The Little Things

Woodland Faries

By Promise Deloach  15 Oct 7, 2012

THE LITTLE THINGS

Have you ever taken time to stop and count the little things, those tiny moments of blessing that are sent your way each day.  The softly spoken thank you, the best wishes of a friend, a verse of scripture that comes across to you at just the right moment, a hug from your child at just the right time.  They all add up to create this wonderful life.

Often I get caught up in the big things the big picture and miss the little blessings along the way, those softly spoken whispers of I love you daughter from the Lord.  I want to hear the loud shout, but if you listen and watch the little whispers add up to the greatest noise of all.

Yesterday was my 42 birthday, there was no big celebration, no dinner out with Todd, no family around the table singing happy birthday with a lopsided cake.  It was a quite day full of little blessings, actually all weekend.

Friday night my dear friends from our ladies group surprised me with balloons a card and a special little cupcake.  Then starting Saturday night the birthday wishes on Facebook began. Friends from all over sending well wishes. The I love you from my mother in law means the world to me.  Compassion made me a banner and gave me 3 pieces of her chocolate (I had bought her the day before) Promise painted me a picture of woodland fairies, and Patience sent me a text saying Happy Birthday mom.  My dad and his family sent a card.   Sunday morning in church a young girl sang one of my favorite songs," Blessings" by Laura Story, this song I first heard when two years ago, God gave it to me to remind me to keep my eyes on Him He would turn my pain into a blessing and here on my birthday He had to sung to me.  What joy, all those little blessings added up to.  Then the best little blessing of all and answer to my prayer, my beloved Todd also wished me Happy Birthday when I went to drop our daughter off.

There was a part of my flesh that wanted to sit back and feel sorry for myself another day without my family together, but I refused yield to a pity party and wrote down all the little blessings and instead had a joy party.  It wasn't a big bang of a birthday, it was a quite, peaceful day full of little blessings and reminders that the Father loves me, that the day of my birth is of value to Him.  That the desire of my heart is heard.  Reminding me that everyday is made of these little blessings if you look for them, and count them. That even in the darkest hour He has little blessings of grace for us. All these little things put together make a big thing and make life wonderful.  What a joy to discover the blessing you receive when you count your blessings as I continue on my Journey Home.

Brithday Balloons from my GLOW friends

Just a Tiny Bit of Faith.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." ( Matthew 17:20 NIV)

This is a photo of some black mustard seeds.  We have all heard many times how tiny they are and how they grow into a very large plant.  But take a look at them Jesus told us if we have the faith of just one of these tiny little seeds nothing in impossible.  

Often my thoughts are I don't have enough faith, I doubt and sometimes tremble in fear when I think of my mountain.  Satan whispers you just aren't strong enough, you just don't believe enough.  I even have heard messages preached you have to have enough faith.

How much faith is enough? Look dear friends at the tiny mustard seed it is all we need.  Just enough to come to Jesus and rest in Him.  Last night as I thought on this, what a comfort it was, because I do have the faith of a mustard seed and Jesus has promised because of it I can see a mountain move.  

Once you plant that tiny little seed, it will grow.  Mustard plants grow quickly, and they are highly adaptable. Once we plant our seed of faith it too will grow quickly and adapts to our individual situation.  So much promise is in that tiny little seed of faith.  All we need is enough to cry out to Jesus. "Lord I believe, help my unbelief", if we can't cry out we can just reach out and touch the hem of His garment.   

Oh dear friends, what sweet comfort a tiny mustard seed can bring us, as we each continue on our journey home.

Here is a mustard plant out in the desert even in harsh conditions they grow very large.  "Mustard seeds like growing in cool weather. However, if they are grown in hot weather, the leaves will become tough and spicy, which is a treat in certain culinary dishes."

Read more: How Do Mustard Seeds Grow? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_7222088_do-mustard-seeds-grow_.html#ixzz1ouepC3uK

Beth Moore, Hairbrush

"When we are filled to the measure with the fullness of Christ you cannot believe the needs we can meet."

(To hear this go to the bottom of my page and turn off the music. Love Kristy)

Oh, you of little faith.

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove from here to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Matthew 17:20

I am attending a women's Bible study by Beth Moore called Breaking Free. We are on week 3 and the lesson for day one is the Obstacle of Unbelief.  Here is the question that has stumped me, "Has God ever proved unworthy of your confidence?"  Of course my immediate answer is no, yet the Spirit whispers then why do you have so little faith in ME to do what I promised you I will.  The truth is God my Heavenly Father, has proven faithful yet I still doubt Him.

