Are we willing?

This morning I told Brodie that Mommy was going to have some "quiet time" and he says "I'm gona have some LOUD time". haha. Anyway, I did get to have some quiet time with my Lord and it spoke right to my soul.

Psalms 123 talked about looking to God for mercy as well as God's leading. God is committed to us. He's committed to care and provide for us. I pray that we will trust him completely in this area, as we make this move to Vegas.

Lately our life has seemed full of trials and hardships, but as I read this I am reminded that we must continue to persevere and finish the race as God has called us, as the prize awaits us. (2 Tim 4:7, Heb 12:1)

Here is an excerpt I read from "Streams in the Desert".

"They overcame him by the blood of the lamb...;they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11

When James and John came to Christ with their mother, asking Him to give them the best place in His kingdom, He did not refuse their request. He told them that the place would be given to them if they could do His work, drink His cup, and be baptized with His baptism. (Mark 10:38)

Are we willing to compete for God's best, with the knowledge that the best things are always achieved by the most difficult paths? We must endure steep mountains, dense forests, and the Enemy's chariots of iron, since hardship is the price of the victor's coronation. Arches of triumph are made not of rose blossoms and strands of silk but of hard blows and bloody scars. The very hardships you are enduring in your life today have been given you by the Master, for the express purpose of enabling you to win your crown.

Therefore do not always look ahead to your tomorrows for some ideal situation, exotic difficulty, or faraway emergency in which to shine. Rise today to face the circumstances in which the providence of God has placed on you. Your crown of glory is hidden in the heart of these things--the hardships and trials pressing in on you this very hour, week, and month of your life. Yet the most difficult things are not those seen and known by the world but those deep within your soul, unseen, unknown by anyone except Jesus. It is in this secret place that you experience a little trial that you would never dare to mention to anyone else and that is more difficult for you to bear than martyrdom.

Beloved, your crown lies there. May God help you to overcome and to wear it.

It matters not how the battle goes,

The day how long;

Faint not! Fight on!

Tomorrow comes the song.

(Streams in the Desert-L.B.Cowman)

Some days....

Some days are good and some days are tough. I have to admit, today is a tough one. We've had a lot going on lately and don't have much time for idle thinking. Which, is probably a good thing. Today I'm a bit emotional. The reality of having Tristan home, yesterday being the anniversary of the loss of our baby, and now, the reality of Vegas getting very close.

When I went to the doctor for my 2-week check up, actually, 3 week, she asked "Do you have days where you cry all day and want to drive off the James River Bridge?" I laughed and said "no, most days are good!". Well...today is one of those days. I can't say I want to drive off a bridge...I have too many blessings here for that...but I am a bit emotional...ok...a lot emotional.

When we lost the baby a year ago, I had nooo idea that God would decide for us to have Tristan less than a year later. Now, I can't imagine not having him and feel so blessed that God has given us him as our son. However...nothing takes the pain away. I'm thankful that God carries us when we need it...because some days I feel crippled.

I also have the reality that in 2 months we will be moving our family across the country to Las Vegas. To be honest, I'm scared to death. But..I'm also ready and excited to move on to the next part of this journey God has for us. Most days, I live in today and try not to get overwhelmed by the future. I know that God has called us to Vegas and that we have an incredible opportunity for Tommy to intern under Vince, and that our hearts are broken for the people there....God just may have to carry me some days.