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Farther on...

Farther on oh still go farther, count the milestones one by one, Jesus will forsake you never, it is better farther on.

This is the song that has been in my head since Saturday.(Note: Eve's meet was Sunday) God knows exactly what He is doing. I might not understand it, but He sure knows what's best! http://thefortunes.org/music-2
Please listen to this song (Farther on) by the Fortune Family. It is such a blessing!

Revealing What's Inside

Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God.


This was my devotion today. What a great way to start the day! I stand amazed!
Read Psalm 18:37-45


We must remember that David's enemies were God's enemies and that he was fighting the Lord's battles. As Christians, we are taught to pray for our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us (Matt. 5:44). David did that. He prayed for Saul, and on at least two occasions, he could have killed him but didn't. David had the right attitude toward Saul, but Saul did not have the right attitude toward David. As we read verses 37-45, we need to remember that David was not carrying out a personal vendetta. When he talked about his enemies, he was talking about God's enemies. He was the instrument God used to accomplish His purposes against those who opposed Him.

We find an interesting point in verse 42: "Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind." David had grown spiritually (Ps. 19,36). When God enlarged him, his perspective changed. His enemies became as small as the dust. You see, circumstances reveal character. People say, "A man is made by a crisis." No, a crisis does not make a person. It reveals what that person is made of. When the crisis came, Saul and his crowd grew smaller and smaller as their true nature was revealed. But David grew bigger and bigger. He was also established (v. 36), while his enemies became like the dust that the wind blows away.

Are your circumstances making you smaller or bigger? Are they enabling you to overcome, or are they overcoming you? David rejoiced that God had given him victory in spite of his enemies and circumstances. The victory is the Lord's. Let your circumstances make you bigger and greater for Him.

Saying Grace before meals...

http://www.dogwork.com/prybrme8/

You have got to watch this video of dogs saying their blessing! It is so adorable! I tried to upload the video but it was taking forever for some reason.

Worst meet ever, best meet to date...

Let's start two weeks ago. Eve was on floor at gymnastics doing her usual tumbling. She was doing a round off back handspring back tuck. She has been competing these all season and has had them since summer. She did several really good ones! A lot of height, pretty good form! She went to do another and she balked before her back tuck. ( in gymnastics terms this means she stopped or paused in between tumbling elements) Well she went for it anyway and crashed on her head! It looked really bad! The coaches around gasped for air and ran over to her. I happened to be there that day bc Jasy was in her class. I stay and watch Jasy while she is practicing bc she is only there 2 hours and it would be pointless to drive home and back. Eve got up and walked away stunned. She wasn't hurt, it did knock the breath out of her, but it did more damage than that. It scared her! It put fear in her that she has never had before in this sport! I didn't know it at the time but it started a wildfire!She went to her next event bc it was time to rotate but she had this fear in her mind that thrilled the devil to death! She went to her next practice a couple of days later and that's when it all started to unfold. She had this awful mental block that just wasn't letting go. The harder she tried to overcome it the worse it became. The coaches tried to help her every practice and some days she would end up doing it and leave practice so happy and full of pride that she overcame it but that was only short lived by the next practice when she found herself standing in the corner of the floor stressing over "what ifs"! We were trying to encourage her with scriptures and feed her with His word. That He would always give her strength and guide her with His wisdom. I found her in her room reading scriptures and praying that He would  take away her fear. I watched her in agony struggle with something that weeks before came so easy to her. After weeks of her struggling I began to get frustrated with her when she would come home and I could tell that she was giving up on herself! She was now not doing her back handspring either, a skill she learned when she was 6 or 7. By Thursday night of last week I was mad! I was mad at her for giving up and I was mad at God for allowing the devil to take this from her when she has been praying for over a year for God to use her through her sport to be a witness for Him. I could see Him working through her with gymnastics too!So why now?! I had a heart to heart with the Lord Thursday night. By Friday morning he had showed me exactly what I needed to see. That this was not only for her benefit but for mine as well. I needed this to teach me to give it to Him and be patient. To keep my mouth shut when He was trying to make our girl stronger in faith. To learn that he only corrects those He loves so they can be used of Him in a better way. To learn that I need to pray without ceasing and pray for His will not ours. That her blessings may not always come in a form of a medal or by joys of helping the team get first. That the best joys come after you make it out of the flame and come out with a happy heart rejoicing always! We all know that the sweetest rewards are those we get in Heaven! After I saw this and God gave me the best peace that I have ever had, it all made more sense.So let's start here from yesterday...

