A FREE E-book to Help Teach Children About Gratefulness

Materialism, selfishness, and feelings of entitlement are being instilled into our children through the culture we live in. It is important to teach them, while they are young, to be grateful for the blessings God has given them, and to be generous in sharing those blessings with others.

Compassion International has a way to help teach these important lessons with their new e-book, Goggles of Gratefulness. It is a sweetly illustrated, 20-page book about a little bird who had an ungrateful attitude. Then, she had a change of heart while visiting a needy family member.

Download it for FREE at this link:

FREE E-BOOK:  Goggles of Gratefulness 

TRUST #29: A Review of TRUST POSTS

I will be taking a blogging break through the month of August, and will plan to be back with more TRUST posts on September 2nd. Until then, take some time to read through the first 28 weeks again; and, if you get a moment, I would love to hear from you. Please share what your favorite posts have been so far, or share a testimony of how these posts have impacted your walk with the Lord. Thanks for reading.  ~Victoria

TRUST #1:  Focus for 2018: TRUST
TRUST #2:  My Unexplained Pain
TRUST #3:  God Works All Things for Our Good
TRUST #4:  Remember How God Has Helped You in the Past
TRUST #5:  Trust in God's Love for You
TRUST #6:  Trust God's Decision on Leaders
TRUST #7:  A Simple Plan to Help Us TRUST More and Worry Less
TRUST #8:  Trust God to Meet Your Needs (Carolyn McIntosh's Story)
TRUST #9:  He Never Leaves Us Nor Forsakes Us (Daneille Snowden's Story)
TRUST #10:  Following God's Lead (Charity Vanderhoof's Story)
TRUST #11:  Trusting Christ with a "Death Sentence" (Mike Phillip's Story)
TRUST #12:  The First Moment of Real Trust in God
TRUST #13:  Trusting God to Help Us Find Our Way (Daniel McIntosh's Story)
TRUST #14:  Trust God to Listen to Your Heart
TRUST #15:  How to Trust in God When You Don't Know How
TRUST #16:  Trusting God When Your Family Turns Against You (Rein Schmidt's Story)
TRUST #17:  Prayers Can Show Our Trust
TRUST #18:  What Faith Means to Me (Guest: Carolyn McIntosh)
TRUST #19:  "Trust" Quote from Chip Ingram
TRUST #20:  Romans 15:13
TRUST #21:  Twila Paris "Do I Trust You?"
TRUST #22:  "Trust the Engineer" (A Quote by Corrie TenBoom)
TRUST #23:  A Father Who Can Be Trusted
TRUST #24:  Allowing Our Son to Go and Do
TRUST #25:  Trusting in the Reliability of God's Word
TRUST #26:  Lauren Daigle "Trust in You"
TRUST #27:  EL is 2 Years Seizure-Free
TRUST #28:  'Tis So Sweet to TRUST in Jesus

TRUST #28: Tis So Sweet To TRUST in Jesus

This lovely old hymn was written by a young missionary in 1882 after a heartbreaking, life-altering event took place. She wrote the words shortly after she watched her husband drown while trying to rescue a young child. Read the lyrics here, and click on the title to hear the tune:

'TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS
By: Louisa M.R. Stead

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

And to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

TRUST #27: EL is 2 years Seizure-Free

Look closely at this photo and you can see people on top of the big rock. These people went on a journey to climb that rock in order to focus on the beauty around them. It reminds me of the climbs we have taken in life with our daughter, EL. Not physical climbs as we see in the photo; but emotional, developmental, and spiritual climbs - all due to EL's various health issues. Each climb we have taken has been used to help us exercise our faith, and to help us focus on the beauty around us.

It has been awhile since I have given an update on EL. Thankfully, that means she hasn't been having any major health issues lately. Yay! In fact, her last seizure was on July 15, 2016, two years ago today. After that seizure, her Pediatric Neurologist added an additional medication, which seems to have been the one that was needed to stop the seizures.

She started seeing a different Neurologist in February of this year - one that see's adults. We like her, and are happy her office is only an hour's drive from us instead of two. Next month, we will go back for a 6-month checkup and discuss weaning EL from the first medication she started taking and will see how things go.

Watching your child suffer through health issues is heartbreaking, to say the least. Through it all - her autism, her anxiety, her epilepsy, and her pituitary tumor - God has been a refuge for us. He has given us the wisdom, patience, and the strength we have needed for each and every climb we've come to. That is what TRUSTING in God can do.

TRUST #26: "Trust in You" by Lauren Daigle

Lauren Daigle has a way of putting beautiful expressions of worship to music. I love this song she co-wrote about TRUSTING in the Lord. It reminds me that God is my strength and comfort; my firm foundation. He goes before me and is with me through every mountain and every valley; and I can be assured that His plans for my life are always good, even when things don't happen in the way I think they should.

TRUST IN YOU

(Click on the title to hear this song)

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see
I try to win this war
I confess, my hands are weary, I need Your rest
Mighty warrior, king of the fight
No matter what I face You're by my side

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There's not a day ahead You have not seen
So let all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You
I will trust in You

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There's not a place where I'll go
You've not already stood

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
I will trust in You

Songwriters: Lauren Daigle/ Michael Farren / Paul Mabury

Trust In You lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Essential Music Publishing, Capitol Christian Music Group

TRUST #25: Trusting in the Reliability of God's Word

When my parents were working with CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship), I was a young girl, around Kindergarten age. During that time, I can remember them asking my older brother and sister and me to sing some CEF songs and record them on a cassette tape to send to our grandparents.

