Would you like a little cheese with your WHINE?

Malachi 3:2
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,

Being refined is not pleasant. It is not easy, but it is necessary. We are created in the image of God, but we are not perfect. Our will sets us apart from God. No matter what you say or do you are imperfect. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, but imperfect. God knew your imperfections before you were born, and it is his will that they be refined! Like Daniel you must enter the refiner's fire and through faith you will emerge victorious for your Savior!

Cry out to him: "MY GOD, MY GOD, oh what a sinner am I take my life, take my heart, take me Lord, and shape me in your image." Be prepared for what comes next though. For God will shape you in his image!
Isaiah 64: 8
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

To be shaped and to be molded is painful. Not everyone can walk in the refiner's fire and not get burned. As I sat in church today the message spoke directly to my heart! It filled me with shame for my sinfulness! As I listened to I Quit part II, I realized that I am a horrible complainer! I could see this sin in my life and I could see how it keeps me from God. I felt so ashamed that I had never before realized how my complaints looked to God. You see each day as I pray, I ask the Lord to be Lord over all parts of my life. To open the doors of my heart and explore my secrets. I have cried out, "Jesus my refiner make me in your image."
There is an old adage that says be careful what you wish for. Well I tell you, be careful what you pray for. God heard my prayers and he answered. God said look at your life, look at who you are and what you are doing. Are you really ready? If I form you in my image, I must teach you to recognize your sinfulness. I must teach you to feel as I feel. Immediately I felt it pain, unexplainable sadness, remorse, and a desire to change.
There I stood at the crossroads of two paths. The path I am currently on as a complainer, a sinner, and a flawed person. Another path branches off from the path I am on. It is tangled with brambles, it is dark and unknown, and to get there I had to step into the refiner's fire.

This week take some time to read the book of Exodus look at how the Israelites cry out in complaint and look at what it gets them. What do you complain about? Are you ready to stop complaining?

In the words of Mercy Me:
TAKE MY LIFE……AND FORM IT

TAKE MY MIND……TRANSFORM IT

TAKE MY WILL……CONFORM IT

TO YOURS, TO YOURS, OH LORD

Grief

As defined by dictionary.com: keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret

They say that grief has 7 stages:
1. shock and denial
2. pain and guilt
3. anger and bargaining
4. depression, reflection, and loneliness
5. the upward turn
6. reconstruction and working through
7. acceptance and hope

We grieve in our lives for little and big things. Sometimes we are grieving for the person we thought we would be. The life we expected to live. The dreams never realized can also fill us with grief. Then there are those of us who struggle with grief that can be crippling. The loss of a child to death, having a child with a disability, the death of a spouse, divorce, or the death of a family member or loved one.

When I ask people about grief they often express a feeling of being all alone. "No one really understands how I feel. How could you understand what I am going through when your life is so perfect?"

I think that in their grief they push people away. It is so hard to have everyone see you exposed and hurting. You don't want people to share in your pain because no one should see how weak and hurting you are. Your life is turned upside down and other people in their perfect world cannot understand.

So lets look back at grief misconceptions. You are not alone, you only choose to be alone. You need someone today, tomorrow, and everyday until you work through this. God will be with you, he will speak to you, but you have to be listening and the voices of grief shout. You need to find time to quiet the shouting because we all know God speaks in a whisper. Sometimes it is hard to hear God speak because in our grief we are afraid of what he will say. There is no answer to why and asking the question over and over and over and over will only bring you to a place of sorrow.

So I tell you stop asking why, it's not important. We are all selfish creatures who think that only our pain matters. Those around you are hurting too. They need to see that you are there for them. Share your grief with someone who understands. Let them listen and find hope in their message. Do not be afraid God is with you. You won't stop hurting right away, but with God and support you can get through anything.
He will never give you more than you can handle. When God closes a door he opens a window, and my advice to you is to jump through the window with wild abandon.

Genesis 26:24
That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

Passion

When I was little my grandmother's plane was delayed. We were waiting in the busy airport restaurant and a pilot ended up sharing our table. I remember asking him why he decided to be a pilot. He said, "I loved flying, and I just lucked out and found someone crazy enough to pay me for doing what I love."

