Having Faith For the Little Things In Life

It’s been about a month since I found out our family dog was pregnant again for the third time. I felt a little panic about it, but I became more frustrated last night when she was giving birth. See, her past two births she had nine pups both times. And last time I found it increasingly hard to find homes for each of them. Six months after they were born I still had puppies! I spent lots of money on dog food, time into advertising them, but people just weren’t interested. As Dixie gave birth last night, I felt a little dread over the next little while as she popped one puppy after the other out. Ugh!!! Nine homes to find! I thought to myself, it was so hard last time to get rid of them, how much harder this time? There are only so many people around here looking for a puppy. And its coming on winter time- the possible homes will be even fewer as folks will not want to take in a dog with winter setting in. Sigh….

The moral of today’s story is that while I was complaining to myself, I felt the Lord speaking to me telling me he would provide. YES! Even for Dixie’s puppies, he would take care of them too! My God, who supplies all my needs, will take care of this one as well! I felt such peace about it and could smile with more ease at the excitement of the children with each new addition!

So, I wanted to share a quick reminder with you, my friends, to have faith in the God that will even see that those little issues we come across in life will be taken care of. Yes, he does care about every detail of our lives. So trust him with all your big and little problems- He can and will take care of them all!

By the way, Dixie had 10 this time instead of the usual nine! Smile! One more home needed, God!

“But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19

Anna Ruth

In Daddy's Shoes

Recently I was working with my little brother in the chicken area of our family farm. For those that don’t live on a farm, cleaning out the roosting and hen houses are not pleasant jobs! Needing some extra help, I went in the house and asked my mother, “Who all is not in school?” Immediately, memories began to flood my mind. That was the exact same question my Dad would always come in and ask my Mom when he needed help on the farm! He hardly works without children around him. As I was serving my family and doing something for my Dad that he needed done, I was un-intentionally doing just like he would do if he were working instead of me.

Lately the Lord has given me a greater vision for family and his purpose for the family. And I feel my heart being drawn even more so towards my own family. I feel blessed that the Lord has given me an opportunity to serve them more for a little while. And while I serve I know that I am helping carry out my Dad’s vision for our family farm. I know that the time is coming, in fact it will come soon, that I will be onto the next phase in life and will not be around all the time to help out like I am now. So, I want to make the most of this time.

Part of our job as daughters is to carry on our Dad’s vision and to help him fulfill his God given roles in society. When we marry, our duty will be switched from helping our Dads to helping our Husbands. For me, part of that duty is to help run the family, the other part is ministry. As I was working in that chicken lot, I felt like I was in my Dad’s shoes- doing his work with lots of little ones around me.

Girls, I want to encourage you today to look around you and see what you can do to serve God by serving your family. Ask your mother what you can do to ease the load. When your Dad comes home from work, inquire what you can do to really bless his life and the lives of your family. You will find satisfaction by embracing your God given opportunity to help carry your family through whatever season of life they are in.

That’s not to say you can’t do other things. Of course you can! But, by getting your priorities right and putting family first, you will find great fulfillment and will be even happier when you do get to do other things.

So, just a little encouragement to not be so busy living your own life that you don’t take time to serve those that need you as well- your family.

‘Remove not the ancient landmark, which they fathers have set.” Proverbs 22:28

Love in Christ,

Anna Ruth

Inspiring Article

I was blessed by the latest article from the Young Ladie's Christan fellowship, "Spoken Identity." I found it very thought provoking. Follow the link and enjoy!
http://ylcf.org/2011/09/spoken-identity/

Trust

Trust. It is something that has been taking on a very special meaning to me lately. There are so many things in our lives that require trust in Almighty God. Trust doesn’t mean that you have all the answers or that things will go just as planned or how you would like them to. Trust is to “to allow to do something without fear of the outcome, to believe, to have confidence or faith; as trust in God, to have faith in.” Just about every area of our lives requires some trust if we are going to live with total reliance on our creator.

I have to trust that somewhere out there, there is a man that is going to be my husband. Nearing 20, there are many days when I feel lonely and sad and tempted to fret for my future. After living for Jesus, my desire is to be a wife and a mother- to raise a family and to have a happy home for my man to come home to each day. When I am having a rough day, I have to trust that God is preparing me and using me in this time. I have to trust Him with my future, knowing that I have committed my life to Him and only when He allows my husband and I to meet and start a life together will it be.

