Clutter and other stuff…
By Amy Beth | June 27, 2009
It is strange around the house this weekend. My mom went on her first EVER solo trip. She’s never been anywhere without Daddy before. She went to Cincinnati to visit my grandparents. I’m hoping that she has a great time this weekend. I’m glad she got to go, but I miss her being here. So does Tracy and the kids.
I’ve been busy decluttering and cleaning out for a yard sale. I’m to the point where I just can’t stand all this stuff here anymore. Where does it all come from? What purpose does it really serve just being piled up around the house? When I think of all the money we I have wasted on things that doesn’t really matter it makes me sick! BLECH! I have a huge storage building and closet full to the celing that leaves me wondering why we feel the need to have all this stuff. Perhaps it is to fulfull an emptiness in our lives. But that emptiness just can’t be filled no matter how much stuff we buy. Ok, it can be filled with clutter… but that is about it.
I’ve been watching TV the last couple of days and all they are talking about is the death of Michael Jackson. It is sad to see how such a talented man lived such a tormented life. They have been showing footage from literally his entire life. Most of us are not fortunate to have our entire lives documented on video. Not to the extent that Michael Jackson’s life was documented. It has left me wondering, what kind of legacy will I leave behind when I die. I think back over the things I’ve done in my life.. the good, the bad and the ugly… and it makes me glad that my life was not documented this way. It makes me ever more thankful for God’s loving grace and mercy… and most of all His forgiveness.
“ For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
The basic English version says… “For they will have my forgiveness for their evil-doing, and their sin will go from my memory for ever.” What a comforting thought. When I ask for God to forgive my sins, He not only forgives them… He remembers them no more. All the bad things I have done have been cut out of the final version of the documentary of my life by the Ultimate Editor. That is something that I might actually want to watch. I hope to let God shape the legacy I leave… hopfully a legacy without all this junk and clutter.
Topics: Random ramblings | 1 Comment »
Father’s Day
By Amy Beth | June 21, 2009
My beloved great grandmother, Charlotte “Peachy” Dreyer, Me & my dad.
This is the day I have been dreading for months. It has been difficult these last few weeks seeing Father’s Day commercials on TV and hearing them on the radio. I’d see something and think, Hey! Daddy would really like that! Then I remember… he isn’t here. I still go to call him sometimes. I haven’t been able to bring myself to delete his number out of my phone. Sometimes Tracy says, “Dad came to visit me at work today.” I ask, “Which one?” Then I remember. When we have a family get-together, there is that empty seat at the table. No one really talks about it, but I know what they are thinking, because I am thinking it, too.
Just when I think I’ve cried all that I can… there I go again. It has been almost four months since daddy passed. I know it will get easier. But I think all those firsts will be hard. We were blessed to have him as long as we did. I don’t want to forget daddy. Maybe there will be a day when I can be thankful and look forward to those “special days” as a time of rememberance, and not dread them. Maybe there will be time when my heart doesn’t ache. Yes, I am looking forward to that day.
Topics: Random ramblings | 1 Comment »
Happy Blogoversary to MSMHS…
By Amy Beth | June 20, 2009
It is hard to believe that four years ago I started this blog. When I first started My Smoky Mtn. Homeschool I only meant to use it as a place to collect all my favorite links and post an occasional entry to journal our homeschool journey. Never in a million years would I have know it would turn into an entity itself… a meeting place of some of the most awesome prayer warriors and friends I’d ever meet. Yes, they are my friends. An amazing support system.
I remember when I first started taking to my husband about so and so of this blog… telling him all about a post or conversation we had. He would be like, “Who is that?” LOL I feel like I know their families. I feel like I have actually sat at their kitchen table and had a cup of coffee with them. They are a part of me. I’ve shared in their joys, and their heartaches.. just has they have mine. Some I’ve actually had the privilege of meeting face to face.
So, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to all those who take a few minutes out of their day to read my ramblings. Thank you to those who have a cup of coffee and sit at my kitchen table. Thank you to those who laugh with me, and cry with me. Thank you for those who take a moment to leave a comment, or send me an email. I am so thankful and blessed to call you my friends.
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Peace and Hope
By Amy Beth | June 8, 2009
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
We only need to speak the precious name of Jesus and allow the peace that surpasses all understanding to cover us. Thank you, Lord, for Your peace. We all must go through trials, instead of asking, “Why me?” ask “Why not me?” We live in a world filled with sin. We are not immune to it, put we can find peace in the midst of trials.
