How Can I Keep From Singing??

Busy schedule. Everyone tugging from every direction. Christmas list to be made and start shopping. Thanksgiving meal to be planned out and start preparing for. Every day routine sometimes thrown out the window. People close to us are sick or in need of extreme healing. Hurt all around.

This morning was one of the those mornings when I felt that life was spinning out of control. In preparing for a crazy weekend, I received a phone call that threw a curve ball in it! And...the call happened during my quiet time.

I was mad. Who calls this early and don't they know I have MY time with God??

"Mrs. Sarah, I just wanted to let you know that I am in the ICU at Doctor's Hospital and they don't know what is wrong with me."

Heart sinks.

There is a reason why I got that phone call right in that moment. God was reminding me that my time with Him is not supposed to be all about me.

In the midst of chaos, He brings us back to reality.

Then I pick up Jesus Calling needing some profound thoughts and it says:

"This is a time of abundance in your life. Your cup runneth over with blessings. After plodding uphill for many weeks, you are no traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine. I want you to enjoy to the full this time of ease and refreshment. I delight in providing it for you."

What?? Obviously this was not for me this morning. Then I felt this overwhelming urge to BE STILL.

For those of you that know me know that this does not come easy for me. Then I heard this sweet voice saying, "your cup runneth over with blessings". I have been given opportunities to share His love in ways that I never thought possible. I am walking in warm sunshine of His love but the "things"of this world were like clouds trying to block that sun.

Thankful for my "come to Jesus meeting this morning".

I go on about my morning and drive to work. Usually I drive in silence but today I turned on the radio and I heard the most perfect song.

A song I couldn't help but sing at the top of my lungs this morning. Here is the You Tube video. I hope you can sing it at the top of your lungs at some point today!! How can I keep from singing when He does this EVERY DAY. Overwhelmed with His love and patience with me!

How Can I Keep From Singing

It's a New Day!!

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) 

Organizing 101: Part 1

I have had a few friends suggest that I share some of my organization techniques so here we go!!

In our Community Group, our ladies are doing the study of Saving Super Mom (if you missed my review of it, check it out here: Saving Super Mom). What I have learned (among other things) is that we as moms make our lives so much more complicated when we are constantly running around doing things - can't find the homework, what is my child taking to show and tell today, I can't believe I haven't cleaned the guest bathroom and we have guests coming over right after work, etc, etc. You can fill in the blank with whatever you might be stressing out with right now. 

Don't get me wrong, I still stress. Organization cannot take away all of the stress, but it can sure help!!! So, here are some tips that have worked well in our house as well as a few we are going to try out: 

1. Lay out clothes for the week.

• I have Lizzy's clothes laid out in this hanging shelf. Every morning, she picks out what she wants to wear but it doesn't take very long because she only has 6 choices (some mornings I tell her to pick between the top 2)

• The white container underneath has her underwear and socks. This is right at her level so she can pick those out on her own. 
• I also pick out my clothes for the work week and sometimes for the weekend as well. I simply hang them up in one corner of my closet. This has helped my mornings out SO much because I don't have to make any of these decisions. 

2. Meal Planning 

• I try and plan with Matt at least our weekly meals. We have a 15 day budget for food (we get cash out on the 1st and 15th so sometimes we try and plan for 15 days). 
• We do NOT plan a meal each day. We (or Matt) cooks about 3-4 meals a week. We eat leftovers. This has helped our food budget tremendously. Also, cooking takes TIME and so now only have to cook maybe 3 days out of the week instead of 7 allows time for you to do something else. 

3. Cleaning Schedule

• This is what we have tried the last few weeks.  Matt was gone for an entire week and so I had time to clean the entire house and get an idea of what needs to be done each week. I have felt that Matt and I are doing double the work lately (I will get home and he will say he vacuumed and I will ask why because I just did yesterday - no dirt on floor, he was just trying to do the weekly vacuuming but didn't know that I already did it). So...I created this schedule and have put it in a picture frame so that we can mark off with a dry erase marker when that task has been done. This way we both know what is to be done. That way, if he is off that day, he knows what I might need help with. Ladies - this is KEY. Most of the husbands I have talked with say they will do more around the house IF THEY KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I know your response is, "he should just know" but he doesn't...trust me! So...I will keep you posted on how well (or not) this goes for us. 

