The Freedom of Forgiveness

I’m just tickled that one of my posts is being used on a blog carnival!
It’s at “Ask Andrea” Summer’s End Edition of the Carnival of Christian Advice

Check out some of the writings on her blog!
Sue

Thanks so much for the sweet nomination!

How very sweet of you Kimmie over at Over the Moon with Joy
to nominated me for the "Nice Matters Award."
If I could turn around and nominate her I would. She is the sweetest person with a very precious heart.

I love her profile, it says "I am a born-again believer who passionately follows Christ, 5 of my children are adopted-1 is homemade, we homeschool by the Spirit, for fun I make soap, walk in the woods, garden, I enjoy vintage finds, and reading aloud to my children ~May God make us friends!"

How sweet is that?!
I love the "1 is homeade."

I am honored and humbled that she would share this award with me.

The awards "official definition":
"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to 4 others who you feel are deserving of this award."

My four friends -in no particular order-that I am passing the Nice Matters Award torch to (and cute button for your blog display!) are:

Ruth at “it’s true sighed roo”
She is one of the sweetest people I have never met! Stop over and visit her, you will quickly become a friend!

Hope at Monkey Giggles

She is always encouraging me and making me laugh! She's lots of fun, check her out.

Alisun at A Brooke in the Forest
Ok, yes she's my sister in law- but I really think she is deserving of this award, she is a genuine sweetheart and her words are precious.

Dionna at ~Using My Voice~
I really enjoy her blog and have a real connection with her. She seems to be a wonderful person that I wish I could sit down and have coffee with- I think we'd talk for hours!!

I have so many blogger friends that I would love to put up here, 4 is not enough! I love meeting and blogging with all of you!!!

Thanks to all who wander my way and are sweet enough to leave a comment!!
Love,
Sue

Psalms 62

Psalms 62:5-8

How’s your soul doing? Your mind and thought life?

Are they racing?
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

Ever feel hopeless?
my hope comes from Him.

Have I put my hopes for happiness and security in anyone else?
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

Am I trying to do it on my own?
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.

There’s just this one area in my life that I can’t seem to get over…
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

And...I haven't gone to Him…
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge.
NIV

He loves and adores you, reach out to Him, He's waiting...

Hot Topics~What Teens Want Most

A recent study done on teenagers by the AP and MTV brought some interesting results.

Here is a quote:
When asked what one thing makes them most happy, 20 percent mentioned spending time with family — more than anything else.

About three-quarters — 73 percent — said their relationship with their parents makes them happy. After family, it was relationships with friends that people mentioned most.

Also confirming existing research, Twenge says, is the finding that children of divorced parents are somewhat less likely to be happy.

Among 13-17 year olds, 64 percent of those with parents still together said they wake up happy, compared to 47 percent of those with divorced parents.

And who were their heroes:
Oprah Winfrey? Michael Jordan? Hillary Clinton? Tiger Woods? All those names came up when people were asked about heroes.

Of public figures, Martin Luther King, Jr. got the most mentions.

But nearly half mentioned one of their parents, with mothers ranking higher (29 percent) than fathers (21 percent.)

Ladies, we are a huge influence in our kids life!

This is confirmed through the answers of these teenagers.

This study encourages and challenges me.

What am I doing with this influence?

Am I spending enough time with my kids?

Psalms 127:3-5
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from Him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
NIV

Our children are a reward from the Lord!

As a parent, I can tend to feel condemned for the wrong things that I do and the ways I feel that I fail my children. However, I believe we all need to focus more on the positive influence and opportunity that God has given us with the children He has blessed us with.

Let’s use this influence to help them become all that God has intended them to be.
My prayer for myself as a mother is that God would help me to guide my children in the direction He has for their life.

I challenge myself and you to spend more time with each of our kids and use the influence God gave us for His glory in their lives!

Now your turn, what do you think about this study?

Life on the road

(Photo courtesy of cardreamer.com)

Here we are at the track. It has been HOT lately! This summer we've been to southern Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and lots of local races here in Michigan.

This is such a change for us to be gone traveling so much, but we love it. I was so conflicted when we felt the Lord moving us out of church ministry and into this, but now I see His hand all over it and feel like I am growing so much closer to Him in the process.

We have met so many wonderful people, it has been quite an experience.

This was not what I had planned for our life. I was comfortable in home church ministry and all the workings of the local church, but God had different plans.

Prov 19:21
21 Many are the plans in a man's heart,but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. NIV

I'm so glad that God doesn't leave me comfortable, I would have missed so many blessings along the way!

Prov 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight. NIV

I knew this was true, and now I have once again experienced the joy of leaning not on my own understanding. My little brain can't wrap around God's paths, but I have learned to trust Him even when life doesn't seem to make sense.

I love this verse, and the Lord continues to make it alive to me:

Rom 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV


He is hope to the hopeless,
strengh to the weak,
comfort to the weary,
rest and peace to those who are anxious,
love to the lonely,
light to the darkness.


The verse has lifted me out of some really deep pits in my life including my confusion and fear when the Lord was leading us into a new direction:

Matt 11:28-12:1
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
NIV

Life on the road has been a blessing because it's right where God wants us. We are off to Branson, MO and Florida and lots of stops in between in the next few months!

Let the Lord do with your life whatever He wants...don't fight change if He's bringing it.
There is joy in the journey!

Introducing Sydney...

We have a new addition to our family...for those of you who know us...YES, we are crazy.
This is Steph's new dog. I guess that makes this my Grandpuppy.
She is from an "oops" litter that our friends had.
Her mom is a Blue Heeler and her dad is a Chihuahua.

Just for fun!

You write the caption:

Isaiah 61

So how are you?
No…really…
How ARE you?

Is your heart broken?

Are you feeling captive to someone or something?

Do you feel a cloud of darkness?

Are you feeling like you are “unlucky” all the time?

Are you filled with grief?

Feel like all life left you with is a pile of ashes?

Are you DESPERATE for a better life?!

Here’s what our Savior, Jesus came to do:

Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion —
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

He's our LIVING HOPE!

He loves you.
He died for you.
You’re His child.
Live like it.

If you want the beauty, you need to give Him the ashes.

Blessings,

Sue

Off to Italy!

My son in the Air Force just foung out that they are sending him to Italy after his current training school (should be in October sometime).

Italy...hmm....it's taking me a little time to get used to the idea....but I am thankful that it's not Iraq.

But it's a loooong way from home!

I am nervously excited for him. If he is there for a long time, we will of course have to visit- I hear the food is pretty good ! :)

Thanks for all your prayers and support for him (and his Mom!).

Love,

Sue