Ten Things God Does

Ever lived with someone you just can't live with? Ever had a friend that looked more like an enemy? Ever not gotten along with a co-worker or boss? Yesterday here on my blog we took a look at the Psalms of Ascent, chapters 120-134. If you have a moment read through them.  Yes, it is fifteen chapters, but some of them are incredibly short.

In these psalms, relational angst in prevalent. It is a running theme through the chapters. There is talk of being trampled by others, lied about, and attacked, but the more I read them {over and over} again I began to realize that the better theme in these chapters has to do with what God does for us when we face an enemy.  These psalms are really about God not us nor the people we are not getting along with.

Here are ten actions that God takes when we are in distress. This isn't an exhaustive list.  There are a few more in the Psalms of Ascent, but these are the ones that jumped out to me.

He watches over us. "He who watches over you will not slumber." {121:3} He never sleeps on the job when it comes to His care for us.

He keeps us from harm. "The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life." {121:7} Does this mean that we will never suffer harm? No. I think he may allow some harm in order to protect us from a far greater harm. I have seen Him do this in my life...allowing a painful circumstance to protect us from something dangerous.

He shows us mercy. "So our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy." {123:2} He is gracious to us in our distress.

He is on our side. "If the Lord had not been on our side...they would have swallowed us alive."{124:2} He is on our side.  Here's the interesting thing though. If your conflict is with another Christian, He is on their side, too. He will use the angst to benefit both sides!

He provides an escape. "We have escaped like a bird." {124:7} With God, there is always a way out and a way up from the pit we are in.

He surrounds us. "So the Lord surrounds his people." He surrounds us to protect us. Nothing can get to us unless He allows it.

He restores our fortunes. "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed." {126:1} If misfortune befalls you God remedies the situation.

He frees us. "But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked." Sometimes relational angst has a great (albeit, surprising) side effect...freedom. I know that after dealing with people attacking me I have become less afraid of others. It has given me the freedom to stand my ground...to not worry what others think of me.

He forgives us. "But with you there is forgiveness." {130:4} When dealing with conflict sin abounds. Not only does the offender sin, but there is potential for the one offended to have a sinful response. God forgives us in it all.

He redeems us. "For with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is FULL redemption." {130:7} In the end, He redeems us, our enemy, and the whole situation. He brings good out of the miserable.

What an awesome God we serve! Through all the conflict He walks with us. The Psalms of Ascent are songs of hope in the midst of conflict.

Step by Step

Psalms of Ascent...I never knew what they were until 2008 when I picked up Beth Moore's Bible study, 

Stepping Up which travels through the fifteen Psalms that were sung as Jews would travel to Jerusalem for festivals.  In 2010, I went through her study again...this time watching the videos with a friend. Just this past month I decided to look through them again using a Bible study method from the book,Women of the Word. I was amazed to find that these psalms express a journey...one that I have been on before.

So take a moment...Pick up your Bible and read Psalms 120-134. It won't take long. I promise.

The title, Psalms of Ascent, is fitting. If you pay attention the first psalm starts low with a person calling out in distress. By the time you get to Psalm 134 all that is left is praise for God. So the one that started low doesn't feel that way in the end. So let's take a look at those two themes in this group of psalms: distress and praise. Today let's look at the distress and then come back tomorrow as we get to the good part: praising God for what He does for us in face of relational turmoil.

What is the common thread of distress? Look back again...it is difficult people causing the turmoil...

Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. {120:2}

Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. {120:6}

Have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. {123:3}

If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive. {124:2}

They have greatly oppressed me from my youth. {129:2}

Ever lived among people that lie, hate peace, dish out contempt, and attack you? We ALL have! Seasons in our lives exist where we feel like we are wearing a target. The boss we don't get along with. The friend who gossips behind our backs. The family member turned monster in the moment. We can't escape it.  The problem with this world is that there are people in this world! Where people roam there will be sin and suffering at the hands of others.

So what to we do when faced with the inevitable? How do we cope with those that attack or mistreat? The answer lies in the very first psalm of ascent...the first sentence even, "I call on the Lord in my distress".  We call out to God. What does He do for us?

Well, you will have to come back tomorrow to find out. I have to admit I was DUMBFOUNDED when I started looking at all the ways God helps us when we face an enemy or at least someone who is temporarily acting like one. We have an amazing God!!

