Next Tuesday’s In Other Words

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lease join us next Tuesday by sharing on the quote shared below for our weekly, In Other Words. Each Friday a new quote is given here along with who will be hosting that week’s In Other Words. Next Tuesday will be hosted by Karen on her blog, In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus

Think and ponder on this quote and share about it on your blog on Tuesday. Then, visit Karen’s blog on Tuesday, leave the link to your blog there and visit the other gals who have also written on it.

Love needs to be based on character, if you know and love God you see He has a lot of character we are in love with. The best thing we can do for our spouse is to grow in character as listed in 1 Cor 13. It’s a love of choice. We choose to love God, He chooses to love us. Love of choice is the most powerful love, God calls that agape love, it’s a love that lasts, we should never settle for anything else between us and God and others. It’s a love that grows. Keep fervent in your love, allow it to stretch and strain as you watch it grow.
Wayne Corderio

In Other Words ~ Come Join Us!

This post is going to stay second from the top
until the end of December.
Please read my recent posts below.

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or the next two weeks, we are going to do something a little different, to give our hostesses a break, and yet still share some special quotes with you. I invite any of you who read the In Other Words memes and those who host, to share what your favorite quotes were or a specific post shared by a hostess that touched you, encouraged you, etc.

So, this gives all of you a chance to write on a quote you wish you would have, rewrite on a quote you wrote on but wish you shared it a different way, share about how another’s post blessed you, or anything you wish to write about. Just leave a little blurb on your blog, and then leave the link below in Mr. Linky. If you do not wish to write about it on your blog, but want to share something anyway, just leave a note in the comment section above.

Thank you!  

In Other Words: Next Tuesday’s Quote

Deborah  is hosting next Tuesday’s In Other Words, on her blog,

Chocolate & Coffee

Think and ponder on this quote and share about it on your blog on Tuesday. Then, visit Deborah’s blog on Tuesday and leave the link to your blog and visit the other gals who have also written on it.

 

If God said that Jonah was swallowed by a whale,
then the whale swallowed Jonah,
and we do not need a scientist to measure the gullet of a whale. 

~ A. W. Tozer ~

In ‘Other’ Words: Next Tuesday’s Quote

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helsey is hosting next Tuesday’s In Other Words, on her blog,

Joyfully Living For His Glory

Think and ponder on this quote; then share about it on your blog on Tuesday. Then, visit Chelsey’s blog on Tuesday and leave the link to your blog and visit the other gals who have also written on it.

“Hospitality is becoming an almost forgotten Christian virtue in our style of life today… In the New Testament, however, hospitality was a distinctive mark of Christians and Christian communities.”

~Alexander Strauch
from The Hospitality Commands~

In ‘Other’ Words: Next Tuesday’s Quote

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iriam is hosting next Tuesday’s In Other Words, on her blog,

Miriam Pauline’s Monologue

Think and ponder on this quote; then share about it on your blog on Tuesday. Then, visit Miriam’s blog on Tuesday and leave the link to your blog and visit the other gals who have also written on it.

 “Still, accepting God’s existence is one thing; honoring his command is another matter entirely, especially if we’re required to go back when we’d rather go forward.”

~Liz Curtis Higgs
from Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible~

In Other Words: God’s Agenda vs Our Agenda

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."

~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

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ast week we were blessed with a deer that was given to us.  It was wonderful, but we had to can 48 jars just a few days before Thanksgiving.  It wasn’t in the plan (for me), but we got it done (with LOTS of help from the kids).  I wanted to get a lot of baking done before Thanksgiving, but with the venison canning, I had to do some of it on Thanksgiving day.  I got up early Thanksgiving day and got the big ole’ bird in the oven early and went back to bed for a few hours.  When I came back up the stairs later, I should have smelled that wonderful bird.  Nope.  The oven stopped working.  This oven has been a lemon for awhile and seems to have a mind of its own.  We put the turkey into a big electric roaster but, I had several other dishes that  had to go in.  I was not in the best mood.  Yet, when we sat down at the table, even with soggy runny, sweet potatoes, and stuffing that was warmed up in the crockpot instead, we had food.  We had MORE than enough and beautiful dishes to put them on.  We have ten healthy children including our little 9 month old baby sitting around the table.  So, when my husband began to pray in thankfulness, it was time to delete what was not worth worrying about and being thankful.  I could have continued fretting over what I wanted the meal to be like, and my frustration that I could not bake fresh yeast rolls, or bake the dessert I always do. 

