Sorry I haven’t been around much lately. This summer has been down right amazing and I just haven’t had the time to write about it.  So here a are few snippets of our summer.

 

*The Lord has just really been teaching me this summer about my dependence on Him and where my true source of strength really lies.  I have been really getting into the word for the first time in years and I am just plain old excited to get up and read my bible in the morning and spend some time with God.  The song In Christ Alone, by Phillips Craig and Dean has been on in my car constantly and it is just such a reminder of what is important.

 

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Go here for a listen!

 

Isn’t that last verse just amazingly powerful?  He has our destiny all planned out. Sometimes I think I get the idea that God is sitting up in heaven wringing his hands hoping that everything is going to turn out okay.  He already knows!! Not only does he know, but he promises it is all going to work out in the end.

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

 

*Rob and I accomplished a huge feet last Friday.  We paid off the last of our credit card bills.  We wound up with way too much money on them after we built our house two years ago and lets just say there was A LOT of money on those puppies.  Whew, that is a big weight off of our shoulders:)

 

* We planted six trees this week.  They were at a half off parking lot sale so we got a really good deal too, yay:)  Three of them are really big trees (I would guess 15-20 ft tall) and three are fruit trees (one plum and two apple) and we paid $350 for all of them.  Which might sound like a lot, but these are really big trees…

 

*We have been struggling with health insurance for a long time.  Rob does not get health insurance offered through his work, but he does get an hourly wage to go towards health insurance.  And unfortunately the only health insurance available not through a business costs $500/month with a $4000 deductible and a $4000 copay/year. Yikes!  We have been asking at my work, but I am only part time at the school and they either don’t want to give me insurance, or they are avoiding my calls…  But this is really the situation that has forced me to place my dependence on God and Him alone.  So if you think about it, say a little prayer for our health care situation please.  We could certainly use all the prayer we can get!

 

*I have been working like a crazy person.  I work in the morning pouring coffee and then in the afternoon at the christian book store in the mall.  But the extra money from this summer will certainly come in handy however we evenually use it.  We are still becoming accustomed to our living on one income, so all of my paycheck still goes in the bank.  It has been really nice watching the amount slowly (I don’t get paid much:) grow.

 

I suppose that is about all for now.  I hope all you ladies are having a wonderful summer. I love reading your posts, even if I don’t get any of my own written up:)

P.S. I will be back soon with the most delectable recipe for strawberry shortcake you’ve ever had.  Absolutely unbelievable!

P.P.S. I love how they have the vines over the patio in this picture. Have you ever seen anyone with something like this in their yard? I would love to do it over our (someday will be there) patio in the back yard.