Is it really a pass?

Have you ever wanted a "pass" in a certain area?  In some board games or even electronic games - if you don't have a good move  - you can opt to just "pass."  Your move - is to not move at all.

I read a verse this morning that I felt like gave me a pass in some areas of my life.  I was EXTREMELY relieved - but soon realized it wasn't a pass to not move at all - I've just been given the option for a different kind of move!

Psalm 147:10-11 (ESV)

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who hope in His steadfast love.

Upon reading this I was thrilled!!  Yay!

I don't have to rely on earthly things - things that make me go (my equivalent of a horse) to bring delight to my Lord.  Good news!

I don't have to rely on my own legs - which is an area where I REALLY need a pass right now - to make my Lord happy!  GREAT news!

Rather... my Lord takes pleasure in knowing that my hope is 100% in His never-ending, consistent, amazing love for me.

At first I just breathed a HUGE sigh of relief that I got a pass on my own legs!  Then I thought more about what is required.  I thought about the move that I do have to make.  I realized I don't actually get a total "pass."

What does it look like for me - still new to this single-mother-widow thing - to put my hope in the steadfast love of the Lord?

I must teach my children that God still loves us.  I must get up each day with a positive attitude myself that this "new life" I'm living is a part of His beautiful story for me.

Recently I met a local woman who is also a widow.  I wish I remembered her name so I could give her credit for what I'm about to share....

She shared with me that our lives are much like a tapestry rug.  We see the back of the rug... where the strings are going every which of way - it looks like a mess in some areas - the design doesn't have much form or beauty.  However, God sees the front of the rug... the beautiful completed side - where it all comes together.

So for me... today - my hope is in the fact that my Lord sees the beautiful side of His plan for me.  He's the Master at this rug called my life.  And even though I see a lot of messy strings right now - His love for me - His steadfast love - is creating something wonderful!

I'm glad I get a pass on the legs.... but for today... I'm working at hoping in the Lord's love!

"I didn't let it beat me!"

If this is your first time to visit Living Above, you may not know me, or the journey that I've been walking lately.  In just two days, I will have walked this Earth without the love of my life for 6 months.
 

6 months... it still doesn't seem real.

Even though we've had numerous sad moments since that day in December, the Lord continues to give us great moments of victory!   Yesterday was filled with a moment such as these!

Yesterday the Lord gave me the patience, the energy, the passion and the wisdom to teach BOTH of my children how to ride a bike without training wheels!

At the end of the day, my little 4 year old son said something that I will keep in my heart for a long while.  It was after many stops and starts, falls and crashes that he found victory... even riding through rough terrain and not falling down he stopped (without falling) and said,

"Mommy!  I didn't let it beat me!"

I was so proud of him!  In fact, he did so well on a bike older than him and honestly too small - that we went and got him a more suitable sized NEW bike as a reward!

As we were driving he made yet another statement that I think we can all apply to our lives regarding things that have the potential to beat us.

This was our brief conversation...

JP: "Mommy, all you really have to do is have balance and keep pedaling."

Mommy: "That's right JP."

JP: (he paused and then as if he forgot...) "OH!  And don't forget to hold on!"

I thought about this conversation for the rest of the evening.  I thought about the past 6 months of our lives.

Balance: I've had to balance being both Mommy & Daddy.  I've tried to incorporate Daddy's spirit into raising these two precious children.  In fact, at the end of the day - I celebrated with the kids and used words I know John would have used - I did the knuckle thing with JP - I told Jordan, "Daddy would say you were his "kleine liebe" (which means little love in German).

Keep Pedaling: Oh!  The financial and legal stuff that has been left to me, finding not just a job but a career for our future, just not cratering in my bed when I know my kids are finding a new happiness to their life.... this is what "keep pedaling" looks like for me.  I've only been able to do this because of the Lord.  My morning prayer time has given me the "keep pedaling" spirit and energy!

Hold on: We can't forget this one!  None of us can - no matter what we're learning or going through!  I watched JP learn and adjust to his bike without training wheels.  There were times the bike seemed a bit shaky, or he would go off the edge of the driveway - but he always held on and was able to regain his balance and his confidence!  We too can accomplish this same thing!  When times are shaky and we get off track - if we would just hold on to the Word of God, we can regain our balance as well.

