I decided that since it was such a beautiful day and the kids were all asleep that I would take a long run. Most days I average 3 miles, but I like to get in long runs or endurance runs when I can. So, I set out for a light hearted six mile run. I begin my run facing East, and I hear the hummmmm of the wind blowing past me. I preatty much ignore the sound until 2 miles into my run I take a right turn and begin running South. With this one turn my body almost completely stops. I am now running into the craziest wind my Grant County mind can fathom. In Grant County we have trees, lots of them! As Jonathan would say, "This ain't Grant County, it's the Prairie Sweet Heart!". Determined as I was to finish my run, I pressed on. About 1/2 mile running South and I was ready to turn around. I knew that if I turned around that the wind would give life back to my tired legs. I could hear my high school coach saying, "Tuck your chin, drop your arms, relax and just run Rachel!".
As I continued on my way I couldn't help but think about running in relation to my walk with Christ. How often am I tempted to give up when situations get difficult. How often do I just want to turn around and feel the wind at my back. Sometimes God allows the wind to blow fiercley at us, sometimes He causes it to blow and then at other times He calms the winds of our life.
Several verses came to mind during this struggle to endure. I thought of James 1:2 where we are told to "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, b/c you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Then in verse 12 James tells me "Blessed is the man who perseveres under tial, b/c when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." And of course Phil 4:13 kept coming to mind, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
So often when I'm in a trial I just hear the constant hummm of the grass beside me, the electrical lines above me popping in the wind, and I feel pain in my very bones. It is during those times that I am the closest to my Lord, and it is during those times that I remember it is through His strength that I can do all things, not mine! So I prayed today, "God please help me to accept difficult relationships, challenges at work, emotional battles, and just struggles in general as tools that you use to make me more mature in my faith. Help me to live out what I know in my heart, and that is, this world is not my home."
Thankfully, God allows me to turn around and run with the wind more often than I run against it. But, my run today helped me to focus on my eternal purpose. I was reminded to tuck my chin (stay in God's Word), drop my arms (accept God's will and purpose for this day, without turning from it-embrace it), and just run (live one day at a time, focused on His glory).
When I got home I asked Jonathan if the winds were blowing around 18 miles per hour. He checked his ipone and laughed....they were 28 miles per hour with gusts of 32 miles per hour! Who needs Grant County hills when ya have Grand Prairie winds!!!!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Grumbling or Disputing!
As I read and re-read Philippians 2:14 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing" I am convicted of how many times a day I have to ask God to forgive me of this very sin! I have found myself this morning telling the kids to stop arguing, play sweetly, be loving, stop complaining, share, share, share, and share! I wonder if God feels the frustration with me that I feel with the kids. Does He ever want to throw His arms up in surrender? Thankfully, I know the answer. His mercies are new every morning, and his grace is enough for all my failures.
I guess today God is working on the part of me that grumbles and the part of me that does not embrace the humble and quiet spirit that I am called to in 1 Peter 3:4. I know that God is good and that I am blessed, it's just that I don't always act like it. My words and my thoughts show that I am not focused on the eternal and that's when I become the grumbler who has a loud spirit.
This past week we said good-bye to my sweet Grandma, and just thinking about her legacy has really convicted me of the previous struggles I guess. It was such a blessing to be able to let her go knowing that she was going home! My memories of her include those of her taking me to church, reading the Bible to me, teaching me to cook, letting me go with her to visit and take care of the elderly or widowed, and watching her love her children and grandchildren by word and deed. She loved the Lord and her words proved her faith. Her spirit was always humble and quiet and that's what made her so comforting to all she came in contact with. She left a legacy that will be handed down for many generations to come! I pray that someday my grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren can say the same of me, and that God's great love is thought of just at the mention of my name.
I guess today God is working on the part of me that grumbles and the part of me that does not embrace the humble and quiet spirit that I am called to in 1 Peter 3:4. I know that God is good and that I am blessed, it's just that I don't always act like it. My words and my thoughts show that I am not focused on the eternal and that's when I become the grumbler who has a loud spirit.
