Whose Am I?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

As of the Sunday morning track, looks like Mobile Bay and surrounding areas are going to be the target for Hurricane Isaac.

The estimated time of arrival for our unwanted house guest is expected during the midnight hours . . . . late Tuesday or early Wednesday.  I personally HATE night time guests that are unwanted.

Regardless, be prepared and do your part.  Once you have done what you have to do to secure your home and yard and have purchased plenty of water for your family and pets, along with some food items and ice, sit back and rest.

May I suggest, every time you "feel" that urge to panic or worry about the what if's of uncertainty; remember there is One that is never changing, whose name is not "What if."

None of this caught my God by surprise.

He is still God.

He still reigns on His throne.

I was reading Job 12 just the other day looking for peace, clarity, and answers to some of my life's questions.  I found a chapter that I don't think I have ever read before, and if I did, it wasn't "revealed" to me until then.

The Lord brought it to mind this morning, seems kind of appropriate to share to help us remember who is in charge.

Job 12

Starting in verse 7, but in verses 10 - 16; don't miss who He is and the power . . . . oh the power! 

⁷ “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you.

    Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
⁸ Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you.
    Let the fish in the sea speak to you.
⁹ For they all know
    that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord.
¹⁰ For the life of every living thing is in his hand,
    and the breath of every human being.
¹¹ The ear tests the words it hears
    just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.
¹² Wisdom belongs to the aged,
    and understanding to the old.

¹³ “But true wisdom and power are found in God;
    counsel and understanding are his.
¹⁴ What he destroys cannot be rebuilt.
    When he puts someone in prison, there is no escape.
¹⁵ If he holds back the rain, the earth becomes a desert.
    If he releases the waters, they flood the earth.
¹⁶ Yes, strength and wisdom are his;
    deceivers and deceived are both in his power.
¹⁷ He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment;
    wise judges become fools.
¹⁸ He removes the royal robe of kings.
    They are led away with ropes around their waist.
¹⁹ He leads priests away, stripped of status;
    he overthrows those with long years in power.
²⁰ He silences the trusted adviser
    and removes the insight of the elders.
²¹ He pours disgrace upon princes
    and disarms the strong.

²² “He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness;
    he brings light to the deepest gloom.
²³ He builds up nations, and he destroys them.
    He expands nations, and he abandons them.
²⁴ He strips kings of understanding
    and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland.
²⁵ They grope in the darkness without a light.
    He makes them stagger like drunkards.

I am in awe.  He truly has, "The Whole World In His Hands."  That makes me smile.

I shared a few days ago about a a live frog that ate a worm right in front of me.

After the Lord showed me the frog eating a worm, a few days later, as I was driving the car to the mechanics shop, again,  an odd looking creature flew right in front of my windshield!  As I slowed down and squinted, I realized it was a hawk, carrying a LIVE squirrel off!  The live squirrel was struggling HARD to get free.  But that hawk had him tight in his grips.

John 10:27 - 30 says this, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow (know) me.  I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."

As I just typed it out I got the chills and heebie jeebies; but as my heart reflects on the scriptures I know, I realize it was such a beautiful, beautiful sight!

The beautiful sight of the hawk carrying off his prey, also reminded me of another scripture; that I am more precious to The Father than the birds of the air, and if they are fed, then why am I to worry?

Matthew 6:25-34, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What what shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Fathers knows that you need them.  But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given (supplied) to you as well.  Therefore, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

As we finish preparing in the physical realm for the storm, as a friend posted on fb the other day, I pray you are preparing your heart for eternity.

In case you are reading this, and you don't know Whose you are, then listen to this song, Who Am I.  THEN, because scripture is the first and foremost of finding out how valuable you are, read the book of  John.  A complete love letter of miracles, and even how Jesus prays for you!

Peace my friends.

Stacey

Flying "V" Formation

So, I wasn't going to blog until after my weigh in this morning, but I am so excited and thankful for this morning that I just couldn't wait as I don't want to forget anything that happened!

I love it when the Lord wakes me with a song in my heart and on my mind. This morning it just happened to be one of my favorites. You'll have to scroll down and mute the music player I have playing in order to listen to this song. Many of you know it, but just in case . . . take a moment to relish in His goodness through worship. Glorious Day (Living He Loved ME!), Casting Crowns. So through my walk this morning this song continues over and over in my mind . . .

This morning many victories have already been made.  I usually ask the Lord to reveal one a day, and maybe He gave me so many this morning cause He already knows the outcome of my weigh in (lol), regardless I am so thankful.

1~ When my husband woke me at 4:45 a.m. I DID NOT roll over and go back to sleep!  That in itself is a VICTORY because satan was prowling last night ya'll!  He came in the form of cats, children, my breathing machine, oh my gosh!  It was crazy!  Chris asked me (after up and downs for hours), "Are you still going to get up?"  I said, "Absolutely!"  The Lord honored my heart desires and gave me that victory right there over the evil one who was literally seeking to destroy my goal.

