Stepping Back from the Canvas

I just realized that it's been a while (yet again) since my last post. I hate that I haven't had much time to just sit down and write a blog post. I guess that's what happens when life gets in the way. I was looking through my devotional book last night and re-read an entry from August 11th. It really spoke to me in that moment and I thought I would share....

I think back to things that have happened in my life before now; things that have led me to where I am today and realize that by being in this moment, stepping back from the canvas, all things (even the very bad things) HAVE worked together for good. We all go through things in our lives that make us ask the question, "Why me?" or "Why did that have to happen?" or "Man, I can't seem to catch a break." It often seems like when it rains, it pours. At least I've known that to be true with many cases in my life. They say there's always a calm before the storm or life is a series of "mountain top" experiences and "deep valleys". It's funny that when we are going through those "deep valleys" that we aren't able to understand why God is allowing this to happen and what He is trying to teach us. I've learned that if you make a mistake, the best thing you can do is make sure you learn something from it, ask forgiveness and move on. As long as you learn a valuable lesson from mistakes in your life, I think it ends up being worth it. There are things that have happened in my past, that when I look back now, I can totally see why God had me in that place. Sometimes we may never know why we had to endure a painful trial in our life, but the most important thing to remember is that as long as we are living for God, He will use everything for the good of those who love Him.

Ellen Miller writes, "Have you recently faced a crisis that you feel you may not emerge from? Can you step back from your tragedy? Can you shine a different light on your situation? Are you far enough away from the event now that you can see--from standing back here--that while one dream didn't come true, other, even more beautiful realities (that you had never allowed yourself to conceive of) have been gifted you?"

She makes such a great point here. God knows what we need more than we know what we need. So of course, when He allows something to happen (most of the time to teach us something important), we only see the bad...we usually don't see the good until much later. I am VERY guilty of not even wanting to see the big picture. All I can think about is how it feels NOW, what is going on NOW and why things aren't working out NOW. But usually something comes along (like this devotional) that reminds me not to only think about what's going on NOW, but to remember to look at it from a distance. God sees the big picture while we merely only see what's going on here and now.

She also writes, "If you're in the middle of a crisis, I know you can't see clearly either. It's hard when you're smack-dab in the middle of it. But tomorrow you won't be. You'll be looking at your masterpiece from a new perspective and you'll be absolutely amazed at your new life story and the difference a bit of distance can make....so HANG ON!"

"Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

--Isaiah 40:31

It's Been a WHILE

I haven't updated my blog in what seems like FOREVER, especially since I used update it on a regular basis. A lot has happened since my last post, so I will try my best to make it short & sweet.

1.) The first and biggest thing is that Ben and I got engaged on August 13th! It was a total surprise and perfect. He proposed out at his farm in the very spot where we will live one day. We then met at my house where his parents, sister etc were there to celebrate with us. I seriously was on TOP of the world! You can visit our wedding website:

http://www.weddingwire.com/amycallawayandbenadams

the password is: adams

2.) I went to my very first dove shoot a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed it despite it being SUPER hot. Ben loves to do any kind of hunting so it was nice to see what it was finally all about along with hanging out with all the hens!

3.) Some girls from work got together for a bachelorette/lingerie shower for Niki. It was lots of fun!

A few REALLY good quotes..

I just realized the other day that it has been MONTHS since I last wrote something. It's odd because I used to write blogs all the time...I guess time has gotten away from me. I have come across a few quotes lately that really hold a lot of meaning for me and I thought I'd share those. I am a firm believer in that sometimes the words of others can say it better than you. :)

"Hope helps us to lift our eyes off the broken pieces in front of us to see the big picture God is working in our lives."--Kirk Sullivan--Often times when we are going through trials or when God is doing that lovely thing most people like to call "refining", it's hard for us to see WHY. Since most people in today's society live for the moment and only think about what's going at that specific moment in time, it's hard to think about what God might be getting you ready for in the future. I know I'm that way the majority of the time. I feel as though since I'm living RIGHT NOW, why can't God just show me or why can't God make it better RIGHT NOW since it seems unclear, RIGHT NOW. But the truth of the matter is, God is WAY bigger than we could ever imagine and His plans are certainly not our plans. I've found though, that if I look back on my life, I can see how things have come together (God's way) and how most things have all worked out for the better, whether it was painful or not. That's where faith comes in. We have to have faith and know that God IS working together for the good of those who love Him and He only has our best interest in mind.