When I was a girl most days after school I would walk over to visit my grandmother Eunice Murrell who lived just across the pasture from us, and for an hour or so and over a cookie or two we would talk about my day and I would tell her my girlish dreams and wishes. She use to tell me one of the best things you can do everyday is count your blessings.  I did not understand then how great the wisdom was that she gave me.   These days I find myself counting each blessing daily.  What great blessings God has poured out this past year upon me even in the face of my trial.  Everything He had shown me He would do He has done.  Our home was found, the perfect one at the perfect price, every month He provides for our needs, even though every month I worry and some times panic.  He placed us in a church family were we can grow and are accepted.  Most of all the relationship I have with Him has been so great and so sweet. I asked for my days to be filled, and He has filled them.  When I am faced with something that is to big for me to handle alone He always sends someone and makes a way that I am not alone.  Our every daily need is met as we need it.  Yes, He has proven worthy of my confidence.

Yet my flesh still doubts, and I tremble in fear.  For my greatest hearts desire, my daily prayer, the cry of my heart is for the missing part of my family.  I long to have my family whole again to be by my beloved's side. I long to see the repentance and restoration that must take place.  God has already shown me in so many ways He will in His time and I am to just rest and trust him. Yet I am always climbing trees trying to see what is happening, on the other side of the mountain.   How can I make myself rest and have full confidence in God and what He has promised me? How can I walk by faith and not by my sight? My soul inside cries out like the father with the son who had a evil spirit.  "Lord, I believe: help my unbelief."

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.( Mark 9:23-24)

Hebrews 11:1  tells us "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".  The whole chapter goes on to tell of the Old Testament patriarchs and their faith, how they believed the promises of God and saw great and mighty things happen. How they suffered great trials, endured persecutions, face the impossible, but kept walking in faith with God.  Yet, we know from reading their stories in the Old Testament they had their moments of doubt, and at times acted in fear or flesh, but God kept His word to them, brought them out of their own flesh and set their faces back on Him.  Some even walked in faith and did not live to see their promise but it did not make it any less. Then we come to Hebrews 12: 1-3  Oh how sweet are these words.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

The patriarchs are our witnesses, their testimonies have already shown us the way, their victories encourages us to keep on, their failures warnings to take heed of our flesh and trying to "help God out".  The victory over doubt is to keep moving forward looking to Jesus casting  fear and doubt aside and keep our eyes on Him.  He has more than proven Himself worthy of our confidence, by the very fact He endured the cross for you and me.  Understanding this gives us freedom to step out in faith and march forward come what may. I can have faith by looking full into the face of Jesus and trust Him. That was what the father in Mark did in his cry for his child, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" He looked into face of Jesus he was able to believe and see the victory.

Here is the real truth and hope faith, can be found in the face of Jesus, trusting Him at his word, daily counting our blessings, knowing He is always worthy of our total and complete confidence, as we walk through this life path on our Journey Home.

Daughter of a KING

Daughter of a KING

I am a daughter of a KING

a princess before HIS throne I will sing.

Though Satan's darts at me are hurled

it is a bond that can never be unfurled.

Sometimes I fail and lose my way 

my FATHER is there to save the day.

with arms wide open HE takes me in

Shows me love, tells me I am forgiven.

I am a daughter of a KING

no matter what trials my life may bring.

walking by faith the path is set

though the end cannot be seen yet.

The plan was laid before my time

it is HIS alone, it is not mine.

HE lights the way, and guides my steps

Tenderly carries me when I am upset.

I am a daughter of a KING

I hold my head up in graceful dignity.

Until the day when I shall see

My FATHER in eternity!

Kristy Kay Deloach

February 17,2011

They Laughed at Noah

I don't know many things for sure but one thing I do know for sure is God joined my husband and I together.  Twenty-one years ago, the second weekend of February 1991, He brought us together at the Grace Bible Conference, in Bentley, La., two days later God said to me in my heart "This is your husband".  My response was, "Lord, I don't know if I even like him he is arrogant."   Then the Lord said again, "Never-the-less he is your husband love him."  I not only loved him, but he became my best friend. We were married on July 6, 1991. This young bride quickly learned marriage is not a fairy tale it is something you must work at we had our ups and downs, victories and failures, joys and sorrows just like everyone else.

