So Long 2013

Another year has come and gone. It seems time just goes by faster and faster. Instead of dwelling on some of the not so happy moments, I'd rather take a look back at the happiest ones. The year started off with an opportunity to spend the day in a recording studio with two of the most talented people I know...Barry and Michelle Patterson. My cousin Sommer was there of course. This day made the fact that Aaron was still unemployed not sting so much.

I could literally go on and on about the highlights of 2013. One of my absolute favorite weeks was the one I spent with Sean, Kate, Cannon and Charlie! I love my sweet friends and hope that 2014 brings me back to Wisconsin for another visit.

I played guitar, sang, learned new songs, tried new recipes, spent time with friends, listened to live music, and started running.

I'm very much looking forward to 2014. I'm looking forward to questions being answered, new opportunities, and all the new adventures awaiting me, my family and friends in 2014. I never make resolutions, but there are a few things I always strive for. I want to continue to improve on the guitar/keyboard, I want to learn new songs, and delve in deeper to the Bible. Can't wait to start the new bible study with my sweet friends!! :-) Well friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I'll try to do this blog thing a little more regularly this new year.

God's Capable Hands

I'm not even sure how to start this one because there is so much running through my mind today. I'll try to sort it all out in some sort of way.

Yesterday was a hard day for many reasons..honestly most of them had nothing to do with me and my daily anxieties. Of course work is still a struggle and we're still anxiously awaiting an official start date for Aaron to go back to work, but through it all God is sustaining me...giving me the strength to hold it together and take it day by day.

Yesterday I was overwhelmed by the trials some of my dear friends are facing. My last hour of work and on the way home I just couldn't help the tears from coming. I so desperately pray for miracles in each of their individual situations, and I so desperately want to take their pain away. And yes, I know that it is not in my power to solve their situations, but I'm so grateful I know the One who can. 

Yesterday on the drive home several songs, (you guessed it,) made me cry even harder, because the words are so true. One was by Kari Jobe. "Come to Me you broken one and I will give you peace. I will calm your waters, and I will whisper Peace be still. Take me upon you and I will give you peace. Come to me you burdened one, and I will give you joy. You will rise like eagles, and My joy will be your strength. Take me upon you, and I will give you joy." Sometimes I wish it wasn't weird to send mixed 'tapes' to everyone. Because so often I hear songs, and I so desperately want someone to hear it. Then again, maybe music doesn't move everyone the same as it does me. It's so soothing and healing to me. 

The other song was by Natalie Grant and yep I was crying some more. ;0) "I am strong all because of You. I stand in awe of every mountain that You move.I am changed. Yesterday is gone. I am safe from this moment on. And there's no fear when the night comes 'round...I'm in better hands now." See the situations my sweet friends are facing are so hard, and it hurts me to know that they're struggling with such a heavy burden. That's why I just get overwhelmed with tears at the part of "being in awe of every mountain that He's moved." I have seen His mighty miracles, and I have seen hopeless turned into hope in mere minutes. 

As I was going to bed last night about to read my devotion, this verse was the verse of the day, and WOW...I absolutely love it!!! The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

So glad that we have a God who saves. I'm glad that I don't have to worry about my friends, because God is holding them in His very capable hands, singing over them. :0)

Prayer, Praise, and Psalms

It's so strange how one minute I can be okay the next minute I am not. Obviously I am physically okay, but emotionally I'm on a roller coaster. The wonderful thing is I can still say with 100% honesty is God is good!
Work makes me miserable these days, and I believe that ties in to each day that Aaron is unemployed. Being there and knowing that he should be working there too has been one thing that's SO hard to get passed. Here's what I've learned in the past month: my key to survival: Praise and Worship music, Psalms, and constant conversation with God.  I've always loved the Psalms, but they've meant so much more to me these past few weeks. When I read verses like Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance, it's impossible not to be encouraged. That's what I love about God, if you seek Him, you ALWAYS find Him. So many times when I've been anxious, verses like this are revealed to me when I take the time to read His word.
Music, oh MUSIC!! I truly don't know what I would've done this week without Kari Jobe and Gateway Worship. They've just been on repeat, saturating my heart with God's goodness and grace. One lyric that really spoke to me this week was, "I'm not gonna worry. I know that You've got me right inside the palm of Your hands. Each and every moment, what's good and what gets broken happens just the way You planned.  But You're Here. You're real. I know I can trust You." I irritate myself so much when  I don't trust, especially since I KNOW I can. I KNOW HE won't ever let me down.
It might sound silly to some, but  I talk to God constantly. We talk a lot while I'm frustrated at work. ;0) I know without Him, I will go insane, so I constantly seek Him for wisdom and peace. It does say in Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And of course in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. It's like I've said in a previous post and I'll always remember Pray Until Something Happens.
Yes, our situation hasn't changed..YET. However, I believe with all my heart that the door was closed at my work so that Aaron could move on to bigger and better things. "Until God opens the next door for you, praise Him in the hallway." That is exactly what I'm going to do praise and pray until something happens.