God. Is. Able (Ephesians 3:20)

Now unto Him WHO IS ABLE to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL that we could ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.  Ephesians 3:20

I just started reading a book by Priscilla Shirer, God Is Able is the title. and the theme is on this verse. And it really got me thinking...

Would you look at Paul's choice of words here? It's like he couldn't quite express what he wanted to bring out. The greatness of our Heavenly Father. He can do for us way, way, way more than we can even think to ask Him! Imagine that! And He is able. People He CAN work that miracle you're almost afraid to ask for, that thing that looks way to hard, or maybe you're almost afraid to hope for it. He is able! He is the God of the universe. He spoke the world into existence. He took dust, blew on it, and made a man with a soul that will live on forever. Too often I hear the story of creation and yeah, that happened, pretty cool. But really!!! He just spoke, and there it was, light, sun, moon, stars, EVERYTHING! He is Almighty! Truly there is no one like Our God.

 I tend to be like, "yes, I know He can, but will He? Or, what if He doesnt?" And so, I'm almost afraid to hope, or to ask. But I think we need to be bold, to believe and to have that assurance that God can. And then like the men in the fiery furnace said, "Our God whom we serve IS ABLE to deliver us out of the Burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King. BUT IF NOT, be it known to you O King, that we will not serve thy Gods, nor worship the golden image which though hast set up. Daniel 3:17-18 They proclaimed that God could, but even if He didn't they still wouldn't stop serving Him. That's where we need to be. "God I know you can, but even if you don't I will still believe, & I will still serve you!"

Which brings to my thoughts one of my favorite songs right now.
 Even If, by Mercy Me.
 "I know you're able, I know You can,
save through the fire with your mighty hand,
but even if don't, my hope is in You Lord! You've been faithful, You've been good all my days,
 Jesus I will cling to you, come what may...."

So, what am I believing God for right now? Complete healing from cancer for my dad. It looks big, but is anything to hard for God? Nope! I believe that sickness is part of living in a fallen world, a result of the sin of Adam and Eve. I know that after this life on earth is no more, when we are spending all eternity with Jesus in a perfect, new world, there will be no more sickness or dying, therefore I do not think that sickness or disease is from God. Can God take and make something beautiful from that? YES! We can grow stronger and learn and our relationship with God can grow deeper during those times if we choose to worship Him and trust in Him. Because what Satan means for evil, God uses for good. (Genesis 50:20.)
I'm still learning how to walk out this journey of faith. (I certainly haven't arrived! I'm not even sure I should be writing about it to be quite honest!) I ask God often as did the father of the boy who fell often into the fire and needed deliverence from the demon within, "Lord I believe, but help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) That's where the struggle lies! We know God can, we know He does, but we fall into the trap of unbelief. And just a side note, I'm not talking about the power of positive thinking thing. Positive thinking is a good thing, but what I'm talking about is faith.  Positive thinking is about the power of thinking positive thoughts, "good vibes" I've heard them called. The faith and belief I'm trying to bring out here is the power of Jesus Christ within us! Faith is seeing that which we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1) We didn't see God create the world, we didn't see Moses and the Israelites cross the Red Sea on dry land. We didn't see Jesus on The cross, and we don't have a visual document of our salvation, but we have faith and we believe that it happened. That's what I'm talking about! :)

Maybe my rambling don't quite make sense, and maybe I'm off. I pray that God would correct me through His Spirit or through one of you if I write something that is out of line! I still have many questions, I often don't understand God's ways and that ok. I know that "bad things" happen to good Godly people. I go back to Job, and I don't really fully understand. But I decided that I will take peepie steps in faith, and I will believe that what Jesus said and taught is true! He was and still is a healer, and a miracle maker. And God is a good, loving, Father.

What is your "big" today? What is your "seemingly impossible"? Give it to the One who is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all.

Be blessed....

 Here's the question I've been asking myself. To blog, or not to blog. What would I write about? Family? Food? Our life? Little bits of "wisdom"? Things about scripture? That burning topic on my heart? But anyway, I took a teeny step and created a blog site. I'm praying that God would lead me in my writing. That it could encourage or bless someone who stumbles across it.

A little about me... first of all, I'm 'wife' to an amazing man. We've been married for 10 wonderful years. I'm 'mom' to 5 littles. Luke is 9, Jason, 6, Sara 5, Ethan will be 2 on Monday & Abigail is almost 5 months old. These are the days that everyone with adult children tells us are "the best days of our lives"! Somedays I'm wondering if they remember the chaotic, crazyness of it all! However, I trust that because they've been where we now are, they're probably right! :) And yes, these are the days. The days full of life and chatter and laughter. And the days of sibling spats, but where forgiveness is usually freely  given. The days of seemingly endless bickering, wild boy moments, shrieks and peals of giggles. Days when sitting in a chair can mean feet and legs anywhere but down! :) Days of dollies, and playing Sunday School, and days of backyard baseball, football, or soccer games, depending on the season. And days when I just want to hide with my coffee and that secret stash of candy. (Yes, I'm one of those moms who hides chocolate from her kiddos. I've gotten pretty creative! :) Grocery bag tied to a clothes hanger, placed way back in my closet is a lasting favorite!!!! For those of you who need new ideas.) Mornings that start too early, nights that are way too short. I had no idea being a mom would be so challenging and yet sooo sweet!  ("Oh God help me to "mom" with joy, with grace, with love. Not just for the "good" times, but the "hard" times too.") 
 And That's where the title for my blog comes in. A few favorite quotes from Ann Voskamp.  

"Gratefulness is not what you feel after times of joyfulness. Gratefulness is what you do to get times of joyfulness."

I'm a firm believer that Joy is a choice. Thankfulness is a choice and Praise is a choice. Do I always choose it? No, sometimes I don't FEEL like choosing gratefulness or to be joyful. That's where I need Jesus. I need Him to give me the strength to choose, when I'd rather have a pity party, or when I'd rather wallow. A friend of mine told me a little while ago "God's grace is always there, we just need to reach out and grab it!" Amen!!!