Stepping Out...

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So as I sat at my desk this morning, taking a quick second to balance my checkbook (just like my dad taught me, 15 years ago) I had a slight moment of panic. The numbers start getting smaller, the more I take out! *sigh* Welcome to reality, Brenna.

Then I had another "panic" moment...a moment I can only describe as a "not trusting in God" moment. The thought, "When I stay home from work after this baby gets here, how in the world will we ever pay our mortgage?" came into me head. I have been praying about this every day and have felt peace over the decision to stay home...until this morning, while looking at our finances. I immediately opened my Bible to seek God's guidance and wisdom on this matter. Why do I always seem surprised when I find just what I need? I shouldn't be...it's how He works.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "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 a hope and a future."

Ok, I can breathe a little easier now. God himself said He has great plans for MY life. Now who wouldn't feel even the tiniest bit of hope from that? But it gets better...there is scripture throughout the Bible that talks about God's love for us, how He will take care of us and ALL of our needs, according to His will.

Matthew 6:26-27  "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Yup, that's in red because those are the spoken words of Jesus. Ok...I can feel my worry slowly slipping away now.

And the hits just keep on coming! Check out Psalm 37:25, Deuteronomy 28:2-8, Deuteronomy 28:11-13, Luke 6:38, Malachi 3:10-12, or Matthew 3:31-33...the list is endless.

I am learning...each and every day, that I have to give it all to God. It's not something you can learn over night. At least not for me. It's a daily struggle. So here I am. Stepping out in complete faith. Trusting that God will keep His promises to take care of us, and allowing Him to work in my life to give him all the honor, and glory and praise.

The last little bit of advice I can give you today? No matter what your life struggle is...check out this book:

And just for fun I'll share with you all my absolute, all-time, go-to, favorite verse. I feel like it covers pretty much every basis...

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer."

Verse of the Day

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March 27, 2013

I have really come to love my daily devotional (thanks Sis!). Maybe you've heard of it? It's called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. You can purchase it at, I am sure, any of your local Christian Book Stores - Amazon also has it for a great price!

Anyway...back to it. I have found myself skipping around the book and not necessarily going in order according to the date they have shown and let me tell you...God has spoken to me on more than one occasion (even when I don't follow the book chronologically....*gasp*!) and Today's is no exception:

"Let Me show you My way for you this day. I guide you continually, so you can relax and enjoy My Presence in the present. Living well is both a discipline and an art. Concentrate on staying close to Me, the divine Artist. Discipline your thoughts to trust Me as I work My ways in your life. Pray about everything; then, leave outcomes up to Me. Do not fear My will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me. Underneath are the everlasting arms!"

Psalm 5:2-3 "Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. he will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'"

Easter...is not about the bunny

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With a little one at home, I feel like there is pressure to make this Easter super memorable for him. Not just family, friends or co-workers, but PINTEREST! Please don't get me wrong...I have a special and very close relationship with Pinterest. But I feel like there's so much on there about enriching your kids lives and making holidays AMAZING by way of crafts, cookies, etc. that often times I feel like I fall extremely short of being an "on top of it" mama.

But I digress...

Throughout my day at work, I have been asked no less than 5 times if we had any big plans for Easter. Or if J-man was ready and getting excited for Easter. (First of all...he is 19 months and at this point, he has no idea that Easter is any different than any other Sunday) My response to all have been the same. We are just planning on spending time with family and going to church. No big Easter Bunny charade this year. Now, when I was a kid, I LOVED Easter. I loved waking up super early on Easter Sunday to search for the special place MY basket was hidden, then begin the hunt for Peeps, Cadbury Eggs and the like. So, yes...I plan on passing on those "fun" traditions with my own kids. The thing I refuse to do, however, is make this entire holiday solely about that. I feel like my parents did a pretty amazing job raising me to know the true meaning of the Christian holidays...and Easter is definitely no exception.

I want to teach my children about Jesus and what He did on that cross...just for them.

Just imagining what He went through...for me. For my family - makes me tear up. How unworthy we are to have deserved such mercy, such an outpouring of love from Jesus. Our Savior. I want my children to know that God loved them so much, he sent His son to die on that cross for our sins...so that one day we may spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

This is how I think of Jesus. My Redeemer. My Savior. My Friend.

Darrell Evans
Redeemer Savior Friend

I know You had me on Your mind
When You climbed up on that hill
For You saw me with eternal eyes
While I was yet in sin
Redeemer Savior Friend

Every stripe upon Your battered back
And every thorn that pierced Your brow
Every nail drawn deep through guiltless hands
Said that Your love knows no end
Redeemer Savior Friend

Redeemer redeem my heart again
Savior come and shelter me from sin
You're familiar with my weakness
Devoted to the end
Redeemer Savior Friend

So the grace You poured upon my life
Will return to You in praise
And I'll gladly lay down all my crowns
For the name by which I am saved

So as much fun as it will be to watch our children run around the house on Easter Sunday, searching for candy that the "Easter Bunny" left for them...it will be so much more fun to see them come to an understanding of the true meaning of Easter. To grow up to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to call him Redeemer, Savior, and Friend.

Happy Easter! The Lord is Risen indeed!