Why Didn't I Think of That??

One of the things I like best about following God is the wonderful practical help I get. It helps me so much and always amazes me.

Common sense is not a strength of mine, never has been. So it either takes me forever to figure out how to do something or solve a problem, or I just end up doing it the hard way  until someone comes along (usually my husband) and asks me, "Why are you doing it THAT way? There's a much easier way." Which frustrates me because I didn't think of it on my own or before I went to all that trouble.

Lately I have been praying more about every day, practical problems, simply asking the Lord, "Will You please help me with this? I don't know what to do about this problem." And it's been amazing to me how God has answered those prayers.

My dogs like to wander on our mountains and it causes me no end of worry. We finally had an underground fence system put in. The collars shock the dogs when they go beyond the fence. I HATE these collars. My dogs hate these collars. So I didn't use them. But with the arrival of spring, my dogs have started wandering again. I said, "Lord! What do I do??!! We hate those mean collars. But I can't have them leaving for 8 hours at a time and me getting sick with worry anymore. We can't live like that. Please help me!" Later I got the thought, "Turn the shocking part on the collars off. The beeping on the collars will do the trick." And I did. And it worked. Why didn't I think of that?? So easy! Problem solved, thank the Lord.

I realized recently that I had to have a computer hooked to the internet to work on a book that I'm trying to get published. Which meant, I thought, a new computer. Which I was bummed about because it's so expensive. I didn't think my old computer would work.  I prayed about it because I had to get back online and I just didn't know what to do. I later had the thought, "Just use the old computer and upgrade it. It will work fine and you'll save a lot of money." And it worked. Huh! Awesome. Thank You Lord!

This happens all the time now. I could go on and on with examples. The Lord isn't there for just spiritual issues and growth. He is there to help you practically too. He is your Father. He loves you. He wants to help you. You're His child. He promised He would give wisdom if we ask for it. He tells us to ask for discernment. He is a God of order and yes, even common sense. Ask Him for a solution. Ask Him to help you see a problem with His eyes and perspective. He will help you. You'll be amazed. ♡

He is My Strength ♡


On our morning walk yesterday, I was just dragging along behind my dogs, wishing I could have a big ole cup of coffee to kickstart me into this day. I was so tired for some reason. And I had so much to do that day too, stuff that was hard work physically. But I can't have caffeine anymore so that was out, unfortunately. Ugh.

I then said out loud, "Lord, I could use some strength today. I have so much to do. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Thank You Lord." Then I went back to the house and just got to work.

Before I knew it, the day was almost over. I looked up and was so surpised at how much I had gotten done that day, way more than usual! I mean it was amazing.  And I never thought again about being tired. That prayer lit a fire under me that burned all day.

I said, "Wow. Thanks Lord!" The thought came to me that instead of getting superficial energy from caffeine, I went to the Source of all strength and got real energy, super energy and strength. And I didn't get jittery or that exhausting after-caffeine crash. I had abundant peace all day while working, then I slept like a baby, another gift from Him.

He said "In our weakness He is strong." He is there for us to lean on. When we trust Him to do what He has offered to do, He will do it.

I've been so thankful for this time of physical weakness I've had the last year because it has taught me to lean on Him in ways I never have before. So, in a way, I am stronger than I ever was before.

He is there, ready and waiting to do what He promised. Call out and see that He is good and faithful and will bless your trust in Him. It's wonderful! :)

Our Whole Life Into His Hands


"I was once trying to explain to a physician who had charge of a large hospital the necessity and meaning of consecration, but he seemed unable to understand.

At last I said to him, 'Suppose in going your rounds among your patients, you should meet with one man who entreated  you earnestly to take his case under your especial care in order to cure him, but who should at the same time refuse to tell you all his symptoms or to take all your prescribed remedies, and should say to you, "I am quite willing to follow your directions as to certain things, because they commend themselves to my mind as good but in other matters I prefer judging for myself, and following my own directions.

"What would you do in such a case?' I asked.

 'Do!' he replied with indignation - 'Do?! I would soon leave such a man as that to his own care. For of course' he added, 'I could do nothing for him unless he put his whole case into my hands without reserves, and would obey my directions implicitly.' 

