Psalms 143:8
Sometimes, I don't know to do anything else, but worship Him . . .
I encourage you today, to find the time to THANK the one who made the moon and the stars . . .
. . . who gives you strength when you are weary . . .
. . . who holds your hand when you are scared . . .
. . . who pours His GRACE over you like a drowning rain . . .
. . .who blesses you beyond measure . . .
. . .who never ceases to amaze you with HIS unconditional LOVE . . .
I am so glad it is HE that I wake to each morning and it is HIS guiding hand that I take hold. I am lost without Him.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Psalm 143:8 (New Living Translation)
Blessings to you today,
Natalie
The Elrods
Thanksgiving Thankful
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
i'm thinking it's time...
Psalms 51:10
So, my sweet husband is on one of his kicks again. . . In less than a week, he has detailed my car inside and out, cleaned my garage all the way down to washing the concrete floor, organized drawers overflowing with years of stuff... and his list is growing. I am afraid if I stand in one spot too long he might grab me and throw me in the back of his truck. So, if you get a call from Hannah Home... please answer - it's me, I need a ride home!! Ha! Ha! He is serious! But really, it was time, everything was so cluttered and packed full of things we never use anymore. Some things were there that we really didn't even need. . . just jumbling up things. He has asked me to tackle certain cabinets. I have walked by this particular one about 3 dozen times just waiting for it to clean itself. But, it isn't gonna happen. It can't clean itself. There is just no way. I am the only one who can go sift through all that mess and decide what is important and what is junk, what stays and what needs to be put in the trash can.
You know, (you see where I am going with this don't you. . .) our hearts are the very same way. We can't clean it our self. We need God to go in there pull everything out, sift through all the years of accumulated junk and decide what needs to stay and what needs to be thrown out!
My bathroom drawer has been so clean and organized for over a week now. I completely intend to keep it this way. Daily, I do a little scan over the contents. . . making sure nothing unnecessary has been added. If we are not careful, we will let it get back to the same way it was before.
Every morning when I open that drawer, I get a little giddy! So nice, just to see the good stuff, the right things that we will need to start our day.
We can't do it by our self, it just won't get cleaned out. We can sit there, walking by it, waiting. . . But He is the only one who can open it up, decide what is important and clean things up. I want Him to really help me get organized, search me, get rid of the unnecessary, find a place for the important stuff that I really need.
And then. . . I am asking Him to help me keep it that way!
I don't know if it is the burst of warm weather or just knowing that spring is waiting around the corner. But, I know that it is time for a little cleaning. So, if you haven't already. . . quit walking by, it is not gonna clean itself! Today, let God sift through and decide what needs to stay and what needs to go!
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10 (NIV)
Enjoy the weather!!
Thanking Him for all His Grace,
Natalie
So, my sweet husband is on one of his kicks again. . . In less than a week, he has detailed my car inside and out, cleaned my garage all the way down to washing the concrete floor, organized drawers overflowing with years of stuff... and his list is growing. I am afraid if I stand in one spot too long he might grab me and throw me in the back of his truck. So, if you get a call from Hannah Home... please answer - it's me, I need a ride home!! Ha! Ha! He is serious! But really, it was time, everything was so cluttered and packed full of things we never use anymore. Some things were there that we really didn't even need. . . just jumbling up things. He has asked me to tackle certain cabinets. I have walked by this particular one about 3 dozen times just waiting for it to clean itself. But, it isn't gonna happen. It can't clean itself. There is just no way. I am the only one who can go sift through all that mess and decide what is important and what is junk, what stays and what needs to be put in the trash can.
You know, (you see where I am going with this don't you. . .) our hearts are the very same way. We can't clean it our self. We need God to go in there pull everything out, sift through all the years of accumulated junk and decide what needs to stay and what needs to be thrown out!
My bathroom drawer has been so clean and organized for over a week now. I completely intend to keep it this way. Daily, I do a little scan over the contents. . . making sure nothing unnecessary has been added. If we are not careful, we will let it get back to the same way it was before.
Every morning when I open that drawer, I get a little giddy! So nice, just to see the good stuff, the right things that we will need to start our day.
We can't do it by our self, it just won't get cleaned out. We can sit there, walking by it, waiting. . . But He is the only one who can open it up, decide what is important and clean things up. I want Him to really help me get organized, search me, get rid of the unnecessary, find a place for the important stuff that I really need.
And then. . . I am asking Him to help me keep it that way!
