It has been so long since my last post. Today I am full of a thankful heart to the One who has saved me, raised me, and lives so that I can have life and have it to the fullest. 

I sit here in the quite of my kitchen, coffee cup emptied, and my Bible opened to Colossians chapter 2. I have read this before but with new realization this morning! In verse 13 it says, 

"...He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross"

"With its regulations, that was against us" -- this can only mean one thing. That God's new plan is FOR US!!! He took away the regulations and code FOR US!

My footnotes in my Bible explain two very profound things: 

1. "having disarmed" -- Not only did God cancel out the accusations of the law against the Christian, but he also conquered and disarmed the evil angels who entice people to follow false teachings about Christ. The picture is of conquered soldiers stripped of their clothes as well as their weapons to symbolize their total defeat. 

2. "triumphing over them" -- "leading them in a triumphal procession" The metaphor recalls a Roman general leading his captives through the streets of his city for all the citizens to see as evidence of his complete victory.  

WOW!! Jesus Christ carried his cross through the streets as evidence of his COMPLETE VICTORY OVER SIN!! He has TOTALLY DEFEATED death and has DISARMED SATAN AND HIS COHORTS!!! Praise BE TO MY GOD!!!!! 

Don't you think that the day he was carrying his cross through the streets, even his followers, the ones who believed he was the Christ might have thought, "oh how embarrassing. Isn't there another way. Can't this be different" The truth is that yes, it could have been different. Christ did not have to die. He did not have to endure the insults and ridicule of the people in that day. But he knew the Roman law and understood what had to be done for US ALL!! Praise God that there was more to his plan that what the Jews could see on that day of his death. I'm so thankful that even though I don't know the whole story or what is coming next in my own life, that I know the One who does. He knows my next steps in this pilgrimage of life. He carries me one step at a time. And praise His Holy Name that I don't have to worry how it will all work out. He wrote the story, so let him play it out before me. 

Lord, please give me patience and a trust in you for your will and none other. Take away all other desires if they do not align with your will for my life. You know what you are doing and YOU are in control. Change my heart, Oh God. Amen.

Random Thursday

Today I'm sitting here with my coffee and waiting for my baby girl to wake up. We are making our weekly trek to the grocery store this afternoon. I never knew how difficult grocery shopping would be with a baby! :) Last time she screeched and proceeded to scream and cry in very dramatic fashion when I wouldn't let her hold the grocery list. I should tell you that I did let her hold the list and only after she had eaten half of it and the rest was a big wad of wet that I threw it away. And that is where I went wrong apparently :) Oh well! Sometimes shopping with her is better than others. She can now sit up in the little child seat in the cart (which she loves) but it makes my job harder! I would much prefer leaving her in the carseat and putting the car seat in the food part of the buggy. But she gets bored VERY quickly :)

Tonight is our MOPS meeting (Mothers of Preschoolers). They meet at our church. And I just l.o.v.e. it!! Last month I was so stressed out that particular day, but I went anyway. I honestly can't describe to you how wonderful it is to have a circle of friends standing around you, as you describe the day you just had, that understand EXACTLY what you just went through that day. I didn't have to explain or give much back story to anything, because they just got it! Many of these ladies I know from Sunday School or church already and they are very dear to me. I can't wait to go back tonight!

We are also dog sitting for a couple of days. Our friends had a death in their family. It was their grandfather who has been ill for a while. He had Alzheimer's and had been mentally gone for a long time, but it is still hard when someone you love leaves this life. Please pray for their family as they are away and for all the family as they grieve.

And if I haven't been random enough today-- here is a little scripture for your Thursday!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1a

Happy Thursday Everybody!

Dedication Day

This was such a special day! Hard to believe Rebecca Joy has more than doubled her age since this picture. Where has the time gone?

Bible Study

I started a new Bible study Wednesday night with my friend at her church. It is a Healing Class. I know I know... a healing class.. what in the world?!? I was a bit skeptical myself at first. But my friend has taken the class before and just loved it! Hearing her talk about it so much peaked my interest, and I asked if I could tag along this semester. 

The lady teaching the class has such an amazing testimony. She is very tender hearted and soft spoken. A great teacher!  And what I've already learned is that the Lord is not just in the business of healing people physically, but also mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, etc. We started Wednesday night with discussing the Word of God and how we view or receive the Word of God. I believe she is going to build on this greatly! How can we trust God to heal us of emotional wounds when we don't take him at his word and trust the things he has told us in his word? The truth is, we can't. 

I've asked God to reveal any and all areas of healing that I may need. Some I believe I may not even know about yet. One area I know I need healing and freedom from came to the surface just last night. And the moment it did, I knew God was bringing it to the surface because I need freedom from it. God knows what the areas are. My pray is that he would heal me of these areas and allow freedom in my life. I want my wounds to become scars. 

Gotta Start Sometime!

I've been putting off blogging for a while...but I feel like now is the time to start. Not that I have anything great or extraordinarily special to share, but I do believe that God gave me parts of my story to share with others. He didn't bring me through them to keep quiet. Instead, I believe I have a duty to share what all the Lord has done in my life so He will get all the praise, honor, and glory He deserves! 

Just a little about me-- I am a recent stay-at-home mommy to my beautiful 7 month old, Rebecca Joy. I quit my job 3 weeks ago to start staying at home with her. I just joined a MOPS group at my church and LOVE being with my family when I get to... they live about 1.5 hours away. I just started sewing bibs, burp cloths, and monogramming towels, etc. I'm hoping that will take off and become a small business on the side. That part is really fun and I'm really really enjoying sewing! I'm a Christian and love my church. No church is perfect and ours if far from that...but my husband and I have the absolute best, most compassionate, caring, giving, and selfless friends (from our Sunday school class) that we love dearly. They are like family to us since we don't have family in town. I married my high school sweetheart and we've been married 6 years in June. He is so kind, compassionate and super supportive of me. I love him so much! 

So that is probably more than you cared to hear on the first post...but I'm glad I finished it! More to come, hopefully soon! 

Test

Test!