I read the following devotional today in my Zondervan Women's Devotional Bible (p. 701), (Author not identified), and thought it might encourage you in the same way it encouraged me.
Psalm 71:5-6 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
“...If God can use a roaming Bedouin to birth a nation, a stuttering speaker to confront Egypt's pharaoh, a shepherd boy to lead a nation, an exiled Jewish girl to rescue her people and a timid teenager to bear the Son of God, then God can use us [Sarah Palin]! The critical question isn't, "Can I [Sarah Palin] do this?" The better question is, "Can God do this through me [Sarah Palin]?" The answer is a resounding "YES!"....
When we feel weak-kneed and lack confidence, we are most open to relying on God. The Bible gives us affirmation after affirmation of God's strength in the face of our limited ability: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil.4:13). "Nothing is impossible with God". (Luke 1:37) "Nothing is too hard for [the Lord]." (Jer. 32:17). "In all these things we are mre than conquerors through Him who loved us". (Rom.8:37)"My grace is sufficent for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". (2 Cor. 12:9) Nothing silences the voice of timidity as powerfully as the voice of Scripture.
So if you find yourself in a new situation today, make sure you don't rely on your own limited talents or skills, but that you place your unshakable confidence in the limitless God.”
God bless you, Sarah. I don't believe in your abilities - I believe in God's abilities through you. "...and who knows but that you have come to royal (Presidential) position for such a time as this?!" Esther 4:14
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Jeanna Joy
Jeanna Joy
September 1996
Twelve years ago today
My lifelong dream came true
I became a mother
As I gave birth to you
Our Heavenly Father blessed us
With a Gracious Gift of Joy
I always wanted a girl first
Though we thought you were a boy
You arrived a few weeks early
And gave our hearts a fright
As you had some trouble breathing
In the middle of the night
We gave you to the Lord
From the moment you arrived
He healed your little body
And ever since you’ve thrived
You have always been a beauty
With your gorgeous auburn curls
As freckles skip across your nose
How you love to dance & twirl
Right from the very beginning
You have studied everything
Your bright mind so curious
Your quietness endearing
You started humming early
Then talking, singing too
Music has come naturally
Just spilling out of you
The Lord has chosen you His child
He has given gifts to you
He has a special purpose
He’s designing just for you
You have a quiet inner strength
Mature beyond your years
The Father’s love is faithful
Bringing peace when there are tears
My prayer for you is this today
May you make His ways your own
As He becomes your closest friend
You’ll never be alone
As you turn twelve, Jeanna Joy
I just have this to say
May you be extra special blessed
On this your special day
Written just for you by Mom
(Joy Grace Caldwell)
September 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Seasons of Our Lives
Seasons come and seasons go.
The leaves they constant change.
So too our lives ebb and flow,
No matter what the age.
Right from the start as little babes
Our lives take root like trees.
As flowers bloom so too our hearts
So lovely for all to see.
From baby dolls to High School Prom
The years they come and go.
From princess dress to bling blue jeans
Then it’s a wedding dress to sew.
From ponytails to slanted bob
Once blond, then brown, now gray
Our hair like leaves never the same
Our long locks now gone away.
As goes our age, our clothes, our hair
So too our hearts do change.
There’s joy and pain, laughter and tears
Each day writes a brand new page.
Some pages they are stained with tears,
These seasons marked with pain.
But joy like flowers never bloomed
Without the storms and rain.
God knows just how much sunshine
Blue skies, yet storm clouds too,
Each phase, each stage, each season
Of our lives He long foreknew.
It brings me peace and comfort
To say, “His will not mine.”
Will you choose to trust Him
Through each season, in His time?
The leaves they constant change.
So too our lives ebb and flow,
No matter what the age.
Right from the start as little babes
Our lives take root like trees.
As flowers bloom so too our hearts
So lovely for all to see.
From baby dolls to High School Prom
The years they come and go.
From princess dress to bling blue jeans
Then it’s a wedding dress to sew.
From ponytails to slanted bob
Once blond, then brown, now gray
Our hair like leaves never the same
Our long locks now gone away.
As goes our age, our clothes, our hair
So too our hearts do change.
There’s joy and pain, laughter and tears
Each day writes a brand new page.
Some pages they are stained with tears,
These seasons marked with pain.
But joy like flowers never bloomed
Without the storms and rain.
God knows just how much sunshine
Blue skies, yet storm clouds too,
Each phase, each stage, each season
Of our lives He long foreknew.
It brings me peace and comfort
To say, “His will not mine.”
Will you choose to trust Him
Through each season, in His time?
Joy Grace Caldwell
September 10, 2008
September 10, 2008
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