God Knows What Matters To You

 What matters to you? How does God show up in ways that matter to you?

God Knows What Matters To You

Ever since I was a little girl playing on the Jersey Shore I have loved the ocean. I have loved the views. I have loved to look out and see across the skies. When I lived in Philadelphia we had lived in a row house. As a little girl I always thought we lived in a 5 story home. In reality it was three stories. On the 3rd floor we could take the screen off and sit on the roof and look out across the houses. We were not allowed to do this but my sister's and I did. 

God knows you. He knows what matters to you. There is a deep sense of peace, refueling, restoring, thoughtful praying and thinking that happen in the spaces I have with views. And it seems every where I go, most of my life, God gives me just that, a beautiful view. There have also been  moments of blessings on what mattered to me. Things that may seem silly to another person have been earth shattering wows!!!  WOW as in God Knows What Matters To Me. 

I had a business event in 2013 which had me in the Fox Network studio. I had the perfect outfit to wear to one of my first meetings and I wanted a harvest yellow pair of sandals. I went to Nordstrom. I went to Target. I went to Fred Meyer. Nothing. I could not find those perfect shoes. I stood in Fred Meyer and asked God, "Please God, direct me to these shoes. I know it's silly but I would really like  harvest yellow sandals."  I was scheduled to get my hair done the day before I had to leave for LA. I arrived at my appointment early and wandered over to the Thrift store. And as blessings would be in my life, there before my eyes the beautiful $5.00 Harvest Yellow sandals I had been looking for. God Knows What Matters To You!!

I was having this wonderful conversation earlier this week with one of my boys. He said, "Mom it seems that God always gives you what you want."  I was absolutely tickled that in his life he was accounting the times I had prayed for things and God delivered beautiful little moments and blessings. Praying happened on the way to school every single day. Thanking God and each kid going around and thanking God and then submitting our prayer requests. I had to remind him that God knows what matters to us and He has wonderful blessings and gifts. However it's not always the case. I accounted a few significant moments that God has me waiting on answered prayers. And he said, "Oh". That was it, "Oh". Then he said, "But really mom, pretty much God answers your prayers." 

This picture above, a beautiful sunset was a gift to my heart and soul. A beautiful sunset with trees. I was thinking about some hard things and I literally looked out and saw the gift of another wonderful view.  It was truly, in my world of knowing God, that comfort and peace from above. A view that means something to me. What matters to you?  Harvest Yellow Shoes? A beautiful sunset?  Standing at the edge of the ocean?  A powder blue Nike jacket?  Yes that happened, too. 

Okay here is the Nike jacket story. I went to the Nike store to get a new ski jacket. I was living in a colder climate and already had a nice ski jacket for skiing. But I wanted a jacket for every day wear in the cold cold weather.  I went to the Nike store and found this gorgeous Tiffany Blue puffy jacket. It was $449.00. It was not that I couldn't afford it. Being a mom of 5 kids I have always had a harder time buying things for myself when my kids were ongoing with needing this and that. Ugh!!  I passed it up. I literally told my business partner about the jacket. I told him that if God wanted me to have that jacket it would come my way. I admit I was obsessing about that beautiful jacket. My partner and I were running errands for a photo shoot. We needed a few old school phones. In my crazy Elizabeth way, I looked over at him and said, "That jacket is at this Goodwill. You will see."  He laughed and was like...okay.  There in the Goodwill, in my size, with the tags still on it that jacket. He looked at me and was shocked. $20.00 of evidence that God knows what matters. 

These things that we have, come and go. The shoes are gone, the jacket still a favorite and the sunsets are coming in on a regular basis. The reality is truly, "God Knows What Matters To You."  Do we have to look for it, at times? Yes. Does life happen and one day you wake up and realize that God made provisions in ways you never expected. 

We live in a world of focus on so many negative aspects of life. Turn it all around and start focusing on those little blessings that come daily. What matters to you?  What ways do you see God blessing you. Because I do believe that, "God Knows What Matters To You."

Have a wonderful day. With Love, Elizabeth

Motherhood Post 465......

