He takes my breath away

We all have those moments in our lives when life looks bleak and God seems silent. In those moments we cry out to God... "Are you still there? Do you care? Do you see? What's the point in all this? 


And then there are those moments when God takes our breath away. Something happens at the right time, and we know that God is watching out for us. We know that God sees, He knows, and most importantly, He cares. 


Not too long ago I was very discouraged about some stuff.  I was driving home late in the evening and crying out to God about the stress in my life. I was doubting His goodness, and the direction He was taking me. About 8 min from home I decided to turn on the radio. Less then a minute later my favorite song came on. 

When you're awake and you can't believe your eyes,
Cause all the truth that you knew has turned to lies. 
When you're scared and you can't see past a day,
Remember who holds tomorrow, 
Know His love will light your way. 

Hold on when everything is shaking 
Stand strong when the ground is falling through;
Reach out to my hand in the darkness 
That's holding you. I'll be your peace in the waiting, 
Your strength when you're broken on the floor. 
Hold on, it's all worth fighting for! 
Cause I will never let you go.

-Manafest

Isn't that beautiful?! It's a song that God has used before to speak to me. A song that leaves me feeling that God is indeed holding my hand. I first sat there with mouth hanging wide open, not daring to believe what I was hearing. Tears were instantly rolling down my cheeks. It was like God was right there in my car, speaking the words to me. God knows exactly what song is my favorite, and I believe He delights in blowing my socks off and reminding me how much He loves me. Who else but God could have nudged me to turn on the radio, or arrange for that song to play right then?? It was truly an amazing moment!! One that I'll remember for a long time. He. will. NEVER. let. me. go!


God knows us very intimately. He knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows what makes our heart sing, and what brings joy to our lives. For some people maybe it's a shooting star, the color green, a child's laugh, a blooming flower, or a rainbow. For others it might be a beating partridge, finding a penny, a mourning dove, the smell of cut grass, the smell of rain, a loon's call... you name it. We each have things in our lives that take our breath away. 
GOD  DELIGHTS  IN TAKING  OUR   BREATH  AWAY!    He knows what those things are, and He just loves to lavish them upon us. 

Eric Ludy said it best...  

"Every song you love, every memory you cherish, 

every moment that has moved you to holy tears 

has been given to you from the One who has been pursing you 

from your first breath in order to win your heart. 

God's version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners, 

comes in the form of sunsets and falling stars; 

moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; 

warm winds, swaying trees, lush gardens and fierce devotion."

Has God taken your breath away lately? 

I am so blessed!

The last few days I have been very sick. Laying in bed for 2 days definitely gave me time to think. Even tho I was holding my stomach in pain I was reminded that I could have it much worse, like so many others, I could have cancer. I am so blessed. When I returned to school my students asked me if I was better. "Yes, I am," I said. But I thought... "Of course why wouldn't I get better. That's what happens when a person gets sick they get better." But my student says, "God answered our prayers!!! We had special prayer for you." She thought... "It's a miracle!! God healed her!" Wow, how could I not praise God for my healing! OF COURSE it was GOD!!! How can I take healing for granted? Some people don't get better.... I am so blessed.

I have some amazing friends that have really reached out to me the last few weeks. While I was sick one particular friend drove 20 min out of her way to bring me some much desired sprite and crackers.... a little thing maybe. But it meant the world!! I am so blessed. Friends at school (co's) are great for hashing out the world's problems. Many hours could be spent after school just plain talking, and listening to each other's hearts... :) (love them) I am so blessed. 

My family is amazing!!!!! Us sibs have so much fun when we get together! I hear stories of broken families, and it makes me sad. I love my family very much, and can't imagine what it would be like to not get along. I am so blessed. Not to mention living with my brother!!!  He's one of my best friends! I definitely would not be where I am today if it would not be for him. I am so blessed. 

                                          

A few weeks ago I told the girl's club girls the story of Daniel in the lions den. Some of them had never heard it before. After the story one girl says... "I don't believe that story is true. How can a puny little angle keep some lions' mouth shut?" In the next few moments I tried to describe the power of God to the young girl. How does one even begin to describe it? I was reminded of how often I take knowledge for granted. I've grown up hearing these stories, and believing, not only that the stories are true, but in God and all His many attributes. I am so blessed. 

God has been showing me over and over again lately that He is taking care of me. There is a phrase that I keep hearing in songs, verses, or caring thoughts from friends, and that is, God is holding me. Such a simple concept but it brings much security. The storms may come, the winds may blow, but my anchor is Jesus, and  He is the solid rock that no man can destroy. God is with me in the midst of the storms, standing beside me, holding me close. It wasn't until the 3 men in the fiery furnace were actually in the fire, that they saw God's presence. 

 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned..." 

(from Isaiah 43) 

" Do not be afraid I am with you; I have called you each by name. Come and follow Me, I will bring you home. I love you, and you are Mine." (David Haas from Isaiah 43) 

God is so good to me! I am so SO BLESSED. 

