Your Glory, LORD

Keep me at all times from robbing Thee,

and from depriving my soul of Thy due worship.
The Valley of Vision

Last July, my cousin, Sue, gave me a Plumeria plant from the collection of parent plants and babies she grew.  At the time, the plant was only a green stalk with leaves. 

Had I walked past this plant in Sue's garden prior to it blooming, I would have overlooked it, and kept on going.  I could not have fathomed when it was given to me, how beautifully it would one day display God's created purpose... His glory!  

It's easy to overlook and second guess my purpose and influence as a mom, to question whether the Lord will ever bring fruit to bear in the hearts and lives of our children. 

If their spiritual growth and maturity were left up to me and their father, we are well aware, they would be ruined.

"But God...".

Tonight I choose to actively "...bless the Lord who gives me counsel;  [and believe] in the night my heart instructs me" (Psalm 16), because I am JUST NOT feeling secure right now. 

The enemy desires me, and he desires them.  I am clinging to every hope for their success to side step the enemy's efforts to distract and lure them away from God's perfect plan for them! 

In spite of every temptation and fear I own, I am doing everything I know to do to help them not fail, yet... "at best, it's difficult", a friend once told me!  I don't own them; God does! 

I must trust the Lord will fulfill His purpose for them in whatever providence He calls them to.  

He must do for them what we as parents cannot do, to draw them and hold them fast, and set in motion every day He has ordained for them.  

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16).

This is a season of growth and grace.  "He giveth more grace..." 

Our older sons are making life altering choices, and from this mom's perspective, it's a frightening time.  I have long purposed to prepare them, and I have nonetheless desired to protect them from making poor decisions.  I can only pray when fear grips me. 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.  

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

And those whom He predestined He also called, 

and those whom He called He also justified, 

and those whom He justified He also glorified."

Romans 8:28-30

Ohh, LORD, "Please show me Your glory..." (Exodus 33). 

May we realize sooner than later, the outcome of our efforts is not about us, our children, nor only of us as individuals!  The glory we seek and need most is You! 

Please help us to hold tight to this Truth in the days ahead! 

God Meant This For Good

"I have reason to praise him for my trials, 

for, most probably, I should have been ruined without them." 

John Newton

Praying for my Precious Friend who recently received some difficult news concening her health! 

How do I encourage her when I know if I were in her place, I would need her support too?

Dear Heavenly Father, please help...live by faith, one day at a time.  Like Joseph, I pray she willtrust   You with the hard and discouraging providences in life,  so she may too say, "...God meant this for good!" 

Discipline: The Self Surrender

I started this yesterday, and it wore me out!!! 😣
Today is day 2, and before I start my exercise, I am meditating on this very important truth from 

2 Corinthians 12:9-
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

I'm not doing this to get attention!  I don't want to draw attention, but I do want to feel better and take more responsibility to better care for myself!  With as little effort and time fat has accumulated, I want to whittle  away the 15 pounds I've gained!!! 😮

I've noticed how little energy and motivation I have had the last few years compared to when the children were younger.  When they were growing up, they loved going outside to play with their friends.  Everyday they played, I worked in the yard which was fun and rewarding for me!  However, the last several years, they have gained jobs and more school responsibilities, so I have found myself going outside less to work because I have less energy, and when they are home, I want to be inside where they are congregated. 

Now, here I am...15 pounds heavier and I am very frustrated!! 

It's foolish to allow this to continue!  

I don't want to be self-indulgent and lethargic.  

I do not want this trend of growing out of my clothes to continue.  

I'm ashamed of the weight I've gained.  

It's crazy how easy it has accumulated, especially when I can think back and remember all those years I wanted so badly to gain weight!  It was soo hard then, but now...?  

Some days I eat soo little, and I feel famished, yet I cannot lose weight!
I'm pretty sure because I'm less active, my metabolism has become sluggish, so I really just need to work on staying active and keeping my muscles and bones strong, though I'm also sure backing away from sugar and "feeding fat" will also be helpful!  😣 I'm on a "no sweets during the week challenge" and I'm attempting to drink more water.  I've found when the weekend arrives, sweets have less appeal to me.  This is soo amazing!  😊

I am prayerful this new resolve will grow and continue one day at a time...

"The disciple is not on his own, left to seek self-actualization, which is a new word for old-fashioned selfishness.  He is not "doing his thing" to find his own life or liberty or happiness.  He gives himself to a Master and in so doing leaves self behind."

Elisabeth Elliot, Discipline: The Glad Surrender