Wow...that's the word that comes to my head when I reflect on this past week. It's been one of those times that have flown by at times and yet gone so painfully slow that you want to just go crazy! We had a good visit with family last weekend, and came home thinking that it was going to be a normal week, but it has not been. Eli got the stomach bug on Tuesday and it didn't really end until today (we hope). He left me the wonderful gift of the bug today though, but I'm hoping it will not last as long. So, this week has been difficult at times figuring out what the best thing was to do for him, although he didn't act like it was bothering him very much which was a huge blessing for me. So, we ended up watching a lot of Elmo this week to let him rest...which of course he doesn't mind a bit. With that said it's a blessing that this is his first experience with a stomach bug in his 18 months on earth...so, again another blessing!
We actually put our house on the market as well yesterday. A lot has gone into this action, and we are completely trusting that the Lord will show us what he would like us to do in this transition and step of faith. We look forward to seeing what He does in and through this decision. So, again everything in our lives keeps coming back to "my grace is sufficient". I have clung to this for awhile now, and will continue to do so. I rejoice that in our weakness His face shines brighter. I am abundently grateful for His mercy and His strength.
With that said...we are now 6 days away from vacation! I can't tell you how big my smile is while I type those words. So, we just continue to rejoice in the good times and the trials, and look forward to the rest that is ahead!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Family
So, we just got back from Nashville, and were able to see family from both the Cleek and Keith side and it was very nice. We had time to celebrate sweet Grammie's birthday and enjoy some much needed time of fellowship. It was a sweet time. I was also able to hang out with my sister and parents some as well. It was really great to get to talk to my sister though. She has such a beautiful heart, and for the first time in awhile we had some "quality" sister time. This time was much needed and treasured for me.
We have been trying to readjust to being back here and attempting to finish some house cleaning. We are tired, but the Lord has been so faithful to provide us with the energy and grace we have needed for our days. This is where my heart as been for awhile....the idea that His grace is more than sufficient for me. I have found myself resting in that promise and truth so much lately, and it truly has been something that I cling to. I was writing my sister an email the other night and I was looking at some words from Paul. I have always wondered what the thorn in Paul's side is. I actually like that he doesn't tell us what it is even though I wish I knew at times. However, you know it's something that he wants to be truly rid of, but it doesn't seem like he ever gets that prayer answered. However, through this constant "thorn in his side" he continues to walk with Jesus and testify that "His grace is sufficient". So, I leave with that passage today, knowing that my life has seen how true that statement is and I pray that He continues to take things away and do things in my life so that my testimony will continue to be "His grace is sufficient".
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We have been trying to readjust to being back here and attempting to finish some house cleaning. We are tired, but the Lord has been so faithful to provide us with the energy and grace we have needed for our days. This is where my heart as been for awhile....the idea that His grace is more than sufficient for me. I have found myself resting in that promise and truth so much lately, and it truly has been something that I cling to. I was writing my sister an email the other night and I was looking at some words from Paul. I have always wondered what the thorn in Paul's side is. I actually like that he doesn't tell us what it is even though I wish I knew at times. However, you know it's something that he wants to be truly rid of, but it doesn't seem like he ever gets that prayer answered. However, through this constant "thorn in his side" he continues to walk with Jesus and testify that "His grace is sufficient". So, I leave with that passage today, knowing that my life has seen how true that statement is and I pray that He continues to take things away and do things in my life so that my testimony will continue to be "His grace is sufficient".
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Well, I am worn out right now. It's been a long week in some cases regarding trying to pack up some things but we are plugging along. I am reminded all the more that God is who He says He is, and does what He says He can do. This excites and comforts me when I am tired. As we look to what is ahead I know that the Lord already knows the outcome and I trust Him in that. Again, our prayer is total dependence on Him for every need, want, and desire.
So, I end with this passage in Colossians, that encourages me deeply. Though I am tired, my heart is grateful and joyful as we continue to follow His direction.
Colossians 1:10-12
10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
So, I end with this passage in Colossians, that encourages me deeply. Though I am tired, my heart is grateful and joyful as we continue to follow His direction.
Colossians 1:10-12
10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Home
We are back from a short but sweet trip to Kingsport, and realize all the more the importance and gift that family is. I am pretty worn out today though. Always loads of laundry and cleaning up from unloading everything...and we weren't gone 48 hours! Nuts! I am just ovewhelmed by the heat, but am grateful for the gift that it is. Pray for us this week as we try to box some things up and declutter our house! Clutter is always a sore subject in the Keith household, but we are going to attempt to eliminate it in a week, and I pray that we will realize yet again how the Lord has abundently blessed us and met above and beyond our daily needs. May we come to see that our work is a gift and the things that take up space in our homes, cars, and lives are more than we deserve. So, this is my heart this day:
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
The weather is sunny and beautiful today....such a beautiful reminder of His privision and grace in our lives. I praise Him for this sweet reminder.