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25,33-34

With December just around the corner, our calendars can quickly fill up from church programs, to school and band programs.  There’s caroling and Christmas cards and letters to write.  Decorations need to be put up and more cookies to bake and extra special menus to plan.  We worry about how we are going to get it all done and what we failed with days before.  For some, it’s visiting numerous sides of the family, work parties, school parties and of course the unexpected whirlwinds that are thrown in the midst of it all.  Christmas day arrives, and we have not prepared our hearts and instead of celebrating the greatest Gift ever given, it’s a day to crash and becomes too materialistic.   

Imagine, if we had been those shepherds over 2000 years ago, in the busyness of our lives today, would we have missed the angels’ announcement?  Or if we had been too busy of wisemen, would we have had other things to do instead of bringing Him gifts? Maybe we need to plan now, in these final days of November, to cross things off our calendar for December, and re-evaluate what God really wants us to do to celebrate His Son’s birthday.

This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Sarah at her site, To Motherhood and Beyond  along with contributions from the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!

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In Other Words: Growing Pains

"The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life."

~ James L. Christensen ~

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am thinking back to 1996 when we were determined that any more children God blessed us with would be born at home.  It was not that I had horrible hospital experiences, but "we" were done with all the hospital and doctor protocols.  With our 7th child I had a very good pregnancy, and a wonderful home birth.  I could not have asked for it to be any better, and it was a special bonding time for us.  Little did we realize how real-life giving my husband’s prayer would be when he held our little baby girl, just a few minutes old, dedicating her back to God.  Later that day our pediatrician friend came and checked on our sweet little girl and found a heart murmur.  That avoiding the hospital and doctors ended ten days later when we learned our daughter had serious heart defects.  We were at first said she may live a few days, then maybe weeks, then "if" she could gain so much weight then surgery was possible – if she survived.  With God nothing is impossible, and at 13 months of age, she had two open heart surgeries and a long ten week ICU stay, many of those weeks at death’s door.  Today she amazes her cardiologist with how far she has come.  God is not amazed. 

No, this is not a "woe is me" post.  The interesting part with all this as we tried to avoid the doctor and hospital visits, God also placed several people in our lives that became special friends and their occupation is . . .  M.D. or DR!  And not just everyday country doctors.  One couple we met on an e-mail list for large families. The husband is a cardiologist, the wife an ER doctor.  This couple helped us find a wonderful Christian cardiology doctor.  They also helped us tremendously giving us more information on our son’s death and being available to us.  God has woven other friends in our lives – also in the medical field (But God, I really don’t like doctors, don’t you remember?)   Now, I won’t say has God totally changed my heart on loving hospitals and doctors, but He has shown me it’s not my dependance on who will take care of us, but who HE places in our lives to take care of us!

It’s kind of the same way with our Christian walk.  We can pray for peace, for more patience and understanding, and God allows things to come into our lives that bring about tremendous growing pains for patience and understanding. If we allow, God uses us through the difficult times and though we may not understand always the character He is building and the "whys" of it all, many times God just gives us the opportunity to "rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep those that weep" (Romans 12:15).

This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Allison at her site, Simple Christian Living along with contributions from the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!

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In Other Words: Love is Beautiful ~ Love is Terrible

"Love is beautiful,
but it is also terrible–
terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished
or unworthy to remain in the beloved."

