More

To arrive at my blog I have to click on More.  More is a word that I am experiencing in life, in my relationship with Jesus, in other relationships.

More GRACE.
More JOY.
More peace.
More fun.
More understanding.
More confidence.
More depth in relationships.

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!"

More from God = Full, Abundant Life

God has full, abundant life for all who call Him Father.  For all of us who believe in His Son Jesus, He has amazing gifts that He generously and lavishly pours out on us.

These gifts may come in disguise - hard eucharisteos.  There are hard things that He allows into our lives to get us to the point of dependence and the ability to receive.  Things that force our independent eyes off ourselves (our strength and abilities) to look at Him.  He is our Master, our Creator.  The One who made us LOVES us and has the very best plans for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

He alone is Wise and Able and All Good.

Hard Eucharisteos.  Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, has brought about transformation in my life.  I should say that the work God is doing in my heart through His message in her book is bringing about transformation in my life.  Ann talks about Eucharisteo - thanksgiving.  It is easy to be open-handed to gifts that we want.  It is difficult to receive the hard gifts that we would never ask for.  But He gives us the grace to live even through the hard.  When we return thanks for whatever He allows to come in to teach us, stretch us and grow us - He gives us JOY.  Full, abundant JOY!  This is where real living takes place.  This is how we can get filled up by Him.  So full that we overflow onto those around us.  Letting His light shine through us because we can't contain it.
That is His design.

Saying YES to Jesus is never a foolish risk!

Our Hard Eucharisteos (to name a few):
miscarriage
asperger's syndrome
ocd
adhd
epilepsy
anxiety
depression
the loss of David's sweet dad, Charley

I can say Thank You God for each of these things now.  He has brought (or is currently bringing) healing in each of these areas.  We've given them to Him and we've said YES LORD trusting our trustworthy God to work in our lives through them.  He REDEEMS.  He HEALS. He MAKES ALL THINGS NEW.  He BRINGS JOY in the MORNING.  He gives HOPE.  He is the AUTHOR and PERFECTOR of our FAITH...

All GLORY to HIM who sits on the THRONE!  Who daily gives us manna.

Each morning I surrender my day to Him with my hands open to what He wants to give me. (I didn't get here on my own.  He has had to work hard and long on this girl). I want to receive all of the gifts He has for me, the easy ones and the hards ones.  And I give THANKS because He is good in all things.  He has proven Himself over and over.

These are the things we are currently holding out to Him to receive His work, His will: (Would you pray with us?)
Our Adoption  of one or 2 precious children from Ethiopia
ADHD & OCD
Anxiety & Irritability
Future plans to move to a home more fitting for 6 children/2 adults
A job for Tobi
Continued success for Health Facilities Group (David co-owns)

We trust God with our future because He is completely TRUSTWORTHY!

Would you let me know what you are trusting God for right now? Just leave a comment. I will pray for you.  And if you are struggling with anxiety/depression...know that I am already praying for you.  It's a silent struggle for many Christian women and I am familiar with this kind of pain.  You seek Him and He will deliver you.  Thank Him for whatever you can today...that's the beginning.