Mistaking God's working

I am reading through Matthew right now as part of my time with God. I was reading Chapter 14 today and saw something new (to me) today:
  Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.  And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.   But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” .” Matthew 14:22-27

I was struck by verses 26 and 27 in a way I don't think I ever have been before.
The disciples were afraid because they mistook Jesus for a Ghost. I've glibly passed over this fact thinking how silly the disciples were and moving on the the later verses. But really, were they foolish? Or just human? What would I do in the same situation? 
How often do I not recognize Jesus and the work He is doing in my life, mistaking it for something else? How often do I respond by crying out in fear?
God is always at work in each of our lives.
He uses pain, suffering and storms for His own perfect plan.
May I see Him in all He is doing in our lives right now and in the future and take His hand in confidence instead of cringing in fear.

Some more saved gifts:
 3 gifts orange:
~Sunset
~Orange vanilla yogurt popsicle
~Cheese nips


3 gifts found in the dark:
~Trust in a Father who loves us more than we can ever know.
~A reminder from God's Word that He knows what we need before we ask Him.
~A reminder that His grace is sufficient.

A gift outside: summer breeze


A gift inside : clean drinking water (no small deal).


A gift upside down: My schedule-I get to stay home now!


3 gifts about your parents:
~Faithfulness in bringing me to church each week.
~Not having a television on all the time growing up.
~A love for God's Word.


3 gifts held in your hand today:
~CD of pictures of our baby girl.
~Tiny shoes for announcing it's a girl!
~Veggies prepared by a friend to get some healthy snacks in me!


3 gifts found in your mother:
~ A servant's heart.
~ Time given to us, her children.
~Example of making time with God a priority. 


A gift picked up:My friend's sweet girl.


A gift put away: Clean dishes.

A gift put back: Sweet maple syrup put back into the refrigerator after preparing my waffles.  

Abundant Grace

It's been a rough week. So many sinus headaches. Just not feeling well from my allergies. Emotions. I've been feeling like I was just hanging on as I got through my shifts at work.
It's so comforting to have God's Word right there every day no matter what is going on. Such comfort and strength. Such grace right when I need it.

When I thought, "My foot slips,"
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
Ps 94:18, 19

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

It's so comforting to know if I don't have something right now, I don't need it;
Or if I have things in my life, it's what's best for me.

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.

The Desires of your heart

(yes, I know, I've been pitiful in the upkeep or even true starting of this blog. I need to keep better priorities. I USED to blog all the time (*rip xanga*).)

Andrew and I had an amazing conversation the other night that has caused me to further think on a certain subject: God giving us the desires of our heart.
We all know the verse: Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
And likewise we've all been told, and maybe even half believed that when we truly delight in the Lord He will replace our desires with His and we will be truly content with that.
But, do we truly, deep down believe that loosing our desires will be a joyful thing or that He really will replace them? In a tiny corner I think that all of us REALLY just want Him to give us what we ask for , how we ask for it, and right away. We really are hoping, at least in a secret place that this verse really doesn't mean that we will have to change at all and that God really wants for us what we already want.

What triggered our conversation was the ending of our church's summer conference. It was just a time of refreshment and deep fellowship.
We (my husband and I) went out for something to eat and were talking about how completely we felt accepted, how overwhelming blessed we felt to be a part of that fellowship and how amazing it was that God had placed us there.

We talked of a plan that we had a couple of years ago. A plan that we, at the time, were so sure of. A plan that fell to pieces in our feeble hands and was a bit devastating.

But God is so much bigger than our tiny little plans.

Andrew repeated something he's said to me many times: how every time God has told him no, He has in His time given him (and now us) something so much better.

THAT is what this verse is about! It is one thing to "know" that and quite another to have God tangibly hand us this lesson.

There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that we are in the centre of His will and that He has given us something better. We belong here because He has placed us here.
Has it been easy to come here instead of Him handing us what we asked for then? Not in the least.
Has it been worth all the pain and heartache?
Absolutely!
Ephesians 1:11,12
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."