His will, His way- Today

I started this blog six years ago when we moved from Virginia to Indiana so that my family had a life line as to what the Evoy's were up to.  Since then, my blogging has evolved into more than just an update into our life but rather a glimpse into our walk in faith.  As our lives have changed, so has our walk.  Blogging to me is like journaling.  I love being able to look back and see God's hand in my life, in my family, and as part of our journey.

 Living in God's will isn't easy.  Trust me, I've questioned it, argued with God over it, stomped my foot and said NO, and yet, God waits and His will ultimately wins.  Isn't it amazing how  God allows us to have those emotions of frustration and concern, even allowing us to think we have the option to say No.  Ha!  God is in control.  God is patient and loving beyond anything we could imagine.  He lets us have our little tantrums but in the end, He knows His children.  He knows our hearts.  He knows we will inevitably submit to Him who knows what is best for us.

God has a plan for your life.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

How on earth could we ever question a God who has plans to prosper us?  If you truly desire to live in God's will for your life, you will spend time in His Word looking and being watchful for His signs.  It's interesting to me how often times, God will lead us through a wilderness experience before He shows us His plan and walks us up the mountain for that mountain top experience.  And I am here to say, I've walked many walks through that wilderness, but never alone.  God may send us through the wilderness but He never sends us on our own.  He is always with us, aware of what is coming next on the path. Each of us has our own plan for our life that God alone prepared. Each of us has our own.  No plan is identical.  Marinate on that for a minute.  God's plan for your life is yours and yours alone.  How remarkable is our God?!?!

When we moved to Minnesota, I was less than thrilled to be leaving friends, our church, my service at the Lighthouse Ministry and BSF.  I had no idea why on earth God was moving our family to this frozen area of the United States.  I questioned God.  But in His time, He showed me a glimpse of my purpose.  My husband had told me from day 1 of our move, this was about me and my work for the kingdom, not his.  And I recall flippantly rolling my eyes and saying, yeah right.  But as I'm preparing my goodbyes from friends and my service here, I can see validation in my husband's words.  Where I thought there was nothing I could bring to my service here, I was wrong.  I brought my joy and my love for Christ and I let that light shine.  I had no idea my light was needed, but God did and God used it.  Sometimes the simplest things to us are the big things for God to use.

People may make plans in their minds, but the Lord decides what they will do.- Proverbs 16:9

If we are to be dutiful disciples, we are to follow Him, trusting Him completely.  Until God's perfect plan is made known, we must walk in faith, never losing hope.  His ways are not our ways and His timing is not our timing. 

So as I prepare to make our next move, I'm forced to rely on God and His perfect plan for my life.  I don't know what He has in store for us.  I don't know if this move is about me, my husband, or even my son, but I know God knows.  I know that He has already gone before us and paved a path.  I need to resist the temptation to do things "my way" and rather submit to my Father and allow Him to lead.  "With God, it's never "Plan B' or "second best".  It's always "Plan A." And, if we let Him, He'll make something beautiful of our lives.". Gloria Gaither.

God has a wonderful and abundant plan for our lives.  The time to start trusting God and looking for that plan is now.  Don't waste another moment just living life your way- start living His way, today!  Start praying that God would reveal His plan to you.  Start praising God for the plan He has created just for you.  Stop fretting on your next step, but rather start trusting that your  next mountain top experience is right around the corner.  Get out of your boat and step out on the water, just like Peter, trusting God to keep you afloat.

And as I begin this new journey with my family, I will continue to keep my eyes focused on my Father in heaven.  For He knows the plans He has for my family.  Plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future.  Oh how sweet to be loved by a loving Father in heaven who has all the details within His capable hands!

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, I will see You and Your will for my life.  You have a plan for me that I could never fully understand but You completely understand.  I praise You, Lord, for the way you work all things for the good of Your children.  Today I will trust You with the details knowing that You have my life in Your perfect plan with Your perfect timing.  Thank you Lord.  Amen

What say you?

Christmas time is here...happiness and cheer...