Funny how we remember things. Sometimes someone will say something to us or we will see something and we will remember it forever. There are people who fascinate us. We cannot seem to take our eyes of them even when they are doing stupid things. So what is it that these people and that pilot have in common.

PASSION!

When you are passionate about something you cannot stop thinking or talking about it. Think about that infatuation you feel when you first start dating someone. You think about them all the time. Or when you discover a great book and can't wait to tell other people about it. What are you passionate about?

We tell people about what we are passionate about and we listen to those who speak with passion and conviction. You hear these people called charismatic, but it is their passion that shines through. It is like a light in their eyes and it lights up the people around them. People are drawn to this light basking in it's glow and before too long that passion has transformed others.

Everyone has the power of passion. You find someone or something you are crazy about and you let that passion lead you! You make choices based on your passion. Sometimes those choices are good choices and other times we have misplaced our passion. What you are passionate about reveals a lot about who you are and where you are going. In life we can lead others astray through the wrong passions. Alcohol, drug abuse, promiscuity, pornography, hobbies, work, and illness can all lead us astray. If you speak passionately about being sick all the time at first you gain the compassion of those around you, but if in speaking passionately you also complain you desensitize others to your pain. If your passion leads you down the wrong path time and again you may have the wrong passion.

We have often heard the term the Passion of Christ. All about Jesus.org states the below explanation for this term:
Passion stems from the Latin work pati, meaning "to suffer." The stem pass comes from the word passive meaning "capable of suffering." Pass was coined in the early 16th century to denote "the suffering of Christ on the cross." English also acquired the word through the Old French word passion meaning "strength of feeling."
Passion is an intense feeling, as defined by dictionary.com. Christ loved us so intensely that he gave his life for us that we might be saved! That was his passion. A passion that has drawn so many to the light! A passion that throws open locked doors, miraculously heals, leads the weak, makes the blind to see, and most of all a passion that saved you and me! So remember Thesselonians 5: 16-18 ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus, and do not forget what:Phillippians 2: 14 says!

Remember your passion may lead someone to Christ be passionate about him! Be passionate about putting God first! Your passion effects the choices you make and if you are making bad choices then you need to re-examine your passion!

I leave you with a line from Desert Song by Hillsong: I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here

Move my Mountains

"Where you go, I'll go Where you stay, I'll stay When you move, I'll move I will follow" Chris Tomlin

And then I woke up. My eyes were opened and I realized I had been blind. Not only did he move my mountains, but God showed me what they were doing. Climbing that mountain every day kept me from him and without the mountain I could see him. The way was clear and I picked up my burdens and followed!

Some of you know exactly what I am saying. For so many years I did things with half of my heart. I was torn in two but God wasn't blind to that. He was right there walking with me. There were mistakes I was making, but he was using them to get me where I needed to be. I kept saying God I want to do this great thing or I want to do that great thing. I would look at people and be jealous of what God had called them to do. Why Lord do you call him to do this great ministry, but not call me? What am I supposed to be doing?

It was a fundamental issue. You see its not that I am not called to do exactly what that person was doing, or maybe it is that I am called to do something different.......... However, the call to do something is the part I was missing. I kept getting caught up in the legalistic principals instead of getting caught up in the HOLY SPIRIT.

God can't trust you with something big until you are faithful with something small. So the next time you feel like God isn't using you ask yourself do I really understand God? Because you may find what I found. I didn't understand God. He had asked me to be faithful in so many ways and I wasn't. If God can't trust you with one day how can he trust you with a week or a lifetime. If you cannot set aside one hour or minute to fully devote yourself each day to him and his word can you really expect him to give you a ministry of so much more? Until you are faithful in the little stuff he won't give you any big stuff.

