WHEN SOME BASIC NEED IS LACKING - time, energy, money - consider yourself blessed.

Really?

Yes.

When we find something lacking in our lives it brings us back to the reality that we need God. There is no shame in our dependence. God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

"But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me."
2 Corinthians 12:9

I want God's power perfect in my life. I need to take this season of my life to train myself to rely wholeheartedly on God because when we succeed several years down the road with the Dave Ramsey program and are financially stable I don't want to forget how much I need God.

Father God thank you for always being there for me to rely on.

LET ME TEACH YOU THANKFULNESS.

Sometimes it's hard for me to remember that nothing I have belongs to me.

Garren... not mine.
Ryker... not mine.
House... not mine.
Car... not mine.

Everything I have has been given to me by my heavenly Father and I am only a steward of it. It is not my own. Oh how much my Father does love to spoil me!

AS YOU LOOK into the day that stretches out before you, you see many choice-points along the way.

My job every day is to focus on God rather than those choice-points along the way. If I lose focus and start focusing on the surprises or difficulties that arise, I might flounder. However, if I stay focused on God then I will know that He has fully equipped me for whatever may come my way during the day. 

The LORD is good to those who trust in Him, to the one who seeks Him.
- Lamentations 3:25

Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in Him!- Psalm 34:8

GOD is GOOD! There is no need to worry when our focus is on the One who loves us.

Father God thank you for this reminder just when I need it.

REST IN THE STILLNESS of My Presence while I prepare you for this day.

Rest, what's rest?

In life it seems we are trained to not have idle moments with nothing going on. If you do (gasp), quickly fill them with something to kill the time! Even when I think I'm resting I've still got all these imaginary balls in the air that I'm juggling and thinking about. God desires me to stop juggling and rest in His Presence. His Presence is a gift that He freely gives us.

The devotion caught my attention when it stated, "There is both a passive and an active side to trusting Me."

I had never put much thought into it being that complex but it completely makes sense. We are passive as we just rest and soak in His goodness and glory. We are active when we respond to our lives circumstances with complete trust towards God. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Praise you Jesus for NO CONDEMNATION! When I fail again at remembering to take shelter in You and find rest when I'm weary, thank you for not condemning me. Or for that matter all the things I fail to remember.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME, not only for direction but also for empowerment.

I recognize this and yearn for more of it in my life.

How often have I thought I should do something God's calling me to do? Or how often have I missed doing something God's calling me to do? I'm sure it's much more than I realize.

At times I've been so desperate to hear from God in what direction to take. However, how can I expect to hear a clear answer when I've only glanced His way occasionally in the last week or month. I need to have my eyes fixed on Him at all times. It seems like the healthy perspective would be focused on Him and then all else that is necessary would be happening in my peripheral vision.

By training my eyes to focus on God I will be receiving necessary direction and empowerment for the tasks I take on. If I can succeed in this task I know there will be absolute joy and sheer delight as stated in Psalm 16:11.

Father help me train my eyes to focus on You so that I may follow Your will for my life with more success.

I AM CALLING YOU... to a life of thankfulness.

I'm starting to feel like this devotional is redundant. Not that I mind in the least! I think it's a great to be reminded over and over again to be thankful and rejoice. Many of these life lessons we have been learning over and over again since we were children in Sunday school.

I know that my mind is dense and needs prodding to be reminded to be thankful. How often I forgot this lesson and find myself grumbling in the middle of, what I deem to be, lame circumstances.

When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do.

This quote is what I need to remind myself of. I have NO desire to run the world. I cannot even run my household without complaint from the other inhabitants that live here with me.

God thank you for taking on the world so that I don't have to.

TRUST ME, and don't be afraid.

Today's devotion stated,

When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip My hand tightly and look for growth opportunities. Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new.

Fail.

Just this morning I was trying my darnedest to make it to church early. (Making it on time is a feat for me most Sundays.) However, this morning Garren and Ryker were both moving up classes and I wanted them to feel settled and not rattled by the late start they would get if we arrived at our "normal" time.

I did it! The boys were dressed, fed and in the car at a quarter 'til. We were going to show up about five whole minutes early! Then I realized I hadn't brought in our dog from the backyard. I left the car running and ran back in the house to let him in, but he didn't come when I called him. He had once again escaped from the confines of our fence and was out terrorizing the neighborhood.

I had two choices.

1. Go to church and hope he doesn't get hit by a car or 
2. look for him. 

The boys and I spent the next 15 minutes driving around whistling and calling for him out our windows. I admit I was out of my comfortable routine and I was not looking for growth opportunities. I was livid that for once I was going to make church on time and this had to be the day the dog ran off. Maybe God was letting me know that attitude is more important than being on time. Sure being on time is important... it's just that going to church with an attuned heart is more so. 

I am glad that I chose to be responsible and find the dog. Without taking care of that first I'm not sure how much I would have been paying attention otherwise. Today was a message worth hearing... MERCY. 

Father I need your mercy to get me through each and every day. Thank you for always extending it my way.