God in a $0.40 CD

She was at a thrift store with her sisters. She was looking for something exciting. That one thing that had 'her name' on it. She did what she always does first and went to the clearance section of the store. To her left was a gigantic rack of music. She went there next since she can't leave a store without looking through the music. There it was, close to the front. A 14 yr. old CD that was marked 80% off its original price of $1.99! When this particular young lady sees music for $0.40 it just has a way of going into her cart. And most times it doesn't go back on the shelf. Just imagine. 11 songs for $0.40?!

That was me. Hannah, the person writing this. That music was probably the favorite thing I purchased all day. I haven't stopped listening to it since. The whole album is full of God's Spirit. I needed that. I love it when a song has been around for 16 years -a popular song at that- and suddenly you find that version of it that is instantly your favorite. It's anointed. It's different from all the others.

I had specifically been asking God to reveal Himself to me in some way. He did. In a way that I wasn't expecting. It's those little things that cause my belief in God to grow bigger. How do I know that He cares about the very small things? Because He made Himself known to me through a very small thing. It was nothing big and/or sophisticated. Simply bringing to me 11 songs -for practically free- that have blessed me over and over.

How has God made Himself known to you today? Maybe it was a hug from a random friend. Maybe you were going through something difficult or outright hard and that person who had no idea gave you chocolate for no reason at all or maybe they spoke words of life to you right when you needed it the most. Maybe God spoke His love to you through flowers from a child or by simply watching the leaves dance around in the wind. Or the sunset... or who knows, maybe someone posted something on Facebook that was just what you needed for that day. A moment of Light. Truth. Promise.

Look around you. Most times God doesn't throw a big party when He tells us He loves us. A lot of times it's in the small things. The things that make our hearts happy. It's when we realize these things are gifts, that we know. Without a doubt. That He really and truly cares. Because we are His.

Sunshine of Today

So I'm sitting here and it is snowing the most beautiful snow outside and it reminded me of this post I was going to write awhile back. Quite honestly, I was going through a difficult time and due to some circumstances I didn't know how things would turn out. For the most part I'm a take-it-as-it-comes kind of person and things rarely stress me out. But now it felt as though clouds that were far off in the distance suddenly came close fast... and I was challenged by a song that I'd heard a long time ago that spoke specifically about not letting the clouds of tomorrow steal the sunshine of today. It was so what I needed to hear/remember... and suddenly I felt like there was nothing to worry about anymore. I felt that somehow God had already taken care of it all. -And He has.- {and if this sounds like I don't ever struggle with doubt. Rest assured. Just because the spiritual gifts test shows Faith doesn't mean I always feel completely un-worried!} I started taking notice of the "sunshiny" things in my life and it's amazing everything that suddenly popped out as a gift from God! I find that life is much happier when one is intentional about finding good things in every day...

A few things that made my day: 

•  While I was telling my boss about some of the above mentioned stuff that was going on she promptly stopped what she was doing & prayed for me. I'm so blessed. God couldn't have given me a better boss! 
• Being able to send random packages to random people. Yup. I do love giving gifts! :)
• Seeing people all happy about a deal you were able to give them on doughnuts at the end of the day.   Happiness is contagious. 
• Turning on the radio to hear my favorite song being played.
• Getting new music that is now my new favorite. 
• A co-worker that seems like my sister-only in a vastly different aspect! :)
• Seeing God work out details. This is huge people.
• That feeling you get when God plants a dream in your heart & you just know something exciting will happen! :)
• The snow that I mentioned at the very beginning of the post.
• Promises form the Bible.

 I am reminded to look for the good instead of focusing on the bad & unfortunate. Because in reality: 

                            -All things work together for good to them that love the Lord.-

-----------------------------------

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.

Lam. 3:22-24

Thankful-Grateful-Blessed

I know this time of year everyone and their dog is doing 'thankful' posts and I guess I shall join the ranks with them... it does make me cringe a little though when I think of how many people -including myself- tend to complain about various things in life that we just really think should be different or we think that life should be treating us more fairly then what it is at the current moment and we forget that life isn't all about US & that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord.....and then November comes along in the calendar year and we suddenly turn all thankful for everything & we participate in the "30 days of thanks" challenge....which is all great and wonderful I just need to remind myself that November is indeed not the only month for remembering our blessings and giving God thanks for them. Thus I shall continue:

-20 Thankful things-

• Family- This is big on the list! The picture below is only the ones of us that are still at home which comes out to 0.25 + 1 of us kids and both parents so that totals to 0.50 of the immediate family plus there are 2 sisters & 1 brother that have been added happily as well as 7 grandkids! :) get that? :)

