Ready for a New Day

Today is a new day

and a different day.

Usually Tuesday's are our changeover days

but this week it changes to Wednesday here at the Ranch.

So today all four Home Parents will be on duty,

with four boys as three of our boys are on Home Visits

and one was released on Saturday.

It seems kind of crazy to have four HP's with only four boys but

hey, that's an extra days pay for both of us so that's good!

I woke up before my alarm so that tells me going to sleep about 10 pm

is a good thing for me.  I always feel so startled when the alarm goes

off, so I am thankful I woke up on my own.

My devotions came from both the New and Old Testament

Hebrews 11:8-16 The chapter on Faith,

Abraham had faith God would give him his promised land,

Sarah had faith God would give her a baby

So many in the Bible shared their faith of what they

believed God would do for them.

And I am reminded of Ruth, how she clung to God and his faith

that He would provide for her.

And HE did.  I look at my own life,

we have been unemployed,

we have had to deal with major illnesses,

we have seen our boys struggle

and YET through it all

God has been faithful.

We have never gone hungry,

we have always had a place to lay our head,

we have always been surrounded by friends & family,

and we truly have never gone without.

And for that I am thankful.

And we continue on in faith.

We have hit a couple of roadblocks of purchasing

a travel trailer, but maybe the time is not right.

When its supposed to happen it will happen.

And I know I need more practice in being 

patient and learning to wait.

and then I read in 

Malachi 4:1-3

which when I saw the scripture in 

I immediately thought of our own little Malachi,

a cousin's grandbaby

who is fighting for his life, an infection

that began to block his breathing tube

and so I prayed for little Malachi,

asking God to bring healing to him, 

wisdom for the doctors

and peace for his parents, grandparents

and all who love him.

Would you join us in prayer 

for complete healing for this precious baby boy?

And then I read 

And I am reminded of many things:

But a gut wrenching emotions

without a change in behavior

is not true repentance.

I remember a time I was angry at the world,

every person and situation in my life

all because of things that had happened in the past.

I lashed out at everyone and anything,

over and over

until

I came to a place of forgiveness,

never would I hear "I am sorry"

from those who hurt me over and over

but I did find peace in the lap of my Abba Daddy.

I began to live my life in love and joy,

not hatred and anger.

I began to see the many blessings my Abba Daddy

shared with me:

a wonderful husband who loves me just the way I am,

though I know he much prefers the joyful wife not the angry wife,

two healthy son's ~ who have forgiven me for past wrongs

and let's me be a part of their and their family's lives,

an opportunity to do things that I could never imagine:

working in a carnival!!

traveling around in our motor home,

working at campgrounds where we got to enjoy HIS beauty

and meet wonderful people and who many have become

friends and even family.

Yes I am blessed beyond measure

and I thank the Lord

for reminding me that 

sometimes life looks bleak and scary,

doesn't feel real comfortable

BUT

if I continue to keep focusing on Him

His love will abound!

And for that I am truly thankful

that I am loved and blessed

and as 3 yr old Christopher said

"that leads to awesomeness!!"

How can I pray for you today?

And may I ask that you pray for little Malachi

for complete healing and peace for his momma and daddy

and

remember