I KNOW

This is what God has been teaching me this week. What He has shown me is REAL and I can put all my trust in them!

Worship Service

Caleb Chapman, Tenth Avenue North, and Casting Crowns were at Thomas Road Baptist Church last night and some friends and I were able to go! It was such an amazing time of worship; something that was VERY much needed for Drew and I as we having been praying through several different things lately. All 3 of these groups shared their hearts with us and it was evident through their music that God was their passion. I want to share a couple parts of some of the songs that I really enjoyed, although they were all wonderful!

Living He love me, Dying He saved me, Buried He carried my sins far away. Rising He justified freely forever, One day He's coming oh glorious day, Oh glorious day!


I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hand, for you are who you are, no matter where I am.Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand, You never left my side, and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm!

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt? Who am I, that the bright and morning star would choose to light the way for my ever wondering heart?

Who am I, that the eyes that see our sin, would look on me with love, and watch me rise again? Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea would call out through the rain and calm the storm in me??
Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done. Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are!
I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I'm calling, Lord You catch me when I'm falling and You told me who I am, I am Yours, I am Yours!

A fun challenge!

My friend Mary is challenging me, along with some others, to post what I know about God every Tuesday. I think it is so important to remember why we live, and challenging myself to think of what I know to be true about God has definitely encouraged my top priority every day to be Christ. This is where Drew and I are this week in relation to who God is to us.







Will you join me in praising God for who He is today?!?!

Adventures in Springtime

Wow, has it been a crazy week! First off, as much as I LOVE spring (flowers, warm weather, flip flops, outdoors) I also HATE allergies. Mine have definitely come to me in full force this week. YUCK! They might slow me down (a lot) but they don't stop me from having a blast with my kiddos. Something God has blessed me with is an awesome friend, we'll call her Lo, who also takes care of kids every week. Since they were all on spring break, we have gotten together 3 days for many adventures. Today, we went to the transportation museum. The kids LOVED playing in the cars and 'choo choos' and also running wild on the play ground! Afterwards we had lunch at 'On The Rise Bakery'. If you have never been there you must... go now! :) Mason and Kylee's mom and dad own it so we went to visit them... We enjoyed yummy salads and Pizza but there are lots of desserts, breads, lunches to choose from! It is also a great atmosphere! Market Street, Downtown... be there!

Tuesday we went to Mill Mountain Zoo. Looked at the 'birdies' and other animals and rode the 'choo choo'.

Yesterday we went to Troutville Park. I loved that it was fenced in and so many different things to do there! Of course Mason enjoyed the sand the best which meant all in the hair and diaper. ;)

Easter Sunday was a blast. Church was worshipful, lunch with Mom's family was great. Jeremy, Katie and Audrey were in which was wonderful, then dinner with the Hunsleys and Sarah. We are so blessed to have such amazing and loving families!

Oh, and last Friday I spent time with some great girls... talking on the back porch, going to several different restaurants until finding one with a small wait, a trip to get a WONDERFUL cupcake at Bubblecake (you should go there too... it's delicious and so cutesy!) and then of course home to dye some Easter eggs...

Oh yes, I must explain this.. Drew decided that Hiro is 'the man your man could smell like'... you know, the one in the commercial that's 'on a horse'. Drew has that memorized... it's pretty funny the first time.

As you can tell it's been quite the week and I'm so thankful. Thankful my Jesus rose from the grave so that I could live with Him. Thankful that I have great friends who love to have fun and try new things. Thankful I have a friend who can keep me company while hanging out with amazing kids every day. Thankful that spring is here! It's going to be a great one!! :)

Christ's Fruit of the Spirit

So, I have been reading Matthew and when I got to chapter 23 I struggled a little. It is a chapter about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They are called blind and fools many times. They do things so others can see, so they look good, and they do things selfishly. They are blind of the things that truly matter to God and don't care enough to figure it out. They are fools for not seeing the great God that is right in front of them.

Sounds like someone I know :(

God hates hypocrites. I know it hurts Him that these leaders are so selfish.
- They pay tithe but they fail to learn justice, faith, and mercy (v. 23)
- They make sure they are clean on the outside of the cup, but inside they are filthy. (v. 25 & 26)

They just don't understand why we were created and I think I'm missing it too. God wants me to worship Him, to care about and praise Him. To follow Him. THE END. He doesn't care about our works if we don't care about Him! Yes, I say I care but how is my life showing it? How are the fruits of the spirit evident in my life??

"I say then, walk in the spirit and you will no fulfill the lust of the flesh. "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. against such thing there is no law."

Where am I getting my strength from? Am I walking by the strength of Christ alone? Or walking the way I see is right? Denying what I want in everything and truly seeking. What would Jesus do?? After asking myself these questions, I started thinking about the fruits that Christ had in His life. Thinking about the fruits of the spirit in my Savior's life... Because that's what we should be following. The perfect example.

LOVE - Christ showed love by dying, but also by living sacrificially. He thought of others first... ALWAYS!

JOY - Christ rejoices in heaven when one person comes to repentance. He is joyful when we keep His commandments and when we love others as HE loves! (John 15:9-17)

PEACE - Christ prayed to His Father in perfect need of wanting to stay off the cross. He looked to God and therefore he had peace even though it was difficult!

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27

PATIENCE - Jesus showed patience by forgiving over and over. By explaining to the disciples over and over. He didn't give up because they didn't understand but instead pursued them and prayed for them to His Father.

KINDNESS - Jesus is kind by caring for those in need. He truly listened and talked with kids and adults of all stages of life. He longed to have them understand and saved. He was in agony over the cross but He did it anyway!

"For mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, But my kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall my covenant of peace be removed, " says the Lord who has mercy on you.'
Isaiah 54:10

GOODNESS - God is good, all the time. HE is without sin. He is always taking others and putting them first. He lived this life whole-heartily for God!

'Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God...'
Matthew 19:17

FAITHFUL - His word never contradicts itself. He will never leave us. He came to die and He did. He promised to save us and give us eternal life and He is faithful... even when we mock, blaspheme, and hurt Him. Even when we fail, He loves me! :)

"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion's fail not. They are new every morning, Great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22 & 23

GENTLENESS - Christ is a comforter. He protects and wants us to be as children.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:29

SELF-CONTROL - When did Christ not have self-control?? He had to hang out with us humans. Not being tempted by the devil in the desert, not coming off the cross, not answering the guards, having a quiet, still heart with all the beatings, not getting frustrated with the people who JUST DIDN'T GET IT!


So you see, Christ gave us the perfect path to follow.. In every area of His life. So, take one step at a time. And follow. I KNOW that we can trust His path. :)