Patience

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

~ Hebrews 10:36, NLT

Everyday I receive a verse in my inbox. Some days, nice reminders. Some days, direct communication. 

Meaning, it was meant just for me. Or at least, it feels like that.

I've been on this journey for a while now, and some days I do admit I feel like I'm not making as much progress as I wish I was. Some things don't happen the way I want them to, and I admit it, I get discouraged.

I think that is fairly normal. ;)

But todays verse… I've read it a dozen times. Because it was just the right timing. Just the right words.

Some days I feel like there are so many things to do. Things I could be doing to make such-and-such better or this other thing I worry about. But the truth is. I've done a lot. And sometimes I just need a break from trying so much. 

God knows the whispers of my heart. Some of the things I'm even too afraid to ask for. He knows. He does want to hear them. But he knows what my heart feels. 

Without me ever saying a word.

And that is SO incredibly comforting to me.

I can't explain the before me all that well, but I do know that the "me" I am NOW. Is the woman I was always intended to be. Maybe not polished. Not just yet. Speaking of polished...

Have you ever heard of how a precious pearl is made?

From a grain of salt, a beautiful, precious perfect pearl is made.

"Do you know where pearls come from? They come from oysters. An oyster is a shellfish that lives in the ocean. They have a very hard shell that protects them, but sometimes something like a small grain of sand can get inside the shell and it causes a lot of pain and discomfort for the oyster.

God has given the oyster a way to ease that pain. When a grain of sand gets in there, the oyster oozes out a liquid that coats the grain of sand and then it hardens. The oyster keeps doing this over and over until the grain of sand no longer causes pain. This is how these pearls are made. Something that started out being painful turned into something very beautiful and valuable.

The same thing happens to us. Sometimes something comes into our life that causes a lot of hurt and pain. When that happens, God gives us something to help ease the pain. He gives us His love. If we ask Him to, He will ooze out His love to ease our pain and suffering. Often what started out to be very painful in our life can turn into something beautiful." ~ Source :http://www.sermons4kids.com/pearls.html

Much like God does to us, the pearl is refined. Made new. From a rough piece of sand. 

How beautiful is that?

How promising is our God!

To be refined in our struggles to become something very beautiful. Very valuable.

I feel like this is what we all strive for. 

To be…

• Noticed
• Beautiful
• Worthy
• Respected
• Loved

None of these are unattainable. 

But. The caveat of this all - is maybe we are looking at the wrong person to make this come true. 

What if we are waiting on a friend, our boss, our spouse, our children… To make us feel these things. 

Maybe they can. But only temporarily. The only one constant thing that will hold true is our salvation in our Lord. He will love us. Regardless of future mistakes. Regardless of past mistakes. Regardless of the things that the enemy puts in your head that makes you DOUBT yourself. 

GOD IS MORE.

And when you realize this.

And do all that He has asked of you.

You can relax.

For once.

And STAY in His word. STAY in your faith. But KNOW - more than anything else in your life.

That HIS great promises.. WILL. COME. TRUE.

What He has planned for you is more than you have ever imagined.

More than you could dream for.

And the MORE that you seek even today.

Pray. And love HIM with everything you've got.

Have patience. He knows how it will all work out. He will show you at just the right time.

Read On >>>

Thankfulness

Thanksgiving.

A time for spending time with friends and family and being Thankful.

Even though it's now one week past Thanksgiving, I still have so many amazing things to be thankfulness.

• Salvation
• Health
• An amazing family
• A healthy child who drives me crazy (really, it is a blessing even though I don't admit it often enough).
• Friends who will tell me the Truth.
• A Godly mentor who is truly a BLESSING!
• A wonderful community group
• A promising career with a culture based company 
• Seriously, how many companies send you to culture training AND say - "if Mickey Mouse wouldn't say it - you shouldn't say it at work either" 
• Okay, it's not in the company policy, but it was discussed in my Orientation and I LOVE IT!
• Not to mention my awesome manager and senior manager proving that FAMILY always comes first.
• A house that meets my needs (and then some)
• A paid off car (yes!!)

This list has nothing to do with trying to showing you how awesome my life is (although I would say it is getting there). But despite any negative things in my life, I can still make a pretty awesome top 10 of things I'm thankful for within a short period of time.

That's a blessing.

This year I am thankful for my mom's health. Her continued improvement. 

I'm thankful for my brother and sister (and their significant others) for keeping us laughing even though we rescheduled our family Thanksgiving trip due to mom's injury. I mean, who doesn't want another year to perfect their bikini bodies before getting to Hawaii. Ha! 

This year, I'm much more able to see the silver lining in any trial. Knowing that if there wasn't a lesson to be learned here, then God wouldn't have put my life on this path.

I'm more accepting. Which I always thought I was. But growing in the assurance of my faith, it's made me more confident, but also more pure. Softer. Loving. But unwavering in my faith and love.

There is so much to be thankful for. In ALL of our lives. But, just in case you are doubting that statement. How are you reading this? In the comfort of your home (you have shelter), or perhaps at work (you have a JOB). Are you reading it on your Smartphone (you can afford to have a phone), or on your computer (you have one). 

But really, like the quote says "there is always, always, ALWAYS, something to be thankful for."

And it's true. 

Try it. 

Live for a few days. 

And be a happier, more peaceful version of yourself.

Read On >>>