Big Problem, Bigger God

Watch this video and then read below!

This is SO precious! If you are an animal lover, you are probably thinking that you can't handle this video. I was feeling a bit apprehensive over watching it through and I am so glad I did!



First of all, whoever added the sound effects to this...the little bear panting and all...did a great job. I kept thinking that the bear was gonna start talking any minute.

If you take a moment to view this story/situation in a spiritual manner, it will excite you! Was it not the cutest thing when the bear began to growl and 'holler' (for lack of a better word) at the cougar and he got more and more confident the further the cougar moved away? - He was feeling tough at that moment and thought it was him that was scaring the lion.

Little did he know, the cougar was seeing something much more big in the background...he saw that Mama Bear (assuming it was Mama) had come to the rescue.

Isn't that how it is with us? We get in a situation that we struggle to get out of, but we just haven't found the way of escape yet. Every road we take seems to lead us right back to that same problem. We think we are doing okay and then look up only to see ___________ (you fill in the blank) staring us right in the face - jaws open and ready to attack.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ~ 1 Peter 5:8, NLT

But...just when we've reached the end of our rope and have nowhere else to turn, our Heavenly Father shows up to fight the battle for us! Sometimes we may know He's there and sometimes we may not see Him and we may even wonder when He will ever show up! It's then that we realize that we had an overwhelming strength come over us to fight the battle at hand...or a light bulb may come on revealing to us the answer to the problem we've been searching for all the time. Whatever it may be...He was there.

...for the battle is not your's, but God's. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:15, NIV

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1, NIV

He knows how much we can handle. We learn through the journey, although it's a tough education! We do learn. We do grow. Most importantly, we should be growing in our walk with Him.

God is ready to fight the battle for us! We just have to be willing to show up for the fight. That little bear probably would have been torn to pieces by that cougar. In fact, he was consumed with fear and slightly wounded. But the battle was won because his DEFENDER showed up and simply made an appearance. We may get wounded in the journey and have scars that will never go away. Each glance at our scars will be a reminder that our God is a faithful God and He met us at the place in our lives where we needed Him most!

God is your:

FORERUNNER, Hebrews 6:20 (You don't have to worry about what's ahead. He goes out before you. Don't be anxious about the day. He is in front of you and beside you. He follows behind to protect you.)

ADVOCATE, 1 John 2:1 (You don't have to defend yourself. Rest and know that He's taking up for you! Turn your anxious and fearful thoughts to Him. He will reveal the truth in His time. Trust Him!)

STRONG TOWER, Psalm 22:19 (You can run to Him and He will protect you. Don't fight alone and unprotected. God is your defender and longs to keep you safe.)

SHIELD, Psalm 3:3, 18:30 (You are guarded on every side. He is actively at work defending you! You don't have to become weary protecting yourself. You can hide in the safety He brings.)

Is all hell breaking loose in your life? Your DEFENDER is there. He is just waiting for the time to make His appearance.

Don't give up!

Catching Breaths

We were waiting in line at the bank the other day and E asked, "Mommy, is it time for another Spring Break yet?" She had only been back in school 2 days from Spring Break. I said, "No baby. Your break just ended. Now we have to go back to school for a while."

She sat silently looking out the window and let out a big, adult-like sigh. "Man, I sure do need a break!"

haha..."What do you need a break from missy?"

"I just need to catch my breath. I think I need a Breath Break."

Need Some Help

I've mentioned in previous posts about my new-found desire to save money by couponing, etc. I have been finding so many great deals to share with you all, only to remind myself that this is not what "Kisses from the Father" is supposed to be about! ...and that honestly, you may not be as excited over these deals as I am.

So, I thought that I would create a new blog devoted to that - and other things of that nature. (And of course, I will continue with this one.)

I had the brightest idea and cutest name come to mind today - "This Little Piggy" because of the association to piggy banks...saving money...and well, it's just cute! But guess what? It's not available!! Sheesh!!

