Keep Pressing On

When the world throws it’s worse at us….

We must keep pressing on.

When we feel our bodies are fighting against us…

We must keep pressing on.

When we stumble with every step….

We must keep pressing on.

When it’s daylight out and yet inside it feels dark…

We must keep pressing on.

When we feel like our heart will break….

We must keep pressing on.

Sometimes life is hard…when you look around and it seems so easy for everyone else and so hard for you don’t despair.  Look around….Find one thing you have been blessed with….ONE…whenever you feel low, remind yourself of this blessing…and

JUST KEEP PRESSING ON!!!

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Phil. 3:12)

Praying Friday is a Faith-FULL one for you….

~M

It’s Time I Got REAL…

Ever had one of those times where things seem to be rolling along just fine, really no stressors except for the minor things life tends to throw at you…and then

…WHAM…something comes at you from left field?

This past week, I was faced with a health predicament that could potentially be critical.  When faced with it…I panicked.  I would spontaneously burst into tears…look at my kids and have to fight the urge to run up and squeeze them in a bear hug….I was snippy…grouchy…worried.  I was scared.

I was angry.

When faced with my own mortality, I didn’t give God the credit due him, I didn’t praise Him (as I’ve advised friends to do), I didn’t say in wisdom “your will be done”…I got mad.  Simple, unadulterated anger.

When things are going great in my life, it’s easy to advise others who are struggling to “hang in there”, to “keep the faith”, and to “lean on Him”…But when faced with my OWN crisis, that advice seems shallow.  Regardless of how true it is…it still seems “churchy” to me.

I know the “churchy” answers…I wanted to know WHY I was having to face this.  I didn’t want to hear blanket statements or generalized encouragement…I wanted to know WHY!

I finally had to tune out all the outside advice, regardless of how good it was..and I had to get real.  I had to get real with the one I wanted to truly hear from to begin with.  I was talking to everyone BUT Him.

So, I went into my room and shut the door.  I questioned, I cried and I listened.  I asked my Abba, my daddy, what was going on.  I asked WHY now, pleaded for healing and cried some more.

It was during my tears that I had this overwhelming urge to listen to Step by Step.  A song that is so pivotal to my walk.  It was the first praise song I ever heard that wasn’t along the lines of “kumbaya” and I heard it when I was in my teens..making decisions for myself, deciding whether to follow Him or follow my friends.

It was during the listening of this song that I was brought to my knees, spiritually.

Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

It’s a simple song..short..but I didn’t need a lot of words.  I just needed a reminder.  A reminder of WHY I love Him.  Not because he’s going to heal all my hurts and not for the blessings.  I love Him simply because He’s My God.  I want to learn to walk like Him.

I want to love….I want to be his light….I want to help those in pain…I want to help those who are hurting.  I want to be LIKE Him.

After my “semi-faith crisis”, I realized I have a LONG way to go.  I had to go back to my roots…of WHY do I Love Him? I had to honestly look at my life and ask myself…is it so I can live this life of privilege? In my house with the blue walls and the little picket fence?

OR

Is it because my being…my heart…LONGS for time with Him?

You may be struggling with something.  You may be in pain, whether physically or emotionally.  And though the healing doesn’t look like you think it should…there IS healing.

Keep Your Eyes On Him.

And while I KNOW, oh how I know, the fear of what could be or what might be to come, can be overwhelming…don’t be like Peter.

As soon as you take your eyes off of Him, you will start to sink, the fear will take over.

Keep looking at Him.

At this moment I have no idea what the future holds for my health.  I have no idea if there is a terminal illness diagnosis in my near future or not but I DO know this…I will follow Him ALL…..OF……MY……DAYS.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 

“Lord, if it is you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink cried out, “Lord SAVE ME.” 

IMMEDIATELY Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 

No matter what happens in my future…what illnesses face me…what trials are thrown at me…I will walk across this water and keep my eyes on Him…and I even have the hope that if I start to get scared…I can cry out Lord SAVE ME…and he will IMMEDIATELY reach out…he won’t waste time.  IMMEDIATELY!