Go ahead, finish the tune, you know you know it!  Nothing says Christmas is here like seeing all those specials, sales, movies, decorations and of course Charlie Brown's sad little Christmas tree on TV.  This is the time of year where we extend a little more grace.  We love a little more, grumble a little less.  But let me ask you this- during all the hustle and bustle to please family and enjoy the "holiday", do you tend to lose perspective of what Christmas truly is?  Do you allow yourself to become so consumed with the commercial side of Christmas that you forget why we even celebrate?  Don't feel guilty, we all have those moments.  We are human and tend to get caught up in this world.  But as God tells us in His Word,

Be careful not to forget the Lord.- Deuteronomy 6:12 HCSB

If the busy pace of the impending Christmas season leaves you robbed of the peace only Christ can provide then you may need to revamp your perspective.  If this is you, you are too busy dear friend for your own good.   In order to be able to rest in the peace that God provides, you must slow down long enough to feel God's presence.  You must slow down long enough to feel His loving arms around you. 

What if, instead of running yourself crazy, you took a moment and accepted a gift from God?  What if you just spent time alone with God?  I've learned through my Bible Study of Revelation that God created us to worship Him.  When we pray, we are worshipping God.  When we sing, we are worshipping God.  When we serve, we are worshipping God.  When we love others as Christ loves us, we are worshipping God.  How amazing that we have a God who loves to hear His children worship and praise Him at all times and in so many ways.  What if, instead of getting caught up in this "worldly" holiday celebration, you took time to receive the gift of love and peace that God desires for you from Him.  Barbara Johnson once said, "Attitude is the mind's paintbrush; it can color any situation".  What's your attitude?

Look closely inside the folds of your heart.  Is the Holy Spirit convicting you to slow down?  How remarkable this Christmas season could be if everyone truly took the time to worship and praise God for the gift of His Son who was sacrificed so that we may be found without fault- as white as snow.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love it when it snows.  I don't see the headaches and frustrations that others see but instead, I see the constant reminder of how God sees me.  One of my BSF friends even went further to say, under the pretty white snow is all the muck and yuck, just like us.  But God doesn't look at that- he sees us as His children.  He sees love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness on each of us.  Shouldn't THAT be a gift worth celebrating this Christmas?  Shouldn't we all slow down and be reminded by the snow that we are loved and forgiven and then praise God that He loves us that much.  The most precious gift any of us could ever receive isn't in a store or online  but rather was given to this world in a manager.  A lowly stable one night in Bethlehem. 

Instead of trying to please everyone on Christmas, refocus and work on pleasing God with your praise and your thankfulness.  Try not to forget that Christ didn't come as a King but rather as a servant and a Savior.  Worship and praise must be woven into our very being.  It must be part of everything we do.  Worship and praise should be our biggest gift to our Heavenly Father this Christmas, and every day.  Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.- 1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV

"Being busy, in and of itself, is not a sin.  But being busy in an endless pursuit of things that leave us empty and hollow and broken inside-that cannot be pleasing to God."-Max Lucado

I challenge you...be busy this Christmas season with God.  Be busy praising Him who desires to lavish you with a love beyond anything you could ever comprehend.  Be busy worshipping God through all that you do each day.  Be busy setting the example. Always remember that today is a gift, a priceless gift given to you by God.  It is a unique treasure and an opportunity to truly show God how thankful you are.  I challenge you to use this Christmas season as an opportunity to be joyful and productive and to encourage others to do the same.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.  Psalm 92:1-2 NKJV

May you find the love and peace God is offering you this Christmas.  May your most treasured gift not come wrapped in a box with pretty paper and a bow but rather, may it come through your praise and worship of your Heavenly Father.  I pray that each of you feels the love and peace that only God can provide this Christmas.  May you exude the love of Christ in all you do in preparing for the birth of our King.  May the light of Christ be with each of you today, tomorrow, and always.

Merry Christmas~

Been awhile....

I just logged onto my blog and noticed, I haven't posted anything since Dec of last year.  That means only one thing....life is good and I am blessed.  The Evoy's are adjusting to their new home here in Minnesota and while life has had it's challenges, God is continuing to bless us each and every day.

This idea that I am happy and content didn't hit me until a sweet friend posted on my facebook page that I looked happy in one of my pictures.  This same friend had once told me in Savannah that I was "too busy with the busy"ness".  Words that at the time, I didn't comprehend but today, I see what she was saying.  Often times, we allow ourselves to get so busy with the business of life that we forget to stop and enjoy the blessings God has given us. Our family has evolved and changed so much in the last few years.  And with some of the changes, we've been caught off guard and have begun to look at life differently.  What's important?  What matters?

