Friday {in focus} ~ God Cares About the Details

This is one of my all-time favorite photographs. I love how the cardinal is looking at the camera as if asking any number of questions. "Are you taking my picture?" "What's so fascinating?"

It also reminds me of how much God cares about the smallest details of our lives, our hearts, and our desires. You see, I'd had a difficult time catching a cardinal with my camera. They always flew off before I could set the shot. Until this particular day. It may sound crazy, but God flew this cardinal right into our sliding glass door, knocking her silly. She fell back and landed on our patio furniture. While in her daze, I was able to open the door and take up close photos of her.

This isn't the only time something not-so-great has happened in order for God's blessing to follow.

My husband injured his knees at work - each one in a different season of time. Although he had to deal with some pain and go through surgeries to repair the damage, God's blessing followed. Because the injuries were work-related, my husband was compensated. Enough so that we were able to purchase a Chrysler Town & Country van outright. No loan payments necessary.

God cares about the details of our lives. Down to the last miniscule point.

Don't be surprised when the cardinal comes flying into your door.

God sent her.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

~ Psalm 145:16

How Much Does God Love You?

It's Christmas morning, and the children tear into their presents. Everyone gleefully runs to various stations in the house, dumping their goods before them, ready to play.

Much to his dismay, my middle son discovers he is missing a packet of Legos needed to build his new Frigate. After he's dumped packets two through six onto the tabletop. Mommy that I am, I heroically repackage the Legos, grab my car keys, and head off to Walmart with the intent to make his day and exchange for a new set.

Alas, Walmart is closed for the holiday. I thank God that stores in the South are family-driven rather than finance-driven and have given their employees the day to be with their families and celebrate my Savior's birth.

Caleb cries when I reveal that he will need to wait one more day to build with his Legos. Numerous times I hear, "I'm bored. I have nothing to do. Why can't you take it someplace else and get the new set?" I try hard to soothe frayed nerves and promise to make the exchange first thing the day after Christmas.

True to my promise, I head off to Walmart this morning. First thing. Before coffee. Before breakfast. On my way out the door, hubby calls out, "Bring home some food too!" We've run out of cereal, milk, sandwich meats, and some other items. I consider our bank account, which has money in it but checks written against the funds. Maybe they won't clear until Friday. I hate doing that, Lord.

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
~ Psalm 37:25-26

I step out the front door into the pouring rain. Lord, I'm so sick of the rain. I miss the sunshine.

Twenty minutes later, I stand before the customer service representative, mouth agape. "Really?"

"Yes. They always mark them down after the holidays. You're getting a refund."

The store had marked the Lego set down 50 percent. I testify to five women. "God loves me."

The refund gave me just enough money to purchase the food I'd planned to buy.

I smile as I shop, and my cashier is the one woman who smiled when I testified of God's goodness. She acknowledges the blessing once again.

As I step out of the store, the sun beams down from heaven. God smiles upon me once more.

How much does God love you? Think of the little ways He shows His love in your life. One friend survived a tornado this Christmas. One has won a court battle. One has welcomed a baby into their arms. My son has seen how God works even in the disappointments of the day.

Thank You, Lord, for Your provision. Thank You for having a perfect plan, even in the midst of the disappointments of life. Thank You for caring enough for me to send Your only begotten Son to bring salvation. I love You, Lord and will continue to do so in the midst of all of my circumstances. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What Does God Have in Store for You?

Photo Courtesy of Microsoft

As I read Isaiah 61 on Friday morning, a list developed before my eyes. A list of how I am blessed by God. A list of promises for my life. I thought you may be blessed with this encouragement, as well, so I share it with you.

