My Birthday Recap

On Saturday July 30, 2011 I turned 33.

That means its been 3 years since I turned 30. Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttt?

Time is flying!

I wanted to share a couple of interesting facts about the number 33:

*The Atomic number of Arsenic
*A normal spine has 33 vertebrae
*Jesus's age when He was crucified
*Jesus performed 33 recorded miracles
*33 is not only a numerical representation for "The Star of David" but also the numerical equivalent of AMEN: 1+13+5+14=33
*Retired number of Celtics Hall of Famer Larry Bird

Enough of that; back to my birthday celebration. We went to breakfast at IHOP and then went to the pool and I worked on my tan. I am so tan this summer y'all! :) Later that night we dropped the boys off at my parents house for the night (can I get an Amen for Grandparents?!)

Last year we started a tradition of going out with our besties Heather (in orange) & Brandon and Andrew & Whitney (in pink) (side note: Andrew is Bryan's cousin who married my good childhood friend Whitney). So last year we went to Federal Jack's in Kennebunkport:







This year we went to Salt Water Grille in South Portland.







It was a glorious summer night. Beautiful sunset.



It was good to feel the summer wind.

It's Monday once again and this week I'm thankful for so many things and I wanted to share them with you:

535. My birthday
536. Birthday dinner with friends
537. Sunset
538. Fresh cut flowers
539. Sweet birthday cards and messages
540. My parents for taking the boys overnight
541. Birthday money
542. VBS worksheets on the fridge
543. One week until Vermont Vacation
544. Lobsters & Steamers for lunch
545. Date night
546. Only getting 5 hours of sleep before church but oh so worth it
547. More new books

Psalm 139:17 ESV "How precious to me are your thoughts O God! How vast is the sum of them."

A Page From My Journal

During my quiet time with the Lord, I wrote that I love saying "My Kinsman-Redeemer" and then I began to search to find out WHY those words are so important to me. You can be sure that if you looked through my prayer journal, you would find these words written over and over again. The phrase brings joy to my heart. I've never done this before, but this post is a copy of what is written in my personal journal.

What exactly is a 'kinsman-redeemer'?

I'm so glad you asked because, quite frankly, I wanted to know...really know what it means. Redeemer in Hebrew is go'el which is translated 'kinsman-redeemer' meaning 'who had both rights and responsibilities for vindicating a family member.' The definition provided is compliments of my favorite Bible (ESV Study Bible). :)

Why do I love this phrase so much? Probably because it means that I have been bought back. My Kinsman-Redeemer is a rich benefactor who has bought me back and has freed me by paying a high ransom price. He has redeemed by lost opportunities, my freedom, my home, my family. He has rescued me from bondage. I am so thankful that Jesus Christ is my Kinsman-Redeemer. The One who was not only willing but also has the POWER to redeem. He has paid full price for my redemption. He won my salvation on the cross.

Job 19:25 ESV "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth."

Ruth 4:14 ESV Then the women said to Naomi; "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may His name be renowed in Israel!"

Lord, you are the author of new life! I don't know where I would be without you. You truly are my Kinsman-Redeemer. You continue to amaze me. May your name be renowed in all the earth.

A New Heart

I started reading another book this week called Wild At Heart by John Eldredge. If you have a husband, or sons, or just want to know about the opposite sex, you MUST read this book. I cannot put it down to save my life! I'm currently wondering how I found time to write this post. Only kidding. Sort of. The book is sitting open next to me right now. :)

I wanted to share a portion of the book that spoke volumes to me yesterday. It can be found on page 133-34 that states, and I quote, "You have a new heart. That's the promise of the new covenant: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." (Ezek. 36:26-27). There's a reason it's called good news. Too many Christians today are living back in the old covenant. They've had Jeremiah 17:9 drilled into them and they walk around believing my heart is deceitfully wicked. Not anymore it's not. Read the rest of the book. In Jeremiah 31:33, God announces the cure for all that: "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." Your heart is good." End quote.