The Lord showed me two verses this morning that go along with this message from my son.  One, probably is just for me and the other we can all apply to our lives.

Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

"This is my command--be strong and courageous! 

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Psalm 146:9 (ESV)

The Lord watches over the sojourners, 

He upholds the widow and the fatherless...

As happy as I was at the end of the day... I still wished John had been there to teach them and to celebrate with them.  And yet - I'm so glad God gave me what the kids needed to make it victoriously through yet another "first."

He truly does UPHOLD me!

It is "all of Him, in all of me" that allows me to say on a daily basis the words of my son,

"I didn't let it beat me!"

Wisdom in what you DON'T say!

I've tried for I don't know how long to be quiet and reserved.  At 40 years old, I've finally resolved to the fact that, "That's just not me!"  I know without a shadow of a doubt that God made me to be the outgoing person that I am.  Very rarely will you find me being shy.

However... having said that - one of my pet peeves is when people say, "This is me; and I've gotta be me - so like it or lump it!"

Why?  Because "this" (who I am) belongs 100% to God.  I must always keep in check how I'm acting - is "this is me" part is in tune with who God is molding me to be?  Perhaps God wants to change a few things about me.

I've known for quite some time that there was a part of the "this is me" that needed to be changed.  As I said, I'm a very outgoing - vocal person.  Most of the time this is for everyone's good.  However, there is another side to this same coin that is not always so pretty.

Today I'm going to step out a little of my comfort zone and share with you a vulnerable part of me - while maintaining a bit of privacy at the same time... so please bare with me.

There are times... within the comforts of my own house that what I say, what comes out of my mouth isn't quite as pleasant as it should be.  No, I'm not talking about cuss words or anything of the sort.  Just here lately (and I'm sure it's in part due to grief of missing my Rockstar) that my tone and volume could certainly be less harsh.

I began to pray about it and God has shown me some amazing verses that I've been keeping at the front of my mind and even recite in my head before I discipline my children.  I only share this with you because I just can't believe that I'm the only one who struggles with this.

I'm proud to say that since God has shown me these verses, I have gone 3 full days with a much calmer demeanor!  Yes, I have still disciplined and corrected my children.  Yes, I have still gotten upset when I've broken things or cannot find missing treasures.  However, it's the spirit of my words that has changed!

Are you dying to know the verses?  I promise you if you apply them to your life they will help in your tone, volume and perhaps if you even speak at all!!!

The Lord showed me these two verses in parts - and together they have made a difference in my daily life!

1 Kings 22:14 (ESV)

But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, 

what the Lord says to me, that I will speak."

Whew!  I had to read this one several times!  What was happening here was a King wanted the wisdom of his prophet.  But according to the king, Micaiah, the prophet, only foretold of bad news.  So on this particular occasion the king asked Micaiah if he was going to give him bad news again.  Verse 14 was his answer.

However, this verse can still apply to me.  Unless it's something the Lord would say - perhaps I don't need to say it either!  Or how about... say "it" how the Lord would say it??  This verse has rocked my world lately.

How do I make it work?  Right before I want to yell or scream, I softly say to myself, "As the Lord lives..."  and then I proceed.  Amazing the difference it makes with what comes out of my mouth!

Now for Part II - Which I have titled in my brain - "A Cool Spirit"

Proverbs 17:27-28 (ESV)

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, 

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Wow!  I want to be a woman of knowledge and understanding.  It's not always what I say, or how I say it - perhaps it's what I DON'T say that speaks volumes!  Interesting concept!

Restraint and cool spirit.  My two new words of the day.

I have often heard it said if you want to know what kind of mother you are - watch your kids play house.    I've heard my children repeat my words and my tone and even my body motions.  It hasn't always been a pleasant thing to watch.

