Today’s Tuesday In “Other” Words quote is Jeremiah 29:11:

When I drive my miniature horses I am amazed that such a little tug on the reins makes them go right or left. My little horse has a strong mind but when I hold the reins I direct the path.

When we allow God to take the reins and wait for His gentle tug, He will guide us in the proper direction–His Reign (pun intended).

I feel at peace when I fully trust Him. I know He loves me, He knows me, He has a plan just for me, He will always take care of me.

When we wait patiently on God, we honor Him because we are allowing Him to have His way and His timing in our lives. It is the highest expression of faith in His righteousness.

This patience is fruit of God’s Spirit in losing of our self-will for His perfect will. Without knowing what is ahead, we are nudged into a new perspective and learn to grow in faith and patience.

We can only be strong in faith as we are in direct communication with God–trusting Him step by step, moment by moment– then He will work in us the fullness of Christ.

In our weakness He is strong. God can and will do all. Abraham, Moses, and others in the Bible had strong faith; they were able to “see the invisible, choose the imperishable, and do the impossible,” and what was true for them centuries ago can be true for us today. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world –our faith (1 John 5:4).

The answers have not changed–they lie deep under the churchology layers. Just as an archeologist digging through layers to find out what life was like, we have to dig through layers of a mountain of man’s influences, shoveling off and discarding man’s traditions, theories, interpretations, and philosophies. We have to discard many old theological errors and the newer layers of tradition, interpretations, western thought to get back to God’s way described in the Bible.

It’s all simple once you discard the layers, give God the reins, watch, observe, and take notice of His gentle tugs. Then you experience peace and joy. He has a plan for you. Rest in Him.

Tuesday In Other Words is a meme based on a posted quote each week. Its is now being hosted by Writing Canvas. This week, Susan is hosting “In ‘Other’ Words” at her site, “Forever His.” Be sure to visit her site and the links to the other women who have shared on this quote.

For more memes see the Daily Blogs Meme List

Image Credit: Wordart from Simply Sarah Designs.

Related Posts:

1. Coffee with God
2. Creating Reminders for Our Children
3. Brick Walls Are There for a Reason
4. Having Sight But No Vision
5. Seek First the Kingdom and His Righteousness

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How do your children see you responding to life’s trials? Do you feel sorry for yourself and get depressed? Do you cast blame and grow bitter and angry? Or do you turn to the our Father and ask, “What is Your purpose in this?”

Our responses to difficulties are powerful lessons not written on a blackboard. Our students are watching and learning; where do they see your eyes fixed? On the circumstances? on your past failures to deal with trials? or on Jesus? Turning to Him will open our eyes beyond any circumstance we encounter.

Storms can blow away distractions that keep our focus off God. They can break our pride and self-sufficiency that keep us from God. God does not send all storms, most are the result of sin. But our Father will make a way to turn destruction into good. (Romans 8:28). He will allow a storm–for the greater good–so you will turn back to your intimate relationship with Him.

When a storm rages in we cry out to Him in the midst , “Thank you, Father, I know You have a reason for allowing this in my life. I know You will walk through this difficult time with me. I know You love me and I know you are in control.” You can pray this even if you caused the storm. He will provide for us and protect us with His divine loving power. He will use the brokenness to develop spiritual fruit in us if we allow Him.

How can we get to that place of faith where we automatically trust Him fully? Wayne Jacobson answers this very question in discussing the physical storm the disciples went though with Jesus in the article Are You Afraid?

How can we get to that place?

Wrong question, for in asking it we only prove our eyes are still on ourselves. Like the storm on Galilee, it matters little what we do, only what He will do. By keeping our eyes on him we can be free of fear or anxiety no matter what we might encounter in this life.

And what he has done in us and what he will continue to do even in the midst of the most painful circumstances you face today, will absolutely astound you. –Wayne Jacobson

Joy and sorrow can be considered the parents of our spiritual growth. We can teach our children by example that God is with us every moment of every day and the fruit will be joy, peace, and happiness.

The Fruit Comes Afterward

“The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and storm” (Nahum 1:3).

I recollect, when a lad… sitting on an elevation of that mountain, and watching a storm as it came up the valley. The heavens were filled with blackness, and the earth was shaken by the voice of thunder. It seemed as though that fair landscape was utterly changed, and its beauty gone never to return.

But the storm swept on, and passed out of the valley; and if I had sat in the same place on the following day, and said, “Where is that terrible storm, with all its terrible blackness?” the grass would have said, “Part of it is in me,” and the daisy would have said, “Part of it is in me,” and the fruits and flowers and everything that grows out of the ground would have said, “Part of the storm is incandescent in me.” from a devotion in Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman.

Have you asked to be made like your Lord? Have you longed for the fruit of the Spirit, and have you prayed for sweetness and gentleness and love? Then fear not the stormy tempest that is at this moment sweeping through your life. A blessing is in the storm, and there will be the rich fruitage in the “afterward.” –Henry Ward Beecher

The flowers live by the tears that fall From the sad face of the skies; And life would have no joys at all, Were there no watery eyes. Love thou thy sorrow: grief shall bring Its own excuse in after years; The rainbow!–see how fair a thing God hath built up from tears. –Henry S. Sutton

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The Super Simple Spiritual Sunday Meme is simply a list of my favorite finds this week (also called Link Love or Speedlinking).

1. Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe - A Heart of the Matter Devotional Study by Lori from All You Have to Give looks at these lies: “Everyone’s kids are better than yours,” “Everyone is better disciplined and ‘way more’ spiritual,” and “You are the only one who is falling apart and feels the way you feel.”
2. The Godly Homeschool Family: Myth, Reality, or Idol? - Guest blogger, Cynthia Clack and mother of nine wrote this moving post of parenting in pride and fear in the absence of an assurance of love at Adventures in Mercy. See Cynthia’s blog at A Life Profound
3. Bring the Rain - This is a blog of the journey of a family’s fourth daughter, Audrey Caroline, how she entered and left this world and the unspeakable joy in knowing how God used this journey for His glory. Grab a Kleenex and go to the beginning of their story by clicking here.
4. Quit Coddling Your Kids - Today’s children are being coddled to death. Check out this timely article from The Art of Manliness blog.
5. Is It Me or God? - The title of this post grabbed me as I often ask myself this question. This is a reminder, written to writers but applicable to all Christians about listening to God.
6. What Does it Mean to Fight for Your Home? - Sheila explains how God calls us to be women of valor to fight for our King in the same way David’s mighty men of valor dedicated themselves to making David a powerful and successful king. See Shelia’s new blog at Meditations and Confessions of a Homemaker.
7. The Garden of Life - Jennifer from Gathering Grace asks, “How am I using the gifts God has given to me? How well am I tending His garden?”

So many blogs, so little time. If you have trouble keeping up with your favorite blogs try using a blog reader. See What is RSS and How Can it Make My Life Easier?

My Favorite Pregnancy and Childbirth Links

If you’d like to join in this meme, share a few links on your blog and sign Mr. Linky below. It’s a great way to pass on encouragement to others.

If you like the links above you’ll like these:

1. Pondering Life Over Coffee
2. Spiritual Mountain Climbing
3. The Battle of Good and Evil
4. What is Your Focus? Your Foundation?

Disclaimer: If I recommend a blog post it is because I was encouraged by that post. It does not mean I agree with the author’s beliefs or other blog posts.

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This powerful video made me cry. God changes lives. This church had the idea to record the changes before and after in a few words on the front and back of a piece cardboard. Each one spoke volumes!

I loved the one where the woman walked out with her neurologist.
Her cardboard read, “Diagnosed with MS in May of 2007″
Her neurologists’ said, “Her Unchurched doctor”
He flipped his to reveal, “Baptized Easter of 2008″
She flipped hers to reveal, “Worth It!”

Here is mine:

Here are some interesting ones I found on the web:

Side 1:  Slaved to sin, performed to be saved & accepted.
Flipside: Adopted, forgiven, justified, changing, grace given!

Side 1:  Self-sufficient . . .
Flipside: Finding His grace is more than sufficient

Side 1:  Selfish
Flipside: Servant

Side 1:  Porn-addicted, attention-starved, mad-at-the-world, unforgiving, judgmental hypocrite and liar…
Flipside: Liberated, broken but healing son of the King bent on seeking first the kingdom of God.

Side 1:  People pleasing, guilt motivated, self righteous, critical, goody-two-shoes, pharisee
Flipside: RECOVERING people pleaser and pharisee who has been set free by radical grace

Side 1:  Shallow, filled with anger, love is only conditional, unforgiving, selfish.
Flipside: Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I would love to know what your cardboard testimony would say. Take a few minutes now to think about it. Add your before and after life change in the comments.

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The Ultimate Toolbar for Homeschool Moms…The Homeschool Toolbar!

I love the new Homeschool Toolbar. All my favorite blogs and links are right on top of my browser. No need to dig through bookmarks! It even has a quick and easy To Do list. Works for me!

It does not open pop-ups or hijack your searches, allows you to control your privacy features such as cookies and caches from the toolbar and no personal information is required.

It has a Google powered search box, includes an email notifier where you can add all of your email accounts in one convenient place such as Yahoo, Google, personal or business. Plus, it will notify you when one of your accounts receives mail!

The Homeschool Toolbar features include:

1. Homeschool Resources
2. The Latest homeschool & Parenting News
3. Web search using Google
4. Integrated RSS feeds
5. Homeschool blogs
6. Category browsing
7. Search highlighter
8. Other quick shortcuts
9. Weather forecast
10. Organizing tools such as a To do list, notepad, calculator, conversion charts, maps and more
11. Radio connected to “Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE” , NPR or your favorite local radio station (this feature is optional and can be added or removed as can all toolbar features.)
12. Lastly, it will NOT slow your computer down!

Have You Visited The Homeschool Lounge?

The Homeschool Lounge is a FREE online community exclusively for Homeschool Moms. The vision of The Homeschool Lounge is to connect Homeschool Moms from all corners of the web! Get advice, give advice, share, learn and laugh with those who truly understand you.

Works for Me Wednesday is a “blog carnival” (explained here). Be sure to check out lots of great tips on Works for Me Wednesday.

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