I don't know if it is the burst of warm weather or just knowing that spring is waiting around the corner. But, I know that it is time for a little cleaning. So, if you haven't already. . . quit walking by, it is not gonna clean itself! Today, let God sift through and decide what needs to stay and what needs to go!
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10 (NIV)
Enjoy the weather!!
Thanking Him for all His Grace,
Natalie
Sunday, February 13, 2011
what was I thinking?!?!
Oh man, write a devotion and choose a verse on words and SURPRISE, SURPRISE?!?! I mean, come on...what was I thinking?!?! I haven't been as challenged with my words in so long as I have this past week. And man, I think I could have done a LOT better! Who am I kidding. . . I stunk it up! Why are we even surprised when the enemy comes a knockin'? We should be very familiar with his tactics by now. But somehow he manages to creep in and throw us a curve ball. The past several days I have had some bad crud that has been floating around. I normally never get sick, but it managed to find its way to my door. As a mother of three busy kids and a busy little home, there is no time for feeling bad for this momma. So, as you can imagine things have been a little sticky around here!
By the way, I must say though that I have the best husband. In these situations he never knows if he should go right or left, smile or not smile, look up or look down. (I am not the best sick patient) He steps it up and does his job and mine! He's awesome and I am so thankful for him.
One night though, the baby was so upset. As I held my breath and without any motion (I know you know what I am talking about!) tip toed away from her bed. I was done and I needed to rest. Over the next hour and half she cried out, tossed and turned. But, each time she started, I just started praying Nehemiah 8:10. Remember, the last verse I hid in my heart!! lol! Okay, I am sure there were more appropriate ones, but this one was there. I grabbed it. And, I don't know, but it worked!
Point of the story...I am getting there...be patient. (1 Thessalonians 5:14..uh, huh?!) Hiding His Word WORKS!!!! Imagine all the Scripture you could grab on to in time of need. When all words are lost, and all prayers are null. Grab on to His Word! In that silly little moment, when all I needed was rest. All I could think of was His Word. And there I found peace and rest. I LOVE IT!!!! Thank you Lord! Please continue to stir in me...
See you on Wednesday with a new Word to HIDE in your hearts!!
So thankful for His Grace,
Natalie
By the way, I must say though that I have the best husband. In these situations he never knows if he should go right or left, smile or not smile, look up or look down. (I am not the best sick patient) He steps it up and does his job and mine! He's awesome and I am so thankful for him.
One night though, the baby was so upset. As I held my breath and without any motion (I know you know what I am talking about!) tip toed away from her bed. I was done and I needed to rest. Over the next hour and half she cried out, tossed and turned. But, each time she started, I just started praying Nehemiah 8:10. Remember, the last verse I hid in my heart!! lol! Okay, I am sure there were more appropriate ones, but this one was there. I grabbed it. And, I don't know, but it worked!
Point of the story...I am getting there...be patient. (1 Thessalonians 5:14..uh, huh?!) Hiding His Word WORKS!!!! Imagine all the Scripture you could grab on to in time of need. When all words are lost, and all prayers are null. Grab on to His Word! In that silly little moment, when all I needed was rest. All I could think of was His Word. And there I found peace and rest. I LOVE IT!!!! Thank you Lord! Please continue to stir in me...
See you on Wednesday with a new Word to HIDE in your hearts!!
So thankful for His Grace,
Natalie
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
our Words, HIS WORD...
John 1:1
Words, words, words... I have been reading a lot lately about WORDS. Since childhood and its little song, "sticks and stones... " we are taught the emphasis on Words. It is just recently that I have really began to focus on the importance of words. How we use them, how we read them and how they are alive! Yes, words are alive. They are spoken into this world and right before our very eyes they begin to breath, take shape, create, change things. These 26 letters that are magically shoved together make up our world.
As a mother of three little angels, I am daily (by the minute) challenged with my words. It is so easy (for me) to get upset with them and begin fussing, saying things I shouldn't, using poor words. These words are what make my children, these 26 letters that I choose and put together is what they potentially will become. I am trying soooo hard to watch my words. I want to speak Life into my children. Fill them with the right words, with HIS Word. Because what I am learning is really about The Word, The Word of God. How it also is alive, creating, dwelling... And how we choose to use it can change our world. So, be mindful of your words and His Word. They shape the world around us!
For some time now, I have been riding this scripture-memorization-train. Encouraging others to join in with me. As I have admitted to you before, I have only a handful of God's Words hidden in my heart. I am determined though, if I stick with it, that by hiding His Word in my heart I will be changed forever. So many things we have no control over. But, we have a choice of what we choose to plant inside our hearts and mind.