I also know that children learn about their Heavenly Father by watching their earthly Daddy.  Eventually the memory of my kids' Daddy will begin to fade and they will need to depend on how I am parenting them to have a picture of how God parents!  I don't want them to think that their Heavenly Father yells more than comforts - gets angry before applying wisdom.  I want them to know His understanding ways because they've seen it come from me as well.

Like I said, today was really more of a time of vulnerable confession - I hope it helps other mothers out there who likewise struggle with their mouth!

I love you all dearly!

His Word Sunday

Today, in my One Year Bible I read a great sermon given by Paul while he was in Athens.  In fact, he delivered this sermon at Areopagus - which is where the Roman senate was held, also known as Mars Hill.

I wanted to share just a bit of it with you here (it's quite famous and perhaps you know it well)...

This is what some of the people said of Paul,

Acts 17:19-20 (ESV)

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, 

"May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

For you bring some strange things to our ears.  

We wish to know therefore what these things mean."

And this is just a portion of what he said to them... (if you want to read the entire passage - turn to Acts 17:22-31)

Acts 17:24-28 (ESV)

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him.  Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for "In Him we live and move and have our being."

Read this again if you necessary - perhaps it's strange to your ears as well.  There is so much here to take to heart.  I love many parts of this passage.  Many of them make me think of things John used to preach.  I don't have time to go into all of those this morning.

Just breathe in the last part - "In Him we live and move and have our being" - Thank God for that this morning.

Enjoy your day of rest & worship!
I love you all dearly!

Am I strong enough?

I'm about to walk out the door to go pick up my kiddos! They've been gone all week - I've been in training all week and I've missed them so much!  They give me strength to get up every morning - they give me the strength to smile every day...

But more than them.... I know God is giving me His Strength to walk this road of faith He's assigned for me.  And in some strange way I consider it an honor to walk this path.

That's why I LOVE this song!!!

He's still your Daddy...

Wow!  It's Tuesday and I promised this blog would go out Sunday afternoon.  Where did the time go?

I know many of you prayed for our first Father's Day with John in Heaven and I want to thank you!  Your prayers were felt more than you know!  We all truly enjoyed a happy day.

I wanted to share with you just a little about our day - so you can see the benefits of your prayers.

We decided to spend the weekend with John's brother - Joe - and his family, who live in Brownwood, TX. They have a son about a year older than Jordan and all three play well together.

We arrived on Friday afternoon and immediately they wanted to go swimming!  What fun for them after being in the car 5 hours in the Texas heat!

Just so you know how hot it is in Brownwood...

Saturday was spent just hanging out with family - Joe's family and John's parents as well.   Then came Sunday - Father's Day.

I purchased mylar balloons in all our favorite colors - me - purple, Jordan - pink, JP - green, John - blue.  Then we took a Sharpie and wrote a Happy Father's Day message on them and lifted them into the beautiful sky.

One of the things I shared with the kids before releasing our balloons - and something I have been saying to them since his Homegoing - is that John Franklin will ALWAYS be their Daddy!  Just because he moved to Heaven doesn't make him any less their Dad!

Aren't you glad about this?!  We can't see our Heavenly Father, we don't live with him in the physical realm or sense, we can't sit in His physical lap or hold His physical hand - but my Bible tells me that He is still my Heavenly Father - my Abba - and that He holds my right hand!  Just because I can't see Him doesn't make Him any less my Abba!

So too, the same applies to my children and their earthly Daddy.  We have this conversation often and I reminded them of this special fact as we had our balloon celebration!  We all yelled, "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!" as we let them go!  And most of them cleared the trees!  LOL!

Jordan said the sweetest thing later in the day...  She came to me and we had this conversation...

Jordan:  Mommy, I know that Jesus is with us in this room.

Mommy:  Yes, you're right!

Jordan:  Wouldn't it be a nice thought to think that maybe Daddy 

came with him and they are in this room together?

I just love her sweet little heart!

We had a great day honoring their Daddy.  In addition to all of this - I had the extreme honor and privilege to speak to the congregation at First Baptist Church Brownwood.  They have prayed for me and our wonderful family ardently for the past 6 months.  Their Pastor interviewed.  He allowed me to give a message to Dad's today about how John was a legacy building Dad.