I choose to trust that the Lord knew what He was doing when He asked me to leave a very good job recently to be more available for my family. It went against a lot of common reasoning. But, even when I cannot see the big picture, I can trust that as I have stepped out in obedience to His calling, He will take care of the rest. My future is in his hands. I cannot allow myself to fret, thinking I have no future. For my future is sealed with Jesus- if I had nothing else but Him, it would be enough.

As I work on my family farm, I have to trust that God will give me the strength to do what I must. That I won’t expect perfection from my brothers and sisters, but also not require less than what they can do.

When I look at my Dad, who has spent the whole year sick with heart disease, I trust in my healing Jesus. As I go about doing to work that He used to do, I have to trust someday I will see the manifestation of his healing. I trust that God will take care of my Mother, as she carries twice the load now.

Yes, I am trusting that God will bring back my wayward family member back to the fold- that the good seeds that were sown in him his whole life will bring forth fruit in due season.

I, like all of you, have experienced daily struggles. Sometimes I have to put my trust moment by moment in a God that never fails. The storms of life may threaten to blow me away, but because I am built on the solid rock of Christ, I will not be moved.

Trust in God- just because you have it, doesn’t mean your life will go smoothly. But when the rough times come, you will have someone to rely on and to see you through to the other side.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

So, I encourage my dear sisters today in the storms you may be facing- put your total and complete reliance and trust in the only one that can save you- Jesus Christ. He alone can see you make it across the storm to the peaceful side.

With love,

Anna Ruth

noregrets@fromfathershearttoyours.org

www.noregretsinyourlife.blogspot.com

I Do!

This song is one of my favorites! Every now and then I love to listen to it and think of the day I will be saying these words to my hubby! And when the wait for that day gets tiresome, I can sing these words in my heart, reminding me to stay true in heart and mind to the man God has prepared for me!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bfh3tbzE6Y

Becoming Women of Our Word

I am sure we have all heard someone called, ‘a man of his word.’ It’s the kind of man I want to marry and I’m sure you do too. But, what would it be like if we were called ‘women of their word?’ How would that change not only our lives and the people around us, but society in general?

Recently my Grandfather told me if there was one thing he would tell his grandchildren it would be to honor their word.  There are many things that can be taken away from you but no one can take your word away from you. The only way it can be taken away from you is if you give it away. I found this advice to so thought provoking and true.

What does it mean to be a person of your word? How can women honor the Lord by honoring their word? I think a detailed discussion of this could easily fill a book, but to put it simply- when we say we are going to do something, do it!!! I think this is where a lot of us fall short because we promise to do something with the best of intentions and then for some reason or the other, it never happens. This is when people begin to distrust us.  If you promise to do something, do everything in your power to do it. This goes for the simpler things in life as well. For example, if you say you are going to be at a certain place at a certain time, be there on time! Don’t show up late just because you can or you found something else to do.

When I was growing up we knew these people that never were where they said they were going to be on time. One time we were going to meet at like 1:00. 3 hours later here they came rolling in, all smiles, as if they hadn’t kept us waiting all afternoon! Believe me, this may seem a small issue to some, but when people cannot trust you in something simple, they will never trust you in the bigger things. If I say I am going to call someone on such and such day, I am going to do it. No excuses, no doing something more fun, I will honor my word to whoever I gave it too.

One thing I know we all need to work on is making sure we tell things accurately. When relating information, make sure you have all the details straight. If you are not sure about something, just don’t tell it. Of course there are some situations where we need to share a suspicion, etc. But what I am talking about is just telling a friend something just for the sake of having something to say. If I was told something that wasn’t exact, I may not realize it right away. But when I found out I wasn’t told it exactly as it was, I would wonder what else that person tells me that is not true. If you tell a falsehood one time, you are bound to do it another.

We bring glory and honor to God when we are honorable with our word.  

“Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.” Psalm 26: 1, 11

If you want to email me personally, you can do so at : noregrets@fromfathershearttoyours.org

Welcome!

Hello Dear Girls!
And welcome to the No Regrets blog! I am so very happy you have stopped by to check it out! My vision and purpose for this blog is to encourage single ladies to live their lives with No Regrets. I want to share with you all the life lessons God has taught me and open the door for other ladies to share as well. My heart is to use this blog to share my triumphs and sorrows with you and pray that you will be able to learn from them. I want this to be a place where we can all learn from each other. I will still be available for personal conversations, you girls can check out my profile to get my email. And be sure and leave me plenty of comments!