2~ My goal this morning was to walk either one mile or 30 minutes as this would only be my second time to walk in three years, and the first time was on flat ground at the gym, so I knew this would be different.  Now, for all you out there that are runners/walkers and have never been obese, you might look at that goal and cackle . . . and that's OK.  For me, that was my goal.  The Lord had another goal in mind.  My husband tracked a mile for me around my house and what we (and his family have always called) "down under the hill."  The street behind us turns into gravel and then goes from nice and flat to a HILL!  So . . . .  I did my stretching and praying and said, "Lord, I need your help here."  He honored it.  I knew I had to walk for 30 minutes; so when I had already made 1 1/2 laps and got to the house at 25 minutes, I HAD TO KEEP GOING cause five minutes would mean I didn't make my goal.  Which means I made my ONE MILE GOAL but also takes me to my THIRD VICTORY this morning!

3~ By the time I got through walking I had walked two complete miles in 41 minutes!   I didn't die either!!! 

I still can't believe it.  I had hoped for one, but He gave me two.  Several really cool things happened along the way.  Anyone that knows me knows I love birds.  Psalm 91:4 is one of my all time favorite scriptures and the Lord uses birds to show me the visuals of scripture all the time.  Ya'll, there was not silence the entire time I walked.  Birds (and I know the early bird gets the worm!) were literally perched everyone singing directly over me.  I'd look up, there one would be on the line; look up again, there goes another one.

 But what really, really got to my heart was a flying "V" formation of birds.  There was four of them.

Let me explain, I heard a story several years ago about ducks and why they fly in the "V" formation.

Now, I don't know if it is true or not, so just work with me here. . . . the reason ducks fly in the "V" formation is so their leader (the head duck) can hear them quacking, so the leader knows they are there, supporting him and encouraging him to not give up.  When I saw the flying "V" this morning, remember there were four of them, I had just started my second lap and my low back was killing me (I have degenerated disc); instantly the Lord said, "Stacey, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit, and your mentor are here with you, encouraging you, guiding you . . . praying for you.  You can do this."  MAN!  You talk about water works!  I was squalling like a baby, walking down the street thanking the Lord for loving me so much He cares to show me.  Then I started laughing.  You know on all the weight loss shows how people get emotional and stuff while working out . . . well, I thought it was an act for good t.v.  I never got it.  Today I got it.  While working on my outside this morning, the Lord was working on the inside.  That makes me cry more with a thankful, thankful heart. 

So, now that's I've written a book, I have got to go!  I just had to share in my victories and share in my special "God moments" this morning!

Chow for now,

Stacey

WOOHOO! Music Is Back On The Blog!

OK; so, I have to say, I am so thrilled with my selection of songs (yes, I said songS) for this year! I couldn't figure out how to get the music back on there, a friend of mine was working on it, and my daughter.

As I stated a few posts ago, I have been having a tough time dwindling my list for "song of the year." My heart has been heavy and burdened in several areas.

One area is the bondage my life is under. I choose to be free. Mary Mary's song, Shackles, expresses that very freedom I desire.

Another area that has been a struggle for me is the area of doubting God. I want to make sure I hear God this year.

My heart has also been burdened for young girls, not just young girls, but women in general that are sold with the idea that beauty is in size 2 women that dress and look in such a way that it does nothing but set these young ones up for a hard fall. While I have personally battled obesity for many years, I need it to be said that being overweight is just as unhealthy as being underweight. My body should represent the Holy Spirit. It should represent self control. It does not. Anyway, I got to chasing a rabbit on that one, sorry. After having a brief encounter with this sort of lifestyle, I can truly say true beauty is completely natural and NOT touched up. Johnny Diaz's song, "More Beautiful You," describes this perfectly.

There is not a day that goes by that I am not overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness to me. Casting Crown's song, "Who Am I," portrays my heart. I can't sing this song without getting emotional.

There are several songs from Casting Crowns I've added to my play list. Slow Fade is the next one. This song has a special purpose in my heart. It reminds me to never compromise when it comes to my faith in Jesus Christ. IF Christ is my priority, THEN everything else will fall in place.

Another favorite song of mine is Casting Crown's, "East To West." I can walk in freedom today from my past first and foremost because I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior and to forgive me of my sins, and this scripture, Psalm 103:12 specifically played a key role in learning to forgive myself.

Todd Agnew's song, "Grace Like Rain" puts a neat twist on an old favorite, "Amazing Grace." I added it just because I really like the song!

Casting Crown's, Voice of Truth has played another powerful role in my life. Again, hearing from God is key, to not let confusion creep in. Where there is confusion, satan is close.

The next one, no explanation is needed. No one is outside of the grip of the Savior. Reach out to Him, you might even find Him by reaching out to a child.