What's important?  Lots of things can seem important.  Lots of things can rob us from prioritizing important things in our lives properly.  In our house, family is important.  As Matthew continues to grow into a strong, independent young man, I find my role constantly changing.  It's important that he is raised to value family, be responsible, be honest, be respectful, but most of all to love God.  And since he is your normal 15 year old boy, he tests the limits at times.  I would expect nothing less but it's important that when he is disciplined, he sees grace and love coming from me just as our Heavenly Fathers shows us.  Recently Matthew and I had a "disagreement".  I reminded him that in our house, we do forgiveness.  We do "I'm sorry".  We do respect.  We do honesty.  And most importantly, we do "I love yous".  Family is important.  Putting God first and foremost in your home is beyond important. 

What matters?  Chris and I had a conversation just a few days ago about how our view of what matters changes as we age.  We likened it to a young new teen driver.  They feel they are invincible.  Nothing can stop them.  Then, you grow up and life throws you a curveball and you begin saying goodbyes to loved ones around you.  Loved ones you thought would always be there.  Then suddenly, your own mortality becomes real.  It's not your mortality that changes  you, for if you are a child of God, you know where you will live eternally.  It's the lack of "moments" that rattles you.  Awakens you to see that each and every moment of everyday matters.  Each and everyday is a gift and should be used as such.  What matters is the time you put into others.  Time building them up.  Time making memories.  Time loving them.  Such sweet words were shared by my husband this past weekend as we celebrated Father's Day.  He said that nothing brought him such joy as knowing that everything he does is for a reason.  That reason being his family.  What matters to my husband is making sure we are provided for, both in the present and after he's gone.  What matters to my husband is that he works hard so that Matthew and I can enjoy life.  What matters to my husband is that he is working each day to create memories that we will treasure always.

Do an inventory of your life.  What's important?  What matters?  Are you leaving footprints of God's truths on your family?  Are you living a life full of memories to treasure.  Are you living a life where God is at the center? If you can't answer yes to any of these questions, why not?  What are you waiting for?  Life is so much sweeter when you are living with God.  No, not everything will be perfect but is there such a thing as perfection?  God's path will have peaks and valleys.  But it's your trust in Him that gets you through every valley moment in life.  My favorite scripture is Isaiah 41:10,

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


Such sweet words from a God who knows what is important and what matters.  Don't allow yourself to get so involved with the busy"ness" that you forget to notice what is right in front of you.  I've been there.  I've missed the little things because I thought I was too busy with my idea of the important things.  God used my friend's post on facebook to allow me to see what I had been doing.  I feel so blessed to have a Father in heaven who will never leave or forsake me.  A God who does forgiveness. Who hears my "I'm sorry".  Who does honesty. And most importantly, who does"I love yous".

Refocus  your priorities.  Take time to be with your family. Be thankful to your heavenly Father for all the blessing he has given.  Remind yourself daily what truly is important and what truly matters.  God is important.  Family matters. 

X Marks the Spot...

Had you asked me just a few months ago if I thought we'd be moving, my answer would have been a strong NO. But God had other plans for our family. Here I sit in our new home watching the snow fall softly upon the front yard. Everything outside is white. It reminds me of the verse in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool". 

It's been several years since we've lived in the midwest.  It's been several years since we've had snow.  Funny, everyone in Savannah who heard we were moving west was worried about the snow

and cold but I have to say, seeing it now just makes me feel loved by God.  To think that God is
creating each snowflake and knows precisely where it will land, well, isn't that like our lives?  He created each of us and knows exactly where we will go, who we will be, and knows exactly where we will land?  I am a firm believer that God uses all things to His glory.  He promises us that in the scriptures.  Romans 8:28 to be exact...

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.

It's strange but I feel as if my family was brought here specifically to be reminded of just how great our God is.  To be reminded of how He works for the good of His children.  To be reminded that I am white as snow because I belong to the Kingdom of God.  I can look back over every single move our family  has made, and I can see God's handiwork throughout the entire process.  Each move was scripted by God in an effort to bring us to our knees in thankfulness to Him.  More importantly, each move has brought us closer to God and each other.  This family is no stranger to moves and new places.  Personally, I like the thrill and adventure of discovery a new place.  Finding the hidden gems in a new area.  And I love that my son is getting his eyes opened to new opportunities and places.  How boring life can get when you allow yourself to become stagnet in one spot due to fear of ever leaving what you know. 

