He Keeps ALL Promises.

There has not failed one promise that He has promised. 1Kings 8:56 nkjv

Yesterday afternoon I turned on my computer to find an email I'd been anxiously expecting from a publisher. I had submitted my book proposal at their request, the month before. The letter began, “I'm sorry to say that we’re not going to be able to pursue this book.”

I was disappointed. I shared with my husband my discouragement. I even went on to tell him how I'd really thought I'd heard God speak to me when he gave me a promise last year in Psalm 45:1 “My heart overflows with a good theme. I recite my composition concerning the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” It seemed to me that God was confirming what I would write, I would speak about. The theme overflowing from my heart was the captivity of activity and the bondage of busyness. So why had my book proposal on the subject been rejected? During my time with the Lord this morning He answered this very question.

After my time in the Word, I opened up my Streams in the Desert devotion book. The verse for today, “There has not failed one promise that He has promised.” 1Kings 8:56 I underlined the words that spoke loudly, almost shouting at me from the pages, “Someday we shall understand that God has a reason in every NO which he speaks through the slow movement of life. Somehow God makes up to us. How often when his people are worrying or perplexing themselves about their prayers not being answered, is God answering them in a far richer way.” I took out my pen and began to underline, “When did God take anything from a man without giving him manifold more in return? Suppose that the return had not been made immediately manifest, what then? Is today the limit of God's working time?”

Friends, our God is the great promise keeper. What promises has God given to you? He is not bound by our time, twenty four hours in a day, or our twelve months in a year. He is working them out in your life in his own time. He has not forgotten, not a one. Keep the faith. Trust him. Stand on His words to you. Pray them back to God reminding him that you are waiting patiently for them to become manifest in your own life.

When the frosts are in the valley,
And the mountain tops are grey,
And the choicest buds are blighted,
And the blossoms die away,
A loving Father whispers,
“This cometh from my hand”;
Blessed are ye if ye trust
Where ye cannot understand.

If, after years of toiling,
Your wealth should fly away
And leave your hands all empty,
And your locks are turning grey,
Remember then your Father
Owns all the sea and land;
Blessed are ye if ye trust
Where ye cannot understand.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday - Love is not a fight.

My husband and I went to the movies to see Fireproof last night. This is now my new favorite song. It explains love and marriage perfectly. When Paul and I have our own heated discussions (politically correct for: knock down drag out fights) I often struggle with the urge to run away, walk out in my anger and leave. The line from this song, "If we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door." speaks right to me.

At the age of twenty-seven I watched my first marriage go down in flames-personally pouring gasoline on that raging fire. I am so thankful that we serve a God of second chances. My life is a testimony that our Lord can bring life from the wreckage of poor choices. My marriage today is beauty from ashes. My husband Paul is the love of my life, my best friend, and the other half of me.

Friends, if you haven't seen this movie...SEE IT. If you know of ANYONE who is married, encourage them to SEE IT. If you know ANYONE who is engaged or in a serious relationship, tell them to SEE IT.

...and make sure to bring a big ol' box of kleenex.

ECSTATIC...yep, just a teensy bit.

Yesterday afternoon I received an email from Glynnis Whitwer, editor of P31 Woman Magazine, letting me know that the article I'd submitted was accepted. It will be published in their August 2009 issue.

Was I thrilled, uh, yeah. Did I react to the news like a mature adult, um, well, no. I was sitting at Starbucks as I opened my email and thankfully in front of only two bubble-gum chewing baristas, started squeaking and yelping. I very ungraciously jumped out of my chair and dashed out the door, running accross the busy street, red shiny laptop half open like a pizza box, to share the news with my husband.


I'm real classy like that.

Anything that grows - changes.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. Psalm 92:12

Change is inevitable...except from vending machines. anon

Growth and change go hand in hand. Change requires faith. Faith to believe that God is in control and that His plans may not make sense to us, but make perfect sense to Him. I love God but I hate change. I am perfectly happy living day in and day out in the comfort of monotony. Red lights flash and sirens scream their shrill warnings if I wander outside of familiarity.

My husband Paul is an attorney. He is a good attorney, a Christian attorney. I know, quite the oxymoron, isn't it? This week he is moving his office from his envied spot on Main Street in the quaint city of Placerville. Established in the 1800's, this California gold rush town is known for it's country charm and relaxed atmosphere. For six years, Paul has been the Atticus Finch, (Gregory Peck's character from the book/movie To Kill a Mockingbird), to folks in these parts. I can't begin to count how many times someone would walk in without an appointment, ask my husband legal questions and then walk back out of his office, never offering to pay for his services, my husband not demanding payment. Would you believe, one client even paid my husband in apples?

It surprised me when tears welled up in my eyes this morning as I witnessed a gentleman outside, at our request, climb up on a ladder and take down my husband's large office sign, his shingle. My tiny muscle of faith immediately being stretched, while my heart was reminded that God's plans for us are always sifted through his blood-stained hands of love.

This God given spot on the map has been more than good to our family. A true blessing of provision. Yet, like the Israelites, we feel the cloud of the Lord moving us on, (“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way...”Exodus 13:21)

It is difficult to accept change and even harder to move when things are good. But we are learning that sometimes you have to say no to the good to say yes to God's best.

Blessed...

When our children are leaving us to spend time with friends or family, after reminding them to behave, we always whisper to them, "Remember who you are and whose you are."

When you have given your heart and life to God, you are one of His children. With that comes not only a new life and new found responsibilities, but an abundance of promises He has made to each one of us. We are His beloved, His blessed ones.

My blog title, 'Blessed...' is inspired by exactly that. His promise of divine favor in our lives. Mercy, grace, joy, peace, love, forgiveness...the list is long and one that cannot be exhuasted no matter what the situation we face each day.

Today my heart is to remind the body of Christ that although we do suffer through trials, no matter what comes our way, we must remember who we are and whose we are.

I am a child of God, the thought out creation of the one true and living God. Blue blood runs through my veins.

I am the daughter of a King.