for today:
outside my window...it is raining. i am sitting in starbucks, just finished up with my isaiah study, and looking at the rain come down. we need it. even as much as i don't like getting wet, we need it. thank you Lord for your blessing upon us in sending the rain.
i am thinking...the faithfulness of God. i am so thankful His faithfulness is not contingent on the faithfulness or faithlessness of people. He is faithful because that is who He is! what a solid place to put my faith.
i am thankful for... supernatural provision. we had a tough month last month financially (just being rather transparent with all of you, more than i often feel comfortable doing). we prayed and prayed and prayed for provision. even on the other side of it i am amazed at how we even got through. it wasn't easy. it wasn't instantaneous. it was painful and slow and exposing of all the cracks in my faith that the Lord wants to fill with Himself and His goodness and care for me. i am left feeling broken and poor in spirit (matthew 5), but so very thankful that, i said before, His faithfulness isn't up to something inside of me.
in the midst of a very hard month we had about $600 of unexpected cash gifts from people - some were anonymous and we don't even know who to thank. if that isn't humbling, i don't know what is. i don't know if it is harder to know who it is who makes sacrifices to give to us or to not know. either way i am so extremely thankful to all who were obedient to the leading of the Lord to give so generously to us, not even knowing what a tough time it has been because we are not super quick to share about it.
besides this, we had someone (bill's parents who are missionaries themselves in guatemala) buy us a brand new refrigerator. the one we have had the past 7.5 years was left in the house we bought and on its way out even then. in the midst of such a trying month, we were so blessed and God is reminding me again and again that mere man is not my provider. He alone is my Provider.
remembering... to start each day in thankfulness - it changes so much to just simply change my perspective and where i am focusing my attention.
from the learning rooms... well, we are still in the throws of making the decision of where to send our #2 son to school. part of me wants him at the school he is at right now, parts wonders it at home would be a better option for this year. we are seeking the Lord for His direction for this year and trusting He will lead us to make the best choice for him for this season.
from the kitchen... i made a big pot of beef stew last night and i have to say it was the best beef stew i have ever made. what was the difference you ask? well, i seasoned the meat with steak seasoning as i browned it, then dry sauted the mushrooms adding white wine when they lost their juices and sooo yummy! we have enough left to have it again tonight!
i am wearing... my skinny jeans, cute red shoes that i got for christmas, a chunky gray sweater that has a big cowl neck, and a plaid red coat that is honestly my favorite. i love red as an accent color!
i am creating... this amazing knit scarf... i decided to use big fat needles and skinny little angora/wool yarn. the effect is a loopy delicate scarf that would be perfect as an accent to any outfit.
i am going... on a little date tonight. woohoo! fun little coffee date with my babe of almost 9 years!
i am reading... psalms still in my Bible reading challenge. i must say that as much as i love it, i have been falling behind again because the way you version set up the reading for each day, they assigned like 6 psalms most days and that gets to be a bit more than i can do right now. when i divided the chapters of the Bible by 365, i got that most days i should be reading 3 chapters to stay on track. so, that makes me ask, are they only going to have me read 1 chapter at a time when i get to the book of isaiah?!
i am hoping... to have a good tax appointment tomorrow. are you all done with your taxes already? anyone last minute about it? i am glad our accountant sets up the next year's appointment on the same date as the current appointment or i know i would totally forget and procrastinate until the very last moment.
i am hearing... the sounds of starbucks music and conversation all around me. it is busy here today.
around the house... i am so needing the motivation i had a couple weeks ago for organizing. i dug into a dreaded hall closet that had become a catch all, and i am about half done with a box of things now sitting in the hall that need a permanent home. unfortunately, i have been lacking both time and motivation to find it for them. for some reason i would rather things out of sight and out of mind than sitting there in the hallway reminding me that i haven't finished what i started. i am resisting the temptation to just shove them back into the closet and forget about them.
one of my favorite things... is a warm meal on a cold day.
pondering... this quote from a Bible scholar by the name of grogan from the isaiah study i am doing:
it is a strange paradox that nothing makes a being less like God than the urge to be His equal, for He who was God stepped down from the throne of his glory to display to the wondering eyes of men the humility of God (Phil 2:5-8).
a few plans for the rest of the week: tomorrow is the dreaded tax appointment. for some reason i always dread it, but always feel such relief when it is over. i had a new niece born yesterday, so i hope to see her at some point later this week. i am watching another niece for my sister on friday. have i ever mentioned that i have 12 nieces and 3 nephews. is something a bit strange about this picture? 12 nieces! (including 2 in utero)... yet i only have boys. crazy!
picture for the day:
here is the outfit i wore today so you can get a look. are you a fan of skinny jeans? i wasn't until i wore them. yes, i know... i am such a follower. hahaha!
more of the simple woman's daybook.
charis
0 comments:
Post a Comment