Because You Are My Help

Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll -are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help.

By this I will know that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise-

Psalm 56:8-10

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Psalm 54:4

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Numbers

When I first read the subject for our next Brenda Photo Challenge Numbers, I thought, well, numbers and I have never been best friends, but I'll try and get creative with it because of how much my good friend and hostess for this photo challenge Karen M @ LovedandEngraved loves them. She really does. She gets excited about them! When I started thinking about how numbers are really just symbols and tools that allow us to do so many things in our lives I developed a new respect for them.

I'll bet you know what time it is even though the long hand is pointing to the Great Horned Owl and the short hand is pointing to the Belted Kingfisher. Even birds can be Numbers.

There are even Numbers in the Bible!

I love the Numbers on my Nikon cameras, the f stops and shutter speeds, that allow me to capture beauty on film.

I was going to include my digital camera in this grouping but, well, I started to set it down with these two but then I couldn't take the picture. Seriously. . .

We measure love by numbers. . . more than all the grains of sand on all the beaches, more than all the stars in the sky, more than all the leaves on all the trees. Thank you Karen for choosing Numbers for this Photo Challenge, I think I'm starting to love them too!

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians: 4: 7-9

A Little Order

We make a little order where we are, and the big sweep of history on which we can have no effect doesn't overwhelm us. We do it with colors, with a garden, with the furnishings of a room, or with sound and words. We make a little form and we gain composure.

Robert Frost

(This little quote is sitting in the corner of my Mom's bulletin board in her kitchen and I've been walking by and reading it for about twenty or so years. I finally took the time to write it down so I could remember it.)

Thank You!

Thank you so much to Morning by Morning for passing on this award to me. This is an exciting occasion for me since this is my very first blog award! It really means so much when you find out that your words have reached someone. I can really identify with my new blog friend at Morning by Morning when she said ..." when I got a few comments on the first post . . . I was like “SOMEBODY PINCH ME I must be dreaming?????” I felt the exact same way. Now, it's almost as if we're becoming a family, supporting and encouraging each other. I'm very blessed to receive this award and now I get the privilege of passing it on to Seven Brilliant Blog Ladies whose words have blessed my life!

Morning Coffee Joni was the very first one to leave a comment on my blog. I have met so many wonderful blog friends through her. I always find inspiration and refreshment in her words and pictures.

Loved and Engraved Karen has been a good friend for a long time. It's so much fun to share blogging with her. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I always learn something new about her life and faith through reading her blog.

The Perfect Walk I met Leigh through a common interest in our profile, seeking God. You can see her heart for God so clearly in her words. Her faith shines through in everything she writes.

Red Tin Heart Nita's blog blesses my heart everytime I visit. You can see her strength and courage in her writing. She inspires everyone who visits.

Homesteader's Heart Kim is so full of joy and energy and enthusiasm for life. She has a fun sense of humor and I always enjoy reading about her daily adventures with her family and her faith.

Cottage Days and Journeys Donna's blog is always full of adventures from her travels and her life at home. I met her through the Photo Challenge. She is always an encouragement.

Annie's Blog I love reading about Annie's adventures in New York City and seeing her journey through her photographs there.

The Rules: Put the logo on your blog. Put a link to me (who awarded it to you)(if you want) on your blog also. You need to nominate 7 other bloggers for the award and put links to them also on your blog. Finally, leave a comment for those you've nominated - so they know they've received a special award!

Cats

It all started while we were at my friend's house on the Fourth of July, being entertained by her cat and it's favorite laundry basket. Listening to funny stories of her cats and their adventures reminded me of the affection I shared with my cat (cats) many years ago. The next day, I went to the library looking for something fun and light to read. There on the shelf was a book with the prettiest illustrations of cats on the cover called "The Cats of Moon Cottage". The story takes place in England and it's all about the antics and personalities of the cats belonging to the owners of this cottage. I couldn't put the book down. The next morning an announcement was made at the end of our Sunday School class that someone had 4 kittens to give away. This, of course, I took as a sign directly from heaven.

I knew my next step was to convince myself that my very large dog would accept and get along with a kitten. My kids were not sure at all about it. My daughter very definitely did not want a cat. So. . . I got to thinking. She goes off to college in a year. . . I decided that would probably be the best time to add a new little member to my family anyway.

In the meantime I'm feeling very homesick for a kitten or for the cat she will grow up to be, my new little companion. I got caught the other day. My son has a soft, cuddly Winnie the Pooh we bought at Disney World a few years ago. He noticed it wasn't in his room in it's usual spot. When I admitted I had borrowed it to snuggle and keep me company he thought that was pretty hilarious... haha.

