Fear No Evil

I remember spending the night at my Granny's when i was little. Every morning when we would wake up we would cuddle on the couch and read our Psalm and Proverb for the day. There are 31 days in month and 31 Proverbs for those days....overlapping in some months of course, but you catch my drift. :) So remembering that past time, I opened my Bible this morning and thought, hmm April 23rd- Psalm 23! I have read these verses plenty of times. Some people even have them memorized because it is a "popular" segment of scripture. But today as I read them I saw something different. (Isn't God awesome that way?) Psalm 23:3-4 "He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Disclaimer: Now I don't know if this is what it means exactly, but I feel like this is what I saw and understood today and is worth looking into further.... First David says "He leads me in paths of righteousness" then directly after that refers to that path as "the valley of the shadow of death". Now I don't know if he is directly referring to it that way but it got me thinking...I wonder if David is referring to them as one in the same? The path that God calls us on may not always be the easiest one. But it is the path that is right in order for us to glorify Him. I know that I refer everything back to my divorce right now, but that it what I am going through so that's all I got. My divorce isn't easy but maybe it is necessary. Actually, I can't even say "maybe". I know its necessary because my relationship with my husband was more important to me than my relationship with God. God has a plan and my life too the necessary turn to get back on track. How crazy different would our lives be lived if we realized that ITS NOT ABOUT US? Does that mean my whole marriage was a mistake? I don't think so. I think it served it's purpose. I really loved him and got to experience good, fun happy times. And out of that love, I got a beautiful little girl. And on top of that, it really showed me what trying to live life on your own will is like. It's powerless. If you ask my friend what they think of me and how they would describe me of course I would love to hear words like loving, caring, kind and strong. But I also know that my honest friends would say that I'm a bit of a worry wart....ok a LOT of a worry wart. I'm very analytical and I like to have things a certain way. I like to figure things out on my own. I feel like that is one of the lessons, the many lessons, that I am learning and will be learning from my past. This about those words: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." You apply that to any situation... Even though I am going through the divorce, I will fear no guilt and shame for You are with me. Even though I don't know what the heck I'm doing, I will fear no uncertainty, for You are with me. Even though Social Security savings are depleting, I will fear no worries, for You are with me. Even though I'm sick Even though my child/family member/teacher/friend is sick Even though the economy is bad Even though I/my husband/my friend doesn't have a job Even though I am alone Even though I have obstacles WHATEVER the case may be, it is always followed by "I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Not, I fear only some evil...but I will fear NO evil. That is suck an awesome truth. This life is not about me. This life is about bringing glory to the risen King. And if I believe that truth, don't I think that He would guide me to get over the obstacles and make the necessary decisions to bring Him glory? I am not in control. THANK YOU, LORD. I just have to submit and follow His guidance. Even though the path is uncertain, I will fear NO evil, for You are with me, God.

Seeking God

I have heard, been taught my whole life, read in scripture and believe that the Holy Spirit lives in believers. I know that He is part of the trinity and guides, comforts, convicts and loves me every moment of every day. Today however, was the first time (that i can remember) hearing God as the Holy Spirit being referred to as the "in-dwelling of Christ". Now, those sound like the same thing...because they are. But just that small change of wording stood out to me today:

The Holy Spirit lives in me.

The Holy Spirit is the in-dwelling of Christ.

The Holy Spirit should be an active source of energy in my actions. The Holy Spirit is the IN-DWELLING of Christ. A constant guide. A forever Father.

I asked this question earlier on my facebook:

"If the disciples who lived and talked and walked with Jesus were told to wait on the Holy Spirit, how much more do I need the Holy Spirit to lead my life?" My Pastor today was speaking on how much of a necessity it is for believers to consult and take direction from the Holy Spirit. I mean, think about it. What is my purpose on this earth. My sole purpose. GLORIFY GOD. My purpose is not to be a good mom, wife, employee, sister or friend. It is not to be the fastest, smartest or prettiest. It is to glorify God in every breath, every action, every thought that passes my brain that God gave me to think with in the first place. So, if I believe whole-heartedly that my purpose is to glorify God in everything I do, Pastor Sonny asked the question why would we dare not give the Holy Spirit at least a small thought in the morning? Why would we not be on our knees praying for guidance and discernment and love for the people in our lives? Why would we not be consulting the Holy Spirit before facing a world that is full of obstacles to distract us?

