Stay In The Moment!

I awoke to a whole houseful of my grown boys...oops I mean men. It was one of those heart swelling, overflowing moments. But then I found myself counting how many days I had before Jullien goes back to New York (4) and Elijah heads back to school in Missouri (5). Then I thought, "Why do I do that? Why do I jump ahead instead of staying in the joy of the moment? I have them here right now and I'm dampening my mood by focusing on next week already."

Today, I'm thankful for recognizing a habit that I all too frequently fall into. I'm thankful that in the noticing I can "take captive every thought", submitting it to The LORD in prayer, asking for HIS help to keep me right where HE has me. A time of over-abundant blessings, happiness, love, and heart-filled joy with my boys...men (I have a hard time thinking of them that way😬). So today I will soak it in. I will let it pour over me. I will stay right here and enjoy the day I've been given. 

Friends, join me in remembering that right here and now is a gift from The LORD. It may be a gift of overflowing, growing, learning, resting or even trials that teach the importance of drawing closer to JESUS...your Helper, Savior and Redeemer.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."~2 Corinthians 10:5

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?

Do You Need A Heart Transformation?

We were late when I asked my hubby to pull over so I could run in and grab a quick treat at a gas station mini-mart. As I went to pay, swiping my debit card, the machine completely froze. The cashier told me to swipe my card again. While we waited to see if it'd work, we began talking about Christmas. I found out he had to work on that day. He stopped mid-sentence to tell me to try to swipe my card again, and then picked up where we left off. He told me he didn't mind working on the 25th because he is from Egypt and they celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Then he went on to say in very broken English..."Our days of celebrating JESUS may be different but one thing I've noticed, people often celebrate Jesus outwardly but not in their hearts. Do you know what I mean?"

He pointed again to the frozen machine...try again please. I swiped as I replied, "I know exactly what you mean. There needs to be a transformation of the heart, allowing JESUS to change us from the inside out."

"Exactly!" He said with a smile. "There is not enough of that going on in the world today."

My card finally went through. We said our goodbye's and I thanked him for the reminder. 

As I got in the car I told my hubby, "Sorry it took so long but The LORD had a special appointment waiting for me inside with an Egyptian Christian man. My card wouldn't work until our conversation was done!"

Friends, I'm thankful for GOD'S appointments and reminders. I pray my encounter will remind you also that today is a brand new *fresh* start. Day 1 of the New Year. I pray you and I will grow in this coming year allowing a deeper and more meaningful *relationship with JESUS*...a complete and total transformation of the heart. 

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."~2 Corinthians 5:17

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?