What God Withholds From Me

A Stormy Afternoon

“And as I read, I focused once again on who God is and how much He loves me (He loves me and cares for me and wants me to be blessed and wants my life to go well even more than my mother does, and if you know my mother—wow—that’s really a lovely thought! And, of course, and obviously, it’s true.) Anything God does is good. All of His ways are good. And this is not just an esoteric idea that is disconnected from real human life. It is utterly true. If anything is withheld, it is not just God’s discipline or His detached will; it is His protection of me. He is looking out for me.”
—Susan, My Summer Notebook: Lots of Tuesday Notes. . . (emphasis author’s)

This quote has been on my mind since reading it earlier this week. It is hard for me to realize how much God loves me. I’ve always thought that God loves my children even more than I love them, but I’ve never thought that He loves me more than my own dear mother does!

I have also felt so down in my spirit, so lonesome. I am tired of being single. I am tired of carrying the load alone. I’ve been doing this for 11 years. I am tired of not having a protector and a friend here with me. I want to be married and have a whole family, not a broken one with all that it entails. Knowing that what God is withholding from me is His protection of me is very comforting to me. I want His will or none at all.

Listings 7/7/11

Listings:  Recommended Listing of Links
Finally Feeling at Home Again. . .
Susan, who formerly wrote at High Desert Home (If you haven’t read that blog, I urge you to stop by with a favorite beverage and really absorb Susan’s writings.), writes about embracing a home that is not permanent. It was an encouragement to me, because we lost the last 2 homes due to no fault of our own (one home was sold by our landlord), and sometimes I’m fearful of it happening again. Here are my favorite quotes that really touched my heart.

“I think I’ve subconsciously held off entirely embracing this little house as home, even though I like it so well, and even though I recognize it as a gift from the Lord, because I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay here. Maybe I haven’t wanted to start setting down roots only to have to pull them up again.

“But suddenly, I don’t feel that way. Rather, I feel certain that the Lord gave this home to me—even if for only six months or a year—and if He has put me here, it is where I belong. This is where He wants me to live, so I shouldn’t hold back, gun-shy about another possible uprooting. If the Lord sees fit to move me somewhere else tomorrow, that’s His business, and, really, it’s only another chance to press hard into Him, to know Him better, and to trust Him more.

“So, I’m ready to settle into this place.”

Not a Morning Person? Rise With the Sun!
I enjoyed this second post by Susan about rising with the sun. I have been a night owl for years, but am trying to break that pattern. I know my days go better the earlier I rise, especially if I rise as the sun is just peaking over the woodlands.

Are You Washed in the Blood?
Michele at A Quiet Gracious Life shares a beautiful arrangement of the hymn, “Are You Washed in the Blood?”

Five Bible Verse Bookmarks Digital Download by Karla Dornacher
Karla Dornacher is one of my favorite modern artists. She is a Christian and offers much encouragement with her artwork.

YOUR Fireworks Shots!
I love looking at photos and was just amazed at the firework shots featured at Pioneer Woman Photography.

Free ebook: Best of Betty Crocker 2011 Summer cookbook
I love my hardback Betty Crocker cookbook and just know these recipes will be wonderful, too!

National Blueberry Month
July is National Blueberry Month! Blissfully Domestic has a lot of great info on the nutritional value of blueberries, how to freeze them, etc. I wash my blueberries, but do not flash freeze them before bagging them up. I never have a major problem with them sticking together.

If Leonardo DiCaprio Got Saved
I love the movie Titanic, so this post caught my eye. “God doesn’t gravitate toward the people that the world gravitates toward. He gravitates toward the weak, the lowly, the ordinary, and the unimpressive. He calls those whom the world ignores. If God primarily saved rich, powerful, and beautiful people, those people might have some reason to boast before God. But God saves unimpressive, weak people, so that there might not be any boasting in his presence. And when God saves these people and uses them to spread the gospel, it demonstrates the power of God, not the power of the people.”

Are You Holding The Art Of Homemaking Sacred?
This new-to-me blog has been very encouraging to me, especially the post “Are You Holding The Art Of Homemaking Sacred?” As a single mother, there is no one to come home to me at the end of the day to show appreciation to me, and that can get really discouraging. This post has helped me to endeavor harder in my role as mother and homemaker. Here are some favorite quotes (emphasis by the author).