"Their is virtually no way to discern God's will without waiting quietly. God must be asked. We must listen."--This one goes along with the first one. We do not know the mind of God, so our job is to ask, be patient and listen. Those are 3 of the hardest things to do when all you want to do is NOT wait, but they are the most important.

"God closes doors no man can open and God opens doors no man can close..."---I cannot say how true I have found this to be in my life. I have seen it happen in others lives along with mine and it really is an amazing thing. I've found that if God takes something or someone out of your life, it's for a really good reason and although it might kill you at the time, just know that God has something better. He always uses things, people, situations for His good, so if you're following Him, you can't go wrong.

I will leave you with this one:

‎"Nothing is as hard as it looks. Everything is more rewarding than you expect; and if anything can go right, it will, and at the BEST possible moment."--This rings true in my life more than you will ever know!

New Blog and New Lessons

First of all, I would like to say a huge thank you to Rachel at Uniquely Yours for giving my blog a "face lift". She does such a wonderful job of making over your blog and she's so easy to work with!

I feel like I haven't written anything in a while and normally my mind is full of things I want to share, but I've had a hard time lately trying to figure out exactly what I want to share. Anyways...just this morning I was sitting reading my Bible. Something led me to the book of Hosea. Hosea is one of those books of the Bible that I think people forget about. Since it's not Genesis or in the new testament, I feel it is easily forgotten (at least by me). One of the main reasons I even know about this book is because of an incredible book I read years ago called, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. If you haven't read this book, I recommend you running out to get it TODAY because it is THE BEST book/love story EVER. This book, "Redeeming Love" is fiction, but it is based on the book of Hosea and it's incredible.

Basic Synopsis: The book of Hosea is a love story--real, tragic and true. Transcending the tale of young man and wife, it tells of God's love for his people and the response of his "bride". A covenant had been made and God had been faithful. But Israel, like Gomer, was adulterous and unfaithful, spurning God's love and instead turning to false Gods. Then after warning of judgement, God reaffirmed his love and offered reconciliation.

Hosea was commanded by God to marry a woman who was unfaithful and would cause him many heartaches. --"Go take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord." (1:2) The footnotes in my Bible say that it is difficult to imagine Hosea's feelings when God told him to marry a woman that would be unfaithful to him. He may not have wanted to, but he obeyed. I know I sure as heck wouldn't want to be with someone that I KNEW would end up being unfaithful to me, but sometimes God requires extraordinary obedience from us. God may ask us to do something difficult and extraordinary. Would we obey him, trusting that He who knows everything has a special purpose for his request?

My favorite verse:

"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them." (2:6-7)

--God is saying He is going to block Israel's path by making the rewards of idol worship so disappointing that the people would be persuaded to turn back to God. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God was still faithful and merciful. He would continue to hold His arms out to his people, even thought He might have to place obstacles in their way to turn them back to Him. I have this written in my Bible next to this verse-"God says He will thwart all our efforts to find life apart from Him. He does this in order to wear us out, get us to turn back to Him in thirsty longing. He often takes us aside from every other source of comfort so that He alone can have our heart's desire." WOW! I'm sure I wrote that a couple of years ago and it still speaks to me now when I read it. God wants us, ALL of us and if there are things in our lives that take priority over Him, you can almost guarantee that He will eventually take whatever that may be, out of your life.

"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." (2:14). Then He begins to "woo" us. God uses even our negative experiences to create opportunities to turn back to him. As we face problems/trials, we need to remember that God speaks to us in the desert and not just in times of prosperity.

Another thing I had written in my Bible says, "God allows things to happen to get our attention. God knows how hot things are getting and His hand is on the thermostat."

Chapter 6, verse 1 says, "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds." This verse is telling us to return to Him as we are. God may break us down, but He is the BEST at putting us back together.

A promise: "Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (6:3). This verse is telling us and God is ALWAYS there...He is the only thing constant in our lives and how comforting to know that!! When you are feeling down and don't really know which way your life is headed or if you are having to make a decision that is heartwrenching, just remember that God is always there and His way is the BEST way.

"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right.." (14:9).

The Refiner's Touch

Just thought I would share this story that was sent to me. It is SOOOO encouraging!! and gave me chills at the end...

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.


The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you.

