How strong are you?

Why do we wait until our strength is depleted before we seek God?

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord...and in the power of His might."  Ephesians 6:10

As women, we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.  We worry about our families as we manage our homes and assist our friends, churches, and communities.  We maintain busy schedules as we transport kids to soccer practice and school functions.  We cook, clean, work, and care for aging parents.  No wonder we run out of steam! 

Yet God wants us to rely upon His strength, not ours...to exchange our weakness for HIS power.  What are you waiting for?  Seek God's strength!


"He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,  But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:29-31

Presenting Jingle Bell...our little sneaky elf!

While we were on our way home from school Jingle Bell decided that maybe she needed to work a little more on personal hygiene...this is where we found her we we arrived back home! Sneaky!!!

Adversity makes you STRONGER...

Recently, I was sent a card from my dear sweet aunt and it reminded me of a very important life lesson.  Within the note, written in the card were these words..."A wise old man once told me that adversity makes you strong."  Since receiving this card I have read it over and over again.  That wise old man was one of the dearest souls you would ever want to know and I am proud to call him my uncle.  I miss him terribly and I think about him so often.  Reading that card put a smile on my face and in my heart because I could hear his voice saying those words to me.  The last few months have not been easy for my little family...in fact they have been pretty tough.  But, we are holding tight to God's Word and to the promise that He will never leave us!  The adversity that my family has faced over these last few months has made us stronger as a family and I know it is making me a stronger individual.

No one is exempt from problems.  From the palace to the poorhouse, men and women throughout the ages have fought and conquered adversity in their lives.

Queen Esther risked losing her only relative and her people.  Using her influence, she saved the Israelites from destruction.  Interestingly, the Jewish name for Esther means "Hadassah," which comes from the word myrtle - the tree whose leaves only release fragrance when they are crushed.

Are you facing adversity?  Perhaps your faith has brought reproach or daily struggles have robbed your faith.  Regardless, the scriptures ease the crush of adversity, releasing the sweet fragrance of God's overcoming power.

Scriptures dealing with adversity:

James 5:13 - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

 I Peter 1:7 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ


I Peter 4:12-13 - Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christs sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Lord Send Your Angels...

When I'm alone and the light slowly fades
Cold with the night closing in
I know the shadow of almighty wings
Lord won't you send them again

 Lord send your angels to watch over me
I'm so afraid of the dark
Lord send your angels to watch over me
Wrap me in sheltering arms
Shield me, Keep me
Hold me safe in your arms
Lord send your angels to watch over me
Wrap me in sheltering arms

Sometimes the child inside of me cries
With fears of the dangers unknown
And questions with answers I can't seem to find
Then you send your angels to me

 

Lord send your angels to watch over me
I'm so afraid of the dark
Lord send your angels to watch over me
Wrap me in sheltering arms
Shield me, Keep me
Hold me safe in your arms
Lord send your angels to watch over me
Wrap me in sheltering arms

Blessings...even in trials

Today I am thankful for many blessings in my life...but one of the biggest blessings I have ever been given is my Gram!  Thank you Lord for allowing me to have the privilege to know such a remarkable woman and thank you for allowing me the years I have had with her... to make some lifelong memories that are precious!

Today marks the 4 years since I received a phone call telling me that she was in the hospital and had suffered a heart attack.  It was a shock and I couldn't quite wrap my head around the information I was hearing on the other end of the phone.  I will never forget that day and the sound of Pap's voice as he was trying to tell me what had happened.  I will be honest...I have never felt such an empty feeling as I did that morning.  I remember telling Pap that we would be there ASAP and I remember what he said just like it happened yesterday.  From the other side of the phone I heard..."I don't want to lose her Heather."  When I heard him say that...I remember the tears welling up and telling him that he wasn't going to lose her and everything will be fine.  I had to stay strong...but I am not sure that I convinced him with the quiver in my voice.

I remember immediately calling Shane and telling him he needed to come home.  Shane had just left for work and I was home with all three children when the call came.  He had not made it to the office yet when he received my call on his cell phone.  He turned around and headed back home.  We were on the road within an hour or two and headed toward Indiana.  Shane would probably say it was a record packing event for me and he had never seen me pull it all together so quickly.  I am sure that I was providing him with funny stories to tell later on about how frantic I was trying to pack our family of 5 ... including one precious baby boy!

