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.

I stand alone on the word of God....The B-I-B-L-E

And...."My hope is built on nothing less, then Jesus blood and righteousness". These words ring through my heart today and I reflect on the promises from His Word that He has shown me I can bank my life on.

Psalm 119:140 " Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them."

This week marks one year since my dad passed away - As I reflect on some of what this past year has held, (a lot!) I am overflowing with joy from my Heavenly Father. I want to give Him glory! His promises have held me, sustained me, and changed me. It is true, they can be tested, and they will not fail. May my life be proof that God's tender promises to us can sustain the full weight of any trial, pain, or hardship. He is always Good!

Some Promises that have held me and been tested in my life:
He won't leave me! - Hebrews 13: 5
He works all things for my good! - Romans 8:28
He will renew my strength if my hope is in Him! - Isaiah 40:31
He will complete salvation in me! - Philippians 1:6
He will not share or forsake His own glory! - Isaiah 42:8, 48:11

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken" !!! Psalm 16:7

To God be the glory!

Something Worshipful!

Last night a girlfriend and I went to see Phil Wickham at a concert at Simpson College. Besides being asked a few times who "my student was", it was a great night. (Can I really be getting that old?)

Phil was awesome! His heart was so humble and he transforms the normal model for a "concert" into a night of pure praise to Jesus. He left the stage quietly after leaving the crowd singing the hymn "How Great Thou Art". Here is a sample of one of his songs in case you've never heard him. Awesome lyrics, completely worshiping God! Check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc4603p8bIE

And Tracey Comes to Town too!

It was like Washington coming to Redding last week! :) Not only did we get to see Suzy but Tracey ( Mrs. C ) stayed with us for the week for a visit too. We got to celebrate her birthday, which was nice since were not normally together then. I am still thinking about that chocolate cake a week later! Does someone else have a birthday coming soon, so we can have it again?!?!
It was also fun to have a girl night just the four of us. Michael and Allie and one of Allie's friends watched all 6 little ones. Quite a bonus not having to hire sitters anymore!

It was definitely a week of getting to hang out and talk! A good break from the normal!

Suzy comes to town

Jenny posted in her last blog that her best friend Suzy came for a visit last week. I have to echo her thougths about how great it was to see Suzy. Suzy will always be my third sister! We've shared too much life together for that bond to ever be broken. It was awesome to see her three boys and to watch them interact with Jenny's little ones. It made me miss "little ones". So since Jen didn't have a lot of pics, I thought I'd share the ones I had taken. The first one is of Logan, her middle son. Thanks for coming down and let's do it again soon, because I want some late nights and ice cream with the two of you too!

Alex shooting

Sometimes I feel like most of my posts are sport shots. In case anyone thinks we are obsessive about our kids playing sports, we're not. But, they are. And Alex loves to have his picture taken. So, yet again, here are some sport shots :)

Blessed!

Blessed is what I feel today. This morning as I sat and reflected on God's hand in my life these past few months, I felt overwhelmingly blessed! I've shared before that part of the journey God has had me on these past few years has been one of pulling roots I have planted in the wrong places out, and showing me that I need to be rooted in Him alone. One thing I haven't shared though, is that one of His tools in this process has been the life of someone I am very grateful for.

She, always speaks truth in my life, even when it is hard to hear.
She, chanllenges me gently, but always is encouraging.
She, doesn't judge me when I am still in the process of learning something she has already learned.
She does quiet nice things for me without anyone knowing.
She is teaching her children the Word of God and convicts me to do the same.
She listens to me - endlessly!
She loves my family like they are her own.
She inspires me.
And after 30 years of knowing her, I still am getting to know her.

Thank you Jenny for letting God use you to comfort me, strengthen me, push me, and change me.

You are the meaning of a Godly best friend! I am blessed by you!

Search & Rescue

Cool news! Pete is joining the Shasta County Search and Rescue team. He is really excited to start this new adventure and I am thrilled to watch him ignite passions that have laid dormant for a while.

There is actually quite an extensive list of gear he needs to accumulate before he can be active so if anyone has or knows someone who has these items sitting in there garage unneeded, please give us a call!

Somethings he is looking for:

carabineers, locking
harness
climbing rope
rescue eight with ears
space blanket
climbing helmet
compass
trauma sheers

Thanks!!!

Something Inspiring...

These days, it seems like the "church in general" teaches more along the lines that God wants ONLY the best for us and they interpret "best" to be things like financial blessing, health, soaring careers, etc. I would agree that He does want the best for us, in that He promises to finish His work of salvation in us. And I do agree that sometimes He chooses to bless us with the things listed above, I disagree though on many levels with the whole philosophy of do good - get good! How do you explain God's love to the people in third world countries who faithfully serve Him but have no food, live in danger and daily suffer if you believe that idealogy. We confine our thinking too much to this earth and we need to be more eternally minded. (Colossians 3 and
2Corinthians 4:16-18)

Sometimes the "best for us" is a life that includes hardships, times filled with pain or struggles/trials. Sometimes those are the things God uses to bring us to Himself, Keep us close to Him, or to further His glory and plan in other's lives. That is the ultimate love, that He works all things to perfect us, and not to pamper us. Our idea of God's love is so skewed by what we think it should be. I'm so glad He defines love no matter how we understand it. If you think of the lives of the people God used in the bible, none of them had the "easy life" but all of them had the "abundant life"! I was encouraged by James' wife's testimony of just that. James MacDonald has cancer right now, and they are LIVING this testimony. Thought I'd share it...paste the address below in your browser to see the video interview.

https://www.walkintheword.com/donations.aspx?specID=150

Something pretty...Spring is on the way and so are the mosquitos!

The last week of Feb?

Does anyone else feel like February is flying?

Here are a couple of shots of our week.

Cooper has developed a new love for the FRONT yard and LOVES to sit and watch the cars go by - weird, I know. Anytime the front door opens he makes a mad dash.

Alex has been having a great time in basketball. Loves his coach!

Allie participated every day of spirit week and participated is an understatement. (Including superhero day, which I'm not "allowed" to post a picture of:)

Michael has been enjoying a lull in sports and practicing more music. (sorry, no pics.)

crazy, but March is almost here.

Yeah! Back to two cars!

A big thanks to our friend John for helping Pete do some big car repairs in our own garage. I think you may have found a new hobby Pete! Yeah for two cars!

Anyone need a ride?

It's been a little bit of a crazy week! Michael and Allie had a winter camp over the break, Alex started B ball and Michael and Allie wrapped their seasons up. On Friday, Pete's car decided it was tired of running. How a new engine can decide to quit is beyond me?(The kids think it's because I call it names:)- it's good I'm not superstitious!) Let's just say God is teaching me a lot about patience lately. I am grateful that I am able to drive everyone around, including my hubby, but I will be glad when we return to the land of the two vehicle family:) All that said, car time can definitely turn into good talk time, so I am making the most of being the family taxi driver and enjoying being able to visit with everyone in an uninterrupted environment! So, anyone need a ride? :):):)

Alex shoots too

This week on sports center...

Michael takes and makes two threes and has a breakaway down the court to tie at half. Allie puts a little hip into the opposing team and defends her goal. Go U-Prep!