Good Afternoon,

I was thinking about a comment one of the lovely and very wise woman in my small group said when she was encouraging another group member about changes that were occurring in her life. She said, “God will not leave a hole in your life”. 

I thought about that comment as the very person who expressed that word of encouragement is using it today as a reminder of God’s purpose in her own life. 

As I think about that statement I am reminded that I often chose to work as a filler of holes. I don’t like empty spaces, areas that are not filled with direction and purpose, and yet God does not leave holes in our life. In my Tatumness I perceive a hole, and yet what look like a hole to me is an opportunity given  to wait and watch and see how the Lord will fill it.

 As I think back, holes that seemed more like caverns to me are sweet reminders that I am not to act as the filler of all things dirt! And then there are other times where sitting and waiting on God to fill the hole with what I deemed to be the “filler” is not what God filled the hole with. In His sovereignty I trust, I don’t understand but I trust. 

So for all my cyber friends who are either waiting for a hole in your life to be filled, I hope you are encouraged to continue waiting….don’t jump in with shovels in either fist. God has the perfect filler. 

And for you my cyber friends who have dug yourself deeper into a hole, I hope this verse encourages you.

2 Samuel 22:47 (The Message)

Good Afternoon,

I was car pooling this morning which is my extra curricular activity…:) I was listening to the radio not paying too much attention when the words to one of the songs took me back to Canada Day last year. For all my American friends, July 1st is our July 4th!

It was the first race my son competed in.  It was a fun day. Memorable as we cheered him and his two friends on to the finish line. Being the rookie “racer mom’ that I was, I had no idea all the people who would line the streets to cheer. Some onlookers were cheering for  competitors they knew in the race, others just came along to watch. There were people handing out cold drinks to the racers. There were medical personnel standing by. There were people who I would describe as “encourager’s”, these were people who would run beside the racers off the race path supporting them in their efforts to cross the finish line. The atmosphere was electric. When the gun shot for the kidlets to begin their race, my heart skipped a beat as I was willing my boy along to do his best and not get trampled by the initial start off the line. 

As I was listening to the song this morning, the memory of the race created a new picture for me. The race we are on, our journey to become more Christ like is a continuous effort. Along the way we meet those who I would describe as encourager’s, just like those who ran along side the racers. At other points in our journey with Jesus we meet those who provide us with wisdom, physical needs perhaps, emotional support, like those who were handing out water to the runners. I forgot to mention that there were also people dressed up in costumes who were really entertainment for the on lookers, however as a runner these people could become a distraction. Can you think of people in your journey who would fit those descriptions? 

As I watched all the competitors cross the finish line, some were happy with their performance and others were not, but in the end the race is completed. The picture of the finish line should offer us hope, that whatever point we are in on our race, rookie runners, novice or advanced we all face challenges and detours, but because we are children, loved and held up by our loving Heavenly Father, the race will be completed.  

So friends, lace up those running shoes and keep going!

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? Galatians 5:7

Journey On

Good Morning,

Wow, Monday mornings! Not only are mornings challenging  for me on any given day, but today is the first day back to school after enjoying two weeks of spring break and not having the morning rush which gets the adrenaline pumping…I know all you can all relate!

Now that my morning fog is starting to lift thanks to my cup of java, I’ve begun to think about all the activities that need to occur today. So many “to-do’s”, not sure where the time will be found to complete the list and in the split seconds of all those thoughts, I am already feeling discouraged. It could be the very real reality that vacation is over and I am still in vacation mode, our friends just left to head back home, I’m tired after two weeks of schedule free days, and I know that Satan knows exactly where to push my buttons. So I decided to use the armor that we have been given to suite up for the battle of the day.  I began to read the love letter that God gave us through the Bible. This verse jumped out at me!

You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. 

1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 (The Message)

I love the description of being a daughter of Day. If we are really real about life, the days can be tough, long, lonesome, and sometimes dreaded. Reading this verse it reminded me that my day no matter what it is filled with, the absences I feel, the planned and the unforeseen can be met as I am clothed in faith, in unfailing love and I live with true hope because I know Jesus. Now if that isn’t an adrenaline boast I don’t know what is! God is so good to know that in moments of life, the beginning of the day, mid day or evening we are able to use the scriptures to help us not only survive the days but thrive. Now that is a sustaining adrenaline rush!

Journey On,

Hey There,

Happy Friday! Have you had your sweet treat yet today?

