"God is doing a greater work in us, and that can only come as we learn to trust him no matter how dark the days and sleepless the nights. And it is only as we have been through the darkness with him that what we know with our heads slides down into our hearts, and our hearts no longer demand answers. The Why? becomes unimportant when we believe that God can and will redeem the pain for our good and his glory.... When I put the sovereignty of God beside his unfailing love, my heart can rest."
Verdell Davis
Hello friends,
I received the following in an e-mail yesterday and just had to share it with all of you. When I noticed that it was 8 minutes long, I thought I would just watch a couple of minutes of it because I didn't really have time to watch all of it . . . but I couldn't turn it off! It was just so neat to see how God can turn our lives around and I could relate to so many of the testimonies.
We all have problems in this life . . . bad choices we've made, hard times, sadness, pain, anger, sickness, death. But how amazing that God loves us through it all. He forgives. He turns our life around. He takes our broken lives and makes us whole again. He takes our trials and uses them to help others and bring glory to Him. He pours His grace on us everyday. He gives us the strength to persevere. He gives us peace when we don't understand. He gives us hope of eternal life with Him! All we have to do is TRUST . . .
But trusting God is not always easy - and I struggle with letting go and surrendering to His will everyday. Don't we all like to be in control? But I think God understands that struggle and even though we may have trouble letting go - he never does. He never lets go of us!
Trusting God does not mean we will have a perfect life. Trusting God is knowing that no matter what we face in this life, God will be with us . . . loving us. Trusting God is understanding that this life is not our home . . . Heaven is. Trusting God is praying and talking to Him not only when we have a bad day - but EVERYDAY. Trusting God is turning our anger into forgiveness, our hate into love, our fears into faith, our weakness into strength, our despair into hope and our grief into joy. Trusting God is knowing that we are not perfect but God loves us anyway. Trusting God is knowing that God's arms are always wide open - waiting for us to run into them. Trusting God is trying our best to live in His image. Trusting God is surrendering your will. Trusting God is always being thankful. Trusting God is knowing that all things are possible through Him. Trusting God is hard!
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God."
Corrie Ten Boom
I pray that no matter what my circumstances are in life, I keep my eyes focused on Jesus and trust Him in all things. It is so easy to lose sight of Him sometimes when the days are busy and hectic. It is so easy to rush through prayers and skip devotional time. It is so easy to get lost in this world and lose sight of what is important. We all do. My faith is a work in progress, but I know that my life is better when I slow down and pray and trust and focus on God. My life is better BECAUSE OF HIM.
"Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."
Isaiah 26:4
I hope the video blesses you as much as it did me! We all have a cardboard testimony and I just love seeing how God can work in our lives. :)
Allie and I are much better, but the stomach bug attacked Kyle this morning. Bless his heart! Have I ever told you how much I dislike vomit?? However, I am very thankful that Kyle is at least old enough to make it to the bathroom! And I am very thankful that this virus only lasts about 12 hours - we can make it, right?? This is obviously a very contagious, nasty bug and I will be so glad when it leaves our house!
Brandon & Devin are cleaning their rooms, Allie is napping, Kyle is resting on the couch with a "throw-up bucket" by his side and I am supposed to be finishing up the laundry and packing for our trip to the beach! So I guess I better go get some things done before Baby Girl wakes up. I hope you all have a blessed weekend!
Ending with one of our favorite scriptures . . . This is one that we always turned to when Jacob was sick.
"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best."
Proverbs 3:5-9
The Message
Running to God,
33 comments:
Wow, how powerful . . . . .
Very well said Heather. Great post - something we all need more of is a little faith. I do not need to know what tomorrow will bring it will be here before I know it what I need to know is that God is already ahead of me. I hope your family gets back up on its feet fast. Have a wonderful time at the beach and watch out for the Jellies. We went to Gulf Shores last week and the gulf was infested. LOL
Heather - Thank you for sharing the You Tube video...I'm going to post it on my blog as well...
