In Whom Do You Believe - Daily Devotional - December 8, 2011

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12 - I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Think about all the things we think about every day. Is that a lot of stuff? Mine sure is! Here's just a sample of my today: Get the kids dressed, we need to go faster, they need more sleep, not another breakdown, where's Josh, where did Josh go, let's get out the door, watch out for the traffic, why is Jamion fighting, why has CJ been so emotional lately, why does it have to be so cold with no snow, I need to make more labels, I don't have enough binders, I need to pick up lunch, I hope they got it right, why is Jamion fighting again, how can we help him learn to choose better, what are we going to have for dinner, is there rehearsal tonight....

So, the list can go and go because this isn't even HALF of what I've thought about today! But lets say we take all of our standard every day thoughts or even just our thoughts about one of our children, and take them to the future. We would absolutely crumble under the load of stress, worry, joy, sadness, anxiety, etc that comes with all those thoughts pouring through us. "If I start thinking about all these things at once, I will implode...I literally can't handle it...My back will break under the weight of it all."

How do we find peace in all of this? "...Peace does not come from what we believe, our doctrine. It comes from whom we believe, an almighty God.....our concerns...we take them imeediately to God's throne and we place them at His feet. And He will remain, steady and abiding, watching over and guarding what we have entrusted to Him for that day. We don't have to concern ourselves with every day, just today, and have the faith that He is on guard."

Of all the things we can think when we get to thinking, just remember that God has them all under control. We cannot control our days...what will happen, who will say what, etc. But God has it all under control. He will work out all things to the greater good.

A Burning Faith - Devotional Day 8 - September 28

Scripture: Daniel 3:17-18 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

What a statement of faith! I love the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It is a dramatic tale of faith, stubborness, and miracles. Let me give you a quick run down of the story: King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge statue of gold and required everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to do. The king was very angry at them. He threatened to throw them into a huge furnance that was heated to 7 times hotter than normal...it was so hot it burned the guards alive who opened the doors. Now the awesome thing is that the 3 friends were thrown into the furnance and came out without even the smell of smoke on them! Now that's awesome power!

So, what's remarkable in this story to me? The fact that they had so much faith, they'd go into the furnace? Nope. The fact that they were willing to do it without knowing God would save them...that is what is truly great! That is the kind of faith we are called to...that childlike faith that would see us through everything no matter what. That trust that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he would see us through our greatest trial no matter what they be.

Oh, to have that great of faith! These were men though. Logical, methodic, intelligent men. Most of us wouldn't have openly gone against the king much less spoke that boldly to him. What's more, is that they went into the furnance...accepting whatever their fate may bring them...burnt death or miraculous escape.

This is a powerful story of faith. How many of us even has faith that God will see to our day to day needs? We question God often and yell at him when he doesn't pull us through a trivial trial. I think it's great to check out our faith meter daily. We can lose faith on a daily basis...We lose faith in people, in governments, in things...

How's your faith doing today? Rest in the peace and knowledge that no matter what awaits you today or tomorrow or the next day, God will see you through according to his good will and plan.

Have faith!

A Family Tradition Disected - Part I

Well, you've by now been able to read my quicky version of our family vacation. That does not tell the whole story however...

