Do I want to stumble in the desert?

I decided to do a Bible word study of the word trust because to me trust and faith seem to go together. Do you know the first time that the word trust comes up in the Bible is when the Israelites decide that they are not going to trust God and do what He said....and we all know what happened to them, they wandered in the desert for 40 years.

Okay I don't think that if I lack trust God is going to send me to the desert,(boy if that were true I would be there often) but maybe our deserts look different. Maybe the desert is not living a life of peace, finding the rest in God that we could find if we did trust. Maybe it is even missing a great plan He had for us that we could only do if we were trusting Him, like those Israelites could have been living in the Promise Land if they trusted.

Well were do I get that from? Well Psalm 95:11 is convicting, "So I declared an oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest." Why is God angry? In Deuteronomy chapter 1 it tells the story of the Israelites deciding not to trust God. God told the people to not fear the people in the land He was going to give them, but you know the story they sent the 12 spies in and 10 came back saying, "We can't do this," while only Caleb and Joshua said, "Wow, God is giving us an amazing land." Well the people sided with the 10 and decided not to trust God to take them to their promised land. They didn't find their peace, their rest, they died in their desert of non-trust. Hebrews 3:19 says, "So we see that they were not able to enter because of their unbelief."

I hope that I will live a life of belief, of trust, because Hebrews 3:12 says, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." This tells me that when I don't trust I am sinning, rebelling against God's perfect plan for me. Sure life is going to be hard sometimes, we are going to have heartaches, but I don't want to wander away from my God's plan for me. I believe that He has a plan for us and that He makes us better with each tear and heartache if we allow Him to. It is better to be in God's peace, then to doubt Him and not have that rest. May He give me the strength to keep my eyes focused on Him. I would rather live in the rest that trusting Him brings me, then live in the desert of unrest, and bitterness.

Well my friends, until next time. Keep looking up and making God your focus.

Cinnamon Rolls on My Mind

You may wonder what do cinnamon rolls have to do with faith. Well as I was making some cinnamon rolls I was thinking about eating them, and about my favorite part which is the sweet cinnamon and sugar swirled layers in the roll. Well when you frost the roll and put pecans on it you can’t see the sweet centers, but you believe they are there. You really hope that that part wasn’t forgotten. So that made me think of Hebrews 11:1 which says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” So how come it is so easy for me to believe my sweet cinnamon swirl will be in the roll, but so hard for me to believe God and trust Him and that He really has everything under control. 

I think the biggest thing I have learned as a parent, and especially as a parent of a child with severe autism that I AM NOT in control. I have no control. Many days I cry out to God that I have no idea of what I am doing, none at all. But I think that is where He wants me, He wants me resting and hoping and believing in Him. Here is a great verse that reminds me to rest in Him, Psalm 91:1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” But I need to rest in His shadow and stop trying to fight Him.

I believe that God has a purpose in each struggle, each heartache mostly because He tells me so. Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” So I will keep walking this path of faith, and hold on to the One who is in control. Until next time my friends, keep looking up.

 By the way this is my favorite recipe ever!  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Clone-of-a-Cinnabon/Detail.aspx

This is Just for a Short Time

I am just one of many...many mothers and parents facing the challenge of a child with a disability. Thankfully I have hope that someday my son will be fixed, in Heaven. I hope you have that same peace too. I don't know how I could face each day without God. Here is a poem or whatever you want to call it that came to me one day. Keep looking up my friends.

This is Just for a Short Time 

By Heather C. Jones

This is just for a short time.

Then your son will shine in glory forever more.

No more tears, no more silence.

No more misunderstanding, no more sadness.

You can sing for joy together in eternity, forever more.

This is your happy everlasting.

Keep walking don’t turn to the left or right, but walk straight in faith.

I am your hope and his hope.

I am always with you and will not forsake you.

I give you hope, peace, love.

I will protect him, I am his Father.

Rest under my wings, rest and know I am God.