Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God

I just finished reading this book by Sheila Walsh.  It was exactly what I needed.  I am continually amazed by how God sends just what I need, when I need it.  During the last week while having conversations with different people one of the principles below have been brought up in which I had just read.  I do not count these as coincidences but divine providence.  The principle theme throughout the book is TRUST, and obviously this is a message that God is sending directly to me. 

I am constantly wondering what other people think of me and I often doubt my abilities.  I feel that others can do things much better than I can, so why would I be the one chosen to complete the task.   Sheila spoke to my heart when she said,

“There will always be those who can do things better but God chooses each of us to show what He can do.”  Pg. xvi (introduction)

Satan loves to tell us that we are the only one dealing with something so we can’t tell anyone.  We feel ashamed, embarrassed, alone, however the Bible tells us that we all deal with the same temptations.  Sheila wrote below:

“One thing that continues to surprise me is the commonality of so many of our struggles.  I still tend to assume that if I am dealing with a very negative emotion, I am the only one who feels that way.  That’s just not true.”   Pg. 27

“God’s love for us shows up more powerfully in our failures than in any of our greatest successes.”

Throughout Chapter 12 Sheila talks about Abraham and how he had to rely on trust.  As Abraham is going up the mountain with Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice to God, I imagine how hard that must have been.  I have always wondered how he did it.  How did he trust God with Isaac?  Sheila describes it this way…

“By this point in his relationship with God, Abraham knew that even if he had to stick a dagger in his own son’s heart, God would bring him back from the dead because Isaac was the son of God’s promise, and God never breaks a promise.  There was not a second’s doubt that they would both come back.”  Pg. 217

WOW- eye opening!!!

“I spent so much of my life trying to be a “good” Christian.  That seems ridiculous to me now.  I have never once seen a single sheep- and I grew up surrounded by them- trying to be a good sheep.  The many sheep I’ve seen just go wherever their shepherd takes them.  If they fall into a creek, they wait for the shepherd to get them out.  If they’re afraid of a stalking wolf, they know the shepherd has a mighty rod and staff to win any fight.  They don’t worry about where their next meal is coming from- they eat the grass at their feet, and when it’s gone, the shepherd leads them to a new pasture. That’s how our Father wants us to live right now.  He has climbed the highest mountain to get to where he’s prepared a place for us; one day the new pasture will be home.” Pg 219

Why do I worry so much about tomorrow- what this situation or that situation will entail?  If God is in it, I need not fear.

          “It doesn’t matter what assignment we are given on this earth, what matters is our heart in the midst of the assignment.  Do you see how that changes everything.” Pg. 227

http://www.sheilawalsh.com/

Quote of the Day

“By living below our means and avoiding the tyranny of excessive consumer debt, we free ourselves to provide for the physical needs and keep our children from having to sense the helplessness of financial bondage”  ~ Dr. Tim Kimmel ~

The Great Outdoors

We took our first camping trip with the kids (outside of our backyard).  We went to Lake Myers in Mocksville, NC.  It was not crowded as we went on a Tuesday.  They have a lot to do there- swimming (2 Olympic size pools), bumper boats, paddle boating, canoeing, fishing, an arcade room and a water-slide.  Mike and the kids went down the water- slide at least 20 times while we were there.  The downside to camping in the middle of summer, besides the bugs of course, is the unexpected storms.  It started thundering and pouring rain around 6pm and it was one of the worst thunderstorms that we have experienced.  Which, it was the only storm that we have experienced while in a tent.  All together, we had a fantastic time.  It was relaxing ~ no phones, blackberries, email, etc…just a campfire where we cooked our hotdogs and fun with each other.  Surprisingly, the kids were not super scared of the storm- Emilee said that was because we were all there together.  This one will go down in history…Casto history that is.

Hanes Park

We had such a good time the other day @ Hanes Park in Winston Salem.  The kids ran around, climbed, swung, and all the things that you do at a park.  These are the times that I enjoy the most:)

A Sad Day

I found out yesterday afternoon that one of my friends had lost her 12 yr old son in a boating accident while they were on vacation.  Today, she posted on FB that her second son, who was 18, and also involved in the accident, died this morning.  I have been heartbroken for her and her family since the news broke.  I can’t imagine what they are going through and have just held my children closer.   
Michael was so comforting to me today through all of my sadness.  He took us out to eat and to see Cars 2.  Although it wasn’t the outing that was comforting, it was not being at home listening to complaints about what was for dinner, or so and so will not play with me…Which if I truly think about it, how great is it to hear those complaints at a time like this, because you know your children are still here.   
The upside to all of this tragedy is that my friend is a follower of Christ and she knows where her two boys are right now.  They are in Heaven with our Abba Father- God.  They have been welcomed into God’s arms and they are rejoicing with all those who have gone before them.  This is comforting to the family, but it will be a very long time of mourning and sadness.  Please pray for the Rowley Family through all of this.  Hold your family tight and thank God daily for all that He has provided for you.  That is what I am doing right now.  
Thank you God for Michael, the husband you knew that I needed.  Thank you for Jacob who is a sensitive person and is loving.  Thank you for Emilee who is spunky and full of life.  Thank you for all of the simple things.  I am going to be more thankful!!!!!!!