I've said it before and I still stand behind it...I had absolutely no idea that when I said "I do" to my husband, we would have so many adventures together all because he is a trash man.  He has no idea how proud I am of him.  How proud it makes me that he works so hard for his family.  How proud I am that he trusts in God to lead him.  How proud I am in all that he does everyday and the sacrifices he makes.  He is truly a gift from God and my best friend.  There is no one in this world I would rather go on these adventures with.

So, Sartell, Minnesota is the new stop on the Evoy path.  X marks the spot for Sartell.  Sartell is a city in Benton and Stearns counties in Minnesota that straddles both sides of the Mississippi River. It is part of the St. Cloud Area.  Yep, this gal is living back on the Mississippi River which makes me giggle to no end.  I grew up on it and here I am living upon its shores once again.  The population of Sartell is 16,183 people, and it just grew by 3!  It's a small town with lots of potential and only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of St. Cloud.  A quaint little area with big plans.  And of course, there is ice hockey for Matt.  He is VERY excited to get back on the ice after his 4 year hiatus.  The Sartell-St. Stephens school district is one of the top school districts in the nation.  AND, if you can believe it, they have an ice hockey team...imagine that, right?  It would appear that Sartell has opportunities for all of us!  They even have a BSF class so that I can continue my study of Moses AND they have a men's class that Chris is going to get involved with.  Sartell is going to be a wonderful place to be because God is using this new home to His glory.

So yes, Sartell is going to be a little colder than Savannah.  Average winter temps are cold....usually low teens at night and high upper 20's during the day.  Summer temps are mild with highs reaching the mid 80s.  As you would guess, Sartell does receive a generous amount of snowfall each year. 

Average snowfall is 10 inches but you never know just what will happen once it starts to snow! 

The City of Sartell was named for Joseph B. Sartell, who arrived in 1854 who worked as a millwright at a local sawmill. In 1877 Joseph B. Sartell opened a flour mill on the Watab River, and in 1884 he and his sons started the Sartell Brothers Lumber Company.  Incorporated in 1907, Sartell began as a small river town relying on lumber and a paper company for its existence. The present site of the City of Sartell was first known as "The Third Rapids", this name was given by the French fur traders because it was the third "rapids" they would encounter as they traveled north up the Mississippi River from St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis.

The more I find out about this little spot of the world, the more I am assured, God has a purpose for us being here.  God has a plan for us to accomplish.  God is going to glorify His kingdom with this move.  And me, well I'm just going to savor the sweet moments that are yet to come as we begin to explore this new place.  It's still snowing outside...just a daily reminder that God loves me. 

Tides of change....again

Wow...I can't believe I haven't posted anything since August.  That just goes to show you that we often times allow ourselves to get to busy with the busy instead of being present in the present.  The Evoy household has been plowing full steam ahead for many weeks.  And with the ebbs and flows of this forward motion comes transitions and changes. 

God has big things in store for my family, specifically, my husband.  I have to take a few moments to brag about how blessed I am to be married to this man.  God's timing on when we met and married was perfect.  He is my best friend, my biggest supporter, my comforter when I need a shoulder, my calming peace when my world seems to be spiraling beyond my control but most importantly, he is the spiritual leader of my household.  He is a gift from God.  And because I love and cherish him so dearly, I will follow him to the ends of the earth.  So, with that visual in mind, it should come as no surprise that he is once again transitioning with his job and we don't know for sure yet just what that means.  I never thought for a moment that the day I married a trash man it would lead to so many different adventures.  I wish I had more to share on that particular subject but at the present time all I can say is, God is working on something big.  God's hand is orchestrating something beautiful and exciting.  And my husband, well, he is listening closely to God's guidance. 

Unfortunetly, I can not say that I've been as intune with God as my husband has.  I've felt overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated and just downright fearful at times.  Funny how we let all those emotions dictate our day isn't it?  Makes me think of Jesus, specifically the story of how after Jesus had fed and preached to the crowds, he put the disciples in a boat and he himself went to the top of the mountain to be alone with God. 

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:19-23

Jesus didn't allow himself to be overwhelmed or anxious.  Instead, he went and spent time alone with his Father.  Wise actions to follow.  It seems so easy in theory and yet, we allow ourselves to stay in a "tizzy".  Even on the night in which Christ gave up his life for us, he was alone in the garden praying to his Father instead of worrying over his impending death.  Oh to have that type of calmness over life. 

