Gratitude Challenge

In the spirit of this month's Ice Bucket Challenge (fundraiser for ALS - August 2014), I was also challenged to post 3 things for  5 days for which I'm grateful.

I'm going to do it all at once in the order I think of them:

1.  My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - I can't imagine life without His redemption, companionship, encouragement

2.  My husband Fred - 30 years we celebrate in December of this year.  We've endured a lot, learned a lot, enjoyed a lot, dreamed a lot and anticipated a lot.  A lot is still to come :-)

3.  My three kids - I've learned so much from them!  Patience is the first thing I think of and unconditional love is the second.

4.  The little people in my life!  12 youngsters call me Auntie Karla and 1 little one calls me Gamma and it brings me joy!

5.  My Creative Memories business.  From 1999-2013 it provided me so much!  Completed albums, lifelong relationships, opportunity to learn and grow and experience many things and places!

6.  My Wenatchee friends  - I lived there a long time. So much water under the bridge.  I miss you!

7.  New friends - it takes time and effort but the Lord is providing the opportunity.

8.  My siblings and their spouses - the connection runs deep

9.  My adult nieces, nephews and cousins.  Family is the best!  My heart and soul are invested in each one.

10.  The opportunity to spend time with the girls and fellow teachers in our children's church program.  They make me smile, laugh and remember how simple the good news of Jesus really is!!

11.  Reading.  I love the chance to enjoy a good book with a cup of coffee.  I'm thoroughly enjoying the AD Chronicles by the Thoene's.

12.  Making things with my hands.  In the kitchen and my craft room.  I'm not the best but I can get it done and I enjoy the process as much as the end result.

13.  Life's challenges.  It makes me lean harder on my Creator, Sustainer, Faithful Savior.

14.  Prayer - it blesses my soul and gives me an avenue to help others.

15.  All the other joys and blessings that my life and each day brings my way that I didn't think to include.

Run With Perseverance

These verses have been my steady friend this summer!!  I was reminded of them during our "Restless" book study and have continued to use them for prayer requests and a reminder of how to live the Christian walk.  The part that came clear to me is that there is a "race marked out for me", a "race marked out for you" that God has planned for you and me to run, with perseverance, with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

No Greater Joy

3John 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

John’s greatest joy was to hear of the faithfulness of his spiritual children. Even when life brought many challenges and difficulties, he knew what was the most important thing in life. He had been raising spiritual children for most of his life and they were what brought him joy.

I heard a new friend say last night, "my one regret in life is that I did not stay in the church during all my child-rearing years."  

Our God-given mission: know Jesus and make Him known 

Overcoming.....

Does doubt ever creep in and cripple you?

Do past failures keep you from true intimacy in relationship?

Recently, I've been struggling with an issue from our past.  To overcome I'm practicing something I learned years ago and finding victory in an ancient truth.  Jesus found the same victory in Matthew 4 when the tempter came to Him.  He quoted Scripture, Truth, God's Words and the devil had to leave.

Peter tells us this is I Peter 5:9, "Resist your enemy the devil, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering." 

The way I'm tempted is the same as others and the Lord's way out is to quote Scripture - speak God's Truth on the issue.  Paul counseled the Corinthians to do this in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

SO, TODAY, I CLAIM GOD'S TRUTH from I Corinthians 13......

"Love always trusts,  love always perseveres, love always endures, it keeps no record of wrongs."

Thank you Lord for victory!!

Expectations

Mine are unrealistic, burdensome, crippling for others, myself and relationships. 

Lord, help me to find in your Word the truth I need to remove, curb, redeem my expectations. 

My Uncle Dale Galloway, author and pastor gave me this quote, "The seed of discontent is found in expectations."

I'm Letting Go....

For 25 years I have held onto the belief that God did not cause my brother's drowning.  I have dug my heels in and resisted any study, reading, teaching that might suggest otherwise.

In a current book study, "Restless", by Jennie Allen, the story of Joseph is highlighted.  A particular portion of his story that I can't let go is in Genesis 50: 19-21.  "But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don't be afraid.  I will provide for you and your children.  And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." (For the story of his brothers harm see his whole story starting in Genesis 36.)

God intended the pain in Joseph's life for the saving of many lives.  Joseph believed that God had caused the pain.

"Lord, today, I trust that you caused the pain in my life for the saving of mine and many other lives.  I'm willing to LAY DOWN my 25 yr. old, firmly held, anchored belief that you DID NOT cause my brother's drowning.  Instead, I trust you.  I trust your omniscience.  I trust your omnipotence.  I trust your omnipresence and I trust your sovereignty.

Thank you for your patience with me -- your persistence in gracefully bringing me to this day and your tenacity in never leaving me alone but instead teaching me to know, trust and love you more.

My restless soul finds rest in you."

So stinkin' cute!!

Look at her!! Can you believe it? Don't you want some of this? I am so privileged, excited and thrilled to be a Gamma!!  Three weeks old in this photo.

 

Ember Sue White born June 8, 4:06am. I was also privileged to be present for labor and delivery. That was an experience beyond description. I totally enjoyed it. She was 7 lbs 10 oz and 20" long. Papa was on hand for the official measurement.