Ten Things God Does {Link will be live tomorrow.}

Hope and Healing {A New Series}

If you have read my blog for any amount of time or even if you have stopped by randomly a few times, I am sure you have noticed the plethora of posts on hurt, forgiveness, healing, etc. It has been a running theme in my life. Relational hurt has driven me to God, grown my faith, and strengthened my spirit. Starting in September, I will be posting (some of them will be re-posts) ideas on healing from the hurts that haunt us. It has been my prayer over the last few months that what I have endured would help others...that my pain would have a purpose in blessings those around me. So please come join me every Thursday and Friday starting September 4th. There will be posts on forgiveness, resources to help you heal, and encouragement to move past what you will never get over. Please know that if you comment on one of my posts during this time I will make a commitment to pray for you. Healing is a long, hard job {I should know!}, and it would be my privilege to lift you up to the Great Physician.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

When You Need a Little Hope

When hope is waning and you feel like things will never get better, make a list.  A gratitude list. Proof that God doesn't abandoned His own. His gifts abound...

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-Cards of hope and encouragement in the mail

-A clean house

-The sun shining on a Saturday

-Rest from stress
-Knowing I am not alone
-Portraits taken
-A Saturday night get together with friends
-Reading a mystery
-Learning about the benefits of living in a "wilderness" season of life
-Spanish lessons starting
-Laughing with a friend
-Jokes and funny stories shared
-A house full of guests
-Reading to my boys
-Learning about the holiness of God
-A great sermon on a Sunday

Pinterest Ideas

Are you on Pinterest? I have to say I LOVE, LOVE that site!  Now with my new blog design you can click on the Pinterest icon on the sidebar to visit my boards. There are several boards to choose from as I use Pinterest for homemaking, homeschooling, recipe, and faith ideas. Pinterest helps me even in my in-home business of giving Spanish lessons.  I have found so many ideas for teaching Spanish that have been invaluable to my students! Collecting new recipes has been another great benefit of Pinterest. So here are a few of my boards in picture form...

So stop on by to get some ideas!

The Sheep-Counting God

{Elmer A. Humphrey}

When I think of sheep I think of my great grandfather, Elmer. I never knew him, but I have heard the stories. A man of Welsh descent that knew about sheep. He could shear 100 head of them in a day with hand clippers. Unreal. One of his descendant went on to compete in sheep shearing (yes, there are international competions in cutting wool).  But the count was far higher than 100...my cousin could shear 333 in a day with electric clippers.

I wonder back then how my great grandfather kept count of those 100 sheep. Surely, his mind must have wandered as he cut the wool from another bleating animal, but somehow he kept track. Sheep counting has been around for a long time. For most, it is in an effort to sleep. For some, it is their livelihood. For One, it is His love.

God counts sheep.

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:3-7

We are so important to Him that He counts us, and even when He has the 99 safe and sound, He misses that one. We matter to Him. He will search deep and wide for us. Pursue us. Go after us with His love.

{Elmer, on the right, 1907}

We, His sheep, count to Him.

My Word of the Year for 2014 is "Count". Come count with me.

Grace Abounds

There's not a day where you and yours are not protected by the most powerful, protective, and beneficial force in the universe--the grace of God. Every situation, location, and relationship you're in every day is made livable and tolerable by his grace. -Paul David Tripp

Grace permeates our lives, but we often miss its appearance.  Maintaining a gratitude list helps us find the grace we missed.  Can you list the grace He gives you? You may find grace abounds!

{4,702-4,714}

-Reading A Shelter in the Time of Storm: Meditations on God and Trouble {Great thoughts on Psalm 27}
-More students signing up
-This sign given to my husband by some friends...we can face anything because we are known and loved.

-A bathroom fixed up
-Very supportive parents of my Spanish students
-Going out to eat with my sons
-Helping set up a classroom and decorate it
-Severe back pain...realizing how blessed I am when I am not in pain
-The tomatoes that keep ripening
-A friend coming over and asking for prayer
-Meeting a new student and his mom. Such lovely people!
-Reading Flowers for Algernon for the first time
-Encouraging words from other Christians

Jesus Knows

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...Jeremiah 1:5 {NASB}

Yesterday was my husband's birthday. Friends came over.  Birthday wishes given.  A wooden sign burned with a phrase.

Jesus knows me, this I love.