Later in the day we gave gifts to both John's brother and his Dad.  The kids & I both had lots of opportunities for smiles and laughter.  And I know it's all because of your prayers!

Thank you for your investment into our lives - please, please keep praying!  We need them everyday!

His Word Sunday

Today, I'm going to have 2 posts.  This morning I'm going to start with my normal "His Word Sunday" - and then later today - perhaps even tonight, I'm going to post something special for Father's Day.

I wanted to write something special about our very first Father's Day with John being in Heaven, but honestly the kids had a fun-filled day with their cousin and were asleep before I could do what I wanted to do... but also, I can't in right mind skip or replace honoring our Heavenly Father first.

I absolutely love how God calls Himself "Our Father" - more so today than I think I ever have.  I wonder if He did that because He knew there would be those who needed a "Daddy" for whatever reason this fallen world has brought upon us.

Therefore, as I do every Sunday morning, I met with the Lord, our Heavenly Father and read my One Year Bible.

Today I would like to challenge you to do something.  It's actually something the rulers of Antioch asked of Paul and his companions.

Acts 13:14-15 (ESV)

And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.  After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it."

My dear sweet friends, today and in the days to come, after reading your Bible, if you have a word of encouragement... if the Lord has shown you something that gives you hope for the moment, for the day, or for your very life - please - please say it!  Don't keep it a secret!

We may never know the how the very smallest or insignificant thing will lift someone else out of a slump.  We may never know how a smile in the midst of our own pain can give someone else hope to take the next step in their own day.

Notice the order here... after the reading from God's Word... verbal encouragement followed.

I know today is going to be a hard day.  In fact, I'm already a bit weepy as I type this post.  But even on a day like this, I know my God has asked me to "say it" -  to encouragement people in their walk of faith.  It is my prayer that you will do the same today.

(Later today, I will be posting about how our very first Father's Day with John in Heaven went.  I want to honor John on my blog today and do just that after church.  Thank you all for your prayers on this very special day - and I wish all the Dads in our lives - (Papa, Papa Louie, Uncle Joe & Uncle Ted) a very Happy Father's Day!)

Knocked down - but not out forever!

The kids & I are experiencing another "first" this weekend - Father's Day.

Please keep us in your prayers as we've got 2 really big ones ahead of us.



Sunday is Father's Day and then just 2 weeks later is John's Birthday.  He would have been 41.

I had a really hard night last night.  Grief shows up in the strangest ways sometimes.  Ways that have actually surprised me.  Quite frankly I'm feel very "knocked down."

I know I won't feel this way forever.  It reminds me of this verse:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)

We are pressed on every side by troubles, 
but we are not crushed.  

We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  

We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

I'm not sure I'm totally here yet... but this song gives me hope.  I may be knocked down - but one day I will shine again, one day I will feel like I'm not "out" forever.

Daddy's Bible

It's quite in my house, but I know not for long... in fact, I may have to pause my writing and finish this later in the day.

Our house is filled with family who are still here from all the weekend excitement.  I'm not sure if you saw on Facebook, but my oldest child is now a true child of God!  Jordan got saved on Wednesday night.

I would love to share just a little of the story with you here, for there is no better message - no greater passion - than to share with one comes to the Lord!  This should not be common place in any life or any home or any church!

Last week was our church's VBS.  I know that Thursday is set aside as "decision" day during this exciting week.  Our Senior Pastor always leads the Open Assembly on that day as he presents the gospel to all the kids at that time.

I didn't want Jordan to be clear across the gym from me (her with the 2nd Graders and me with the 5th Graders) - if she felt the leading of the Holy Spirit.

So Wednesday night, June 8th - after bath time, I told Jordan to find her Bible and meet me on my bed and we were going to have a special time together.

However... Jordan came to me very sad and worried.  She had left her brand new Bible at church!
I gave her a little lecture on the importance of remembering and being responsible with our things.  I then told her not to worry, we would just use mine.

But then I had become worried and sad for I discovered I too left my Bible at church!  I immediately apologized to Jordan and told her we would make our time together extra special and use Daddy's Bible.

