Monday, May 26, 2008

Where is my focus?

God has been working in our hearts a lot lately. Challenging us to become more like Him and keep our focus on Him. We've been reading through Job with some devotional readings and it has really encouraged our hearts and taught us that we need to keep our focus off of our big problems and on our big God! Getting into U of R won't solve our problems, going to Ross won't solve our problems, our Problem Solver is God and He wants us to trust Him no matter what what comes our way. We sang this song yesterday in church it is call Hallelujah, What a Savior by Paul Baloche:

Verse 1:
Oh how strong the power of Jesus' name!
It is stronger than any other name
How sweet the vict'ry that bore my shame
took the burden of my sin away

Hallelujah! What a savior!
I owe everything to Him
Hallelujah what a savior
Hallelujah to my King

Verse 2:
Oh how great the kindness our God has shown
We were strangers, now we're called His own
His grace has welcomed the sinner home
Tender mercies, lead us to The Throne

(Chorus)

Bridge:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah to my King! (repeat)

Verse 3:
Oh what peace the Spirit of Jesus brings
through the trials He will carry me
One day, in Heaven, our eyes will meet
Filled with wonder, all the saints will sing

(Chorus)

(Bridge 2x)

Hallelujah to my King, hallelujah to my King

Verse 3 always makes me cry because I feel like we are going through trials right now but they are here for God's purposes to draw us closer to Him. It is amazing to me that He will carry me! The line that really opened my eyes to how much He thinks of me yesterday was "One day, in Heaven, our eyes will meet" - WOW! The God of the universe wants to make eye contact with me! I am filled with wonder at that thought! The first line of verse 3 talks about peace that comes from God, as we were leaving church yesterday the kids were given a character trait DVD from Highpoint (junior church) and Hannah had handed in "contentment" for "peace." I really thought that I would personally benefit more from contentment but as Glenn and I were talking we decided that what we really need in our lives is peace - trusting God with the details of life.

In other news we took a walk around Highland Park yesterday with a lady who has lived near here for 18 years. She got to show us some of her favorites and it reminded me that #1 I must always bring my camera when I take a walk around the park and #2 I hadn't posted pictures here of how beautiful Highland Park is in the spring so here they are some pictures I posted on Facebook.

I need to get going, laundry to do, bread to bake, the kids room to find, all before my sister-in-law Stephanie and nephew Brody get here this afternoon for their week long visit that we are so looking forward to! Until next time...

Saturday, May 10, 2008

We are in good hands

This morning in my quiet time I read Colossians 3:3 "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." I have been struggling a lot lately with our future. In my heart of hearts I really want to stay in Rochester, it is starting to feel like home but maybe that is why God wants us to leave. If Rochester is our home we may lose sight of the fact that Heaven is really our home. This morning I told God that I am dead to my will and want only His. I can trust Him. He knows the best place for us. He knows where we can best be used to glorify Him. He knows where He has placed people who need us. My life "is hidden with Christ in God." Doesn't that sound like a safe place to be?? Lord, I trust You, come what may. As I was praying this song came to mind so I had to look up the lyrics. I am in good hands! I would appreciate prayers though as it is a moment by moment decision to yield my will to Him.

My Life is in Your Hands
Kathy Troccoli

Life can be so good
Life can be so hard
Never knowing what each day
Will bring to where you are
Sometimes I forget
And sometimes I can't see
That whatever comes my way
You'll be with me

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I'm never without hope
Not when my future is with you

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

Nothing is for sure
Nothing is for keeps
All I know is that your love
Will live eternally
So I will find my way,
And I will find my peace
Knowing that you'll meet my every need

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I'm never without hope
Not when my future is with you

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

When I'm at my weakest Lord
You carry me
Then I become my strongest love
In your hands

My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands
I trust you Lord
My life is in your hands

Friday, May 02, 2008

There are advantages and disadvantages to only having one vehicle!

Well, we took the Burb in to get inspected on Monday and it didn't pass because the right outer tie rod needed to be replaced. I remember when the left one blew a couple of years ago when I was driving it and we had to have it towed and it was super expensive to have it fixed because of the place it was towed to. Glenn and I have not been communicating well this week and so we had different expectations of what the other wanted and so we didn't get it fixed and didn't get it fixed. Well, the month ended on Wednesday and the Burb still wasn't fixed so yesterday on Glenn's day off he rode his bike to a car parts store and bought a tie rod. 9 miles on the bike and $50 later he was home but couldn't get the tire off because I am assuming whoever had last taken the tire off (probably after the accident - which we are wondering if it is the cause of our tie rod issue) had used some kind of power equipment to get it back on. The Burb is pretty rusty down below and we discussed the fact that if something else broke we'd have to get it towed and pay extra money to get it fixed so at 5pm I was calling people trying to see if anyone could get it in today since the place we had gone to on Monday was booked on Friday. I wanted it to be somewhere relatively close since we only have one vehicle and would have to walk or bike there and back. Thankfully one place that is pretty close thought that if we could leave it all day they would be able to get to it. My dad and brother came for a visit last night and it was fun to see them then after they left Glenn went out and replaced the license plate bulbs (the other reason it didn't pass inspection) and we drove it down to the car shop. I think that we left home at about 8:20 and made it back by 9pm. The kids had been asking if we could take a walk. I think that they were thinking more of a meander through Highland Park to see the pretty flowers, not a 1.4 mile walk back up South Ave. We did get to see interesting things that you don't notice going 35 miles per hour up South Ave which was fun though. There was only whines during the last couple of blocks and they were from Lydia who had insisted on wearing flip flops. Now, today, we get to wait for a phone call to find out how much it is going to cost. Uggg. I am praying that it won't be too much and we'll be legal again by tonight. Glenn doesn't get off until 7:30 so it will be me and the kids wandering down to the car shop late this afternoon to pick it up. I guss if we did have 2 vehicles I could fit all 5 of us into a 5 seater since Caleb doesn't need a booster anymore but we would also have to pay for insurance and registration, etc on 2 vehicles so it has been nice to just have one vehicle and have Glenn walk to work this year! We'll have to wait and see what next year brings. I am really praying that we'll get a call from U of R today, before Glenn's birthday, but God may want us to wait longer. He rarely has our time frame which you may have noticed if you have been friends with us for long, but He always has our best for His glory in mind.