Delight yourself in the Lord

I remember asking one of my dear friends how one is able to delight themselves in the Lord.  She told me, each time she looks at a beautiful sunset or anything that holds beauty, she looks at it with delight in the Lord.  Anyone can look at a beautiful sunset and think, "Wow that is magnificent," but when you have a relationship with the Creator and look at a beautiful sunset it inspires you to rejoice and delight in Him.  When you are marveling over His creation and thanking Him for all He does and allows us to enjoy, you cannot help but be filled with awe!

This weekend I delighted in the Lord as I saw His beautiful work all around.  We went camping with our life group and it was wonderful!

Melissa is one of a kind and an amazing person!  Our lives are sweeter, because of this loving friend!   Melissa and baby Grant!  

 

Our sweet baby Grant is growing so fast! 

Landry loved swinging!

We love our Kel and Troy!

The Poole Party!

While we were camping a huge storm hit!  We lost electricity and a big Oak was knocked over.  This was two houses down from where we stayed.  Thankfully no one was hurt and it did minimal damage to the homes.

Savannah and Andrew felt as if they were in jail with this child gate up!  They didn't let it keep them in too long!  They broke free in no time!

We spent most of our time outside and it was a blast.  The night of the storm we stayed in and played connect four by candle light.  I wish I would have taken a good picture of the connect four game, but I didn't take my camera out that night.

Pure bliss! 

Not long after this was taken, Clint jumped in the FREEZING COLD water!

Landry was a daddy's girl the entire trip!  

I love my sweet husband!  He is truly a gift from God! 

I could not get her to look at the camera! A stick was way more interesting than modeling for mommy!

Andrew posed for a second! 

 Troy and Kelli will make the best parents one day!  

We have some great guys in our group!

Thank you Kelli for taking this picture! 

Andrew made my day!  On saturday morning he woke up and climbed in my lap! We snuggled for the longest time!  I have so much love for all of our babies!

Steven and Savannah! 

I absolutely LOVED the prayer garden!

My sweet baby girls!

Priceless

Jesus says in John 8:31 and 32, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free."  He also says in verse 8:36, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

I just finished a wonderful book by Lisa Bevere called, "Out of Control and Loving It."  Many great points were made in this book and I plan to read more of her material.  It seems some of the things she struggled with are similar to my struggles.  One of the strongest statements made in this book was, "IT IS A PRICELESS FREEDOM THAT YOU MUST FIGHT FOR!"  To be honest, I haven't felt like fighting.  I am beginning to feel the fight build up in me, but three weeks ago I was far from it.  I have decided when Landry sleeps I will not nap or clean.  I will pick up my Bible and I will spend more time with God.  In the back of my mind I hear, "So what if you spend more time with God, you still will be trapped and feel worthless."  It hurts to hear these things, but the absolute truth is "satan is a murderer and does not stand in truth!"  It is plainly written, IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD…YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!  

Many of my friends have been weary and burdened lately.  Satan and our flesh is attacking from every angle.  Why wouldn't he?  He is the king of darkness and lies and he does not want us to accomplish the will of our Father.  In her book, "Girls with Swords," Lisa wrote, "I believe the attacks on your life have much more to do with who you might be in the future than who you have been in the past." I completely agree with this statement.  Satan likes to keep us so focused on our past or a sin that we struggle with that we just can't seem overcome.  If he can keep us focused on our failures, then we will not grow in Christ.  I used to think, well I've messed up so why not just keep on messing up? What is the point of trying?  This mind set has made me useless.  There is an out!  

It is written    

This to shall pass or at least I hope

I keep thinking I want to start blogging again and then I think maybe not.  Since turning 30 I have been hit with strange things (for lack of a better word).  Currently I am trying to figure out why I have a rash that has lasted three months.  I had a biopsy and it did not lead me to an answer!  I have started looking into alternative medicines.  I have thought of changing my diet and I may, but not today.  If I do embark on the GAPS journey, I plan to blog about it, but before I can begin changing things in my environment I have to let go.  I have to learn to relinquish control.  I have to stop being consumed with my health and wellness.

Darkness has crept in all around me.  I have been sad and I have tried to keep it in.  I didn't want people to know, but when you are connected it's hard to keep things hidden.  I thank God for not allowing me to suffer alone.  I want to give God all of me.  I am tired of praying for healing and slightly tired of thinking it will come.  If God wills it then it will be, but if He doesn't, I have to be thankful just as I am.  He has blessed me more than I deserve.  It has been made clear to me, that my thinking process is off.  I don't think correctly.  I suspect many of us have thinking issues.  We have rights as a believer in Christ and as a child of God that we can take into battle.  I have read many of these rights over and over, but for some unknown reason I can't take hold of them. Someone suggested I ask God why and today I did.

 When I asked God why I can't take the weapons He has given me and battle negative thoughts, He answered.  The answer is what I want to share more than anything today.  How He answered was amazing to me.  I walked into my closet to put clothes up and hit my knees.  I began to pray.  I asked the hard question and also admitted that I can't keep pursuing health any longer.  I told Him how tired I was and how I wanted the energy I use to pursue other things to be used on Him.  After a long prayer of confession and repentance I decided to finish the clothes.  As I was leaving the closet I saw a book that I had never read hidden under some clothes.  On the first page I read, "My God will meet all of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  The insert discussed "halfhearted" measures.  God doesn't use halfhearted measures when it comes to His children.  He fights for us and all that is done is according to His glorious riches.  I knew instantly my answer was that I have been using halfhearted commitment when it comes to fighting in this battle.  My hope is, I will learn to take hold of the weapons given whole heartedly and I will use this blog as a recording of truths I learn along the way.

I also read an amazing article on faith get away and saw this wonderful picture by Mark Batterson after praying.