...of celebrating God's faithfulness & gift #10

Ahhhhhh, the conclusion of writing your own Psalm. Thank you Karen, for this challenge, seriously, thank you! Psalm 31:19-24

You will be glorified in Your awesomeness. My eyes will see, faith strengthened, & tongue sing; THANK YOU JESUS! Never again should I feel forgotten, yet being perfected in You, LORD God. I will not yell in panic, “How long are You going to keep me here God?” anymore.

God’s children, my Brothers & Sisters, love our Father, (remember, love is a verb-it requires action); He maintains those who are faithful. If your mouths proclaim hope in our LORD, then so, your actions should mirror that. “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24 NIV

Check out some beautiful handmade gifts at Creations By Chara because that is where today's gift comes from. This cell phone charm was handcrafted by Chara in her favorite color, purple. Thanks to God for blessing Chara with this gift and way to go Chara for not being afraid to use it.

And so, this chic cell phone charm goes to...

...VONNIE @ My Back Door! "Mommy" Vonnie and I "met" at Faith Writers. She lovingly commented on a story that I wrote and directed me to another story for advice. With thanks, I commented back to her and she then commented back to me and so on.

I was touched by her heartfelt advice to me and we began to get more personal with one another and I then nominated her as my honorary mother, and guess what...SHE ACCEPTED!!! She told me about her blog, I visited, and now, I blog!

Vonnie also has a daily "Morning Song" e-mail that I am grateful to receive as well. I will not spill the beans on this part of her ministry, so if you want to know more about it you have to visit her site.

Thank you "Mommy" Vonnie for your stepping up as an "older woman" counseling a "younger woman," Titus 2:3-5. That takes courage here lately because a lot of us "young folk" do not need sober guidance...we can handle it all on our own! (sarcasm)

I love you!

smooches,

Larie

...of lament-less-ness & gift # 8

We are done lamenting with writing our own Psalm! Today, Karen said we can move on to verses 14-18 of Psalm 31.


This makes me feel better because I felt as if i was whining. I am also afraid of what else God is going to tell me that I am hiding!

In spite of my fears LORD, I have to trust You. This means to lean on You, believing in Your ability to support me. I look back to past “stormy seasons” and see that it was just that, a season. Besides, You have not neglected to allow my “favorite” seasons to outnumber the rest.

You LORD God are in control of my life and You are constant in Your love. Therefore, I know that You are going to deliver me. I am no longer being chased. Father, because of my pride, please don’t let me be shamed. I’m sorry. My fears & affliction will be shamed. In their shame, their lies that I believed will be exposed and then laid to rest.

This heart was made for a bloggy friend who has encouraged me with their writings. That is why the book and pencil are there. Please to continue to write so that others will feel the same! The ribbon signifies a bond that ties us together, "Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love..." and the heart is mine, this heart that you have encouraged to speak. Thank you, beloved friend. And "my heart belongs to..."

...KAREN @ Surviving Motherhood! How fitting since she is the one responsible for my heart's "meltdown" the last three days! :)

Karen and I "met" while I was blog surfing. Her bloggy name, Irritable Mother, was displayed on another blogspot and I just had to know what she meant by that. I clicked it, and clicked with what she was blogging about!!!

We have communicated via e-mail and I feel as if I met her at a past duty station and we have just been keeping in contact since then. I hope to actually meet her at her next speaking engagement, but it's just to get my book autographed!!! LOL

Thank you "Irritable Mother" for also being my "Relatable Friend," I love you!

smooches,

Larie

...of more lamenting & gift # 7

It's day four of writing my own Psalm per Karen's suggestion over at Surviving Motherhood. We are fashioning our personal Psalm after Psalm 31. Today we continue on in our lamenting from verses 9-13. I commented to Karen yesterday that I feel as if I am whining. Therefore, yesterday, it was hard for me to write, it was scary and I did not know why. I was looking forward to today thinking that we were going to be done, but...

LORD, I was tired of verses 9-13. Well, tired of writing it I mean. It's okay to read it because I know that I will eventually come to the end of it. But not "being in control" of my own lamenting is different. I thought I was done, had nothing else to say, but obviously not. Okay, wait, I'm not being honest and You, LORD God know this. This is why You have led Karen to have us continue in this section.

Father I am tired! I want to yell, "I GIVE UP!" Why God? WHY DO YOU WANT ANTON TO GO TO KOREA???? This is so not cool! LORD I do not want to hear that it is a testing of my faith, I do not want to hear that I can handle it, I do not want to hear it, I just don't!!!


I do not want my husband away from us for a year! Yeah I know that other families have to do so why should I be special, but I don't care LORD, I don't. We can not be separated, I need Anton and our kids need him. LORD we NEED each other!


Yes all my reasons for not wanting him to go are a result of my affliction; me, selfishness & pride. I'm scared LORD, and I know You know that I am and why. Do You just want me to say it? Is that it? Okay, LORD I do not want Anton to go to Korea for a year without us because I am scared that *******************! But You know this LORD God, You know everything. WHY DO I HAVE TO PUT MYSELF OUT HERE LIKE THIS?


And I also don't want Anton to go because I am afraid that my depression will get worse and then I will have to ask others for help and You know I do not want to do that either because I just don't want everybody up in my business but it's here in this blog now so never mind but that was a concern. I mean I do not want people treating me "delicately" as if I'm going to crack. Don't be tiptoeing around me, just know my triggers and DON'T TRIP THEM LIKE THIS KOREA THING JUST DID!!!


And I don't want him to go because that means that I am left here alone with his mother and brother to take care of them. Yeah I remember the study I just did and the applications. But I really was going to do the right thing LORD! I don't need this Korea assignment to hold me accountable. Do I?