“We should approach every task as a blessing to be received, never as a chore to get done.”

“In homemaking there is no such thing as ‘small work‘. We are to find the sacred in the everyday, strive to see the goodness or usefulness in ALL things, taking nothing for granted.

“The housewife makes the home, and the home makes the family. This is a tremendous responsibility that God has called the woman to do. A responsibility that we can NOT accomplish by ourselves, we MUST rely on God to see us through our journey. So never let the world make small of what being a homemaker is all about.”

Give Them What They Really Need
This post reminds mothers what is most important as we rear our children. “We mamas tend to major on the minors. At least that is what this mama has done. We strive to make sure our children are well educated and well rounded. We push them to potty train by two, write cursive by four, and read by five. We are deceived into thinking more is better. More life experiences, more lessons. We fret over having not done enough for our children. Did they learn what they needed to be successful adults? Whose definition of success are we living by anyway?”

Was It a Morning Like This?

Praise God, my Redeemer lives!

Here is a beautiful version in American Sign Language. Oh, my, how awesome!



Beautiful Terrible Cross

Sharing My Sunday 2/20/11

The following are quotes and notes I jotted down during our services this past Sunday.

“Our Lord attracted sinners because he was different. They drew near to him because they felt there was something different about him. The world should see us as different. The idea that you are going to win people to Christ by showing them that you are like them is theologically a profound blunder.”
—Martin Lloyd Jones

Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed the Word of God for 23 years, even though he had no converts. He did not resort to the world’s ways to draw people.

You’ll only get tares in the church if you use the world’s methods to fill them.

We [Christians] are not to be like the world, nor be liked by the world. (This does not mean a Christian seeks to make the world angry, but it means that a Christian should not seek to please the world.)

How much of the world is in you is determined by how much you are in the Word.

Fornication is the only sin where the Bible says to flee rather than to fight. (This was from another Sunday that I did not get posted, but was so good I wanted to include it.)

“I frankly confess that, for myself, even if it could be, I should not want ‘free-will’ to be given me, nor anything to be left in my own hands to enable me to endeavour after salvation; not merely because in face of so many dangers, and adversities and assaults of devils, I could not stand my ground. . .; but because even were there no dangers. . .I should still be forced to labour with no guarantee of success. . .But now that God has taken my salvation out of the control of my own will, and put it under the control of His, and promised to save me, not according to my working or running, but according to His own grace and mercy, I have the comfortable certainty that He is faithful and will not lie to me, and that He is also great and powerful, so that no devils or opposition can break Him or pluck me from Him. Furthermore, I have the comfortable certainty that I please God, not by reason of the merit of my works, but by reason of His merciful favour promised to me; so that, if I work too little, or badly, He does not impute it to me, but with fatherly compassion pardons me and makes me better. This is the glorying of all the saints in their God.”
—Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will
(My pastor found this quote at Reformation Theology.)

Listings 2/24/11

Listings:  Recommended Listing of Links
The Rapture Index for 2/21/11
Rapture Ready keeps a weekly index of news stories around the world that are pointing to our Savior’s imminent return. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28).”

OneNewsNow.com
“OneNewsNow.com is the website of the American Family News Network (AFN), a national Christian news service. Our goal is to present the day’s news from a biblical perspective. We not only feature the latest breaking stories from across the United States and around the world, but also news of the challenges facing Christians in today’s society.”

The Daily–Choosing Friends Wisely
“In life we will have many types of friendships, and we need to be very wise in the way we deal with each of them. You would not want to open your heart and hand out your trust to just anyone. Choosing friends is something we must take seriously. Friendships can be downright unhealthy and affect our healthy relationships…and our walk with the Lord.”

What’s wrong with the “what does this verse mean to me” approach to interpreting the Bible?
We Christians need to interpret the Bible in the right way, by finding out what the author’s intent was when writing. In this short audio message by John MacArthur, you will find out more.

Reader Testimonial: My Money-Saving Christmas
I really loved the reader’s testimony as to how they had a good Christmas using the Money Saving Mom website, despite the fact that her husband only worked 7 months out of 24.

