His Hands and Feet

Oftentimes in this life, we are called by God to do something completely out of our comfort zone.  This is where I am right now.  In just a few days, I will be doing something way out of my comfort zone.  Thoughts of fear paralyze me at times, and my heart starts to beat very fast.  

But today, I really grasped onto what the pastor had to say at church...and I started to feel at peace.  Oh yes, I have a long way to go to feel peace that surpasses understanding, because I am stubborn!

We are called to be His (Jesus') hands and feet.  Literally meaning, that we are a loving extension of who He was while He lived on earth.  That is the very essence of being a Christian.

And so, while I am completely uncomfortable with the adventure on which I am about to embark upon, I know that He is my protector.  That only He can bring me peace.  And I know that I am called to do what I will be doing.  Therefore, I must lay aside my fears and think of the mission, so to speak, that I will be going on.  Just like the flowers of the field that do not worry, I too can trust my Father to care for me!

More details about this later next week!  And hopefully, many photos and stories too!

 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

[Shannon1]

How Can We Get Back to Galatians 1:10?

Howdy, my friends!!!  What a blessed morning it is here at our home.  Nothing spectacular in particular, but I'm just so thankful to be alive, healthy, in my home, spending the day with my son, and drinking in God's Word!


This morning I picked up my Bible off of the side table in the living room.  I had left it yesterday, opened to the first chapter of Galatians, in which I had re-read a bit of chapter 1 and was reflecting on verse 1:10.

For do I now persuade men, or God?  or do I seek to please men?  for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  

Galatians 1:10 (KJV)

Upon reading this again on this beautiful fall morning, my mind turned immediately to the Amish.  Let's be honest, I am sure that most of us have thought of the Amish as "backwards" or "too old-fashioned" or "weird."  While I don't share this opinion (I'm sure when I was younger I thought they were a bit odd, though), it's very easy to fall into this mentality.

You see, we live IN the world, and when we live IN the world, we can become so tainted and not even know it!  I don't claim to be an expert of the Amish (or Mennonite) community, but I do know that they seem to adhere to not conforming to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2).

What are WE doing as Christians to NOT conform to the pattern of this world?  While I'm not suggesting you sell all you own and go live in an Amish community, I challenge you as  Christian to re-examine your life, and to get into the Word daily.  This goes especially for me!  

As we get deeper into our relationship with the Lord, He will give us the answers.  He will convict our hearts and show us the right way.  We must take off the blinders (in the form of Facebook, TV, idleness--anything that takes too much time away from Him and doesn't let our mind rest-- for a while and rest in Him.  I promise you...He does speak to your heart if you open up to Him and listen!  And what a blessing that will be!


It's too easy to get trapped into doing what others are doing.  And it may not even be really that bad in our eyes.  Our friends may want to go do a particular activity, and we end up going...and it's something as simple as going to see a movie.  Deep inside, it's a movie that isn't really that bad, but yet we feel uncomfortable.  Have you ever felt that way?  Don't give in!  If you feel bad or wrong for participating, this could be God convicting your heart.  Listen!  Obey!  


It's also very easy to let our children participate in events or things that their friends are doing, because we are guilted into it.  But are we giving our children His best?

How about you?  Do you find it hard to live in this world as a follower of Christ?  Do you have any ideas on how to keep focused on Him and not on the things of this world?  Do you please man or God?  

You are Loved By Him,

The Fight Against Information Overload

Please join me at The Post today as I reflect on information overload.  You are loved!

 

Happy Birthday, Evan!!!

Today we celebrated Evan's 7th Birthday!!  Yesterday, we had his birthday party here at our house, and gathered with friends and family to celebrate and have fun.

We also had a bittersweet day of saying goodbye to Grandma Richey, Josh's grandmother, who went Home with Jesus today.  

Evan got to meet Grandma Richey for the first time almost three weeks ago.  She had battled cancer for over a decade, and at 85 years of age, little more could be done for her than to make her comfortable.  Josh helped his mother move her here to San Antonio just shy of three weeks ago, into a nursing home.  October 3rd, Evan got to meet her for the very first time after talking about her and praying for her often.  

Though Grandma was weak looking and could not walk and could only lie down in her bed, Evan didn't care.  He hugged and kissed her and laughed, smiled, spoke with her.  She would smile and just laugh at his silliness!  She didn't mind at all that he was sort of all over the place and excited. 