 

2011 IN REVIEW

2011 IN REVIEW

*Cooking at SMBI

*Standing at Grandma's bedside as she entered Heaven

*Connecting with Miller cousins

*High heals, 6 girls, night out at Olive Garden

*New York City missions trip

*Visit to Waterloo Ontario in February 

*Blowing bubbles in a parking lot with Lizzie and Annie

*Many many wonderful moments with friends at SMBI

*Heading out on my own to start a new life in Ontario. God's very real presence, sleeping in a Walmart parking lot. Driving through lots of snow and rain 

*Job searching

*HARD decision about teaching school 

*Beach, sunshine, flowers, blue skies, walks along rivers 

*Bakery at Tim Horton's

*Bible in 88 days. God's very real presence, peace, and joy

*Trips to PA

*God providing with many pieces of free furniture

*Moving to another apartment. Setting up house

*Camping with various friends at various beaches

*Weeks of carpel tunnel and INTENSE pain!

*Visit from Twila, Graham, Dri, and surprise... ANNIE!!!

*MI reunion 

*Many lists of daily blessings

*11 AMAZING third graders who make me smile

*PA reconnecting with sibling weekend

*Strangers and friends who drove 2 hours out of their way pick us up when are car quit 

*Struggling with dividing

*Heart's cry for hurting, homeless, abused, rejected, children 

*Practicing and singing at a wedding... It takes 5 

*Christmas lights, decorations, programs, songs 

*45 hours on the road.. 12 days. Food, Family, Friends, Funness 

*Good times at home in MN!

*New Years Eve: After traveling for most of the day, and suffering from sore throat, I went to bed at 11:00

The last 12 months have seen a lot of changes. But God has been so good, and so real!!  I KNOW I am where He wants me to be. That is such a secure, reassuring feeling, and no man is gonna take that from me. I have had many MANY specific answers to prayer in the last year. God has guided, and lead, and tested, and loved. Yes I have made mistakes, and yes there have been many times where I didn't trust Him completely, and started taking things into my own hands. But through it all God hasn't given up on me. His faithfulness and love make me want to worship, love, and serve Him even more in 2012. I don't know what the next year holds, but I know God will continue to faithfully lead me. I am in His hands. 

That's Our God

Today God showed me that He has the power and the strength that I need and He will give it to me if I just ask Him, and claim His promises! This morning was definitely a God moment.


 I have not been sleeping well lately, and this morning I woke up extra tired, low on energy, and not feeling well at all. Being a 3rd grade teacher, with those combinations just doesn't work too well. By 8:00 I realized that something would have to change before my students started arriving. I enjoy listening to an online Christian radio station, so I turned it on. Almost right away a favorite song started playing. I started praying and claiming the words and promises in the song. I then wrote them down in my day planner to be reminded of them throughout the day. 

"Our God is greater, our God is stronger, 

God You are higher than any other. 

Our God is healer, AWESOME IN POWER!!!

Our God! Our God! 

And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us?

And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

I went on with school prep and by 8:30 I was feeling 70% better, and by 9:00 when it was time for school to begin, I felt like a NEW person!!! I had energy, and felt physically above normal.  My whole day was AMAZING!!!!! I haven't had such a good day in a long time. At the end of the day I looked back at it in awe! It was sooo God!!! He healed me, and gave the power and the strength that I needed. All I had to do was ask and claim His promises. It's so simple. And God is always ready and waiting to show off His amazing love and power. WOW! I am so thankful that God is so personal and that He cares about each of us in a special way. That's our God!!!

I wish...

*fall would not mean the end of summer

*every child would have a family who truly loves them

*deciding what to wear wouldn't be such a hard decision

*the depressed teenager would see he is a priceless treasure, and a child of the King of Kings

 *no child would suffer from hunger

*life wouldn't cost so much

*for a starbucks mocha

*love would come easier

*one could survive on less sleep

*cute, adorable toddlers wouldn't have to be so noisy during church

*you could enjoy winter activities without it getting so cold outside

*gnats would become extinct

*I could rescue the homeless children off the streets

*Verizon was not long distance in Canada

*I could be more like Jesus

Week 1: wite-out, and warm fuzzy feelings

Yes, that's right, 9 boys and 2 girls. Aren't they just so cute!? 

The first week is history. It went a lot better then I expected due to the fact that God's presence was very real!  But just like any other school it all takes time to get back into the swing of things. The students have forgotten how to follow directions, and the teacher struggles with finding the right balance of review and lesson coverage. 


On the first day of school, one of my students, totally out of the blue, asked me if I had any wite-out. The question had nothing to do with the topic at hand, and I knew the student didn't need any at the time, so I was puzzled at the question. No, I did not have any wite-out, I had not gotten any from the supply room yet. The very next day, Nick's mother came in to school to meet me, and see the classroom. Then she tells me... yesterday Nick felt really bad that I didn't have any wite-out. He wanted to use HIS money to buy some for his teacher. She knew I had access to some, but saw through the heart of her son. This was a sweet gesture he wanted to do for his teacher, so without saying anything about it, she allowed him to buy some. She just wanted me to know so I could understand the story behind his gift. A few minutes later, Nick comes up to his Mom and whispers. "Should I give it to her now?" He did, and I received the wite-out with a huge smile, and warm fuzzy feelings in my heart, knowing he had spent his own money on something he saw as a need for his teacher. I was honored. 

No Fear

“…For God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake, nor let you down, or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, the Lord is my helper; I will not be seized with alarm, I will not fear or dread or be terrified. What can man do to me?”  Hebrews 13:5-6

….seriously, what am I afraid of???