I pray whatever you may be struggling with you are able to get real with our Father.  Tell Him how you feel, He can handle it…then listen to Him.  He will comfort you…

And if you need someone on the sidelines cheering you on…I’d LOVE to pray for you…

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burders…

Have a Faith-FULL Friday…

~M

Earth Day and a Family of Faith?

Did you know that Earth Day was FIRST celebrated in San Francisco ,which is named after St Francis, the patron saint of ecology? AND that it in 2009 the United Nations declared that April 22 would be Earth Day through 2015?  Interesting date…Apparently, the date was to enable participation in college campuses across the world.  Over 175 countries take part in Earth Day and the celebrations grow bigger and bigger with each passing year.

Regardless of your religion, regardless of your political affiliation, regardless of whether your green peace or not, Earth Day is not something that we can ignore.  Somewhere, sometime, we will hear about Earth Day.  And so will our children. The media talks about it, Disney talks about it, schools talk about it.  Why not adopt it into your family as well, but with a bit of a different twist..Instead,  as a day to celebrate what God created for us!

So what place does Earth Day have in a family of faith? Let me show you…

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.   Genesis 1:31a

To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.  Deuteronomy 10:14

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.  Psalm 24:1

This beautiful creation that we live among was created FOR us BY God.  It is our responsibility, as his children, to take care of the place that He so lovingly created for us.  Every morning, when I look out the window at the mountains, I am blown away by the artistry of my Father.  Unable to put into words the love he must have for us to have created something THIS beautiful and yet, love ME more than it.

So, in our house, on Earth Day, we talk about the beautiful Earth that God created for us and what WE can do to respect the things God gave us (including the Earth).  I’m not saying we worship the earth…quite the opposite actually.  We love the earth while LOVING the creator!

If you’re like I was a few years ago, when Josh and I decided to celebrate Earth Day with our sons for the first time, you may not even have a clue where to start.  So, I’ve come up with a short list of things you can do as a family.  Choose one or do them all.

Chimpanzee movie by Disney Nature..Disney makes it easy to celebrate Earth Day.  Go see Chimpanzee as a family

and talk about God’s creations, learn about some adorable Chimpanzees and if you go opening weekend,

Disney Nature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute.

Grab a few bags and head out in your neighborhood with your children.  Undoubtedly you will find some trash along the road.

Use this time to talk to your children about the importance of not littering and how we must respect what God gives us!

If you don’t already, buy a few bins and teach your children about recycling (they probably know more than you do!) and how in your home you will be adopting a new policy.  How if we recycle we can reuse resources and by doing so, we are being good stewards.

There are SEVERAL awesome websites for kids about recycling and reusing.  Spend some time perusing them with your kids!

Here is one of my favorites! www.kidsbegreen.org

Plant a new tree in your yard or ask a neighbor or elderly person in your community if you can plant one in theirs!  Talk to your kids about how God created these trees that produce oxygen and created US to breathe oxygen!  More of his artistry!

Rich Mullins music is inspirational and is a perfect example of how you can admire God’s creation and give HIM the praise.  While you’re doing your Earth Day activities, download a few Rich Mullins tunes and crank it up! Some of our favorites are:

• Awesome God
• Calling Out Your Name
• The Color Green (which is about Ireland, BONUS! 😉  )
• Creed
• The Howling
• The River

  Attend a family friendly Earth Day celebration.  There are always fun activities for kids and families.  OR if you live in an area that does not have an organized Earth Day celebration, get together with a few mom friends and throw together your own “celebration”..a few crafts, a few recycling games and some yummy organic snacks and juice and you are good to go!

I repeat, I am NOT saying we worship the earth…that we put the earth’s needs above the people who live on it…I’m simply saying, that on Earth Day spend the day praising the ONE who created it!  🙂  What better way to spend a spring day!

So From the Griffin Monkeys…

Have a Faith-FULL Friday & Happy Earth Day 2012!!

GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Click “leave a comment” then click “like”..You will be entered to win one of TWO prizes!!!

A reusable shopping tote

made out of recycled water bottles

OR

It’s Not Easy Being Green by Emma Sleeth

ALSO….if you SHARE in the “leave a comment” one way your family is GREEN every day your name will be entered 3 times!!!