I had her turn to all those important verses... (thanks Kevin for making us memorize them for VBS!):
John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9

Jordan read all the verses out loud and I explained them to her as she read.  Then at the end of our time together we prayed together.  Yes, tears were shed, pictures were drawn, and many other intimate moments that are not appropriate for a blog - but to hear my sweet little girl pray - asking Jesus to be the boss of her life forever was the most precious sound I've ever heard!!!

On Thursday morning during the special Open Assembly with the Senior Pastor, Jordan bolding raised her hand, "walked the aisle", and publically professed her faith!

Then.... as if that was not enough.... John's brother - Joe Franklin - drove from the other side of Texas to baptize her in a special Sunday night service.

Once we recognize our need for Christ in our lives we have a responsibility to tell others.  Over the weekend, my Mom heard Jordan telling her cousins what it means to be a Christian!  I'm so proud of her immediate obedience to our Lord!

I know that her Daddy, my Rockstar, 

was celebrating with the angels and our Lord at this great event in Heaven!

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses....

Luke 15:10  (NASB)

I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

His Word Sunday

I read this Psalm this morning from my One Year Bible and just couldn't help but share it here...




I don't know where you are this morning or what you are needing to hear - but this Psalm is filled with guidance to repent, hope for your soul, steadfast love and plenty of redemption.

Psalm 130:1-8 (ESV)

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!

O Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with Him is plentiful redemption.

And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Today....

I just realized that I've missed 2 Friday song blogs!!  2 weeks ago I really had not excuse, and yesterday is quite similar except that it was the last day of Vacation Bible School!!!

It was just an amazing week.  We had almost 300 kids in attendance and 14 of them accepted Christ.  One of those 14 was my very own little girl!!!

There is a song that I've been singing in the car (as if I was a real singer) that I just love.  It had me from the very first line....

I just love it!  Enjoy!

Reaping a little joy

At the end of the school year JP had to work on some vocabulary words in his 3 Year Old Pre-K class.  To make it fun they all had to to a little "project" with their specific word.  JP's word was "SEEDS."

So me & Mom went to the store and bought seeds of things we knew would 1) really grow and 2) would produce some very visible results.  Our choices were beans and sunflowers.

The past couple of weeks we have all enjoyed a few of JP's beans at dinner time.  It's been really fun for him to actually eat what he planted!

Today I read this verse in my One Year Bible and I must say - yesterday I got 2 visuals of how this verse looked in my every day life...

Psalm 126:4-6 (ESV)

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

He who goes out weeping, 

bearing the seed for sowing, 

shall come home with shouts of joy...

Yesterday JP & I had to run to the store before dinner.  It was just he & I in the car, so I seized this opportunity with a captive audience to check on his little heart.  I asked him how his heart was handling Daddy living in Heaven.  He was quiet for just a moment and then he said this...

"Well, I'm sad he's not here - 
but I'm so happy in my new home."

I must also share with you the picture of his sunflower that he planted himself...

My dear friends - JP's sweet little comment and this flower is what "shouts of joy" looks like!

We still have our days of weeping - but for today, I'm thanking God that JP has joy!

I get knocked down...

Usually I wake up in the morning with what my daughter calls "a Jesus song" in my head.  But this morning, after reading my One Year Bible, immediately that old song of the 90's "I get knocked down but I get get up again, you're never gonna keep me down" - filled my brain.

The New Testament passage was from Acts chapter 5.  Peter and the other apostles were in Solomon's Portico teaching and healing.

Look at Acts 5:14 (ESV)

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

I would imagine this made for a VERY good day for the disciples - don't ya think?

I too had a WONDERFUL day yesterday!  It was the first day of Vacation Bible School.  I can't tell you what it did for my spirit to see those 5th Graders get excited about memorizing scripture!  They eagerly raised their hands, nearly knocked me over at one point so they could answer questions about God's Word first!  I left there on top of the world.

 You probably know what happened to Peter and the others after this great experience.  They were put in jail!  They got knocked down.  Not the celebratory dinner they were expecting I'm sure.  However, God was no where finished near using them, so He got them out of prison!

