Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

For the Bible Tells Me So

What I have been up to..................













Packing!

 We are moving to a beautiful rental farmhouse on the edge of a pretty little (and I mean little) town just a few miles down the road from our current home.

 We had been looking for a new home for some time due to my husband's job which takes him out of town. The thought had been to find a home in a more central location. With our blended family things like a move are never an easy decision. We weren't in  a huge hurry but we had been discussing it. 

We have found ourselves in a bit of a pickle.


This move was not however to get us all that closer to The Hubs but instead to move us to a home that is more rural (which we wanted), puts both Pirate Rob and Princess Peony in the same high school (life will be easier), gives us a transition house while we decide what our next step is with his job (there is a possible promotion in a city even farther away than he is driving now), and most importantly because what we thought was a small fix-it problem in our house has turned out to be a HUGE hidden problem. 

A problem we actually can not fix and must in fact leave our house so as to not potentially damage our bodies. We are leaving behind or throwing away many of our things. We are having to clean and vacuum everything that can leave with us. It has been a taxing, frustrating, humbling, exhausting, and emotionally wrenching experience. We are having to trust God, trust others, and ride out this storm to keep our family intact and healthy. 

 Through it all, God is in control and we as a family will grow closer to Him and each other as we sort through the next few months. My mantra has been Philippians 4:13:
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
and Matthew 19:26
 But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

In my darkest moments when I was snot nosed crying out to God for a deliverance of this mess, when I was a swollen, red-eyed mess begging Him to wave His hand and make it all go away and disappear for me, I could not hear Him. My heart was so full of pain and anguish and frustration that I could not see a light at the end of this dark cave we are in. My pain, my hopelessness clouded my vision and deafened my ears. I was trying to fix it myself, to find anyway to keep us from having to give up our home, our things, and all the  stuff. 

I was trying to protect my pride. What will people say? What will they think? Is this mess my fault? Why didn't I know? I can't let anyone know... It is humiliating.

I believe what He was saying was simply... Wait. Wait and let Me work. Wait and let me lead. Wait for I know what is best. I will keep your family together. I will get groceries on your table. I will find you furniture. I will find the funds you need. I will grow your love for me.

I Will.

My job is to obey. Though it seems crazy. Though it is painful. Though I can not know the end result or even hear His voice there is a knowing. 

A knowing that it will be okay.

How do I know? Because the Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so!
Little Ones to Him belong;

They are weak

But He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

 Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus Loves me, 

The Bible tells me so!
 

For He Will Take Care of Everything Because He Loves ME.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. ~ Matthew 6:25-34
Surviving


Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Sound the Retreat


source


Sometimes I need to retreat. To pull back from the hurt and pain that comes with life.

 Retreat from the confusion of my own wants and desires. My weak attempt to make things work out.

 Sometimes I want to hide from everything. To cover up my head with my grandmother's quilt and not surface.

 Usually this is after I have railed aloud at God,  screamed at the top of my lungs for an answer to my needs, my wants, and cried until I am spent.

 Then I take cover.

 Retreat to the quiet of my head.

 Which is never really quiet.

 So I fill it with audio versions of the Book of Psalms because I am too weak to even read. 
I listen. I breathe. I fill myself with the words of David:

Psalm 4

Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
    You gave me room when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
    How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed, do not sin;
    ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
    Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart
    more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.


There are times when my enemy is myself. My own thoughts that seek to bring me down. 
To be distraught and saddened beyond outside control is a mournful thing. 

So I sound the retreat.


When crying out appears to be met with deaf ears.
When Hope is a splendored thing that it seems is not meant for me.
When life has brought you to the place of a tauntly stretched guitar string and all you can hear is that high-pitched whinning and vibrating sadness; It Can Feel Like Just Too Much.

 Retreat to God's Word. 

Psalm 6

Prayer for Recovery from Grave Illness

To the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,
    or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3 My soul also is struck with terror,
    while you, O Lord—how long?

4 Turn, O Lord, save my life;
    deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who can give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eyes waste away because of grief;
    they grow weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my supplication;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
    they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.

 Find Solace in another who has cried for help. Who has been brought low by life and it's circumstances.

It may feel like God doesn't hear you. It may feel like you are alone. It may feel like all hope is lost. It may feel like He isn't helping. It may feel like you are drowning in your tears and that your string is going to break. 

 Find peace in His Word.
 Psalm 17: 6-8, 15
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
    O savior of those who seek refuge
    from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Guard me as the apple of the eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings,

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
    when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

Understand in your retreat, that He is still there. He still loves you. 
When your guitar string breaks, and sometimes it will, that is when He can restring you with newness. He can lift you up and hold you in an embrace of such Father Love you are once again whole. 

 For it is in the Breaking that we are than able to start to heal. It is in our weakness, our sadness, our faulty attempts that He is made greater.
2 Corinthians 12: 8-10
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Sound the retreat. Heal. Thank Him. And Move On. 

I shall be in Retreat for now.....


Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tuesday's Gift ~ Hope

Hope. 
 
Hope in the Lifting Up.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand. ~Psalm 37:24

Survive.

Hope in the Assurance of our God.
 
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. ~Psalm 42:11

Turn your face unto the LORD.

Hope in the LORD as my God and My Ultimate Help in all circumstances.
 
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God, ~ Psalm 146:5
Stretch.

