Maybe it's Nebraska?

Things are going so well! I am a blessed mommy of 7 wonderful children and a happy wife! I just want to give praise and honor to the Lord for His faithfulness. This morning as I read John 15 I was reminded that He loves me! He LOVES me! Isn't that amazing?

We are starting to get settled. We started school last week. They are all doing so good. The house is staying clean! YaY! We are working on our nursing home songs! We are all excited to visit our old nursing homes. Lord willing, some of our old friends are still there.

I have an idea of why things are going so good.....I am having time in the morning to be with the Lord. My prayer and Bible reading are the best they have been in a LONG time. With a large family it can be so hard to get that time. But it is so important. You simply cannot grow if you are not getting fed. Also I am around encouraging people and seeking out encouraging things to read. I am reading Homeschooling With Joy by Christian Light. It's very good and I will be sharing some highlights soon! In any case, when you are right with the Lord and making Him first in your life everything else just falls into place!

Back to John 15, we are told to continue in His love and if you keep His commandments then ye shall abide in my love, verses 9 & 10. Focusing on His love spurs me onto good works. It is encouraging. Yes, He has wrath reserved for disobedient people. But for those who are surrendered to Him, He is there to help us if we fall. He wants us, He has chosen us. He is a loving Savior and one that I want to serve. He goes on to say that He does not call me His servant but His friend. In Matthew He says whoever does the will of my Father in heaven I call my mother, and sister, and brother. Matthew 12:50.

We are reading about Amy Carmichael as a family at night. It's great to hear of her selfless love for others. Especially those we would consider very low class. She sets up a meeting place for the ladies in Belfast that are covered in parasites, lice and fleas. Yet she only speaks of them with love. She truly has their souls in mind. Isn't it easy to start looking at people as lower than yourself? You're holy and they're not? Truth is that we were all there once. It's only by God's grace that I am where I am today. John 15:4,5, "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Without the Lord you can do nothing. We are nothing by ourselves! Praise God! I think John 15 may be my favorite chapter in the Bible. Years ago when I started this blog I was obviously thinking about John 15 Striving to Abide in Christ. It's not always easy. In fact quite often it is hard. But again the Lord is faithful, I want to be faithful to Him!

Happy New Year!

I am learning so much and am so thankful to have a new year to put into practice the things I am learning. Of course I am not promised another day but will be thankful for each day the Lord gives. I will be trying to post about these things He is teaching me.

Again I find myself thinking of His return. When I will be standing at His feet. Is my heart pure before Him? Yes! What a blessing! I am following the Lord in spirit and truth. I do stumble and fall but He is faithful and always there for me.

Rejoice in the Lord! Every day is a day that we do not deserve. He is longsuffering to us. I pray that everyone would seek the Lord in spirit and in truth. May 2011 be a year of fellowship with the Lord and living for His glory alone!