~ Hannah Hurnard ~
author of
Hinds’ Feet on High Places

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his week’s quote comes from a book I just read. The story is of a girl named "Much-Afraid" and her journey through life to reach High Places. She is from the Family of Fearings, brought up by her aunt, Mrs. Dismal Forebodings and has cousins named Gloomy, Spiteful and Craven Fear.  Her Shepherd talks to her, and wants her to go to His High Places, but tells her she needs to changed completely and needs a new name, and plants a seed of True Love into her heart, but it needs to grow, and it is this growing journey you take reading through this book. During this journey she meets many along the way, especially, Suffering and Sorrow.  I think one of the parts I loved the most about this book is that when she does reach the High Places, and the Shepherd has her open a bag of stones she has collected along her journey.  Instead of the ugly stones of her journey, they are beautiful sparkling stones – saphires, emeralds, rubies and gold.  God took the times she thought were worthless and dark, times that she wanted to give up and go back to the valley and instead as she continued on, God turned them into beauty, glorifying Himself.

I mentioned this verse last week, yet this quote reminds me of it again.

"But He knows the way I take;  When He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold."  Job 23:10

The growing pains of life we go through, can be terrible, and the utmost painful.  As we follow Him, call out for Him, and even when we stumble and fall, allow Him to pick us up, and though it may seem that load of stones is heavier and heaveier upon us, someday we can see the beauty it will bring and along with the songwriter, Esther Kerr Rusthoi, we will be able to sing:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

If you have not read this book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, it’s definitely one you want to put on your "to read" list. 

This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Bonnie,  from her blog, Ink It Blog,  along with contributions from the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!~

In Other Words – My Mosiac

"In our lives the darkest times,
the days that are bleak and black,
add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture."

~ Amy Grant~
Mosaic: Pieces of My Life so Far

~This quote has led me to think of the following Scripture verse:

"But He knows the way I take;  When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."Job 23:10

The process of being shined up like gold can be painful.  I know as many of my readers, we don’t always understand God’s plan.  The dark times can bring us close to God; these times when we are alone, pleading out to God for His love and mercy, for His relief and understanding.  One of my verses of hope in the last several years has been,

"Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning."
Psalm 30:5

That night can be long.  But finally, after a lonely, long, dark night,

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
Psalm 40:2

I never thought of my life before like a mosaic, but it got me thinking.  Imagine when we get to heaven, God showing us His many rooms He has prepared for us, and in each room there is a mosiac of another person’s life.  Then we walk into a room, and there’s our mosiac.  He could show us the brilliance that came from the dark times – the rainbows of colors, and the beautiful gold outlining it all.  Then, we may understand the full picture of the life we lived on earth, and we will see why He allowed the dark times and how the dark times shined us for the glorious days in heaven.~This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Elisa, hosting for her first time from her blog, "Extravagant Grace along with contributions from the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!~

In Other Words: The WHOLE Word

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection.  And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian."

~ A.W. Towzer ~

~As Christians one question that can be asked of us is "what is your favorite verse?" or "what is your life verse?". I have never really had a "life verse" and had not really thought about why until now.  There have been verses in different seasons of my life that have been very important.  When verses really touch my life, or is something I want to claim for that season, I will date it.  My Bible is somewhat a journal as I mark and remind myself of something.  Here’s a little peek into it.

"Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God."  Joshua 24:27

I noted by the above verse, "1-23-05 – After Stephen & Jayson’s truck accident".  If I could have afforded it, I would have loved to have bought a billboard (instead of a stone as in the verse) to put as a proclaimation at this accident scene my two boys were in, just  5 weeks after the death of our other son.  God protected them. The man that hit our boys knew he was going to no matter what, and purposely swerved to avoid hitting the door.  We go by this road to and from church several times a week.  No, there’s no billboard there, and thankfully, there are no memorial crosses there either.  But, there is that reminder, written on my heart, from this verse that reminds me of God’s faithfulness.

