Thank you God

A couple days ago, I was blessed to babysit a family that I teach Piano to, as well as babysit. I told the girls to go get ready for bed, while I finished the dishes. So, without another word, they went up to do everything that needed to be done. After I read them a night time book, the girls asked if I would start off praying before they did. I was very blessed to find a Christian household who finds prayer so important. One of the girls, Maddy, whom is 5 prayed a beautiful prayer. All she said was, “Dear God, thank you for Miss Caitlin coming over to babysit us, thank you for the day we had, thank you for my grandma, thank you for… ----.” I smiled when she finished, because I realized that we don’t thank God enough even for the little things. Maddy was thanking God for the small things like her neighbors and grandma. How much does God ask of us?

     Going home that night I realized that I needed to thank God over the little things in life too. Don’t just thank God for Family and friends, but thank Him for the butterfly that made the little boy laugh earlier that week, or thank Him for the nice Sunny days that you can spend a day at the park with your family and/or friends.

We don't thank God enough these days.
I found this poem online, and I thought it fit perfectly. Enjoy!

Thank you God for towering pines.

Thank you God for clear, blue skies and the buzzing of Dragon flies.

Thank you God for all of nature,

Clean Air, puffy clouds,

Enough rain to guarantee a fruitful bounty.

Thank you God, that we live in this nation on earth.

Most of us realize , we hit the jackpot at birth.

Thank you God for caring neighbors, kind neighbors, friendly neighbors.

Neighbors who value nature and quiet.

And the peace filled in an acre of land,

God, you have outdone your hand.

Thank you God for towering Pines,

the songs of birds, all that is pure and fine.

Nothing man makes can ever come close

to the fortune we experience everyday,

Here on your Earth.

Thank you God for the birds and the bees

and even those annoying fleas.

Thank you God for the sun in our eyes

for the beauty of nature and all of its surprise!

Thank you God for still loving us when we fail,

There is a lesson to be learned there

As we move along our trail.

Thank you God for your wondrous presence in our face,

Even when we fall from your grace.

Thank you God for being Our Father,

who shines down upon us

So we know to get up and bother

to live another day,

to celebrate our stay, 

Here on your wonderful planet , Earth.

God's Mighty Hand!

There's something about praying on your knees.
This past week, I've heard some bad things happen. They happen all the time... right?!
Yesterday, I heard about a tornado in Oklahoma. I don't know all the details, but as I was listening to the radio, some verses came to mind in Job chapter 38:22-41, and 36:26-33.

"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle? Where is the way that the light is divided, or the east wind scattered on the earth? Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land without people, on a desert without a man in it, to satisfy the waste and desolate land and to make the seeds of grass to sprout? Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb has come the ice? and the frost of heaven, who has given it birth? Water becomes hard like stone, and the surface of the deep is imprisoned... Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an abundance of water will cover you? Can you send forth lightnings that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'?...

Job 36:26-30, "Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; the number of His years is unsearchable. For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist, which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thundering of His pavilion? Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, and He covers the depths of the sea. For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance. He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark...."

These are just a couple verses out of the Bible that talk about God's awesome weather patterns! I couldn't help but think of these verses when I heard about the tornado. One other one comes to mind in Jeremiah 10:13,"When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, and brings out the wind from His storehouse."

The Christian Homeschool Dog

This last week, our family had to talk about a very sad subject. Our golden retriever dog is 12 yrs. Old. She’s the only dog we’ve ever had. Our family had to discuss about her death. Our dog is getting so old that it’s showing on her. She’s going blind in one eye, has a huge wart type thing on her foot, doesn't chase things anymore, and is overall… slow! L I keep reminding myself that death is a part of life. It happens to everyone and everything eventually. The other day, when my dad asked us about whether or not we wanted to say goodbye to her before she died. What do you say to that? Our dog, “Annie”, has become a part of our family. She’s the best family dog we could’ve ever asked for!!! 

     I keep reminding myself that we’ll get another dog after we put her down, but it’s not the same. Annie loves people! She love’s children of all ages! She lies with anyone, and let’s babies climb on her and yank on her.  There are not enough words that I can explain about our dog. She’s so calm, quiet, and what our friend’s calls her, “The Christian Homeschool Dog”.

     In the Bible, we see in John 11:35 that, “Jesus Wept”. Even God knew what sadness meant. Are there going to be animals in heaven? No, they don’t have spiritual souls, but… how can there not be animals in heaven? God created them! And while God doesn't tell us if animals will be in heaven, we can wonder. Wonder what God has in store. The last time I had a death in my family, I hardly remembered it, because I was so young. Our dog’s death will be the first death that I experience. No, dogs aren't people, but they do leave you feeling loved! I remember one day when I was young, I was crying in our backyard; our dog came over to me and just sat next to me as if she knew why I was sad. Dogs are loyal. You've heard it say, “Dogs are man’s best friend.” While yes, God gives us animals to enjoy, God should be our best friend. So, I have to put my best foot forward and… move on. Will I forget about our dog when we have to put her down? No! However, God gives us comforting words in Revelation 21:4, 

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” We love you Annie! 

Worn

We've all been worn out before.
Life takes us in loops and roller coaster rides. Sometimes, we can't get off.
Maybe, it's staying up with a crying baby all night that get's us worn. Maybe it's constantly going, and you can't stop. Or... maybe it's spiritually worn. Maybe you haven't had the time with God, that you want to. Maybe, life's been giving you so many loops, that you can't handle it. God tell us in Psalm 55:1-2, 22, "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan... cast your burden on the Lord, and he will never permit the righteous to be moved."

1st Peter 5:7, "... casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Sometimes in life, we feel like we can't fight anymore. I would encourage you to give your burdens, fears, and fights to God. He wants to have your burden's!

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will fine rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
~Matthew 11:28-30~

Go to Him! He will give you rest!

To Hide with Fear or Faith?

This past week as I was doing my Bible Study; I was going through Exodus and the story of Moses's birth. I started putting myself in their shoes, and wondered what it must have been like for Moses's mom. For 3 months, Moses's mom had to hide him! What do you think it was like living from day to day hoping the guards wouldn't hear the Baby cry. That's what got me thinking... faith!
By faith we live our daily lives. Sure, Moses's family probably were very fearful with every cry that could be heard that could send a guard killing the baby at any time. However, it was all by faith!

I looked up Hebrews 11:23-29, "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that
he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea
as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it,
were drowned..."

To think what kind of Faith Moses and his family had during the time of Moses's birth.

"Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'... The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, 'Because I drew him out of the water.'"
~Exodus 2:1-10

After reading these verses I was very much astonished. Not because I was surprised  but because I had put myself in Moses's family's shoes. What great faith they had! It made me realize how little faith I have. We need to have a child-like Faith. Have faith just like Hebrews 11 talks about.
So, don't hide in fear, but instead... have Faith!!!