From "Jesus Calling" , by Sarah Young

December 4

MY THOUGHTS are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways and thoughts higher than yours. Remember who I AM when you spend time with Me. Marvel at the wonder of being able to commune with the King of the universe - any time, any place. Never take this amazing privilege for granted!

Though I am vastly higher and greater than you, I am training you to think My thoughts. As you spend time in My Presence, My thoughts gradually form in your mind. My Spirit is the Director of this process. Sometimes He brings Bible verses to mind. Sometimes He enables you to hear Me "speak" directly to you. These communications strengthen you and prepare you for whatever is before you on your life-path. Take time to listen to My voice. Through your sacrifice of precious time, I bless you far more than you dare to ask.

Col. 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

WHY WAIT???

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your way, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

The following is from my daily devotions from IN TOUCH by Charles Stanley...I thought it worth sharing...

On life's road, crucial decisions are like intersections that call for a choice of direction. If we barrel through without seeking the mind of Christ, the road we pick may lead to regret and heartache. Although the Lord is ready and willing to offer clear direction, He doesn't always give it quickly. Knowing that He has very good reasons for withholding immediate instruction can help us wait patiently at the intersection for His guidance.
At times God leaves us in our confusion because He wants to get our attention. When everything is running smoothly, we tend to forget the Lord. But uncertainty draws us back to Him like a magnet. by aligning our steps with His and walking in submission to the Spirit, we open our ears to hear His voice.
Our waiting time is God's preparation time. In bringing about His sovereign purposes, He may put us on hold while He coordinates events to line up with His will. Sometimes the Lord has work to accomplish in us before we are ready to handle what He has planned for our future. If we instantly received His direction, we would never grow in faith. Spiritual maturity is evidenced in the ability to wait in peaceful confidence, trusting that in His time, we will know what to do.

If impatience tempts you to jump ahead of God's timing at a crossroad of decision, you risk stepping out of His will and missing the blessings. But by waiting until He gives clear direction, you will walk in His peace with certainty, instead of stumbling around in anxiety and confusion.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You hold my life in Your capable and loving Hands. Help me to grow in patience and trust in You as I wait at the crossroads to hear from You. In Your Precious name, I pray. Amen

LOVE IS....

LOVE is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not selfish, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. LOVE does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE never fails. 1Cor.13:6-8



Regardless of how hard one strives to love unconditionally, it is impossible. LOVE IS GOD, and God is the ONLY ONE capable of loving perfectly. He lives in us, and by His Spirit that fills us with His power and grace, we are called to love one another as perfectly as humanly possible. Unfortunately, we all fall short in one way or another, both knowingly and unknowingly, at times. And so we are to choose forgiveness. Both asking for it from someone we've wronged, and offering it to those who hurt us, no matter how deeply or how often. No matter the offense.



I think of the mercies He's shown me and how He makes Himself known to me. He is worthy of all He asks of me, and MORE. He knows my heart;, why it hurts, and He knows that I have hurt others; and still He loves and forgives me. I am humbled when I can look past my circumstances and see HIM...His handing reaching out for mine, waiting to draw me closer to Him, in childlike faithfulness.



He holds each tear I've cried in His hands, and He knows what each one has been shed for. There has never been a greater LOVE, and there will NEVER be a greater ONE than His Son. There should never be a greater reason for wanting to reach out and love as when I trust in Him, even when the pain seems unbearable...because it's not about me...it's about HIM!



Heavenly Father, You never let go, help me to be a light for You, even when the way, at times, seems so dark and I don't understand. Enable me to offer the same grace and forgiveness as You show me. Amen.

Color Change

Went to South Haven on a long awaited road trip with my friend Jan. We visited a really cute shop that's walls were the same color of yellow as my siding. They had the trim painted in the "watermelon" colors and it was so bright and cheery, just knew I needed to make a trip to Menards!!

