Multitude Monday - Blessings!

Monday again?  Did I blink?  Seems that way sometimes, doesn't it?  We wait and wait for Friday to arrive so we can enjoy the weekend and then the next thing we know, we're waking up on Monday morning again ready to start a new week.  I wish I could figure out a way to "hold on" to the times with loved ones a bit tighter...and for a longer time...

At any rate, I wanted to continue with my blessings list, beginning with #91.  If you haven't heard about One Thousand Gifts, be sure to visit Ann Voskamp's website and see what it's all about.  The basic premise is that we all have so many blessings in our lives each and every day.  Her writings are an inspiration!  

It's been good for me to think on the blessings the Lord has rained down on me, no matter how little or seemingly insignificant, and to thank Him for all He has given me.

One thousand gifts continued...I'm thankful for...

91.  A compliment from my oldest daughter over the weekend

92.  Spontaneous hugs from my girls

93.  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning

94.  Hearing the laughter of my Mom and Dad as we catch up over the phone each weekend

95.  The knowledge that the Lord loves me even when I am completely unlovable to others

96.  An e-mail from a sweet friend who said she missed me while I was gone on my trip

97.  A good book to read

98.  Looking at a table of desserts and having the willpower not to eat any of it (that's the Lord in me, not my own willpower!)

99.  My oldest daughter, Julie, sitting in service with us - having her put her head on my shoulder and her arms around me and looking up at me with a sweet smile (she's 11 years old).  Ah, my heart was bursting!  

100.  Watching our youngest daughter, Heather, get excited about her new Bible this weekend - she couldn't put it down and has been excited to talk about what she is seeing in it!  Thank you Lord!

101.  Listening to Heather play the piano and get better and better every time she plays

102.  Feeling the little hands in mine when my girls grab my hands in the parking lot

103.  My trip with my Momma (last week) - that was our first trip together, ever!  

104.  My sweet husband clearing the table for me while I washed the pots and pans from dinner

105.  My Grandpa calling me "Suz"

106.  A warm and cozy home to enjoy, especially as the weather turns colder

107.  The blessing of giving to others

108.  Forgiveness

109.  God's provision in the way of my husband's job and the jobs the Lord has given me from home

110.  Two vehicles that are still running

What are you thankful for today? 

 Scripture Reading Update

I must confess, I am still in Job!  Yes, Job.  I am stuck on the dialogue between Job and his friends in the first few chapters.  I want to understand it and figure out what it all means and it's been slow going for me.  I do hope you're doing better than me with the Reading the Bible in One Year challenge!  The way I see it, it's a good idea to keep up, but also to understand what I'm reading.  To that end, I am behind right now according to the schedule, but perhaps there will be another time to "catch up". 

All my best to you on this Monday morning!

Healing and Encouragement

Last night, we had our pizza and movie night like usual together as a family.  Friday nights are eagerly anticipated in our home because we eat together and then snuggle together on the couch to watch a movie.  It's one time during the week we all plan to "stop the treadmill" and spend time together.  Inevitably, the movie we watch ends up sparking conversations that seem to go in any and all directions.  It's wonderful actually because my husband and I have the privilege of hearing what is going on in our daughter's hearts and minds in a way that is totally unexpected. 

Last night, the conversation was primarily between my husband and oldest daughter, but my youngest daughter and I were listening intently.  They got to talking about the Lord returning to take us home (Rapture), God's Word and how important it is to us, the experiences we had at our last two churches and what the Lord taught us there (child version of course), and much more.  My husband has been listening to sermons daily via his MP3 player and I can hear in his voice that the Lord is encouraging his heart once again.

See, we went through a very rough time several years back with not one, but two churches and two pastors.  Let's just say that when we chose to follow the Lord's leading (leaving "their" churches), they were not happy to say the least.  We were told we were no longer believers, that we would backslide, that we would be divorced within a year (that was nearly five years ago), and that our children would be on drugs and drinking alcohol before we knew it.  We were out of the Lord's favor and His will because we were leaving a certain church, not because of sin or something we had or hadn't done.  Our dedication and love for the Lord and His people was questioned and we were basically blackballed by the people we had spent so much time with and served for several years in His name. 

It was a dark few years for us, but we always felt the Lord's leading and His voice through it all.  My husband and I know that the Lord carried us through those days of panic attacks and feelings of inadequacy and fear.  The Lord brought to my husband a senior saint from one of those churches who came alongside my husband and mentored him and loved him with Christ's love.  These two men still meet once a week for devotional and prayer time to encourage each other and lift each other up in the name of the Lord.  It's inspiring.  I am so thankful for this man, one who truly sees the light and love of  Christ despite what goes on around him, followed the Lord's leading and never once allowed my husband to doubt our decision. He knew the decision had been bathed in prayer for nearly a year and that we had spoken to no one of our thoughts because we wanted to hear only the Lord's voice.  I praise the Lord for this senior saint who loves Him and shows Christ's love to my husband and to us. 

Last night I realized even more strongly while listening to my husband and daughter talk that I have closed my heart off to many things in the last several years.  I am, frankly, terrified to open my heart to the Lord in many ways...scared to be hurt again.  I know it wasn't the Lord who hurt me, it was His people who weren't seeing clearly.  But, nevertheless, I know that I am living in fear of what the Lord will call me to if I open my heart completely to Him and to His Word.  Isn't that crazy?

I share all of this to say that I am committing to the Lord (and to you, my sweet readers), that I am going to read the Bible over the next year from cover to cover.  I need to immerse myself in His Word.  I need to try and open my heart and life to Him in a way that will change me...and my life...because I know in my mind that Jesus loves me too much to leave me the way I am.  He knows I need to change in so many ways!  I want to be more like Him!

I thought about trying to read the Bible in one month, but when I realized it would take a dedication of 2 1/2 hours a day, I know that realistically, that won't happen for me.  I am a busy home schooling mom working two part-time jobs from home and trying to take care of my husband and girls the way they deserve to be taken care of, so I know that this type of schedule would fall by the wayside very quickly.  That would only serve as a discouragement to me.  If there is one thing I have realized in the last few years, it is that I must be realistic in my expectations - with others and especially with myself. 

That said, reading the Bible in one year is very reasonable and I am looking forward to getting started.  I found this site, BibleYear.com that provides a reading schedule for reading the Bible through from cover to cover in one year.  You can choose how you want to read it - from the beginning, chronologically, historically, or whether you want to read the Old Testament or New Testament first.  The site lists several different Bible versions from which to choose as well, so you can choose your preferred version.  The schedule is set up so you can start either on the 1st of a month or the 15th of a month. 

I'm going to begin my reading on October 15th and I've chosen to read the Bible in chronological order.  I am wondering if this will help me further understand my Lord and who He really is.  I will keep you updated!

May you be encouraged today by the Lord's Word.

All my best to you today,