So the question you have to ask yourself is what do you do with anxiety, worry, transitions, change, or fear in your life?  I myself, I have to answer honestly and say, I allow the emotions to win.  I don't want to, I hate it when I let it happen but alas, only I can break that cycle.

Anxiety in a man's heart wights it down, but a good word cheers it up.  Proverbs 12:25

God's promises tell us that we can lead lives of abundance, not fear and anxiety.  One of my life verses that I have clung to since early in my adult life is Philippians 4:6-7 which says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God tells us to give every situation to Him through prayer and petition.  And what we get in return is such a sweet peace that transcends all understanding.  God takes the burdens and gives us the peace.  How amazing is our Father in heaven?  To think, the very same God that created the universe and everything around us will be our comforter providing we place our burdens at his feet and trust Him alone with them. 

Corrie ten Boom once said, "So often we pray and then fret anxiously, waiting for God to hurry up and do something.  All the while God is waiting for us to calm down, so He can do something through us."  True words that every ear should hear.  How much time do we waste fretting over our circumstances or situations all the while, God has been working up stream preparing our next step but we are holding up the process by not letting go and letting God.

God has amazing things planned for each of us.  We need to let God control our burdens and carry only peace within us.  As a sweet friend said to me recently, "God's got it and I'm tucked up under His wing, resting in His peace".  She's right, God's got it.  He doesn't need, ask, require, or even want my help.

So as I begin to walk along this new path with my husband, I still don't know the outcome but I know God has it planned out.  I still don't know what this means with my husband's job but God's timing is perfect.  I don't need to have it all figured out because my God, he uses all things for His glory.  All I need to do is sit back in the sweetness of his wing and enjoy the journey He is taking us on.  God is good....ALL the time.

Spiritual Warfare

For the past week, I have felt Satan trying to "stir the pot" within my home.  He has been trying with each family member and enough is enough.  As I chatted with my husband last night about our week, we both had the same thought, if Satan is working this hard to create problems, something BIG is about to happen.  Haven't you ever noticed that the closer you get to God, the harder Satan works at disrupting your day?  It doesn't seem fair.  Who does Satan think he is that he can just jump in, make a mess, and then leave the scene of the crime? 

As I looked back over my week at all the "stressors" we were experiencing, I realized, all the sudden I was doing more work for God.  I would say at least 75% of my past week I spent working on database entries for a bible study, volunteering at my church's local outreach ministry, and praying over my family.  All these things had to do with me building my faith in God.  What a great opportunity for Satan to rear his ugly head.  But amist all this choas and frustration of the past week, I knew one thing was certain....

God's grace is sufficient.  God's love was always there.  God's hand of protection never left my family. God never left me. It says in 2 Corinthians 4:8, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair...

We are always going to become confronted with dead ends and frustrations in life.  But God is walking with us through all those frustrations and with every dead end, he turns us around and points us back to where we should go.  He can guide us through our difficulities and beyond.   Corrie ten Boom is quoted as saying, "If God sends us on stony paths, he provides strong shoes".  God will give us all we need to defeat the spiritual warfare we may be experiencing.  Satan hates it when God prevails.

But then, I also have to wonder, does God allow Satan to dip his toes in the water so that God can use it as an opportunity for us to grow closer to Him?  Two quotes come to mind when I ponder this scenario:

"This hard place in which you perhaps find yourself is the very place in which God is giving you opportunity to look only to Him, to spend time in prayer, and to learn long-suffering, gentleness, meekness- in short, to learn the depths of the love that Christ Himself has poured out on all of us"- Elisabeth Elliot

"Recently, I've been learning that life comes down to this: God is in everything.  Regardless of what difficulties I am experiencing at the moment, or what things aren't as I would like them to be, I look at the circumstances and say, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me?""- Catherine Marshall

My Dad saw a post on facebook about the doom and gloom our household had been experiencing and took the time to share an email devotional he had received in his inbox.  It talked about when you are experincing setbacks, problems, or circumstances beyond your control, how God's grace is always there.  "God's grace is infinite, but accessible. It's an ocean of grace, but it also falls in gentle drops at our feet. It's more than enough for the little problems you'll face today. " (taken from Today's Turning Point with David Jeremiah)  That's the beauty of being a child of God.  You have His grace to get you through the day. 