LISTEN HERE TO US KIDS SINGING ONE OF THOSE SONGS:

THE WORDS TO THE SONG:
I'm glad I'm a Christian.

I'm TRUSTING the Lord.

I'm reading my Bible;

Believing each word.

The past is forgiven;

From sin I am free.

A mansion in Heaven

Is waiting for me.  

I chose to share this song with you today because it presents an important message about TRUSTING in the Lord. You can see it in the first verse, about how a big part of TRUSTING comes from  BELIEVING. But, its not just about believing God exists, its also about believing His Word (the Bible) is TRUE. In order to fully TRUST in God, it is important to believe in the reliability and inerrancy of His Word. It is the foundation of the Christian faith, and believing in its truth will make a huge difference in the strength of your TRUST.

If you are currently doubting the reliability of Scripture, I really don't think there is anything I can say to convince you of its truth. It is a matter of faith and worldview on your part, and something you will need to choose to believe in. But, if you are struggling with this subject and want some good articles to ponder, here are a few to get you started. I pray they will help answer some of your questions:

• FOCUS ON THE FAMILY:  How Do We Know the Bible is True?
• ANSWERS IN GENESIS:  How Do We Know that the Bible is True? 
• LIVING WATERS:  Can We Trust the Bible?

TRUST #24: Allowing Our Son to Go and Do

As I look at the photo above (taken in 2008), I see my 5-year-old son, JJ, and smile. He was so little then, and was so dependent on me and David. We knew he could have easily fallen and gotten hurt while playing on this playground equipment; but we also knew we needed to allow him this time of play. Why? Because, as he was having fun playing, he was also developing a range of much-needed skills. He was developing motor skills, coordination, creativity, confidence-building, and independence - all necessary skills that have helped him learn, grow, and engage in the world around him. 

JJ is 15 years old now, and he is experiencing a new form of independence and confidence-building skills while spending a large part of his summer 6 hours from home. He is with my brother and his family at Youth Haven Bible Camp in the hills of Kentucky. The first week of June, he attended Jr. Staff Orientation, then spent a week of being a camper during teen week, and now he is working and serving as a Jr. Staff member until the middle of July.

If you are a parent, you can understand how difficult it is to allow a child to go so far away from home, and for so long of a time; but, I realize that allowing JJ to go and do new things is all part of the growing up process - for both him and for me (heh heh). So, I have been praying for JJ daily, and have been choosing to TRUST in God by placing JJ's well-being into God's hands. In fact, David and I have both been praying, not only for JJ's health and safety, but also for his spiritual growth, and for him to have learning experiences that will help shape him into the young man God wants him to become.

I remember back when I was barely 16, and I spent most of the Summer working as a "summer missionary" at Camp Good News in Minnesota. I have memories from that time of situations that have helped shape my life and make me the person I am today. I can only ask the same for JJ. So, although I miss him, I am thankful he has this opportunity to spend some time with his cousins, and to serve and work at the camp.

Playing in the park can help a young child's development. In the same way, being away from home for awhile can help a teenager's development. I am TRUSTING that this experience will be an exciting time of learning and growing for JJ, and I look forward to hearing about all he has done and learned during his time away.

TRUST #23: A Father Who Can Be Trusted

On the day each of our children were born, David was a tremendous help throughout the labor and delivery process. He stayed near me the entire time, making sure all was going as well as it could be. Then, as soon as our baby was born, he quickly checked to see that I was okay, then went to be near the young ones as they were being cleaned up. At each birth, he had made an obvious transition from being a caring and protective husband to being a caring and protective father. And, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

David with our 1st-born child -1998

David with our 2nd-born child - 2003

A good father can be TRUSTED to love his children, protect them, and to care for them in ways that only a good father can. I am thankful and pleased to have that kind of a father for my children.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this world has had a father who has earned that same kind of trust. If that is YOU, don't be discouraged. We know from God's Word that you, too, can have a Father who can be trusted - a Heavenly Father. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are adopted as a child of God. He becomes the good Father you never had.
 
So, today, which is Father's Day in the United Stated, don't be afraid to open your heart to the Heavenly Father, placing your TRUST in Him. He is a Father who loves you, cares for you, wants to be a part of your life, and knows you better than anyone - even to the point of knowing how many hairs are on your head. He is a Father who can be TRUSTED.

TRUST #22: "Trust the Engineer" (A Quote by Corrie TenBoom)

“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and TRUST the engineer.” 

 ~ Corrie TenBoom

TRUST #21: Twila Paris "Do I Trust You?"

Way back in 1984, when I was a young teen-aged girl, a song came out on Christian radio by TWILA PARIS. This song, according to CCM CLASSIC was "written in response to Keith Green's untimely death in 1982."  Keith was also a well-known Christian musician at that time, who died on July 28, 1982. It was a plane crash that took his life, along with two of his four children.

Back then, when this song was new, many were blessed by the words. In fact, many are still being blessed by them. So, today, as we continue with the theme of TRUST, I am sharing the lyrics of this song with you....

DO I TRUST YOU?
(Click the title to hear the song)

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.
So many times I'm tempted to ask You "Why?"
But I can never forget it for long.
Lord, what You do could not be wrong;
So I believe You, even when I must cry.

Do I trust You, Lord? Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind
And You've got to know, I would rather die
Than to lose my faith in the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?

I know the answers, I've given them all
But suddenly now, I feel so small
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology
But right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know

Do I trust You, Lord? Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind
And You've got to know I would rather die
Than to lose my faith in the One I love
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?

I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain
You were God before and You'll never change
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord

Songwriter: Twila Paris

Do I Trust You lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group