Are We Living FOR God or WITH God?

Summer's busy isn't it girls?!

I have been doing something every day and having a great summer but I don't think I've ever had a busier one.

I'm thankful that I do have a few mini vacations coming up and I will enjoy them thoroughly.
Beach time, family time...can't wait!

I have had it on my heart to remind you (and myself) that through everything you are walking right now...you are loved.

If you are busy or bored, or troubled and scared.
You are loved.

He is walking right alongside you and willing to carry you when needed.

There is so much said about grace today and I'm reading several books on the grace of God. All different authors and reflections on the subject.

There is so much to learn...and I think that the more I learn, the more I realize ....I barely know anything.

I used to think I had life and God all figured out but now I see that I've only seen glimpses of who He is and there is so much more to understand about His character and His love.

So much of my own life has been spent in church ministry that naturally compels us to try and help others know "how to live"

But now I think and feel that the point is not "how" to live but WHO to live and walk WITH.

Rom 4:13-14
13 It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.
NLT

NOT based on law or our "performance"

And then there's this about relationship:

Rom 5:6-11

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

7 Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment.

10 For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.

11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God--all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God. NLT

Powerful words to chew on!

I have spent so much time trying to help others live FOR God but now I feel such an emphasis on sharing how to live WITH God.

Relationship with Him is what brings healing, hope and freedom.

I pray that you also will feel drawn to the message of God's love and grace and let Him show you the peace that He brings through it.

Have a great summer girlfriends!!
I'll be around when I can.

Keep On Loving You

For this "Two shall become One ~ Tuesday" I want to wish my dear friends Jason and Denise Dykstra a Happy Anniversary and use her blog post and this song as a reminder to all of us that we need to "Keep On Loving You"!

Read Denise's post here:
Happy Anniversary to My Wonderful Husband

and check out this sweet song...oh how I love Reba!



I'm praying for our marriages,
Sue

All Because Two People Fell In Love

This collage is in my hallway...

My favorite one is on the top left and says,
“Family, all because two people fell in love.”

Why is it so easy to forget that?

We get so busy and sidetracked with the bills and the babies, the laundry and the lasagna.

Days turn into years and we grow apathetic, forgetting the crazy wild passion that brought the two of us together.

We take each other for granted.

Long conversations sitting in the driveway when we were dating turn into short snotty comments we quip to one another as we pass in the kitchen.

Life catches us off guard. Flanks us when we’re least expecting it.

But then, a picture, a memory, sneaks its way into our view and we think about that young couple that fell in love so many years ago.

Remember that couple.

Get in touch with that couple.

Take them out to dinner, do something spontaneous with them and remind them of days long ago when they couldn’t wait to see each other.

Remind them of the long conversations on the phone.

The anticipation and thrill of the sound when their car turned into your driveway.

The day they got engaged.

Help that couple remember that the home, the family and the memories are all because two people fell in love.

And encourage them to do it all over again.

I'm praying for our marriages,
Sue

I Also Grew Up With a Flawed Image of the Loving God

Good words...

Anxiety?

Phil 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
NIV

Peace. There is not a substance on this planet that can bring about peace like the peace that comes from God.
It is without side effects or hangovers and never makes your butt look big.

God comes and takes away the panic and our response to the anxiety can be His response: peace.

Our prayers do not have to be long winded or Shakespearian. But, they do need to be heartfelt, real, and honest.

They may be one word: help!

God is not looking for a performance from you, He is looking for a relationship with you.

Talk to Him like you would a friend who is sitting there next to you. A friend you trust, a friend who you know loves you and is safe.

He is.

July Praise and Coffee Giveaway! Hillsongs!!!!!!

Hello and Happy July!

Can you believe we're in the middle of summer?!

You may have noticed I'm "unplugging" a bit from the blog and FB so that I can spend more time with the family. I assure you, once fall comes (and the 6 year old is in school THREE FULL DAYS a week!) I will get busy again. I have so many things on my heart that I want to write to you about.

This month I am so excited to be giving away the latest CD from Hillongs..I admit I have not even heard it yet, but I know it will be fantastic and mine (along with yours) is on order!

It is called "A Beautiful Exchange"

And you'll get some Praise and Coffee COFFEE!

PLUS... thanks to Becky Schultea, you will be receiving a set of her darling cards! Check out all the gorgeous stuff on her website!

This month will be the beautiful "Freedom" cards:

To enter the drawing, it's simple:
1. Leave a comment on THIS post. Drawing will be July 14th.

2. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win.

3. If you have any of my blog buttons on your blog, let me know in your comment and you will be entered twice.

4. AND... I would love you to check out this post about a friend of mine and please say a prayer for her family in this difficult season.

Feel free to tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter about the giveaway and thank you if you do!!

EDITED TO ADD:

The winner is: Rachel from "A Steady
Rain" Congratulations!!!!!

"Today Our Home Was Destroyed By Fire"

Many of you local friends remember Alison Hodgson who spoke at our December 2009 Praise and Coffee Night here in Plainwell, MI.

Alison and Denise Dykstra

Her humor and spirit are just precious and we all quickly fell in love with her!

It was great to see her again at last week's Praise and Coffee Night when she came with our guest speaker and her good friend Lorilee Craker.

Just 3 days later I found out that her house had been burned down!

Completely destroyed...cars, garage and all...

This is from her Facebook page:

"Today our home was destroyed by fire. The children are grieving and shaken, but Paul and I are so grateful for family, friends and strangers who have come to our aid. We have lost "everything", but feel rich and free.
I ran out of the house barefoot, in my pajamas and the only thing I grabbed was my laptop"

I chatted online with Alison and she has requested prayers for her family and especially the children as this has been an emotional shock for everyone.

I know you ladies will pray but I also want to give you an opportunity to help them with material things.

Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. If you want to send a note of encouragement or gift card, contact me through email and I'll share the mailing address.

2. I will be getting them some gift cards and if you would rather combine your gift with mine, you can email me and I'll give you my Paypal info.

3. Email Alison a note of encouragement: alisonhodgson@comcast.net



Alison is such a precious woman of God and I just know that He is going to bring her beauty for ashes, quite literally. I look forward to seeing what God births out of such destruction, I know it will be good. But for now, I pray for their family as they grieve.

"Lord, let them grieve with hope and bring them joy instead of mourning."