I finished the first book and I'm starting on the second. It's called "More Cat Tales from Moon Cottage" by Marilyn Edwards. The illustrations are by Peter Warner. Reading it makes me feel all cozy like wrapping up in a down comforter or snuggling Winnie the Pooh or looking forward to a new kitten. I told my daughter I might name it after her, but on second thought, Winnie sounds like a good name to me.

P.S. There's even a website where you can see photographs of the actual cottage and the cats in the stories. www.thecatsofmooncottage.co.uk

I heard this song on the radio yesterday and it really captured my heart. I couldn't catch all of the words, so I looked it up online. I had never seen the video for the song before. My heart was pulled in so strongly, I think, because I can identify with the hurting person as well as hoping and praying that I am not one who has looked away. As God has restored me, I wish to be one who sits down and takes the time to care. May God open my eyes to the needs around me.

Mission Statement

Join the Blog Mission Tour hosted by Becoming Me . It was kind of neat to put into words why I began my blog and why I continue to love writing it.

Faith of a Single Mom's mission:

• To share my faith from the perspective of my life's experiences
  
• To encourage other women at whatever place they find themselves on their journey
  
• To throw out a lifeline to someone struggling in life as a single mom
  
• To give praise to my God and my Savior Jesus Christ
  
• To have fun and make new friends

All at the same time!

God has brought me out of brokenness to new life in Him. I know that all that I am and all that I have is because of Christ.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Patriotism

Welcome to the Brenda Photo Challenge ! This has been a lot of fun. Thank you Brenda for beginning this fun, purposeful addition to our blogging. I can't wait to visit everyone. A few of you beat me to the challenge! Please be sure to visit all of our participants and see their beautiful, inspired photos. Great job everybody!!






Flying the American Flag at my home



When we first began flying our flag after moving into our home 10 years ago, we left it up for months because I loved seeing it there. It looks like "home" to me.

Fireworks with friends. . . This was my son's first year to entertain the rest of us by lighting his own fireworks. Even though they were a smaller version Mom was glad when the bucket was empty!

Lots and lots of fun

The joy of sparklers set against a Fourth of July night sky brings back childhood memories of cousins and watermelon and backyard fireworks.

Looking through a store front window at words to remind me

(I couldn't resist a 4th for the 4th)

Karen M over at Loved and Engraved has graciously agreed to be our next hostess for the new Photo Challenge. Be sure to visit her to sign up. I can't wait!

Photo Challenge . . . Patriotism, What I Love About My Country

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! I had a very special day spending time with friends and family. This is one of my favorite days of the year.

I can't wait to see what everyone has captured on their cameras!

Remember, Friday, July 11th!

Soul Searching

I have come to the conclusion that I have spent most of my life trying to be more than I am, while at the same time, believing that I am less than I am.

Now, if the two views could just meet in the middle. . .

I've been doing my usual soul searching these days. I love when my various trains of thought end up at the same station and I start to put the pieces together of a new puzzle that helps life make a little bit more sense.

It's then I find that I'm one more step down the path, on one more leg of the journey. . .one more light coming on in the caverns of my mind.

I picked up two new books at the library this afternoon. Traveling Light, by Max Lucado and The Prayer That Changes Everything, by Stormie Omartian. God is drawing my eyes back to Himself and away from me.

Over the past week, I've been experiencing so much exhaustion. The smallest thing could send me over the edge and tears were ready to overflow at any moment. I really wasn't sure what was causing this emotion. I just knew I was completely overwhelmed with life. I couldn't carry my load. I felt pressure pushing in from all sides with nowhere for me to go! I felt as though I were a disappointment in every area of my life, to everyone in my life, including God. Recently I heard that "whenever we are poked, whatever we are full of comes out." I certainly experienced that this week!

Max Lucado writes, "traveling light means trusting God with the burdens you were never intended to bear".

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Stormie Omartian writes of praising God. " And then I sensed the amazing love of God and the joy of the Lord. I had never known that before. It fully existed without depending on circumstances, material possessions, or acceptance of man. It was there because of the presence of God alone. That was my day of freedom. My personal independence day. Joy did not depend on anything other than being in the presence of God and allowing His presence to overflow me with His love. I received all that while praising God.

Our greatest blessing comes when we take the focus off of ourselves and put it entirely on God in worship and praise. Isn't it just like our wonderful Lord to make something that is all about Him be the thing that blesses us the most when we do it?" Simply put in my own words, when I lift God up in praise, He lifts my heart.

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psalm 105:4

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength, Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,

For You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. O My Strength, I will sing praises to You

For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness. Psalm 59:16-17

Soar on Wings Like Eagles

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31