My initial reaction was "Oh, how funny and how cute!" But then it hit me.

For almost a year now, I have walked into places where I have not been known. New life situations. New churches. New relationships, but I am not known. I don't even know myself because of life circumstances. I am becoming someone I am not. I can't even figure out who that is. At times, it scares me. The timid child turned adult who used to worry about what others think does not exist.  She is someone entirely different, and honestly I have no idea who she is. But He does.

You and I can face anything because we are known.  Not known by others and not even known by ourselves, but by the God that fearfully and wonderfully made us. He KNOWS us even in our messes, confusion, sin, loneliness, or heartache. He LOVES us in all of it, too. We can't be loved less or more by our actions, thoughts, or life circumstances. We can walk into the unknown because we are known by God.

Jesus loves me, this I know...

Jesus knows me, this I love...

I am linking up at Testimony Tuesday.

Women of the Word

{Affiliate links used. Thanks for supporting this blog.}

There are times when you need a change of pace. For years I have done women's Bible studies from authors like Beth Moore or Priscilla Shirer. I still love to study like that, but I have done most of them over the years and need to mix things up a bit.  I am not much for devotionals because I love going deep and not all devotionals provide that. I also gain by doing a rapid read of the Bible {The Bible in 90 Days} from time to time, but that can only be done once in a while or you burn out. It doesn't provide time for you to really get into certain passages that catch your attention. So, a few weeks ago I picked up Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds.

Jen's book is relatively short and offers a ton of ideas on how to move through a passage. As I read through her instructions I took notes. I then typed up a simple step-by-step list of how to work through a part of scripture.

One of the ideas she talks about is a printout of the passage you are working on.  I chose Philippians since it is only four chapters long.  I went to Bible Gateway and printed out the whole book. That way I could mark up the passage in various ways. For example, one of the exercises is to look for repeated words or phrases and mark them.  I was amazed to find out that there are several themes running through Philippians like humility, joy in life's circumstances, being living examples, and God's purpose for each of our lives.

Jen spends time on how to go about comprehending, interpreting, and applying what you study. She takes your through a process so that you will be able to comprehend what is going on in the passage, and comprehension is a big part of the battle. After that the interpretation and application are easier. She also explains how we should approach studying God's Word: "God before me, and mind before heart." But I will let you read that part for yourself. :-) She will do a better job explaining what she means by that phrase.

 I can't recommend her book enough! I read TONS of books each year, but this one has been the most valuable so far for me in 2014. 

{One word of warning though...as you read through you may want to take notes on her method so that you will have a list of what to do when you start studying the passage/book of your choosing.}

High School Literature and Composition in Homeschooling

{This post has affiliate links. Thanks for supporting this blog.}

I love literature and writing, but sometimes teaching these subjects can be a challenge. Literature is a challenge to teach if you as the teacher haven't read the book. I have to be honest...there have been several books my boys have read that I never cracked open.  We used literature guides like from Progeny Press when I wasn't familiar with the story. Writing is hard to teach for me even though I write and blog a lot. I have a hard time communicating what needs to be done to my sons' papers to make them sound better. So this summer I read The Reader's Odyssey: An Individualized Literature Program for Homeschooling Middle and High School Students and Grading with a Purple Crayon: A Developmental Approach to High School Composition for Homeschooling Families.  Both of these books are going to be invaluable as I teach my youngest this coming year and help my oldest with a college-level English course he may take.

The Reader's Odyssey sets up a system of choices for your student. It walks you through how to set up a reading contract and give it parameters that you can be comfortable with while still give your student a choice. Dena, the author, says that students are more willing to read literature if they have some say in what they read. For example, I have set up for my son to read 7-9 literature selections this semester, but about four of them need to be classics. That may seem like a lot, but some of those choices will be short stories. He will be required to keep a reading log (which you can copy out of the book), do literary analysis checklists (also in the book), and book summaries. I have to supply him with a stack of books, and he can choose from there. So as you can see there are plenty of choices for him, and I can set some boundaries on reading material.  Dena goes through the whole process in her book and gives you the paperwork you need to get started like literary checklists, literary interpretation pages, and instructions for students on how to do literary analysis papers (for highschoolers).