I can't help but linger on a few scriptures in the Bible that truly refresh the soul and close the door on Satan and his scheming.  Romans 5:3-4, We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience.  And patience produces character, and character produces hope.   Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG), Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

To know that no matter what happens during my week.  When things don't go the way we think they should.  When things aren't fair.  When changes are happening.  We can trust in God, go to him in prayer and know that he will give us a peace that will surpass all understanding.  God never leaves.  So, I say to Satan today, get thee behind me you skunk!  In the name of my Savior and Father in  Heaven, Christ Jesus, leave my home, leave my household, leave my family!  We belong to Christ and you can not and will not EVER overcome the love and grace given by Him. 

Heavenly Father, you are my strength and my refuge.  As I walk this journey of life, I know that I will encounter disappointments and adversity.  When I am troubled, fearful, or anxious, let me turn to You.  Renew a right spirit inside of me so that I may be kept steady knowing that you are always with me and will never leave or forsake me.  Thank you Lord for the promise of grace during difficult times.  Amen.

Do we ever really get it?

Over the past few months, the Evoy household has experienced changes.  Some good, some bad.  Some stretching us, some forcing us to look upwards, and some causing us to take that step out on faith.  Faith.  That's a strong word and means so many things.  Whenever I see the word faith, it makes me think of a gift my parents gave me.  It's a rock with the words, "Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down."  Isn't that what faith is?  Taking a leap and trusting that God will build your wings on the way down? 

Webster's Dictionary defines faith as believing or trusting.  But if we really took a moment to break apart that one little word, it becomes so much more.  Faith envelopes everything that Christians stand on.  Without faith, who could we place our trust in.  Without faith, there is no hope.  Without hope, nothing can be accomplished.  Jesus even uses the word faith repeatedly in the gospels. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus reminds us over and over and over again about faith.  Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:23-26)


Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw

the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31)


He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)


Jesus is telling us to keep the faith.  Remain faithful in Him.  Place everything we have in His capable hands.  The story of Peter stepping out onto the water reminds us so sweetly that if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our faith can overcome anything.  If we place everything we have securely at His feet, we can move mountains and overcome challenges that look hopeless. 

So, clearly this post is being spoken directly to me.  The Holy Spirit can move you when you least expect it and cause you to stop and take account of your actions and thoughts.  I will be openly honest in saying that I have been that follower of Christ with little faith lately.  And I have to ask myself, what blessing am I missing because I'm so focused on the "can'ts" and "have not's"?  You would think that if I took a moment to really look back over the path my family has taken and seen ALL that God has done, I would be the first one to not lose faith.  But we are all human, right?  We all fall into the same pitfalls.  The same cycle of worrying and fretting over what we can't do and we forget that through God we CAN do. 

I don't know what lays ahead for my family.  As one of my sweet girlfriends reminded me recently, God puts us in wilderness moments so we can rely on Him.  We are on a path through the wilderness.  A path that has a few bumps and bugs.  But it is a path that God has laid out before us.  Which way the path will turn, I don't know but my God does.  When will we find the end, only my God knows.  It makes no sense to worry over things that I can not control. 

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


I don't know how God is gonna work through what he's handed our family BUT I am excited to see what is yet to come.  So, with this blog being posted, I am challenging myself to give up the worry and anxiety.  Give up the trying to control the situation.  Give up trying to open doors to the path that I want for our family and instead, I'm going to let God's Will prevail.  I'm going to committ to praying that God's Will be done in my household.  If that means that we stay put with what we've got, we stay put and I accept that and praise Him.  If that means that the path twists and turns us back to other pastures, I will accept that and praise Him.  I have so much to be thankful for and so many blessings that have already been bestowed upon my household.  There is absolutely NOTHING God won't do for his children.  And since I am one of his beloved children, he will always, ALWAYS, work all things for my good.  My Father in heaven has got it all figured out.  So now, I wait with anticipation for the unveiling....

Father, you know the worries of my heart and the concerns I have.  Lord only You can know what is best for our family.  Just as you make sure the birds of the air are feed and the flowers are watered, you will make sure that our family is provided for.  You always give us what we need when we need it.  And while I don't know what the future may hold, I trust in You.  I surrender this obstacle to you.  Guide our steps along this path in the wilderness so that we may walk out the other side in Your Will for our lives.  I praise You for the blessings yet to come and for the way you will work this out for our good.  It is in Your strong name I pray.  Amen.