Hope is a gift given by our LORD himself to encourage us on this journey called LIFE.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17
Every Good Work

We must only Seize Hope as we accept Christ as our Savior...
...we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever... ~Hebrews 6: 18b-20a

Anchored Safely
I am Thankful for the Gift of Hope, an anchor for my soul to rest upon.
Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

All pictures are courtesy of my sister Sara Rose Nissen. 
Check out her artwork over at  as seen through my eyes.  

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Pillow of Selfishness

The Preacher Man and Sir Bean
That is my pillow.  See it? 
All soft and squishy and perfectly broken in. It is huge. An oversized, snuggly, down filled beauty of a sleep aid. I don't sleep well, ever, and this is my one favorite thing to help me count down to the Land of Sleep.

Problem is, it is everyone's favorite pillow. 
It is borrowed, misplaced, hidden and used by the kidlets and by the Preacher Man.
I am apt to let this happen. I am not unreasonable...
until bedtime. 
Then I need my pillow. 
Without it my neck will hurt. My head will ache. My shoulders will be all out of whack.
Seriously, I will physically pay for it if I use the old, flat, hard pillow.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Get over it girl! It is a pillow!
Some of you though, some of you will understand. I can not sleep without my pillow!

You know it wasn't always this way. As a child I could sleep about anywhere. Floors, couches, the car, and everywhere in between. Then came adulthood and children and I just stopped sleeping well. Who sleeps well with babies and toddlers in the house anyway? 
As I got older and had more neck and shoulder issues I started sleeping badly for the portion of the night I did sleep. I had to find the right pillow style. I promise you, it isn't in my head, the pillow works. :)

So last night the Hubs borrowed my pillow to sit up in bed. I'm a giving kind of gal (most of the time) so in the spirit of Love and Respect I said nothing. I figured I could sneak it out from under him before I laid my head down for the night.
He crashed having come off a night shift with his daytime and nighttime hours all goofy. 
No worries. He has four pillows now... I'll just sneak my pillow out from under his sleepy head and I will be in the business of resting.

It did not happen. I couldn't budge him. I couldn't wake him. (He literally could sleep through a tornado.) And if truth be told he hugged that pillow tighter in his sleep.

From somewhere inside me rose up this pure frustration-laced anger. It literally bubbled up inside like an erupting volcano. I wanted to wake him up from his effortless sleep and scream:

Give Me My Pillow!

It is mine. I have almost nothing that is mine. 
Everything is shared. Nothing is truly mine. My time, my creativity, my love. It is all shared. My kitchen is my homeschool room. My bedroom is the hangout. My pencils are used. My scissors get lost. I share gum, and kleenex, and my lunch. I share the Wii remote, and the chair I am sitting on. I even share the bathroom, almost every time I use it, with my potty training toddler. I can't shower without a little someone needing to brush their teeth. I can not go anywhere without a tribe coming along. My clothes are shared. My shoes are shared. My Bible time is even shared. 

Don't I deserve one little thing that is mine? 

What a Pillow of Selfishness.

This wonderful man I married did not know that he set off in me a feeling of such utter selfishness that I was brought to tears by my shame. He slept calmly on. He did not overstep or offend intentionally. He would never have willingly took my pillow for the entire night. It was an accident.

It sure brought to the surface very raw emotions in myself though, didn't it? 
So where is that all really coming from? Why can something so silly cause me such a rush of anger and ungodly like thoughts? Why in the world would this bring up such toddleresque type temper tantruming behavior?

Short answer: Because I am human. 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ~ Romans 3:23

Because people are inherently selfish.

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 
~ 2 Timothy 3:2 


We so easily fall into that place. Even with the gift of Grace we choose to cling to what we can hold on to. What we can foolishly place our hands on.We are selfish with our things, our money, our time, and our love. We think we are good. That we are deserving of more than what we have.

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” ~ Matthew 19: 17


We are not good. We fail. We fall easily back into sin.

This is why the Lord has to command us to love. To give. To be unselfish. To respect. To be submissive.

If it was natural He wouldn't have to command us to do it. These are not suggestions. These are orders. These are things He tells us to do.

Not out of a need to push us down or keep us under His rule. No! These are rules of LOVE. The greatest LOVE that there is. He LOVES us enough to tell to us in His Word how to avoid the pain that comes with jealousy. The hurt that comes with pride. The sting of a hateful word. The guilt of an unreasonable and pride filled heart.

Love Others.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ~Romans 12:10


We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ~Romans 15:1-2


No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.  
~1 Corinthians 10:24

Love Unselfishly.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ~ Ephesians 5:1-2

Love Because He loves us.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.~ Ephesians 5:21

“In that day,” declares the Lord,
    “you will call me ‘my husband’;
    you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
    no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them
    with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the creatures that move along the ground.
Bow and sword and battle
    I will abolish from the land,
    so that all may lie down in safety. I will betroth you to me forever;
    I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
    in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness,
    and you will acknowledge the Lord. 
I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.
I will say to those called ‘Not my people, ‘You are my people’;
and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”~ Hosea 2:16-20, 23

Wives, Love By RESPECT

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ~ Ephesians 5 :22-24

Husbands, Love By CARING for her and LOVING her as you love yourself.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church ~Ephesians 5:25-29


Let us strive to love like the LORD commands. Let us fail miserably and then apologize and get back up on that old worn out horse and keep keeping on. Let us recognize those moments of sin weakness for what they are. A reminder to keep trusting the LORD and to keep holding onto HIM. 

So I will keep trusting the LORD and I'll go get myself another pillow. 

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)
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