"To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  Luke 1:77 – 79

I noted by the above verse, "Read this at Bible Study after visiting Nancy Short 2-4-03".  I had just gone to the hospital to visit a close friend before going to a Bible study.  I knew she was dying.  It was her second bout with cancer.  For the next several months until she died about three months later, I prayed that God would shine in her shadow of death.  I remember it so clearly reading that verse just after seeing her, knowing THAT verse for THAT time was for me.  It was not a favorite verse, but a seasonal verse.~As you can imagine, I have many verses of hope and encouragement, promises of joy after grieving,  that I marked in my Bible after Matthew’s death – some marked "5 months"; this verse’s notation "This was written in Matthew’s Bible that he was buried with."  I have this verse marked "Jessica" for our daughter with serious heart defects and is a reminder so many times when I dream up all the "what ifs" of her condition.  I have verses I have marked as a struggling wife and mom and as a daughter without parents.~I am thankful for God’s WHOLE Word.  I am thankful for how God speaks through His Living Word.  I may skim over a verse at one time, and later, that verse strikes me for that season.  I need His whole Word, for my whole life to build me into a whole Christian.` IThis week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Debbie at Chocolate and Coffee along with the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!~

In Other Words: Emotional Purity

"We women must realize how visual men are, and because of that we should wear modest clothes.  Not because we don’t have the right to wear what we want, but for the benefit of the spiritual life of
our brothers in Christ."

~ Heather Arnel Paulsen ~
Emotional Purity:
An Affair of the Heart

~(Information on the new book drawing is at the end of this post)~With having teen children, I notice the heads turning – my teen kids noticing someone, someone noticing my teen children.  I see my boys notice the girls that sit ahead of them in church, or walk by them in the store.  It is also noticed when these girls may not be modestly dressed – low revealing shirts – high skirts, etc.  My boys won’t be the only ones noticing these girls.  All those guys around notice too!  And not only could one of these girls be my son’s future wife, she may be my future daughter-in-law. The men who look at my daughters – who could be my future son-in-law, what are they seeing with the girls around them, including my daughters. What thoughts are going through the mind?  We talk often of keeping ourselves pure for marriage. It’s not just "before marriage", it’s after marriage as well.  It’s for those married or single.  It’s for where you are at right NOW. It is also the "emotional" part of keeping ourselves pure and the way we present ourselves.`As Christian women, we have the responsibility to do all we can to keep ourselves pure including the way we look outwardly and the way we present ourselves in our actions, talk and emotions.    Now it’s easy for me to say, "well, I am overweight, I am forty-four, this body has had 12 babies,  so no man is going to look at me."  But, as I see friends who have been married as long as my husband and I, going through divorces as the result of an affair, I know it happens even to the "best" of the Christians.  It may not just be the way I dress, but the way I interact with another man.    After going through several losses in our family, it can be easy for my husband and I to relate to others when they are going through a rough time, including a loss or a difficult time in their marriage.  For either one of us to start sharing deeply, showing care to the opposite sex, even unintentionally starting out could lead to a road of devestation.  One side might not even realize it, as the other is getting emotionally attached.  My husband and I have made commitments as far as being with each other when a conversation becomes more lengthy, and no "chatroom", "IM’s" and e-mailing with the opposite sex unless our spouse is part of it.  Can we have too many cautions in the way satan seems to sneek in and destroy?  Is there ways we can also protect our husbands from what they may see?  I hate the grocery check-out lanes.  If my husband and/or children are with me, you will find me turning magazines over so they do not have to see the near-pornography staring at them.`I wanted to share today’s quote as a gentle reminder to us women in guarding our hearts and minds, keeping both physical and emotional purity. I would also like to use this opportunity to introduce this book,   Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart.  This book is written especially towards singles, though much can be gleaned for all of us.  We are bringing our children up towards the goal guarding their hearts and minds, and with each child it may be a different process and different situation in response to this goal.  Here is an interesting thought from the author:

"Men need to realize how emotionally charged women are and should avoid causing them to imagine more than what is really there.  Men can also be emotionally charged by the actions of a well-meaning friend.  We all have to be pure in our actions toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Recently I explained this concept to a Christian brother.  He understood when I said women are as emotionally charged as men are visually charged.  He said, ‘Oh, so a woman can be emotionally married like a man can be visually married in his mind.’ "

When I wrote last week that I will be writing a quote from this book, Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart, I received several e-mails regarding concerns of this book.  As with any book, any conference speaker, any sermon, we are to examine everything carefully.  There have been times my husband and I will discuss a sermon, and how God spoke to us, convicting our hearts. The other of us may not even have heard it that way or at all!  Though I cannot say anything stood out in this book that I found Scripturally incorrect, I gleaned a lot from it to help encourage my children towards emotional purity (not only physical purity).  God may show you something new, confirm something else in your heart, and lead you in a different direction.  Yet, God’s Word is the final authority.  This book is just a side handbook, along with others.  ~ I have been given an additional one of these books from Crossway Books to give away to one of you!  All those who participate in IOW listed below, mentioning about the book give away will be entered for this book.  If you do not wish to write on the quote, just leave a little blurb below on your blog and let me know in this post’s comment section.

"Finding JOY in the Morning is giving away the book Emotional Purity: An affair of the Heart. Just for writing about it on your blog and leaving a comment HERE you can be entered in the drawing.  Drawing ends October 30th."`P.S.  In going along with the purity theme, the Homeschool E=Store has a free lapbook download on modesty for this week only.  ~Visit the following participants to
read their take on this week’s quote
(Participants Please Add Your URL & comment!)

In Other Words – The Valley Brings Hope

"We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all.  We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle."

~ Oswald Chamber ~

~H e has come home from work some evenings on top of the mountain because of the muscle car, sports car, or most recently the Barracuda car worth over $80,000 that he did an alignment on and then had to test drive. He bragged on the power of this car, as my heart pounded imagining another terrible accident.  But for him it was a temporary high mountain.  It had no eternal value.  ~"Mom, I will have a funeral to go to this week", this son, Stephen, (20) informed me last night. A man he works with, Scott, just lost his 22 year old son-in-law in an airplane accident, whom he also knew.  Our son has not shared with too many about his brother that died, but I learned tonight how how he has shared in depth with Scott, and Scott knows he has a faith in Jesus.  Stephen and Scott have already developed a friendship, and Stephen can see how God can use what he has gone through to be able to be a caring friend to him, and continue showing him Jesus and our hope of eternity.~At times I have questioned God why our children have gone through what they have, especially the loss of their 16 year old brother. I have prayed often that my children do not become bitter or angry at God or at life in general with the hard times, and that God would use it for His glory.  I don’t know how God will use this, but I am thankful to see my son (who is a typical young man, and does not always show outward emotion) cares in his heart, and wants to reach out to his friend/co-worker.  I see how God has already prepared the path, and it was not because of exilerating joys of working on cars together and their love of muscle cars. It’s not this that will soothe their hearts, but "weeping with those that weep", and Stephen being able to be a friend to Scott through this deep valley he has similarly walked through.~It’s our ordinary life – our everyday happenings that people see.  Yes, indeed we relate and share the joys and highs of life when we are on that mountain top and are bubbling over with excitement.  But it’s temporary, and we need to come back to the everyday life.  Oswald Chambers ended the devotional from which this quote comes from this way:

The moments on the mountain tops are rare moments, and they do accomplish a purpose in our lives.  But the times in the valleys accomplish God’s purpose in our witness to a dark and weary world.

So when my heart hurts, I am feeling sorry for myself and my children, God whispers "Be still and know I am God" (Psalm 46:10). "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  (Romans 8:28) Yes, we can ache and hurt in these valleys and the pains and heartaches we go through, yet, seeds can be planted and nurtured in the soils of the valley, watered with our tears and prayers, and bring eternal glory and souls to Him.  PS.  Thanks Stephen for letting me write about you.  I am proud of you & love you. ~Mom~This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" is hosted byLaurel WreathBe sure to visit her site and her take on this week’squote along with the other gals.  You will be blessed!