Isn't this just an amazing video!!!! I was in tears as I watched it. So worth the 8 plus minutes.
I LOVE Prov. 3:5-9...
Enjoy your weekend with your family.
Kim~
Ugh, I am absolutely PHOBIC about vomit! Thank goodness my husband can handle it, because I sometimes actually have to leave the house if my son is sick! I know, I have no business being a mother with a phobia like that, but I've always had it! So I definitely feel for you, hope no one else gets it and it's out of your life soon!
Melissa
Heather,
What an awesome video! Im so glad you shared it. I enjoyed it so much.
Im glad you and baby girl are on the mend..but sad to hear of Kyle getting it. Its just one of those things that happens..seems they always hit when our schedules are tight!
A big Congratulations to Devin!
Love and Hugs...
Our church did that a few years ago and it was amazing to read where everyone had been. So many of them you would never guess! What a testimony to God's faithfulness and how much he can do in our lives if we allow him.
I needed this reminder today as the frustration and fear is creeping in. He's in control and His will is perfect, regardless of how it feels.
Enjoy your time at the beach. :) Hopefully everyone will be healthy and stay healthy for you! I hear you on the hating vomit thing. It doesn't get much nastier, does it?
That video was awesome. Thanks for sharing that AND your words.
Have a great time on your trip. Hope Kyle is all better!
Not only is the video a blessing...this post was as well...thank you for these words today....
hope everyone is on the mend....those bucket days are always L~ON~G....
peace....
lori
Heather-Thanks for posting that video. Trusting God through ALL the times.
What a great post. You always have such a positive outlook.
AHHHHHHHHHHH you can't catch a break?? I am with you on the whole anti-vomit. Like you didn't have enough laundary!!
Hope everyone is up for the trip to the beach.....
Heather,
Thank you for posting the video, I really needed that today. I too watched the entire video. My son left for Atlanta this morning,(school event) and it was so hard to let him go....but I am trusting that God will not let him go and will keep him safe in a world that is new to him.
Praying that he remains safe,
Rita
Praying hard at this end!
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
What a great post and much need right now. I love the picture of baby girl on your side bar. She's adorable. Hoping Kyle feels better. Not fun. Hopefully he'll be feeling better by your trip. Take care. :)
Heather,
I didn't think I would watch the whole video either, but I did. I watched it with tears in my eyes, powerful words on cardboard. I guess I needed to read your blog more than anybody today. My mom has been so sick for the past couple of years, her health is failing. She will be 70 in July. She ask me to take her to wal-mart yesterday. She told me the last time she was in the hospital she didn't think she woud make it and she prayed so hard, she was so afraid. I stayed with her every night and I never knew she was afraid. She never said anything to me.
On the way home she said she felt like she didn't have anything to live for anyway and I said you have all of us kids and a million grandkids, lol. It really bothered me that she said that. I cried all evening. My brother lives with her and cooks for her. I don't spend alot of time at her house, I go everyday. She lives next door to me, I just don't stay long. I talk to her on the phone constantly. She smokes and I get bronchitis and upper respiritory infections alot. I can't stand smoke, and Gracie stays sick, so I just run in and out. Take her mail and groceries, whatever she needs.
She can't remember anything and talks about the same things. Her mind is getting so bad.She has always been so strong and loved being outside in the summer, loves flowers in her yard, I don't,lol.
Thanks for the great post I really needed it today....
Carmen
Heather ~ Good morning. Thanks for commenting on my blog! I wanted to let you know that I did post the You Tube on my blog in my "Favorite Things" section ~ a separate blog I keep ~ icon on the right. I didn't want you to think I didn't post it when I said I was going to...
Have a wonderful summer day with your precious children!
BTW, I have been following your blog for years and feel honored that you took the time to comment on my blog...:-)
Thanks for visiting my blog!
This video was sent to me last week and I cried. It is such an awesome testimony to God's love and work and in our lives when we LET HIM be in charge. It is so hard to let go of that control.