I have the honor and pleasure of leading The Women's Ministry at my church. Recently, we talked on this subject, about the power of words and His Words. I am encouraging them over the next year to try and hide His Word in their hearts. Start small, start with yourself. Read the scriptures in the Bible and commit them to memory. Like planting a seed in a garden... you hide it down in the dirt, tend to it, taking care of it daily and before you know it... LIFE! There is no doubt that if we make the effort to read and memorize passages from His Word that it will change us into something beautiful, alive and growing!
So, today, this cold Wednesday morning, I am rekindling a little fire. If you haven't begun to try and hide His Word in your hearts...START TODAY, hop on this train. The verses I choose to share with you are ones that God has laid upon my heart. I would love for you guys to share your favorite verse with me. Better yet, each week I give you one, give me one back! I struggle to remember things, really I do. (I could tell you a story or two about forgetting. No, I never left my children anywhere, but...) I am asking God to help me make this a very important priority.
I am going to try posting here at http://www.thewordwarriors.blogspot.com/ instead of sending out this entire devotion and scripture in an email. Not sure how it works best for you, but please let me know! I really want to include you on this journey. If you are anything like me, I need a support system, a group of buddies to encourage me and hold me accountable. I am hoping that is what we are doing here! I will also be posting reasons and ways to learn and memorize scripture. So, if you haven't already, join me... it will be fun!
Our scripture for this week, simple and perfect... John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NIV)
Joy unspeakable and full of grace (awesome sign-off, I borrowed from a friend of mine-Thanks!),
Natalie
Words, words, words... I have been reading a lot lately about WORDS. Since childhood and its little song, "sticks and stones... " we are taught the emphasis on Words. It is just recently that I have really began to focus on the importance of words. How we use them, how we read them and how they are alive! Yes, words are alive. They are spoken into this world and right before our very eyes they begin to breath, take shape, create, change things. These 26 letters that are magically shoved together make up our world.
As a mother of three little angels, I am daily (by the minute) challenged with my words. It is so easy (for me) to get upset with them and begin fussing, saying things I shouldn't, using poor words. These words are what make my children, these 26 letters that I choose and put together is what they potentially will become. I am trying soooo hard to watch my words. I want to speak Life into my children. Fill them with the right words, with HIS Word. Because what I am learning is really about The Word, The Word of God. How it also is alive, creating, dwelling... And how we choose to use it can change our world. So, be mindful of your words and His Word. They shape the world around us!
For some time now, I have been riding this scripture-memorization-train. Encouraging others to join in with me. As I have admitted to you before, I have only a handful of God's Words hidden in my heart. I am determined though, if I stick with it, that by hiding His Word in my heart I will be changed forever. So many things we have no control over. But, we have a choice of what we choose to plant inside our hearts and mind.
I have the honor and pleasure of leading The Women's Ministry at my church. Recently, we talked on this subject, about the power of words and His Words. I am encouraging them over the next year to try and hide His Word in their hearts. Start small, start with yourself. Read the scriptures in the Bible and commit them to memory. Like planting a seed in a garden... you hide it down in the dirt, tend to it, taking care of it daily and before you know it... LIFE! There is no doubt that if we make the effort to read and memorize passages from His Word that it will change us into something beautiful, alive and growing!
So, today, this cold Wednesday morning, I am rekindling a little fire. If you haven't begun to try and hide His Word in your hearts...START TODAY, hop on this train. The verses I choose to share with you are ones that God has laid upon my heart. I would love for you guys to share your favorite verse with me. Better yet, each week I give you one, give me one back! I struggle to remember things, really I do. (I could tell you a story or two about forgetting. No, I never left my children anywhere, but...) I am asking God to help me make this a very important priority.
I am going to try posting here at http://www.thewordwarriors.blogspot.com/ instead of sending out this entire devotion and scripture in an email. Not sure how it works best for you, but please let me know! I really want to include you on this journey. If you are anything like me, I need a support system, a group of buddies to encourage me and hold me accountable. I am hoping that is what we are doing here! I will also be posting reasons and ways to learn and memorize scripture. So, if you haven't already, join me... it will be fun!
Our scripture for this week, simple and perfect... John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NIV)
Joy unspeakable and full of grace (awesome sign-off, I borrowed from a friend of mine-Thanks!),
Natalie
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