In Other Words – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in HIS wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, by the light of His glory and grace."

~ Helen Limmel ~

Are there songs in your life, that take you back to a time and bring you back to a special, sometimes bittersweet time in your life? This is one of those songs for me.  This song was sung without any instruments, just the tearful yet hopeful voices of our family and friends at the funeral of our stillborn daughter at 36 weeks, nearly 10 years ago. To think, the first face she saw was not mine – it was Jesus’.  We could not understand why after spending 10 weeks in ICU with another daughter after her two open heart surgeries, that two weeks later our next child would be born still.  As our last several In Other Words quotes have focused on, it was another time of why, yet a time of awesome reality how close God was.  ~We had sick children that morning.  My husband NEVER missed Jessica’s cardiology appointments but with sick children and a pregnant mama, a broken toilet HAD to be fixed. I almost canceled the cardiology post-op appointment, but we needed to know that Jessica was doing well.  She was barely 15 months old, and had gone through two open heart surgeries in 12 weeks time.  I picked up a friend to help me.  Jessica was on oxygen at the time, and I needed help!  I had contractions the full 45 minute drive, but I did not think much about it.  We were barely in  the cardiology office five minutes when I felt a gush.  I thought my water broke.  Instead, I was hemorrhaging profusely.  The cardiology office was adjacent to the hospital and I was rushed next door.  In a short time, it was determined the baby had died. I had a placenta abruption.  My husband and in-laws were called, and the doctors waited for my husband to arrive.  They were trying to get me to deliver naturally, but my blood pressure was dropping quickly. My in-laws arrived first – then my dear husband. Thankfully when I called him, I did not know the baby had died, so he did not arrive all shook up, but knew the instant he walked in the room something was wrong.  As soon as he arrived, we barely had our hellos and good-byes, and I was whisked away.  We just "happened" to have a Christian OB on call that day, who valued life – even future babies, and a hysterectomy was prevented. Instead he sat by my bedside for hours after the surgery, in case he had to take me back into surgery.  Later we were told had any other doctor been on call that day, no doubt, there would have been a hysterectomy.  We’ve been blessed with four living, healthy babies since. ~Did we ask why? Most certainly!  I blamed myself – because I was caring so much for Jessica during that pregnancy, I felt I did not care for myself.  I went for few pre-natal visits.  I also took an herbal combination called 5-W which I still believe played a role in the placenta abruption, along with high blood pressure.  I wondered if God changed His mind – was He going to take Jessica home, but because of our deep pleadings and all the people storming heaven’s gate on her behalf, did He decide He’d take Angela instead? Would I not have been able to care for two "babies" that required so much care (Angela’s heart was heart healthy.) And yet, I am in awe of how God allowed me to be right next to the hospital at that moment.  I was also told, had I been at home when the abruption began, I probably would not have lived.  To know that God was protecting me, and saying His desires for me are not done here yet.  Because of the death of Angela and losing three babies to miscarriage, we began a ministry called, Bereaved Moms Share.~We will never know – but I know we did have to refocus – and look into His face (as we still do).  It made heaven just a little closer, more real.  And as we sang this song, looking at the too small casket, a perfect little baby girl in her pure white gown – it was not just about my pain – it was about her – now looking at our Jesus’ face – right into His eyes, maybe grabbing His nail scared hands.  Things do grow dimmer on earth when we think of Jesus and eternity, and for her eternity was the beginning, none of the pains on earth, no skinned knees or a broken heart, but a forever LIFE with Jesus.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1, 2

~This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" is hosted by Lori
at I Will Take it Lord, All You Have To Give.Be sure to visit her site and her take on this week’squote along with the other gals.  You will be blessed!

