Learning in the Waves of Life...

Windy... windy... here in Ludington on the Lake Michigan shoreline! We got up this morning, packed up some breakfast & went down to the lake to check out the big waves & have a "picnic". Gorgeous & terrifying all at the same time!

It is also a little “flakey” here in Ludington today! And of course the complaining has started on social media! I love the season changes… if I didn’t I would not live in Michigan! If we don’t have winter then we will never get to springtime! If the season of dying off never comes then we would not have new life! No matter where we are in life’s circumstances we have to have the time of letting things… well, die, for lack of a better word.

One of the great things of life is you never stop learning! One of the crumby things of life is… you never stop having to learn! I will admit… I have been going through some rough waters lately! I love to plan! I love to feel secure! I love to know how things work & how thing will work out! So right now I am in a big stage of really learning what it means to live by faith! I can talk a good story & I can encourage people with the words, “Walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) It is always easier to say it than do it!

I was having a long, tearful conversation with my hubby about the unknowns of our situation… his being unemployed, trying to start a new business, & the B&B’s slow season. I told him I have a heart to be obedient, but I just need to know what it is I’m supposed to be doing! I don’t even know the question, so how can I know the answer at this point!!! My wise hubby said, “It is taking it one step at a time & making sure to praise God at every step!” So now what I am learning is to remember to praise God! It is my heart of gratitude that will change my attitude!

In Hebrews 11: 1 it says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I know where my hope lies… if I can trust God with my soul… can’t I trust Him for my circumstance??? I love that in verse 3 of this chapter, it goes on to talk about how the whole earth & universe, all that we can see, was created by God, who we can’t see! Wow! The vastness of His power! Just thinking about that puts peace in my heart!

Praising Him!

Just do what it says...

I have been able to take a little time to do some crafting... it is hard for me to just do crafty stuff without having a good reason for it! Ha! That is why this project I painted is so appropriate & maybe a little ironic too! My hubby put the "palette" together using some reclaimed wood we had... love the rustic look of the wood.

Doing what it says can be so hard for me! In the stillness is where I just need to be sometimes! When the hub-bub of life seems to be taking control... I just need to push the "PAUSE" button before God does it for me! Does anyone else have that problem???

Recently, I have been searching out God for direction in a couple different areas... I have felt overwhelmed at times "doing good!" I have really felt like He was telling me that it is okay to push the pause button... the world will not fall apart without my hand being in everything! There is enough time in the day to get everything done that God wants me to get done... but I have to stay on His tasks & not my own!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." - Proverbs 3:5-8

I am a work in progress... as we all are! I am so thankful for a loving, patient Heavenly Father! He nudges me, sometimes gently, sometimes not so gently... but always with His massive love!

Life is not easy, but when all is said & done... I know how very blessed I am! My circumstances will never define my JOY!

Thankful in the unplanned moments...

I had a moment yesterday as I stood looking out our kitchen window… the quick thought that went through my mind was, “why me?” I know many times people ask that question, but this question for me came from an overflowing heart of gratitude. Instantly, I was reminded in my heart of God’s faithfulness!

November is a great month to share thankfulness (although any day is a great day for that too!) So on this 1^st day of November let me say I am so grateFUL for God’s faithfulness!

Every day is a journey… I honestly can say, not too many things in my life have gone the way I have planned! And that is okay! God’s plan is always so much better than I could ever have imagined! That can be difficult to say… it’s not a statement that just rolls easily off my tongue… choosing to follow where He leads is not easy many times!

For example two months ago Luke, my dear hubby, went through a downsizing job loss… out of nowhere, but we believed God would provide. He did. A week later Luke was given a new job… it was not really what he wanted to be doing, but we knew it was what he needed to do, & we had peace about him taking it. He met some great people! And no matter where he is placed it is an opportunity to touch lives! It was an environment where they wanted growth, but didn’t really want any change… you know how well that works. But being the honorable man that he is… he kept on doing his job, trying to make changes where possible.

The last couple months in this transition have been hard… mostly on me, but Luke too. Going from a job where he set his own hours, more or less, to working 5 ½ days a week from 8-5:30 has been quite an adjustment… to say the least! Having the B&B is a joy for us! We had a great summer season, but him being gone so much the last two months has really put a damper on what we could accept for guests. We just knew something would need to change. So not knowing what that means, we started to pray for direction. Little by little Luke has started to receive some direction… not that he has all of the answers. But you know, if you get all the answers then you don’t need to lean on God? Right? We were pretty certain the job Luke was in would be short-lived.

Last Thursday Luke came home around noon… that struck me as strange but didn’t really think too much. I was on the phone when he walked in the door so I finished my conversation & hung-up. I asked him what was going on? And he said the board released him from his job. Wow! The peace that flooded over me was crazy! “So now what?” were the next words that came out of my mouth. Luke’s reply, “we keep doing what we are doing.” Searching for direction from God & following it!

As I write these words… it seems almost “insane” to me! I almost laugh at myself that I am not freaking out! In my flesh, I want to freak! Relying on God… is the only reason I am not! This is discovering joy in life in the not as I have planned moments! Thursday afternoon Luke started working on a plan… a plan that God has laid on his heart. I could see a light light up in Luke with the idea of doing something new… where his gifts would actually be used. It is still just a plan, so we don’t know yet how it will be, but we know God is faithful!

“I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 1:6

From the outside looking in, this may seem a little crazy. That is okay too… you don’t need to understand it! But what we would ask is that you will keep us in your prayers… that we would be so thankful for!