I find myself, as of late sharing my mothering experiences. If I had just one or two children those might be fewer and further in-between, but then with five kids well the words flow more often.

This commute is crazy. I mean look at the traffic.

I still can not believe I get to experience motherhood. Goodness I love being a mom.  Perhaps that might be why I keep writing about it.

Ethan just taking it all in. Moo!

My boys and I have settled on a small ranch which has been my dream since I was 18 years old.  One weekend last Fall I just sat in my car crying. Crying because it really feels good to just sit before God and cry it out. I was asking God to just show me what should be next, and I actually said to God, "I would just like to live the dream of my youth."  Living in an old farm house in the middle of nowhere is not what most young girls dream, but I did. I thought I would be a famous writer and write as I gazed out across the farm. That same day, a young woman walked into my store and said, "Hey I know you are looking for a place to live, I have an old farm house on my property."  NO FREAKING KIDDING!!!!!  God, in his awesome, answer my prayer and bless my soul kind of way is taking care of this mother and her dreams. The housing market in this small community is challenging to say the least.

My driveway takes me breath away. Thank you God!

What needed to come with that farm house was a sturdy four wheel drive rig. Again, shopping for an SUV and well to be honest, I never had to drive a used car. I have owned few cars and rolled them brand new off a lot and drove four years and years.  I could not see with starting two new business's and the thought of financing a car...no.  I again sat and asked God to give me direction in even how to buy a car. I am not car savvy when it comes to used cars and that day. As I was pondering SUV ideas and wandering from one car lot to another Emily texts me and says, "Gordon is here what do I do with him." Ahhh Gordon Harris. He is older and wiser and has a sound business mind. He will have some good advise are buying a used car.  I asked him about car buying. Right there he told me was selling his SUV because he had just bought a brand new car. He said I could have it for the money I was able to pay.  Did God just do this or am I living in a world of luck and coincidence?

I named him "Chocolate Chip" as he greets me each morning. 

Back to motherhood.  How does this post even read about my kids and being a mother. Taking care of my kids is very important to me. Seeing that they are safe and have a home that is cozy and fun.  Asking God in this journey of being a mother that  would be able to sustain a home and safe vehicle as living where I now live has challenged my driving skills.

I have no idea who owns these guys, but I often stop to pet them.

My boys have adjusted to this new normal and they love where we live and grumble when we have to be in town, because they would rather be home outside playing. God sustains all things good. Look for that goodness and you will find it smiling at you. Cheers~Elizabeth

A Tie in a Tree

 Does a picture really paint a thousand words such as a Tie in a Tree?

Where did they go?   A beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. A beautiful day for a wedding.  Emily called and asked if Ethan could be her date at a wedding we were attending.  I thought this wedding would be a good first wedding for Ethan to see and attend.  Emily did his hair, chose his clothes and even his tie. Teaching her younger brother how to honor a wedding, with fancy clothes.  Ethan was game.  He went along.  That is until he realized that it was a sitting affair. He leaned over and asked if he could go climb trees during the wedding.  I said no. He then asked if he could take off his tie. I said no, not until your climbing a tree.  His sister help pass the time with some silly face making.

  He got a little wiggly.  The wedding was over and then they disappeared. Before I spotted Ethan, I saw his tie hanging from a  tree.  I then looked up and saw him.  His sweet big sister took him to go climb a tree.  He was not so fond of attending a wedding, sitting still, knowing the sun was shining and a tree was waiting for him.

 This young man thinking about life, in the sunshine up in a tree.  It's good to be a boy without a tie on and in a tree.


We made a stop at Guitar Center.

Ethan looking all music dude-ish that I had to snap it. He would now like this picture made into a poster for his room. I shall comply.  I have slowed down my picture taking in the past few months.  It's hard to know what to do with them all and I am not one who gets much satisfaction out of managing, organizing and making special books of pictures. I am saving all that for when I am an old lady in a rocking chair.  So these snippets are more memorable to me.