I just felt prompted in my spirit to share that before I start my Monday list. For so long I've walked around like that, believing that my heart is sick and desperately wicked. I even considered in the past, taking down the art in my kitchen that says, "Follow Your Heart". I can follow my heart, because that is where God dwells and it is good. I follow my heart only as I follow Christ. Does that make sense? I am so thankful for redemption. Be sure to check back here on Wednesday for my post about redemption. You won't want to miss what I'm learning about that. It makes me so happy to type the word 'redemption'. I love knowing knowing that I've been bought back.

Ok, so enough about that. Once again I find myself having so very much to be thankful for. It's fun to share it. It's not something that should be kept inside. I want to tell of all the LORD has done for me. He is so good and He cannot lie. I love that about Him.

492. Heart Training
493. Nail pierced hands
494. The steadfast love of the Lord that never ceases
495. Mercies that never come to an end
496. The faithfulness of God
497. To show the world the likeness of Jesus
498. To guide my affections with discretion
499. To owe no many anything
500. Vacation Bible School
501. Jordan's blue blankie
502. Wild At Heart
503. Sailboats at the Marina
504. High temperatures outside
505. Pink Gerber Daisies
506. Bryan taking Brandon to play basketball
507. Bryan & Brandon going to the movies together
508. My new pink water bottle
509. The sound of the keys on the laptop
510. First things first
511. New recipes
512. Letting things go
513. A good heart

And there you have it for this week. I am over half way to my one thousand gifts; but at this rate, I don't ever want to stop. This is so much part of my life and I can't imagine not listing what I'm thankful for; both the beautiful and the not so much. :)

Thanksgiving: Summer Edition

I have so much to be thankful for. Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is a lifestyle. I want it to be a part of my everyday. It's so important to be thankful. What would I be if I wasn't thankful? Lord, have mercy!

I sure do have a lot to share but today I just want to share my list of thanks. It's what makes Monday lovely.

429. Seeing Janet again after 5 years
430. Lobster rolls with my parents
431. Pizza & All-Star game with my parents
432. Children Classic's at Target for $1.00 each (Can I get an Amen for good deals?)
433. Sharing a moment with Jordan on his 5th birthday-telling him that God is going to use him and do great things in his life
434. A visit with my Aunt Linda & Uncle Ed from Massachusettes
435. Bryan's new job, raise and promotion with a new company
436. Swimming with Brandon
437. Watching Jordan swim wihtout floaties
438. Grandmother Earle-thankful that she is going to be ok
439. Homemade strawberry jam (Redemption after last year) :)
440. Ice cream cones with chocolate sprinkles
441. The baby bird nest & the two baby birds
442. The smell of sunscreen
443. Summertime in Maine
444. New beginnings
445. Fresh cut flowers on my kitchen table
446. Our new & powerful A/C
447. The sale of our Camry
448. Car insurance savings

It's nice to celebrate "Thanksgiving" everyday. It's even nicer to share it with you on Monday. Join in! I promise, you will be SO glad you did.

A Good Sign

This was my Christmas present from my dear friend Heather. I've been meaning to add it to my blog for a few months now but each time I tried I couldn't locate the photo (did I mention I'm still learning how to use the Mac? Cuz I am. :) Anyway, this sign is lovely and it makes me happy every time I see it. Thank you Heather for your friendship, your kindness, your thoughtfulness. I just love you and am so thankful for you and our friendship! So glad God saw fit to have us meet 11 years ago. I'd be LOST without you and fun night wouldn't be fun without you, Brandon and Lia Grace!




