Abundant joy

A hard gift we received today: My husband had his phone consult with the specialist he saw in Toronto. In a nut shell some severe things are wrong, it's going to cost a lot of money and he's going to have to travel a lot. We are praying for wisdom. I'm also praying for provision and rest. I know He has been faithful in the past. I know He will continue to be so.
I'm struggling with it right now though. Thinking about having a baby and money. Silly I know, but where I am right now.

Really trying to get back into building my habit of thankfulness:

One grace wrinkled: my cardigan.
One grace smoothed: The covers on our comfy bed.
One grace unfolded: Table clothes on Easter tables.

A gift sweet: Treats made by a manager at work for the staff.

A gift salty: Sub at lunch (chicken teriyaki mmm!).
A gift just right: Coming home to dinner made-and it was a treat!

3 gifts found in His Word:
1 Peter 3:9 : Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Psalm 57:2 :  I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

Psalm 56:8  You have kept count of my tossings;
     put my tears in your bottle.
     Are they not in your book?

3 gifts found in Women today:
A-- our assistant manager, always such a servant to both us and customers.
K-- such a hard worker and she helped a newer hire a LOT this afternoon. 
L--A supervisor, who was flexible with her work schedule in order to serve the store and help it run well. (I work with some good ones :) ) 


One grace borrowed:A book on how my baby is growing!
One grace found: My page in my books (getting back to reading).
One grace inherited: a heritage of faith.

Resting is hard work

I've been having conversations with others and God on this subject.
Resting and trusting are so hard to do! I don't know about you, but to me, when I think of resting I think of the end of my work day getting to sit down, or a lovely day off like today when I get to spend time with a friend going to the farmers Market.
But, that is not the picture I get when I read the instructions on resting in the Lord:

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you
~Psalm 116:7

David tells his soul (his mind, his will, his emotions) to rest in the Lord. It's a decision. He chooses to rest. He also reminds himself of how God has dealt bountifully with him to get him where he needs to be.
Jeremiah 6:16 also says:
Thus says the LORD:

“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

There is rest in following His Word.

For me this is a constant battle. I am very grateful He is on my side!

Do you really?

Something I have thought about in the past is how God takes us through things, stretches us and brings us one step at a time through learning something. He doesn't whack us over the head, asking us why we don't get it yet. He gently and lovingly teaches us.

If you asked me last month even if I would be alright with having absolutely no idea what was next, including a job for my husband, I probably would have been more than a little hesitant.
If you had asked me that five years ago I really would not have been alright with it.
When my husband even shared with me a couple of days ago how he was feeling about a job prospect, I felt leery.

But, do I really take God at His Word, or do I only believe it when my plans are in place and my ducks are in a row?
We are memorizing Psalm 34 together right now (although he has been more diligent in this than I, I have to admit).

When I read and say I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (vs 1) are those just empty words, or will I live them?

Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (vs 9-10)

These are verses that I and we have come to live by. They are not just pretty poetry that bring a flutter or a thrill to the heart. They are unchanging truths. If I don't have something, it's not good for me. So what I have is good and is from the Lord.
He's brought me and us through a lot for me to be in the place where I can say this from my heart.
To be honest with you, I don't fully understand this peace. But I believe it comes from knowing we are following God's will for us and knowing He will continue to take care of us no matter what.

Because as I told someone dear to me a little while ago, yes, I believe He can be trusted no matter what and will never let me down.