All The Time

My parents are down for the weekend to visit. It was little A that invited them. She has been working on a sticker chart that I made for her. It was to be used as a reward for making her bed, getting dressed on her own, helping put away laundry and for being extra nice and helpful with her brother.

Every time she has reached ten stickers she gets a prize. Then we told her that once she gets to the end of the chart she can pick an activity for us to go and do as a family. When we told her we listed off some fun things to do and she immediately decided that we should go "swimming and ice creaming." And she has been talking about it ever since. 

As we grew closer and closer to the end of the chart she got more and more excited. Then she decided that we should have Grandma and Grandpa come also. She invited them and then decided to also invite her Auntie and Uncle too.  So today is the day, and we are all very excited. 

All that to say that my parents are visiting and I was talking with my dad last night about the blog and some ideas I have about upcoming posts. 

We got into a pretty serious spiritual conversation about the dream that I have been hoping he will share on the blog. From the time I heard him share it with me and my sister, it has been on my heart to have him share it with you all because I believe that it is something we all need to hear. (It may be a little while yet before it gets shared but I believe that the time will come when God pushes us to get it out there for  you) 

We were also talking about spiritual warfare and dreams and how when you start fighting the enemy he puts a lot into fighting you. We talked about putting on the armor of God and standing firm in our fight and faith. 

So of course last night I had horrible dreams. 

Dreams where my family was being hurt. My friends were being hurt and life was basically falling apart. 

Normally I wake up form those dreams and the spirit of fear has so overtaken me it is hard to move. Normally, I wake Hubby and ask him to pray with me. Normally,  I struggle the rest of the night trying to rest in Gods peace. 

But last night was different. 

Bad things were happening in the dreams but I felt at peace.  I woke up feeling no fear but instead feeling the presence of God.  

I do believe that my dreams were an attack against me, meant to frighten and steal my joy. But when I awoke the thing that stuck with me was not fear. It was a knowledge that "God is good, all the time."

Honestly, I have not been able to get that out of my head all morning. All I could think about while nursing little E in the night was how great and wonderful and good our God is. That He blesses those that serve him, that He is always with us, and that He is good. 

My prayer is that this week that you would be faced with that revelation. That God is good all the time. 

In the darkness and fear. In the pain and sorrow. Through anything that the enemy can throw at us. 

God is good all the time. 

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:1-4

I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worth of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.

They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might, 

so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does. 

The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.

Psalm 145