Jake & Emi

   Jake & Emi on the new swing that Mike made

          Jake & Emi @ Oak Hollow Lake Park

All Things Jake

    Here are pictures of Jacob or Jake as he likes to be called.  


This is at Oak Hollow Lake Park
 

 Jake on the swing that his daddy made for him and Emilee

Look at that smile...

    

Wow…he can be quiet~ when he is sleeping:)

       

       

Jake rock climbing @ Hanging Rock State Park

June 2011

       

Jake with the Giant Zucchini…Veggie Tales have nothing on us

All Things Emilee

                              Emilee’s New Haircut

Emilee & Gracie (The M&M) having a singing & dancing show

   Emilee on the new swing that her daddy made

Emilee with Beary sleeping

Pin the tail on the Emi ~ this game is so much fun!!!!

What a Way to Wreck My Plans...

I was in a car wreck on June 13- the day before school let out.  I had so many plans for our family this summer.  My plans included less gas fill ups (as I wouldn’t be taking Jacob to school 5 days a week), lots of camping, and day trips.  Well…this wreck changed all of those plans.  Emilee and I were on our way to the park when a car pulled into our lane and I couldn’t stop in time.  I hit the car in the side and the impact pushed us into a telephone poll.  There were no serious injuries and thankfully there wasn't a lot of damage to my car.  However my back was hurt and has been really bothering me ever since.  Emilee wasn’t hurt- PRAISE GOD!!!!  The car that pulled out in front of us decided not to stop and just kept going!!!  Why are there so many hit and runs in NC?  I am truly thankful for a Good Samaritan ~ the van behind me followed the car, wrote down the license plate, called 911 and then waited with us until the police arrived.  Wow, how many people would have just drove on by...
 I read on the police report later, that the owner had been tracked down.  She had let her her boyfriend, T.O.,  of 1 month drive her car.  She didn't know that he had used it in a hit and run.  She doesn’t know his name, doesn’t know where he lives ~ but really, it has only been 1 month ~ how much info do you need in such a short amount of time?  I am thankful that my uninsured motorist insurance paid for the repairs to my car and are paying for my medical bills.  After having x-rays, etc… I am going to the doctor 3 times a week for 5 weeks for therapy and adjustments and then we will re-evaluate my condition at that point.  My neck was also injured - similar to whiplash.  This has caused a lot of dizziness and headaches and if not better soon, I will be referred out to an orthopedic doctor who will likley give me injections in the neck to stop these side effects.  Wow, I hope this goes away soon.
So back to my plans… I’m filling up my car more than I was during the school year so I can get to the doctor 3 times a week.  We have not been able to camp ~ because my back will not allow me to lay on the ground.  All of those day trips that I had planned- not one of them yet.   
Long story short...this reminds me of Isaiah 55:8-9 where God says that His thoughts are not my thoughts and His plans are not my plans.  I now know the meaning of this verse!!!!!! WE ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.  This wreck could have been much worse and for a lot of hit and runs- they are.  God is so good to us- all the time!!!!!!!!!!! 

The Summer of Love

Home from church.  I’m going to really miss Saturday night services in 2 weeks when we go back to Sunday’s only.  The new series that Pastor Jonathan started tonight is titled “Summer of Love”.  




When you get love right, you live right!!!  LOVE IS A CHOICE!!!!!!!   
1 Corinthians 14:1 “Let love be your highest goal” 


http://www.thesummitchurch.net


Angie

Pride

This is from Beth Moore's book- Praying God's Word...link attached.

My name is Pride.  I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…because

you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment…because you

“deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge…because you already

know it all.

I cheat you of healing…because you’re too full of

me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness…because you refuse to

admit when you’re wrong.

I cheat you of vision…because you’d rather look

in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship…because

nobody’s going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love…because real romance

demand’s sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…because you

refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory…because I convince

you to seek your own.

My name is Pride.  I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I’m always looking

out for you.  Untrue.

I’m looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you.  I admit, but don’t worry…

If you stick with me

You’ll never know.

  http://www.lproof.org/

Oh How I Love The Farmer's Market

I love when we go to The Piedmont Triad Farmer’s Market.  We went the other day and had a great time browsing all of the local finds.  Below is a picture of my new plant: Mother of Thousands.  The seller told me that you have to try and kill this plant- maybe it will stay alive.  He said a little sun, a little water and you are good to go.  All of the little buds on the leaves are babies and they will produce more Mother of Thousand plants.  If one dies, then I have 999 more to work with:) I like those odds!!!

All Things Gardening

This year Michael have spent a lot of time and attention on our garden and we are now reaping the rewards of that hard work.  He installed a sump pump that runs from our creek to the garden and it is set to water twice a day.  Our zucchini and squash are over 2 lbs each.  They are huge.  It is comical to see Jacob squash lifting for his daily exercise:) We are hoping to have enough vegetables to sustain us for the rest of the year.  We planted squash, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and lettuce.  We have had a lot of lettuce so far this year and it is so yummy!!!  


Angie

There's A First Time For Everything

So this is my first time blogging.  I'm not sure what I am going to use this site for just yet or exactly why I am doing it, but I'm sure it will come to me.  The title is Colorful And Simply The Original as an acronym for our last name CASTO.  I would love feedback and advise from others in the blogging world:) 


 Angie