Dena's second book, Grading with a Purple Crayon, teaches the homeschool parent how to teach composition. In it, she goes over how to set up grading rubrics and assign grades. I LOVED how she lays out what makes an essay extraordinary.  There are chapters on the following ideas: Five-Paragraph essay form, types of essays, clear content, coherent progression, and eloquent prose. There is even a section on advanced compositions for college-bound students. Once again, her concepts are invaluable and have given me ideas on how to help my son with his writing.

If you are searching this school year for how to handle language arts for your middle or high school student check out her books!

A Grateful Heart

It has been an amazing week filled with blessings!

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-My son finally home

-A trip to the fair

-Getting a bunch of paperwork done

-A new look on my blog! So happy with it!

-The season of BLT's now that the tomatoes are ripening

-And the cabbage are amazing also...

-Copies made for my Spanish lessons

-A friend that helps out with my sons

-A side job for one of my sons to earn a little cash for a trip

-The time to get my work done

-Sunny weather

-Watching my husband show a lamb of one of my former Spanish students at the fair

-Corn fritters

-Reading the Psalms of Ascent

-Highlighters and markers for Bible study

-The kindness of a stranger

-A gardening buddy who loves to take a drink from the hose

What Happens

There are times when I would rather run from the past. Some events in life can just be downright painful. Last year was one of those years I would rather not relive...running seems like a better tactic to deal with it, but even though it was rough God prepared me for the onslaught of pain.  Early in January of 2013, I came across a verse that has ridden the storm with me...Philippians 1:19.

For I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

This verse has played out in my life in the past year and a half. He has brought me deliverance in so many ways. I have escaped some severe anxiety, some rough relationships, and learned to rely on Him more and more. I have become a different person...stronger than I ever imagined I could be. One person that I am extremely close with says she doesn't even recognize the person I have become. Deliverance can be painful, but it is so worth it!

This past month I have been studying Philippians using a method laid out in Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds (See my post. It will be live August 13th.). I was surprised as I went through chapter one that there are several times where Paul talks about "what happens" in our lives and how that benefits us and others. Paul seemed to accept whatever his circumstances because he trusted that God would use them.

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. {verse 12}

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. {verse 27}

And then in chapter four...

For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. {verse 11}

It doesn't matter what happens, God can use it, and we can learn to be at peace with our pasts. Are you struggling? Maybe you have been rejected or you have lost your job. Maybe there is relational turmoil in your past as there is in mine. Or maybe you messed up big time and don't know how to recover. Whatever has happened God will use it. He can redeem it and make it into something beautiful. He is after all the great Architect and Artist of our lives. He may use it for your benefit or to help others. There is no event in life that goes past the point of being used for God's purpose. My prayer for you is that you hang on...He will deliver.

I am linking up at It Takes Just One.

A New Look

I am so excited!!  I have been wanting to change my blog design for some time now, but I don't have the expertise to do anything major when it comes to a totally new look.  So I asked one of my friends, Candace, who she would recommend. Dinosaur Stew redid her blog recently, and she loved the experience. They offer pre-made templates and even installation (which I desperately needed someone to do for me!).  Ashley, over at Dinosaur Stew, was great to work with and did an amazing job! I hope that you enjoy the new look...a little less cluttered is what I was going for.  To visit her Etsy store, click here.

 So welcome to the new look of my home on the web!

Count it as a Loss

Eighteen months of loss. Losing a church family. My great aunt. My ability to trust others. My support network. Friendships. The grieving has been hard. The recovery a process rivaling the speed of a turtle. It has been what a friend calls the "Twilight Zone", my new normal.

We all hate loss. In fact, we live our lives fighting it. It's called self-protection. Our schemes for insulating ourselves from loss range from great ideas to downright evil. We buy insurance plans. We study a little more to ensure that grade. We people please so we will be loved. We refuse to repent so we won't lose our pride. We lie. We strategize. We slander others to make ourselves look good. We hurt others in an effort to come out the winner...not the loser.

Eighteen months of loss and I have finally come to realize my losses are not what count. Christ does. Paul knew loss. A man of standing. A Hebrew of Hebrews that threw it all away for the sake of Christ. His example calls us to count all things as loss...garbage, so that we may gain Christ. {Philippians 3:7-11} What I had failed to realize these past months was that God was calling me to what counts. While the losses have been devastating God knew that all I really need is Him. Nothing else matters. The losses are there to make more room for Who really counts.

This year my Word of the Year is Count. Come count with me.