I'm Still Yours

This coming Sunday, Aug. 8, I am being baptized! Words cannot express what this means to me personally. It has been said that the sacrament of BAPTISM is like a wedding ring - an outward symbol of the committment to Christ you have in your heart. Ironically, when listening to the radio this morning, I was reminded that our salvation and desire to follow Him doesn't come from our own desire to follow Christ; but from being born of HIM! His Holy Spirit living in me is the reason I have surrendered my life to Him! He has called me, EVEN me! I heard His still, small voice and answered...thank You, Jesus, for your unfailing, unconditional love for me.

I don't believe in coincidences, but as my friend Lisa calls them, "God-incidences". I would like to share with you the significance of this day.

The church that I have recently been worshipping at, Central Wesleyan, holds adult baptism services just once every summer. It is a full immersion baptism, in the pond behind the church. Before I knew of the date, I had already made the decision to be baptized, so this God-incidence, for me, is mindboggling. August 8 was my and Steve's wedding anniversary. Not only that, our former pastor, Kevin Harney, both of Corinth and Central, who had moved to CA last January, will be visiting and preaching at our church this day!

While my heart breaks that our marriage ended in divorce, a marriage that blessed us with the loves of my life, Ashley and Tyler, I am in awe that Jesus has chosen this date to signify the redeeming and healing work that He has done in my life. I now choose Him, and only Him, to spend eternity with.

There is a song, by Kutless, whose lyrics speak of the testimony that I will give the day of my baptism. I would like to share them with you. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your sacrifice on my behalf. I pray my life will be a living testimony of Your great love for me. Amen.

I'M STILL YOURS

If You washed away my vanity
If you took away my words
If all my world was swept away
Would You be enough for me?
Would my beating heart still sing?

If I lost it all
Would my hands stay lifted
To the God who gives and takes away
If You take it all
This life You've given
Still my heart will sing to You

When my life is not what I expected
The plans I made have failed
When there's nothing left to steal me away
Will You be enough for me?
Will my broken heart still sing?

Chorus

Even if You take it all away
You'll never let me go
You take it all away
But I still know
That I'm Yours
That I'm Still Yours
I'm Still Yours

Lucy’s Blog Pt. 5 – How to Love and be Loved

Lucy’s Blog Pt. 5 – How to Love and be Loved

BEACH > THIS WAY!!

Just a few more finishing touches and, mostly decorative, and the project will be finished! But it's definitely time to be put to use!! It was a lot of fun and I hope to have lots of beach bums coming to visit!! The BEACH sign was made by my neighbor Katie! She just graduated from Holland High and this was a project from her art class that she offered to give to me! It's just perfect!

A Little Piece of Ludington

I've finally discovered my hidden treasure! When Tyler, the name of the "sandman", delivered my "beach", he informed me that the sand was from a dune that he owns up in Ludington!! I was so geeked!! I have so many amazing memories from there when I was growing up; and now I have a little tangible piece in my own backyard that will be a reminder everytime I look out the window!! Now comes the "fun" part of filling in where the sod once was!!

I was able to get a little bit shoveled before I left for work tonight, and then worked on it again when I got home, by "security light"!! It's a slower process than I expected but it will definitely be worth it!!
So please stop by, everyone, anytime, and spend a little time in Ludington!! lol I have lots of landscaping/decorating ideas yet that I want to add, like an old wood dock for sunbathing, beach grass to line the fence with, and some other surprises that you'll just have to stop by to see!!! I should have the sand all in place by Sunday, hopefully!!! I'm so glad the weather is cooperating!! What a blessing indeed!! Have a Happy 4th!! Thank you to all who serve and protect our freedom, and a special thank you to the ones I am so privileged to know; Carolynn Czepiga, Scott Johnson, John Wilson, and Karl Palmberg; the friends I met from AZ that went to Ghana with us!! God Bless you all!

Just Beachy!!

There's been a little bit of a delay in the Beach construction project! I had a house full of guests this past week; my dad came up from SC, and Tyler, Kelly and Michael were all here! It was nice having a full house again...it sure is quiet now though! (Except for the fire crackers going off non-stop!)

As I continued digging up the sod, I discovered yet another treasure! This time, not a bottle, but a silver spoon! I'm thinking, just one step closer to that hidden treasure that's waiting for me!!