This past week we said good-bye to my sweet Grandma, and just thinking about her legacy has really convicted me of the previous struggles I guess. It was such a blessing to be able to let her go knowing that she was going home! My memories of her include those of her taking me to church, reading the Bible to me, teaching me to cook, letting me go with her to visit and take care of the elderly or widowed, and watching her love her children and grandchildren by word and deed. She loved the Lord and her words proved her faith. Her spirit was always humble and quiet and that's what made her so comforting to all she came in contact with. She left a legacy that will be handed down for many generations to come! I pray that someday my grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren can say the same of me, and that God's great love is thought of just at the mention of my name.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2010 has come and GONE!
This season of our lives has brought many sweet memories, and we give thanks to our Lord for His unfailing goodness. Jonathan & Ryan had a difficult year farming with a combine that kept breaking, too much heat, too many bugs, poor rice prices, etc. BUT God has provided for our every need and probably too many our wants. Farming is a way of living that constantly keeps us reminded of God's sovereignty and providence!
We have spent another year living on the farm and in the home that Jonathan's Grandfather gave us. There are so many wonderful things that we get to experience as we live in the wide open beauty of God's creation. Ian, who is now 3 1/2, loves the fact that his daddy works on a tractor (sometimes in the front yard), that we have barn owls, that horses roam near by, that on clear nights the heaven's come alive, and above all he absolutely loves to play in the fresh plowed dirt! Ian is quickly developing the fine art of being able to sit on tractors for hours at a time. I must say I am pleased at this not only because it allows me some free time with only two children, but because I think it helps him see that there is a time to "be still and know that I am God". Jonathan uses their time together to teach him about farming but also to plant seeds in his little heart that will hopefully someday produce fruit! Ian enjoys watching Deigo and many other cartoons that we have to limit him to. He has a sweetness about him that I pray God protects, but I must say he is quite firery when his sister becomes too opinionated.
Jada Kathryn loves the farm as well but for many other reasons. She loves the fact that her Uncle David lives right down the road, and he comes to visit fairly often with ice cream bars, rides on the four wheeler, horse rides, and lots of hugs and kisses. And he is only allowed to call her "honey" which she adores! Jada really enjoys summer time when she can run half-clothed through a sprinkler in the front yard...OK, well no clothes if she thinks she can get away with it! Jada is very aware of her adoption, and she is often full of deep questions. A few months ago, while we were saying her bedtime prayers, she asked me if Mirna carried her in her tommie. I explained to her that Mirna only took care of her until we were allowed to bring her home, and that we were never told the name of the lady that carried her in her tommie. Her reply was one of great depth. She simply said, "Mom, Can we call her Grace". So for some time now we have been praying for a lady that we call "Grace". Jada spends a lot of her time coloring, looking at books, and talking! For a four year old she has a pretty impressive vocabulary, and I pray God uses this gift of gab for His glory some day.
Then there's sweet little 19 month old Eli. As the baby child he takes his role seriously. He spends his time following Jada and Ian around watching their every move, and he has just recently begun to mock Ian with every step. Words are coming more easily now, a few weeks ago he repeated back to me "I love you", and of course he melted my heart. I will have to say that he melts his daddy's art as well though. When Jonathan goes to leave for work Eli will try to put on his shoes and all the time saying "Me too" "Me too"! While Ian has a sweetness, Eli has a gentle, loving spirit that draws you to him. Eli likes to play with cars and tractors and he has already spent several hours on the tractor with his daddy. As spring time draws closer I think he will follow in Ian's footsteps and begin longing for long days at work with his daddy.
Jonathan has been busy this past year working on renovations to our home, and I must say I have been very impressed! He and his brother Ryan must have gotten their Papa's carpenter abilities. The have taken walls down past the studs and rebuilt rooms, laid tile, sheet rocked walls and ceilings, put in recessed lighting, and the list goes on! It has been such a blessing not only financially but also relationally as I have watched my husband of now 10 years make a home for his family! Jonathan spent the past few weeks entertaining friends and family with duck hunts on the farm, and he took Ian on his first deer hunt (they've killed ducks, but no deer).
I still work three days a week as a "pharmacy tech/accounts person" at Coker Hampton. I love my bosses, and they have blessed me in so many ways. God has provided this job so that our health insurance is taken care of and I am still allowed to be at home the other four days. I treasure my days at home with my children, and I try to invest every moment that I can into training them in the ways of the Lord. I pray God helps me do it better in the months and years ahead. I have always ran as a hobby, but this past year I decided to use my hobby to raise money for causes that I thought were important (like Easter Seals). I ran my first of what I hope to be many more 1/2 marathons. Jonathan has joyfully taken care of all three of the kids when I leave early on Saturday mornings to go run my 5k/10k's. Running in races has also opened up the opportunity for new relationships with other ladies that run. Some are Believers and some aren't, but having something in common to talk about helps build bridges that normally I wouldn't have. My prayer is that God uses my hobby for His glory, and when it's time to move on to something else- that I will without hesitation.
Now that we can access our blog I hope to do better in posting things that are going on in our family, and in posting the many ways that God is teaching our family and me personally as a wife, mom, and child of the King. I look forward to 2011 and I'll begin this year with a prayer from Scripture, "Two things I ask of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30: 7-9)."
We have spent another year living on the farm and in the home that Jonathan's Grandfather gave us. There are so many wonderful things that we get to experience as we live in the wide open beauty of God's creation. Ian, who is now 3 1/2, loves the fact that his daddy works on a tractor (sometimes in the front yard), that we have barn owls, that horses roam near by, that on clear nights the heaven's come alive, and above all he absolutely loves to play in the fresh plowed dirt! Ian is quickly developing the fine art of being able to sit on tractors for hours at a time. I must say I am pleased at this not only because it allows me some free time with only two children, but because I think it helps him see that there is a time to "be still and know that I am God". Jonathan uses their time together to teach him about farming but also to plant seeds in his little heart that will hopefully someday produce fruit! Ian enjoys watching Deigo and many other cartoons that we have to limit him to. He has a sweetness about him that I pray God protects, but I must say he is quite firery when his sister becomes too opinionated.
Jada Kathryn loves the farm as well but for many other reasons. She loves the fact that her Uncle David lives right down the road, and he comes to visit fairly often with ice cream bars, rides on the four wheeler, horse rides, and lots of hugs and kisses. And he is only allowed to call her "honey" which she adores! Jada really enjoys summer time when she can run half-clothed through a sprinkler in the front yard...OK, well no clothes if she thinks she can get away with it! Jada is very aware of her adoption, and she is often full of deep questions. A few months ago, while we were saying her bedtime prayers, she asked me if Mirna carried her in her tommie. I explained to her that Mirna only took care of her until we were allowed to bring her home, and that we were never told the name of the lady that carried her in her tommie. Her reply was one of great depth. She simply said, "Mom, Can we call her Grace". So for some time now we have been praying for a lady that we call "Grace". Jada spends a lot of her time coloring, looking at books, and talking! For a four year old she has a pretty impressive vocabulary, and I pray God uses this gift of gab for His glory some day.
Then there's sweet little 19 month old Eli. As the baby child he takes his role seriously. He spends his time following Jada and Ian around watching their every move, and he has just recently begun to mock Ian with every step. Words are coming more easily now, a few weeks ago he repeated back to me "I love you", and of course he melted my heart. I will have to say that he melts his daddy's art as well though. When Jonathan goes to leave for work Eli will try to put on his shoes and all the time saying "Me too" "Me too"! While Ian has a sweetness, Eli has a gentle, loving spirit that draws you to him. Eli likes to play with cars and tractors and he has already spent several hours on the tractor with his daddy. As spring time draws closer I think he will follow in Ian's footsteps and begin longing for long days at work with his daddy.
Jonathan has been busy this past year working on renovations to our home, and I must say I have been very impressed! He and his brother Ryan must have gotten their Papa's carpenter abilities. The have taken walls down past the studs and rebuilt rooms, laid tile, sheet rocked walls and ceilings, put in recessed lighting, and the list goes on! It has been such a blessing not only financially but also relationally as I have watched my husband of now 10 years make a home for his family! Jonathan spent the past few weeks entertaining friends and family with duck hunts on the farm, and he took Ian on his first deer hunt (they've killed ducks, but no deer).
I still work three days a week as a "pharmacy tech/accounts person" at Coker Hampton. I love my bosses, and they have blessed me in so many ways. God has provided this job so that our health insurance is taken care of and I am still allowed to be at home the other four days. I treasure my days at home with my children, and I try to invest every moment that I can into training them in the ways of the Lord. I pray God helps me do it better in the months and years ahead. I have always ran as a hobby, but this past year I decided to use my hobby to raise money for causes that I thought were important (like Easter Seals). I ran my first of what I hope to be many more 1/2 marathons. Jonathan has joyfully taken care of all three of the kids when I leave early on Saturday mornings to go run my 5k/10k's. Running in races has also opened up the opportunity for new relationships with other ladies that run. Some are Believers and some aren't, but having something in common to talk about helps build bridges that normally I wouldn't have. My prayer is that God uses my hobby for His glory, and when it's time to move on to something else- that I will without hesitation.
Now that we can access our blog I hope to do better in posting things that are going on in our family, and in posting the many ways that God is teaching our family and me personally as a wife, mom, and child of the King. I look forward to 2011 and I'll begin this year with a prayer from Scripture, "Two things I ask of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30: 7-9)."
Monday, December 6, 2010
Up & Going Again!
After 1 1/2 years we have finally gotten enough time to stop and change passwords and sign in again to our account! Hopefully we'll be up and bloggin soon!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A Season for Everything!
Wow, it's already March...the buffalo nates are out, flowers are blooming, the smell of fresh plowed soil is in the air, and Easter (Resurrection Day) is on its way. So much has happened in the past few months. We celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jada became an official citizen of the state, we celebrated Great Grandma Winston turning 90, and we said goodbye to a sweet and loving mom and Grandma of 59 years. There is a season for everything! "He has made everything appropriate in its time....I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor- it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him." (Ecclesiastes 3:11-14). There is such hope in the fact that the God of creation is in control, and this same God-the God of my Salvation, is involved in every aspect of my life. Praise God!!!!
On a much lighter note the kids are into everything...they get into dresser drawers (top ones) and sit while playing with clothes, they get into the bathtub (with their clothes on), they pull anything and everything off of kitchen cabinets, and the list goes on. Ian is now talking (despite his sisters constant "noise")and he loves ice cream with dad. Jada is in "big girl panies" and she likes to play dress up. They are such a joy!
We are in the process of remodeling and moving into Grandpa Web's house. We should be in sometime in the next month...hopefully before the new Hillman makes his entrance. Eli's due date is May 3, but most likely I'll be induced at the end of April since Ian came so quickly. I really don't want to go into labor 1 1/2 hours away from my doctor. We'll see what happens.
We look forward to God's plans for us in the future -future "seasons", and we pray our simple lives will bring Him glory.We thank God for His goodness, His comfort, and His promise to never leave us or forsake us!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Over the past 2 months Jada has turned two, and we can officially say that she has entered the terrible two's- although she's been there for a few months already:) Ian has learned to find those things that bring Jada joy, present them to her, and then run in the opposite direction laughing has hard as he can. It's really quite fun to watch.
We had an opportunity to go to the Memphis Zoo and both kids loved the animals. Ian referred to the lions and tigers as "cats"- they're his favorite! Jada liked the pandas and the giraffes.
We had our annual Fall Festival on the 31st of October. Jada was a ballerina and Ian wore a Arkansas Razorback jersey. Their favorite thing was jumping on the air-up toys. They did this with their cousin Sawyer for 2 hours straight!
We look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas! It's so fun teaching them about the holidays and why we celebrate. We pray God's joy and peace are real to you as we approach these special days. Even though some have sad memories during these days, there is such comfort in being reminded that our God is still in control!
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