Seeking His Presence

**This is just a quick post on a couple songs that I listened to this morning...**

A friend of mine posted a song on Facebook that got my heart stirring and reaching for the awesomeness of God.

1. It is not just any song. 2. It is most definitely a song that brings true light to what it means to truly seek after Jesus.

He can only be found when sought after. I have lived a life for many years without Him. I know what it feels like to feel like there is no hope, no love, depression, a happiness that comes and goes. BUT, I have also lived and am living a life that knows what it is like to seek after God, who is absolutely REAL in every sense of that word! There's hope, peace, love, joy, friendship, promises, comfort, blessings, SALVATION, victory over your circumstances, and so much more...

                                                                Sung by Kari Jobe
Deuteronomy 4:29 -- "But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul."

I truly desire to live a life that does not just call upon Jesus' Name in troubles, but to call upon Him ALL the time, every day!

Romans 3:21-25 -- "²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins."

I am human and make mistakes, every day ... this is why I KNOW I NEED HIM continuously to be present in my life! 

                                                           Sung By Kari Jobe

Bless the LORD oh my soul ...

This past week has been extremely trying. From kids' bickering, to situations in my friends and families' lives, to missing my dear husband something fierce --- I'd LOVE to just rewrite this past week. But, I can't and so God has seen all of my fails, struggles, tears, pains, and even smiles. He knows exactly what I need and has been patient and here with me through it all. What better way to get the necessary goodness than through prayer and from reading God's Word!!

The scripture passage that I read today was from Psalm 103 (in English Standard Version). The whole passage is awesome, but here are a few of the Scriptures that stuck out to me and I'll note next to them why: 
 
Psalm 103:1 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" *I should be praising the LORD with EVERYTHING that is within my being -- no matter what is going on around me. Period. There is no middle.  It's black or it's white -- not grey.

Psalm 103:8 "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Soo thankful that I serve a God who is patient, though, because sometimes I fall into those grey areas ... *admittedly*
 
Psalm 103:11 "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him." Jesus' LOVE is unfailing. It's strong. Always there. Never gives up. Goes on forever!

Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." SUPER thankful that He does not hold my sins against me. Nor does He dig them up to hold them over me. In prayer I say I'm sorry, repent and ask for forgiveness. He forgives and casts my sins so far from me. I would be lost, literally, without God's Word. It is full of goodness and love and correction!

What is your  current favorite Scripture passage? Do you have an all time favorite that you wouldn't mind sharing?

This.Too.Shall.Pass.

My heart rejoices at the fact that I serve a God who loves me. Who will never leave me, nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 4:31). He is always here in my times of trial and need, and during those high roads, too. And through it all, I praise Him. How can I not?! Jesus has given me more than what any person has ever done. In Him, I have fullness of life, joy, love, peace, blessings, and most importantly -- SALVATION, and so much more!!

Song by Hillsong

Aside from my trials, it breaks my heart to see my very dear friends going through some major trials. At the same time, we know that the testing of our faith produces patiences (James 1:3). I rejoice with them because they know they can see that light at the end of the tunnel. How long is the tunnel, exactly? Only God knows.

Sometimes I think our vision gets a little blurred and it may seem like that tunnel is MANY miles long. Jesus has given us promise, after promise, after promise. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all" Psalm 34:19 (NKJV).

                         

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Believe me when I say that I have had too many tunnels that I have been in that seem to be too long. However, I can either 1. Sit in that tunnel and boo-hoo all day and night long; which will make the "tunnel time" even longer. 2. Look forward to what God has promised at the end of the tunnel. What happens when the sun comes out after a thunderstorm or a rain shower? A rainbow appears. It's beauty gives light (literally) to what just seemed like a dark and dreary moment. And that is exactly what it is ... a moment.

Regardless of my circumstances, I will praise Him! Regardless what my sweet friends are going through, I will praise Him. For our afflictions are but for a moment. We will come out of the fire looking like a beautiful diamond!

Much prayers (and tears) for you (they know who they are).

Skype Hugs. Skype Kisses.

Last night, my honey opened two of his care packages while we were on Skype. The first care package was all mission minded; while the second care package was more like a box filled with birthday goodies! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing him smile ... and the birthday box was a complete surprise (even though he knew he was getting it, he did not know what was in it). By the smile on his face, I think we did good ... which makes me smile! :-)

Today, we inch one more day closer to him coming home. Today, my honey and I put another Skype chat under us ... to inch closer to the next Skype call. Oh how I  miss him sooo much!! Even saying those words does no justice to how my heart feels without my best friend, the love of my life being here with me. The greatest father (in my opinion) to wrestle with the kids and to play games with them and to kiss and hug them goodnight -- we miss those little things, that seem so monotonous to so some, so much!