Okay, I need to calm down, LORD I'm sorry, it is so not about me, but this time can it be please? Please don't let Anton go to Korea Father please. Please God cancel this assignment LORD let us stay together for the remainder of his Air Force career, it's only 7 more years PLEASE!

In spite of me, my debilitating affliction, LORD please, please don't let us be separated.



Dear Friends, today's gift is a subscription to Christian Woman magazine! I love this magazine. I've been a subscriber for two years now and it seems that God has used each issue to directly tell me something! I have been able to relate to over 3/4 of the magazine each time. Christian Woman is the only magazine I have read cover to cover! And now, my chosen friend is...



...WIB & RUNE @ Beautiful Days! I have so enjoyed the poems and photos they share. They have been a great encouragement for me as well. No matter how "raw" my posts are, they cheer me on! I love you Wib & Rune!


smooches,

Larie

...of still lamenting & gift # 6

I'm continuing on with writing my own Psalm, modeled after Psalm 31. Today Karen suggested that we expound on yesterday's verses, 9-13.

LORD, yesterday, I only cut loose a little. After thinking about what I said, I realized that micro-managing is not what I am doing, it's taking over. That's just rude. I remain in my affliction because of this. I thought it was enough for me to just admit to You that I am my affliction. After that, I needed to "get out of my own way," that was my job. Silly me, didn't know that I can do nothing that You don't allow me to do.

Young AND foolish.

The enemy I am running from is myself.



Today's gift is a stationary set. It includes a journal, notepad, cards w/envelopes and two pens! So, my friend who receives this is...

...EDIE at Rich Gifts! I love "going" to Edie's place because I feel as if we are in the same room, but she is doing all of the talking! When I read her posts, it seems to flow as a conversation and I just love it.

Edie and I "connected" when I solicited her awesome skills to design this blog. 'Ain't she good y'all?! Check out Edie's graphic site to see the other wonderful things she creates. I love that Edie acknowledges her talent is from God. He is glorified.

Creations 4 His Glory is another spot you can see what Edie's does with God's blessing of crafting. I love you Edie!!!

smoohces,

Larie

...of lamenting & gift # 5

I'm still "hanging out" with Karen over at Surviving Motherhood and writing my own Psalm modeled after Psalm 31. Today we are looking at verses 9-13.

Now oh God, I am begging for Your continued mercy because I am weak. I feel very heavy because I am micro-managing You. This is an act of disobedience, disrespect, and lack of trust. You DO NOT need me to tell You how I want it done. All You need from me is confession, a contrite heart and ashy, sore knees. I can not feel weightless because I am carrying what I was suppose to let You carry. Remind me LORD that I am not You! You don't need Larie's help!

My eyesight grows weaker because I am straining to see what You have not revealed to me yet; hence the reason I strain. It's not clear, & it is not going to be until You, LORD God, make it clear! Ooooh how dull I am LORD.

My children don't know what to expect from me. They would rather be at a friend's or my parent's house. How disgusting it is when my 5-year-old asks me, "How do you feel today mommy?" My husband, in tears, says, "I miss my wife." Then he kisses me on my forehead and says, "I love you Larie. I'll be back, I need to go pray."

God please give Anton his wife back.

A pair of ears will be serenaded with the outstanding voice of Willow Layne. Her first CD, "From The Ashes," was recently released. I've known Willow Layne for 5 and a half years now. I've heard her voice many times and I just love it. It almost makes me want to cry. Read about Willow Layne's inspiration for "From The Ashes" here.

And I share this audible pleasure with...

...NICOLE at Serendipity! This is my sister y'all! I love the way Nicole writes; it's the same way that she thinks. Her writing is mentally challenging and I appreciate it. Girl I'll talk to you later! I love you!

smooches,

Larie

...My Safe Place & gift # 4

Hey, hey, hey! Wonderful, wonderful weekend!!! How was yours?

This week I would like to share more of my heart-thoughts with you all by way of writing my own Psalm using Psalm 31 as a model. This encouragement comes from Karen at Surviving Motherhood. Today, Karen started with verses 1-8 of Psalm 31.

Here's what I've written for the same verses:

LORD, I have, thru baptism, been given a place of protection to dwell. For in You there is no shame. I can hold my head high because of You oh LORD! When I called You, God, You hesitated not. You heard me before I called. Lovingly & mercifully You ceased my calling by rescuing me. I am in danger no more. THANK YOU LORD! Because You are my protection, I am lead by You, & so, Your reverent name is exalted.

Father, free me from myself. My selfishness is a trap; a trap set by me. I must take refuge in You oh God, and be rescued. I give up, but it is to You, my Conqueror, that I do so. Self, I surrender, to You LORD God; I am Your slave now. No longer a slave to self! Because I am leaning on You LORD, my hands have released the carnal things of which I once held so tightly to.

I am happy & thankful because of Your love for me, You love me in spite of myself, self-absorbed. I was my affliction. You took me from myself. You took me from my pride, You put me to my knees. The anguish You saved my soul from was myself. I, selfish-prideful-obstinate, You will not let me be a slave to.


Today's gift is a mani/pedicure set!



WOO-HOO! Who's gettin' the pampering...

...LaVender at Mom's Peace Bites! I really enjoy visiting LaVender's place because she's all about peace. It is soooo relaxing at her place. I also like "hanging out" with LaVender because she is prior active-duty military and my husband is currently active-duty so she can sympathize with issues of the military family. She ministers to military families at Moms Web as well. Thank you LaVender, I love you!

smooches,

Larie