Sweet Confirmation

Well, just as I was the last one in the family to catch the stomach bug, it turned out that I was the last one in the family to catch this cold virus.  As a mother I've learned that what's almost as difficult to experience as taking care of a sick child is myself being sick when I have children to feed and care for. The worst of the storm was yesterday for me, and thankfully, I'm feeling much better today.
Needless to say, we are still in midst of the trials I mentioned in my last post.  This week, as I continued to seek God through these trials, He gave me some sweet confirmations (or encouragement) to let me know that I was on the right track, that I was handling these current situations exactly the way He wants me to.
On Wednesday, I attended our weekly Celebration Sisterhood gathering at church.  Pastor Kerri spoke on the topic of endurance.  Every major point she challenged us with during the message was something I experienced this past week. The following is a summary of her message and how each point related to me personally (which are typed in italics):
Endurance = not just the ability to bear the hard thing, but to turn it into glory.  Quote from my last post: "this season will prove to be another testimony of His faithfulness to me."
Hebrews 12:1 (New King James Version): let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
We must set ourselves to finish strong in this race.
In order to finish strong, we should ask ourselves these five questions.
Q1 - What am I thinking about? Am I filling my mind with doubt, fear, and worry, or am I filling my mind with what are listed in Philippians 4:8 (things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report)? I've been making a conscious effort to focus on the goodness of God, with childlike faith, instead of letting worry take control of my mind.
Q2 - Who am I listening to? I must abide in Jesus and His Word (John 8:31-32). When I feel overwhelmed with our situation, instead of calling a trusted friend/family immediately, I first ran to Jesus and His Word. I've also stayed away from social networking this week, and except on the days I was sick, I've been spending time with God and His Word first thing in the morning, before anyone else in the house was awake. 
Q3 - What am I talking about? Am I speaking words of faith; am I confessing my hope in God (Heb 10:23)? I've been using this blog as one of the primary ways to express God's faithfulness to me. 
Q4 - Where am I going?  Am I planted in the house of God (Psalm 92:12-15)? Even if I wasn't feeling 100%, I made sure to make it to both Celebration Sisterhood meetings this week.
Q5 - What am I remembering? Instead of looking back, focus my eyes on where I'm headed (Philip 3:12-14). But if I am to remember something, remember these things: faithfulness of God, the day He rescued me (salvation), the current post (season) He has assigned me to, and the people God placed in my life.  The day before I heard this message, I had made a list of all the major events in my life when God proved Himself to be faithful.  
Please know this. I'm not blogging all this to brag or to say that I've got it all figured out. I don't. I fall short constantly, and there's still a lot for me to learn. My faith definitely still has plenty of room to grow.  I just know that in these current trials I'm facing, I can say that I have been turning to God wholeheartedly. In turn, God has been sending me these sweet, specific confirmations to let me know that I'm doing this right.  This is the way He desires for me to face my troubles, to lean not on my own strength and wisdom but on His.  Our health and financial challenges are not resolved yet, but bringing every ounce of it to God and trusting Him to carry them has made all the difference in the world, both in my heart and in my home.  In midst of bad news, our home is filled with peace, joy, and even laughter.  I have confidence that God will carry us through.  I have hope.
On Thursday, I attended Celebration Sisterhood gathering at night (I know, I'm addicted). This was one of the worship songs we sang.  If I can express the current condition of my heart through a song, this would definitely be it (from "The Desert Song" by Hillsong):

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Simple Trust, Health, and Finance

When I decided to create this blog, one of the key ingredients I wanted this blog to have is authenticity. I wanted what I write to be straight from my heart, from the true current condition of my heart.  Right now, in all honesty, things are not all that peachy for our family.  There are two main areas that I'm lifting up in prayer a lot right now: my family's health and finance.  Health: Whether it's headaches, stomach bugs, or cold viruses, it seems like no common illness has left our family alone these past several months.  It's been the worst for Allan.  Along with his occasional headaches and allergy problems, he had caught every illness that Peanut has gone through.  The most recent cold virus seemed to affect even our baby, LittleBit.  I am ready for our family to be free of any kind of sickness.  Finance: Bottom line, we need a supernatural breakthrough from God in the area of our finance.  Allan is working hard (without much break) in this difficult real estate market, and we are still chugging along in our home-based supplement business.  Our income has not been steady these last few months, and we are quickly drying out our emergency fund.  We have a few different financial situations caught in a "limbo" that we are seeking resolution on.
In all of this, I know that God is faithful. He has never failed us, and I know that He will continue to take care of us.  This is a season that we're going through; a season that will increase our faith and bring our family closer to God.  Through my Bible readings, I've been coming across a lot of verses on "childlike faith."
Mark 10:15, 27 (The Message)
Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.  
Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."
It made me think about the kind of trust a child has.  My LittleBit is only three months old, and yet in her face I can see the sense of security she feels when she's held in my arms.  No questions asked, no arguments, no doubts. She simply trusts me to take care of her, and I am human! I can easily fail her.  Yet I sometimes have a hard time trusting God, who will never fail me, with the same kind of faith.  I try to figure it out on my own, or I let worry overtake me.
Well, I am using today's post as my declaration of childlike faith. My Father will take good care of us, and this season will prove to be another testimony of His faithfulness to me.  I will not let the spirit of fear or worry influence my actions.  I will not stop bringing my family to church and putting Peanut in the nursery (even if that's where she's more exposed to germs kids carry).  We will not stop participating in tithes and offerings to the church we 100% believe in.  A church that pours so tirelessly into leading people all over the world to experience God and get a taste of His goodness.  We know without a doubt that these are eternal investments we are making, which will bring infinitely grander results than any earthly investments we can make.
Psalm 36:7-9 (New King James Version): How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light (italics mine).
This is God's promise. I choose to soak it up, and with simple faith, I accept its entirety as the absolute truth.  It already is true in my life. I am abundantly satisfied with the fullness of life He gives me. Things aren't always easy, but I can always take refuge in the shadow of His wings.
Lord, continue to build this simple faith in me. I desire to live under Your care and nowhere else. I know that Your desire is for me to live life to its fullest, life as You intended for me.  I'm believing that our family will continue to drink from the abundance of Your house.  I'm believing that You will not only meet our financial needs, but You will continue to satisfy us with Your provisions. The notes on my Bible referred to the "river of (His) pleasures" as river that gives life and health wherever they flow. Lord, I pray the flow of this river will take over any kind of health issue that is taking place in our physical bodies.  In Jesus' name, I pray that You will remove any presence of illness and restore our family to full health.  To God be all the glory and praise. Amen.