• Gods Grace. This has taken on a whole new meaning for me in the last year which I might blog about later.
• Fall! -yes please!
• Music - if you know me very well at all you know this is true
• Pinterest -actually, I think this is called being thankful for inspiration. :)
• Wonderful bosses at both jobs. -Seriously people. This is a big blessing!
• My new keyboard that I have owned for barely a year. :)
• Black Friday!! -this is an awesome way to buy shoes people! Go to the store & decide what kind/size you want, wait patiently for the sale then buy them online! You don't have to go out in the scurry of fierce people & you can often get a free shipping code... $$$$ are saved! :) 
• Good encouraging books
• Godly friends
• Thrift stores. :)
• Forgiveness
• The power that is available to us through the Holy Spirit 
• Freedom. -Let me never forget the price it cost
• Health
• The privilege of being homeschooled
• A house to live in -and nice people to live with! :)  
• Laughter 
• All the different personalities that make up the people in this world. -and like I tell people who complain about a personality opposite their own: "The world would be severely boring if we were all the same." 
• The very fact that God completes what He starts. -I have thought about this tons & tons in the last while & the verse on the picture below has become a new favorite. This subject deserves a complete post in itself but I will just say a few of my thoughts right now. It is not a new thing heard of that we -without God- are nothing. And I am so thankful that God views us as worth His effort. And because I like illustrations I will illustrate what I mean. Suppose you were trying to help a person that has/had a deep addition to drugs. Lets say that this person has even kicked the habit twice already but always keeps going back.... I don't know about you but I think that after a while one would begin to view this person as helpless & hopeless and all those sorts of things. But what if that's how God viewed us every time we messed up or deliberately went against what we knew he wanted us to do? I'm just so grateful that when God starts something in each one of our lives that He finishes it. To the very last day of our lives.  He doesn't give up. And the great thing is that He has started a work in each one of our lives. Yes, that includes YOURS and He will continue to perfect it until the day it's completed when Christ returns! It's such a glorious thought!

In which I was surprised!

 So ever since my sister moved to Iowa, my other sister & I thought it would be most appreciated & out right lovely if Dorcas & some of our cousins would come see us & as time went on I was beginning to suspect that there were indeed plans & we weren't supposed to know about them which meant that they were very possibly trying to plan a surprise. I tend not to be a person that gets surprised very easily 'cause I'm always rather suspicious or as in another case once when someone was trying to surprise me, logic just told me that they would be coming- I counted the number of people that were coming & the number of seats in the vehicle & I knew there was a cousin who would find it very convenient to come along. -And she did! But that is not the story this time. 

 

The last weekend in September my sister(Rhoda) & I were working and she asked me if I would scream if I were ever surprised. "I don't know." I said. "I guess we'll have to wait and see when the time comes."  She thought that was no fun at all 'cause she knew she most definitely would scream! :)  the weekend went on & I didn't expect any one would be coming because of the days I was scheduled to work the following week but what'd you know? Sunday night we were all in the basement & the dogs started barking loudly outside & then I heard people walking upstairs & I still didn't expect anything and then they started coming down the stairs & my Dad went to look.... & obviously I was having a moment of brain-freeze 'cause when he said, "Oh. It's just you". I still didn't catch on. and then they came running & I realized who was actually here in my house & I screamed! Loudly! Which is what they were hoping for. :) (I even surprised myself here & my sister discovered indeed how I react to surprises! ;))  I discovered that mom had even arranged with my boss for me to work different days which was so happy! :) We had marvelous fun and made good use of the short time that was left until Tuesday afternoon when they were to leave.

 There are no pictures of us when we saw them which is kinda sad...

Allison/Alice & I- there are so many memories I have with this girl & her sister as well as the rest of their family.... about some things I say: what happens on the bus stays on the bus! ;) ;) haha!!:)

 Since we didn't know they were coming there was no plan of what to do so we got up in the morning & drank coffee/tea and had good conversation about dealing with pain from the past, breaking chains of bitterness & on like that until somewhere in the 11th hour...Dad came in and saw us all sitting there in our PJ's drinking coffee and thought it looked like we were getting a good start on our day! :)  We were. It was beneficial to us all. :)

We then went to town to see what we would do....

...that ended up being our favorite little cafe in Warsaw because it had been quite awhile since we were there & Chels & Allison had never been there & we were sure they were missing out! :)

 They thought it was very enchanting. Which it is.. and one of the favorite things about it is that it's all healthy! They make all their own desserts/bread/etc... and they use NO sugar. They use natural sweeteners & still the food is amazing! :)

We sat out on the awesome porch & had more good conversation. It was beautiful!

