Hallelujah

Do you ever find that as soon as you begin living deliberately, or start making choices that you know are essential for you to function within God's plan for your life, everything goes to hell? Well, let me tell you, you are definitely not alone there. Even counting your blessings in the midst of these circumstances is slightly terrifying, as you don't want to give the devil a Job-style foothold of what to come after next.

With the beginning of this year, our family decided that we were going to be more deliberate with our finances, obeying God with our time and our treasure. Choosing to sell things that occupy an unhealthy place in our hearts, fully tithe, and pay off debts, we are seeking to remove our bonds of slavery to the lenders and things of this world. So, what happens? Everything breaks. Seriously, both cars, plumbing issues, etc. All at once. The kids get sick. Two surgeries are needed for our youngest. Then, a car accident the day after we pick up our truck from the repair shop. This is all within the span of less than one month.

As we've struggled to remain steadfast through these past few weeks, I scramble in my mind to resolve these issues and work out a "fix". I just need to get more work, get a new car, but God is telling me that I just need to rely on him. Him alone. Proverbs 16:9 confirms, "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." 

Because not only did things get rough, but God's blessings poured in with the rain. We are okay. We are healthy, and we have one another. He has blessed us with a loving extended family that generously comes to our aid when we need them. Ultimately, when push comes to shove, it's just stuff.

Hallelujah. One word. It means God be praised. And should he ever! In your times of struggle, I pray that you are able to fix your eyes on Him. Praise him in those storms with eyes open wide, so that you may see the blessings that pour out disguised as big fat raindrops.

I close with one of my favorite songs lately, because it just meets me where I am right now, Bethany Dillon's Hallelujah. If you haven't yet heard this beautiful song yet, LISTEN HERE.

"Hallelujah"

Who can hold the stars

And my weary heart?

Who can see everything?

I've fallen so hard

Sometimes I feel so far

But not beyond your reach

I could climb a mountain

Swim the ocean

Or do anything

But it's when you hold me

That I start unfolding

And all I can say is

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Whatever's in front of me

Help me to sing hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Whatever's in front of me

I'll choose to sing hallelujah

The same sun that

Rises over castles

And welcomes the day

Spills over buildings

Into the streets

Where orphans play

And only you can see the good

In broken things

You took my heart of stone

And you made it home

And set this prisoner free

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Whatever's in front of me

Help me to sing hallelujah

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Whatever's in front of me

I'll choose to sing hallelujah

Choose to sing Hallelujah, friends, because as Corrie Ten Boom famously said, "You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have."

Bats, the Beginning of a Saga...

It's become apparent that I quite literally have bats in my belfry. Well...in the attic more specifically. The hubby and I are under a strict "Do not talk about the bats" non sequitur. (That all started when I pulled a pouty face to his suggestion to trap the bats and let them starve to death. "We are NOT killing the bats!" was my resounding response.

Logic in not killing the bats:
1. They are kind of cute (and look like Gizmo to boot).
2. I can't bring myself to kill one of God's creatures (especially not one that eats mosquitoes). (Bugs do NOT count as "God's creatures"...pretty sure...)
3. The dead bats would probably smell.

Therefore, based on some extensive Google research, we will be "excluding" our furry friends from our home and hopefully installing them into a home of their own...(We're not quite sure how many little buggers are up there)...

At the very least, our process will be to:
1. Figure out Bat POE (point of entry).
2. Adhere heavy netting to all POE's, so that bats may fly out, but not back in.
3. Build and instill bat houses for bats to rehome into.
4. Clean attic

Let me know if you or anyone you know is good at "rehoming" bats. No, we will not be killing the bats.

Should be a riot. I'll post pics...