Day One was quite an adventure in and of itself. We planned to leave Kansas City by 8 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2008. My inlaws stayed over...Barb, John, and Andy. They were supposed to arrive around 7, but made it more like 9 p.m. They forgot a lot of things at home, but Josh and I refused to go back for them...they live 20 minutes away and we could do without! Andy washed and packed the camping dishes and cleaned the camping stove that goes in the trailer. Barb packed and repacked her suitcase, snack bags, toy bags, etc. John watched TV and fell asleep sitting upright (This happens to be an apparent favorite pasttime of Barb and John as they both do it and it can be rather hilarious.) Josh got the tent ready and helped back the brown food tub with our nonperishable foods. I was busy packing our other brown tub with everything from fire starter sticks and matches and torches, to Kool-aid and string and first aid supplies and also packed the pet stuff. We were up until midnight, but fairly sure we had it all under control.
(Now, I'll be honest. The week before we left for vacation, Josh was out of town and my dad and brother both called and told us repeatedly not to forget the tags..."Don't forget the tags for the trailer...you'll get nowhere without them." We also had to take the truck back to the mechanic because our "Check Engine" light came on again, just after they "fixed" it. He said, a jinxing mix of words to be sure "If the yellow light comes on again, you'll be fine. But if a red light comes on, just turn it off right then and pull over. No sense in tearing up this fine truck. Just turn it off and pull over if it comes on red.")
We left our house loaded up full...with everything we were pretty sure...around 9:30 in the morning. A quick trip through McDonald's drive through (practically our whole order was wrong) and then out of town we sailed. It was a small sailing vessel...6 large adults crammed into a Dodge Ram 1500 with 2 cats (14 pounds and 6 1/2 pounds) and 2 dogs (17 pounds and 6 pounds) all roaming about.
We drove and drove until we reached Topeka, a whopping hour down the road. We stopped for refreshments and a potty break. Right before the decision to stop, the light bulb came on in my head...we had forgotten one of the most important items ever and we just had to go back for it. I'm sure you can guess what it was...the tags for the trailer. The dialog went something like this:
Bobbi: We have to go back...it would be horrible to go on. My Dad and brother would never let it down...especially after calling us all week to remind us.
Josh: I don't want to spend an additional 2 hours on the road. We're already behind schedule and won't make it to Colorado in time for pizza. I just don't want to go back. (Mind I said it was an hour from KC and then an hour back to Topeka.)
Barb: So don't. I say we just go on. So we may get a ticket or maybe 2, but it won't be that bad.
Josh: Bobbi, you have your cell? Call the Liscensing department and see if they can fax the documentation.
(After a call to warn my mom and get her fax number, I call the KC location and get redirected to a 2nd number in KC which then tells me to call Jefferson City as they cannot fax it because they are not allowed. I call Jeff City just to be told that we would have to reregister and pay all the fees again and if we did that, they could fax a receipt, but nothing more. I, being to my boiling point because my husband was listening more to his mommy than his wife, tell the man on the phone who was droning on now "I'll just register in another state and have the tags today. You won't get my money because you, sir, do not know good customer service." I hung up and glared at Josh.)
Josh: No luck huh?
Bobbi: Nope, we have to pay the fees again. Let's just run back and get it. It'll be faster and safer that way.
Josh: No, we'll just go on and if we get a ticket, we get a ticket.
Bobbi (fuming by now and exploding as I explain): A ticket? You think we'll only get one ticket. You're talking about cops in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, and not to mention different sides of the state in all of them...means different tickets. What about the Park Rangers in each park we stay out or the sites we see or the places we visit while we have the trailer. I say we're looking about about $500 in tickets easily, not to mention the possibility of appearing in court in the itty-bitty towns who won't accept a faxed or mailed proof of current tags! Do you get the picture! Let's just go back.
Barb: You're blowing this out of proportion.
Bobbi (trying to suppress rage): It's 2 hours or over $500...I'll take 2 hours.
Josh: She's got a point. We'll just go back.
Barb: Leave John, Andy, the dogs, and me in Topeka then...We don't need another 2 hours in the car.
We load up and try to find the park across from the Zoo, but get mixed up and after an additional 30 minutes added to our 45 minute stop and argue time, we've wasted an hour and 15 minutes. We drop the gang at the rest area in Topeka and Josh and I hit the road to get the tags.
Just west of the middle interchange in Lawrence, I notice the temperature gage is souring through the roof and next thing we hear a slight bang (like driving over a pop bottle at 70 MPH) and then the RED light comes on! We pull off the middle ramp and stop just before having to pay for the toll to exit. Josh pops the hood and gets out in a hurry...What can it be now! As if this isn't the perfect start to a perfect vacation!
He tells me to get out of the truck...The serpentine belt is shredded, torn, jammed, and hanging off the truck! This is just great! A great day to start vacation!
The tow truck arrives an hour later after 2 state patrol troopers stop to check on us and the cats. The tow truck was late because disbatch gave him the completely wrong address! D'oh! He pulls off the serpentine belt and checks the water pump...it's jammed. Great! Now we have a bad serpentine belt and a jammed water pump...both need replaced and it's 12 noon...so much for 2 hours.
He tows us to Westside 66 in Lawerence where the owner takes a look..."Welp, the serpentine will need replaced and so will the water pump. That's a good 4 hour job at the quickest." "Can you get us in today...we're on our way to Colorado and don't know anyone here. We're from KC." "Well, we're full up here, but let me see about our other location." (The tow truck is gone...this would mean a new tow truck and money and time.) "We moved some things around here and we can get you in today. It'll be about 4 hours, but we can get'er done for you." (We were overjoyed and very thankful. Looking back on this, it was a Godsend to have to go back and be stuck in Lawrence with the family safe at a truck center than to be 45 minutes west of Topeka in the middle of nowhere on a Friday afternoon.)
Josh and I roamed around for much of the 4 hours. Both of us got severe sunburns...especially on my shoulders, arms, neck, and face...this resulted in blisters and peeling 2 days later.
Once we were back on the road, we scooted home to get the tags...this was no easy feat. Josh thought he left them on the coat rack near the front door, but couldn't remember if he left the littler sticker attached to the receipt or if he took it off the receipt...1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches big is the size we were looking for. We tore the house apart and I was near tears. "God, I have no idea where the stupid tags are, but we need them. We don't have time to turn the house completely upside down and it's just a small favor. Please, Dad, help me or Josh...help us find the tags within 10 minutes so we can hit the road...please Father." Literally 2 minutes later, "I GOT THEM. I FOUND THEM. LET'S GO. COME ON, BOBBI, I'VE GOT THEM!" They had slidden down between the coat rack and the wall.
The rest of the night to Colorado was uneventful, but we arrived at 1 a.m...too late for pizza and all of us dead tired for a bed.

Here are some pictures of our "time well spent".

Faith to Move a Mountain

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

I like this verse. Its appeal comes in the thought that many people may have enough faith to move a mountain, but not know it. Or, perhaps, they know they have it, but choose not to use it?

I'd like to take a moment and not be humble...I believe I have as much faith as a mustard seed. However, my thoughts tend to lead to, "Why would I want to move the mountain?" and "Where would I put it?"

It's a conceptual idea of ones self really. Back to the humleness. I know God does great things with faith and I can only hope that I am in the category of "Faithful" when He calls for a job to be done.