Amazing Cream Cheese Pie with Strawberries. I don't think I've even gone there with out getting this! :)

Sisters are awesome! Just sayin'... I missed all my other sisters that weren't with us.

 

  Mom made fresh doughnuts while we were gone. They were amazing! They always are.

I am normally of the belief that eating pictures are awkward. I'm not saying that this one isn't but when there are fresh doughnuts how one keep from taking a picture? ;)

Chels has a thing for Moms doughnuts. I'm not blaming her 'cause we all do. :)

 Watching 'My Fair Lady' & I decidedly say that I liked it. ;)

And we ate more doughnuts. :)

There were french pedicures to be done ...

and a fun game of dutch blitz to be played...

I have come to the conclusion once again that there is no price tag for family & friends who love the Lord.

 I am blessed.

I have also come to the conclusion that being surprised is very exciting! :)

To see more pictures & another side of the story read Chelsy's blog.

And in case you haven't yet. There's still time to enter the giveaway!

You can enter through Thursday (the 10th) & I will announce the winner on Friday.

An "out of the blue" grateful-for-my-family post

This is a picture post.  Pictures of sisters and family.  Pictures of lovely times spent together eating ice cream and drinking coffee at Mary's house.....

Us five sisters in age order at a recent reunion

Rhoda & I 

A happy mug with coffee & creamer goodness

Ice cream.....Amazon storm & cappuccino chip

Mary, Rhoda & I,   (Dorcas was behind the camera ;))

Naomi gets a picture all by herself on here because she wasn't at the 'party' :)

Aubrey, perhaps a future pianist..... *wink* :)

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.  
~Author Unknown :);) *wink*

Rhoda, the favorite aunt, with the nieces and nephews

 This older brother & sisters of mine are such a good thing in my life ;)

 Naomi & Mary

 Dad & Mom

You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  
~Desmond Tutu

The blessings of life.....

As I am sitting here counting my blessings, I realize just how much I really have to be thankful for.  Even though sometimes life doesn't seem fair and it may seem as though I am not getting all the opportunities to do things dumped in my lap like someone else doesn't mean that I am less useful to God.
There's times when I look at someone else and say to myself:  she should be perfectly happy, she has all he gifts/talents/opportunities that everyone else would like to have and she seems to have a smooth relationship with everyone around her.  And then I am reminded that God has blessed that person with that while He has chosen to bless me with other things.... and me thinking that another person has everything I want is jealous and selfish.

So I chose to count the things I have as gifts from God because really, He doesn't have favorite people, He loves us all the same, so He's not going to give one person everything and the next person nothing. 
To begin with, I have been given the gift of salvation while there are many in the world who have never even heard the Gospel. (or the name of Jesus for that matter)   Because of the extreme torture, sorrow, & pain of my Lord, I have been given unending mercy, love, grace, healing, forgiveness,.... the list could go on & on.     I have a godly heritage. (that is another thing that so many don't have)    I live in a free country where I can share my faith, and worship unhindered while many Christians are tortured and killed for their faith.  I have the complete Bible while many count themselves blessed to have just one or two pages.  I have plenty of clothes, food, water, fresh air, etc........ The question is;  What more could I want?     Living in a place where everything and more is within a hands reach I become discontent with what I don't have.   But those things I don't have that I think are so important are really of no eternal value when I think about it.  In the Bible it says to;   Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.(Col. 3:2)     it also says;   Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heb. 13:5)

 I am challenged to live each day, counting the blessings of life!

         The well of Providence is deep, it's the buckets we bring to it that are small.    Mary Webb

Note: this was written on Wednesday, I'm having fun with automatic posting :) 

A Promise

I read this verse last night and then I came to work this morning and heard this song, it talked about prayer, and the difference it makes when we keep bringing our requests before God in faith. (part of the song is written below)  I love how God always seems to know just what we need at the right time.  I'm so thankful that He doesn't hold back on giving us His blessings & promises... He does it with pleasure... He does it with joy... He does it time and time again just to remind me of His love!

It Pays To Pray
It Pays to call upon His name
It Pays To Pray
To see a miracle displayed
You’ll forget the word, “impossible”
When you seek the Savior’s face
You’ll know He will make a way
It Pays To Pray

Prayer is just as big as God is. Prayer is just as strong as God is strong
Prayer can reach as far as God can reach. Don’t ever give up just pray.

 It pays to pray - Greater Vision

26 Blessings

                                                       Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks unto the Holy One

    Give thanks because He's give Jesus Christ His Son....