Do not take for granted the simple things in life. Like having your husband wrap his arms around you for no reason. Like having him kiss you goodnight and good morning. Or whisper in your ear how much he loves you. There may come a day when you have to go without that ... even if it is just for one day. Try months at a time. It hurts.

Enough with the sad part of this post ... because in all actuality, this deployment has caused an enormous excitement build up for reunion. THAT is a sweet thing! Plus, JESUS has been the keeper of my heart and the uplifter of my spirit this whole time.

Psalm 16:8-11 (ESV)

⁸I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
¹¹You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I love the conversations my honey and I are able to have. Extremely grateful for those times. In all seriousness, deployments really do make the heart grow fonder. NOT that I enjoy being separated from my husband, but the simple fact that there are times when we do take things for granted that one another does. We may say the 'thank yous' but not fully understand or realize how much the other person really does.

After this morning's Skype chat (before my honey went off to work), I cried a little. I really, REALLY miss my honey's kisses and hugs. You have NO. IDEA. how long I am going to wrap my arms around him and hug on him when we see each other for the first time in months! He has been forewarned. Haha. 

I miss his hugs and kisses greatly. I smile every time we are on Skype and we tell each other how much we love one another and put up those little emoticons to show our expression. I love that! It does not replace the real thing; but, for now at least, it will have to do.

**I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HONEY ~ TO THE MOON & BACK ALWAYS ~ XOXO**

Marriage. AT&T commercial has it wrong.

Okay, so I had to post this commercial to let y'all know how I feel....

Every time I see this commercial - it makes me cringe. This wife doesn't even take the time to see the excitement on her husband's face; nor, does she take the time to listen to what he just did FOR the family!! If there is ever a commercial that has irritated me so bad, this is the one!! It's not even funny!

So, wives (and husbands) take the time to listen to each other. Sometimes it REALLY IS necessary to keep our mouths closed and listen and see how the other one feels and/or what she/he has to say!!

One more thing:

My favorite passage of scripture for marriage. Seriously, if you can work this through your marriage, with God's help, your marriage will certainly be blessed!! One day I'll post God's testimony on our marriage. He literally brought us up out of shambles ... and has blessed our marriage to what it is today!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!

Ephesians 5:22-33 (NKJV)

Marriage—Christ and the Church

 ²² Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body,^[a] of His flesh and of His bones. ³¹ “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”^{[b] 32} This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

 

³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Roller Coasters

Have you ever been on a roller coaster? Been through the jolts of every twist, turn, and loop and screamed because of either the excitement or because it actually scared you? I have. It has literally been about 15 years since the last time I was on a roller coaster, but I still remember the feelings. I liked riding roller coasters back then for the pure rush and excitement of the unexpected.

Life is like a roller coaster. There will be twists and turns and loops. There is no doubt that there will jolts of excitement, frustration, sadness, anxiety. This roller coaster of life will bring about its own roller coaster of emotions. We never know what lies ahead in life; nor, do we know what lies around tomorrow's corner.

This past week has had way too many ups and downs, extreme highs and extreme lows. But you know what? The God I serve -- Creator of all the universe -- the Savior of my life -- Jesus ... has been with me the whole time. I have held onto His hand even tighter this week and even tighter at times and have felt so much of Him comforting me. There is NO WAY I could go through this deployment without Jesus in my life. It won't always be easy, and sometimes I may feel anxiety -- especially while I'm waiting for a phone call or message from my dear honey; but, His (God's) promises are what I hold onto.

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved" Psalm 55:22 NKJV. 

Kiddie Conversations

There is no doubt that all of us parents have over heard our children talking with each other or with other children. And there's no doubt that some of those conversations make us laugh. Our boys had one of those "funny" conversations today.

Corey to Andrew: That cloud looks like a turtle.

Andrew to Corey: You look like a turtle.

Corey to Andrew: Well you look like a girdle.

*At this very comment I seriously burst into laughter (on the inside because I didn't want to interrupt their conversation). I knew that Corey had no idea what this meant, and was sure Andrew didn't either. Plus, I knew Corey was only rhyming a word to turtle, and girdle seemed like the perfect word ... evidently! HAHA. :)

conversation continues ....

Andrew to Corey: You don't even know what a girdle is.

Corey to Andrew: SooOOO ... you don't either.

*Now I couldn't contain the laughter at all. I asked Andrew if he knew what a girdle is and he said no. So after I told him (and Mariah and Corey were listening) ... we all laughed for the longest time!!*