And that is consecration, ' I continued. 'God must have the whole case put into His hands without any reserves and His directions must be implicitly followed.'

'I see it,' he exclaimed, 'I see it!'"


Consecration is the first thing. In order for a soul to be made into a vessel unto God's honor, 'sanctified and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work', it must be utterly abandoned to Him and must lie passive in His hands.

Hannah W. Smith "The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life" ♡

Not Happy But Content ♡


Someone asked me recently if I was happy and they asked in such a way that it was obvious they were expecting to hear a big, fat 'Yes' from me. So they were surprised when I said 'No, not really.'

They said, "What??? But you seem to be so happy." I smiled and said, "Well praise God for that. Because it's all Him. I'm content and at peace but I'm not happy, no."

My friend asked, "What do you mean? How can you not be happy but be content?"

I answered, "There are a lot of things in my life I'm not happy with. Things I don't like. Things I would change today if I could. For instance,  I don't like living on the mountain in the winter, so isolated. I don't like living so far from my family. I hate not being involved in my beautiful grandson's life and not getting to be a grandma. I don't like not getting to go to church, or being involved in a community, or getting to have family dinners and celebrations. I miss having fun with friends, teaching Sunday School and going to a Bible Study.

"But. I have prayed about all of this a thousand times and God has not seen fit to change it for me. So this must be where He wants me and I trust Him so I accept it as good. I accept that this is the very place I need to be whether I like it or not, even if I can't see why it's good. I want His will, not mine. He gets to choose. So I accept it and I am truly content and at peace.

"These may not be the circumstances I would choose, and I'm not 'happy' but my soul is at peace with God and there's nothing better than that. Nothing. He is my peace. He is my joy, not my circumstances. And that never changes. I'm so thankful."♡♡♡

 Care Free

~~~~  As I was throwing snowballs down the hill for my dogs to chase yesterday, it occured to me how completely unaware they are that our world is in a state of fear and panic. I was thinking about how free my dogs are from care and worry.  They trust me to take care of them and feed them.  They don't worry about where their next meal is coming from and they don't worry about getting sick. They take each day as it comes, running from one small joy to another, completely content, at peace and enjoying life. I envied them for a moment, but then I realized, to my surprise, that God has taught me how to live exactly the same way. What a blessing that has been! Thank You God! ☺ ~~~~

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding


You know what leaning on your own understanding is like?

It's like standing in the middle of what looks like a huge overgrown garden. It doesn't seem to have any order. It looks like a big mess when you are standing in the middle of it. But when you can view it from above, you can then see the perfect order and beauty of it. You're just seeing a part of it. But God sees the whole.

It might also help to think of God as the general standing in the war room with his corporals and captains, all standing around a huge table on which a map lays. This map is a picture of the entire war with pins and markings of each battle and skirmish being fought. The General knows exactly what He's doing. He knows exactly what to do to get this war won - because it has already been won. He knows where to send each company to get this mission accomplished. He can see it all from above. We can only see it from the ground.

This is why we have to trust Him and not lean on our own understanding or on just what we see.  Because it looks like it's out of control down here. It looks frightening and chaotic right here in the middle of it all. It looks like a hopeless mess. But it's not. He is in control. He knows exactly what's happening. He is leading us to a sure and certain victory. He knows what He's doing. It's all part of a good and glorious plan.

We can trust His heart when we cannot see His hand. We don't have to know everything that's going on to trust that this is part of the plan, the strategy to get us where we need to be, to glorify Him, to help our brothers and sisters.

He needs men and women on the ground to show blind faith and confident trust in their Leader. He needs us to be so trusting and committed that we obey immediately,  without question, knowing it is exactly what needs to be done at that moment to help win that battle.  He needs our unwavering devotion to the cause of Christ, knowing that He leads us to victory. No doubt. No questions. No need for explanations. No complaining. Just a certain knowing, a deep conviction that He knows, He is good, He loves us and He has already won this war for us on the Cross. Trust Him.

Lean not on your own understanding. Lean on His and be at peace. ♡