Do You Believe In Magic?

Quote from "Hat Trick" episode. Once Upon A Time

I heard that quote on Once Upon A Time (TV Show) and something about it resonated with me.

Yes, the quote talks about MAGIC. However, you could easily make this about God...

"You know what the issue with this world is? Everybody wants a Godly solution to their problems, but no one wants to believe in Him."

So many times we want God to step in and just FIX our lives but we don't actually believe He can do it. We don't believe that He can find us a job or heal what doctors have said is hopeless. We don't want to just give him our problems because we have to try to help God.

Today I'm going to spend time in prayer giving God my problems. I'll be honest, I'll probably have to start by asking Him to HELP ME let go. Will you join me?

Give Her Something To Eat

Luke 8:40-56 (I cut the middle out...that's for a different post!)


Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.  
Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.  
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”  
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.  
Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”  
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.  But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”  Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

I have so many thoughts on this passage...

- The quote from Jesus "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed" is SO powerful. Just believe. Just. Believe. I can't say it enough. That is ALL we need for healing. Believe that Jesus WILL.

- I think it's interesting that He didn't let everyone go in...he took a few disciples and the girl's parents.

- Jesus told them to give her something to eat. This verse has SO much impact on me. When I was still recovering from my eating disorder my husband and I came across this verse during a Bible study. Why was it emphasized to give her food? It MUST be important or it wouldn't be recorded.

This is an open ended post. I want YOUR thoughts below!

Dealing With Fear

So, a moment of bragging, my business has been picking up and doing really well. February I earned close to $250. March I can see a bit of what I'm earning and it's close to $300...my last paycheck kept my family out of the red. (Yes, we probably could have done it ourselves...but that little bit really helped)

It's weird...even though I'm seeing the numbers and seeing the success there's this teeny voice in my head that whispers things to me.

Things like...

You can't do it.


Quit now. You'll never keep this up.


You got lucky. Next time you'll just fail.


You'll never get more than this. 

That voice? Is dead wrong. I know it is.

I bounced this off my husband and he told me it's totally normal. These are the moments that separate successful people and unsuccessful people. Successful people hear that voice and tell it to hush up. (We don't say shut up in my house! lol) Unsuccessful people give in and listen to that voice.

At the beginning of January I put my trust in God. I told Him that if He wanted me to stay in this business to show me, to grow my business, and to help me succeed. He definitely has done that.

Psalm 56:3 says When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

So yes, I'm afraid. I have to admit I'm close to terrified. This could be a huge defining moment for our lives. If I continue growing like this, even at a slow pace, my husband won't have to reenlist into the military in 5 years. That would be such a blessing!

Are You Forgiving?

I'm doing the Good Morning Girls study on Ephesians. I'm in a Facebook group with some AWESOME ladies!

Today's verse was: Eph. 4:4-6 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

We ended up talking about the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18: 23-35. Basically, a servant is called in to his lord because he owes money. He BEGS to be given more time and the lord has compassion and forgives his debt. This servant immediately goes and starts demanding money from a fellow servant that owes him. (And, for the record, the debt is significantly smaller) The lord finds out and is livid and has the man thrown in jail. The lesson is basically: Forgive others if you expect to be forgiven.

For me this speaks a lot of marriage.

My husband has forgiven a lot. I have a troubled past and I'm not perfect (there are days I'm so far from it that it's ridiculous). But he forgives me. So, if my husband can forgive me what kind of person am I if I can't forgive others?

Even moreso, if GOD can forgive me...and He's a lot more jealous and picky than my husband...what kind of example am I setting if I can't forgive others? If I refuse to forgive someone am I reflecting Christ?

I struggle with this with my children. My toddler, especially today, has been troublesome.

He's a typical toddler. He doesn't listen, he yells back at me, he throws things, he plays rough, etc... I have to remember (remind myself) that he lives in the moment. So, when he throws something and gets disciplined he's over it 5mins later even if *I'M* not over it.

But isn't it like that with God? Scripture tells us that time means nothing to God. So what feels like an eternity for me is like a fingersnap for God. When I'm dwelling on something God may be saying "Forgive and move on."

Linking up!

What Are You Saying To God?

One of the blogs I follow on Facebook wrote today about grumbling to God. I encourage you to go and read the post because it is REALLY GOOD and very convicting!

The Scriptures she references are:

Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
and
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Everything we do should be to praise God. Yes, even scrubbing toilets and picking up toys.

I realized I complain a lot...a lot more than I should.

I feel like God called me to be a stay at home wife and mother. So, each time I complain and say "I CAN'T DO THIS!" I'm basically telling God "You made a mistake."

God doesn't make mistakes. Everything is in His hands. He called me to do this for a reason. Even if it doesn't make sense to ME it makes sense to HIM and that's all that matters.


Challenge: The next time you feel a complaint coming on say "Thank you" instead. Seriously. Even if you don't mean it at first (it will probably come out in a sarcastic tone) do it anyway. Thank God for the toilet you're scrubbing, for the dishes you're washing, for the screaming children...If He brings you to it He'll bring you through it!

UPDATE!
I did this on Friday when I was trying to get the kids dressed. Clothes (clean) were everywhere and I had trouble finding kid pants. Instead of complaining I remembered this post, paused, and said "Thank you Lord for giving us so many clothes that I have trouble sorting through them. Thank you for the space in the house to spread clothes everywhere. Thank you for my (then screaming) children." I don't know it humbled me...but it gave me something else to focus on for a brief moment.

Linking up

Communicating With Your Spouse

Sharing:

Communicating with God

Scripture references: 

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed. 

 1 John 5:14-15 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

I'd love to hear what you think! Blog about it and link-up below!

Book Club Friday

I'm linking up with Undercover Blonde today!



Right now I'm reading


Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic

If your child is wild, energetic, busy, screams a lot, never stops, constantly disobedient, loud, etc... YOU NEED THIS BOOK.
I'm learning so much about my kids (yes, both) and myself. I've realized that part of the reason I react so strongly to Franklin is we both have the *intense* characteristic. Think about it like this: When you put two pieces of dynamite together and only light ONE they both go off. Same thing with me and Franklin. We're both dynamite waiting for a spark. So when he goes off it sets me off and, well, sometimes things don't go so well. I yell, he yells, we both scream and cry and nothing gets accomplished.

I borrowed it from the library but I'm definitely putting it in my personal collection!

What did you read this week? Link up!!

Communication Study 1 Week Away!!

You guys, God was SO working in me last night when I thought about this study. He has so much planned! I'm so excited. I'll be doing VIDEOS for this instead of just written blogs.

I'm pumped!

Are you excited? I'll be giving you a chance to link up each week so be on the look out for that! The study starts Wednesday, Feb 1st. Tell your friends.

We'll begin with how we communicate with GOD.

Recipe Links!

There are two new recipes at Kas Fitness! Click on the yummy photo to see each one.

Sausage/Egg Muffins

Breakfast Sausage Spaghetti Sauce

Linking up!