He Reminds Me...

I had the blessed privilege of gathering with a few dear sisters in Christ last night around our dining room table. As we sipped coffee and nibbled on muffins, we shared with one another where God has us in life, what He is desiring to teach us and the areas in which we are struggling the most. Getting together with these ladies is an opportunity for us to grow in our walk with the Lord and a time for us to sharpen each other in accordance with His Word.

As I sit this morning reading my Bible and working through the current study I am enveloped in, the Lord brings to remembrance the conversation that wafted through the ears and hearts of four women seeking, searching, desiring and pressing in for the perfection of Christ in our personal lives and in the lives of those we love. He reminds me of the urgency of His needed touch in various situations. He reminds me to encourage... He reminds me to pray... He reminds me to believe...

God is not a man,
that he should lie,
nor a son of man,
that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:19

"You are my witnesses,"
declares the Lord,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

Isaiah 43:10

Faces That I Love... Thoughts From MaKayla...

I love the people to whom these faces belong so very, very much!!!

Me and My Gorgeous Momma...

Fun summer memories... We're close "homies"... :0)

Grandpa G's 65th Birthday...

Never a dull moment with Bri...

Mal, and the two men in her life...

Sharing a special supper with best bud Becca...

Crazy Uncle Troy...

Inseparable...

Mr. TJ...

Soul Sisters from the beginning...

Oh how I love my Grandpa B...

Note: Danielle's belly has definitely grown since this picture... and I am SO glad...

The "Three Amigos"...

My Handsome "Mr. Darcy"...

My Uncle Mark...

We're not real sure that we are sane...

My AMAZING Momma and Daddy...


"I Praise you God, for these faces that make my life so very, very special! I pray that I never have to live without them!"

Fun Of The Season...

Fun...
Fun...
Fun...

First of the season...


As soon as Kyle gets home,
this one will be disassembled and another one will take its place.

Let the puzzle putting together season begin!!!

To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1

To Know You...

Thanks to Kyle, our home is very much musically focused. Kyle's greatest avenue of worship to the Lord is through nothing more than music and rightfully so since God has richly gifted him in voice and in instrument. We nearly always have some sort of music filtering through the air waves whether it be radio (KLOVE), CD, MaKayla and Mallary humming/singing or Kyle playing his guitar. Certain songs really speak to and nurture my heart and the YouTube of this particular Casting Crowns song is no exception. As I listen to the message and really allow the words to soak deep into my heart, I recognize this as a love song to the Lord... Above and beyond, there is nothing I long for more than to love Him more and to know Him more... I daily find myself falling deeper and more intimately in love with Jesus!

My Honey!!!

It's been so long since I've posted a comment on here that I've about forgotten how to run this thing! My post this day is amazing to me and why it's amazing is that it is "My Honey". We here in the O'Riley home have been going through some intense spiritual warfare and growth! As Mendi and I visit in the mornings before I leave for work and after I get home and yes, throughout the day, I stand so amazed how God has sustained "My Honey". I have seen a beauty and a desire from Mendi that I cannot explain...except that it's "God" and He is in control. I love "My Honey" with such a deep love that with every breath I feel the Father saying "she is a gift and you need to cherish her and love her with all that you are son". I have seen the dawn break forth in Mendi's life and seen the solid rock she has become in this home. Her desire is a deep hunger for the Father and we so long to worship and adore Him. She loves our girls with every ounce of strength she has and yet seems to give more, and more, and more. I praise the Father, my Lord and Saviour this night for "My Honey's" life and the way she is growing our girls to be images of the Father. Thank you "Baby" for your sacrifice of love and devotion to our family. I will and always be your "Strong Hands"! I Love You!!!

His...

Today I find myself grateful for the unexpected blessings that the Lord showers on my life...

Things I don't anticipate...

Things I'm not looking for...

Things that are just HIM...

*A quick visit with a friend...
*An opportunity to pray with someone I love...
*The privilege to embrace my child...
*A breath of fresh fall air...
*Warm breezes blowing curtains where I sit...
*The sight of beautiful flowers that Kyle surprised me with...
*A precious child with a willing heart...
*A text message that simply says, "You are close to my heart..."
*A checkbook that balances on the first try...
*A vibrant daisy in my silver pail...
*Two bluejays frolicking under a tree...
*The promise that God has a will and a plan for my life...

As I spent time with the Lord this morning, He reminded me that His will should always supersede my will...not just in the big things/decisions but ALWAYS! I should daily enter the Holy of Holies seeking what His desire is for every moment of my day ahead, being willing to lay aside my own agenda in order to receive what His plan is for me and those that I affect, touch and influence. Making His will a reality takes surrender and discipline...something I have to remind myself of constantly. My spirit is oh so willing, but the weakened state of my flesh all~too~often gets in the way. May I be more diligent and determined to incline my ear to the voice of the Lord as He instructs me according to His plan, His will, His desire and His purpose for my life. Not just sometimes, but ALWAYS!

God, I am forever thankful that I am Yours!

Pressure and Pruning...

The Principle of Christian Character...

"Character" literally means" to stamp and engrave through pressure." This sums up nicely what God is doing in our lives.

God's plan is to make each person like Him. Romans 8:29 tells us that God has predestined that we are to be conformed into the image of Christ. He is building His character within us, or you might say, He is stamping and engraving upon us His image. In so doing, He often uses pressure.

The fifteenth chapter of the gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, and the Father is the vine-dresser. What happens to every branch that does not bear fruit? It is cut away, then dries up and is finally burned. What happens to every branch that bears fruit? He prunes it. Therefore, no matter what we do we are going to get cut.

Why are branches pruned? To produce fruit of greater quantity and quality. While much of God's pruning hurts, we should greatly rejoice in the pruning process as we understand He is building His character within us.

Character has been defined as a convictional belief that results in consistent behavior. We can see that character begins internally (a convictional belief) and is expressed externally (consistent behavior). Our internal character will be seen in our external lifestyle.

God is stamping His image upon us so that we might be examples of Him to the world, and be able to fulfill His purpose for our lives.


This is an excerpt from one of the History books we have studied so far this year and I was simply and blessedly amazed at the truth and depth the above words contained. Sitting around our school table, a free and fruitful discussion between our girls and I emerged as we tore apart and dissected the reality and meaning of what we were reading. Being a Christian (Christ-follower) isn't always comfortable, easy or desirable. God always sees the big picture and we of the flesh can only see one small piece, the piece we are currently living in. He sees where we need pruned in order to produce fruit. He sees where pressure needs applied so that His image will be visible upon our lives. Lately we've been experiencing alot of pruning and pressure and at times I've been tempted to pitch a fit and scream, "What are you doing God? Isn't enough enough? Lay off a little (or a lot)! Can we have some breathing room?" Yet in it all and through it all, He lovingly, patiently, gently, continually and faithfully reminds me that He is working out a purpose I have yet to see. A purpose that through pruning and pressure will bear Him much fruit and glory. As I ponder the reality of that, I let go of all control and trust Him completely.

I'm so thankful that I have a hope that reaches far beyond what I can see. A hope that is rooted and grounded in the Creator and Giver of all life...all time...all reason!

I am a blessed branch!

I Am...

The past few weeks have been a time of adjustment and transition as us girls have settled back into our typical school routine. Both MaKayla and Mallary as well as myself are very excited about the various new curriculum choices that we are using this year. For once in my homeschool "career" I have been willing to think "outside~the~box" and listen very specifically to the Lord's direction in regards to what our girls need. What fits their minds. What stimulates their brains. What fulfills their souls. It's been amazing to see how much smoother our days go and how excited my "students" are about what they are learning! I'm thankful for God's guidance in nurturing our two greatest blessings and the fruit that is springing forth!


It seems that with change, adjustment and transition in the physical sense also comes some sort of spiritual pruning, refining and reconditioning, not just for me but for others in our home as well. One of our precious jewels, who I will leave nameless, seems to, without fail, go through an unsettling upheaval when things change. Kyle and I are finally catching on after seeing this pattern present itself in the same person, at the same time of year now for the fourth year in a row. Why we didn't discern this earlier is beyond me however we have been awakened to this reality and are intently listening and learning in big ways. In years past we have just muddled through in order to get beyond the anxiety and depression not really even knowing what it was. This year we have allowed our spirits to be enlightened and are taking a completely different approach. Maybe it's because we are more aware. Maybe it's because our jewel is older. Maybe it's because our hearts are more in-tuned. Maybe it's because of what God has done in our lives that has made us more sensitive to the needs of our children. I don't know and it really doesn't matter but things are different. What I do know is that walking alongside of and at times carrying a child who is gripped by a hand of fear, anxiousness and despair is a very humbling and fragile mission. It's one that requires a great amount of prayer, patience, understanding, love, comfort, assurance, affirmation, encouragement, sacrifice and time in God's Word. It's a mission that is difficult and delicate. It's a mission that is intense, diligently warring on their behalf and being careful to not let your guard down.

It's no coincidence that Kyle and I just finished teaching a six-month study on spiritual warfare!?! The time we spent preparing and the wisdom we gleaned therein, has been ever so valuable through this spiritual battle we are in. We see how our determination, our devotion and our diligence this time around has been of the Spirit rather than of the flesh. We see how God is using this time to grow her and us. We see how God is using this battle to strengthen her faith in Him and our love for her. We see how God is using this stormy trial to direct her eyes on Him and Him alone and in turn we are completely trusting Him to protect her amidst the battering winds and raging tides.

As I went to bed last night I began to intercede for spiritual healing on her behalf when the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Mendi, don't pray for healing, pray that I would be manifested in this life that you love so much. Pray that in the midst of this uncertain season she is in that she would see, that she would feel, that she would hear and that she would know and that as she sees, feels, hears and knows that she would understand without a question of a doubt that it is Me! Don't try to "rescue" her for I AM building My testimony in her. I AM making My presence in her life a reality. I long for her to know that I AM FAITHFUL!" The words my Father spoke to me were very sobering yet very comforting. Despite the difficulty of the battle we are waging, the reality that He is working a depth of faith within the core of her being is exciting. Easy? No. Rewarding? Absolutely.

I find myself more in love with Jesus as I walk through times and seasons such as these. As I read this morning, "Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully. It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that He has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind. To have a master and teacher is this and nothing less--'...for One is your Teacher, the Christ...' (Matthew 23:8)." He loves this one more than I and it is in Him that I trust! He has met her and He has already solved anything that concerns her this day...not only her, but me as well.

Desperation is a humbling reality, especially in the life of a child. A child who says, "I just want to feel better. I just want it to go away. I just want to quit feeling like this." Yet the reality is that as her dad and I continue to seek and to pray, we see a glorious transformation taking place right before our eyes. God is doing a beautiful work in this life that we love so much and in the end, the time we have spent waging a war will be oh so worth it!

Strong Hands...

Through many difficult seasons and growing pains during nearly 20 years of marriage, this particular song has become one of Kyle and my favorites in recent days. It is a true testimony not only to where we have been but to where the Lord is currently leading us...in our marriage and in our family. On a day-to-day- basis this past year has been one of transformation and remolding for Kyle as he has worked through some difficult, painful and mountain-moving realities in life and as a result MaKayla, Mallary and I have been and continue to be the richly blessed recipients...for that I give the Lord praise and glory!!! I have watched ashes turn into beauty... I have witnessed gladness in the place of mourning... I have experienced the daily manifestation of praise in the place of what was once despair! God is good! My man is amazing!

I am so thankful for the STRONG HANDS that Kyle is to myself!
I am so thankful for the STRONG HANDS that Kyle is to MaKayla!
I am so thankful for the STRONG HANDS that Kyle is to Mallary!
I am so thankful for his determination!
I am so thankful for his dedication!
I am so thankful for his faithfulness!
I am so thankful for his passion for Jesus!
I am so thankful for his love for his Saviour!

Thank you Kyle for your STRONG HANDS!
You are my life...
You are my breath...
You are my Jesus-in-the-flesh...
I love you deeply!

(You will need to pause the music on the side once you click to play the video.)

That Time of Year...

You know it's that time of year when...

House slippers go on...

Propane bills get left...

Vegetable Soup is on the menu...