We just started a study on Abraham (he is Abram right now) with our precious community group, whom we dearly love. This first session hit us like a ton of bricks for multiple reasons, and we are grateful for what God allowed us to see through the incredible story of this man's life. I am so grateful that He continues to use people that mess up along the way!
Anyhow, Abram's story begins in Chapter 11 of Genisis talking about his lineage, but then at the beginning of Chapter 12 God calls this unassuming man to start a story that would change history. Check out how Chapter 12 kicks off:
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
The Lord told Abram to leave what He knew and just follow Him. He did not tell him where to go, He just said that He would show him. This was an entirely huge step of faith that Abram I'm sure did not take lightly...however, He trusted in this calling at the age of 75, took His wife Sarai, and left. I am awed and humbled by his answer to the calling to go. He did but what He does next is all too familiar in my own life....he chooses to take things into his own hands and not trust the Lord for everything.
The next verses of this chapter tell of how Abram and Sarai passed through a few different places until the Lord appeared to Abram and said "To your descendants I will give this land". He built an alter to the Lord here. He continued to travel South and then went to live in Egypt. Here is where things got a little to uncomfortable for Abram...he decides to come up with a plan himself to keep himself safe and not rely completely on the promise of God. He tells Sarai to lie when they get there and tell Pharaoh that she is his sister and not his wife because of her great beauty. Abram was afraid that if they found out they were married that the Egyptians would kill Abram and let Sarai live. So, at that point they relied on the plan they devised instead of relying on God's promise and provision. Pharaoh then took Sarai into his harem. The Lord however stepped in and sent plagues...and it is interesting to note that He says He sent the plagues "because of Sarai, Abram's wife". God was watching out for her best intrests even though Abram was more interested in his own. Pharaoh realizes the reason for these plagues and sends Sarai back to Abram with the command to "go your own way". They left the land with their lives, but with the great demonstration of God's grace.
This story hit me in the face. God has called me to do things in the past and I have made excuses or decided to do things my own way instead of relying on His promises. However, I have looked back and seen what God has done despite my selfishness and am humbled that He still wants to do things in and through me.
God is not going to ask us to do something and then walk away to let us figure everything out on our own...that is not dependenence on Him that's dependence on ourselves. When He calls us to something we have to have faith that He has the plans and details worked out for His glory and we don't need to get in the way of that...we just need to follow His direction. That is what we are learning now. What does it look like to totally depend on Christ for every need? We want to experience that type of dependecy and that type of faith. Pray for us as we allow God to show us what that might look like.
We just started a study on Abraham (he is Abram right now) with our precious community group, whom we dearly love. This first session hit us like a ton of bricks for multiple reasons, and we are grateful for what God allowed us to see through the incredible story of this man's life. I am so grateful that He continues to use people that mess up along the way!
Anyhow, Abram's story begins in Chapter 11 of Genisis talking about his lineage, but then at the beginning of Chapter 12 God calls this unassuming man to start a story that would change history. Check out how Chapter 12 kicks off:
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
The Lord told Abram to leave what He knew and just follow Him. He did not tell him where to go, He just said that He would show him. This was an entirely huge step of faith that Abram I'm sure did not take lightly...however, He trusted in this calling at the age of 75, took His wife Sarai, and left. I am awed and humbled by his answer to the calling to go. He did but what He does next is all too familiar in my own life....he chooses to take things into his own hands and not trust the Lord for everything.
The next verses of this chapter tell of how Abram and Sarai passed through a few different places until the Lord appeared to Abram and said "To your descendants I will give this land". He built an alter to the Lord here. He continued to travel South and then went to live in Egypt. Here is where things got a little to uncomfortable for Abram...he decides to come up with a plan himself to keep himself safe and not rely completely on the promise of God. He tells Sarai to lie when they get there and tell Pharaoh that she is his sister and not his wife because of her great beauty. Abram was afraid that if they found out they were married that the Egyptians would kill Abram and let Sarai live. So, at that point they relied on the plan they devised instead of relying on God's promise and provision. Pharaoh then took Sarai into his harem. The Lord however stepped in and sent plagues...and it is interesting to note that He says He sent the plagues "because of Sarai, Abram's wife". God was watching out for her best intrests even though Abram was more interested in his own. Pharaoh realizes the reason for these plagues and sends Sarai back to Abram with the command to "go your own way". They left the land with their lives, but with the great demonstration of God's grace.
This story hit me in the face. God has called me to do things in the past and I have made excuses or decided to do things my own way instead of relying on His promises. However, I have looked back and seen what God has done despite my selfishness and am humbled that He still wants to do things in and through me.
God is not going to ask us to do something and then walk away to let us figure everything out on our own...that is not dependenence on Him that's dependence on ourselves. When He calls us to something we have to have faith that He has the plans and details worked out for His glory and we don't need to get in the way of that...we just need to follow His direction. That is what we are learning now. What does it look like to totally depend on Christ for every need? We want to experience that type of dependecy and that type of faith. Pray for us as we allow God to show us what that might look like.
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