It is well

Give thanks, with a grateful heart

Give thanks, to the Holy One

Give thanks, because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now, let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich, because of what the Lord has done for us."

Give thanks

O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me;

Let them bring me to Thy holy hill,

And to Thy dwelling places.

Then I will go to the alter of God,

To GOD MY EXCEEDING JOY;

And upon the lyre I shall praise Thee, O God, my God.

Psalm 43:3-4

Joy comes from a heart that knows God.

 - acknowledging who He is and what He has done.

 

"How are you?"

What a crazy question.

Isn't that the hardest question to answer sometimes?

At one moment I might say, "great!", 

but 5 seconds later I might say, "I'm pulling my hair out!"

:)

Because I feel exhausted or am in pain most of the time I can rarely answer that question with a truthful, "good."

But as I've had to answer that question a zillion times I've come to realize that it is less about the physical well being and more about the spiritual and emotional well being.

 

I can have a rough day physically but still say, "It is well with my soul."

 

Some days I say "it is well" quickly and confindently.

 

Other days it takes time to center my focus on Christ and the truth of what it means to say, "It is well with my soul."  

Circumstance and life in general can be stormy but my soul, being anchored in Christ can say,"It is well."

 

"I Will Rise"

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise

The past three days I have had more energy than normal.  It still means I'm talking naps in the morning and being careful to not do too much...but 3 days in a row is something to be thankful about!

 today we're headed off for a weekend of camping and watching Andrew compete in a half-iron man triathlon.

Joshua is 10

 

My first born is 10 years old today.  A loooonngg time ago, when Joshua was just a baby, I remember seeing a bunch of boys walking along the road and I wondered what he would look like when he was 10.

Every year I've enjoyed watching my boy grow in understanding and experiencing new things.  His heart is so tender to God.  When he has been stubborn and prideful the best thing that reaches His heart is God's Word.

These past years I've watched him grow in leaps and bounds in maturity, responsibility and self-control.  He has taken on new challenges with courage and confidence.  When frustration has threatened to overtake him he has remembered to look at God's truth and hold fast.  He cares for those who have been rejected and has compassion on the wounded heart.

He loves to play the piano.  His fingers never cease to amaze me when they dance on the keyboard.  He breathes and moves in music.

I say all this not to boast or take pride in anything he, or we, have done.  But to acknowledge God's omni-presence, sovereign protection, forgiveness and grace, and His Holy Spirit who has guided us.  If left to our own devices and ways we would've messed everything up and failed miserably.  I can't tell you how many times we've been brought to our knees in prayer because we don't know how to handle a situation or an attitude.  I am so thankful that we have a God who hears and counsels.

Amino Acid Deficiency

In addition to Adrenal Fatigue I also am deficient in some

Amino Acids 

– Amino acids are the “building blocks” of proteins and are necessary for virtually everything in our bodies, including most hormones and all neurotransmitters. Low levels of amino acids are closely associated with several chronic ailments.


Essential vitamin, mineral, and amino acid deficiencies frequently go undiagnosed in conventional medicine because conventional testing methods look for pathology—meaning the tests only check for chronic conditions that are present, and NOT for the precursors that lead to illness. In a conventional medical setting, symptoms may go undiagnosed for months or even years before a chronic condition fully develops. 

I've always felt I was deficient in something.  But all the tests my regular Dr. gave me came back "normal".   

On top of that, as a family, we eat and live pretty healthy.  So a deficiency didn't make much sense, even though that is what my body felt like.  But now we're learning that my body isn't absorbing what it should. 

It is going to be a long road of slow and steady toward recovery.  But hey, I'll gladly take long and slow than a never or a "sorry you're going to have to live like this for the rest of your life"! 

Communicating EASTER

Easter.

Our hope and our confidence rests here.

Jesus has risen.

Our sin is gone, He is sovereign over death.

Communicating these truths to the kids in simplicity has been extra difficult this year.

For one, Jeremy is new to these words and concepts.  It isn't too difficult explaining it to a child who has heard about it in their language through out their life...Jesus, God, cross, death, alive, sin.  

I try and incorporate these words and phrases into daily life when it is applicable and so he's beginning to get a better idea of it.

The other reason it has been hard, especially this year, is that my mind feels like it often has a screen in it.  Blocking the reasoning the analytical flow.  I often am tongue tied and stumped in my words.  It is so frustrating sometimes trying to process what I'm trying to say.

Thankfully we have many good books for kids that I have been able to use.  As we read I am then able to further explain and add onto what the book is teaching.  Unfortunately reading is exhausting to me so I can only read a couple short books at a time.

These are things that have discouraged my heart when I want to be able to accurately pass on the Truth and grace that it is Christ to my children.  But I have to trust that God will do His own communicating to them, through His Word, through His Spirit.  He will draw them to Himself.  He will open the eyes of their heart in understanding and faith.

And I continue to pray that God will open my mouth in wisdom for each moment.  That even when my brain is confused, God will use my attitude, love and words to reach their hearts.

Every couple of weeks I have been in battle against letting deceptive thoughts into my mind.  When my body is weary my mind is less protected.  It is so easy to become discouraged, depressed and hopeless.  But even though my feelings pull me one way I am grounded in God's Truth and by His grace He has gaurded me and covered me with His wings.  I have verses on the mirrors, verses printed out taped to my walls, songs that I play that remind me of what is true, right, pure and lovely, of good repute...(phil 4).  

This year I am asking God to awaken me to the joy of being in His presence.  My heart often feels far away from joy, but in truth, I am never far from my God and my Savior.

Easter is JOY