What God has for my life and says about me:

•  The Spirit of God is upon me, just as He was upon Jesus.
• I am anointed.
• I can preach good tidings to the poor.
• I can bring healing to the brokenhearted through my relationship with Jesus.
• I can proclaim liberty to the captives.
• I can open the prison of those who are bound through my testimony and the blood of the Lamb.
• I can proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
• I can proclaim the day of God's vengeance.
• I can comfort those who mourn.
• I can console those who mourn.
• I have beauty from ashes.
• I have the oil of joy for mourning.
• I have a garment of praise I can put on for a spirit of heaviness.
• I am a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.
• I glorify the Lord.
• I can rebuild the ruined cities.
• I can raise up the former desolation (restoration).
• I can repair the ruined cities.
• I am a priest(ess) of the Lord.
• I am a servant of God.
• I eat riches in His kingdom.
• I have double honor instead of shame.
• I rejoice in my portion, rather than dwell in confusion.
• I possess double in my land.
• I have everlasting joy.
• God will direct my work in truth.
• I have an everlasting covenant with the Lord.
• My descendents shall be known. 
• All who see my descendants will acknowledge them.
• My descendants are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.
• I greatly rejoice in the Lord.
• My soul is joyful in my God.
• I am clothed with the garments of salvation.
• God has covered me with the robe of righteousness. I am a bridegroom bedecked with ornaments, a bride adorned with jewels.

The Blessings of God Part One

God’s word holds many promises for those who love Him. For the next month, I’ll be sharing some of them with an encouraging word. I pray you find His heart for you in the midst of these posts.

“Blessed is the man

 Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

 Nor stands in the path of sinners,

 Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

 And in His law he meditates day and night.

 He shall be like a tree

 Planted by the rivers of water,

 That brings forth fruit in its season,

 Whose leaf also shall not wither;

 And whatever he does shall prosper.”

~ Psalm 1:1-3

Are you a blessed man or woman of God? Some days, it feels as if God’s blessings abound. We walk on Cloud 9. All is right in our world, and all is well with our souls. The finances are flowing, the bills are paid, there’s food on our tables, and no one is ill or dying. Other days, the kids have the stomach bug, the price of food and gas go up, making our budgets too tight, and the family pet runs out in front of a car.

The Word of God promises us that when we choose to seek God and meditate in His Word, we are blessed. Regardless of our circumstances.

Psalm 1 promises us we shall be like a tree, planted by rivers of water. It takes a strong tree with good roots to withstand the torrents of life. As we root ourselves in God’s Word, proclaiming His blessings over our lives, we develop the ability to withstand the rough waters that come with the storms of life.

It also says that the tree will bring forth fruit in its season, and its leaf will not wither. This verse describes the hope we have in Jesus. As we continually apply God’s word to our lives, we bear fruit. We live according to God’s Word and His plan for our lives. We find and gain strength in Jesus. We hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us. We recognize the hand of God in our lives and know better how to follow His guidance. Others recognize a change in our lives and wonder where it came from. Our leaf will not wither. We will no longer live under oppression, depression, or any other thing that would try to hold us down or back in life. Generations to come will know that we loved and followed God with our entire beings.

And, finally, whatever we do will prosper. Whether it’s our relationship with Jesus, our marriage, our singleness, our parenting, our step-parenting, our work, our service, our time spent caring for loved ones, our missions, our you-name-it, it will prosper in the hands of the Lord. Because, ultimately, all we have and are belongs to God. His kingdom knows no bounds. He is Lord of All. It is His will and desire to bless us, to prosper us. After all, if we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more does He?

Find joy and peace in knowing that God has your best interests at heart today. Deny the worries of this world and delight yourself in His Word. Meditate on His goodness and love, mercy and grace. Have a blessed day.

Church Photo Courtesy of  Bev Lloyd-Roberts

Grapes Photo Courtesy of Nat Arnett

God Has Not Forgotten You

Photo Copyright 2011 Alycia W. Morales

"The Lord has been mindful of us;

 He will bless us;"

 ~ Psalm 115: 12

 "Focus on your children." The Lord directed me to make them a priority for the months my husband worked out-of-state. Knowing that my obedience would yield rewards, I said yes.


However, the more I focused on taking care of them, the less I took care of myself. I didn't read the Word as frequently as I began substituting at their school as a way to bring in a few extra dollars and stay close to the kids. I stopped praying at the church, because getting out at night after dealing with homework, dinner and showers wore me out. I attended church most Sundays, but an occasional headache or stomach bug kept me from making it every week. As a result, I felt even further from God.


I didn't lose hope. I didn't stop believing. I desperately wanted to spend more time with Jesus. But life got in the way for a season. When I deeply desired to see signs of God's closeness and feel His holy presence, I saw only signs of my flesh. Grumpiness, lack of patience and near depression engulfed me.

