My life, my love, my reality...

The weekend has come and gone

I swear! Three day weekends go by too fast!  And I really wanted to tell you guys all about my weekend, but I can't for the life of me remember what the heck we did on Saturday. I think we went to Target to pick up some much needed materials, but again, I can't remember what they were. *smile* Oh well.  It was fun shopping though. 

On Monday we headed over to my parent's house to hang out.  I didn't get to see my Mom for Mother's Day because she was really sick from her medication and treatment. She is feeling much better, Praise the Lord!  She still feels really tired and nauseous on some days, but it is much better than we anticipated her feeling.  It was good to see my folks and I know they enjoyed seeing Madi.  They hadn't seen her sweet face in a few weeks and my Mom would call every couple of days to see how she was doing.  Oh and I made my family those famous Apple Dumplings for dessert. Once again...a BIG hit! Check out the Pioneer Woman and seriously....make those dumplings! They are amazing!

By the way....anyone in Southern California notice how much gas was this morning? $4.00 people. $4.00 stinking a gallon.  So pretty much between childcare and gas for my commute to work.....there goes my entire paycheck from APU.  Not literally, but pretty darn close! Ridiculous! 

Tonight is the Studio Calico June Kit reveal.  The party starts at 12 midnight Eastern time....so for Pacific time peeps, hit up the website at 9pm to grab your kit and some add-ons...they will go fast! I unfortunately won't be there because my home computer is still on the fritz.  Lame. 

This weekend I started a new bible study by Beth Moore.  She is by far one of my favorite bible teachers.  She gets us deep into the word and she stays in context to scripture.  You really learn a lot from her studies and you will learn the word and memorize scripture by the end of it.  She expects it of you!  The study I am doing is called Living Beyond Yourself: studying the fruit of the spirit. On day 3 and I am amazed at the findings.  So much to gain from the book of Galatians.  So much truth and knowledge.......you can't help but grow when you are in the Word of the Lord daily, coming to Him for your daily portion.  So if you don't currently have a bible study or are in the Word, here is a good place to start.

Well, that is all I have for now. May I leave you with a couple bits of scripture that I found convicting and encouraging this weekend.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Have a great Tuesday!

Some biblical encouragement

Nothing is better than being able to dive into God's word and to be nourished by His Goodness and His grace.  To know that He loves us and cares for us and provides for us.  Protects us and guides us and even disciplines us.  My God is amazing.  Please enjoy a few verses from Psalm 18:

Psalm 18:1-3:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

My God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,

and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:25-27:

To the faithful you showed yourself faithful,

to the blameles you show yourself blameless,

to the pure you show yourself pure,

but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

You save the humble

but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

Psalm 18:30-31:

As for God, his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

Last night, I had a horrible nightmare about my hubby.  It definitely took the wind out of me, but made me appreciate the relationship I have with him and to treat him special and take care of him.  I will never know when he will go home to our Father, so I will do my best to remember to say "I Love You" everytime I walk out the door. Or when I am angry with him.  Or at random times throughout the day.  Because he is really is a gift from God to me.  I am so blessed.

Tiff~

One more post...Scripture.

This verse spoke to me this morning.  I was in tears praying to God and I couldn't finish the Psalm.  But knowing that I can communicate with my Father and drop everything at His feet, brings me comfort and peace....and knowing that He hears me and listens to my plea.

Psalm 17:1-2

"Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea;

listen to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer-

it does not rise from deceitful lips.

May my vindication come from you;

May your eyes see what is right."

Scripture for today

I can't post very much today as I am going to be doing a lot at work. But this morning I read my devotions and I have been reading through the Psalms:

Psalm 16:

Keep me safe, O God,

for in you I take refuge.

I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life;

You will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Have a blessed day everyone!

Devotion for today

Psalm 5: 11-12

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

For surely, O Lord, you bless the

righteous;

you surround them with your favor

as with a shield."

Blessings,

Tiff~

Psalm 2

Yesterday I began reading the Psalms for my devotions.  I was convicted yesterday by my friend Pam while reading her blog. She is challenging herself to blog everyday and write about what she has read in God's word.  She is finding that she is so excited to wake up in the morning and read a new verse, to be awakened with Words of encouragement and nourishment for the soul.  God is so good.

Today I read these words in Psalm 2:

"Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession (v.8)

"Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling." (v.11)

"Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (v.12b)

I found these verses to be comforting to me.  To ask of the Lord, to ask of His will in my life, to surrender to His heart knowing I can trust Him.  He can supply me with far more than this earthly world can.  I know many people today who are lured by these verses....thinking that if they say the "follow" our God...then they will have what they want.  Or that they will be happy.  Or that they won't have trouble.  To be blessed isn't about possession, happiness or even to be without hard times.  No, to be blessed goes far deeper than that.

If you read my previous post, you will know that Dan and I have had hard times.  We have had to fight for our marriage, go through the heartache of miscarriage,  the uncertainty of whether or not we would have a home to rest our heads in.  But I count myself blessed.  God has allowed me to have a beautiful daughter, a faithful husband, family who loves me and cares for me.  Friends I can count on.  To be christian does not mean that I will get whatever I want, although the Lord certainly does give us the desires of our heart.  (Psalm 37:4). To be christian does not mean that I will escape pain in this life.  I truly believe it when the bible says that Satan roams freely through this earth, looking to devour our souls. 

