Regrets...

Life is full of them. At some point you will regret something you did, the way you handled a situation, a missed opportunity, something you said...regret is something I have struggled with. More so....I've struggled with forgiveness. For a long time I lived with regret. I had asked forgiveness for past deed(s) but the regret was still there. Why did I do this? Why did I do that? I was unable to let it go. I was unable to say "Lord, your grace is sufficient." I walked a long, hard, lonely road of dealing with a mental and emotional war that went on inside of me. 

2 Chronicles 7:14

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Could I move forward. Was I really worthy of his forgiveness. I trust Him! I love Him! A Christ who paid the price. Paid the price for my sin. I'm not worthy...

Mark 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Moving past regret is one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with. No matter how many times I would try to move past the devil would grab hold of my heart and tell me I was unworthy...

Luke 11:9

"...Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives: he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

I had to open my heart to forgiveness. I had to know that God had forgiven me. I had to move forward if I truly believed what His Word said. Did I truly trust and believe?

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

FAITHFUL AND JUST!

FOLLOW HIM! Follow him and do not stray. Follow him and your burdens will be light. Follow him and let him guide you DAILY. Don't lose sight of the prize. DO NOT let Satan grab hold of your heart, mind and body and lead you astray. Stay the course. Seek Him in ALL things. Learn from my mistakes....and when he does creep his way in like a thief to steal what God has given fall on your face before God and pray for wisdom and strength! 

Philippians 3:13-14

"...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on..."

Persevere...

Sometimes it's just hard to persevere. The days when you want to say "Lord, I quit" while waiting on answers and decisions. Hebrews 10:35-36

"So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."

When my confidence is down it is not of the Lord. Satan wants me to lose sight and lose hope but my faith must stand firm. 

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is being sure of what I hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews 12:1

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfect or of our faith..."

When my faith is down its time to dig in. Dig in to Gods word and what he teaches me so that I don't lose sight of his promises. That I can fulfill his will and follow his plan. Releasing all the feelings of doubt and fear. 

The waiting is the hardest. The learning while we wait. The growing that is taking place in the waiting. His light will shine during this time and patience will grow. It's so easy to dwell on what we are waiting on. So easy to consume our thought and our attitudes. These are the times I cry out for mercy in this area and I seek him through it. That I pray through the situation but I don't lose sight of the moment I am in. That I place it at the feet of my Savior who knows all. He knows the outcome...I must have faith in what I cannot see. I must have faith in the waiting.

A favorite James 1:3-4

"...because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Stand Firm. Have Faith. Seek Jesus!

Where...oh where!

Where oh where did the school year go? I can't believe we are already closing out another year in our home of school. I also can't believe that my first born...my first baby...the littlest who taught me to be a momma will be a sophomore next year. How is it possible we are closing out his freshman year. I blinked and here we are. All those days and years of thinking the diapers and feedings would never end and here we are... Some days I'd go back... To rocking and cooing and playing peek a boo! But oh the joyous gift I've been given to see these boys grow. Grow into bright young men...leaders...they will forge their own path in their own way but seeing God's presence in their life is such a blessing to me. Maybe I've (we've) done something right after all! Seeing the fruits of your labor come to fruition is an amazing sight and most of all a gift. Keep pouring into them. Keep pestering them. Keep praying with them. Keep loving them. Keep lifting your hands high to Jesus praying FOR them. My Jesus I praise you!

He's driving you know...that littlest. Learning to maneuvering in more ways than one in this great big world. I'm so thankful I'm here to help teach him. Some days I feel like he's driving Ms. Daisy and some day it may be that way. He will have to drive his old gray haired momma around. I'll be proud! Some days I'm in disbelief at the season we are in. The life that we've been given but as fleeting as it is I don't want to miss it. I don't want to miss the things that matter. To me...that matter the most. My beautiful boys...the laughter that fills our house...the silliness...the smiles...God granted me the desires of my heart! I'm so thankful!