I prayed. Cried out. Told God how alone I felt. And waited for a response. I poured tears into my pillow as my heart longed for my husband's return and my Savior's comfort. And I waited some more.

God's Word says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Even when He is silent, He's still there, working on our behalf. We only need to keep following after Him and not lose sight of Jesus.

The light appeared at the end of my tunnel two weeks ago. What felt like it would never end passed. The season of winter, of dryness, has turned to spring. I see God's blessings popping up all around, like the daffodils and jasmine are beginning to bloom.

Even when it seemed to me that God wasn't near and didn't hear, He remained mindful of me. 

Read Psalm 115 today and find encouragement. Don't turn to worldly objects and ideals to fill what seems to be a void in your life. This season will pass, and God's blessings will bloom again.

A Thankful Heart

One thing that really gets me frustrated is when someone who is obviously blessed does nothing but complain about what they don't have or don't like about what they do have.

I may not be "rich" with wealth. I have a college loan, a truck payment, and the same bills most others have. I don't have much in the way of savings. And I can't buy every latest gadget the minute it comes out. (Do I really need to?)

But what I do have is a wealth that money can't buy. I have a wealth of joy, love, health, and riches that only God can give a person.

Today I'd like to thank Him for some of those blessings:

1. My relationship with Him. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and I am His daughter. What more could a girl need than to be a Princess in the house of God?

2. My husband, Victor. He is my true love. He is my knight in shining armor. He is the man of my dreams. He's a man of integrity and a strong man of God. He works very hard to provide for his family. In a time when things are tough, he is out there making a living so we can have a roof over our heads and food on our table. He is diligent, hard-working, and excellent at what he does.  And best of all, he loves me!

3. My husband's job. I easily recognized when the economy began to tank. As a union carpenter, my husband was laid off more than he was working. But, true to his nature, he went looking for the jobs rather than waiting for them to come to him. And he landed them. And then he found a salaried position with a solid company. So we are very thankful for that job, despite how tough it can be sometimes.

4. My four, healthy children. I am blessed to have four kids who are in great health. They are active, creative, intuitive, and fun to be around (most of the time). I'm thankful that despite how difficult it can be traveling from place-to-place for Dad's job, they look forward to seeing new places and meeting new friends.  Life can be tough at times, but they are going to be so much richer as they become adults.

5. My step-son. Life wouldn't be the same if he weren't part of it. I'm so thankful to God that He gave me the opportunity to share in his life. He's all grown up now and working his own job. And I'm so very proud of him.

6. My family. Mom. Dad. Frieda. Lief (pronounced life). My in-laws. My nieces and nephews. Grandma. They're what adds the flavor to my world. There are a lot of different spices in this mix. Life will never be boring.

7. My church family - countrywide. When you move once every two years or so, you start to find yourself praying God will provide a new church home with each move. We have truly been blessed and are able to say we have family all over the east coast. Because when you leave behind mother, brother, and other kin to do what God has called you to do, He multiplies your family. We love knowing that we have family and friends we can trust in various parts of the country. It makes moving that much easier.

8. I'm also thankful for the simple things in life. Being able to worship God without fearing death. Being able to brush my teeth in the morning or take a hot shower or use a toilet. Having a car to get me from place-to-place. The pleasure of a cup of coffee with Pumpkin Spice creamer in the morning. The quietness of a book store and hours of browsing and dreaming of seeing my name on that shelf one day. Being able to curl up next to my husband at night and having his arms wrapped around me; it's one of the safest places in this world and one of my favorites. Hearing my children laugh. Listening to my son or daughter tell or read me a story they dreamed up.

9. And, I'm thankful that I have been blessed with people who are willing to read my blog posts week in and week out. I love sharing with you!

So, what are you thankful for this week? Are your riches here on earth, or are they heavenly things that can never be stolen from your heart? I'd love to hear what you are thankful for this year!

Just a Reminder...

I just wanted to post a brief reminder. Every Thursday between now and Christmas, there will be an opportunity to win a free gift here on my blog. It's my way of saying "Thank You" to my readers and offering a blessing in return.

All you need to do is comment on the Thursday blog post for a chance to win each week. I will select the winner each Wednesday night and post the result Thursday morning with the new opportunity to win. You can comment up until 7:00 PM EST each Wednesday.

