Lord Jehovah is my Strength

The week has been a long one! I learned a great deal at my new job about updated Medicaid regulations for various mental health services. Yes, I am a geek in that I absolutely love, love, that I am working as a licensing/compliance person again:-) The new company for which I work had a wonderful audit report by Medicaid and so the week ended on a high note after several days of tremendous stress and high anxiety!

I have lost 18, count 'em 18!!!! pounds. I'm very excited and as a reward both for my weight loss and for completing a strenuous week, I treated myself to Chic-Fil-A:-) God has fortunately removed my craving for sweets. Not that I don't still want something once in a while, but when I gave myself the choice of treating myself to Chic-Fil-A or Chocolate Cream Pie, I chose the former. Go figure! I still battle my love of unhealthy carbs, but so far, with God's help, I am winning the battle.

I am feeling very much affirmed in my writing and speaking ministry and continue to bask in the glow of the Holy Spirit directing and guiding my ministry.

Through Facebook, I am connecting with several distant relatives! It's so awesome to "meet" the children (and grandchildren) and other relatives of the cousins who I admired and idolized as a child. As we grew older and began living our lives, we drifted apart. I'm pleased to be in contact again.

Yes, I still have some ongoing struggles. Who doesn't!? Yes, I wish I had more time in every day. Yes, I wish my husband didn't have to work so hard. Yes, I have issues that continue to weigh me down. But for this week, I choose to focus on all the ways and all the reasons for which I rejoice.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:3-5 NIV)

Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2 KJV)

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

I'm joining Sonya again this week for Thankful Thursday! Stop by Truth 4 The Journey to join us!

1) I am thankful that our daughter and son-in-law will be relocating to Richmond by this summer!

2) I am thankful to God for blessing me and my ministry in ways I never imagined possible. Thank you Lord, for expanding my mission field and equipping me to do Your work in the world.

3) I am thankful for my church family. They really are a family, too, after almost 20 years!

4) I am thankful for a new doctor who is proactively helping me improve my health.

5) I am thankful for the gift of our Savior. Sometimes I just can't breathe thinking about how very much I am loved that He would die for me.

What are you thankful for today?

Book Review: Becoming the Parent Your Teenager Needs

Becoming the Parent Your Teenager Needs by Rodney Cage, (Broadman & Holman Publishers (May 1999)) is a must read for parents, grandparents, and anyone involved in youth ministry on a regular basis. This book offers insights and biblical principles to help adults minister to the teenagers in their lives.

Parents, you survived the terrible twos. You even survived that first day in Kindergarten. One day, you wake up to find that sweet little bundle of joy who loved to cuddle and worshipped Mom and Dad has been replaced by some person you don’t recognize! Who is this changeling? Yes, you guessed right: a teenager!

Gage introduces biblical perspectives on dealing with the changing attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives that are typical as our children become teenagers. His guidance and direction help parents better identify and meet the needs of their teenager.

Read more to find out if this book will be helpful by clicking on this link: Book Rview: Becoming the Parent Your Teenager Needs.