vs.

Taken from "Encouragement for Today" email devotional...
received right when I needed it...

My thoughts: I want to give up.
God's Word: Be committed Matthew 5:33-37

My thoughts: I'll feel lost.
God's Word: He watches my paths and establishes my ways. Proverbs 5:21, 4:26

My thoughts: No one loves me.
God's Word: He loves me more than life. John 3:16

My thoughts: I'm ugly.
God's Word: I'm wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

My thoughts: I'm all alone and no one understands me.
God's Word: He will never leave me. He has plans for my life. Deuteronomy 31:6, Jeremiah 29:11

My thoughts: I'm just not good enough.
God's Word: I was created in His image. Genesis 1:26

The Bus Is Just The Beginning...

I watched my oldest walk down the driveway and get onto the school bus this afternoon.
I cry every day... every time she gets onto that bus.
I cry.

And today I gave it to God.
Handed it back.
Let it go.

I can not live in fear.
I can not obsess on what may happen to her.
On the bus.
Or at school.
Or at a friend's house.
Or in the backseat of a boy's car.
Or at a party.
Or on a trip.
Or in our own house.

I can pray.
And love.
And hope.
And give it to God.

Sometimes There Just Aren't Enough Weeds...

Some people run.
Or eat.
Or don't eat.
Or smoke.
Or drink.
Or go to therapy.
I pull weeds.

It is weird.
I know it.
But I love it.
I can do it for hours.

It relaxes me.
Calms me.
Grounds me.

And I am sad when I finish.
When the weeds are gone.
And I'm still feeling lost.

Love this song...

You got your hand on the door
And you're ready to walk out
Well, the fight that you had filled your mind up with all this doubt
And you're losing your mind and losing your faith
And you can't remember why you fell in love in the first place

Go back, go back to the moment of truth
When she walked down the aisle and you first said, "I do"
When this life makes you wonder what have you got to lose
Go back, go back to the moment of truth

You got your hand on a habit
And you can't seem to let it go
It used to be your escape now it's out of control
And now it's you in the mirror
But you don't recognize your face
And you're looking for a reason not to throw it all away

Just go back, go back
To the moment of truth
With three words, "It's a girl"
And she looks just like you
When this life makes you wonder what have you got to lose
Go back, just go back to the moment of truth

You got your hand on the Bible
But your heart feels like stone
'Cause you think that you've made too many mistakes to come home
And you're losing your will and you're losing your faith
And now you wonder if you even believed in the first place

Just go back to the moment of truth
When you first talked to Jesus
And He reached out for you
He's still reaching, He's still reaching out for you
So when this life makes you wonder what have you got to lose
Just go back, just go back
To the moment of truth


-Matthew West 
Moment of Truth

Middle of the Night Verses...

"Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
Psalm 25:4-5

Every morning at 2:07am I receive a daily devotional email. I was awake with one of the girls last night, so I decided to go ahead and read it instead of waiting until the sun came up. This was the verse for the day... and I needed it.
"My hope is in you ALL DAY LONG." This is the part I struggle with...
All day.
Not just when I first wake up.
Or when I am feeling frustrated.
Or when things are going according to plan (my plan).
But ALL DAY LONG.