14 Ways to Save Money on Groceries
Some very good tips I’ve never heard!

How to Make Natural Lip Balm
This looks so easy! (Thank you, A Dusty Frame)

Listings 2/16/11

Listings:  Recommended Listing of LinksI am renaming my “Recommended Links” to “Listings.” Sounds so old-fashioned, doesn’t it?:)

MightyBookJr.com: Free Year of Online Kids Books—(I found this offer last week and hope it is still valid.) Mighty Books Jr. is offering a free membership to their website – a $99 value. This website has over 850 animated books online, perfect for all types of students, including children with special needs. Check it out!

What We Love Artsy Writing Project for the Week of Valentine’s Day—Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, February is still a month to focus on love. This is a great project for the whole family, and would make a great keepsake.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, The Interview Pt. 1—Girl talk has a 4-part interview with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, from Revive Our Hearts radio. It is a blessing to read how this single woman allows God to use her. Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4

Have You Started a Forest Fire Today?—True Woman has a very convicting article on the power of the tongue. I never really realized how voicing our feelings can make them worse. “Have you ever noticed how once you state something it seems to become more concrete?”

Cyber-sex Is Still Cheating—Be very careful how you conduct yourself online with the opposite sex. I personally will not chat or email with another man unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Taking Better Photos~Even with a “Cheap” Camera—Lizzie at A Dusty Frame shares some fantastic tips on getting great shots with your regular camera. I often drool over cameras I want, but now am encouraged to use what I have!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays: How to easily access spices in your kitchen cupboard—Tammy shares a great tip on easily getting to your spices stored in cabinets. I already store mine in a basket, but never thought to label the tops. Great idea!

5 February 1957 “Sleekness in Design for ’57 and the Need For The Latest Thing”—I really enjoy reading The Apron Revolution blog, where the author chronicles how she lives her present life as if she was living in the 1950s. I really recommend reading this recent article discussing how we can get caught up trying to keep up with the Joneses. “Styles change and desires with them, but we must remember that deep down, it is all manufactured. Not only the product but the desire.”

Introducing BLB.sc!—Blue Letter Bible, one of my favorite Bible research sources, now has a new BLB URL shortener. This is very useful when you need to link to these tools on Facebook or Twitter.

500 Posts and Counting—Be sure to listen to the beautiful singing of this precious boy that has several disabilities. Oh, how precious!

Four Reasons Busyness is a Bad Idea—Busyness is something I hate and try to stay away from if at all possible. Blissfully Domestic shares great reasons to keep yourself from it.

Glory

A friend sang this at church recently. It’s been on my mind ever since!

Sharing My Sunday 1/2/2011

923897: Quiet Confidence for a Woman"s Heart: The Power of God"s Healing and Restoration
My youngest and I missed church again today because we are still trying to get over the flu. I can’t even sing right now.:( Since I don’t have anything from church to share, I would like to share some quotes from the Bible study I’m doing in addition to our Sunday school study. It is called Quiet Confidence for a Woman’s Heart: The Power of God’s Healing and Restoration by Elizabeth George. All quotes are by the author unless otherwise noted.

“His care is unceasing. His love is unending. His guidance is unfailing. His presence is everlasting.”

***

“At Calvary, at the cross, Jesus Christ truly paid it all—the total penalty and price for our sins. Our responsibility now is to confess our sins. His promise is to forgive. And, beloved, there is no sin too great for Him to forgive!”

***

“God is with you! At every point, every season, every moment, He is with you.”

***

“In my heart I do have a fear . . . I long to grow more godly with each passing day. Call it ‘the fear of the Lord,’ being in awe of Him and scared to death of any sin that would mar my life.”
–Anne Ortlund, quoted in Quiet Confidence for a Woman’s Heart: The Power of God’s Healing and Restoration

“Daily I live with [one] fear—a healthy fear if there is such a thing. [It is] that I will miss something God has for me in this life. And it is mind-expanding to contemplate all that He wants me to have. I don’t want to be robbed of even one of God’s riches by not taking time to let Him invade my life. By not listening to what He is telling me.”
–Carole Mayhall, quoted in Quiet Confidence for a Woman’s Heart: The Power of God’s Healing and Restoration

He is With You

This song is one of my favorites right now. It blesses and comforts me so much. I can really relate to the line that says, “God, what’d You do that for?” This past Christmas season has been very hard for so many people. There have been many illnesses and a few deaths, including my aunt’s. May it encourage you to know that our God is with us. No matter what.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 43:2 NKJV