oh, what a thankful thursday....

I am just thankful for some many things. We could all probably make a list that never ended. God is so generous with the multitude of blessings that He so lovingly bestows on me and my family daily. I am so glad that Greg so willingly hosts this THANKFUL THURSDAY post each week so we can take the time to give our wonderful Lord the praise that He is so worthy of. Thanks Greg!

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I am so thankful that my newest little grandson is doing so well! Little Silas is just the sweetest little thing ever and I just love to go and get lots of good baby sugar from him.

(oh, my is there anything sweeter?)

I am so thankful that God has blessed me and my husband with such a great church family. We seriously have the best church ever! Our church is so loving and so amazing that it is such a pleasure and privilege to serve here. Oh, thank you precious Lord for allowing us to be at this place of service at this time in our lives.

I am so thankful that I live only 25 miles from both of my married daughters. This enables me to see them and their precious youngin's many times a week. I am so thankful that my girls love me enough to want me to come over often! Thank you Lord for that awesome blessing!

(me and Mercie taking our own picture!)

I am thankful that in one week, Melissa will be home from Bolivia! Yay! She will hopefully be able to spend a few days at home with us before going back to Baton Rouge to start working again. I am so thankful for God's hand upon her during the past 6 weeks and pray that He continues to keep her safe and brings her home in one piece!

I am so thankful for God's love. I read the following in a book called "the Christian Atheist" by Craig Groeschel. It is an amazing book and I highly recommend it. (thanks, Misty!)

"... You are one of God's children. He's crazy about you. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. And there is nothing you can do to make God love you less. Love is not something God does. It is who God is. And because of who He is, God loves you. Period."

God loves us with an unconditional, all-encompassing love. He is so worthy of all that we have to offer. He loves us with no strings attached. He loves us in spite of our failures. He just straight out loves us. Thank you, Lord for your LOVE.

no detours please

I feel like I am walking on a conveyor belt that is running backwards as I am trying to walk forward. It seems like the more I purpose in my heart to seek Him first and seek Him deeper, the more I run into obstacles trying to throw me off course.

I take 2 steps in the right direction and then 1 step in the wrong one. Progressing very slowy. Making little headway.

My mind seems to be wandering lately and I am having a hard time getting and keeping focused. I don't know why, but I almost have a restlessness in my spirit that I can't explain.

It's like there is so much I desire to acquire in my walk with Him but I am wanting it all now. I am forgetting that it's sometimes a slow process. Slow and painful at times.

I realize that the more intently and purposefully I seek more in my walk with Christ, the more intent the enemy becomes in creating roadblocks.

The road to freedom in Christ is certainly marked with suffering. It is a long and winding road, with many twists and turns. As followers of Jesus Christ we just have to keep our eyes focused on what lies at the end of the road and not on the road itself. When our focus is on Him, we can keep the purpose for our journey in the right perspective.

There will be discomfort. There will be trials and tribulations. Times that He is teaching us things along the way that may slow us down. Times that He is speaking to our hearts and we are not so quick to listen. Times He has to gently prod us back on the right path. The path of righteousness.

We just have to keep our hearts in the seeking mode. Desiring to know Him like never before. Recognizing the restlessness as a sign of not being satsified with where we are on our journey and wanting to get there faster with Him.

I am so anxious to get where I so desire in my relationship with my Savior. But I also don't want to miss anything He has to show me on the way. I will glady encounter the rough roads but am purposing to avoid any detours.

As I continue on my journey, I will search diligently for the right path. Seeking Christ with an unparalleled passion. Stopping along the way only to breathe in the sweet fragrance of His presence as He lovingly shows me the way to the abundant and spirit-filled life in him. A life filled with spiritual blessings. Rich in the glory of His presence. And a life satisfied by my intimate relationship with my Savior.

Seeking like never before,

Beth

Captivated

(Mercie, Eli and Mikaela with their new 4-day old little brother, Silas )

We've had a busy week. A week that started with the miracle of birth.

It is still just so amazing to me how a little newborn babe emerges from the secure confines of his mother's womb, takes his first breath and begins life anew. No matter that I have witnessed 6 births now, not counting my own 3 girls, it still brings joy to my heart. Tears to my eyes. And renews my faith and belief in our Almighty Creator. I am captivated by my God and His power.

I am captivated by Silas as well. The newest member of our family has already etched a special place in all of our hearts. I watch with awe at the many facial expressions a 5 day old baby can make. I marvel at the sweetness of his countenance as I nestle him close and watch him sleep. What a precious miracle.

I love to watch the look of enraptured love on Mikaela's face as she holds her newest little brother in her arms. She wraps him up with tenderness and just gazes at his sweet face. "Nana, I adore him", she told me last night. She, too, is captivated by the miracle of a newborn baby.

It fills me such joy to see how well my daughter adjusted to having 4 children. She was made to be a mother. She is a born nurturer and doles out her love to each one with such ease.