Today I am choosing to focusing on being thankful for even the trials that we face here on this earth!  We ALL have to deal with trials!   We were never promised that we wouldn't face difficult times!  Each of us have our own weaknesses and deal with trials in different ways than another person might deal with them.   Trials on this earth sometimes are more than we feel we can bear...and without strength from God...I might agree with that statement.  However, I know that HE is watching over HIS children and HE is in control!   Do I always feel this way?  NO!!!!  I lose focus at times and I question things sometimes...do you?  However, it isn't long at all until God quickly reminds me that HE is in control and HE will not leave me in my time of need.

I am thankful for the last 4 years even with the difficulties that my family has faced.  I am thankful to God that he has allowed me to have more time with Gram and Pap....and because of that I am working to make sure that my 3 children make memories with them that are unforgettable and precious!

I am Bound For That City...

I am thankful for days like today that I am reminded of just how privileged I am to be a part of the West Hobbs Street family!   God blessed me with wonderful and special people in my life that have influenced me, helped me, loved me with all their hearts...and taught me that Heaven will surely be worth it ALL...and to stay focused on "the GOAL" no matter what circumstances I encounter here on this earth!  I am so thankful for everyone in my life...but especially for two precious souls that NEVER waiver and have always been constant in my life! 

 I am thankful for the peace and comfort I have knowing that no matter what this earthly life throws in my path...when this earthly life is over I will see them again in Heaven and...yes, IT WILL SURELY BE WORTH IT ALL!

When I think about Heaven and what it will be like....is hard to fathom it's beauty and just how magnificent it will be!   I want to be there when this earthly life has ended and I want to see my loved ones there with me!  God's love for me...in sending His Son to die for my sins...motivates me to strive to reach my goal of Heaven...but knowing that those I hold so close to my heart here on this earth will be there....makes it even sweeter to me!

"Knowing we can spend a life time reminiscing on the past, knowing I will see your face again where tender moments last.  It makes me want to go there knowing I wont be alone.  Knowing you'll be there makes it easy to go home."

 I have started my journey and

I am bound for that CITY....are you?

There's a city of light

Where there comes no night

For the sun never sets in the sky

In the Bible we're told

That the streets are pure gold

And a cool gentle river runs by

I'm bound for that city

God's holy white city

Oh yes I am I'll never turn back

To this world anymore anymore

No matter how rough may be the way

No matter how oft I stop to pray

I'm bound for that city

On that ever green shore

Little children will play

And our hearts will be gay

As we stroll through that city of gold

No more dying up there

No more sorrow to bear

And nobody will be feeble and old

I'm bound for that city

God's holy white city

Oh yes I am I'll never turn back

To this world anymore anymore

No matter how rough may be the way

No matter how oft I stop to pray

I'm bound for that city

On that ever green shore

No matter how rough may be the way

No matter how oft I stop to pray

I'm bound for that city

On that ever green ever green shore

I'm bound for that city

On that ever green ever green shore

I Choose to Live...

I don't about anyone else, but I forget many times to "choose to live"... or maybe it is not that I forget as much as I let other things cloud my thoughts on a daily basis.  I don't know of one single individual that doesn't deal with trouble and struggle in this day to day earthly life...do you?
Thank you Lord for the all good days and for the not so good days too!  Thank you for the life lessons we learn as we sometimes struggle to understand just why things happen like they sometimes do.

  
I know there are a lot of things, I've yet to figure out, 

but as I live I'm learning more of what life is all about

They say life is full of choices and you have to live with the choices you make.  

So, if I have to choose, here are some choices that I've made.

I choose to laugh instead of cry, 

I choose to spread my wings and learn to fly.

To love rather than hate, to see the good and not complain.  

I choose to take a chance and risk it all, get up again after a fall

I'm throwing caution to the wind.  I choose to live.

Everyday I make decisions, some big and some small.  

But, I'm glad I've made up my mind on the greatest one of all.

I gave my heart and life to Jesus

I have no doubt that he died for me

Since, I've been forgiven, I am living abundantly.

I choose to laugh instead of cry, 

I choose to spread my wings and learn to fly.

To love rather than hate, to see the good and not complain.  

I choose to take a chance and risk it all, get up again after a fall

I'm throwing caution to the wind.  I choose to live.

Thirty or forty, maybe even fifty years from now,

I pray the choices that I've made will help somebody in someway or some how

I choose to laugh instead of cry, 

I choose to spread my wings and learn to fly.

To love rather than hate, to see the good and not complain.  

I choose to take a chance and risk it all, get up again after a fall

I'm throwing caution to the wind.  I choose to live.