Make your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:135







Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Veggie Tales

Each day, I have been making it a point to pray while I am getting ready.  This morning, as I prayed, I asked God to give me a word today, one that would be encouraging, but also one that would challenge me to be a better Christian and witness for Him.

As I was driving to school, Sam and Harrison were watching a Veggie Tales movie in the backseat.  This is where my "word" came from.  It was like God was saying to me, "Stop worrying about SAT/ARMT; stop worrying about what all you have to get done at school today; start listening to me." (even if it is through a Veggie Tales movie...HA!)

So, I began to listen.  The movie was about a train factory and the people had to fill 2,000 orders in one night.  The owner was upset because things were not going the way he had planned.  The main character in the movie, in the end, showed the owner of the factory that if he would just relinquish control and trust God, he would take the reigns and work out all the details for the better. 

As I listened, I was brought back to a very low time in my life.  I was brought back to the few months following the death of Ryan's mom.  I HATED to be alone, in fact, I would go sit in the floor at Walmart just to keep from being alone.  I wouldn't go anywhere because I was afraid I would die if I went.  I had really bad panic attacks and ultimately got very sick.  I had two, very painful surgerys, one of which almost took my life, and I had a blood transfusion.  Through that experience, I began to see why God was allowing all of this to happen.  It was to get me to trust him.

Trusting, it seems easy, but its' extremely hard (at least for me anyway).  I am going to be perfectly honest, it's hard for me to trust someone I have never "seen" with my eyes.  Does this make sense??  Don't get me wrong, I KNOW He is real; I KNOW I have seen what He can do, but I have never laid eyes on Him physically.  However, He has NEVER failed me.  I knew this but through my experience with the death of Ryan's mom and the things I went through shortly after, I trully realized it for the very first time.  I have kept this scripture very close to my heart ever since I have come through that time.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

This morning, as I listened to the Veggie Tales movie and I heard them singing the words of this verse, I realized, just like I did years ago that I have to do better at relinquishing control.  I have to let go of the reigns of my current situation.  I'm praying constantly that I can let go completely of the things that weigh me down and not take them away from God again.  I have been a backseat driver for a long time, not fulling trusting the ONE behind the wheel.  It's time for me to stop being a pesky backseat driver and start being a trusting passenger.  God is the PARENT and I am the CHILD.  HE IS IN CONTROL!!!!

Father, thank you for being so trustworthy.  Thank you for being a CONSTANT source of stability in our lives.  Lord, I know we don't always trust you the way we should.  I am asking you right now to forgive me of that.  Remind me daily that you are in control of EVERY aspect of my life and that if I will just let you, you will give me the future YOU have in store for me, not the one I have planned out in my head.  I love you, Lord.  AMEN!!

Hope you all have a fantastic day!!!

~Erin

Saturday, March 26, 2011

The Beginning

Hello Blog World!  I am new to the world o' blogging, so this is going to be a work in progress.  I attended our local MOPS meeting last Thursday night, where our Pastor's Wife, Mrs. Joan Pollard spoke on Home and Family Organization.  She is a fantastic organizer, let me just say, but the one thing that stuck out to me was that she Journals almost daily.  She keeps a record of things going on in her personal life as well as with the Church, and goes back to it on a regular basis to recall things that have happened.  I have not let that leave my mind, so I am starting a "Family Journal" here.

I am not a "writer" per say, but I have felt compelled for awhile, to not only "journal" but to also share what God lays on my heart from time to time.  I love my Jesus and I thank Him for giving me "words" of encouragement from time to time.  I hope that through this blog you will see several things...

1.) That being a Christ-follower is the absolute best decision you could ever make.
2.) That you are not alone, whether it be a "wilderness" time in your Christian life, or a "Mommy Crisis"

I title this Blog "Shine On Us" first because I love the song, but also because that is just what I pray God will do through this blog, Shine His perfect love down on me and you daily so that we will will KNOW is plan for us.






"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11