This excavating by hand is definitely hard work but well worth the muscles that I'm developing in my arms and abs!! I even beat Ashley at arm wrestling! There are pics to prove it, but, well, I'm a nice mom and I wouldn't want to embarrass her too badly!!! Boosted my ego a little, I must admit though! lol

The day before yesterday, when I saw the forecast for the 4th of July I just had to get this project moving!! What a great way to spend the weekend---at my very own backyard beach!! So I called the number I had from Craig's List for the beach sand and scheduled a delivery date! That'll get me motivated!!! It was to be delivered the next day! Time to get moving!!

BEACH CONSTRUCTION - Day 2

SONS are wonderful!!! Especially when they surprise you! I came home from work at 1:30 this morning to a much bigger pile of sod!!! Which could only mean one thing!!! Someone's been digging in my yard and it wasn't me!!! lol

And the neighbor is going to fix the tire on my wheelbarrow so we seeing great progress!!

BEACH CONSTRUCTION -Day 1

Day 1 - Began removing the sod today! It's taking a little longer than planned as the wheelbarrow decided to get a flat tire, hence, the pile of dirt you see! At first I was really frustrated, not only did I think I would have to go get the tire repaired, but then there would be the added work of shoveling the dirt back into the wheelbarrow to be moved to the appropriate spot! Ughhh! Then, I had a revelation!! The back part of my yard is sloped slightly so that when it rains, my yard fills with water all the way to the clothesline pole that you see in the center of the yard. So, landscaping expert that I am, had been wondering where I could get some fill dirt, for free, of course, (who wants to pay for dirt, right? Beach sand is different, justifably so!) And now, that "thorn" of a wheelbarrow, provided me with the idea of raking the dirt into the back part of the yard, thus preventing the flooding!! While I will still have some unintended extra work to do, it will be serving a great purpose!! It's all in one's perspective!!

The weather has been cooperating perfectly too! It rains, the ground is soft and easier to dig up and the temps are cool! God is good all the time!!

I even uncovered a "treasure", of sorts, while I was digging! It's a really neat looking bottle to add to my collection of others! Perhaps, as I continue to create my "little island in the city" (hee hee!) I will come across a real buried treasure!! It can't hurt to dream! It's quite possible that a rich dutchman, from long ago, buried a bag of gold coins in a pair of wooden shoes in my backyard and forgot to take them with him when he left! Anything's possible!

Coffee Pops!!!

Mmmmmmm.....Coffee!! One of my favorite things!! Hot, cold, frozen, flavored, coffee-flavored ice cream, candy, so.....why not "gourmet" coffee pops!!

Since I absolutely love the "new" Caramel Frappes at McDonald's, I decided that would be my first "recipe"!! A little sugar, a little cream, a fair amount of caramel syrup, STIR, and pour into the my old Tupperware popcicle molds!! Ta Da!!! Coffee pops!!!

Just think of the different variations that are possible??!!! ENJOY!!

Dusting and Dumping

Dusting and dumping, in a nutshell, describes my second job...I am cleaning offices for a corporate office in Holland. I've been there since March and this will also be my full-time summer job! I wouldn't recommend working 70-75 hours a week, but I couldn't risk being without employment during the summer months! So, as exhausting as it is, I am counting my blessings and am very thankful that God has provided, yet again!!

Besides the incredible amount of fun that dusting offices, window sills, can lighting, and dumping approx. 3oo trash buckets nightly (well, we alternate jobs every other night), the downside is that it gives a person way too much time to think!!

In March, I started out great! Great attitude, life was going smoothly, and I was using my "alone time", as I worked, to pray for family and friends while I cleaned!! It was awesome! But as exhaustion sets in, so does negativity and resentment! Satan is really good at getting us when we're weak.

My "prayer time" has done a complete "360", and instead of praising and thanking God for all His blessings and interceding for family and friends, I began throwing myself the biggest pity party you've ever been invited to!! Blame, criticism, and synicism have crept in and for about the past 3 weeks I've gone from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other; sometimes all in one night!! I find myself resentful, sad, angry, happy, excited, lonely, and wondering what on earth is wrong with me?!! Am I becoming premenopausal (that sounds like fun!!) or am I just plain exhausted, emotionally and physically? One minute I'm in the valley, the next on the mountaintop! Or have I fallen into the trap that Satan has set for me in this time of weakness?