They talked about Curious George and the characters from the animated series that comes on PBS Kids.  There were plans made to watch the show together on our laptop, but that didn't happen.  There were plans to get her into the wheelchair and take her outdoors.  That will never happen.

But she is with Jesus, for this kind lady knew Jesus.  She is Home!   

Happy 7th Birthday, Evan!!!  We love you and are so very blessed to be your parents!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma Richey.  You will be missed!  Hug Jesus!

To the Parent of "Just One"

I forgot to announce a few months ago that I am now an author over at The Homeschool Post.  Please join me over there today as I discuss to delicate topic of being a parent of "just one."  

You are loved by Jesus!

De Smet, South Dakota

A few months ago, we did a Little House on the Prairie road trip, just the four of us (yes, we took Peaty).  Yes, these crazy Texans drove all the way from home all the way up to Minot AFB, ND.  Mileage total of 4,100 miles!  Yes, that's 4,100 miles of prairie loveliness for this Laura Ingalls Wilder fanatic!!!

As a continuation from my post about our first stop on our own little prairie tour near Independence, Kansas...I did promise to write and share more about our prairie adventures!  After we left the The Little House on the Prairie Museum, we took a very scenic route through the Flint Hills of Kansas--a scenic byway I suggest you not miss!  Kansas commonly is thought of as dull, flat, and not very attractive.  I completely disagree with that statement!  We found so much beauty and peace while driving throughout Kansas.  Part of the beautiful Flint Hills has been preserved.  We intentionally took this scenic route so we could stop at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.  Unfortunately, we got there after closing hours.  But we were able to walk around the front of the premises and snap a few photos and take in what Laura's prairie once looked like all over millions of acres of the United States.  

Going through Kansas, I can understand why Pa (Charles Ingalls) and others followed suit to homestead this beautiful state.  Not a tree in site, for the most part, which made for ideal farm land.

We stayed overnight in Manhattan, Kansas--home of Ft. Riley and Kansas State University, aka: K-State.  Nice town!  We plan to stay a night or two next time we venture up that way again.  However, not without our mountain bikes!

The boys looking at the river, on a trail we found in Manhattan, KS.

We crossed into Nebraska, which is miles and miles of corn.  The architecture of the barns are quite beautiful, and they were everywhere!  The barns we saw seemed similar in Nebraska, South and North Dakota.  I am sure that is because most settlers were of German or German/Russian descent, and also Scandinavian descent (especially up in North Dakota).  In what I have researched, the type of barns that I photographed the most were the gambrel style which is indicative of a German settler.  I'm going to do another post on barns and share photographs that I took while we drove up north.

We finally made it to our destination, De Smet, South Dakota--the home of the Ingalls Family.  They were the first family to settle in the town of De Smet.  Laura would live here with her family until she married Almonzo Wilder.  Most of Laura's books in her series took place in De Smet.

We had quite the shock of arriving at Ingalls Homestead to high winds, dark clouds, and temperatures barely above 60 degrees!!!  BRRRRR!!!!  And to think we were going to tent camp.  We opted for a stay in town (only a mile away) in a nice hotel.  While we were disappointed to not be able to camp out on the prairie, we should have known that way up north it's way colder than Texas!

We looked around for a few minutes, and decided to secure a hotel room and get dinner.  The next day we went back and spent a few hours at the homestead...in which I will write about in part two.  

And at this point, if you are still reading, thanks!  This was a long post!  But I want to share how wonderful this vacation was to our family.  You don't have to take a trip to a crowded, popular attraction to enjoy yourself.  I rather found it to be quite relaxing and amazing to take the back roads, to take in history, and to take out time exploring around different parts of the U.S. we had never seen.  Until next time...

Trying to Rest in Him

Trying.  It's hard.  It's really hard when you are human and sinful.  But I am trying to learn to lean on Him, not myself.  Oh how I thought I didn't do such a thing.  WRONG.

A mini quilt I made for Josh's grandmother who is bedridden.  

So while I take this little break from blogging and Facebook, I just wanted to say hello.

A quilted panel I made for a dear friend's birthday.

I've been sewing and quilting lately.  Lots of people who need extra love sent in the mail, and lots of friends and family having birthdays.

So while I'm learning establishing the habit of leaning on Him daily, I will be doing life...as a wife, mother, and friend.

Have a blessed day!