It's a sunny Monday.  The weekend is over and as I see God's hand working in and around my life. I pause to look at life in these two sillies of mine and thank God that there is light in this world and in the hearts of my children. As this week starts off I am reminded of this verse:
Proverbs 16:9
"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
Perhaps your week is starting out with ponderings of life from a tree. Maybe you are uncomfortable and have to take your tie off and just hang things up for a while.  Perhaps you just need to lighten up and make silly faces, or grab a guitar and make some music.  God promises to direct your steps.  As you make your plans this week, keep God in those plans and truly as His word promises He will direct your steps.  Blessings and Love, Elizabeth

What Confidences Do You Have?

He does show up every single day.  No matter where I am, what I am doing He is here.  Do you see Him?  He whispers sweet things into my ears, and as I sit in the quiet I hear Him?  Do you hear Him?  His words dance off the pages. My eyes pause on this one line..."For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.

Today, this morning, just one verse and my heart leaps. I pause, stop reading and ponder.  He wants to perfect me, and everyday He shows me what that perfection in Him looks like. So different than how the world would want Elizabeth to be.  It's our code of ethics. Me and God.  God speaking little pieces of perfection of Him and me waking up each day to learn His ways, hear His voice, and see His perfection to give me that continued confidence in Him.

When I feel less confident, I realize that I am placing myself into the hands of this world, rather into His hands.  When He is holding my hands I can face each beautiful day He gives. I can smile, and love on those who come into my space.  My intellect asking myself sometimes..."who am I, where did that smile come from?"  My heart knowing that God, is giving me more, inside to share on the outside.

Prayerfully in each day I ask God to show me what next, that next moment, that next thought and He shows me so much peace and beauty.  Beauty in little boys with dirty chocolate faces.  Beauty in a long drive.  Beauty in that the gas station attendant and praying that his moment of pumping my gas gave him a glimpse of God's love through my smile.  It's that kind of confidence in knowing Him I want everyday and trust through His presence in my life.  He began that good work in me, and I want to allow Him to perfect it.  Listening, seeking, doing, and loving Him with confidence and obedience.

He asked me ..."mama can you keep brushing my hair because you make it look so nice."  I wonder sometimes, as I do my motherly things..."is this what you are perfecting in me God?  Hair-brushing?  As I stand brushing his blond hair as he eats his breakfast, he tells me this.."mommy God has made you a very good hairbrusher mama."  He's only five, what does he know?. Perhaps it took the fifth kid to perfect this morning routine of hair brushing, but it's a very bold reminder to my heart that in ALL things God is perfecting me. Giving me precious times to chit chat while brushing a little silly's lovely hair.  What is God perfecting in you today?  What confidences do you have in Him who is perfecting you every single day?


It is such an honor to know that I am worth His time to perfect.

More than just a Glimpse of Him

It's the end of the week and the typical stuff around here. Messy house, dishwasher running, kids watching a late afternoon movie and truly life is good. It's that kind of week when each day provided huge God moments. I often hear the words..."I got a glimpse of Jesus today". A glimplse? Just a glimpse? I ask myself every single day why He even shows up into my life, and everyday His love shines through the events that unfold in my life.

I was going to just talk about the week, but remember I am one of those Jesus freakish types. I don't stand on the street corners passing out tracks, or run along bike riders with signs. I just love seeing my life embraced by Him and not just seeing the glimpse's but seeing Him move in my life and those around me.

Our book club ended this week. Something the last chapter highlighed was "boastful moments" about God. Why do we hold back? Do we see Him in the small stuff or do we see Him in the big stuff too? And do we boast whole heartedly when He amazes your socks off.

So this week ending and the relaxing Friday ends with God's hand on a new business venture. I have been working on launching a benefit concert organization. It has a name music.passion.hope. I have a blog on this, so take a moment to visit and find out more of what we are doing. Today a call came out of the blue for my company to come alongside another mission. It's not me people, it's the amazing blessing of God saying "okay Elizabeth you don't like to be idle, so lets get you doing something for My Kingdom".

So as this week comes to end I want to publically give God a big hug and smile for healthy kids, a warm home, an amazing husband who smiles at my new business idea, and supports me, and then to friends who allow me to attempt back flips of joy over the silly things in life.