 In warm-ups before the meet she nailed her back tuck and she looked like a whole new gymnast! She was so happy, out that enjoying herself with no worries in the world! You could tell that she was allowing God to do what he needed to do instead of her trying to do it on her own! Jason and me were up there in the stands having a shouting spell and I was already in tears! Then it was her turn to start on floor. It was their first event of the night and I could tell when she started that it was her and not God.  She got nervous when she went to compete floor and she took it back and that’s when she messed up.

Eve didn't have a good meet yesterday (had the worst meet ever and she ended up not doing her back tuck and got a 5.850 on floor) She didn't medal on anything BUT I was so proud of her bc she had the best attitude after wards! She wasn't mad, she wasn't pouting; she was happy for her team mates who did well. She cheered them on when they got medal after medal as she sat with nothing around her neck.She ran up on podium when her team took first place with a smile on her face knowing that she didn't contribute to their win. I watched her graciously step down and allow another team member to take her spot on podium bc she thought they deserved being up there more than her. She said that she learned from this meet more than she has ever learned the whole time she has been doing this sport and that it will make her a better gymnast!! She told me that she felt like a winner a true Champion bc deep down she finally saw what she needed to see. That she needed to give it fully to God and not keep taking it back! WOW!! All from a 10 year old little girl!! I was one proud mama! We shed lots of tears last night and I think she will go into that gym this week with a whole new attitude! The preacher preached about David and Goliath yesterday morning and she went down to the altar and prayed. She said it was just what she needed! She said she wants to be the ordinary person who no one would expect to defeat the enemy, and be used of God! To come from no where and give it back to Him.  
She has a renewed soul and spirit and I hope she can continue this way! I am so happy for her! Who knew   I would be so happy of such a crummy meet!? God has a way of working things out! I bet a lot of people there thought, "Poor Eve, she did awful"! She did do awful in that aspect but boy did she win eternally!

Stay posted...this David is coming back, this time with more faith than ever! She wants a rematch!

Psalm 27

I read this today and it was just what I needed.

Today we went walking on some trails. We were on our way back, taking a creekside trail. We were getting concerned about the time. We did not want to be in the woods, on unfamiliar trails, in the dark. It was going to be close, but we were sure we should make it back before it became dark.

Before we started this trail, we had looked at our map. According to it, if we walked alongside the creek for some distance, we should come to a bridge which would cross over the creek. Once over the creek, another trail would take us up a hill and link us back to the main trail. From there it would be a short distance to where we parked.
We kept walking. It kept getting darker. It wasn't dark, but a little concern began to creep in; mainly, where is this bridge?
We kept looking at the map, all of us. According to the map, there was a bridge that would allow us to cross over the creek.
One of us went ahead looking for the bridge. The others of us began to talk. One spotted a pipe that went across the creek. He suggested we cross the creek using the pipe. The pipe was big enough to walk on; it was only inches above the creek, so even if we fell off trying to walk across the creek, no harm (foreseen) would be done. The creek was shallow, so even if we fell in, the worst would probably only be us getting wet.
We also saw a tree which had fell across the creek; between the tree and the pipe, the pipe seemed safer.
One kept saying, "but the map says there is a bridge." "Let's keep going."
With no bridge yet in sight, the pipe was suggested again. It was still kept open as an option. If it got to the point, where if not taking the pipe, we would be in the woods after dark - we would have used the pipe; but, we were not at that point.
So, the same thing was said. "The map says there's a bridge; we've got to trust the map." This led into a conversation of how we must trust God's Word. Sometimes in life, you don't see the bridge, but you have the map (God's Word); it is then, fear and doubt can show up. Crossing the creek on a pipe or by a tree could have been a bold decision. Bold is fine, but, if not necessary, it could be a dangerous risk.
We trusted the map. It was not to much longer, and we saw the bridge. We crossed over the creek, and made it back to the car as night began to fall.
The map proved trustworthy; and, much the more, is God and His Word worthy of our trust.
When you can't see the bridge, take courage; trust in His Word and keep His way, and He shall strengthen your heart.

Psalm 27: ([A Psalm] of David.) The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident.
4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 [When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 [I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Are you brusied and battered...

God is so good! I read a post the other day about how when you feel like you can't hold on anymore, or when things just seem too hard to understand, is when God is about to show up and show out! BUT only when we seek Him and seek His guidance and only then. We can't keep trying to figure things out on our own and expect things to go well. Never will happen! Our minds, our flesh and the devil will just mess that all up! God is always the answer! Our life lessons are what make us special and unique. If we always had a perfect life, and we were always the center of the universe then what good would we be to Him?! It's the people that work hard, pray hard, crash big, and never give up that make a difference for Him. Where are you in this?
1Peter 5 1-11
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
11 To him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.