Acts 5:25 (ESV)

And someone came and told them, "Look!  

The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."

Peter and the others didn't let a big setback like prison knock them down completely!  Just like the song - they got back up with the heart and soul that "you're never gonna keep us down!"

Yesterday after Vacation Bible School I had to sign a bunch of papers.  It was really a good thing - but numerous papers had a "spouse" section and I can't tell you how many times I had to check the "Single" box or the "Employee & Children Only" box.  This really knocked me down.  I had a great day and yet went to bed sad and disheartened.

Sometimes when we get knocked down it can feel like a prison.  Like we're trapped and there's no way out of hurt, sadness, despair, the list goes on and on....

 However... today is a new day!  I totally and completely believe this!  And more than that... God has charged me with spreading His great news to these precious 5th Grade  VBS-ers and I know He's going to open those prison doors for me too!

The Sadduccees wanted to knock down the disciples that day - hoping they would give up from defeat.  Likewise, yesterday, Satan knew which button to push with my spirit and I'm determined not to let it defeat me too!

In fact this is how the disciples responded and it's my prayer that I will make this true in my own life today....

Acts 5:29, 41-42 (ESV)

But Peter and the apostles answered, 

"We must obey God rather than men."  

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.  And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Have you been knocked down recently?  I know it hurts and it's really hard to "get back up again" - but with Christ He can give us the strength to say to the enemy "you're never gonna keep me down!"

Will I be recognized?

Today I'm venturing down a road I've never traveled!

Teaching 5th Grade VBS!

I know, I know... you would think as long as I have been in church that I would have taught VBS somewhere along the way.  However, most of my adult years I was either running from God - or planting small struggling churches for God and therefore never had the opportunity to serve in this manner.

Our church is doing the Big Apple Adventure for Vacation Bible School.  Did you know that the very first VBS was conducted in New York City?!

Our church does an AMAZING job for VBS!  Last night we had service in the gym - which has been turned into an NYC wonderland - complete with city buildings, taxicabs, diners, tour buses, Statue of Liberty and everything!

After a brief service, the people were instructed to go into each room where the children will gather and pray.  Pray over the chairs, the craft rooms, the music room - basically each place the children will have an opportunity to encounter the gospel.

Our Director encouraged us weeks ago to pray for the one child that we will lead to Christ this week.  I will be looking for my "one child" eagerly today!

But before any of that can happen, I have to first meet with the Lord myself.  I do nothing on my own - but what comes out of my mouth today (and the rest of the week) needs to originate from the Lord!  I want desperately for those kids to know - rather see - that I've been with Jesus.

Check this out...

Acts 4:13 (ESV)

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, 

and perceived that they were uneducated, 

common men, there were astonished.  

And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

I'm just a regular person.  I'm not someone famous that the kids will be excited to see.  In fact, I've been gone from this church for so many year, I'm pretty confident that NONE of them will even know me personally!  They will not recognize me as "Penny Franklin" - But I do want them to recognize something or Someone special in me... Jesus.

What a verse!  "They recognized that they had been with Jesus."  Could this be said of you today?

I want those kids to be astonished at my boldness and excitement - and want desperately what He has given me to offer them!

His Word Sunday

His Mercy is Great

Have you ever given your children a choice of their preferred punishment?  Like... you can either be grounded from the phone or from going out with your friends, etc?

God gave David a choice of consequences for his sin as well.  To be honest - none of them sounded good to me - not a single one jumped out at me as the "lesser one".  However, I learned this morning a better way to pray when I do mess up - and found something really amazing at the end!

2 Samuel 24:14-16 (ESV)

Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress.  Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man."

So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from morning until the appointed time.  And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men.  

And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand."

(This entire story is wonderful - 
if you want to read more about his choices 

and what sin he committed read 2 Samuel 24:1-25)

Today this is my prayer...

Lord, I would much rather fall into Your hand, for Your mercies are great!  Please let me not fall into the hand of men!

I long to hear you say, "It is enough and I will stay My hand concerning you."  Amen.

Have a great Sunday!