I've been meaning to blog...but one thing leads to another and I get caught up in all my daily work, and every time I try to sit and write...I forget what I wanted to say. I always get inspired about something to write and then poof...it was just a thought that came and went. My mind has been too busy thinking of other things. I've also been super busy creating items for the craft fair which is almost here! It's been one huge learning process for me. Someone once told me, "If you ask for patience...you'll be tested. If you ask for something...you'll be tested some how." And how true that has been! I have been asking for strength, wisdom, patience, and many other things along the way...and I have been tested all the way. But I am so grateful that I have such encouraging, loving, caring, and understanding family and friends through it all. (And of course God is always on my side) I recently read in a devotional God's Calling by A. J. Russell these encouraging words:
New Forces
Remember that life's difficulties and troubles are not intended to arrest your progress, but to increase your speed. You must call new forces, new powers into action.
Whatever it must be surmounted, overcome. Remember this.
It is as a race. Nothing must daunt you. Do not let a difficulty conquer you. You must conquer it.
My strength will be there awaiting you. Bring all you thought, all your power, into action. Nothing is too small to be faced and overcome. To push small difficulties aside is to be preparing big troubles.
Rise to conquer. It is the path of victory I would have you tread. There can be no failure with Me.
"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before presence of His glory with exceeding Joy..."
Even through all the trials and difficulties there is some good and wonderful thing. There has been lots of wonderful things happening along the way. It's so wonderful, mysterious, confusing, questioning, and yet enticing about how God works things out. I know we all at some point ask God, "Why?" One day we will know God's perfect plan. Until then...we will all sit back and wonder.
Lord, thank You for all Your marvelous works and plans for us. I know to many (including myself) wonder why certain things happen for a reason...and I know we may never know, but give us the ability to see the Joy in them. Continue to guide us in Your ways. Thank You so much for blessing me with such wonderful, loving, caring, and understanding family and friends. May You guide me in how I can return the favor. Amen
