Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thank you...
...for the hard times.
This past Thanksgiving I was reading blogs of folks that I follow pretty regularly and boy, oh boy was the Lord planting seeds in my heart. So today I am going to tell you a little bit about my struggle over the past few days.
Thursday evening I was sitting drinking coffee trying to have a few quite moments after a long busy day and read. Read about others and what they were thankful for this year. This past year for me has been a struggle in many ways. The biggest struggle I have faced is the split in a church that I loved dearly. This was my home, my family, my safety and my comfort zone. I could go there and always feel safe. Well... as I was reading one of my favorite blogs by Kelley she said something that made me say Wow! She said, "I'll trade a building and its conveniences for a closer walk with Him any day of the week." Have you ever had one of those light bulb moments when things seem a little clearer? The statement brought tears to my eyes.
I went on to read another favorite blog by Kendra and her blog sent me to a Blog called "Bring the Rain" I know that you are thinking all she does is read blogs. Well...some days you're correct. Today the Lord was using my obsession for his will. In this blog the lady that was writing it talked about the loss of her child. She had come to a point where she could see that every bad thing that happens could be used to glorify God. She asked the readers to post things they were thankful for...not your everyday things, things that were probably not so pleasant in your life but you knew that the Lord had used them for His glory.
By this time God was speaking to me very loudly. I was in tears not only because of the touching story that I had just read but because I had been struggling so long with this pain. I knew what He was wanting me to do but I just didn't think that I could do it. How could I thank Him for all of the sadness that I had experienced since July? How could I thank Him for all of the sadness that I had seen in my girls faces over their lives being turned upside down? How? How I kept saying to myself? Well, I sat there and read several hundred replies. I guess I was stalling. The more I read the more good things I found myself saying about the split. God had provided a place to worship, four wonderful loving pastors, new friends, old friends, bible studies, and a new desire to learn all I could about God. I was smiling about something that has been weighing so heavy on my heart. God can take something that is so terrible (or at least something we think is so terrible) and do something absolutely amazing with it.
I clicked the little box that said add comment. I started typing God thank you for splitting my church... I never thought the words "thank you" would of come out of my mouth about this subject. I have been learning that everything is not about me, me, me! It is all about Him, Him, Him! All this time I was thinking about me and my pain and I couldn't see past the tears and anger. God is going to use both of the churches for his glory! Why? That is not for me to ask or be concerned with. God is in control and He has a plan. AMEN! I pray for PBF and for THBC to grow and thrive and to bring glory to His name. AMEN!!
I think I will always look at dificulties in a different way. Not that I will enjoy them but I will know that everything works for the glory of God. Give thanks for your difficulties today. God is so Good.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving 08
I can't believe its over...
Today is Thanksgiving and as I said earlier in the week this is one of my favorite holidays. Today on facebook I put on my status-Debbie is thankful for so much. Jesus, family, friends and my church. God has blessed me and I am humbled by His generosity.
My! Oh my! Am I ever humbled by His generosity. I can't believe that God has let me have so many things to be thankful for this year. Just to think that we had all of this food and so many had none. I found myself several times today getting choked up while I was looking around the room at my family. Even with all of our quirks we are so lucky. Every now and then today it got so loud you couldn't hear yourself think but I couldn't help but smile. Thank God we have so much to talk about and like to share with each other. Just thinking about it right now I get teary eyed. If the girls were here with me they would say "Mom you're being silly" so I am going to move on and show you some great memories we saved in our minds today. These memories will be brought up next year or ten years from now and we will smile, probably get so loud we can't think or laugh till we cry...I'll probably cry.
Today is Thanksgiving and as I said earlier in the week this is one of my favorite holidays. Today on facebook I put on my status-Debbie is thankful for so much. Jesus, family, friends and my church. God has blessed me and I am humbled by His generosity.
My! Oh my! Am I ever humbled by His generosity. I can't believe that God has let me have so many things to be thankful for this year. Just to think that we had all of this food and so many had none. I found myself several times today getting choked up while I was looking around the room at my family. Even with all of our quirks we are so lucky. Every now and then today it got so loud you couldn't hear yourself think but I couldn't help but smile. Thank God we have so much to talk about and like to share with each other. Just thinking about it right now I get teary eyed. If the girls were here with me they would say "Mom you're being silly" so I am going to move on and show you some great memories we saved in our minds today. These memories will be brought up next year or ten years from now and we will smile, probably get so loud we can't think or laugh till we cry...I'll probably cry.
The morning started off with Lucy getting a bath. This is Granny Jan's new puppy and she had to look and smell good to meet the family.
There was plenty of good desserts. Cherry pie, chocolate pie, chocolate pecan pie, oreo cookie pie and three pumpkin pies. Shelby made the oreo cookie pie and the pumpkin pies. And they were great! Kacey helped us with a little bit of everything. She has turned into a good little cook.
The traditional pulling of the wishbone. Kacey won and here she is making her wish and Shelby is pouting. There is always next year Shelby!
This year Thanksgiving was so wonderful I just can't believe that it is over. In the coming year I am going to try my best to soak up the blessings and be more thankful throughout the year not just on one day. Wouldn't it be great if we had this feeling all year...Wow! How awesome would that be? I know I couldn't eat like this everyday (I would look like the broad side of a barn) but I should be able to thank God for all the special blessings that he gives me daily.Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
He Grew The Tree
These are a few of the words of one of my favorite songs. I have so much to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for my salvation but most of all my families salvation.
He moulded and built
A small lonely hill
That He knew would be called Calvary
Then He placed a seed
that would grow to be
thorns that would make his Son bleed.
Then He made the green stem
gave it leaves and then
gave it sunshine and rain
and covered it with moss.
He grew the tree
He knew would be
used to make the old rugged cross.
Nothing took his life
With love He gave it
He was crucified
On the tree that he created
With great love for man
God stayed with his plan
He grew the tree
So that we may go free.
God is so Good!
Thank you Jesus!
![](http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/315/8D7E40D7FD25C898FBFFC553F08CF798.png)
He moulded and built
A small lonely hill
That He knew would be called Calvary
Then He placed a seed
that would grow to be
thorns that would make his Son bleed.
Then He made the green stem
gave it leaves and then
gave it sunshine and rain
and covered it with moss.
He grew the tree
He knew would be
used to make the old rugged cross.
Nothing took his life
With love He gave it
He was crucified
On the tree that he created
With great love for man
God stayed with his plan
He grew the tree
So that we may go free.
God is so Good!
Thank you Jesus!
![](http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/315/8D7E40D7FD25C898FBFFC553F08CF798.png)
Monday, November 24, 2008
PBF's First Thanksgiving
Another First...
Since July we have had so many wonderful firsts. This was our first Thanksgiving as a church family. I stood back and said, Wow! God is so Good. I am so thankful for this absolutely amazing church family and look forward to many more firsts with them.We had great food, wonderful fellowship, touching moments, laughter, thankful moments, a few tear jerkers and some kissing...We had a very blessed afternoon!
God is so Good!
![](http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/315/8D7E40D7FD25C898FBFFC553F08CF798.png)
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