Here is the actual document:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Dust All of Downstairs	Wash Lights	Wash Darks	Wash UA & Lizzy’s Clothes	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Wash Dog Towels and Beds	Lay Out Clothes for the Week
Wash Dishes	Vacuum All Downstairs	Wipe Down Kitchen and Breakfast Room Table	Swiffer All Downstairs	Clean Downstairs Guest Bathroom	Clean Lizzy’s Bathroom	Wash Dishes
	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Clean Out Refrigerator	Wash Dishes	Wash Dishes	Wash Dishes
	Wash Dishes	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Clear Off Kitchen Counters	Clean Master Bathroom
		Take All Trash Outside and Trash on Street

1^st Week: Dust and Vacuum Upstairs 

2^nd Week: Clean Baseboards                                                                                          

3^rd Week: Dust/Wipe Light Fixtures and Dust Fans                                                                                       4^th Week: 

4. Mail/Clutter Station

• One of the things I cannot stand is when someone brings the mail in and then just puts it in a pile - half of it opened and half not. I created this mail station with the inspiration of this blog: The Nest Effect. All mail goes right into the incoming mail file and then I go through it once every few days and then sort things from there. 

5. Organizing Husband's Junk"

• So for everyone out there who has a husband that wears a uniform, you can may share in  my misery that EVERYTHING  that he needs to get ready in the morning (shirt stays, radio, gun holster, ear piece, etc) ends up on the counter in our bathroom. So...I bought these cheap little baskets at Wal-Mart and he can put everything he takes off into that container and I NEVER have to see it!!!

More to come :)

Universal Language

Love.

Love is a universal language. 

When you come from different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, states, countries...the one thing that is easily understood between all people is Love. 

In the last month, my family's life was thrown an amazing opportunity to show love to a very incredible little girl. Through circumstances, she was placed in our care from the Department of Family and Children Services. I have learned so much from this last month. 

I have learned I do not have nearly enough patience that I want. 

I have learned that it is only through God's grace and strength that I made it through hard and heartbreaking conversations with her. 

I have learned that I have an amazing church family who opened their arms not only to my family, but to this sweet girl. She looked forward to every Sunday so that she could see her new friends (most were actually adults) and of course, Ms. Vickie. 

I have learned that I end up loving my husband even more when I watch him step out in faith, out of his comfort zone, and show Christ's love to little people. 

I learned that a snuggle and a cuddle is sometimes all any of us really need. 

All we need is LOVE. True LOVE. To know that even when I am not your mother, I can still show my LOVE to you. 

What if we all treated each other the same way? In your group of friends, have you loved their children as if they were your own? Do they feel that love? Do you treat strangers this way? Isn't that what we as Christians are all called to do....to Love As Christ Loved Us???

Love...it is a universal language.

Breath of Life

Hurt.

Despair.

Pain.

Sleepless nights.

Questions running through the mind.

Anger with God.

Why ME? Why NOW?? Why THIS???

My husband like to scuba dive and he dives for work as well as for pleasure. One of the things he does to get ready for his try outs as well as just to scare me, is to see how long he can hold his breath under water. Have you ever done this? Put your face under and push yourself to see how long you can make it. You close your eyes and try to think that you can go longer...you don't need that breath...but then that feeling comes. That feeling that you just may not make it. The worry sets in that if you don't breathe you think you might die. Then you rush to the top of the water to breathe in a nice big breath.

http://www.jbgphotography.com/jbsessions.html

This is how life tends to be. Big things come our way and we think we can handle them on our own. Just a little bit longer...I don't need God's help. Then that feeling happens. Maybe you have felt it before. That feeling that there is nothing else that can help you. That no one else can help you. That is when God is calling you up out of the water to take that breath. The breath of life. Then once you breathe and give it all to Him, it is a feeling like no other. Feeling like you can breathe again.

Whatever it is you are going through, God knows about it. If you are hurting, He is hurting with you. He is a Father looking down on His child. He wants so desperately for you to look up through those waters and take a breath of Him.


Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

So how was the trip??

I love all the questions you get when you come back to the states after a mission trip:

How as the trip?
Were you ready to come back?
Was it just really hot?


The hardest part of trying to describe any trip is trying to explain it to someone that probably just won't understand. Trying to explain to someone that it was harder for me to leave Belize than it was for me to leave the States. Trying to explain that if my daughter was not back in Georgia, I don't know if I would be back.

When people ask, you want to pour your entire heart to them but then most are not ready for the answer. Most just want to hear "it was great!". Many don't want to hear about those children walking 5 hours round trip for water or about the child that had no formula/milk when we arrived. Or about how the shear need to survive day to day takes away the majority of hope in many of their lives.

Looking at the well that is now dry. 

But in all seriousness....how was the trip??

This was such a unique and awesome trip. We only went for a few days to really plan a youth camp in July. What I didn't realize is how much I would get to know about the lives of the people there during this time. From hearing stories at church to finally putting names to faces. It was truly incredible. To be able to worship with them...to pray with them...to pray over them...to just be with them.

