I've been reading a wonderful blog lately by a lady named Ann Vaskamp. A friend suggested it to me, and I am so grateful! Ann's words, which I believe are inspired by God, speak to me every time I read them. Funny thing, though, her words have also made me keenly aware of a hole in my life. At first I couldn't figure out where the hole was or what had caused it. But this morning it hit me...or should I say He hit me--right in the heart. He seemed to whisper to me...why have you stopped writing; it's writing that helps you sort things out--understand life--appreciate things more--get closer to ME. WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED WRITING? It was loud and clear; and when God is loud and clear...we tend to have no choice but to OBEY. So, I checked out my old blog--actually I checked out my TWO old Blogs. WOW! I hadn't written since 2008. WHY? I pondered it awhile and then life in my house resumed--breakfast dishes, laundry, potty training, just being a mom. It wasn't until later in the morning that HE spoke to me, gave me an answer. AND of course, He spoke to me through a simple occurrence in my home--as He does so often...

Matthew (my youngest of the twins by 36 minutes which is another story), called to me from our stairs. He sounded troubled; it took me a few seconds to realize he was calling for my help--Mamma, I'm stuck; I can't undone; help! I rushed to find him completely entangled in a thin red string. It's source was some where upstairs, and somehow he had reached the bottom of the stairs. I began to untangle him and realized it wasn't going to be an easy task. The string was wrapped around every part of his body. He was right! He was stuck! :) And I had been too. That string represented so much to me--several years on and off unemployment, months and months of "not knowing" (not like we know anything anyway), satan continuously telling me--You're a failure, sooooo unsuccessful. That string represented the end of my writing. Tough times had fallen upon me and I allowed them to entangle me, to cripple me from the very thing GOD uses in our relationship to draw me closer, to strengthen me. I handled things as best as I could, but the "string" that entangled me made it that much harder.

And that's how it happens. Tough times roll into our lives and we allow Satan to wrap his lies around us. We become stuck in his abuse, entangled in his hatred. The good news? Just as I was there to rescue Matthew and untangle him from that red string, God is with us--always--reminding us not to get entangled in the worries of this world but to live FREE in Him.

Praise God for Matthew and a thin, red string.

Natalie :)