                                                                   
So often I don't view everything I have as a blessing from God. I become selfish & demanding that God gives me all the things He ever has because; that's what God does right? We always say how; "God likes to give gifts to His children", which yes, He does, but that does not give us the right to claim those things which He gives us as "all ours" forgetting the source from where these things came.  We all know how much more fun it is to give something away when the receiver acts grateful, don't you think God feels the same way?     Oh that I would learn to be more grateful!

   Here's "26 Blessings"...
1. A faithful God   2. Christian friends  3. The Bible   4. Music   5. Sunsets   6. Coffee shops   

7. The free things that can be gotten with swagbucks :)   8. Family   9.Warm houses   10. Sunshine   11. Free sheet music :)   12.Redeeming love   13. Running water   14. Trees & flowers   15. Good books   16. Opportunities to serve God   17. The ability to speak, see & hear   18. Food & clothes   19. Irons & ironing boards :)   20. Encouraging websites like this one   21. nieces   22. nephews   23. Forgiveness   24.Wisdom from people who are wiser then myself   25. Godly examples   26. The hard times in life, if it wasn't for these then we would never discover the depth of God's faithfulness & love.
         What are you thankful for?  

                             O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: 
                            for His mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1

My sisters....

...are such nice people to live with....

(I know, It probably seems as though I do alot of posts about my sisters/family etc. but you'll have to excuse me 'cause I rather like to post about them! not meaning to brag or anything ...:)

                      And even though I don't live with Sara anymore I still rather like to go visit her:)

I have been thankful many times over for my sisters, we have good discussions, they give good advice,(we are glad for good advice are we not?:) With them, you never have to go places all by yourself, they provide laughter.... and more good discussions:) They are always there for you and you know that they will pray for you. It's always amazing when I think about what an influence they have had on my life,  I know that how I view certain things in life is largely because of my older sisters influence & example, ( and those good discussions... *winks*)   My sisters are some of my best friends and for that I am extremely grateful. 

Micah

I am so glad to have you for my brother...

 

some things I like about you... 

• Your love for flying,(you're becoming a wonderful pilot!)
• Your passion for God & His will in you're life
•  All little children love you
• You always take time for people
• You make wonderful brother
• And.... you're favorite verse :)

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  

Isaiah 40:31

                                               

The beginning of a story written by God's hand...

 Yesterday was a normal day, we were doing the things that needed to be done, I had just finished trimming the row of bushes in front of house, Rhoda was mowing, Micah & Dorcas were at work, Naomi was in town, Mom was working in the garden.... And then the phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number but without a doubt it was Dad's voice, there were sirens in the background & he asked to talk to Mom, he said he was in the ambulance on the way to the University in Iowa City, & that he thinks he had a stroke. He couldn't talk long 'cause he felt it coming back again.... Mom was crying when she called the children to tell them & Rhoda & I sat on the couch looking at each other not quite sure what to think or say. Being 6 hours from your Dad in a time like this is hard!   Those sorts of things always seem to happen to other people, and it seems really close home when it's your own Dad. Every week when he leaves I always take for granted that he'll be back in a few days. It makes me more grateful then ever for Him.
Me being the sort of person that thinks there is a song for every situation was having all manner of songs running through my head at once....  I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands...    be still, there is a healer, His love is deeper then the sea, His mercy it is unfailing, His arms, are a fortress for the weak, let faith arise....   strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord....  our God is greater, our God is stronger.... what if your blessings come through rain drops, what if your healing comes through tears.... I'm strong in the strength of someone else, trusting a hand that never has failed...
 Already we can see God's hand  in all of this. With Dad's job he could have easily been in Minnesota where there was no family, it was such a blessing that he was only an hour from both his & Mom's families so they could go up & be at the hospital with him... when he felt it coming there was a place for him to pull off right away, & most of all he is basically back to himself again! Last night Micah & Mom left around 7:00 for Iowa & we are so grateful for the friends that called & said they were praying for us & also the gifts of money to help pay gas etc. We are forever grateful to you! 

 (the rainbow is kinda faint but you can see it a little right above the trees)

 Last night it rained a soft gentle rain for about 5 minutes, just long enough to bring a rainbow, it felt like a gift from God.  Us girls  went to  Sonic to get supper, then we took it down to the lake to eat it & watch the sun set, soon we heard that Dad was looking/doing much better... I think I am learning all over again about answered prayer! 

 Even though there are still some uncertainties (like, will dad be able to keep his truck driving job after something like this etc.) we know that even though the story isn't finished yet, God will continue to take care of all the details like He has so far!  It's also a blessing that it happened on a week that our brother Jonathan was planning to come out for a few days!

....today is the day you have made, I will rejoice & be glad in it....

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57: 9-11