Happy Friday y'all! I pray you all have a friend like my Heather! :)

The Source of All Happiness

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
By Aurthur Bennett

I love this book. I had never heard of this book until I listened to a CD called Voyage by Christine Dente. She is a favorite of mine and her newest CD was about this book. I fell in love with the CD and immediately bought the book. It's an oldie but goodie and the prayers are so beautiful and thought provoking. I personally love to read a prayer out loud each day and I think that today's is the best one I've read until I read the next day. I love when that happens. If you don't own either book or CD, definitely check them out. You will not be disappointed. You will be encouraged and strengthened and renewed in your love and pursuit of the One who loves and pursues you. I wanted to share the prayer that I read today. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

God Enjoyed

THOU INCOMPREHENSIBLE BUT PRAYER-HEARING GOD,
Known, but beyond knowledge,
revealed, but unrevealed,
my wants and welfare draw me to thee,
for thou hast never said, "See ye me in vain'.
To thee I come in my difficulties, necessities, distresses;
possess me with thyself,
with a spirit of grace and supplication,
with a prayerful attitude of mind,
with access into warmth and fellowship,
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and desires may rise to thee,
and in habitual devotion I may find a resource that will
soothe my sorrows, sanctify my successes,
and qualify me in always for dealings with my fellow men.
I bless thee that thou hast made me capable
of knowing thee, the author of all being,
of resembling thee, the perfection of all excellency,
of enjoying thee, the source of all happiness.
O God, attend me in every part of my arduous and trying pilgrimage;
I need the same counsel, defence, comfort I found at my beginning.
Let me religion be more obvious to my conscience,
more perceptible to those around.
While Jesus is representing me in heaven, may I reflect him on earth,
While he pleads my cause, may I show forth his praise.
Continue the gentleness of thy goodness towards me,
and whether I wake or sleep, let thy presence go with me,
thy blessing attend me.
Thou hast led me on and I have found thy promises true,
I have been sorrowful, but thou hast been my help,
fearful, but thou has delivered me,
despairing, but thou has lifted me up.
Thy vows are ever upon me,
And I praise thee, O God.

***
Beautiful, isn't it? I just love it. I wanted to share so much with you my thoughts about this particular prayer but I find myself at a loss for words, which if you know me well, doesn't happen all too often. I will say this, I am drawn to the line that says, "thou hast made me capable of enjoying thee, the source of all happiness."

Truly, it is. Enjoying God is the source of ALL happiness and He has made us capable of enjoying Him.

Have you enjoyed God today?

The Start of Something Good

Summer!

175 Days of School have come and gone. Can I get an Amen?

So here we are now experiencing summer vacation. YAY! It's a cool 72 degrees outside....but this is all new to me. Not the weather, ok, well maybe, since I live in New England but still. This summer vacation thing is brand new. I haven't had a "real" summer vacation since I was a teenager. This is my first summer without a job and having my kids home with me. What a year it's been. So thankful for grace. I'd be lost without it. I find myself a little nervous for the summer. We are once again down to one car and I'm not sure what to do with all my time. I was journaling on Thursday asking the Lord to help me use my time wisely. To be a good steward of the moments that I can never ever get back. I need to start each day with that thought in mind and remember His grace that is new every morning.

317. A walk on the beach
318. Crashing waves
319. The sun glimmering on the water
320. Spending time with my only brother and his lovely fiancee Brianna
321. Birds chirping in the early morning
322. Early morning walks
323. My new haircut
324. The last day of school
325. Summer vacation
326. Potty accident-after a week of being accident free :)I know he can do it!
327. Watching Brandon play baseball with such enthusiasm
328. Being haunted by God (thanks to Oswald Chambers):)
329. Repenting of worry, self-reliance, self-sufficieny and pride
330. Truly trusting God
331. Life hidden with Christ in God
332. Soul dwelling at ease
333. Abiding companionship of God
334. Book: Glimpse of Grace by Mary Forsythe
335. Not being lazy or procrastinating this summer
336. Doing the dishes even when I'd rather leave them for the next day
337. Jordan's nap
338. A hot shower after a long day
339. Reading a good book in bed after hot shower
340. Loneliness

"Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart." Psalm 119:111 ESV

Lord, you are the joy of my heart. I know you are with me and I'm never alone. I love you for that.