In Other Words: My Big God

Do you remember this song from Sunday School, or maybe your children now sing it?

My God is so big,
So strong and so mighty,
There’s nothing my God cannot do.

The mountains are His,
The valleys are His,
The stars are His handiwork too.

My God is so big,
So strong and so mighty,
There’s nothing my God cannot do.

So often we try to "figure God out".  Why would He do that?  Why would He allow this to happen?  Why doesn’t He answer my prayers the way I "need" them answered?  Though I don’t believe it is wrong to ask God "why" because through so many of life’s exerpiences He can grow us and show us the whys.  We can learn, grow, and share with others.  Yet, possibly even more of life’s experiences we will never understand, and that is where our child-like faith has to step in, and we let go, and let God.  Yes, easier said than done.~ Scripture continually tells us there is no one like God:

"There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God."  I Samuel 2:2

". . . For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst . . . " Hosea 11:9

"Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You.  If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count."  Psalm 40:5

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD?  Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?"  Exodus 15:11

" ‘ To whom then will you liken Me – That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One."  Isaiah 40:25

Do we sometimes grow so accustomed in our Christian walk that we forget God’s holiness, His awesomeness, His sinlessness . . . that we even forget to kneel before Him in our thoughts.  Is He just another "Person" in our minds – and not GOD?  ~How many times as a child did we hear, "Because I am the mom, THAT’S WHY!"  God’s ways are not our ways – His plans not our plans, and though it may be so hard to accept at times, we need that faith of a musterd seed to just accept and allow God to be God – because He IS God.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts."Isaiah 55:8-9 

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In Other Words: Thorns

IT’S NOT FAIR! How many times have we heard our children say that as they stomp out of the room.  Okay . . . how many times have we mumbled that under our breath or even in prayer?    Life certainly does not seem fair at times.  I know I have mumbled WHY GOD?  We can tend to have our own pity parties, questioning the whys.  Why US, when others are living a wretched life, why do we lose a wanted baby to miscarriage when others are aborting, why did MY husband lose his job, why did I get that speeding ticket when the other guy was driving much faster than I?~I’ve had a "thorn" lately – it’s been a formula measuring scoop.  Two times in the past week the little scoop has totally disappeared.  I have wonderful helpers who will make bottles, but I get extremely frustrated when they are not responsible.  How much more effort does it take to drop that scoop INTO the can rather than on the counter?  But that’s not the end of the story.  That stinkin’ little scoop caused a major blow-up. Why would God allow that little scoop to get lost, knowing it would be a major irritant for me . . .cause a family feud, me not being patient and losing my mouth after one of my children said "But mom . . . it’s just a scoop – what’s the big deal?"   Me . . . "So . . .who is going to measure out 17.6 grams of formula at 5 in the morning when the baby needs a bottle?  And WHO wants to buy a can of formula JUST for the scoop?"  I did not get any volunteers. (It was found later, in the dirty laundry, wrapped up in dish towels.)~ I don’t get it (yet) . . . why that scoop had to be bring about major tension . . .but apparently God is trying real hard through that little scoop to teach me something . . . because He’s allowed it to happen two times this past week.  I’ve asked God "why" with this scoop several times lately. ~Why not?  This thorn is nothing like the thorns that were placed on my Savior’s head.  And sometimes the thorns that we have, God says, "I can make it into something beautiful – it may be work, but allow Me to show you . . .in My timing."  A little poke from a rose thorn can be quickly forgotten as we gaze on the beauty of the rose.  But God may want something deeper . . . something He wants to work more on us with . . . something that makes us search more.  God can use a scoop to teach me more patience, character, perseverance – teach my children more responsibility – maybe even have a math lesson on "gram" measurements . . . but more likely something even deeper God has not revealed yet.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Proverbs 5:3-5

This weeks, "In ‘Other’ Words" is hosted by
Iris of Sting My Heart. 
Be sure to visit her site and read her thoughts
and the other gals thoughts on the above quote.