I have to say my heart is breaking as we just said good bye to my parents after having them here for a wonderful fun filled week. Each time gets tougher…something I thought would get easier,  but it hasn’t.I have come to recognize that my worries about saying goodbye happen the second to last day we have visitors. I push the emotions out of my mind as I want to enjoy the last few days we have together, but the reality is very real in my mind. The morning off a departure is never a good one. My attitude is terrible and as I fight with myself in my bedroom I recognize that my kidlets are watching me so this mama needs to be a big girl and deal with the day. As I type tears are flowing as my emotions are mixed. I am thankful for such godly wonderful parents, they are inspiring and encouraging. As they pulled out of our driveway the all too familiar feeling of loneliness started to overtake me. After having such a wonderful visit I realized just how independent my honey and I have had to become. We don’t have someone to drop the kids too, help out with household stuff, listen to the happiness of the day and share in the frustrations we call life.  

The genuine interest they take in what is happening in our southern world and the relationships they have with my kidlets is a hard thing to see drive away. However, in my tears I know that in their car they are already praying for me, for my adjustment back to being here, without family.  

As my mind is fighting to stop the rush of self pity I want to throw myself into, I keep hearing very clearly ” You are not alone..for I am with you always”!

God is good, I don’t understand Him a lot of the time, and I tend to not always agree with how life is playing out, but this I know to be true. I am not alone. He has taught me that time after time in the past two years. God is good!

If you are with your family, enjoy the time you have with them. Taking life for granted it one of the hardest lessons I have had to learn. Enjoy every moment. As we are promised in the Bible, you never know what a day brings forth!

Happy Weekend

Journey On

Good Morning,

We are busily getting ready for our March Break guests. We love having family and friends come visit and when March roles around, Canadians are done with the cold and are looking for some sun and “bootless’ days! NC is the perfect destination!

In the preparations we are trying to get our guest room finished. I decided that I wanted to have a wall of fame. Pictures of our children, our friends and family. A small project has turned into a weeks worth of work. Furniture has been moved, pictures dug out of boxes, frames purchased and pictures mounted. So many ideas, so little time!

On our wall of fame I am mounting a rather large key. I bought it the first month we moved to NC. It was a moment of “shopping therapy”. I felt like I deserved some news things, after all I was in a new place! Ah, but that’s a story for another day.

 When the FedEx man left the box at my door I could not think of what the contents could be…..it was huge. I had envisioned a small key, one that would be mounted by the back door to hang my keys, which would help me in keeping my keys contained. Seriously, they jump out of my purse!

Anyways back to my story. When the box was opened my small decorative key turned out to be huge. My metric brain collided with the imperial system that abounds here, add into the mix my aversion to details and walla, the worlds biggest, key.

Today I am happy to say it is finally being hung on the wall, some 26 months later! Yup, I see your smiles!

It got me to thinking. One of the key’s to living a life that is honesty being transformed into less of me and more of Jesus is perseverance. Unlocking the mysteries of our heart and mind, being willing to hear the voice of Truth, Accepting and giving grace…takes time. 

Revelation 2:19 (The Message)

I love this verse. Can’t you picture Jesus saying.”I see what you’re doing, how you are changing….you are getting better at it every day! Keep going”!

Now is that not encouraging or what!

Journey On, 

Happy Donut Day!

Good Afternoon,

It’s already been a week and it’s only Tuesday! With a snow day yesterday in NC and then a two hour delay today, my days are right out of whack. I’m discovering how much I enjoy a routine. I guess scheduling for five makes the routine of weekdays much more manageable. So snow days come along, throw everything off kilter and then I’m scratching my head as to why I’m getting cranky?

 My feelings on the matter became crystal clear as I was reading this verse last night.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 Amplified Bible

The thing that has been–it is what will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun

 The lament of the authors heart is really that nothing seems to change. Can you relate?  Circumstances seem dire, situations can cause unease and yet my human reactions are that of tension, the need to control, action. My heart attitude, the change I long to make in surrendering those things never seems to be my first reaction. Yahh, so frustrating.

And yet in my longing for control of my environment I become keenly aware that my Lord loves me no matter what. I am blanketed in that knowledge. God’s love for me will never change. His grace is readily available to me at any moment. The way my days are ordered should be guided and under the routine of checking in with Him and allowing circumstances to interrupt my scheduled plans.

This morning as I was not executing my normal Tuesday activities I was able to read with my little buddy, enjoy him exploring the book store, touching every book, knocking down displays, and yet it was a memory this mommy will never forget.

The moments in time we are given, the interruptions to the days schedules should be invitations for us to enjoy, not opportunities to worry about our to-do’s. Today I experienced moments of relaxation knowing that my God helped me order Tuesday, and in His sovereignty saw fit that a visit to the bookstore, with a rough and tumble three year old was exactly what this mommy was suppose “to-do”.

Journey On,