I look forward to blessing you! Thank you for your continued readership. I love sharing with you as God speaks to me.

Time for a Personal Get-away

Women are busy today. It doesn't matter if you are a stay-at-home mother trying to raise your children, a working mother trying to help provide for your family while raising your children, a single mother trying to do it alone, a married woman trying to feed your husband while dealing with the responsibilities of life, or a single woman who's trying to keep all of her plates spinning. Whatever type of woman you are, I'd like to encourage you today to make sure you stop every once in a while and take time for yourself. Refresh your soul. Give your brain a break. Spend some time nurturing your relationship with God. Spend some time away from everyday life. Take some time out for yourself. Avoid burnout.

This week, I'm at a writer's conference in New Mexico. Although I'm here to study, learn, and do some work, it's a break from everyday life. I'm in a setting I've never been in before. I'm socializing with friends I only see one to four times a year. I'm with like-minded creative people, which rejuvenates my soul. I can get away for time alone with God, with no interruptions. I can focus, because my children are not here to ask for something every five minutes. I get outside a lot, breathing in fresh, mountain-in-the-desert air. I can stop for five minutes to take pictures of God's glory in the fall-colored trees. It's refreshing. It's time for me. It's a week of excitement and wonder.

So when I have to face everyday life again, I won't burn out. I won't look at my kids and want to scream. I won't lose my patience every 30 minutes. I won't want to lie down and never get up again. I won't wish I had more time to...

God worked for six days, and then He rested. He understood the need to take a break. He understood that we would be more productive if we'd take the time to rest. I encourage you today, take time for yourself once a year. You may not need to spend hundreds or a thousand dollars to treat yourself to a get-away. You may only need a weekend at a local hotel. You may only need to spend the weekend at a best friend's house. Whatever your need is, don't be afraid to tell the world, "Hey. I've worked hard and long enough. I need some time to myself. I need to breathe." It's okay. God did it. So can you! 

Have you taken a break lately? Where did you go? I'm in New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment...

A Bad Case of the Grumpies

Photo Courtesy of Steve Ford Elliott

I stepped out of the elementary school building, three kids in tow. Hoping for a peaceful afternoon after a few stressful days, I stopped short as my youngest son started in.

"I want ice cream," he stated in his whiniest voice. And didn't stop. Until two hours later. When Mom buckled and bought ice cream to satisfy her son's desire and her need for peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, my daughter decided she wanted to be sassy. She quipped several sentences out, meant to irritate anyone nearby. Brothers. Mom. The air around her...

I'd been substituting four days in a row and needed some quiet time. I've been taking care of my children while my husband works in Indiana - since mid-August. I haven't had a break from kids. Well, maybe twice, but when there's four of them and I have no one to help me handle all of their ups and downs each day, it doesn't seem like much. And the neighbor kids love to come to my house after school, which is fine with me. But I recognize my need for some me time in the midst of daily life with children.

While pondering this, I've come to a resounding compassion for single mothers. Working full time. Running kids to football practice. And birthday parties. And church events. Shopping with kids hanging from the cart, the shelves, and the bars they put at the edges of the cold item displays in the middle of the dairy and meat sections. Dinner. Showers. Nighttime prayers. And cries for Daddy. My heart goes out to you. I don't know how you do it without breaking.

At least I still have my husband. He may be miles away and only accessible by phone, but his children can hear his voice. They know he's still there for them. They get to see him once a month when he flies down to visit. And one day soon, we'll be reunited again.

The second thing I've realized in the midst of this ordeal is how often I tend to lean toward a bad case of the grumpies. How often do I find myself muttering to God under my breath? I can't do this anymore. Why do we have to be apart? Why so long? When will this end? Why can't they stop whining? When do I get a break, Lord? 

And then I realize: I still have a husband. My children are all healthy and in their right minds. We have a roof over our head, despite the continual issues with our furnace and our toilets. We have food on our table, even if it's only cereal, sandwiches, and pasta while we run two households. I have a good substitute teaching position. And we are blessed.

God is always with us, no matter how near or far our loved ones are. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He holds us close. I took comfort in the following Psalm this morning as I thought once again on my current circumstance. I hope you find comfort in it, too.

Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills -

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.