I'm guilty. I don't read my Bible in the morning. And I have PLENTY of excuses. I'm tired or the baby is awake and needs my attention or I am running late or I am whatever. But then think about this....if you know that you have to be up early for a fishing trip or you are going to have a busy day with the kids, what do you typically do. "I gotta go to bed early because I have a busy day tomorrow." "I gotta go to bed early because I have to get up super early." Why do we not have the passion for reading the scripture. My friend and sunday school teacher repeatedly says, Christ is all. If I truly believe that Christ is all, why is it more important to get an extra 30 min of sleep than it is for me to dive into the Word?

If we believe that we are placed on this earth to glorify God, should we not be seeking Him on how to do that in our daily lives?

The Silly Looking Jungle - A Story of Friendship

Once upon a time, a purple snake who's name was Pink (Caedi) was sssssslithering through the silly looking jungle when he got stuck in the slimy muddy rainbow pond (Caedi). The pink Gorilla, who's name was The Muddy Sock(Avery), came to rescue the slithering snake. Then The Muddy Sock said, "I'm going to eat you up after I rescue you." "Oh no!" Said the snake! "I dont like this at all! I don't want to get stuck!I want someone else to rescue me.(Caedi and Charlotte)" So the Gorilla went away. So, next the Snake King who's name was Giant Snake (Charlotte) came to rescue the purple snake named Pink. Giant Snake king said, "I will rescue you, Pink(Caedi)". So the Giant Snake King used his tail (Sean) to pull Pink out of the mud. After Pink got out of the mud, he apologized to the mud for getting stuck. (Sean) Then gorilla named The Muddy Sock came back to the snake named Pink and the Giant Snake King and said "I'm sorry" (Caedi) (for not rescuing the snake and saying he would eat him) Then the gorilla gave the snake named Pink a hug (Sean) and a sorry card (Caedi). Then they were all friends. They decided to have a party. They ate cupcakes (Avery), a beautiful princess cupcake (Charlotte), cakes (Sean), spaghetti (Sean), sticks (Gabe) and they drank soda (Caedi). Then they danced music (Gabe) from the Fresh Beat Band(Caedi). And they lived happily ever after. The End.(Caedi)


This story was written by Caedi, Sean and Gabe Mortell and Charlotte and Avery Griffin. Background screaming credit goes to Baby Ryot.

Lightbulb Moment

I have read 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 a hundred times....ok I dont know if I can actually say one hundred times, but a lot anyways....Well, it doesn't matter how much I read the Bible or have it taught to me, God reveals different things to me every time. So in my sunday school class my teacher, Jason, was talking about how we are called to love the poor and listen, encourage and reach out to those around us. So we start reading this passage, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or RESENTFUL" BRAKE! This is where I came to a screeching halt. It smacked me in the face. I have to forgive Brian. I have to forgive him. I have to forgive him. over and over and over it rang in my head. I think it is sNow when my world crashed a month ago, I knew that I would have to forgive him eventually. I kept hearing people say, "It's going to take time, but you'll move on" and "Only time will heal this wound". Well today, God told me that that time was up. I even tried arguing with him. That didn't go over so well...

No, God, Jason is talking about patience. We aren't learning about resentment today.
No, God, I'm focusing on patience right now. We are supposed to be talking about patience.
God, Brian doesn't deserve forgiveness. He tore my world apart.

BUT...I didn't deserve forgiveness. I don't deserve God's love, but it is given to me daily. God just kept saying, You have to forgive him. So immediately my brain kicks into overdrive.

But what does that mean, God? How is that going to work?
You don't have to know how it is going to work. I am in control.

But how does that work with our future? And visitations? and communication?
You are my child and I have great plans for you. I am in control.

But I dont want anything to do with him.I can't do this. I'm scared.
You're right, you cant do this. But I can do it through you. I have provided for you and forgiven you. You have to show my love to Him.

But, but, but...at this point I know Gods truth. I know that he has great plans for me. I know that I am a child of God and my purpose on this earth is to glorify Him. My life is not about my marriage. My life is not about my child. My life is about glorifying God.

So the only thing I can say is.....Ok, God.

I dont know all the answers. I dont know how it is all going to work out. But the great thing about it is, I dont have to know. God is in control. And that takes SOO much pressure off of me so that I can just listen to what God has for me and obey. I can sit here and be bitter and be sad because that is easier but that is just a waste of time. I have been called to share God's love. It makes my stomach turn thinking about having to interact with Brian and talk to him. Honestly, having to share my daughter with him scares the living daylights out of me and makes me sick! But I have to do it. And I have to rejoice in sharing God's love with Brian because it is what I have been called to do. I have to be an example of Christ's love to Brian.

I guess you could call it a lightbulb moment. He spoke and now I have to be obedient and follow Him.

Ok, God. What now?