a Heart's Ramblings.

I was reading the newest KBR forum article earlier, and came across a sentence that got me thinking.  And was journal-worthy, obviously. ;-)  The guest writer was writing about Thanksgiving, as it's coming up later this month, and how thanksgiving should be a part of our every day.  About choosing to be thankful and letting God know about it, whether the feelings are there or not.  And then, " through thanksgiving, we are choosing to see God's hand in our everyday life .   The excited, upturned face of a child, the crunch of crimson and gold leaves under feet, the breaths we take each moment; all of these are windows to see the LORD. This is His Handiwork, His Creation. When we notice these things with thankful hearts, we are choosing to see Him. "    Isn't that good?  It pleases the Lord when we notice all the good things He's placed around us, and choosing thankfulness is choosing to see Him.  Pride, or not wanting to acknowledge and honor ...

Thinking about my example lately. Specifically my example as the "older girl" that I often forget I am. The closer I get to graduating... well, the farther and farther I finally start to realize I'm getting from the innocence of childhood forever - basically, I starts to hit me that instead of always wishing I was ' just one year older' , I actually want to stay put. Right where I am (in fact, getting to be a little younger again wouldn't hurt, right?). But life doesn't go that way, does it?? When I look at my life, I don't see much that someone would want to imitate. First of all, that convicts me! My life SHOULD exemplify Christ, and if it doesn't? Then my relationship with Him needs some attention! But secondly, that's when I have to lay it all in God's hands, knowing that when I'm following Him with each day He gives me, He'll take care of the rest. That if I surrender my heart into His hands, He'll take it over and make use...

My, has Nana been a handful these past few months! But, oh, the memories I feel we shall all have (that we otherwise wouldn't) now that she's been here! I really think that this is going to continue to teach us so much... reality really seemed to butt into her this last week, and it's affected not only her own demeanor but that of the entire house. Through it all, the Lord has been reminding me that, no - Anna, no, you don't always know how to simply love . My life should be different from others because of the love in my heart, and my life has definitely needed more of it... as God is showing me! Showing me how to love Nana, and how to keep a heart of compassion, and the heart of gladness and servitude towards her and her needs. How to love Mama, as she struggles with not only the everyday needs of her household and homeschooling her handful of children, but her own mother's health issues - of all times, cancer! - and the strain on her and Nana's relationship b...

Thinking this morning about my reading in Romans... God's law, the law of sin, and how you can be a slave to both of them. As I was pondering God's law, though, I realized it's really nature's law too. Because God isn't just a belief, it's reality. It's life. It's not just a way of thinking about nature, but a part of it. The two are inseparable. God's grace is a different thing though. It's not "just a part of nature". It's a highway God gives us as a way out of nature, out of decay, out of self (because it is now decay of nature =) - something that will pull us out of the misery we've created for ourselves since we pulled away from God. God didn't create death and the fires of hell - it's the way we've chosen for ourselves because of our sin. In fact, if the world had continued to go as He had originally planned it - we'd still probably be in the Garden of Eden. And yet, there are so many who can't ac...