beyond blessed

my heart is so filled... I'm in a season where, by God's grace, I've found such contentment right where I am and with all I have. I don't have all the things in the world, but I know I've been given all I need. Yes, there are things I dream of and desire for one day. But I know God is sovereign and so faithful. I trust in His love for me and that He doesn't withhold good things but delights in giving the desires of my heart as well. He placed them within me and I know when He's ready and knows that I am, all will come to pass just as it should and be beautiful, in His time. A timing I have deep trust in.

It's so easy to loose track and get caught up in what we do not have, that we miss all we have been blessed with. Why would we be blessed with more when we can't even recognize and be thankful for all the things we do have? I'm guilty. But thankful for His grace. So in this season, my eyes have been opened to all I'm surrounded by and wow, it is good. I'm so greatful. When you're filled with a thankful heart, and measure all the blessings you do have, suddenly it doesn't feel you're missing out on so much.

I'm blessed:

I'm surrounded by a huge family that loves and supports both me and Kaylie more than I could ever ask for. We've been through so much, but nothing could separate the love we have for one another.

I have the most wonderful mom and although we don't always see eye to eye, I know she loves me and is in prayer for me and Kaylie daily. She has no other intention but good.

We have 9 healthy babies in our family that have never had to go with out.

God has truly done such a beautiful, redeeming work in my whole family. I've been so blessed to see the harvest from seeds of prayer sown.

I was blessed with a car! (completely free)

I have a roof over my head and always food to eat.

I have the most beautiful little girl who lights up my world. ..

Just today we were riding in the car, dancing to her favorite song and I looked in my rear view to see her with the biggest smile on her face. Priceless moments.

I have friends who are rock solid and have loyally walked with me through my darkest of times and I with them.They daily bring joy to my life through encouragement, love and silent laughs. (favorite)

I could go on forever. Our blessings are truly countless.So thankful!

..the closer to the Lord we get, the more of our true selves we become. as we seek Him and find more of Him, we become more at peace with who we are and who He's created us to be. it's such a beautiful exchange. as we grow closer, He begins to reveal things in and through us, walls come down and our hearts are revealed and refined in His presence. a quiet confidence comes from finding ourselves in the very One who created us.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are, no more and no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matt 5:5 message

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"let the morning bring word of your unfailing love, for i have put my trust in you. show me the way i should go, for to You i lift up my soul."- Psalm 143:8

,,,saturday morning i took a little walk...coffee, the word and my english bulldog, lucy. i went to my favorite little place right next to my house...it's tucked away in a little nook..open grass encircled by trees.. i walked, thanking Him for his goodness to me. so many times i rarely get moments to just stop and slow down long enough to gaze at His glory in the nature around me.. but it's my absolute favorite. his beauty outside literally captures my heart-i love it. as i sat there, i looked up and the wind lightly blew and leaves slowly fell above and all around me..it was breath taking. the stillness of my soul and the peace in that moment, i knew His presence was there. it's in those moments that all my worries and striving come to a standstill, and i know with out a doubt i'm in the hands of my creator...knowing i'm right where he wants me to be in that moment of time. i'm reminded of His faithfulness that has proven time and time again, even when it hurts. i've learned He's worthy of all our trust, adoration and devotion. He never changes, He's everlasting, constant and the sure anchor of hope we can cling to when our world is shaken. He's the only one who will never fail us and when we look to Him, our hope will not be disappointed.

even with all that i am not, all that i fail at time and time again, i'm so very thankful for all
He is and that it's more than enough to cover my every weakness. and in the light of all that He is, i'm ok with being so small.

His strength is made so perfect in our weakness.

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...hunger...

...stay with me if you will....
                   yesterday morning, i was getting dressed and realized i was way past the point of hunger, to where my stomach was hurting and i felt sick. with having a child and from the busyness of the day, there are times i hardly stop to eat and easily look over the little groaning in my stomach. before i know it, there's a huge craving in me that i would literally put anything in my mouth just to satisfy the discomfort and hunger in my belly...whether it be healthy for me or not. i'm normally a pretty healthy eater but in those moments, i tend not to care because i just want to be filled again... satisfied. as i was thinking on this, i thought- if i would just take the time to pause from the non stop lifestyle and refuel- how much better off i would be... when i feed myself with the right nutrients; i'm full, satisfied, not aching for something more.
                  and then it hit me, i reflected on how at times that mirrored my spiritual walk. there are times i get so caught up in life, i ignore my spiritual hunger. at times, i'll get so deprived of that filling that can only come from time in the presence of our sweet Jesus, and my heart aches for something more. when our soul gets to the point of starvation, we are so anxious to be satisfied again, that we're willing to reach to anyone or anything to fill it. and then we end up reaching for more and more because of the dissatisfaction it leaves us with and it literally drains life from that person or things we're reaching to and even still, we're left lifeless. hungry. dry. aching for something more.


luke  4:13-15...."...everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water i give him will never thirst. indeed the water i give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. then the woman said to him,'' Sir give me this water so that i won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water..."


                   i'm challenged to stay filled, to listen to my heart cry and go to the only one who can satisfy. there is something about the Spirit of God that fills and satisfies every part of my being. the Creator meeting with the created. it's a oneness and closeness that can hardly be put to words. the sweet presence of Jesus. the Comforter. Counselor. Friend. there's nothing like Him.

song recommendation: Audra Lynn "Wellspring"

LOVE!

Kristy

I just read this. WOW .. I'm just shaken, convicted and challenged by it.

Galatians 5:16-25 (The Message)
16-18My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.


22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

23-24Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

25-26Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

a man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

                                                                                  proverbs 19:11