How can she be old enough for school????

Well, today is unofficially the last day of real summer. School starts for most people tomorrow, including my daughter. I knew this day was coming but it really seemed far away... While one part of me is really excited for this new chapter in her life, another part of me has real trepidation about it. Since certain laws in this country have been recently passed I feel really nervous about what she might be exposed to in the school system. So this week I am holding on tightly to this verse: "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6-7.

Also, as a sort of follow up to "God given guilt???" my daughter has been asking a lot more about her dad lately and it is very painful... The other day she was playing with her dolls and she was saying that they (the dolls) weren't a real family because the father had left. Of course that led to a big talk. I knew these sorts of conversations were coming but I guess I figured after five years of preparing for them, they wouldn't be quite as painful as they are. But God is good to me and He has been giving a lot of comfort to me lately... mostly through His Word but it seems... (weird as it may sound) that on nights when I ache so much inside that I can almost feel myself shriveling, I can feel His love coming through, providing a comfort and sense of peace that renews me. I will say it again, I serve a great God.

Washed Clean!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

What did these particular verses tell me today.... Exactly what I needed to be reminded of... yet again :-)

It's time to stop thinking of myself in the terms of who I was, and start thinking about myself in the terms of how God sees me... I AM WASHED CLEAN!!!! I think Satan tries everyday to deceive us, to make us believe the worst about ourselves. He wants us to relive each and every mistake we have ever made, to focus on our past, which can make us sick with guilt and shame, instead of focusing on our future that is secure in God's hand and full of peace and grace and never ending love.

I am so thankful for God's word, his love letter if you will, that reminds me every time I read it that I am precious in the eyes of God.

Thank you all for your kind words. It is great being apart of such a wonderful family. The journey is so much better when you have friend along for the drive... Shelley, Franky, I don't tell you enough but I love you guys and thank God that He has put you in my life.

Psalm 119:114
"You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."