low temps and high rainfall have come to an end. Temps have now been soaring. Spending time in the water to stay cool has become a welcome activity for many.

Although my children remain ill and we have not been able to be out enjoying the water recently, I wanted to share this article with you. I read it at the beginning of the summer and did think about it when we were in the water earlier in the season.

I found this article, written by Mario Vittone who has 19 years of service in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, to be a very educational read. I was a bit surprised to learn what drowning does and does not look like.

I hope I never have to use this knowledge, but I am glad to have a greater understanding of what, exactly, I need to be aware of when in the water.

The Very Best Read

"The Bible is not a book for the faint of heart - it is a book full of all the greed and glory and violence and tenderness and betrayal that befits mankind. It is not the collection of pretty little anecdotes mouthed by pious little church mice - it does not so much nibble at our shoe leather as it cuts to the heart and splits the marrow from the bone. It does not give us answers fitted to our small-minded questions, but truth that goes beyond what we even know to ask."

--- James Bryan Smith, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointed to Heaven

Life as We Know It... Right Now

Good Morning. Come on in. Coffee's on. Cool drinks are in the fridge. Goodies are out. Help yourself.

I can't stay long today.

It started with the little guy on Friday and has continued through the weekend. My oldest found himself included on Saturday.

HIGH fevers, aches and vomiting. The little guy seems to be getting to the other side of it. My oldest says he feels better this morning but the thermometer isn't showing much difference yet.

To top off an exhausting weekend, VBS in the SonQuest Rain Forest starts tonight and I am leading the music. I have two and half hours of singing these songs with actions every night.

I do enjoy it, but circumstances are leaving me heading into it already somewhat weary. There is still a bit of prep left to do to be ready.

Praying desperately that my hubby doesn't get ill. There is no one to cover for him at work. Praying I don't get it as that would really put a kink in the VBS plans for everyone. Praying our daughter doesn't get it and praying for fully restored health for the two boys.

Now, if you'll please excuse me... I have children to tend to, songs to put the finishing touches on and extra amounts of energy to muster.

I owe some of you returned e-mails, and I will get to them. I promise. I just need a little longer to get us all to the other side of life as we know it right now...

Please make yourself at home, talk amongst yourselves and as you think of it, prayers would be appreciated!