Walking in Victory

BLESSINGS
KLEENEX TISSUES WITH LOTION

A HUSBAND and SON WHO WORK SO HARD

AWESOME CHRISTIAN MUSIC

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I am feeling a bit better today, slowly recovering from this . . . whatever it is. I haven't been able to go for a walk in a week. I really miss it. Andre and the kids and I had been going 4 - 5 times a week for a walk/run. They run while I walk. :) We just discovered a great walking trail near our house. I'm up to about 2 1/2 miles a day. I hook up my IPod and I'm off. :)

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Yesterday we had our last homeschool support group meeting of the year. I'm a bit sad. I feel like this year has gone so fast and I didn't make as many connections with the moms as I would have liked. We have so many wonderful women in our group and we just don't get enough time together. Well, we'll just have to have some get-together's this summer!

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Andre and Andrew did some more spring cleaning in the yard yesterday. They weeded and mulched the flower beds. It is looking so nice! I bought a beautiful hanging plant for my shepherd's hook to hang next to my wind chimes. Lovely!!

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The kids are working on their country "reports" today. Ash decided she wanted to study Italy along with Andrew. There are so many fabulous books for Italy and she has fallen in love with Venice. Originally, I told her that she couldn't do the same country as Andrew but I decided that was silly and arbitrary. They will have fun learning together and that is what I want this project to be all about - fun and enthusiasm for learning.

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Last night while I was out and about, Sanctus Real's song "Whatever You're Doing" came on the radio. I have to admit I have never really listened to the words of this song before. It was like the Holy Spirit woke me up and poured the words into my spirit. Here's the chorus.

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Whatever You're doing inside of me

It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace

It's hard to surrender to what I can't see

but I'm giving in to something heavenly

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I just love this, and it's so true. When God is working in us, refining us to be like Jesus, it hurts. The trials and pains of life can feel so chaotic and out of control. But we mustn't run from our circumstances. Facing the trials, going through them with Jesus: loving unconditionally, trusting, humbling ourselves (a biggie!), speaking the truth no matter how much it hurts, this will give us the victory. And we can have peace in the midst of all that life throws at us.

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In The Battlefield of the Mind (Joyce Meyer) this week I read about walking in victory. So many Christians are walking around defeated. They are saved and are on their way to heaven but they are not living the abundant life God has for them here. There is such victory, such peace to be found when we walk in obedience to God. But that's the key, we must obey His commands, not follow after our feelings and our sinful desires. It's painful, it's extremely humbling but it is worth it.

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I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I walk in this victory and sometimes I don't. Why do I do this? I give in to my flesh, I have wrong responses, wrong thoughts. I have to remember that my heart and mind can lie to me. The only truth is in the Word of God and that's what I need to meditate on day and night.

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Grace and peace. ~Lisa