Worshiping 

My heart bleeds and aches and honestly...I hope this feeling doesn't go away. I also want so many different people to experience this feeling. You see, I firmly believe that ALL of us are called to missions. God does not only call a few. Now...is He calling everyone to Belize..no. But He is calling your somewhere. God did not bless you so that you could keep it all to yourself, He blessed you so that you can go and be a blessing to others.

The reality that God placed me here in the United States with a job, a family that loves me, a car, running water, free from most dangers, able to hear and learn about Jesus Christ, etc....is absolutely overwhelming to me. He has blessed me so much (not just with material things) so that I might be a blessing.

One of God's precious children 

Nothing Good Comes From Anger

There have only really been a few times when I feel so compelled to read a section of the Bible. I mean, REALLY needing to read only 1 chapter over and over again. This past week, it has been Colossians 3. I want to share with you how I knew I needed to read it:

1. A friend of ours send a text with Colossians 3:23
2. I was upset and feeling myself getting angry so I looked up some Bible Verses. The one that first came up was Colossians 3:
3. My devotion was on Colossians Chapter 3
4. Another friend of mine quoted Colossians Chapter 3

And this was all just in 1 day!! I share this with you because many of us do not think God speaks to us. Or you might believe it but think that He has never spoken to you. What I have found through this past week was that I was sinking and God knew just what I needed - this particular Chapter. He saw my heart hardening and the anger building and instantly He sent people and things to lead me to His word, but even more specifically to this chapter.

Anger is something that sneaks up on all of us. It is a scary thing that makes us do things we regret. It usually arises out of hurt. When people hurt us, we tend to get angry and then we say and do things out of both of those emotions. I can honestly tell you that not a whole lot of good comes from anger. What does usually come from anger is resentment. This makes it harder to forgive and time usually does not heal all wounds but only makes them deeper.

God calls us to love. He calls us to love him and our neighbors just as we love ourselves. This is no small task. Love does not come naturally for many of us. It might to people who look like you or who believe the same things you do. Or maybe it is harder for you to love your family because you are "supposed to" but there is hurt and pain that has been there for years that you are not willing to give up.

So if nothing good comes from anger, but yet it is so easy to express and love is hard....then why does God expect so much from us? Because he knows what is best for us. We become miserable walking around with anger inside of us. Think about a time where you felt the most love...how good did that feel? God wants all of his children to experience that. But it starts with us...not just waiting on others to do it.

What is stopping you from loving today?

Open My Eyes

Homeless man with the sign...

Lady walking with oxygen...

Soldiers wounded protecting me...

Many times we go through life and we just fly by. For me, I feel that this time of the year I do this more than any other time. I know that miss a lot going on but it has hit like me a brick wall today.

I was driving to lead a Bible Study at GAP Ministries several weeks ago. For those of you that do not know what this is, it is a wonderful ministry that provides both spiritual and physical needs for the poor. As I was trying to "get in my Bible Study mood" (you know...the one that isn't frazzled, just yelled at a client, just got into an argument with husband, flustered, agitated - put my happy face that I have it all together look) when I saw a homeless man holding a sign that said "Will Work for Food".

And I instantly turned my head and pretended like I did not see him. Then of course the light turned red and I was stuck at the light. I have heard this happen to so many people but honestly this is the first time it has happened to me in years. Well...it's the first time it has happened since the majority of my day is dedicated to helping people in his situation. As I was having this mix of emotion, the light turned green and I breathed a sigh of relief. But this man has not left my mind. The song "Twenty-First time keeps replaying in my mind - "but what if he's Jesus and I walk away. I say I'm the body and drink of the wine but I pretend not to see him for the twenty-first time".

Then I couldn't help but remember what we are studying in our small group. We have been looking at the Not A Fan book and what has stood out to me is the scripture about Jesus calling people to follow him. One section of verses really hit me. "This man says to Jesus, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' (Luke 9:57) Jesus says, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'" (Luke 9:58). How committed am I? Would I rather be homeless and have Jesus or have a home and not have Jesus? This man said he was ready to follow Jesus but after Jesus pretty much tells him that following him is not going to be easy, the man turns away.

I have always taken the easy way  out when has come to Jesus. Making only the "right"decisions when I wanted to or when it was convenient for me. To truly follow means to sacrifice, to put my relationship with him above EVERYTHING else, to pick up the cross daily and follow him.

It is not an easy journey, but doesn't he deserve it? Open my eyes, my heart, and my mind. Let every day be spent in love with Him and striving to know Him more, and BE LIKE HIM. May I not ever be too busy and miss it.