I just came across your blog and am very blessed and inspired by your family. What a testimony you all are to God's grace and faithfullness! I look forward to reading about your family!
A beautiful message...
What an awesome video! Thanks for sharing. I didn't think I'd watch it all either but watched the whole thing with tears in my eyes. Our God is an AWESOME God!
I hope your family has a wonderful weekend with no more illness!
Heather,
Someone sent me this link last week and I confess to crying through it both times I've watched it. It is just so very powerful. Glad you shared it here.
Hope that no one else in your house has come down the the bug and that it stays away while you guys are on vacation! I'm telling you, there nothing I hate doing more than hugging the toilet!!! Hope everyone is on the mend!
Hugs,
Jenny
POWERFUL!!!! There is no sin too dark, no pain too deep that HE CANNOT redeems us and heal us from!! HE IS ALMIGHTY!!! PTL!! Thanks for sharing! I am passing it on! Blessings!
I just loved that video. I love how, each one of us, if we submit to God, can be USED by him in a mighty way. Not a hurt is wasted. Not a struggle is worthless. Not a tear forgotten or forlorn.
How HUMBLING. God uses OUR STUFF. Praise to him. He is using your stuff, Heather. That is clear.
Thank you so much for sharing that video. I am 100% positive that no one needed that video more than me right now. Thank you so much.
Thank you Heather - you always seem to post these WOW posts on days that I need to re-focus on the important things in life ... thank you so much for sharing that - it is beyond powerful! Hope you are all feeling better and you're having a safe trip ... Have a great weekend!
** Oh and we live in Minneapolis where (despite how it looks) it was 90 degrees here this week ... we were 'bundled' up because of the wind and rain! ** Don't worry it is finally hot here and our pool without a heater is 86 ...
God Bless!
Rebekah, Jaden & Baby#2 TOO!
Hope everyone is feeling better!
I saw the cardboard testimonies a few days ago. I watched and shed tears. I actually watched it twice.
I hope that you are all feeling better and on your way to enjoying the beach!
What an awful bug you have been dealing with. I hate throw up too. I hate doing it and I hate cleaning it. My husband and I have a deal, I clean the kid and he cleans the bed, floor or wherever else needs it. I can never leave my husband because I don't think any other man would do that. LOL
I enjoyed reading your baseball post. I remember those days well. My guy is 17 now and it is different but we have some great memories. Also, I do love this "cardboard testimonies" clip. I have seen it before and I think it is sooo powerful!
Enjoy your trip to the beach, we were supposed to check in to our condo tomorrow but ended up canceling the trip (gas prices are just too high). I will enjoy seeing your pictures when you return.
Love,
Kelley
Thank you for your beautiful post, Heather. I love the way you look at life and trust in God. On a side note, I have to share a tidbit on the stomach bug! I'm a nurse who worked in a nursing home where a stomach bug swept through the building, hitting almost all of the residents and much of the staff. I never got it, thanks to the info someone once shared with me - the bug is airborne for 10 minutes within 10 feet. So if you're right there when someone vomits, you're likely going to catch it! But if you keep a mask handy, and plenty of gloves, you'll be all set! Hard to do with kids, but still good to know! Hope everyone is healthy and ready to travel soon!
Thank you......cardbard testimonies was exactly what I needed today......
Alison - Andrew's mom
www.caringbridge.com/canada/andrewsjourney
Check out my blog friend. :0) I blogged about you and sweet Jacob. Thanks for what your blog has been in my life. Hugs, Angel
Wow, I don't really know what else to say except that was very beautiful and convicting at the same time for me. I am going to post it on my personal blog....Your words were so eloquently written, I may post them as well. Thank you for that.
I have already booked marked you in favorites, and I can see why Angel loves you so much. Blessings.
Elizabeth
I got a chance to sit and watch this video in the quiet and the tears are flowing! God's power and love is neverending and continues to take my breath away. I am amazed at how He makes good out of all things and so very thankful for it all. Thanks for sharing Heather!
Post a Comment