Silas is so blessed to have 2 big sisters and 1 big brother who are already head-over-heels in love with him. He has a mommy and daddy who consider themselves to be abundantly overflowing with God's mercy and grace. He has 2 aunts who think he is so special.

Due to the awesome internet at the hospital, we were able to connect with Melissa in Bolivia through the wonder of SKYPE and she got to see her amazing little nephew on a video call. She was just so excited and can't wait to get her hands on him.

God has just filled our family to overflowing with His goodness. Jimbo and I are sometimes just overwhelmed at our bountiful blessings. Our children and grandchildren just complete us in ways that we never imagined.

Indeed our cups are overflowing. May I never take for granted the wonder of who He is and the wonder of His power and might.  I want to be ever captivated by the One who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Through Him, I can tap into the awesome love that I can then so generously dispense to each child and grandchild that He has graced me with. God is so good. His love endures forever. His love is perfect.

"For who is God, except the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength,

And makes my way perfect."

(Psalm 18:31-32)

it doesn't get much better than this..

There are just no words to express the absolute joy in my heart. My daughter Megan and her husband Rod welcomed the newest member of their family into the world today. Silas made his grand entrance this afternoon at 1:32 and weighed in at 7 lbs 14 ounces. He is just absolutely beautiful. He has the sweetest little face and I am already deeply in love with this little fella. I can tell that we are gonna have some great times together.

I have had the privilege of seeing all 6 of my grandchildren being born. There is just nothing quite as awesome as being able to witness new life. As we watched him emerge, we were all just so mesmorized by the miracle unfolding in front of us. God is so good. He has blessed me and my family immeasurably. If I didn't receive another blessing from Him, I would still be overflowing with His grace.

Tonight as I lay my head down, I will rest in the peace and safety of His arms. I have soaked up His goodness today. I have witnessed His miraculous power. And I am basking in the sheer radiance of His glory that was made manifest in a tiny little newborn babe.

God is indeed so good.

Silas at about 5 seconds old!

Megan, Silas, Rod - about 30 minutes old.

A tired Nana and her precious little grandson.

With a full heart,

Beth

God's Hands through us.....

"For as the body without the spirit is dead,

so faith without works is dead also."

James 2:26

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For the past 4 days, our church embarked on a project that we called "GOD'S HANDS".  It was all about reaching out into our community and being God's Hands to other people. We did everything from an outreach ministry, which entailed filling 538 small gift bags and hand delivering them to each door in our community, to several small construction projects.

We had several different crews that took on about 7 projects like painting porches, painting a whole a house, rebuilding a porch, tearing down a shed and hauling off junk and even yard work and the like. We had a kitchen crew that fed us delicious meals each day.  We had several businesses sponsor our efforts, which enabled us to buy all the materials necessary to reach out and do for those who couldn't do for themselves. We performed all the labor free of charge with a whole bunch of love thrown in there.

It was probably the hardest work that I have ever done. It was a hot, sultry, humid 103 degrees here in Louisiana and the sun was unmerciful. But our God was just overflowing with His mercy and just drenched us big-time with a good dose of it.

There were about 50 of us that took part in this and about 50 of us that were blessed immeasurably. To see peoples appreciation when you lend a helping hand is so rewarding. When they realize that you really are doing it for free, they are just overwhelmed. When we saw a project completed and the recipients joyful faces, we were filled with joy as well. There is nothing quite like the feeling of really being able to help others. We all worked together in unity and we could just feel the love grow between each of us each passing day. People helping people. Love being spread. God's Hands truly ministering to those in need.

I think that we all have come to know the meaning of the word 'exhaustion' in a new way. There were times when we weren't sure we would make it to completion. There was a time when part of a rotten porch fell with 4 of our workers under it but God's Hands kept the beams from hitting anyone and just fell all around them. Yes, His mercy and grace abounded.

God anointed us with strength when we were getting weary. A cool breeze when we thought we would melt. And a cooler full of bottles of water with scripture on them.

"For whoever gives you a cup of water to
drink in My name, because
you belong to Christ, assuredly,
I say to you, he will by no means

lose his reward"  (Mark 9:41)

As we gathered each evening (after we hung up our hard hats..) we came together for a time of fellowship and a WORD from God. Exhaustion quickly turned to exhileration. Weariness was replaced with worship. God took us from strength to strength and showed us His glory. And it was good.

God really revealed some things to me this week. I learned that I need to be more vocal about my faith. I learned that a faith without works is a dead faith indeed. If we truly have the spirit of God residing inside of us, we just want to do good works. In fact, we just HAVE to do good works. It just bubbles up inside of us and we want to bless others. We want to help others. We want to be God's Hands.

As I fall into bed tonight, worn out and exhausted, I am so thankful that God is who He says He is. And that He can do what He says he can do. And that I can do all things through Him.

Beth