I really would like to name it something cute like that...maybe even related to piggy banks or 'this little piggy.' My husband and I just simply thought, "What about the 3 Little Pigs?" Then we thought..."Wait, what does that...OINK...say about us?" haha...SNORT!

Your suggestions, original and creative, would be greatly appreciated!

Dis Lil' Ham thanks ya! (By the way, I am open to a variety. I truly am not stuck on the PORKER names! :) )

Wordless Wednesday

Okay I know I know - this is supposed to be wordless ("Wordless Wednesday") but how can I not say sumpthin after posting pictures this beautiful! Isn't she LOVELY?! We had a good Easter despite the fact that my allergies were in full swing and well...you spend most of Easter Sunday outside! It was a long day with 3 egg hunts one right after the other: church, great-grandmothers, grandparents house. But we survived. We learned that next year, it would be wise not to try and fit so much into one day.

I was so excited to share these pictures of our E with you all! Enjoy!

Looking for something

"General Robbie Risner described the seven years he spent as a prisoner of war as the "essence of despair." He said, "If you could have squeezed the feeling out of the word despair, it would have come out lead-colored, dingy and dirty." What's amazing is how he survived!

He pried the cover off a floor drain in his cell and lowered his head into the opening. There, he noticed a solitary blade of grass, the only smidgeon of color in his colorless world. Calling it a 'blood transfusion for the soul', Risner began each day in prayer, lying on the floor of his cell with his head down the vent, focused on that single blade of green grass.

Jesus said, "Your eye...provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness." (Matthew 6:22-23 NLT)

What are you looking at? Each day you get to decide where you'll focus. You certainly don't have to look far to find things to complain about: war, gas prices, the economy, global warming, and crime. God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed in the Garden of Eden,, but they chose to focus on the one thing they couldn't have. He divided the Red Sea, sent signs to guide the Israelites in the wilderness and provided food so they'd never go hungry. Initially, "They...sang his praise. But...soon forgot what he had done." (Psalm 106:12-13 NLT)

Don't be like that. The Bible says, "If there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." Surely you can find something to praise God for today!"

*******

The above is from a devotional that I read. I'm sure it spoke to you in the same simple, but profound way that it spoke to me. Living in the times that we are living in - with bad news all around us - there have never been more reasons to complain before! I like to think of myself as a "glass half full" kind of girl. Most people that know me well will agree that I am sometimes "overly" positive...well in an almost annoying way. I don't let people close to me get away with any negative comments about, well anything really!

But, I catch myself getting wrapped up in the news or the latest economic "jibberish" or "so-n-so lost their job today and they have a brand new baby to take care of" or this and that or this and that. I could go on and on. In the midst of so many things to complain about, we ALL have so many things to be praiseworthy for! Thankful for! Grateful for!

I don't know about you, but if my life is so covered up in negativity or problems that I can't find just one.single.thing to thank God for, I'd better get busy on that drain cover...gotta pry that thing off then stick my head in upsidedown and look...

...for that solitary blade of green grass.

Get a New Grill...for FREE

So as you know, lately I've been working hard on learning to be frugal and save money.

...and FREEBIES are always GRAND!!

I found some information today online about how to get a FREE grill. Yes, I said "fuh-REE!"

In this day and time, we all need to find ways we can save money!!

As every Southerner knows, come spring it will be time to get ready for that all-important cooking technique of the south --- outdoor grilling!I have just found out there are many stores (not just in the South) where you can get a FREE Bar-B-Q grill!In these tough times free useful items are very welcome.

You can get a free BBQ grill from any of the following stores:

A&P

Albertsons

Costco

Dan'sFood

LionFry's

Home Depot

Big Lots

Bloom's

Brookshire's

Hyvee

Lowes

Publix

Safeway

Sam's Club

Tesco

Target

Trader Joe's

Wal-Mart

APRIL FOOLS!!!

(Thanks to ClipperGirlSavingsSpot for this!)

Fill me in on what jokes you pulled today...or what jokes were pulled on you!