Stability and Lovingkindness

Well.... I will have to try to be better about blogging.....why oh why do I get myself into these things that just add one more thing to my "to-do" list? I love to scrapbook-- I love to journal-- I love to blog-- I love to write-- I love to keep up with friends-- but how often do I actually get to do any of these things? A wise woman once said (or wrote actually because I read it in her book) that if you can only fit in an activity for 20 minutes a day, then do it for 20 minutes because that 20 minutes adds up to 2 hours and 20 minutes a week, 10 hours a month, and so on until in 10 years you might actually have accomplished something worth while! Can you imagine scrapbooking for 20 minutes a day? By the time I got out all my pens and found the paper I wanted, three days would have gone by..... maybe I need to re-think my scrapbooking methodology!

On a different note, but really not so different, is what God has been teaching me this summer--

There are three verses that especially keep running through my mind day after day, verses 8-10 of Psalm 32, verse 6 of Isaiah 33, and the words "little by little" used in Deuteronomy chapter 7. I love how these three truths have come together to create a realization in me of how God loves me personally. I have struggled and struggled with my inability to create and maintain any sort of routine around our home. I have been lazy in my quiet times, lazy in my eating habits, lazy in my exercise habits, lazy in my attitude toward my husband, and lazy in my ability to keep my tongue in check... I have whined and moaned to God about how difficult, even impossible- seeming, trying to manage our home is with Ryan's constantly changing schedule. I have been frustrated, weary, disappointed, and even bitter.. toward Ryan, toward God, toward my life. I have been crying to God to HELP-- expecting Him to show up on His trusty stead and whisk away my problems or provide me with the perfect solution, or instantly change my attitude-- whatever would make me feel better quickly. I am sharing all this with you so maybe you will understand the vast importance, the depth of understanding and love my God has for me to have given me these verses:

Psalm 32:8-10 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness will surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart."

Isaiah 33:6 " And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure."

Deuteronomy 7:22 "The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly..."

Have you ever just thought about the language God uses in His word.
I love the words
surround--He surrounds me with His lovingkindness
and
stability--He is the stability of my times
and
little by little-- He has a plan, He is working out things in my life, I need to realize He will work them out little by little for my own benefit

These are the deepest desires and needs of my life-- to be surrounded by unchanging, unconditional love and stability. No schedule or routine, or job, or even money promises stability-- only God is the stability of my times! I wish I could draw a picture of God's lovingkindness and stability over me. He is working good things in my life little by little, He is teaching me little by little, He is helping me little by little, He is guiding me little by little...but...He has loved me with a great love.. and He loves you with a great love too!