Trials....Gifts of Mercy?

Up until just recently I have equated the presence of a trial in my life to the necessity of a test, a consequence for my sin, or a tool that God is using to grow me. We know that sufferings/pain/hardships are allowed by God for the purpose of our growth in Him. I still agree that a trial can be a test, and I believe hands down in the promise that God works ALL things for the good of those who love Him, so He will always use what He has divinely allowed in our lives to grow us, even if it is consequences to our own sin. But I’d like to propose that beyond tests, tools, and sometimes consequences, the trials we face are often expressions of God’s sweet mercy to us; GIFTS.
Sometimes His will PERMITS suffering and trials and sometimes His will CAUSES it directly. We can look all through the Old Testament and find examples of God causing a disaster to make known to His people that HE is the Lord! Other times it is clear He allowed something that was horrible to take place and worked His good through it. But whether or not He has permitted it, or directly caused it, He has ordained it, so it will be for His glory

God has been impressing upon my heart that the trials He has allowed in my life recently have been expressions of His mercy to me. They have been a gift; an outpouring of His enduring patience and perfecting love in my life. As I read Ezekiel 14:5 “I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel who have all deserted me for their idols.” It dawned on me that if God will put His hand against his own people to recapture their hearts, then maybe that is what He is often doing in my life - Recapturing an ever wandering or divided heart. If by enduring the hardships we are faced with, we are weaned of our false securities, exposed of the false idols we have worshiped, and left bare to depend on only Him, than that trial is a gift. . We are brought closer to His desires for us to be holy and righteous. In the passage in Ezekiel, God is striking His hand against His people, so that He can “recapture their hearts”, so that “they will know He is the Lord.”
Isn’t it beautiful that God doesn’t leave us alone in our sin, but loves us enough to allow us to hurt if it will bring us to Him or perfect us in Him?
Is the allowed pain in our life more than just a test, or a tool or a consequence?
I would propose that often the trials in our life are expressions of mercy meant to recapture what God desires of us. Everything!

Senior Portraits 09!!!

You'll have to bare with me and my shameless attempt to put a little plug in for Portfolio. These were some pics from a Senior Portrait shoot I did yesterday. It was such a beautiful afternoon!

No, there not standing on anything

People keep asking me if in the Easter Picture below, Michael and Allie are standing on anything...the answer is, no. In fact the ground is pretty level there. I'll post a full length picture to prove it soon, but the sad fact is they have passed up their mama and at least one of them is on what seems to be a recent growth spurt that looks like it will end in passing up their dad soon. Michael's turn, which he is pretty excited about, has turned into a 4 inch growth spurt since this summer. Allie is still growing, but has slowed down in pace. Allie is right under 5 5' and Michael is about an 1/8 of an inch below her, if that. Now I get to be the "little Mama". oh, Alex wants me to add, he is 5 feet now too. Do you know how much milk/groceries we are going through??? Let's just say, next to the house payment, and Pete's student loans, it's the biggest expense we have, and I am thinking about getting a cow for milk, chickens for eggs and making them grow their own garden.

My sweet boys!

Vipers 2009

We just got home from a tournament this weekend. The boys had a wonderful time getting dirty. Great baseball. It was 99 degrees today, and it felt like summer. The boys got a good start on their farmers tans!

Catching Up

I know I'm quite behind on my blogging! When I get this behind, it's hard to start again. So, I'll just start with a few pics from Easter and the baseball tournament this weekend. More catch up coming later.