Hey Everyone ~

I've been struggling lately. I don't know what my problem is. Ok...maybe I know a little what it is, but when the truth pops up, I shake my head and say, "Oh that's stupid!" I don't want something so minor to have such a major impact on me... Listen to my friend Stephanie from her new book Ecclesiastes: Understanding What Matters Most. It hit me hard. Shook me out of my funk. Put the fear of God in me. My discontent isn't a minor issue. Left unchecked it has destructive potential. Time to dethrone it's seat!

"As I sit here with my pen in hand and my own heart ready for a little self- examination, I'm reminded of several women I know who have paid a high price for 'being discontent.' Oh sister, hear my heart! I may not have seen the cause, but I've often seen the effects and I truly want to convey how rocky the road can be when it begins with a discontent heart...the grass is never greener on the other side...in fact, it's just as weed infested over there as it is where you are right now. I've seen too many women hurting , too many homes in financial mess, and too many marriages suffering needlessly at the hands of a discontent heart. It may seem extreme, but if a discontent heart can cause Israel to cry our for a king at its own peril, what can it make you and me cry our for, and at what cost?"

Stephanie's right...The great nation of Israel began it's downfall because they were discontent with what God had given them...yikes. I appreciate the warning, Stephanie! I don't want to follow Israel's path.

One more quote from the first lesson of Stephanie's new 6 week Bible study book, "When our path seems more appealing to us than God's, it is evident we don't really understand His love." I love that truth. I needed to be reminded of that today :)

Thanks Stephanie! Check out her book ~ Ecclesiastes: Understanding What Matters Most

http://www.stephanieshott.com

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1. POST PURCHASE LINKS:

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http://tinyurl.com/6j9vqby (Amazon)

http://tinyurl.com/6cj2elt (Christianbook.com)

http://tinyurl.com/63obfhr (Barnes and Noble)

http://tinyurl.com/3kxhgql (Booksamillion.com)

Hope & Glory To You! Love

Rebecca

Rocky For Short

Rocky For Short

Psalm 23: 4-6

Happy Day All ~

I gritted my teeth and tried to remain as calm and "adult like" as possible while I hollered out, "Rocky, COME here!" Rockingham is the full name of my parent's sassy little yorky, who we call Rocky for short. (My sweet little nephew Thomas used to yell, "Here, Rocky for short. Here boy!" Thinking his nickname was "Rocky for Short".) The itsy bitsy dog is way too big for his britches and darts here and there faster than a pinball flicked by the rubber flippers. Rocky and I were supposed to be taking a walk, but he decided running all over, paying absolutely no attention to my frequent calls to come back and wreaking havoc in the neighborhood fit more to his agenda. (I know what you're thinking, "Why didn't you just use a leash?" Yeah, that is a good question I suppose, but we never needed one for my dog, Pandora. My mom & dad didn’t even own one. So, habit I guess...)

When suddenly, out of nowhere, Rocky heard the deep, threatening barks from a dog quadruple his size. He came bounding to my side like I was his long lost buddy and why hadn’t I called or written? I picked up the scrawny little guy and his quivering body snuggled into my shoulder and neck like we were made for each other.

I love that silly dog. It didn’t matter to me that he had been ignoring my every command all morning. Ain’t no way (to all you English teachers; pardon my language) I was going to let that big dog get him or even intimidate him. At that moment, my main goal was to make sure that Rocky knew he was safe with me! I snuggled him right back and carried him the whole way through the scary part of our walk.

That seems like an unimportant event in the routine of life, yet that day God used it to speak a life lesson to me. He showed me the big ole dog in my life may not go away, but He would walk with me and even hold me tight through the scary part! I know sometimes it feels you are walking it alone, but rest assured you have never left His sight, not even for a second! He's holding you, interceding for you, and making a way where there seems to be no way!

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:4-6

The ole ego...tough stuff

Psalm 51:17

Hi Ya Gang ~

I would not describe this as a good week for the ole ego... Don’t feel bad for me. (You had no intention of doing that, did you!) It’s been a great thing for me. It brought me face down...literally.

With my face on the carpet before God, I reflected back to more frantic days in my life. Desperate described my most current state back then. Those were bittersweet times for me. Bitter because they hurt so much; sweet because God seemed almost tangible. I wanted that same humbleness back in my life. So this week I repented of my self- sufficiency. I told God I want to choose a broken spirit. I want to embrace my need and His ability to satisfy it.

It felt good to have nothing to offer God, to be totally abandon and in desperate need of Him. Here is the amazing thing. Since I’ve stopped trying to be a one-woman show, God has kicked it up a notch in my life! It’s almost like He’s enjoying “showing off” on my behalf.

That’s just like Him though. You can never out give Him, out sacrifice Him, or out surrender Him. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Your humbleness He cannot resist!” Psalm 37:18 reminds us, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

May you know the pure joy of utter surrender and brokenness today!

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca