I've moved!!!

Please click over at my new website, makemeamary.com. Hope you'll follow me over there and re-subscribe!

Taking a little break, and then a new website:)

And when I get back, it'll be on a new site. I'm moving from Blogger to Wordpress, so if you subscribe to my posts, please please please please please check back and resubscribe in just a few days. I don't want to lose you!

My domain will still be makemeamary.com. I'll miss being here, but I have some work I'm finishing up for a class, so this is a necessary break. I hope to see you back in just a few days on my new site. :)

Blessings!

A God of breakthroughs

Sometimes barrenness has nothing to do with child-bearing. I'm the mother of four, so I'm obviously not barren in that respect. But we can experience barrenness in other areas of our lives ... finances, friendship, family relationships, marriage, etc. I heard a message today on the story of Hannah and how God blessed her after a long period of barrenness with a little baby boy named Samuel.

But God had a purpose in making Hannah wait.

In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying, "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." 1 Samuel 1:10-11

What if we looked at our barrenness differently? What if instead of dwelling on what's missing in our lives, we sought the thing God is trying to do in us? What if we made it our mission to surrender, that we might reach that point God wants to bring us to? 

Maybe He simply wants us to stop trying to make things happen on our own and let Him do His work, in His timing. Breakthrough comes once He has accomplished His purpose. So do in me whatever You need to do, Lord. I'm ready for a breakthrough. 

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." And they worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel 1:27-28

276. encouraging words in Sunday service

277. amazing worship

278. he got out of his funk and told me he loved me

279. Snickerdoodles (yes, I had one two)

280. a fun shopping trip with my friend (we laughed the whole day)

281. a ridiculously long Sunday afternoon nap

282. a good, hot pot of beef stew with cornbread

283. hydrangeas

284. my new full-length mirror (I chose one that makes me look skinnier-ha!)

285. everyone is well for the moment ... Amen.

What can happen in an art gallery

I've missed being here, but writing for thirty-one days straight just wore me out. Add to that an insanely hectic week, and it all equals no time for blogging.

But I haven't had anything to write about anyway. I've been in one of those places where God just doesn't seem near. I read my Bible and it's just words on a page. I pray, but again, it's just words that don't really go anywhere or do any good. My temper is short, my stress level high. The tears have come quickly and I don't know why. (Did that just sound like a Dr. Seuss poem?)

Anyway,  yesterday I found myself standing in a gallery full of original art with beautiful photographs and even more beautiful scriptures. The Word of God was literally all over that space. I wanted to purchase a piece that art, and I spent at least an hour walking around looking through the choices. So many beautiful choices, all reminders of His love and faithfulness to me. It made me miss Him and the longing went deep, so I asked for His presence. Be near me, Lord. Please.

And I stood there suddenly overwhelmed by the Spirit of God. As His words surrounded me, words that've become so precious to me, I marveled that I don't have to buy a piece of art to have them in a tangible form because the power of His Word already lives inside me. Thank You, Lord.

There were too many of my favorite scriptures to choose from, so I decided on a piece that says just one word.

And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13