Joy

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

This verse and nugget of God’s truth is so familiar to me. Sometimes the most familiar words are the ones we take for granted. The Holy Spirit revealed a newness about this verse to me, and I thought I’d share it with you. The verse says, “this is the day the Lord has made”, meaning whether or not you acknowledge this day as a creation of the Lord or not, He made it. Secondly, the verse says, “LET US rejoice and be glad in it.” This an encouragement to us to join in with Jesus to REJOICE and give thanks to God for this day, that we in our humanness have to choose what we will do with this day the Lord has made...be glad in it or ?

I’ve walked with Jesus and been counseled by His Spirit on some of the most gloomy and dark days of my life...in fact, days where I just plain didn’t want to be a part of. But through walking and having an on-going relationship with my Savior Jesus, I have learned that even when this world around me, sometimes even the people I love most, are just poopy and everything seems to weigh me down….there is a truth: Jesus came to give us an abundant life. Even in the midst of darkness in my personal life, the ability to stay connected to Jesus by communicating simply to Him has given me life. I remember once in my life feeling like “no one” cared for me, no one thought of me—just me—as being special...I sought out on a small walk down my street and I mumbled these words to Jesus. As I looked up I saw an entire fence blooming with the most beautiful and fragrant jasmine flowers! They were amazing, and plentiful! Just in that moment I heard the God of all glory whisper in my spirit, “Jeanne, these are just for you. I care about you. I love you. And you are so special to me.” There in the midst of my darkness, God shined so brightly in my heart. He turned my perspective around: Even if no one else sees me, Jesus sees me, He loves me, and He will never leave me! Who cares about anyone else! The God, Creator of the Universe just spoke to me! Flowers or words of sentiment from anyone else would or could never compare with this amazing Jesus, My Savior, and friend! When you wake up in the morning, Thank HIM for this day before it begins...and choose to rejoice in it! When we seek Him out, His glory is sure to be found!

Fieldtrip to Legoland Florida

We were blessed to be a part of a homeschool field trip to Legoland.  Luke and Nevan had a blast!

 Luke experienced his first rollercoaster, and rode ALL of them in the park!  He was probably the only 5 year old in the park riding these, as there was only a height requirement...and because our boy is super tall...well, he and Daddy rode them all!

 Here is Grandmother and Grandfather at "Miniland" ...amazing replicas of famous places around the world all built from legos!

 Nevan and Grandmother

 Car made from all Legos!  382,000+

 Grandmother and Luke at "Flying School"

 Luke was able to build and "test" his own racecar. 

Nev, baby, and me at "boating school"



Jesus Christ is my Sanity

I have written in my personal journal the following entry from Nov 1 2011:

Today I have decided to stake the ground in proclaimation that I fully embrace my calling of "mother."  I will not try to push it away, smother it, reprove it, deny it, or be caught up in something else - trying to continue to "keep my own sanity" - NO!  Sanity comes from Jesus Christ within the calling and assignment He gives!  (Romans 12:2)  These is so much to gain in my relationship with Christ, united with Him...there is nothing I have "given up" or "lost" because His promise to me is very clear...."When you delight yourself in me, Jeanne, I will give you the desires of your heart"...God has truly done this in my heart.  He has turned my selfish desires and given me the desires to love, cherish, train, and to play with my children.  He has transformed my mind and given me His way of disciplining our children day by day, by the leading of His Spirit, and by His truth - His Word.  There is so much treasure to gain from this season in my life and I want to absorb and eat my portion - I do not want to walk away from it or or refuse it!  I want all of what Jesus has for me!

This proclaimation came from my experience hearing others casually and unfortunately, frequently chat about activities/events/projects that help them to "keep their sanity" while barely surviving at being a "stay-at-home mom."  Over the past year I continued an on-going conversation concerning this "sanity" issue with the Holy Spirit.  Quite honestly there were times when I blurted out in my own home...with my own kids..."You are making me lose my mind!"  I remember very vividly God gently couseling me, "Jeanne, a sound mind comes from staying connected to me, if you delight yourself in me...I will give you the desires of your heart!"  Let's just say this conclusion and revelation did not come all in one day...not even over a couple of days or weeks...it came as a gradual filling from the Holy Spirit over the course of many lost days on the battlefield.  However, the more I tuned in to Him, the more I received.  The more renewing from His Word, the more encouragement and strength came to me during my days...the more clarity in the renewing of my mind...the better my days started to look.  The assignment of Motherhood started to turn from gloomy, dark, and cloudy, to clear, bright and sunny.  The Holy Spirit started to encourage me to put my selfish desires away (i.e. sewing projects, art projects, facebook, email, etc. etc. etc.), to listen and to play with my children more...and to be LESS frustrated by my children and to start enjoying them.  I experienced the death of a couple people in my life over the last year...and recently a mother who lost one of her sons.  God has used these people's experiences to help me "number my days."  It's helped me to realize the people in our lives, whom we love, are deeply important.  And He has used the death of these people to bring life to me and my family in a whole new way.  It's been like the cherry on top to His teaching to me...if that makes any kind of sense...to you :)  I'm so glad you took a moment to listen to my heart.  I don't always blog about my personal writings from my journal, but I felt moved to write about this one. 

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV).