Forget Yesterday...Press On!

Lately my devotional and prayer time with God has been Nil. I can't blame it on the Christmas season. It is my lack of realizing that God is the most important part of my life. I just go on day to day saying, "Tomorrow I will be better at reading my bible and praying." Tomorrow never comes. I hustle about trying to find the next big thing that excites me. For me that is the love of things...finding gems in the vintage world. The next big junking excursion or the next big find for the shop.
So this morning I decided to get up early and read my bible. I know if I don't do it then it usually doesn't get done. In my time with God this morning I felt God telling me to read Philippians 3. It says, (verse 7 and 8) "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Wow, that really puts it in perspective for me. Everything is garbage compared to Christ. What am I living for? Things that are just plain garbage or not really important. But...God...yesterday I was living for garbage....how can I start new...how can I really live for you? (verse 13-14) "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." I can forget yesterday and I can live today trying my hardest to live for God. Yesterday cannot hold me back. The rest of Philippians talks about those who are enemies of the cross. Those whose focus in not on God, but on earthly things. It goes on in verse 19, "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." No, it's not wrong to have interests, hobbies, jobs and other things. It's only wrong when that is the center of our life. And honestly we all do it. I don't want you to feel guilty, but to forget yesterday...AND PRESS ON!

So Thankful for God's Goodness

I'm tired as I write this...but had to share with everyone God's goodness. I sit in my living room doing devotions late. I read a devotion called, "A good day." This woman is thankful for everything in life, the good, the bad, and the everyday normal things. We have it so good. We have food, shelter, my husband has a good job, we have 5 kids, family that loves us...and so much more. How good it is to know that no matter what we have it so good. Life throws us many curve balls, but with God we can deal with it. His faithfulness is always with us. I am so glad for that. Today instead of thinking about what you don't have...think about what you do have. Be thankful that you get to live another day...and if you are healthy and have what you need then it is truly A Good Day!

Psalm 118:1

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Sweetness of a Child

Our son Hayden is 7 and he is autistic. He has very little speech, and the words he uses are sometimes hard to understand. We try to do devotions and pray with our kids often. Last night Bryan was doing devotions with Hayden and Westin in their room (I was feeding McKale). He told me that he asked Hayden to pray and he did. Bryan said he couldn't understand everything he was saying, but he could catch words here and there. It makes my heart so excited and happy to see that he gets prayer. I've been praying that God has a connection with Hayden. I just never know how much he understands. I'm so thrilled with this little bit of understanding on his part.
I just wanted a verse to go with this small devotion and this is what God gave me.

Psalm 119:73

"Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands."

That is so comforting to me. Thank you God. You made Hayden...you love him. And he will know you.

Seeking God

This week I really wanted to seek God. I'm so busy with kids that is really is hard to have devotional time/prayer time. I find myself doing things (blogs, computer time, shopping, junking etc) instead of really seeking God out. Today I got up with my kids, made coffee, put on worship music and did devotions with my boys before school. I want to show them too that a relationship with God is most important in my life. It was a good time. I then had my prayer and devotional time. I emailed my husband with an encouraging theme to seek God and gave him a verse. I want to share that verse with you.
Psalm 27:8
"My heart says of you, Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek!"
I hope this little devotion will encourage you to seek God this week. Blessings to all of you!

My new blog

This is the second blog that I'm starting. My first blog www.chippycottagecharmhouse.blogspot.com is about my life with decorating, junkin' and making things. I felt God really wanted me to start a blog to share daily/weekly devotionals with other believers. My hope is to reach other believers and encourage them in their walk with Jesus, and to share hope with those who may not believe. Check back real soon for my first devotional post. God Bless you!