This is not at all what God wants for His children. He commands us to be content "whatever the circumstances"! Thankfully, He is a loving God, and He does understand what I'm going through.

I asked God to help me get control of my emotions and to help me stay focused on His promises and the many blessings He lavishes on me each and everyday.

My devotions this morning said, "God's standard is to live moment by moment victory!" Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". 1 Cor.15:57

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us." Romans 8:37

I cannot have this victorious life in my own strength. The secret of living victoriously is in the power of the victory provided by Christ. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1John 5:4

It is time to quit fighting my battle with worry, stress, self-pity and criticism! It is time to dust off the dirt and dump the garbage of this sin in my life with the rest of the trash!! Time to commit my failures and defeats to Him, who is Christ, my Lord, and allow Him to claim the victory that is HIS!!!

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." 2 Cor. 2:14

Thank you, Father, that your mercies are new every morning! I am in desperate need of your mercy and grace right now. I praise and thank you that you hear me and know exactly what I need, even before I ask. In Jesus' precious and holy Name I pray, Amen.

Without A Doubt

There's nothing more thrilling than waking up in the morning with a cup of steaming hot coffee and then, before you begin your morning devotions, you ask God to show you "what is it Lord that you want me to know today, or learn today? Please open my heart and mind so I can hear You", AND HE DOES!!! Only not half-way into it, but the minute you thumb through the pages of your Bible and you stop on a page that HE UNDOUBTEDLY turned you too!!

Yesterday, as a lot of you know, was my birthday! Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful birthday wishes! But, yesterday was also the birthdate of two special boys that we met at the school in Kanuwloe, Ghana; their names are Ebenezer and Wisdom.

One day, toward the end of our time with kids, we decided to have them make prayer cards where they would write their names and birthdates on one side, and the verse from Eph. 1:16. I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, on the other. We wanted the kids to know that even though we would be thousands of miles away, we would not forget them or stop praying for them. Then, we took their pictures, with them holding their prayer cards, so we could have a face to put with a name when we returned home. For me, this was so important. I didn't want them to become just a sea of faces in my memory as time passed.

Anyway, back to my prayer!! When I opened my Bible, the page that I opened to (I have a devotional Bible) was a devotional page entitled "A Stone Called Ebenezer"!! I believe God was reminding me of Ebenezer and Wisdom, and that it was their birthday too, and not to forget to pray for them!! What a great gift! But it gets better!!!

Some of you know the financial indebtedness I am currently faced with and in light of that I have been clinging to the knowledge that God is my ultimate Provider and not to worry. I have been holding tight to His promises, and one verse in particular, from Phil.4:19 "And God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus". (I even have it taped to my bathroom mirror) So, as I continue on with my devotions, what do suppose it says??!!! Allow me to quote it to you....After the Israelites had defeated the Philistines, they planted a stone and called it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." As we look into the unknown future, with no clear path before us, we may become fearful. But God has provided for our future. Paul wrote, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

I pray you can see, as God was showing me, how present He is in our lives! And how, when we spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word, He truly does speak to us!! We only need to take the time to listen in the busyness of our lives. For we are not alone in this world, God is there every step of the way, He even goes before us, so why wouldn't we want to follow Him, with the knowledge that He will take care of EVERYTHING!! Even the seemingly impossible!

Sometimes He takes us out of the situations, problems or needs; other times He takes us through them. Regardless of the way He works in our lives, we can trust Him as our ever-present guide for today!

Thank You, Father, for loving me and taking care of me, and most especially for showing me that You are right beside me, WITHOUT A DOUBT!! Amen!

Amazing Grace

For me, one of the most difficult things to accept is the gift of grace, or any gift that is given out of love and concern, rather than a date on the calendar. Perhaps because it's unexpected, or perhaps because I have never felt adequate or worthy of receiving such gifts.

Given the circumstances I have been living with, and desperately trusting God to get me through, I find myself clinging to the verse, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19 It gives me hope and peace when I am able to lean on Him in all things, knowing that in my own strength and resources I am helpless to accomplish all that is before me.