I was listening to John MacArthur this morning.  (Actually Dan listens to him and since I happened to be in the car I listened to it as well.) He commented that there are many TV pastors who are preaching something other than the gospel.  There is one in particular that I instantly think of.  And quite frankly, my heart sinks as I realize that he is leading many to hell and his followers don't realize it.  Some of you may listen to him, and really enjoy his teaching.  He is a very good communicator and has a nice presence on stage.  But he does not preach the gospel.  Just having a positive attitude on life, thinking good thoughts and being nice to your neighbor...WILL NOT GET YOU INTO HEAVEN. I won't name his name, but I am sure you know who I am talking about.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is HARD TO BELIEVE!  It is believable by the power of the Holy Spirit that reveals the love and sacrifice of Jesus.  The gospel is this: That Jesus, who was both God and Man, was hung on the cross for our sins.  It was our sin that put him there.  God loves us so much that He sent His perfect Son to die for us, so that we would not be separated from Him for eternity, but to spend eternity with Him in heaven (John 3:16).  He rose on the 3rd day....He Is Alive!  He is at the right hand of the Father, speaking for us.  The only way to heaven is through complete faith and trust that Jesus is the Savior and that He is the only way.  THE ONLY WAY.  Hard to believe isn't it?  But it is the truth.  The holy, unmistakable truth.  God is so good.  He is so loving and He is so just.  Many people forget that part.  He is a just God and He cannot have sin in heaven.  Which is why He chose to save us through the sacrifice of His Son.

If you have been searching for something to fill that void in your life, please know that Jesus will fill it.  If you have not made a decision, know that time is running out. We don't have forever to make a choice.  We never know when we will breathe our very last breath.

I love each and everyone of you.

In His Holy Name,

Tiff~

Let your speech be filled with Grace

"Let your speech always be filled with grace.." Colossians 4:6a

So today is day 22 on my 30 day challenge to encourage my husband.  I know I haven't been posting daily about my progress, but let me tell you that it has drastically changed my thinking towards my hubby.  I love him far more now than I could have imagined on the day I married him.  This isn't to day that we are a perfectly happy married couple. Remember, he is married to me and to those who know me know that I happen to be the world's most impatient person. Working on that.

Here is what I read today:

"Focus today on how you represent your husband in your home, your church, and your community. In this challenge to encourage, ask: 'If all my family and friends knew about my husband came from a filter of what I've said about him, what would they think of my husband?' Do you need to change the filter?"

Okay that first part was a HUGE YES for me.  I won't go into it, but DH and I had a rough summer, I mean really rough. We had really good friends praying for us for a loooonnnnggg time.  Anyway, all I did was complain about him and tell my MOM how bad of a husband he was.  No wonder my mom started to feel negative towards him.  I have had to watch what I say around her and constantly raise him up in my mom's eyes.  I don't want her to feel like I am married to a loser, because that is so not true. My hubby is amazing! Okay onto the second part:

"Do you talk positively about your husband to others....or do you complain and criticize?  your speech should reflect 1 Cor. 13 love.  Your words should be kind, and should never 'rejoice in iniquity' (v.6). Refrain from listing your husband's faults to others.  Satan likes to trick us in this area-be wary of sharing barbed 'prayer requests.' Remeber, 'love will cover a multitude of sins' (ain't that the truth..oops sorry). Present your husband before others today in a strong, positive manner. Slip in a 'good word' for your spouse.  Resist the urge to correct or belittle him in front of others.  Some of what you say may come back to him (crap)- and you want your words to be sweet, building him up and never tearing him down.  Don't forget: you are always criticizing-or encouraging-before an audience. God hears your conversations when you are alone with your husband in your own home.  May your speech be always seasoned with grace."

I hope this brought encouragement to you ladies and challenged each and every one of you to encourage your husband!  It can be hard for us ladies sometimes, but trust me....it really does change your outlook on your marriage and your relationship.  Another bonus....he may be more willing to help out around the house (instead of nagging him all the time like I used to do...believe me it did not help!) or change that baby's poopy diaper...or not.  *smile* But either way, I guarantee God will bless you when you work hard to honor the man you married. 

If you are interested in joining this challenge, I encourage you to check out Revive Our Hearts.  Click on the resources tab and you will find the 30 day challenge pdf for you to download.  I encourage you to join in! 

Blessings,

Tiff~

Psalm 124

"If the Lord had not been on our side-let Israel say- if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swalled us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.

Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.  We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.  Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (NASB)

Beautiful Psalm isn't it?  I was doing my bible study this morning and this totally spoke to me.  This psalm allows us to recall how God saved us, not just with salvation, but from the possibility of without Him being by our side.  What would we have ended up as or like if we never trusted Jesus.  If we didn't have the confidence to know that when His children are personally attacked by Satan, who truly and deeply hates us....where would we be?

If God has not saved you, as the Psalm says, then do nothing. Don't sing praises, don't cry out His name and bring glory to who He is.  But if He has and those who know Him know He has...CRY OUT! Lift your voices in praise to Him!!!! Be LOUD!  Be thankful.  Remember and recall all that He has done!  He has saved me from so much, and much of it was my attitude.  I was an ugly person on the inside.  Bitter, jealous, insecure.....they were eating me alive and I truly felt as if I was drowning in my thoughts and insecurities.  But praise God He has rescued me from them.  I am far more confident and I have found a love that is everlasting...even more everlasting than the love Daniel has for me and I for him. 

I wanted to share this Psalm with all of you.  Perhaps there are a few of you out there who are unsure as to what God has done for you.  I pray that you can remember, and rejoice that He is by your side.

Love you all,

Tiff~