What happened to bring down my marriage, that part of the story is not mine to tell, it belongs to my husband, perhaps one day he can share it as part of a victories testimony.

This I do know, God has shown me without a doubt  Todd Wiley Deloach is my husband, I am to love him as Christ loves me and he is the only man I am to give my love to until God takes one of us home.   

Trying to explain this to people often is met with a shake of the head, a pat on the hand, give it a year you will feel differently, or after all he has done you should move on to something better, God doesn't want you to suffer. Or the most dreadful words he divorced you get over it and move on he did.

I will shamefully admit, when I am away from close fellowship with the Lord, full of self pity and doubt, I play with these thoughts, when the circumstances seem impossible to ever change I think of giving up.  But the Lord just won't let me go, the closer I draw to Him the stronger my love for my beloved becomes and the more sure I am that I must stand in the name of Jesus for him and our marriage.

The other night was one of those nights I was up to the wee hours of the morning praying,  I told the Lord.  Father I know what you want me to do, but I am afraid of being laughed at, what if I am wrong, what if my beloved never comes home, what if I spend all my life waiting for nothing and every one mocks my faith in the end.  God gave this simple reply into the depths of my heart, "THEY LAUGHED AT NOAH".

Wow!! yes they did, and yet he carried on for years, building a boat on dry land for waiting on the never before seen rain, laughed at, mocked, scorned by everyone. Yet he obeyed God and received the blessing him and his family.  

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Genesis 6:22) 

So here I stand before all the world to proclaim God has shown me to stand for my husband and my marriage, that He will one day restore all, and we will rejoice over the great things He has done for us.  Laugh, doubt and shake your head if you will, I do not know many things but of this one thing I am sure this is the path that God has laid for me to walk.  I am not alone He is with me, and though the journey may be long, and at times it appears impossible, He is doing everything to make us ready, for the day when Todd and I will be together again to finish our journey home to our Saviour together.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

  Todd and Kristy Deloach

July 6, 1991

Grace Church, Bentley, La

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10: 7-9

A Sound Mind

Last month facing yet another dreaded life change and the holidays with all their fuss, I found myself deeply depressed, and at times feared I was "losing my mind".  I expressed it this way to a friend,"I am in my head all the time, I have to get out."  Once again this faithful friend pointed me to the only way out, Jesus, He would have the answers I seek. So woefully crying out to the Lord for help has lead me through a couple of weeks of  teaching and yet another layer of self filled Kristy being peeled away. 

It starts with the mind, most of my wars, are in my mind. All day long, and many nights, dwelling on the past, fearing the future, asking myself what could have been done differently, acting out in my head how if I had done this or that then it could have been different.  My thoughts and imaginations running wild. Sometimes letting these thoughts control my actions and reactions to circumstances that happen.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  (2 Corinthians 10:5)NKJ

The truth is it is all vain thoughts. The past is gone it can never be replayed. The future is before, a path already laid out by my Lord and only He knows the end.  Satan wants to control my mind in order to hold me captive.  He wants me to dwell in the dark corners of my mind, he wants me to live in fear,despair, helplessness, alone, and unloved.  He wants me to feel as if I am going crazy or if one more thing happens I will tip off the edge.   He wants me to act out in panic or irrationally and live in these fears, dragging myself and all those around me into the pit.  

Here is the good news, I have found the way out if you will.  God has given us the power already, He has called us to take those thoughts captive.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(2 Timothy 1:7)KJ
 
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV

So let me take captive those thoughts and replace them with heavenly things,

1) I am not alone or rejected 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

2) I am loved

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  John 15:13&14

3) I am not helpless

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

4)There is no need to fear the future or be in despair

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

Oh, the joy I have found, outside around me nothing has changed the circumstances are still the same, but inside,my mind and soul have blossomed like flowers in the new spring.  Life has a renewed joy, I wake up looking forward and fall asleep thankful.  The Lord has taught that this is were victory over our mind is found, in truth, in light, in the Gospel.  Take the dark lies of Satan and hold them up in the truth and light of God's word, day after day, until the victory is won over your mind.  It is part of the ever ragging battle we must fight on our journey home.  It can be said no better than Paul in Ephesians

For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3: 14-21