I pray today that if your life is in turmoil and you have sought refuge, comfort and peace in all the things of this world that you turn to God. Pour your heart out to him. Call on His name and He will save you and give you peace. He loves you and knows what you are going through.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5
How can one live in this world without hope? God didn’t promise to take away our trials, but He will help us make it through them. There is light on the other side, if you will just turn to Him.
I just felt lead to share these words of encouragement. Someone out there needs encouraged and lifted up today.
“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?…And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” - Matthew 6:25, 6:27
“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 29:11
Topics: In the Word, Spiritual Thoughts, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Let the “Son” shine in.
By Amy Beth | June 8, 2009
(Posted on my original blog March 12, 2008)
Have you ever noticed how windows always appear clean on the outside? They appear clean until the sun shines through them and exposes all the smudges, smears and fingerprints. No matter what one uses to clean the windows, it is virtually impossible to get rid of all the smudges and streaks. Our lives are like that. We appear clean until the Son shines through us and exposes all the smudges, smears and fingerprints (SIN) in our lives.
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for it is the light that makes everything visible.”
~ Ephesians 5:13-14
The light, Jesus, exposes our sins. Unfortunately, sin brings death. The Bible says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” ~ Romans 2:23.
We all have sin in our lives. It is impossible for God to allow sin in heaven. The thing is, we cannot do anything to remove the sin in our lives no matter how hard we try. I’m reminded of the song… “What can wash away my sins… Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Thankfully, there is a way to get rid of all the sin in our lives…
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
~ John 3:16
God does not want us to perish. He wants us to have eternal life with Him, so He sent his only Son, Jesus, the spotless lamb, to pay the price for our sins. Receiving the gift of eternal life is as easy as A…B…C.
“A” is for Admit. You must admit to God that you are a sinner. You must be sorry for your sins and turn away (repent) from sinning.
♥ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ~ Romans 3:23
♥ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 6:23
♥ Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. ~Acts 3:19
♥ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ~ 1 John 1:9
“B” is for Believe. You must believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that God sent Jesus to pay the penalty for sin.
♥ For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~ John
♥ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~John 14:6
♥ But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8
“C” is for Confess. You must confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
♥ That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved…. for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~Romans 10:9-10,13
After you admit to God that you are a sinner, repent and turn from your sin, believe that Jesus is God’s Son sent to die to pay for the sins of the world, and confess your faith in Jesus, you are a Christian and know Jesus as your Savior. Admit! Believe! Confess!
Here is a sample prayer that will help you begin:
Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner, and that I need Your grace. Thank you for loving me enough to send your Son Jesus Christ into the world to die for my sins. I believe that He arose from the dead and that He lives today. I confess my sins to You now, and ask that You place Your Holy Spirit in my heart that I may turn away from my sins. I love You, I believe in You, and I want to have a personal relationship with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Topics: In the Word, Life Lessons | No Comments »
Just remember…
By Amy Beth | June 7, 2009
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
~Daniel 2:20-22
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We don’t grieve as those without hope… but by golly, we still grieve
By Amy Beth | June 5, 2009
It has been three months since my daddy passed away. They say time heals all wounds… but how much time? It seems like the weight of his passing presses harder on my heart with each passing day. Grief is a difficult thing to deal with. Even as Christians, sometimes we do not know how to handle loss. I know the bible says, “do not grieve as those without hope.” Yes, I have that hope… but for heavens sake, I still grieve. I was reading something the other day about grief. It reminded me the “Jesus wept.” How simple is that? Jesus grieved the loss of his friend and He wept.
What does grief feel like? A constant ache in my heart… A deep loneliness… Depression… All of the above. I miss my daddy so much. I keep thinking how can people go on with their lives like normal when my daddy is gone? How can they go on like normal when I am hurting? Can’t they see? Don’t they know? Don’t they care? I have to put on my mask and pretend everything is alright when inside I’m screaming I AM NOT OK!!!
Yes, I know it is a natural part of life. Yes, I know that he isn’t sick anymore, and I honestly rejoice in that. Yes, I know in my heart he is in a better place…but PLEASE don’t keep telling me that. I know I will see him again someday… but PLEASE don’t tell me that again. That doesn’t make the ache in my heart go away, or the tears stop falling. When we know someone who has a loved one pass, we forget about it after the funeral. We go on with our lives as if nothing happened, but that person must face the incredible loss on a daily basis. They must face the emptiness and the hurt of a broken heart. It isn’t easy.
The great thing is that we are never alone… even though we feel that way at times. I have to keep reminding myself this. And when I don’t remember… God is so gracious and loving to send a gentle voice to remind me… “Hey, I’m here. Lean on me.” Truly, He is the only one who can understand and cares about the way that I feel.
So, I trudge through this grief, one day at a time… holding on to the hope that someday this too shall pass.
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