Welcome To My Refuge Spot

Welcome Friends to my blog about single motherhood and living for God. I hope that you find my thoughts and musings thought provoking and in alignment with God's word. Thank you for visiting and please feel free to share your comments and pass the word along to others who you feel could be blessed!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Thank You God

Today I am just simply thankful. I jotted down a quick list of things that I am thankful for and by doing so, I easily forgot about anything else that seemed problematic, or momentarily needful.
graphic from art.com
40 Things That I am Thankful For

  1. The genuine hugs and kisses of a certain 6 year old.
  2. The genuine hugs and kisses of a certain 8 year old.
  3. That today is Thursday and a certain 8 yr olds turn to cook dinner
  4. The unexpected phone call I received Tuesday, January 15 at exactly 8:55 am that was such an amazing blessing to me!
  5. The fact that I even though I work, I have my own office, and when I need to I can close my door and pray and read my bible.
  6. That I have access to the Almighty Father
  7. That sees me as his daughter
  8. He talks to me
  9. He listens to me
  10. The fact that there is a cross for me to leave my burdens at and a Christ that wants them.
  11. That I have been delivered!!!
  12. That I can love my enemies and those who spitefully misuse me
  13. That all of my family is still alive, well, and healthy
  14. I am not in Iraq as I could be
  15. My brother and sister are not in Iraq as they could be
  16. I am no longer in an abusive relationship
  17. I lived to tell about it
  18. My mom who drove over 90 miles today to fill in for me at my daughters Honors Assembly
  19. That my daughter received Honors Awards in school
  20. I've never gone hungry
  21. I've never had to sacrifice integrity to take care of my family and God has given me the strength to be both mommy and daddy.
  22. I've never been homeless
  23. I've never had to tell my child we had no food
  24. God's protection over my family
  25. That my children saved my life
  26. That my children make me laugh
  27. That my children are here to make me cry, scream, and yell
  28. That I have hope
  29. I have the light of Christ in my life
  30. That no one can blow it out
  31. That God is God, and not man
  32. That he loved me when I didn't love me
  33. That he taught me how to love me
  34. That I have no problem waking up and going to sleep alone
  35. That God allowed me to find the wonderful sanctuary of blogging!
  36. I have victory over the devil
  37. That my bible is my instruction book
  38. I know the power of a child's unconditional love
  39. That I know the power of a mother's love
  40. That God has and is going to change my life exceedingly abundantly above above all that I ask or think according to his power that worketh within me!

Be Blessed and Stay Encouraged- smfg

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

It Is Well

My new blogging sister Rosheeda at A New Beginnings had this song posted on her blog the other day, and I have not been able to get it out of my mind. I am in an experience right now where I just have to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord ( Exodus 14:13) . When everything is over and has passed, I just want this song to be my living testimony. I hope it encourages you as it has me today. Thanks Rosheeda!

It Is Well...

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,Let this blessed assurance control,That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,Even so, it is well with my soul.It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Be Blessed and Stay Encouraged-smfg

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

It Is Better To Give

Today God blessed me to be able to do something that I had been told I couldn't do in the past, and just accepted that I could never do it. Today, I donated blood for the first time!! I know it may seem like a little thing, but for me it was a big blessing. Long ago when I tried I was told that my low iron, and my being below the weight guidelines would make me ineligible to be a donor. That coupled with my needle phobia always served as the perfect excuse for me to run the other way whenever there was a Blood Drive . But in light of my post yesterday, I just decided that I was going to refocus my life and try new things. My boss is a die hard Red Cross supporter, and today 30 minutes before our blood drive was to end, he asked if I were going to at least go try.... How could I say no to at least trying? So I walked over, answered my questions, and before I knew it one painless needle stick later I donated my first bag of blood. I feel good, and I thank God for allowing me to physically enjoy this experience.

This Little Light Of Mine

graphic from art.com
Matthew 5:16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Today I thought I would share this really encouraging email that my mommy dearest sent me- she is so cool and thoughtful. I hope that it blesses you as it did me! BTW can you see my obsession with light houses?? :)

I was inspired as I read this passage from a devotional that I receive daily. As I read it I was inspired to included you in my prayer as I asked God to give you [us] an opportunity to be the perfect expression of HIS light in your [our] surroundings today as you [we] show your [our] faith, love and courage that originates from the Spirit of God within. With that, please make sure that your 'inner batteries' are energized and ready to shine brightly for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ because you [we] just might be the the only representation of Christ that someone will see today.
So let your little light shine, shine, shine.

Pray for Others
We are living, breathing expressions of God’s spirit.
Praying for another person is a sacred honor. With a love that originates from the Spirit of God within, I offer this prayer:
“Dear God, I pray for loved ones and myself, knowing that it is Your spirit that energizes us and Your wisdom that guides us. In heart and mind, we are one with You; we go about being perfect expressions of Your light in the world.
“Created and sustained by Your love, dear God, I affirm that Your right and perfect will is being fulfilled in our lives and that Your guidance is directing our every thought and activity.
“You are our source of faith, love, courage, health, and every other divine quality that we, as Your children, are capable of expressing. God,
“I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.”—Ezekiel 37:14

Go Forth and Be Blessed and Seek God for the opportunity to Be a Blessing to someone today.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Guarding Our Focus

Isaiah 26:3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.graphic from art.com
How does one stay focused when you don't really know what to focus on? Have you ever been in a situation that is so new and so uncharted that you don't even know how to even talk to God about it? Not to sound pitiful, but I am in such a bit of a pickle. I know that I need to remain focused on God and his will right now. However, I feel just as anxious and unfocused as my six year old does when her attention span shuts down! :)

Whoever said that remaining in God's will (while trying to remain focused on what He wants and not what you want) is easy needs to come and see me like right now! Because I am realizing today, more than ever that when you are used to being in control and you release your control you have to completely walk away from it.

I almost feel like I did when I left my newborn off with my parents for the first time. Now I knew she was in good hands but I felt the need to keep calling and coming by to check on her, and who better to take care of her than the ones who took care of me?? It is exactly the same situation when we take our problems, concerns, desires, and burdens to God. We have to drop them off at the cross and keep walking, never looking back until we are told or called to come back to pick up our blessing or answer. Meanwhile, we must focus ourselves on things other than what we left in his hands. This my friends is the test.

So today, I have resolved that I am going to keep my mind off my newborn- because that is how I feel about what I have given to God. I will walk away, I will find something to do for Him, I will take care of myself, I will not idolize it, I will throw my focus on my family. I will not keep thinking about it, I won't ask God how it is, or when is a good time for me to pick it up. I will guard my focus because in the end I know that It shall be and it is well ( II Kings 4:22-26) . I have posted below my favorite passage of Scripture.

Matthew 6:32-34
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.