That was it, I realized this point, and then it happened. I was like AMEN! I FOUND MYSELF WANTING TO SHOUT! IT'S ENOUGH, IT'S ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH!!!! I don't need something big. Sure there are those with huge callings to do huge things. Who knows I may actually be one of those people, but not yet. I have been called to do so many little things over the years and I haven't done them. I have made excuses to myself and to God. So today I stopped. Today I found myself living in the Lord. Today I finally understood who the Holy Spirit is.

What's different you say? I saw the excuses for what they were. God lifted my blindness which would have been enough, but he took it one step further. He took that mountain of excuses and he picked it up and he tossed it across the sea. Without the mountain and my blindness I saw that I was enough just the way I already was. That my calling and what I was doing was enough.

I hope that today and this week you will stop making excuses and turn to God. Don't put a mountain between you and him!

Matthew 21:21
²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

A lifetime of tears and a breath of hope

We live our lives in a bubble. Some people talk about 6 degrees of seperation. This week was amazing I met a wonderful couple at a church group who had soooo much in common with my husband and I. First of all they were a part of our church, but then they had lived in Middleton ID. Coincidence right! Well they had had their babies at the baby place in Meridian. Where Xavier was born! Oh and not to mention their family was from MT.

We shopped at the same stores, and lived so close to each other then, but it didn't really stick out to us or even matter until we met in OK. I don't believe in coincidences though. I believe in the divine will of God. There is nothing outside of God's sight. He sees it, understands it, and has a plan for it. From the greatest of tragedies come the greatest of miracles.

From the depths of our fear and despair God changes who we are into what we have become. I am so grateful that he made me who I am. I am so grateful that he brought me hear to OK, and I wait anxiously as he works in my life daily!

I am just one of his miracles, and so are you! You a miracle he will entrust you in his will and guide you in his love. I hope that you to can be amazed by him daily as I have been this year!

Wherever you go There you are

I don't know about you, but I always feel like I am going somewhere and never getting anywhere. You know the feeling. Looking forward to tomorrow. Next week, month, year will be better because____________. Just fill in the blank. I am pretty sure everyone thinks this.

So many things can happen between now and then though. Imagine all the bad things that can happen. People die, jobs lost, economy crashes, bad weather, natural disasters, pets die, and............... Well you get the idea. So what if we were content in the moment? What do I need to be content in the moment?

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by being a mommy and so underwhelmed by my boring life that I want to sit back and sigh loudly! When do the meetings after school where I have to drag 4 little ones end. When do the diapers, baby food, putting on socks, potty training, pulling up pants..............end!

Some days I forget to stop and realize what an amazing blessing it all is and how lucky I am! Because you have to enjoy them the way they are right now! They will only be 6 mos, 2, 3, and 5 once. You will be crazy forever, and life is always crazy. Your kids though grow up!

Amen

“Amen” is a Hebrew word that stems from the word aman, which means “to be faithful, support, or confirm.” The word “amen” actually means, “so be it,” or “truly.

I was looking back today at two years of blog postings. I was reminiscing today about a life I once lived and the person I have become. It is amazing who we start out as. For those of you who have known me a long time you have seen me grow and change. For my newest friends you understand that in the last 5 years I have moved 6 times, I have had 4 children, and 5 jobs.

Some change is scary, like trusting God and moving all the way to Oklahoma. Some change is exciting, like bringing home a beautiful brand new baby. Some change is hard because we don't want to do it, but if we are living life then we are ever changing.

As I look forward to the year ahead I find myself with only one word to truly describe where I am at. "AMEN" I cannot tell you where I am going, hopefully not moving again soon. However, I can show you where I have been and I can say Amen, Amen, Amen.

Resolution Re-hab

40-45% of all adults make one or more resolutions each year. Among the top New Year's resolutions are resolutions about weight loss, exercise, and stopping smoking. Also popular are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction. After 6 months only 46% of the people who have made these resolutions will have kept them. So for those of you who are not math geeks that looks something like this. If you have 100 people 45 of them will make at least one New Year's resolution. In 6 months of those 45 people 25 of them will have broken their resolution, and only 20 will have kept the resolution. Thinking about years past how many resolutions have you made? How many have you kept? Why do these resolutions fail?