I find myself daily being uplifted by family and friends, offering wise counsel that had never crossed my mind, as well as encouragement. (thought I had it all figured out by myself! lol) But when a dear friend said to me, "nothing in our lives is wasted...not our mistakes, nor our struggles", it became crystal clear that God was speaking to me through her words. "Laurie, I know what you're going through, just trust Me." I felt such relief! Yes, I am going to mess up, yes, I am going to make bad decisions sometimes, but God is always going to be there to pick me up and put me back on the right path, showing me through His Word, or through His people.

And speaking of His people...I have also learned in the past week that we never know who these people will be! That is the Amazing Grace I am speaking of! In the past 7 days I have been shown indescribable grace from people I am merely acquaintances with. They are the hands and feet of Jesus and I wish I could find words to adequately express the deep appreciation for the kindnesses they have shown me. This side of heaven, there are none; only the ache in my heart that comes from the joy of knowing Jesus is showing me His glorious riches. I pray He will allow me ample opportunity to show the same compassion to others, so that they may experience the great depth of His love.

True Blessings

"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:3

This past Saturday, April 24, 2010, I met with a friend who gave me this passage after we had spoken of all that has gone on in my life for the past couple of years. He reminded me that even when we are in the darkest places, God has treasures stored up for those who are obedient to Him. And through our suffering, there is hope, and blessing when we trust in the Almighty.

That same afternoon was the day I decided I would give this blogsite deal a try! It was challenging as I contemplated the name for my site. What did I want the title to reveal to those who logged in, and at the same time, express a little about who I am and what's important to me?

While in light of eternity, our homes are only temporary, I am blessed to have a safe, cozy place of respite. I thank God for providing me with my home, and though it does get lonely at times, I know that I am truly never alone. My best friend, my Abba, is here with me. He never wearies of spending time with me, I can talk to Him about anything, anytime, and He always listens. I feel His presence and experience His peace every night knowing He stays awake all night watching over me and my loved ones.

He has blessed me with godly neighbors and new acquaintances that I have a feeling will become lifetime friends. And my most faithful friends have never left my side. They call me weekly just to say "Hi", they pray for me and make time for me even with their busy, family schedules. I am truly blessed.

So, today, I was wondering....knowing that it should be coming up soon...when it will be a year that I closed on this place I call home now, and guess what??! It was April 24, 2009. Our God is amazing! And he has a great sense of humor and what I love best is when He does things like that!! There's not a minute in my day, or a day on my calendar He's not mindful of!!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving Your life for mine. I don't deserve Your mercy, I don't deserve Your grace, yet You love me inspite. My hope and my faith is in You, dear Lord. I love You<3 Thank You for all the many blessings you shower on me each and every day...

Cousins!!

The internet can be such an amazing tool!! I have just reconnected with my cousins from Montana who I have seen or spoken to since I was a senior in high school! I will not mention how many years that has been! Suffice it to say, it's been a while!!

I'm thinking we need to have a real reunion someday soon!! I vote for somewhere warm!! Perhaps...Phoenix in November??? Auntie Me?!! Let's figure this out everyone!! I have a hidden agenda! lol

And Mom, time to start sifting through the boxes of old pics so I can post "the cousins" on here!!! Woo! Hoo! Good times!

Thank You, Father, for family, friends, and for bringing us together again!
Love, Laurie

I love looking at my friends blogs!! They keep me updated on your lives and help me to know how to pray for each of you! Others give me inspiration and hope, while still others give me a good dose of laughter for the day!!

So I thought it would be fun to create one myself! I don't really have an agenda of what to write about, but I am praying the Lord will lead me as I enter into this new realm of technology which I'm sure will become abundantly clear to all of you that I am pretty clueless about! Thankfully, my son, Tyler, will be home from college soon and will be able to navigate me through, and show me how to make this a very interesting and fun place to visit!

In the meantime, I'll ask you to be patient as I try and figure out how all this works!! Hey! I figured out how to post a pic! So that's encouraging!!!


Have a blessed Lord's Day!!
Laurie