Coming Home to a Sweet Face

This past week at work is what I usually call my "bad work week" and that's simply because of the way my schedule is. I have a really awesome schedule, but on this particular week in the rotation, it just feels like I can't catch a break! That's because I work a 4 day (night) weekend, then I'm only off for 2 days and then have to go right back for 2 days, so sometimes it's tough that week to be able to catch up on sleep, do things I WANT to do etc. Anyways...the point of this blog is not for me to complain, but to say that I am SO thankful for my Father in Heaven who chooses to bless me and give me little "surprises" even when I complain or don't seem very thankful. One of those came in the form of Natalie's nephew, Bennett (I've pretty much adopted him as mine too). Thursday morning I came home and he was here because he had spent the night when Nat. As soon as I walked back down the stairs, he was waiting for me and gave me a HUGE hug. I had so much fun eating breakfast with them and cutting up. This is what I came home to on Thursday morning:

So when I get home from work on Friday, Bennett wasn't here right when I got home, but about an hour or so later, Shelley (Nat's sister) shows up with Bennett AND Brooks! Double the FUN! Let me tell you, we had a chaotic house that morning because Natalie was baking/decorating cakes, Bennett was running around vacuuming (yes, the kid LOVES to vacuum!) etc. Shelley had to run to the store and left us in charge of the boys and it was all great and dandy until Bennett decides he's gonna sneak in Natalie's room, pick up her cell phone and somehow manage to call Chris (Nat's b/f) on speakerphone! When I realized what he was doing, I was trying to get the phone from him before anyone answered (mind you, I'm trying to hold a screaming baby in the midst of this). Chris answers, I'm trying to get the phone to tell him what's going on, (Brooks screaming), I drop the phone ON Brooks (he's still screaming) and am finally able to walk into the loud kitchen where Natalie is busy mixing, baking, decorating etc to hand her the phone. Needless to say, we all walked away without injury, but I sure broke a sweat! haha! It really was fun having the boys for the day and when it ends like this....you can't help but smile :)

God is GOOD!!

"When we expect to be satisfied with the basics, God

will often surprise us with treats."

--James MacDonald

Jesus, Take the Wheel

I found this quote the other day and when I came across it, it really struck me in a weird/neat way. It says,

"An evidence that our will has been broken is that we begin to thank God for that which seemed so bitter, knowing that His will is good and that in His time and in His way, He is able to make the most bitter waters sweet." --Nancy Leigh DeMoss

WOW! When I read that, it made me think about certain things in my life that I have tried to control. When I try to control things, or do things my way, it ALWAYS ends up a disaster! Sometimes we wonder why certain things happen to us or we ask God "Why did you do this to me?" or "why can't I just have THAT?!". We question "why do bad things happen to good people?" Well first of all, we live in a fallen world and are all sinners with a devil that will stop at nothing to keep up from having a relationship with God, so of course there are going to be bad things happening to us all the time. The good news is seeing God's amazing grace IN those situations we seem to be thrown into. This quote to me, describes exactly what God's grace is all about. When we thank Him for being the amazing God that He is during our rough times, He is able to teach us things through our hard times. We learn, we grow and we come out of the valley being a better person, a stronger person and having a stronger relationship with God. Sure, it hurts like heck while we are going through trials, but when God takes that situation and makes it "sweet", that's his amazing grace poured all over you! I guarantee you, that if you look back over the last few years of your life (or longer), you will be able to see so many times how God took that situation and taught you SOMETHING. It may have been something so small, but my theory is, if you go through something and you don't learn anything, what's the point? We don't always understand God and why His timing is SO completely different from ours, BUT we can rest in the fact that He IS God and His ways are always best. They may not always be the easiest, but the best.

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand all the time."--Oswald Chambers

There have been PLENTY of times that I cannot for the life of me understand why I am made to wait for certain things, or why certain things happen to ME. But what I have to constantly remind myself of is that God is in control and if I let him take the wheel of every situation in my life, He won't steer me wrong...

Ok, on a different subject 2 Sundays ago one of my very best friends (and roommate) got baptized! She recently joined our church (First Baptist Church of Opelika) and since she was a member of a Methodist church before, it was time for her to get dunked! I love this sweet girl SO much and don't know what I would do without her in my life (and house)! Her little sister's best friend got baptized on the same night!! Praise the Lord x2!!

Watching their baptism made me think of one of my favorite songs right now. It's called "Washed by the Water" by Needtobreathe. They are AWESOME!! check it out!