Re-evaluating

When I started the blog years ago....it was to keep my family and friends in GA up to date on what was going on with us.  But now we are back in GA so I see family weekly.  I am able to keep up with my Mississippi friends on facebook and Instagram.  That all being said ~ I am re-evaluating the blog. 

For right now, I am taking a break. 

We have a mission trip to Honduras coming up.  We have a grown child needing extra prayer and encouragement in this time of their life.  I have 4 awesome grandsons to play with and love on.  And we have a wedding to plan.

So until next time ~ adios!

Perspective In Trials

I got this wonderful little book for Christmas- A GOSPEL PRIMER FOR CHRISTIANS-

It contains short commentaries on learning to see the Glories of Gods love.

Yesterday I read lesson #18 and it is so relevant to a trial we are going through.  Below is the lesson -

More than anything else could ever do, the gospel enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby position myself to gain full benefit from them.  For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me.  When I view my circumstances in this light, I realize that the gospel in not just one piece of good news that fits into my life somewhere among all the bad. I realize instead that the gospel makes genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my life, including my severest trials.  The good news about my trials is that God is forcing them to bow to His gospel purposes and do good unto me by improving my character and making me more conformed to the image of Christ.

Preaching the gospel to myself each day provide a lens through which I can view my trials in this way and see the true cause for rejoicing that exists in them.  I can then embrace the trials as friends and allow them to do God's good work in me.

Scripture references:

Romans 5:1-5

Having been justified by faith, we have peach with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and we exult in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perserverance, and perserverance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:28-29

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Fr those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various, trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have it perfect result, so that you may e perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

...there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me~to keep me from exalting myself.  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am definitely not to the joyful, patient stage of this current tribulation in my life. 

I am thankful for ~

the truth of Gods word

support

love

caring words

keeping busy

Decorations

Just noticed I never posted these!  So its late and now they are put away till next year! 

Wedding Prep

Just ordered Save the Date cards online from Shutterfly!  It was lots of fun going through all the Disney vacation pictures to pick out some for the cards.

Also, making plans to go to a big wedding expo in the Atlanta area the end of January!

Making guests lists, working on attendants gifts (Amy), and in discussions about where the newlyweds will live after the big day....nothing is definitely decided on that discussion.

Here are a few fun pictures I found yesterday ~

one of my favorites

Amy wasn't paying a bit of attention!

LOVE Ariels face and enthusiasm & Amy's shock!

sweet love

Austin did a great job setting this up, we are thrilled we were all able to be there and witness this life changing event!

****These are all photopass pictures ~ I would totally buy this again on our next trip.  We got lots of pictures of Will, Amy & Austin even though we weren't all together everyday.  Our photo pass files contained over 600 pictures! 

Will have many more fun times and pictures heading up toward the wedding day.....10 more months!  Its a fun, emotional, creative roller coaster!