If you really want to change this year maybe its time to rehabilitate your resolution.

As defined by dictionary.com
Rehabilitate:
verb (used with object)

1.to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like.

2.to restore to good condition, operation, or management, as a bankrupt business.

3.to reestablish the good reputation of (a person, one's character or name, etc.).

4.to restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges.

Maybe it is time to restore your resolution to a condition of good health, and to reestablish the reputation of a resolution. What if you looked at your resolution in a different light? Wouldn't it be better to say God I have so much in my life that I cannot take on without you. I ask you to be the Lord of my life. Lead me in my steps, in my thoughts, in my decisions, and in my actions. Lord this year it is my resolution to serve you first. To put you first in my life, and I know that through this one resolution you will change my life in ways I could never imagine.
As I look to my New Year's resolution I am reminded of two of my favorite bible characters, and I wanted to share them with you. First their is Jabez, found in 1 Chronicals 4:9-10. Author Bruce Wilkinson writes, "You'll find him hiding in the least read section of one of the least-read books of the Bible." 1 Chronicals is a book of the bible that does exactly what it proports it chronicals the family tree of the hebrew tribes. You have to read 44 names before you get to Jabez, you can open your bible and count. If you get that far you will find Jabez and instead of just a name with Jabez you find a short story:

^{1Chronicals: 9-10
9} Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Imagine that, his mother named him Jabez; which sounds like the Hebrew name for pain. This young man more honorable that his brothers and God granted his request. Now if you read Bruce Wilkinson's book you will find he maintains that praying this prayer will change your life. I want to take a step back because for so many of us prayer is a missing part in our lives. Its not so much what you pray, how you pray, or when you pray; but that you pray. PRAY, everyday for one year. Seek God in prayer, and open your life to the way he will lead you.


Now for my second favorite bible character, he has his own book split into 42 chapters and roughly 32 pages depending on the size of print and the translation of your bible.
^{Job1: 1}
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil
The book of Job goes on to list Job's riches and blessings. As you read this book you will find Job loses everything, and along the way his wife and friends urge him to curse God. If you read the entire book which I highly urge you to do you will find that after sending his friends away Job turns to God and asks question upon question. With each question Job grows closer to his final conclusion that God owes nothing to us. He owes us no reasons, no explanations and if he gave them we would not understand.
^{Isaiah 55:8-98}
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Yet after reading through this book and coming to the understanding that God owes us nothing we find how amazing God truly is. For even though God owed Job nothing, he gave him everything. New health, new business, new family, and a new understanding of life.
Max Lucado says:" God is God. He knows what he is doing. When you can't trace his hand, trust his heart.

So the second part of the New Year's Resolution Rehabilitation is all about trust. God has a plan, his thoughts are not our thoughts, so we cannot begin to comprehend why. God blesses us but he also leads us through trials. It is easy to trust God and pray to him in times of abundant blessings, but in times of trial so many curse God. Why would he do this to me? What did I do to deserve this? Take a page out of Job's book nothing you have done or will do will make you worthy of all God has given you. Even in your sorrow pray. Trust God let him lead you.


So my New Year's Resolution is simple:
1. I will pray every day.
2. I will trust God in every way.
3. I will praise him for his blessings, and seek him in my trials.

So I challenge you to some resolution re-hab.

Sara Groves
In the morning when I rise
Help me to prioritize
All the thoughts that fill my day

Before my schedule
Tells me that my day is full
Before I'm off and on my way

I want to praise you
I need to praise you
Let the first song that I sing
Be praises to my God and King

Before the curtains part
Before my day is starting
Before I make up the bed

Before the snooze alarm
Reminds me that it's morning
Before the dreams have left my head

I want to praise You
I need to praise You
Let the first song that I sing
Be praises to my God and King
(Praise the Lord, Praise Him)
(Praise the Lord, Praise)

Before my feet hit the floor, I'll praise you Lord, I'll praise you Lord
Before I fill my cup, I'll lift you up, I'll lift you up
Before I start my day, I'll sing Your praise, I'll sing Your praise
Before I start my car, before I get too far....