Questions from children??

Why is it, my oldest daughter wonders, that God allows bad things to happen to some people? That is a tough question to answer. There isn't a very clear cut way to explain this to her and I'm not even sure that I completely understand this myself. I tried to explain that God does not necessarily cause bad things to happen to people, but at times allows it as part of a bigger plan or purpose for that person's life. I reminded her of the verse "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:10-12. This is one of my very favorite verses. I truly believe this as a promise that we have directly from our God. This is what I cling to when I can't explain what is going on in my life or around me in other people's lives that I care so deeply about. God is in control and knows a lot more than little ole me.
In our community group (aka Sunday School) at Double Oak Community Church, we are studying The Shack. This book delves deep into this topic as Mac, the main character questions why God allowed something bad to happen to him. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is ready to ask some pretty big questions about his or her faith. Although very controversial, this book has really helped me to see the Trinity in a completely new way.
But another question that came to mind is why God gives different blessings to each of us. Taylor and I were talking about this just this week. It is certain that we don't deserve any blessing we receive from God, it is a gift. You probably know by now that I am "anti-luck"...I try hard to not even say things like "that was lucky or even good luck". Nothing is about luck! Nothing is happenstance or coincidental. It is all planned and orchestrated...including the blessings...as part of God's individualized plan for our life. I do believe that when you are walking in obedience with God and are in His will for your life, He will pour out His blessings as never before ... which brings to mind another favorite verse. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Ponder that...and I'll get back to you!

Wishing you a blessed weekend!
Cindy

Tiny tooth

I can't believe it! We feel so blessed for our youngest daughter, Mary Connor, affectionaly known as Hammer (because of the initials in her name MC) to have finally lost her first tooth at the ripe old age of 7!!! This darn tooth has been the hot topic around our house for quite awhile now. The permanent tooth had even started to grow in behind the baby tooth. It looked just a little crazy for sure. We keep telling Hammer to wiggle it and it will fall out. I even tried unsuccessfully to pull it. But last night after a long bike ride up and down our hills, she was sitting in the driveway in "la la land" and stood up and started screaming and crying. "What is wrong?" I asked. "My tooth came out!" she screamed. "That's great!" I replied to which she said "Now my big tooth is gone too and I can't find it!". Basically, she thought that her permanent tooth had come out too for some reason??? Not sure why. So after cleaning up the blood and proving to her that her permanent tooth was still in tack, we wrote a letter to the fairy explaining our dilemma. Lo and behold, this morning we discovered that the fairy had left $10. Wow! That's alot. We explained that the tooth fairy is more giving on the first tooth. Blessings can even be found in teeth!

Wishing you a blessed day!
Cindy

Blessed Weekend

Wow! I am truly amazed at how blessed my life really is! This weekend I celebrated my 36th birthday...shhh!! Don't tell! My husband, our two little girls and my brother's family headed up to my parents house on Smith Lake for a weekend of fun. Despite bad weather on and off, we truly had a good time. As we rode around the lake on our jet skis, I was reminded of the beauty of God's creation. Although Smith Lake is a man-made lake, God gave that man the idea, right? It is the most beautiful place to be..right in the middle of the lake with cliffs and mountain laurel blooming, the sound of children laughing, the smell of grills cooking something that is sure to be delicious. Like Smith Lake, our tshirts at Blessed Life are man-made, but the idea and designs, well...we don't take any credit. All the glory goes to God and he deserves all the credit and honor for giving us this idea that has now turned into an about two month old company. Thank you Lord for all of our blessings!
Wishing you a blessed life too!
Cindy